2(52 



FOKEST AND STREAM. 



intdl j§iBtorg. 



A HINT TO ENTOMOLOGISTS. 



NOW is the time to collect the chrysalides of the large 

 moths. The leaves are off from the trees and bushes, 

 and they may he easily seen. Those of the Attacus ceropia 

 a luna and Arpromethia are very numerous this fall. Any 

 one who wishes to secure some of those large and beautif ul 

 moths, should collect them at once. It is customary to 

 collect them early in the spring, hut it is much better to do 

 it in the autumn. During deep snows in the winter, thou- 

 sands are eaten by the mice. 



The Gecropia chrysalides are most abundant in the elder 

 thickets near the margins of swamps. They are generally 

 attached to the bushes about eighteen inches from the 

 ground. Those of the PrometMa are found hanging to 

 the twigs of the wild cherry and spice' bush curled up in a 

 leaf. The Luna's may be found under the walnut and oak 

 trees on the ground among the fallen leaves. The Luna 

 'moth is the most beautiful of its genus, and its chrysalides 

 are much more difficult to find than those of other species. 

 When collected, they should be put in a box, and kept in 

 a cool part of the house (out of the way of mice) until the 

 first of May, they should then be fastened on strings and 

 stretched across a room in rows until the moths come out, 

 which will be about the middle of the month. When a 

 moths wings are fully stretched and dried, they should be 

 caught before leaving the chrysales from which they sus- 

 pend. If allowed to fly about a room they soon spoil their 

 wings and are worthless as ornaments or specimens. When 

 taken from the chrysalides they are in a perfect condition, 

 and may at once be prepared for the case or cabinet with 

 all their natural beauty. A dozen or twenty chrysalides 

 may be found in a proper locality in an hours searching. 

 Ladies as well as gentlemen can easily collect them and pre- 

 pare the moths as they come out in spring, and arrange 

 them in cases with rustic frames, made of bark or covered 

 with moss, thus making a beatiful ornament. 



CURIOUS FORMS IN PARASITIC LIFE. 



"Big fleas and little fleas 

 Have lesser fleas to bite "em; 

 The lesser fleas have smaller fleas, 

 And so ad infinitum. 



EVERYWHERE the great earth teems with life. The 

 very ground almost moves with its suppressed vitality, 

 and even the air we breathe leaves on its invisible globules 

 myriads of forms active with life, and bent on the one 

 great work of reproduction. Upen examination it will be 

 found that the mihute forms have a great work laid out for 

 them — that of holding in check certain divisions of animal 

 life and in their turn their numbers are reduced by some 

 "lesser flea." So we find in every case that the elimination 

 is in exact proportion to the production, and every animal, 

 from the highest form to the lowest mass of Algre has its in- 

 dividual exterminator. Thus the lower forms of life are 

 kept within bounds, and the parasite, although a repulsive 

 object, is shown to be necessary to our well being, and 

 even life, and forms one of the greatest powers wielded by 

 Nature. 



Some of the most interesting forms of this class are 

 found on the marine animals, where their numbers and 

 e?eat size make it a study of care as well as interest. The 

 fishes particularly are the victims of this necessary perse- 

 cution, and probably the most common are the little crus- 

 taceans known as Fish Louse. Around the gills and on 

 the tongue is a favorite point of attack. Here thev attach 

 themselves with their long knife-like claws, and either 

 gorge themselves with the life blood of the victim or live 

 on food that comes from an outside source. In the pouch 

 of the Medusa, or sun-fish quantities of little crustaceans 

 of the genus Hyporim are found, some clinging to the sides 

 a,nd others moving around as if newly arrived and not yet 

 well acquainted with their future habits. In the division 

 Isopadd, we find the cymotlwadm. They are found on the 

 gills of many of our fishes, and form T a no mean enemy, as 

 frequently the continual drain of their "little moustes" 

 causes the death of the fish, and not until then do they de- 

 sert the fortunes of their victim. They are very curiously 

 formed; the gills have the general appearance of large 

 round membranous plates, placed at the extremity of six 

 pairs of members attached to the abdominal segments, and 

 called false feet. The exact number of feet, however, 

 are seven pairs, which are armed with a long, sharp, and 

 generally prehensile claw, admirably adapted for the work 

 they have to do. The female is a miniature marsupial, as 

 beneath the thorax and attached to the base of the feet is a 

 pouch for the purpose of carrying eggs. Here they are 

 held until they have arrived at perfection, and that im- 

 portant time having arrived, the mother opens the pouch 

 and the brood swim off in search of some unfortunate fish, 

 with whom they can form an attachment. The Argulus 

 alosae, a stronger, hard shelled parasite, about half an inch 

 long, 'is found on the gills of the Alewif e {Alosa vulgaris). 

