FOREST AND STREAM. 



307 



list by such additional species as were taken by us at that time. 

 These, though few in number, render the list somewhat more 

 complete than it would otherwise be, and include some species 

 taken during the fall migration. Such additions to the list 

 will be found inclosed in brackets and signed with the initials 

 of the observer. A few additional notes, bearing mainly on 

 the distribution of the various species, have been added to Mr. 

 Williston's observations, and are marked in the same manner.] 



1. Tardus migratoriw, Robin. — First seen May 2. Three 

 afterward seen at Como, and a few at Bawlins. Not common. 

 Nest observed in sage brush. ["Abundant during August in 

 the surrounding mountains, where they collected in great 

 flocks, feeding on the red raspberries which grew in great pro 

 fusion on the rocky hillsides.— G. B. G.] 



2. Oreoscoptes montanus, Sage Thresher, Mountain Mock- 

 ing Bird. — This sweet songster was one of the most common 

 and noticeable birds of the region. A pair were shot a day 

 after my arrival (April 20) while yet there was a heavy snow 

 lying upon the ground ; within a week they were about Como 

 in numbers. They seem to prefer the heavy patches of sage 

 brush in the valleys and at the foot of the hills. The males, 

 especially toward evening, were commonly seen perched upon 

 the topmost twigs of the sage, pouring forth their pleasing 

 melody, and upon being disturbed, flying to a neighboring 

 bush, immediately to resume it. A nest with two fresh eggs 

 was observed May 17. Several nests were afterward seen, 

 none containing more than four eggs. The latest fresh eggs 

 were observed June 8. The nests were large and rather flat, 

 with a very scant lining of grass ; built high up in the bushes, 

 and well concealed. 



3. Galeoscoptes carolinenis, Cat-Bird. — First taken May 30. 

 Common. 



4. Harporhynckus ruftu, Brown Thresher. — First seen May 

 21. Common with the last on Rock Creek. 



5. Sialia arctica, Arctic Bluebird. — April 20. Abundant 

 upon the hillsides and about the telegraph wires, and 

 especially noticeable from their habit of hovering in the air. 

 They prefer for their nesting-places banks of the loose creta- 

 ceous shale, often in the railroad cuttings. A female was 

 captured May 31, deep in a crevice ;with her nest, containing 

 three nearly hatched eggs. 



[6, Farm montanus— A. single specimen observed in the 

 Freeze Out Mountains, some miles north of Como. — G. B. G.] 



[7. Sitta canadensis, — This species was observed several 

 times in August in the Freeze Out Mountains. — G. B. G.] 



8. Salpinctesobsoleta, Rock Wren.— Common. These birds 

 made their appearance about the first of May, nearly at the 

 same time that I had first noticed them in Western Kansas. 

 1 have frequently disturbed a female with her brood of from 

 six to eight half-fledged young about the chalk cliffs of Kan- 

 sas, and watched with amusement the scampering of the little 

 fellows, who would hide in any conceivable hole or crevice, 

 while the parent at a distance would be calling for her brood 

 in the utmost distress ; the whole scene reminding me very 

 strongly of a motherly quail and her restless brood. Although 

 their ordinary note is somewhaL harsh, I have more than once 

 been struck with the not unpleasiug song that they sometimes 

 utter. 



9. Telmatodytes palustris, Long-Billed Marsh Wren.— April 

 23. Not uncommon on the marsh. 



10. EremophiUi alpestrit, Shore Lark. — Abundant at my 

 arrival and through the summer. Nesc with three fresh eggs 

 found May 27 in a hollowed spot near a tuft of grass. 



11. AnUius ludovocianw, Wagtail. — A pair were taken 

 April 23 near the edge of the lake, and nearly a month later 

 two were taken on the marsh. 



[12. Selminthopliaga aetata.— A single specimen was taken 

 early in September part way up the ridge back of Como Sta- 

 tion. It was feeding among the sage brush when killed. — 

 M.G.] 



13. Dendrmca msUva, Summer Velio wbird. — May 26. Very 

 soon numerous, confining themselves wholly to the creek 

 brush. 



14. D. ttriata, Black Poll Warbler. —One single specimen 

 seen and taken on the bank of the lake May 27. 



15. .0. coronaUr, Yellow Crowned Warbler.— A small flock 

 seen and two specimens taken, May 2, on Rock Creek. None 

 were observed afterward. 



16. Sturm wmius [? var.], Water Thrush. — A single speci- 

 men seen and taken near the water's edge May 10. 



