44 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Feb, 16. 1883. 



when be doubled up crowsat a hundred yards with a Stevens 

 pocket rifle, twelve -inch burral, they refused to shool aaj 

 longer, saying their guns were ho-ln-wau-gUB) Jaeis saw 

 fflat .the white man's supremacy must be maintained The 

 Indians use modern breech-loading rifles ol the besl manu- 

 facturers. .38 and .41-ealibre. Their ea noes are made of 

 IrugeCTpreBs Ions, are beautiful models, and carefully and 

 skillfully constructed. The boys learn to handle and sad 

 ihem when quite young. They use the pole in preference to 

 the paddle, owing to the shallow water, and always sail them 

 when there is a fair wind. In the fall tne/0 is from four Co 

 .six feet of water in the Everglades, caused by the heavy 

 rains of summer, but in the spring "navigation closes." 



lOtatoes and beans, repacked 

 !.-. when Cuff was missing. I 

 ith a large Indian clog in the 

 milled, fearing that the buckt 

 tinned he had gone hunting t< 



bring Sim downtothestatioi 



■ohasf 

 and prept 



him not lo 

 Slipper -w 



edhim; 1. 



We 

 the ca 

 had se 



woods 

 had se 

 show-off h 



without him, Tiger agree 

 next day, saying: 



'•When sun so," pointing in the west lo where the sun 

 would lie at an hour high, "me come — canoe— white man's 

 dog— me bring um— in-cak'" 



Three hours' of sailing, paddliugand the swift current of 

 New River took us to the station landing, where we found 

 the Rambler all righl. The nexi day at the appointed hour 

 Tiger was seen poling a small canoe across the bay, with Cuff 

 seated in the bow. 



The most favorable wind lot sailing on the East coast of 

 Florida is a westerly one, which, blowing off the laud, rend- 

 ers the sea comparatively smooth. The day after I returned 

 from the Everglades the wind was northwest, and had Cuff 

 been aboard, we should have at once set. sail for Biscayne 

 Bay. that being the most, favorable wind we could have- had. 

 As'a rule, the wind in Florida boxes the compass in the reg- 

 ular way, following the sun. so that by the time we were 

 ready to sail it was'easterly, but rather light, and though 

 there was not much sea, there was a long and heavy swell 

 from the northeast. We went out over I he bar at ebb tide. 

 Hew River Inlet is one of the best on the southeast coast of 

 Florida, there being at low tide three or lour feet of Water 

 on the bar. As the channels to these inlets are constantly 

 changing, owing to the shifting of the sand, it would he 

 useless to describe them in detail: but, as a. rule the cruiser 

 should sail below them until the stream opens well to view, 

 and then sail in on the plane of the outflowing river which on 

 this coast is generally in a northerly direction. 



The shore line for ten miles below the New River Inlet is 

 of a similar character to that already described, but it after- 

 ward becomes more heavily timbered, owing to the proxim- 

 ity of streams about the head of Biscayne Bay. Twelve 

 miles below New River we were abreast, of Life Saving Sta- 

 tion No. 5, the last one on the coast, under the charge 

 of Ed. Barnott, and eight miles below it we entered Bay 

 Biscayne through Narrow's Cut, between the mainland and 

 Virginia Kev. The lighthouse on Fowcy's Rock (formerly 

 on Cape Flotilla), and the first buoj marking the entrance 

 to Hawk Channel from here to Key West, were in plain 

 sight as we passed in. We ai once sailed across Biscayne 

 Bay, about eight miles, to Miami (old Fort Dallas), ai the 

 mouth of Miami River. 



We sailed into the river a tew hundred yams and an- 

 chored off the wharf of Mr. Ewan, who keeps a store and 

 lives with Mr. Ohas, Peacock in She old stone officers' quar- 

 ters of Fort, Dallas. Here 1 met my old friends, Mr. and Mrs. 

 Peacock and family. Mr. Kwan and his mother, also Mr. 

 and Mrs. Tuttle, of Cleveland, O., E. (). Uwynn, Esq., 

 Mayor of Key West, and Mr. Curtis, of Jacksonville, Fin. 