 It is protected by a large obovate or obcordate shield, which 

 covers the first two pair of legs; from this extends the 

 long abdomen, supported by three pairs of legs, all of which 

 are fringed with a remarkable substance, resembling hair. 

 The extremity of this strange parasite is ornamented with 

 two short folia, covered by two others, and each as long 

 and as broad as the exposed portion of the abdomen. In 

 other species, however, nothing is seen but the shield, 

 which gives it the appearance of a small shell clinging to 

 the fish. 



The small disc-shaped fish louve (Galigus piscinus) >with its 

 jointed body, is familiar to all sportsmen. It is commonly 

 found on the Cod and any of the deep water fishes. I have 

 frequently taken it from the tongue, where it had grown 

 so large as to almost prevent the passage of food, and in 

 one case, on the Florida reef, I found six in the mouth of a 

 small fish, completely filling it. Considerable force had to 

 be used in removing them, and when it was effected they 

 were extremely lively and would grasp my finger and en- 

 deavor to fasten their claws in any crack or crevice. The 

 Penella filosa, a long, worm-like creature, with a veritable 

 horny head and bushy tail,is found frequently cutting its way 

 through the sides of the above mentioned sun-fish, and on one 

 specimen figured by Farrel, a large number of the Pannella 

 sagitta were found imbedded with their hairy tails, waving 

 to and fro like tentaculse, and on them were found num- 

 bers of the Gineras vitatta, while in the liver of the fish 

 were found immense numbers of Gysticerci. Truly he la- 

 bored under a disadvantage. 



Hordes of parasites, crustaceans of the genus NebaMa, 

 are frequently found in the stomach of a single fish. Only 

 one species, however, is well Isnown. They are exceedingly 

 minute, and are protected by a cuirass-like shield. The 

 tail is long and finally terminates in two sharp-pointed 

 bristles. Another singularly beautiful parasite, the P. ar- 

 mult cornis, has never been found out of the fish. It is 

 about four inches long,, the elongated and beautifully va- 

 riegated red and white attennee, however, making it ap- 

 pear longer still. It forms one of the most striking and 

 elegant of all the crustaceans.,' having the parasite charac- 

 teristics. 



The whale louve is a common and well known member 

 of the Laemodipods. They have no special spot of attack, 

 but cover the whale on any available part, and at some 

 portions of the year so changing its color that the great 

 white mass of parasites can be seen at a great distance". In 

 appearance it is long and thin and resembles a number of 

 hooks hanging at intervals from a stick. The first claw is 

 prehensile, and is attached to the head; the other legs are 

 armed with a long hook, flexible and more or less prehen- 

 sile. 



The Hermiteral has a slight claim as a parasite. Very 

 fierce and brave, they do not hesitate to attack the inmates 

 of the largest shells or any that suit their purpose, and as 

 they grow rapidly, a constant warfare on the poor Peri- 

 winkles is the result. They are easily tamed, and at Tor- 

 tugas, Fla., we had one that had taken possession of an old 

 pipe bowl. We named him" Diogenes,." and for some 

 months shared bed and board with him. But one day, in 

 attempting to climb on the table by a very smooth cloth, 

 ' he fell to the floor amid the ruins of the old pipe. His 

 nervous system received so severe a shock that the best 

 medical skill the reef afforded was unavailing, and a few 

 days after, it being extreme high tide, he passed away. 

 He is still mourned by a large circle of acquaintances. 



