FOREST AND STREAM. 



327 



same. With such a simple' box as this you may grow not 

 only our native American ferns, but add to them from time 

 to time, as your progress in knowledge increases ; the rare 

 and beautiful productions of the far off Indies, New Zea- 

 land, Mexico, Japan, Australia, and many other countries 

 can be made to contribute their varied treasures to the sim- 

 ple box in the window of our quiet rural home. 



How great the improvements that can be made upon this 

 quite simple window arrangement will naturally suggest 

 themselves to almost any one who really and truly loves 

 flowers for themselves alone; and to this class we speak — 

 for this class we write. We do not expect those who buy 

 and wear flowers simply because "it is the ton" do so* or 

 because at the great party given at Mrs. St. John's last 

 week there was a "lovely boquet" placed beside each lady's 

 plate. This is all well as far as it goes, but we speak of 

 those who love these beautiful things of earth for their 

 own sweet refinements, and because in them we behold the 

 teachings of our Father in Heaven. 



We cannot feel too grateful for the plant stands in the 

 windows of so many of our country homes, and we always 

 feel the refining influences of such a home whenever we 

 visit it. Nor are our pleasant memories of such sweet 

 scenes enjoj^ed alone. Said an invalid to me one day, "I 

 have been spending an hour in the sitting room of Mrs. 

 W., and I do think if I could only live among the flowers 

 I should live longer on the earth than I shall." 



Having given one or two of our simplest of forms as a 

 sort of basis for the future experimental work of our fair 

 readers, we pass to other and sUll more elaborate and, per- 

 haps, difficult subjects. Yet this need not be so, for the 

 means of success, we think, lies within the power of al- 

 most every one who will perseveringly take hold of the 

 work. Begin, therefore, as I have stated, with simple 

 forms, and time, patience, and a close observation will 

 soon introduce many new flowers to our simple box in the 

 window. Then add at each end of the same three or four 

 shelves, upon which you can place in a concealed rock 

 work of your own originating, a bit of charcoal, with the 

 most common orchid attached, whose "drooping life in the 

 air" is like a new revelation of the wonderful in the king- 

 dom of plants. Now you can. if you please, elaborate the 

 idea. You can make your little rock receptacle sufficient 

 to grow the tulip and the crocus, and you will soon find a 

 place to grow a great many plants you did not possibly 

 think you could have made live by any reasoning other 

 than your thought they might live. You tried, to grow 

 them according to your best knowledge, and you suc- 

 ceeded. 



This is only one of the rewards of the patient student, 

 and his reward is ever sure. The grand and magnificent 

 beauty of the outer world is only brought within. The 

 cactus and the great palm fern, with their tropical beauty, 

 the colladium and the calla lily, stand side by side in 

 our humble window box, and had Santa Claus only 

 brought it on the bright Christmas morning, with words of 

 cheer and good wishes, we should have exclaimed at once, 

 "All come and witness the floral beauties of my 'wonder- 

 ful Christmas window box.' " 



How our box became, under the wands of two great ex- 

 perimenting genii, a truly wonderful box, a source of many 

 changes and transformations, we shall make plain to our 

 many readers as we progress, with the explanation of our 



"kindred earth's sweet pastoral." 



Ollipod Qtjill. 



May. He feeds on rats and other small animals. We had 

 some narrow escapes from being bitten by our uninvited 

 guests, but fortunately escaped. — Translated for the Forest 

 and Stream from Eousselefs Travels, Tour du Monde. 



ttural ]§intor%. 



SNAKES IN BHOPAL. 



I CANNOT express myselt as exactly pleased with the 

 guests who claimed my quarters during the rainy season 

 at the Mouti Bungalow. These guests were innumerable 

 snakes, reptiles and^insects, who, driven from the garden by 

 the rain, sought refuge some on the low roofs of the out- 

 buildings and others in the basement. Their presence was 

 not by any means desirable, but the snake hunting which 

 whiled away some of the monotony of our lives was not 

 without a certain charm, and had I been an enthusiastic 

 naturalist I might have considered it a perfect godsend. I 

 am very much in doubt whether the collection of reptiles 

 in the Jardin des Plantes equalled ours in extent or interest. 