[In looking over the birds collected by Mr. Williston, the 

 specimen here referred to at once attracted the writer's atten- 

 tion, on account of two marked peculiarities, namely, the 

 large size of its bill and the unusually dark coloration of the 

 specimen. 



In all the more recent descriptions of this species, consider- 

 able stress is laid on the length of the bill, which is stated to 

 to be "about one-half inch," " not- more than one-half," etc., 

 while the bill ot 8- motacilla is spoken of as over one-half, 

 nearly three-fourths, etc. The shape of the bill in this speei- 

 msn and its coloration show conclusively that it is to be 

 referred to aa belonging to the navivs type of the genus, not- 

 withstanding (he fact that the bill along the calmen measures 

 .62in. Taking the largest specimens of S. motucilla and S. 

 nmvius in the'writer's collection, and comparing them with 

 the specimen under consideration, we have the measurements 

 of the bill as follows : 



S. motacilla, .55in.; S. immui, .49in., and S. narnius (the 

 present specimen) .62in. The relative proportions of the 

 parts, as will be seen below, are in some respects quite differ- 

 ent from those of S. nonius. 



The writer being unwilling to trust to his own judgment in 

 the matter, and having but a small series of specimens for 

 comparison, sent on the present specimen to Washington, 

 where it was examined by Dr. Ooues, and afterward, through 

 the kindness of Mr. Ridgeway, compared with a scries of 

 specimens in the Smithsonian Institution. Mr. Kidgway's 

 remarks on the bird are given below. He says : 



The Biurus which you sent is certainly a very curious bird. 

 Whatever it is, it certainly has nothing to do with 8. motacilla. 

 being totally unlike that species in coloration. In tints and 

 pattern it is an exaggerated S. nmvius. although there is little 

 that is different in this respect from typical examples of the 

 latter species. The throat is, however, more thickly spotted 

 and the sides more heavily striped than in any of the eight 

 adult examples with which I compared it directly- Selecting 

 from these latter the best developed adult mule, and from a 

 series of twelve specimens of 8. motacilla, the one having the 

 longest bill, the measurements are found to compare as follows: 



S. nmvius (Male, Maryland)— Wing, 2.85; tail, 1.95; bill, 

 from nostril, .35, from gonys, .33; greatest depth of bill, 

 .15; tarsus, .82 (!). 



a (Specimen sent for examination)— Wing, 3.25; 



tail, 2.50; bill, from nostril, .47, from gonys, .42; greatest 

 depth of bill, .16; tarsus, .82 (!). 



8. motacilla (Male adult, Illinois)— Wing, 3.25; tail, 2.30; 

 bill, from nostril .44, from gonys .39 ; greatest depth of bill, 

 .18 ; tarsus, .87(1). 



You will thus notice that, while the wing and tail are about 

 the same length as in motacilla, the bill is decidedly longer 

 and more slender— quite a different shape, in fact— and the 

 tarsus much shorter or just the same length as in ordinary 

 nmvius ! 



The specimen in question evidently bears to S. nmvius ex- 

 actly the same relation that Geolhlypis rostralm does to G. 

 trichas; and if I were called upon to fix the habitat of the 

 specimen, I should, judging merely by analogy in the forego- 

 ing ana other cases, say it was from some island off the coast. 



Yours truly, R. Ridgwat. 



The present case is certainly a very interesting one, and the 

 fact that we have from the central Rocky Mountain region a 

 specimen whose characters lead one of our most practiced and 

 skillful ornithologists to attribute it to a southeastern locality 

 is, to say the least, very surprising and, if the bird in ques- 

 tion represents a race or variety, quite at variance with certain 

 laws laid down by some of our best authorities. It is perhaps 

 better, in view of the limited material at present at our com- 

 mand, to regard this specimen merely as an accidental varia- 

 tion ; and the writer is unwilling to describe it even varietally 

 until further observation shall have given us additional facts 

 to go upon.— G. B. G.l 



(To be continued.) 



THE FLESH OF THE SACE GROUSE. 



Denver, Col., March 18, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



I cannot refrain from protesting against the manner in 

 which you dismissed the sage grouse discussion in your issue 

 of the 6th inst. After publishing " Transit's " letter, vouch- 

 ing for the excellence of its flesh, and " Incog's " on the other 

 side, you close the case by what 1 consider an unfair com- 

 parison. You say, " What would our readers say if we should 

 print a number of contributions in favor of, or against, the 

 flavor of onions?" Ergo, the sage grouse has a flavor as pro- 

 nounced as the onion; further, it is obnoxious. But '• Transit," 

 the writer of this, and others, cannot discover, or will not ac- 

 acknowledge, it. This is clearly what your words mean. 