Mollusous parasites are quite rare, although the common 

 Barnacles are frequently found imbedded in the flesh of 

 whales and deep water fishes. The Balani or sea acorns 

 are immovable in all their parts, and attach themselves to 

 sluggish fishes, where they sometimes so cover the head 

 that the fish becomes blind, and eventually dies. We have 

 several wonderful cases of parasitic "fish,*but before speak- 

 ing of them it would be well to mention the Echeneidans or 

 ship-stayers. The members of the f amity are included in 

 the single genus Echeneis, which was translated to Bemora 

 by Pliny. They are noted for the remarkable disc-like 

 head, covered with an organ capable of attaching itself to 

 anything. Anyone who has seen a shark has certainly had 

 a view of this beautiful creature ; generally they are dark 

 blue, and when clinging to the white sides of the shark, 

 with their tails waving back and forth, they present a very 

 striking appearance. They show great affection for their 

 huge consort, as I have frequently, in catching sharks, 

 pulled them far up on the beach before the Bemora w r ould 

 relinquish its hold. To show the power of the suction, it 

 is said that in Mozambique they capture Twitles with them 

 by fastening a ring to the tail of the Bemora and holding it 

 by a string. On the approach of a Twitle the string is let 

 out and the fish fastens itself on to the shell and the animal 

 is drawn in. The old writers had a great respeet for its 

 powers, as they thoroughly believed that it could stop ves- 

 sels of the largest size, and it is stated in all good faith that 

 a Bemora retarded Anthony's galley in the fights of Actium, 

 thus allowing Csesar to obtain the advantage, and Pliny 

 thus moralizes "that such magnificent ships and men should 

 have to bend the knee, as it were, to a fish two feet long. 

 Still another finny parasite is found in close companj^ with the 

 beautiful, as well as dangerous Physalia or Portuguese Man 

 'o War. This little fish I have never seen figured or de- 

 scribed, although they are quite common on the Florida 

 reef. At first sight you can hardly distinguish them from 

 the deadly tentacles of the Physalia. So alike are they in 

 color, being a deep sea blue. 



Here is a wonderful phase in the economy of nature. 

 We find a fish living, as it were, it the midst of death, 

 making its home in the snaky mass of tentacles, the mere 

 touch of which is instant death to fish of twice its size, 

 and sometimes fatal to man. How this mere bubble, far 

 down in the scale of being, can discriminate between its 

 little companions and foreign fish, is a question that is still 

 to be solved. Instinct it cannot be. But still, these little 

 parasites make their home there, while other fish are en- 

 tangled in the slimy folds and drawn up to be devoured by 

 this mass of life. I have often watched them in the harbor 

 of Tortugas, where, after a storm, they are found in<im- 

 vD'-nse quantities. When hungry, the tentacles are ex- 



tended to a distance of four feet behind them. The little 

 sail or, membrane is lifted to the breeze, and away they go, 

 ike the culprit Fay. 



"Sprin? to this craft with a lightsome leap, 



And launch afar on the calm blue deep. 



The imps of the sea may yell and rave, 



And summon all forces beneath the wave." 



Soon the tentacles assume a horizontal position, and soon 

 the bits of red and blue shooting through the water" attract 

 the attention of an unfortunate sardine. He dashes at the 

 "worm," and is dead! The shock of the thousand stings 

 is fatal. The tentacle is rapidly drawn in, and soon the 

 fish has disappeared in the mass of red blue and white ten- 

 tacles that form the greater part ol the body of this fairy 

 fisherman. I have seen a Hawksbill Twitle, weighing five 

 pounds, completely conquered by one of them, and indeed 

 I nearly lost my own life by accidentally swimming over 

 one. The most serious symptom was dyspnoea, and almost 

 entire prostration of the nervous system, and the red and blue 

 marks or welts I carried to IN ew York seven months after, 

 showing the immense power wielded by one of the lowest 

 forms in animal life. Many other parasitic forms, espe- 

 cially among the Annellidm or worms, might be mentioned 

 to show the great system of Nature, and the perfect adapt- 

 ation and fitness of the smallest mite to its peculiar work. 



C. F. H. 

 <^»s>- 



S. H, Wales, Esq., President Department Public Parks: 



Sir: The following are the donations to the Central 

 Park Menagerie since November, 1873: 



2 Red-shouldered hawk. Presented hy Mr. Henry 

 Steinway and James Halpin. 