 Imprimis, our bed rooms swarmed with lizards and charn- 

 elions of all sizes, big and little, who promenaded over the 

 ceiling and walls. If you lifted up a mat or a carpet, out 

 came a legion of scorpions of various kinds and colors, and 

 centipedes, too, with their thousand stinging points, besides 

 black spiders of prodigious dimensions. As to the snakes, 

 every day brought a new variety. There were black 

 cobras, whip-snakes, goulabies, and other rare kinds. If 

 we only had bottles enough, and a stock of spirits of wine, 

 we might have made a famous collection. Among the rep- 

 tiles there were two which always caused a certain amount 

 of emotional effect. One was the Bis cobra, a hideous liz- 

 ard of large size, whose forked tongue distils a poison of 

 fearful power, from whence the native name, which means 

 "twenty cobras in one." This dreadful creature encamp- 

 ed himself particularly in my bed, and refusing to retreat, I 

 had to shoot him. The other visitor was a superb Indian 

 boa, [pytho tigris,) and his snakeship we found coiled up in 

 a closet. He received us with a series of bounds and hiss- 

 ings of such a decided character that we took to our heels. 

 In order to dislodge him we were forced to give him a bath 

 of hot water. Then he made his way through a hole in 

 the wall and went for the garden; however, a heavy stick 

 did the business for him. He was a magnificent creature, 

 with a greenish blue skin, and marked with regular stripes, 

 from whence his name. In length he was about fourteen 

 feet and as thick round as my arm. This boa is the largest 

 of the India snakes, and is sometimes found twice the size 

 of the one we killed. During December and January this 

 boa remains in a torpid condition. He changes his skin in 



Editor Forest and Stream : — 



Dear Sir. — In the Forest and Stream, of December 

 11, is a communication entitled, "Do Snakes Hiss?" As I 

 am something of a "snakist," so far as considerable ex- 

 perience in finding and capturing these reptiles is concern- 

 ed, I feel prompted, since the communication referred to 

 throws a doubt upon whether snakes hiss, to offer my ob 

 servations to the readers of your valuable paper. It has long 

 been a well-known fact that certain snakes produce a his- 

 sing noise when disturbed, but I am not aware that this fac 

 ulty has ever been attributed by a reliable observer to any 

 species except the "spreading adders," or hog-nose snakes, 

 {Arterodon) ; and if Mr. Mather had been fortunate enough 

 to come across many of these snakes in the course of his 

 experiments, his doubts in regard to their hissing would 

 very probably have been removed. Many a time have I 

 been warned of the close proximity of a "spreading adder" 

 merely by its loud hiss, which, as has often truly been as- 

 serted, reminds one strongly of the hiss of a goose. When 

 producing this noise, the "adder" -flattens the head and 

 neck, which is accomplished by straightening to a perfectly 

 horizontal position the moveable ribs of the anterior part of 

 the body. The appearance of these snakes at such times is 

 extremely threatening, and this, no doubt, has earned for 

 them, in all localities where they are known, the erroneous 

 notoriety of their being extremely poisonous. I know cer- 

 tain sections where the "spreading adders," "hissing ad- 

 ders," or ".ipers," as they are commonly called, are pop- 

 ulary considered to be the most venomous of all snakes. It 

 may therefore be incredible to not a few, the fact that our 

 so-called adders or vipers are perfectly harmless, and en- 

 tirely distinct from the poisonous viper of Europe. ( Viperus 

 berus.) 



In this connection, some other peculiarities of "snaix" 

 occur to me. One much discussed, and also much sn'ubbed 

 by some- scientific men who are less conversant with nature 

 itself than its mummified remains, is the power to chwi m 

 birds and anknals imputed to some species. I will not here 

 either try to deny or confirm this, but shall only add my 

 experience, which may be taken for what it is worth. The 

 first instance that ever came to my knowledge, was the fol- 

 lowing : — When living at home it was the custom of my 

 father to take me walking with him on Sundays to the 

 woods ; on such an occasion, several years ago, we entered 

 an open glade in the woods, and were surprised to see a 

 blue jay lying flat upon the ground, in a sunny spot, with 

 its wings and tail spread. We both supposed it dead, and 

 I ran to pick it up, when greatly to our surprise it suddenly 

 "came to life" at my approach, and flew up into the trees; 