 "Transit's" opinion is certainly entitled to credit. It covers 

 a long period of time and very extensive use of the bird. 

 There are plenty of credible men who will indorse his state- 

 ments. A discussion of the onion would simply be an avowal 

 by one writer that he likes it, and by another that he does 

 not. All would admit its peculiar fragrance. W. N. B. 



AVe are not quite willing to acknowledge that our compari- 

 son was unfair, but admitting that it was, we still think that 

 the discussion of such a question is entirely useless. We do 

 not think that what we said could fairly be construed to 

 mean that the flavor of the sage grouse is as pronounced as 

 that of the onion. That, of course, would not be true. 



We have simply expressed our opinion in regard to this 

 matter — an opinion based on an experience of nine seasons 

 spent in a region where this bird was abundant, and where 

 often it was the only fresh meat obtainable. Still, the senti- 

 ment is only an opinion, and as such is worth exactly as much 

 as, and no more than, other opinions expressed for and against 

 the excellence of this bird's flesh by other correspondents. 

 What earthly advantage is to be gained by a discussion on 

 such a point ? 



We wish to apologize to our correspondent for allowing his 

 communication to lie unpublished so long. It was mislaid, 

 and thus overlooked. 



RANGE OF THE BLACK-TAIL DEER. 



Salt Lake City, March, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



In March number of Scribner, article four, the author speaks 

 of the mule deer as having one side of the Sierras, and the 

 blacktail the other, as his home. My observation is that the 

 blacktail deer only is found on the Sierras, and the mule deer 

 occupies from near the eastern foothills to the eastern foot- 

 hills of tbe Rocky Mountain range, and also is the only variety 

 found in tbe Coast Range in .Southern California. How it 

 may be north toward the Oregon line I am not informed. 

 One other matter I mention for the purpose of getting through 

 your paper, from some of your uumerous correspondents, some 

 facts, not perhaps generally known, as to the different spicies 

 of wild goat in this country. The large white goat is well- 

 known to naturalists and hunters, but it is believed there is 

 another, found at least in some parts of Arizona, smaller than 

 the common variety, colored, and changing color, like the deer, 

 with the horns curling around the ear and of a dark color, 

 resembling in shape the thin curling horn of a commonakeep. 

 The writer found a small band of the above description on a 

 steep, almost inaccessible mountain in Arizona, but was un- 

 able to get one. A miner at the same camp did kill one from 

 the same band, and it is from seeing the skin of that the above 



description is made. Some of your readers cam no doubt tell 

 us all about it. No such species ia named in Judge Caton's 

 excellent work on the deer family, nor have I found this par- 

 ticular species of goat described elsewhere. It may not be 

 deemed of much consequence, but some are interested possibly 

 so much as to give a few lines to the subject if they are bette'r 

 off than the rest of us. "All truth is precious if not, all 

 divine." Geo. H. Wt.man. 



There is some evidence to show that the true blacktail (Certm* 

 columManus) occasionally wanders into the Rocky Mountains. 

 Mr. W. H. Reed, a trustworthy wituess, has informed us that in 

 an experience of eight years' hunting in Southern Wyoming 

 and Utah, he has killed two or three deer which were un- 

 doubtedly blacktails. We should be glad to hear more about 

 the goat mentioned by our correspondent. We assume, of 

 course, that he is familiar with both the male and female of 

 the mountain sheep, and that the animal to which be refers is 

 different from both those and from Aplocerus. 



The Birds of Martinique. — We have received, through 

 the kindness of Mr. Geo. N. Lawrence, his catalogue of the 

 birds collected in Martinique by Mr. Ober, which has been 

 published in the Proceedings of the United States National 

 Museum. The present paper is tbe result of the author's 

 study of the collection of ninety-one specimens made in this 

 island, and enumerates forty species either taken or seen, of 

 which one — MyiarcAus sclateri — is new. 



Mr. Lawrence's observations on a number of (lie species 

 which came to hand in this collection are very full and im- 

 portant. The collector's notes, in some cases quite full, add 

 interest to an already valuable paper. 



