FOREST AND STREAM 



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A LIST OF BIRDS TAKEN IN SOUTHERN 

 WYOMING. 



JBx S. W. WlLUSTON. 



[\\iih Supplementary Notts uj the Natural History Editor.] 

 (Continued.) 



[48. Tyrannvs wtimUt, Arkansas Flycatcher.— Seen sev- 

 eral times on Rock Creek, where no doubt it bred, as it cer- 

 tainly did on Foot Creek, twenty-five miles further to the 

 southwest. On the latter stream young just from the neBt 

 were taken.— O. B. 0.] 



49. Soyornis mi/ us, Says Flycatcher.— April 24; very com- 

 monly heard and seen. While nesting they are quite fear- 

 less, not leaving the eggs or young till closely pressed. I 

 have several times caught the parent bird sitting upon her 

 eggs in the crevices of the chalky cliffs of Kansas. A pair 

 took up their abode nearly over the door of a saloon at Medi- 

 cine Bow, near Como. When I saw them in the last week 

 of June, the female, as she sat in full view, might have 

 almost been touched by a tall man, while her male was keep- 

 ing very vigilant guard upon the hitching post in front, 

 driving away the swallows when they approached too closely. 

 That they were left unmolested by the numerous frequenters 

 of the saloon was remarkable. 



CO. Contopus oorealU, Olive-Sided Flycatcher. — A single 

 female was shot from I he topmost branch- of a solitary dead 

 pine in the early part of June. 



[51. Contypus mrens rickardsonii, Short-Legged Pewee. 

 Very abundant on the Medicine Bow Eiver wherever large 

 timber was to be found.— O. B. G.] 



52. Chordeilespopetuehenryi, Wight Hawk. May 31; after- 

 ward common. 



[58. Selaxpliorm plalycercus, Broad-Tailed Hummer. Quite 

 abundant in the Medicine Bow Mountains. — G. B. G.] 



54. CeryU alcyon, King Fisher.— May 1, and occasionally 

 afterward on Rock Creek. 



55, Coccygus americamis, Yellow-Billed Cuckoo.— Fre- 

 quently heard, but none taken. 



[56. Picue pubescenn gairdneri. — Western Downy Wood- 

 pecker. — Common in the Medicine Bow Mountains in August. 

 -G.B. G.] 



[57. Spnyrapicm variw nmhalis, Nuchal Woodpecker. — 

 Rather abundant among the large timber on the Medicine 

 Bow River.— G. B. G.] 



58. Melaneipes erythrocephalus, Red-Headed Woodpecker. 

 —May 2G. A dozen individuals seen during the nest month. 

 In July of last year, while encamped near a solitary dead tree 

 on the Smoky Hill Iiiver in Western Kansas, I watched for 

 many hours a female (the male had unfortunately been 

 killed), with her tour nearly full-grown young, and her 

 sallies after occasional passing locusts. Her sight was won- 

 derful, and her aim as straight as an arrow. She followed 

 her prey oftentimes for a hundred yards or more, and never 

 failed to secure the insect at the first attempt. Returning, 

 she would alight on a blanch, distant from her young, and 

 then would call them to her to receive their food. She must 

 thus have caught hundreds daily. Occasionally, the young 

 birds would also endeavor to procure the insects for them- 

 selves, but their attempts were often amusing and sometimes 

 failures. Nor would they dare to venture far without being 

 driven back, or compelled to seek the ground for safety by 

 the pugnacious Arkansas fly-catcher, which seemed especially 

 on the watch for them, though never molesting the old bird. 



[50. Asyndcsmus torqualw, Lewis' Woodpecker. — This 

 curious and remarkable looking species was abundant in 

 the mountains near Como, and both adults and newly fledged 

 young were secured. — G. B. G.] 



60. Colaptes mtxicanus, Red-Shafted Woodpecker.— May 

 5. Not common in vicinity of Como, owing probably to the 

 scarcity of timber. [Very abundant in the mountains.] 



61. Otus vulgaris imlsonianus, Long-Eared Owl. — In sage 

 brush near lake, May 5. Common afterward on Rock Creek. 

 Nest May 31, two eggs, fresh ; June 8, five eggs, fresh ; June 

 10, four eggs, slightly incubated. The parent bird would 

 seldom leave the nest till almost touched. 



02. Bpeotytv cunicularia Ivypogma, Burrowing Owl.— Not 

 common in the vicinity of Como. [But rather abundant a 

 few miles south of the town of Medicine Bow.] 