 Mr.' Curtis was collecting specimens of woods for the 

 Smithsonian Institution and other scientific museums, and 



^aimta} JjiiStarg. 



had a valuable collectio 



audpost-ol 

 ant supply 

 tween Lata 

 via the hit. 

 r lnd 



of r 



of Mi 

 ,f mail matter, 

 Worth and K< 

 CT place. We 



friends f 



We crossed the river to the store 



ell, 



this being 1 

 v West, flii 

 also met he 

 the Ev 



a a trading trip, coming in his canoe 1 



River, which penetrates l 

 points of interest, about Bisi 

 '•Punch Bowl," a large spring 

 ell, and near Hie shore oi 

 buccaneers, pirates and w 

 Spanish Main frequented t] 



cask; 



storie 

 and n 

 of th 



fro 

 lo? bt 



ied t 



•eat, 



kersofUte Florida 



e found an ami 

 c only post-office be 

 mail being receiver. 

 •■ Little Tommy. on< 

 lest, whs was'dowi 

 'of the Mia m 



ng nthers'thi 



of Mr. Brick 



e by th. 



head of the 

 the latter is 

 under wliiel 

 enjoy the b( 

 tn a beau 

 Miami, wcr 

 and Mrs. (I 

 white bails 

 and rornanl 

 tit were as 

 really enjoy 

 Miss' II. . v,f 

 had hcen'dL' 

 virtues of the eblDrio 

 warm bright sun of 

 and most healthful It 

 greatly benefited^ the t 



ed 1 



nr]:-: 



'if -7 



title." 



inn 



ids 



ad clain 



ening, 





aeky bowl 



res near the haunts of pirates obtain, 

 re been the scarchiags in the vicinity 

 A few miles up the Miami there is 

 The Fall-." whirl, will well repay a 

 ,,,:'.. : spot. At the lower 

 Pan Sontin I rounds begin rnn- 

 a he,- largt -Hue abounds. At the 



and Arch er.-eks empty. Spanning 



tone bridge or arch of coralline rock, 

 ay pass and the fortunate occupants 



n : scene. 



Of eocua-palms. at the mi 

 I Mr. and Mr,. M., Mr. and Miss II,. 

 i Island, New York. The group of 

 additional chain) to n spot as lovely 

 e in I'airyktiid. Their ctJuip and out 



ud comfortable as possible, and they 

 len-airlife. Mr-, M, and her sister. 



-with out!]. IE Ci Ol UBiptfpn and 



, as a last resource, to try the healing 

 n,.,] i.is exes, i.'.dtm ivtmospheie and 



bis, the fain : tin n I n li 



nation in Florida Mi-,s II. |] id been 

 [iaease not having cnadeBuch fearful 

 igre* - in her case, but the fell and in- 

 to ■ ireased his flaming red sea) 



.,. K -. of hei patient and e n ■ * 

 for his own. 

 full, round vnuou ro-e grandly over 



b p .Ins- ' 1 i of s'ilvery 



if the tent, the fan- Sufferer 

 •ns\ chair, the sof1 and grate- 

 . :. Iier great, 

 aeefully drank in the glorious 

 .seouc,'and loving oneswuis- 

 mragemcnl: but as the silvery 

 truss, the waters of the broad 



(ft 



sidi 

 upon 1 

 sister, 

 One 

 the beautiful 

 light 



propped up t,y ],.!!, 

 fill breeze fanning i 



dark-graj eyes call 

 and pondrotis boat 



pered words of hop 



track of the moon i 



bay almost to her very feel, 1 knew. alasl that it was the 

 shining pathway by which she would Boon, oh, so soon! 

 travel 'heavenward' She is now. doubtles, at rest and 

 calmly sleeping under the wintry snows of her Northern 

 home— a fitting- winding-sheet for one so pure and lovely, 



ly and ] 

 y of tin 

 'and em 

 as llu 



THE BIRDS OF MAINE. 



With Annotations of their Comparative Abundance, 



Dates of Migration, Breeding Habits, etc. 



UV EVERETT SMITH 



169. Ruffed Grouse— Tetrao imheMmkjxA.^lhrma vm- 

 In/lux Itidg, 47:t. Cs. 511."..— Abundant-, resilient throughout 

 the year. ' Breeds. Nesls upon the ground in the woods, 

 and early .in May lays from ten to fifteen brownish yellow- 

 eggs, sometimes obscurely spotted. This is the grouse 

 locally termed -'partridge." --birch partridge," or --gray 

 partridge" in Maine, but its proper name, ruffed grouse, is 

 gradually coming into popular use through the aid of sports- 

 men, by whom Ibis name is now quite generally used. The 

 ruffed grouse's habit of Seeking Shelter beneath' the snow in 

 severe 'winter- sometimes occasions much havoc among 

 I heir number- v, hen the weather suddenly changes to a thaw 

 or rain followed by such freezing as to form a crust, that 

 imprisons the birds beneath it until starved to death. It is 

 said that the bird darts into the snow while flying. 1 have 

 seen it. emerge from under the snow, but have not seen it 

 enter. Tet an examination of many of their burrows has 

 proved to me that it does not always dart in, as above men- 

 l toned, I "it ofent first alights on the surface ol the snow . 