A Golden-crowned Kinglet — Editor Forest and Stream.* 

 Please find inclosed a head from the smallest bird I ever saw, 

 other than a humming bird, and, 1o say the truth it was very 

 little larger than some humming birds I hive seen. Ir 

 it was very much like what is known in Virginia as the cedar, 

 or cherry bird, only it had no red about it whatever. This 

 little bird was killed by a stone thrown by a little twelve- 

 year-old imp of darkness in the shape of a negro early in 

 March. Surely this is not a common bird iu this part ot 

 Virginia, or I should have observed it long since. Be so kind 

 as to name it through Forest and Stream. Bird Shot. 



Spottsylvania, Va., May 6, 1870. 



The head is that of the goldencrowned kinglet (Hegulus 

 salrapa), a very abundant winter visitant throughout almost 

 the whole United States. 



What a Tame Rabbit Eats— Editor Forest and Stream : 

 Seeing an article in your issue of the 10th, headed "Are 

 Rabbits Carnivorous?" I wish to say that I think they are to 

 a certain extent. My reasons for saying so are that I have a 

 tame rabbit that has heen running loose "in my workshop for 

 the last two years. It has become quite a pet with the men, 

 taking the place of the family cat. Every day. when tbe men 

 cet their baskets and sit down to dinner, tbe rabbit is always 

 on hand, ready for anything that may be given him, showing 

 a decided preference for a piece of meat — befcf, pork, etc., no 

 matter what, so it is meat; and then will finish up with a 

 piece of bread and butter, cake or pie, so that I am of the 

 opinion that all rabbits are carnivorous to a certain extent. 



69 Tracey street, Cleveland, O., April 15, 1876. S. B. 



An Upland Alligator— Marietta, Ga., May 17. — Fol- 

 lowing the lonely track which leads ' for thirty-three miles 

 through Savannah's sand-hills and pine barrens from Now 

 Smyrna, Florida, to the St. John's River, we once came upon 

 an alligator seven feet long, taking his siesta in the middle of 

 the road. The colored boy who drove the wagon turned off 

 the road, jumped down, and, for want of a better weapoD, at- 

 tacked the creature with his whip. Safe in its coat of mail, 

 the alligator at first did not notice the assa'ilt ; but presently 

 a cut across the eyes waked it up, and opening its huge mouth 

 it hissed defiance, waved its tail on high, and went for the 

 darkey. By this time, however, the boy concluded that his 

 horses claimed his attention, and retreated to the wagon, re- 

 marking, "Ef I had'my axe along I'd have mashed his head, 

 for true." Many alligators have T seen in Florida lakes and 

 rivers, but never before met one on the high road. Probably 

 the dry weather had driven the reptile from its accustomed 

 haunts in search of water. 8. 0. C. 



Breeding of Woodcock— Editor Fove.it and Stream: A 

 friend, with whom I have for many years past hunted, and a 

 better shot or more enthusiastic sportsman does not draw trig- 

 ger, and myself were out, on the 81st of March a year ago 

 (our season closes April 1), when we got up, in very thick 

 corn, six woodcock, all it to bag. Four of 



them were young ones, bat ia1 it was hard to 



tell the difference even after , a them Id hand. We 

 started out after one o'clock p. m.. and brought home twenty- 

 three quail and six woodcock. AVe thought that a good af- 

 ternoon's bag. J. C. H 



Fayetteville, N. Y., May 10. 



Animals Received at Central Pauk Menagerir for Week Bmd- 

 inq May IT.— One white-throated nemkey, iv,„ , 

 seatedby Dr. James S.Bailey, Allim-, u , ■ 

 Imms, hab. India, placed on exhibiti n ; one 

 presented by Mr. Paul Santert, N. V. ■. ;. 



fulvus, presented by Mr. J. P. Panehot, Wise main ; one red .-qnirrel, 

 Scutriiuihudnoniun, present el by Ml cCarin N. Y. eiry ; one 



eanary bird, Serinua canaria, presented by Mr. J. W. Tucker, N. T. 

 city; six wild geeae, Bemint-i-canadens^, bred m tee Menagerie; three 

 Toulouse geese, Aurerdcrmcxtic-ix, bred in the Mt 



j-jjcLtN, Director. 



— It was a motley thr t in Sflmore's Garden 



last Saturday evening— tbe Cigar makersOf New 

 lyn and Jersey City, 'iherewen . ,,, ,-., ml . 



petitions, including an advertised award to the pre il 

 and a most grotesque race between a nu nher of moon-eyed 

 Chinese heathen, who did 



—The Ravenswood Lacrosse Club defeated the University 

 Lacrosse Club of New York three games out of live at Pros- 

 pect Park, Brooklyn, last Saturday. There was excellent 

 playing on both sides. 



T 