63. Circus hudsonins, Marsh Harrier. — Common. 



[64. Fcleo mcxicanus var. polyagrus, American Lanner 

 Falcon.— This species was abundant throughout the plain and 

 mountain region about Como. It was seen daily pursuing 

 the blackbirds about the station, and, at Medicine Bow, one 

 of these birds had almost depopulated the only dove-cote in 

 the town. On a secure ledge of a beetling cUff, that rose just 

 behind cur camp on the Wagon Hound River in the Medicine 

 Bow Mountains, a pair of birds had reared their young, and 

 at night the family would collect there, saluting each other 

 with the shrillest and most discordant screams. They paid 

 not the slightest attention to our presence, and we left them 

 unmolested until the day before our departure, when a pair 

 of them were added to our collection. — O. B. G.] 



65. Falco sparverus, Sparrow Hawk. — Four specimens 

 seen or taken. I have twice observed this' , bird preying on 

 SlurneUa magna, 



«6. BuUo mainmii, Swainson's Buzzard.— Rather com- 

 mon. Nests observed in low trees, rudely built, but sis or 



eight feet from the ground. A female with three fresh eggs 

 was taken May 10th ; when previously observed on the 

 Kith, there was but one egg. 



67. ArcMbuUo ferrugineus, California Squirrel Hawk.— 

 Oue or two were closely seen, and a specimen said to have 

 been taken in the vicinity. This hawk is quite common on 

 the plains, reaching not much further east than Fort Hays. 

 Kansas. Their ne3ts were observed both in trees and upon 

 the low chalk cliffs. I have frequently observed in their 

 nests partly eaten racers (Bascanion Jtaviventru) and rabbits, 

 of which their food seemed chiefly to consist. 



[68. Arcldbuteo lagopiis sancti-joliannis, Rough -Legged 

 Hawk. — Not common in the region, only one pair having 

 been observed. These were seen on the Medicine Bow 

 River.— G. B. G.] 



69. Arjuita chrysatos, Golden Eagle.— Common during the 

 winter, but not often seen in the summer months. One that 

 had been caught in a trap in April was chained near the sta- 

 tion, where he would feed ravenously, but no one dared to 

 approach within his bounds. [Abundant in summer in the 

 high mountains, where they bred.— G. B. G.] 



70. Zcnaedura carolinensis, Carolina Dove.— May 25. 

 Common. 



[71. Canace obscura. Dusky Grouse.— Extremely abundant 

 in the mountains, and often following the wooded water- 

 courses down to the lower lands. Late in August young of 

 all sizes were seen or taken, showing, as already remarked by 

 the writer in another place, either that this species is irregu- 

 lar in its time of nesting, or that it sometimes rears two 

 broods. In September this species is extremely delicate eat- 

 ing. During this and the preceding month they feed almost 

 wholly on a small species of red whortleberry, which grows 

 in great abundance among the pine forests high up on the 

 range, and this food imparts a delicious flavor to their flesh. 

 Some further remarks on this species will be found on page 

 141, Vol. XL, of this journal.— G. B. G.] 



72. Centrocercwurophasianus, Sage Cock. — Common at all 

 times. Nest, May 20th, with ten nearly hatched eggB. The 

 nests are poorly built, consisting of a few twigs and feathers, 

 in rather open brush; or where it is short. The males, except 

 during the mating season in April, seem to prefer higher 

 ground, where they may be seen in flocks wholly by them- 

 selves. 



73. ^Egialitis vociferu), Killdeer Plover.— Common. 



74. JEgialitis montanus, Mountain Plover.— The very char- 

 acteristic cry of this bird was heard May 2, but none were 

 seen till two weeks later, when they became tolerably com 

 mon. I know of no birds that employ more varied artifices 

 or display more intense solicitude to withdraw one's attention 

 from their nests than these. Their eager, restless flulterings, 

 continued for a long distance, would be amusing did not one 

 sympathize with that parental instinct so necessary for the 

 young birds' protection in these barren, open prairies. At 

 all events, they are often successful in misleading one, unless 

 he observes the immediate spot whence they start. 



(To be continued.) 



SOME NEW FACTS ON SKUNKS. 



Pembina, D. T., May 15, 1879. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



This is a lovely May morning, a mild south wind after a 

 blow from the north. The air is balmy and pure. Man 

 breathes easy and feels happy, while our feathered songsters 

 in the bush are singing their Maker's praises, and the sweet 

 humming mosquito lies low in the shade, tuning up his pipes 

 and filing his bill for an active summer's campaign, while 

 tyrant man, dreading the insignificant mite, prepares to meet 

 the coming foe by wire netting on windows and doors, and 

 raking his chips together for morning and evening smudges. 