 at the same time an enormous black snake, {Bascemion con- 

 strictor) 1 which I immediately noticed, wheeled quickly 

 round and "streaked" into the hazel undergrowth. Upon 

 another occasion I was in an apple tree in an open lot, 

 gathering apples, when my attention was attracted by the 

 unusual excitement of a family of young blue birds, (Sialia 

 sialis), upon the rail fence near by. They were twittering 

 excitedly, and were exceedingly nervous in their actions, 

 flitting from one fence-stake to another, now and then fly- 

 ing about a rod towards the tree, and hovering over some 

 object in the grass. When I noticed this, I watched them 

 attentively, and found that their excitement and nervous- 

 ness increased, and that at each time the birds settled down 

 nearer to the object which I then found to be a snake of 

 very extraordinary appearance, perfectly motionless, about 

 half its body raised from the ground, the neck appearing 

 of a bright scarlet color, and very much swollen. I then 

 descended from . he tree as quickly as possible, and after 

 hunting around some time for a suitable stick, advanced 

 toward the snake, which immediately began a retreat and 

 escaped by crawling swiftly under the fence, where it hid 

 so that I could not find it. I got very close to it, however, 

 and noticed that the enlargement of the neck was caused 

 by it having partially swallowed a young blue bird, the 

 legs of which were sticking out of its mouth ; while the 

 scarlet color was caused by the stretching of the skin, 

 which, under the scales, was of a bright red tint. The 

 snake was about four feet long, of a black color, with the 

 under side of the body of a brick-red tint. The species I 

 could not determine. The experience of many years' care- 

 ful observation of the wonders and beauties of nature — and 

 among them snakes as well as birds and plants, have re- 

 ceived their due share — and whieh I have ever studied im- 

 partially, and without prejudiced notions, have convinced 

 me that snakes do catch birds by the power of fascination. 

 Numerous observations make me positive in this assertion. 

 Far from imputing to this any mysterious or wonderful 

 character, however, it is my conclusion after a careful 

 analysis of the facts, that it is nothing in the world which 

 influences the victim but curiosity and fear combined, the 

 former predominating, however, until the latter feeling is 

 entirely absorbed in it. The bird comes nearer and nearer 

 to the snake, whose mysterious nature is made more the 

 subject of curiosity by its absolutely immovable position, 

 until the intense f eelin i of curiosity or excitement of the 

 bird brings it so near that it is quickly seized by the snake 

 when the proper moment arrives. Robert Rldgway. 



Smithsonian Institute, December 24, 1773. 

 [note to the above.] 



I have carefully read over what Mr. Ridgway has said 

 about the hissing of snakes, and agree fully with him on 

 the subject, having very frequently heard the "Hog-nose 

 Vipers" or "Spreading Adders," {Heterodon platyrhinm), go 



through that performance as thoroughly and audibly as a 

 goose, appreciable at a distance of several yards. 



In this connection I may be pardoned for referring to a 

 characteristic of this same serpent. When coiled up and 

 in the act of hissing, by describing circles rapidly around 

 it with the finger, it is apparently thrown into convulsions 

 and squirms and writhes as if in the agonies of death, 

 finally turning belly upwards, the jaws separated, and the 

 tongue protruding, as if dead. In this, however, it is only 

 "playing possum," as on removing to a short distance, the 

 animal will be seen to return to a natural position and glide 

 off, unless intercepted and made to renew the same per- 

 formance. Spencer F. Baird. 



Antlered Does.— Mr. Thomas H Estey, of Marion 

 county, California, writes us that he recently shot an ant- 

 lered black-tail deer in San Luis, Obispo county, same 

 State, which he supposed was a buck, but which proved 

 upon examination to be a doe. Its horns were about a foot 

 long and pronged. The animal weighed fifty pounds 

 dressed. This gentleman writes to know if antlered does 

 are ever found among the deer family, east. In reply 

 we state that with both varieties of the caribou (barren and 

 woodland), the females have horns, but as far as our per- 

 sonal knowledge and inquiry extend, instances in all other 



varieties of the Cervus family are very unusual. 



1 



Department op Public Parks, 

 Oppice op Menagerie, 

 New York, December 27th, 1873. 



Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the 

 week ending December 26, 1873: 



One pair imported Kerry cattle, Bos laurv.s, Hub. Ireland. 

 Presented by Mr. Thomas P. Ramsdell, Newburgh. 



One Irish hare, Lepus hibemicus. Presented by Mr. 

 Thomas Hamilton. 



Two wild turkeys (cocks), Meleagris gollopavo. These 

 birds were captured at Chancellorsvillc, Va.,' by means of 

 snares. As it is quite difficult to entrap these birds, great 

 skill must be employed to entice them into the snare. The 

 usual plan is to scatter grain at a considerable distance 

 from the trap, diminishing this distance each day, until 

 finally the bird finds, on raising his head after eating, v that 

 he is firmly secured.___ W. C. Conklin. 



$nzwei[$ SJjO <$ori[eB$on&mt$. 



♦ 



[We shall endeavor in this department to impart and hope to receive 

 such information as may be of service to amateur and professional sports- 

 men. We will cheerfully answer all reasonable questions that fall within 

 the seope of this paper, designating localities for good hunting, fish- 

 ing, and trapping, and giving advice and instructions as to outfits, im 

 plements, routes, distances, seasons, expenses, remedies, trails, species 

 governing rules, etc. All branches of the sportsman's craft will receive 

 attmtion. Anonymous Communications not Noticed. 