A mors frequent cause of destruction than the snow 



crust is a continuance of cold, wet weather during thai 

 period of spring in which the young are hatched. When- 

 ever either of these destructive causes becomes generally 

 prevalent, there results a scarcity of grouse for several sue 

 needing seasons. 



But. the most insidious enemies to these birds, and far 

 more destructive than all natural causes, are the snares set 

 by man. I have known the ruffed grouse in a locality 

 Where naturally very abundant to be almost entirely- exter- 



to assign the cause of the disappearance of the birds, not 



even tiie man who had snared them. 



Alter finding me interested and familial' with the subject, 

 this man told me of his success, which continued nntil "all 

 of a sudden there didn't seem to he any at all in the woods 

 where they had been pleulicst." and he gave up snaring in 

 consequence, without appreciating the fact, lhat, the total 

 disappearance Of the birds was a result of his snares. His 

 skill and experience had enabled him to take all the grouse 

 there were resident in a certain locality, and as the species 

 is not migratory, the. place would remain depopulated until 

 by some chance a new generation should lie started there. 

 ' The "drumming" of the ruffed grouse may- be heard occa- 

 sionally in any moulh of the year, even in midwinter. But 

 it, is of most frequent occurrence in the spring and autumn. 

 This '•drumming'"— performed bv the bird's rapidly beating 

 its wings, while standing upon the trunk of a fallen tree, a 

 rock, or the ground — produces a noise Ural, resembles the roll 

 beaten on a muffled drum, hence the term '•drumming." 

 The performance is usually written of as peculiar to the 

 seasoned early spring, and the charming writer Mr. John 

 Burroughs has criticised the poets for referritgto this drum- 

 ming as occurring at, other times, yet it is of frequent occur- 

 rence during the Warm sunny days, and moonlight, nights. 

 of autumn, a fad w.-ll known to every huntei and woodsman 



Where the-e bird- are found, and probttbh to Pearft even 



farmer's boy "in Maine. 1 have heard the -drumming" of 

 the nl -v..J grouse in winter as far north as Cnespecies ificom- 



rnonly found in Eastern America. 



Fvmii.v PehdtoidAE: Tuk P.\jmmiGKs ,vsd Quail. 



170. Virginia Partridge or Quail— Or///.- I frgiivkm And.. 

 Rid-'. 4S0, Cs. 571.— This most widely distributed species of 

 th- \:..:n-i:r:: partridges las at yaitou.s titim- been introduced 

 inn i Maine, but never with any permanent success. Our 

 long winters with deep snow render starvation almost certain. 

 excepting in occasional season- of unusual mildness. An 

 abundance of food may he found here in summer, and some 

 sport mac be attained by annually introducing the birds to 

 p, v . ,,-;ii.;,' localities, and shooting them and their progeny 

 duriuL. tie- autumn, their places to be supplied the following 

 spring by the liberation of others to Be obtained from South- 



171. Migratory Quail — (Hariiir com/>r>W»U LinnffiUS; 

 (fotiinvtt dttetylixfnnsfa Cs. 579. — A European species first 



introduced to North America in 1877. (Martin G, Everts, 

 Esq., Rutland. Vt., 300. Mr, Wane,: II q. g,., : .,l. Ma-a 

 ,-husetl- 10ft) and lo Maine in 1878 (100) and 188Q (2,600) 



In the 'Report of the Commissioners oi Fisheries and 

 Game of the State of Maine," for 1880; 1 gave some account 

 of the migratory quail, and from that report I quote some Of 

 the following notes : 



This quail ((■o/nmlf mmiiunux) is the common migratory 

 quail of Europe, lhat for centuries has crossed the Mediter- 

 ranean Sea from its winter home in Africa to it bret til 



ughoul Europe, returning again 10 Africa in the 



autumn. The bird resembles iu outward appearance OUT 



partridge il/r/ij.r ../,,,,./,...;,-,...»,,•) that is termed 



"quail" in New England. The migratory quad is one third 

 -mailer, and the limi.it of the male bird is marked with dark 

 Piie-.n Or black, that extends from the bill downward. 