1 Horned Toad. Presented by Miss Nina Worth. 



1 Burrowing Owl from Brazil. Presented by Captain 

 A. W. Lavender, ship Clarendon. This bird alighted on 

 deck of vessel when 100 miles off the coast of Uruguay. 



1 Merlin. Presented by Mr. John Sutherland. This 

 bird was captured on board steamship Cuba, 250 miles 

 from Queenstown, Ireland. 



1 Red-shouldered Hawk. Presented by Mr. James Halpin. 



Fourteen Box Turtles, 1 Eagle, 1 Agave, 1 Yucca, 1 

 Bald Eagle, 1 Flying Squirrel. 



Very respectfully, W. A. Conklik, 



Director. 



JPb fennel x/ 



—Philip Meyers, of Brooklyn, died last week in terrible 

 agony from hydrophobia. He was bitten through the 

 thumb by a small spitz dog in September last. The dog 

 was killed the same day, but was not thought to be rabid. 

 The wound healed, and no ill effects followed until the 

 afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. Then Meyers was taken 

 sick and died soon after midnight. 



THE FOOD OF SPORTING DOGS. 



IN feeding dogs, as well as horses, an antomical and phys- 

 iological view cannot fail to be a safe index to the system 

 to be pursued. By these aids we are led to conclude that 

 dogs are neither wholly herbivorous nor wholly carnivorous, 

 but are so formed as to be capable of deriving nutriment 

 -from either vegetable or animal matter. The dog is by 

 nature predacious, and inteded to live on the flesh of other 

 animals, but at the same time it is clear that his organs fit 

 him for receiving nourishment from vegetable substances 

 also, and occasionally we see them voluntarily seek it, most 

 likely as a necessary mixture to prevent the frequent' tend- 

 ency to putridity which a diet confined to animal food alone 

 begets. It seems pretty plain, therefore, that a mixture of 

 animal and vegetable matter is the proper food for dogs. 

 On this point I believe most persons are agreed. Not so^ 

 however, as to the proportion and nature and quality of 

 each to be administered. In many of the old works on the 

 chase, this system of giving raw animal food to hounds is 

 strongly recommended, and in some cases the steaming 

 entrails of a newiy-killed horse were advocated as being the 

 best possible restorative for hounds after returning from an 

 arduous day's work. Bones are good food for noor hounds, 

 as there is great proof in them. Sheep's trotters are very 

 weet food, and will be of service when horse flesh is not to 

 be had. Bullocks' bellies may be also of some use if you 

 can get nothing else. Some sportsmen are unfavorable to 

 the use of flesh as food for dogs, on the ground that it is in- 

 jurious to their olfactory powers, but 'this I cannot but 

 think is an erroneous notion, if only on the ground of what 

 actually occurs in a state of nature. All the members of 

 the canine race, dog, wolves, and foxes, are carnivorous, 

 and, as such, live by means of their exquisite scenting facul- 

 ties, which enable them to hunt down the animals they prey 

 on, and it would be altogether out of reason to imagine 

 that the pursuit of these natural instincts should frustrate 

 the end for which they were ordained. Flesh, therefore, 

 if not given out of all proportion to the amount of exertion 

 undergone, is never likely to impair the scenting powers. 

 It is only where a superabundant supply of animal food is 

 given to animals out of work, or not taking a proper 

 amount of exercise, that the olfactory powers become im- 

 paired, as then the secretions of the body become vitiated, 

 and those of the nose suffer equally with the rest; in fact, 

 by sportsmen, any defects in these latter organs are more 

 readily detected than in any others, except those which are 

 palpable to an ordinary observer. Animal food, therefore, 

 when given in a judicious manner, forms the most nutri- 

 tious food, and is better adapted for sustaining the sporting 

 powers of dogs, more particularly foxhounds, than any 

 other. The raw flesh of animals appears particularly to in- 

 crease the courage and ferocity of the participators; and 

 where these qualities are requisite, this mode of feeding 

 will undoubtedly tend thereto, and therefore we consider 

 that it is the best possible food for hounds. Of the varieties 

 of animal matter none answer the purpose so well as horse- 

 flesh. When animal substances are becoming putrid, by 

 burying them two or three feet underground, the putrefac- 

 tive process is arrested and the earth tends to sweeten the 

 meat. It is doubtful, however, whether putrid meat is so 