The Forest and Stream comes to me regularly, and is 

 perused with a great deal of pleasure, as I glean many grains 

 of useful and amusing information from it. I said amusing, 

 for many oE the articles are so to an old frontiersman and 

 voyageur like myself. I have read the correspondence on the 

 the skunk question. 



I flattered myself that I knew considerable, if not more, of 

 that odoriferous little cuss, but it seems I had more to learn, 

 and putting what I did know and what those other fellows 

 know together it would make a considerable sized book. 



My first introduction to the animal was when I was a 

 schoolboy in Ohio. 



I had played truant from school — from which you can see I 

 was not one of the kind to die young— one afternoon, and with 

 my Scotch terrier was rambling through the woods, when I saw 

 what I took for a domestic cat that had thrown off civiliza- 

 tion. I hissed on the dog, and he being of a breed that never 

 says die, went in for it like a hoosier boy for a watermellon. 

 First blood for the skunk. Water in the face was what warmed 

 up the dog. After a roll or two in the sand he called time 

 and went in for the second round. A bite on the nose, red 

 blood this lime, then a draw off for more sneezing and rolling. 

 Round third— Colley (the dog) a little more cautious, sparring 

 around and engineering for a sure hold. With a bound, a 

 grab on the back and a shake there was a dead " chicock," 

 With a long pole I examined it, and my nose knows it was a 

 skunk. 



No w for the sequel of this story to further illuBt rate that I was 

 not one of the good boys we read of in Sunday-school books. 

 As evening drew near I struck a bee-line for home, and as I 

 neared it I began to think of an explanation for the odor on 

 colly. After consultation with myself I whipped the little 

 fellow and sent him home. Then in due time I followed. 

 Arriving there I found the women after the poor dog with 

 broomsticks and other weapons usual in women's warfare, 

 going for the " stinking brute." I naturally, and as innocent 

 as the boy that stole the molasses, joined in the hue and cry, 

 and for days my poor little pet was banished the house, but I 

 do believe the little fellow understood the matter and forgave 

 me my seeming cruelty. 



That was the first and last skunk I ever saw until I struck 

 these western plains. Since that they are as familiar to me 



as our domestic animals. I have killed hundreds of them. 

 Never was bitten by one, but have been perfumed all the 

 same, and have often eaten them, and it can't, be proved by 

 me that they are the best of fodder. Thefat is nice, sweet and 

 wholesome. The lean has a wild onion taste, needing no other 

 seasoning, and is very palatable to our half-breeds and Indians, 

 who relish it as the darkey does fruit from the hen roost or 

 opossum. They dress it by turning the hair off in a hot 

 blazo, then roast it on a stick before the camp fire. The 

 scorched hair on the skin and the garlic of the lean makes it 

 just delicious, and the half-breed or Indian will make way 

 with a skunk as quick as the Indian did with the woodcock. 



In voyaging over the plains everywhere you will see the 

 ravages of the skunk in search of wild onions. They no doubt 

 now and then capture a prairie squirrel and suck the eggs of 

 prairie chickens and other birds, but I think they like the 

 onion best in its season. Every day in voyaging we would 

 kill more or less of them, either with clubs, stones or dogs. 

 Very few dogs will tackle them. I have seen both men and 

 dogs bitten by them, but never knew a case of hydrophobia. 

 It is said that the bite of men and dogs while angry pro- 

 duce it or something similar, and, if so, under the same cir- 

 cumstances, the bite of the skunk might do it,' but it would 

 be one in a thousand. 



You are aware that they hybernate in this climate. I have 

 known as many as twenty taken in one nest, hence must have 

 originated the expression of " stinks like a skunk's nest," all 

 of which is imaginary, as a skunk's nest does not stink, for, 

 unlike the mouse, they never defile it. 



They either burrow in the ground or make a grass nest in son « 

 swamp. From five to twenty will hybernate together. On 

 pleasant days in the winter they come out for a promenade 

 or in search of mice or some kind of grub. 