 7 'a.. ,,,. i ■■-,,. i i he quail may be. expressed, as nearly as is possible 



.a. !ai, int.. words or syllables, by '.vilto-eat—vdieat- 

 «'/...,//," the preliininan crescendo ' »•'".' not being heard at 



iatance, but the three clear notes, may pi 

 ,.i - ■ . .- 1 . i iiileawnv. Often the notes seem to come from a 

 bird near by. but rettllv afar off, and perhaps in another 

 ticld not near the listener, gometimes, when flushed, tile 

 migratory quail repeals a low thrilling note as it dies away. 

 This note resembles the ordinary crj of the pectoral sand 



. , ,.,,,, ,„.,«■,„;,/„), hut is softer, and only io be beard 



when littered within a few roils of the listener. 



The ouail is strictly a terrestrial bird and roJjabitB the 

 fields, where it also nests. Fifteen eggs to a ucst is nor an 

 unusual number, and as each egg, laitl by a bird of fail 

 three or four ounces weight, is as large as the egg ol our 

 robin, we have been frequently asked how so small a bird 

 manages to hover and hatch so mau\ egg- iu one nest. 



The nest is a depression hollowed in the ground, and lined 

 with grass by the bird, In this nesl aw laid tl 



regular order, upon the bottom and around the -. 

 nest, the upper ones supported by the eggs beneath and the 

 sides of the shallow, bowi-like ncsr. While setting, the 

 body of the bird is surrounded upon breast and sides by the 

 eggs, while its wings are raised to novel the top layer ot 

 eggs upon each aide. Many nests, of lifter n eggs each, have 



.'..la 1 1 i in which all the eggs were hatched, 



One nest of eighteen eggs deserves especial mention, as ot 



interest to students of ornithology. The eggs in 



were laid in tiers or layers most' carefully and compactly 

 arranged, one above Die other, a- if placed* hi Ihe hand of 

 man, the bottom layer mo-l, entirely bid from view by the 

 eggsahove. Buttwelveof these eggs were hatch. d, ami evi- 

 dently the bird was too ambitious. Probably the bottom 

 eggs were so covered by others that col sufficient warmth 

 was imparted to them from from the body of the bird, 



The eggs of the quail are of a greenish color, profusely 

 blotched with brown. Like olhertcggs. if deserted and left 

 exposed to the sunlight for days, the color will fade until it 

 becomes almost while. This year [I.SHtl] Ihe eggs were laid 

 in June and hatched in .Inly. " The young birds leave llu 

 nest as soon as hatched, and mature very rapidly, being 

 strong of wing iu September. 



Among the noteworthy characteristics of Ihe quad are it- 

 gentleness, and the extreme pertinacity with which it adheres 

 to its domestic duties. We found two nests with eggs ivilh 

 in a. few rods of a farmhouse, where a lot of the birds had 

 been liberated, and close by a traveled highway, as well as 

 near a railroad. The birds were occasionally observed 

 among the chickens about Ihe hmise. 



Quite a number of quails have been killed by mowing 

 machines. One might naturally suppose that the" clatter oi' 

 one of these machines approaching would sufficiently' alarm 

 any bird, even while setting upon its eggs, to cause it to 

 leave its nest temporarily. "But, some have had their heads 

 cut off bv the knives, and in on,- instance the machine was a 

 typical]*' Juggernaut," tne wheel passing over and completely 



crushing the quail and its eggs in the nest beneath it, 



The quails have a strong scent, readily detected by sellers 

 and pointers, hut they often seek to escape bv concealment. 

 or without taking flight. 



Some young quails were captured tietir St. John, N. B.. 

 this year, although none were liberated nearer than at, St. 

 Step'hen. Several quails were heard and seen mar Macldas 

 throughout the summer and auluinn, >.'oue had been liber 

 tiled nearer than the Penobscot Valley on ihe west, and at 

 Calais, forty miles to iheea-t. This'is in. I remarkable, how- 

 ever, in cou-ideration of the fact a quail can easily fly fl f ta- 

 nnics within an hour. Unlike oui American partridge, or 

 "quail." it is capable of long sustained flights without 

 stopping to rest. 



Uo quails wen- imported to Maine in 1*81. but some were 

 observed early in May of that, year at various localities ill 

 the State, and' as no riewlv imported birds had been previ- 

 ously liberated elsewhere that season, it wot evident, that 

 some of the migrating quails had returned. 



It has been proven that these l.irdscaii lind an a.bunilania 

 of suitable food here, that 'hey are hardy, and do not lack- 

 that instinctive love of home which is the prime incentive 

 to compel migratory birds to return lo the place of their 

 nativity. 