♦ 



Bennett & Co., Fort Edward.— Price of Glean $1 50. 

 R. C.F., Baltimore.— Your question is answered under the head of 

 Kennel. 



W. H. S., Garmantown, Pa.— What size gun is best for ordinary game 

 shooting, 10 or 12 bore? Ans. 12 bore. 



Mrs. H. Oerding, New York.— Port Randall, in Bonhomme county, 

 about 120 miles from Omaha. 



Dr. B. S., Baltimore.— The "Trapper's Guide" can be purchased of 

 Messrs. Mason, Baker & Pratt, 142 Grand street, New York. 



Planiujs. — Do you think the Gyro a good invention for persons to 

 learn to shoot on the wing, and how can you tell when you hit them ? 

 Ans. 1. Yes, very fair. 2. Made of iron painted black, paint over the 

 shot marks after each hit. 



J. B. S., Philadelphia. — What are the general charges per day at the 

 islands in Virginia, your correspondent writes about? Ans. The charges 

 at Cobb's Island are $5 a day and half the birds. Every appliance re- 

 quisite for wild fowl shooting is found. The board is $3 a day, 

 ' H. C. S., Mobile.— A 30 foot, cat-rigged sail boat, 8 foot beam, with 

 spare sails, rigging, and painted two coats of paint, completed, will cost 

 $525 delivered to any railroad or vessel in this city. The cheapest way 

 to have the boats sent would be by sailing vessel. 



H. S. O., Wilmington, Del. — I have a valuable Gordon setter,, his eyes 

 are always running and suppurating. I think a thorn or rusty nail has 

 injured them. What can I do to relieve him? Ans. Give a mild dose 

 of physic and foment the eye very frequently with warm water; after- 

 wards bathe it with an eye water composed of rose water and white "vit- 

 riol mixed as for a human being, but rather stronger! If the eye still 

 continues to discharge put a eeton in his neck. Weak eyes are very fre- 

 quently the effect of heat of constitution and want of condition. 



J. L. Herset.— Craelcing of ice is caused by its settling or its raising 

 as the case may be. When the air escapes from beneath through air 

 holes, the ice gradually settles, splits,' and often throws up ridges, 'in 

 shallow water the ice is sometimes raised by the concentrated air from 

 different air holes. This also causes it to crack; and when thus broken 

 and the air is permitted to escape from underneath, it settles to the 

 water'slevel, below its former position, and this eauses it to crack again 

 Yoyez vousf 



Grafton, Vt.— What is Greenheart, where does it grow, and where 

 can it be procured? Where is Lawcewood grown and who' are the im 

 porters in New York? Ans. 1. Greenheart is a West India wood, im 

 ported chiefly from Demerara, but little used for rod making in the 

 United States, though in favor with Canadians. Cargoescome to Hali 

 fax occasionally, and by writing to Halls & Creed, ship" brokers, you 

 can ascertain who are the importers. A letter to Dingee Scribner of 

 St. John, N.Brunswick, might possibly secure a small lot, but none in 

 bulk. 2. Lawcewood is also indigenous to the West Indies John 

 Bornhoeft & Son, 90 Walker street, imported a cargo recently. Small 

 lots might be procured by addressing Andrew Clerk & Co., 48 Maiden 

 Lane, or J. H. Terhune, corner Elm and Canal streets, New York. 



Mohawk, New York.— 1st. Is mercurial ointment, commonly known a-i 

 "blue ointment," good to rub on the inside of the barrels of a breech- 

 loader to keep them from rusting, and if not what is? Ans. For sea 

 water rust mix the very finest emory with the above. 2d. What differ- 

 ence is there in the strength of English powder, No. 3 and Orange Light 

 wing No. 7? Ans. It is about the same, only the orange powder ex 

 plodes the soonest. 3d. Do you consider 8 lbs. sufficiently heavy for a 

 No. 10 bore gun? Also in a No. 10 that you can use only 4J- drachms of 

 powder in with advantage, sufficiently heavy for duck shooting Ans 

 81b. gun, 10 bore is heavy enough for game bird shooting. For wild 

 fowl the gun should weigh 9J lbs. 4th. What do you think of the Dou 

 gall Lockport gun? Do yon consider it one of the best guns made* How- 

 does it compare with Scoil s ? Ans. We have an opinion but decline to 

 state it for obvious reasons. 5th. For what can you import me a red 

 Irish setter bitch of the very best stock? Ans. For $150 6th For 

 about what could you import me a pair of Cocker spaniels of good blood 

 young, and thoroughly broken? Which would you prefer, black and tan' 

 or liver and white? Ans. Black and tan. ffilOO. 