When an Indian discovers a nest he prospects carefully 

 until he finds a tail. Then by that he draws out the varmint, 

 and with a light knock on the head he fluishes it, and then 

 proceeds with the rest in the same way until the last one is 

 disposed of. It is a known fact that the skunk when lifted 

 by the tail cannot throw his cologne. In what manner it acts 

 on his syringe I can't say. Whether the wag of the tail 

 works the piston or opens and shuts the nozzle, I will leave 

 to scientists to determine, but I know when he is held up by 

 the tail he is as harmless as a Chinaman without his slink 

 pots. The Polecat, unlike the domestic cat, has not nine lives. 

 The least knock on the head kills him. I have killed them 

 with small gravel stones. Old Judge. 



The Birds of Central New York.— We are informed 

 that copies of this excellent list may be had from Mr. Frank 

 R. Rathbun, of Auburn, N. Y., at fifty cents each. 



A Tame Gull.— Mr. O A. Richmond, of Taunton, Mass., 

 has been kind enough to send us the following account, clip- 

 ped from a local paper, of a great black-backed gull, which he 

 has owned for some years. The extract says : 



One of the natural curiosities of the village (Scotland) is 

 a black-backed gull, in the po;session of Sir. Richmond. 

 Though he is the most sociable of his genus, still, at times, 

 he is exceedingly angry, and even savage. One peculiar 

 trait is the responsibility he assumes in guarding his master's 

 premises. His services in that direction are fully equal to 

 those of the watch-dog ; in fact, the job rests between them, 

 inasmuch as 'Mr. Gull' prescribes the remedy, while Shot 

 carries it into effect. He is nearly thirty years old, and alto- 

 gether an interesting bird. 



This gull, our correspondent tells us, he obtained on Cape 

 Cod last summer. We do not wonder that Mr. Richmond 

 takes pride in this unique pet. He says of him : 



The gull is now white, except his back and upper side of 

 wings, which are of a dark slate color. He is a very lively 

 fellow, I can tell you, and no stranger can come near the 

 house, night or day, but what he knows it. As soon as he 

 sees them he will begin calling to them. I have to keep him 

 in a yard by himself, and do not let him out unless I am 

 around to look after him, as he is very fond of poultry, and 

 has already eaten more chicks than his neck is worth ; but 

 still I keep him, as he is a great curiosity here. He is not at 

 all delicate about what he eats. He will swallow at oue time 

 three small perch, about six inches long, and then he may not 

 take anything more for a week. He is fond of eggs, apples, 

 and any kind of fish except salt cod. When he gets a piece 

 of that he takes it to his tank of water and lets it soak before 

 he swallows it. The eggs he will catch in his bill the same as 

 a dog would a piece of meat that was thrown at him. I think 

 that he is a little over twenty years old, as I got him of a man 

 that had kept him nearly that length of time. This man 

 wing-tipped him when he was a young bird, and had used 

 him as a ' coy ' gull ever since ; said he had killed a great 

 many gulls over him. He shot them for the feathers. The 

 bird," being old and wise, all kinds of gulls will 'coy ' equally 

 well to him. They all have confidence in him. 



Antxees Wanted.— Editor Forest and Stream : Dr. Johann 

 Fischer, of this city, is not only our first surgeon and opera- 

 tor, but, like Nimrod, a " mighty hunter." He has a fine 

 collection of antlers, from most parts of this hemisphere, but 

 nothing from America. He is willing to incur any reasonable 

 expense in procuring American specimens. He desires that 

 the skull of the animal, or at least a portion of the same, be 

 preserved. Other efforts having failed, I venture to try to 

 gratify his wish through you. As there are always sailing 

 vessels loading petroleum for this port, packages so sent cm 

 come directly and cheaply. A. W. Thayer, 



Trieste, April 26, 1879. TJ. S. Consul. 



By applying to J. Wallace, 17 North William street, New 

 York, Dr. Fischer will be able to obtain skulls and horns of 

 most of our North American herbivores ; among them those of 

 the moose, elk, Virginia and mule deer, Rocky Mountain 

 sheep or big-horn, caribou, and others. 



Odd — Editor Forest and Stream : Having shot a curious 

 bird this week. I thought I would Bend you a description of 

 it. It has puzzled the people about here for some time. 

 The first I heard of it was on meeting an acquaintance one 

 morning, about the middle of April. He asked if it was 

 time for whippoorwills to be here. I said no. He then said 

 be had just heard one. As it was about eight o'clock in the 

 forenoon, I told him it must be a mistake, for I had never 

 heard one in the daytime ; but on leaving him and going per- 

 haps 100 yards, I heard the cry of a whippoorwilf repeated 

 three times, sharp and clear, followed almost instantly by 