The domestic sparrows were repeatedly introduced from 

 Europe ere the desired results were attained, and the similar 

 experiments with quails may not be at first eiwireh sincea- 

 I'ul. Probably the liberation of a considerable number of 

 birds in one favorable loealitj repeal, il for several consecu- 

 tive years would insure success. 1 feel confident in the 

 belief that the migratory quails can be permanently added 

 to the avi-fniius of North .America. 



Fvmii.v CuwiArmr.n.i;: f't.i. 



172. Black-bellied Plover— f.'/inriif'riiir: li,ir,ti<-it* And,; 

 ftqualm-oln h-lrrlMi Ridg. 513, Cs. 580.— Common on the 

 coast during spring and auluinn migrations. Arrives in 

 \\-.;\ Locally tensed "beetle-head." rjntike other ipuiiies 

 of the plover- Ibis bird has a small. ■ Ha ' i Li .ped hind toe. 

 Iu ordinary plumage its lower part- are grayish white, ofien 

 mottled with black. But in adults in Ihe perfect plumage 

 of sprineii is uniformly pure black over the whole sni i 



the cheek-, throat, breast and bellyi hence the ns 

 bellied plover, Nearly all of the birds of this species have 

 passed by Maine to their breeding places in Ihe far North 

 ere attaining this perfection of plumage, yet a ffeyi such 

 specimens are observed here each season. The black bel- 

 lied plover frequents Ihe sandbars. Leaches and soft marshes 

 along the coast, but is not commonly seen far inland here, 

 nor in field- and pastures. 



173. Golden Plover— diumdrhiKimifimirx. 



drivi domifiieus Ridg. 515, Oa 681, — Common during 

 autumn migration, August and September and i 



abundant. * Never -ecu here in soring Locally termed 

 "black-breasted plover." The lower pari- are pure iilaek 

 in spring only, and in this plumage ihe hi..' Is UeVft) -i t Q 

 in Haine. The upper parts are spotted with golden yellow 

 | l greenish tinge, hence tie nami ui gold, t plover. The 



P ■ , n .' >l '.!' tin- -!ia la- III II i a 11 ] la-illle- ami fields. 



a- ,.-.a a wly mown meadows an<j marsh l l tarelj 



I.e. a. ! ■':■■■. ;.:eii ii.L i 1 ■ . • 1 . .■ iclu ■ altllOtl I M lime- 



upon ihehii'l. ma. .. a : a -y islands. There was i l'i "i - - ■ i- 1. 

 able (light of golden plovers through Maine during the la 

 of Aiigu-i and first part of September, H nob ashna 



never since been witnessed here, and which resembled S 



flight of pigeons. Fox da.j thj ii led with the 



ince-sant p I,,..,....,.. . .■ nd I I tl 



were killed. 



J7-1. liilldeer l-'ke. . '.ml : <).n 



..' . s e«s Ridg. "'lip i I .'ii -Rare, 



., i i , ea,al visitant Irom the South, thrive tie Fo 



t I Of tbC occurrence of ape. t)OrO, Me. . 



Seven in summer of 1840; ftVO 111 -'itnrnrr ot 185(1 ." 



August 9, 1852; three, August to li'-' 



,.,,, ,, ,,. in a an , ,i it- known occurrence herein 



spring, and this a remark-.iil .ail: ■,..■ \ugu-.t1. 



187©, 



i lipalmtited Plover, Kingueek --'7.,,,,,,', 



,,:.,.,.,. , ,,. : , , .. ..' ...... ..a, ..■' ... i.aL .'ii 



. -Abundant along th -n-r dun.." migi ttion m-ivt 



"May Frequents the Mondial- and tieaelie,,, I have pro 

 .,,,, i an >-"J'J Of this specie- OB an i.-land in the thiy ot 

 Fundy bin.' it is D very Unusual occurrence p. and ll.e am 

 breeding SO fiff south as that, and none are known .. .,, 

 i n Maine. 



17li Tiping Plover— ',.',.. . ■ a am !< ..■■■ 



.. liidg. 580, (.'-. S87.— Common un I . 



■M-rives in early April. Breeds on the ground, fi 



buff, with dark brown spot Ic plover much te- 



-eiubl.i- the riugncck. but does not a.-sneiati in la Hoi I 



utters quite different notes; anil the general cot...; 



plumage, i- much lighter. Unlike the ringueel; a i 



gentle'and iiuvrary. " 



Family iLiiM.vTorootD.ii : Tin: Ov-n 

 Tr-TtxsxoxT.:s 

 177. Ovster Catcher-/ ■ud.. Bidg. 



af)7, Ca. 596.— Accidental, A S eilO arfl 



record fti its ncourrence has been reported bj 



