366 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



the nong of a robin. I tried to find the cause of it then, but 

 the bird was gone when I reached the place where I had 

 heard it. In b few days I heard the bird again, and by creep- 

 ing up carefully I got within fifteen yards, and lay watching 

 it nearly five minutes. First it would sing like a robin a few 

 seconds, I hen stopping, would inBtantly whippoorwill three 

 times. It went through this performance several times, and 

 thHn I shot it. It proved to be a female robin, rather small 

 and light-colored, with more white feathers than is common 

 with robins. The notes were perfect imitations ot the whip- 

 poorwill and robin. Now, what was it ? A freak of nature < 

 or how do you explain it ? I have preserved the skin. 

 Lakeoille, Mats., April 27, 1870. E. F. Staples. 



,« . 



Serosa Poses.— A litter of foxes, numbering twelve, were 

 dug out of a dea, I am sorry to say, within a mile and a half 

 of my house. This is one of three litters that 1 know of, 

 and I was anxious that they should not be disturbed, looking 

 forward to next winter. I took particular pains to impress 

 upon the man who was with me that it would take mm at 

 least a week to dig them out ; but unfortunately the den hap- 

 pened to be near his house, and one morning he saw ten 

 young foxes near the mouth of the hole, and the thought ot 

 fifty cents bounty on each was too great a temptation. I told 

 him, after I heard of it, that I hoped the old fox would catch 

 every chicken he raised during the next two years. 1 have 

 no doubt that these foxes were all of one litter, although I 

 did not see tbem. The young foxes which Schaeffer, ot Bos- 

 ton had Came from Greenfield, in this State, which looks 

 as though the N. H. foxes were trying to keep a good supply 

 on hand. °- M - fal 



Dumbarton, N. H-, May 16, 1879. 



Arrivals at the Philadelphia Zoological Gabdkn for the 

 Week Esding Mat 31.— One star-nosed mole, Cvndylura cristata ; two 

 water snakes, Tropiclontm (ebons ; one alligator, Alligator mis 

 sis; two ring cloves, Surtur ri-wceis, and one nonparlel, Cya 

 eirie, all presented. Seven white-rooted mice, Besperomyi Uucopu.1' 

 born In trie garden. Two laughing JaeSassea, Dacels gigantea ; four 

 Swatnson's Lorikeet, Trimyloasus nova-nollandia. j two yellow collared 

 parrakeetB, Platycereua semi-lorquatua, and one grey parrot. Psitlacus 

 erythaeue, all purchased. 



■■■ - — 



animals Received at Central Pake JIknaoeuie for Week End- 

 ing June 7.-One red Bqulrrel, Stiurius lmisoniua, presented by Mr. H. 

 W. Putnam, N. T. city ; one gray squirrel, Seivrim carolinentds, pre- 

 sented by Mr. J. "W. Tucker, H. T. city ; two white mice, Mm musch- 

 h,a, presented by Master Herman Kuslerer, N. Y. city ; one ring dove, 

 Tarlur risorius, presented by Mr. E. L. GreeD, N. Y. city j one red- 

 tailed hawk, Buteo bnr.alis, presented by Mr. John AkhurBt, Brooklyn ; 

 one mockingbird, Minus polyytottus, presented by Master Arthur Barns, 

 N. Y. city ; two cygnets, Cygnus oler, tired in the Menagerie ; one mili- 

 tary macaw. Ara militaria, purchased. 



W. A. Conklin, Director. 



ABRIVALS AT THE ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN, CINCINNATI, Dl* TO JONE 1, 



l S7 g_Two Bonaparte's gulls, Chroicocephalus Philadelphia; one coot, 

 mica americcma ; one wood duck, Aix sponaa; iwo Florida galll- 

 nules Gallinuta galeata; two crowned pigeons, n<mra coromta ; one 

 CUlmura UmmincU, one Coronella doliata-M presented ; three Can- 

 ada geese, Bertticla canadensis; two passenger pigeons, Ectopistus m%- 

 jraeario-ttll hatched In the Garden; one Bactrlan camel, Camelua 

 iocmaim ; one pony, Equus eahallvs-M born In the Garden ; wo 

 lions, Felts Uo; two pumas, Felis concolor; two spotted hysensa, 

 Myoma crocuta; one ocelot, Felix vardalti-M deposited; one white- 

 throated capuchin, Cebus hypoleucus, received in exchange ; Wo Nlco- 

 Dar pigeons, Calamus nteolaria ; twoEnropean jay?, Oarrulus glanaa- 

 rius ■ two Pennants parrakeets, Platycereua pennanti ; one ring-necked 

 parrakeet, PaUsornis urquatus ; four love-bird parrakeeta, . 

 putlaria ; four white Java sparrows, Padda eryzivara, var. alba ; four 

 Paradise Whydah birds, Vidua paradise*; two cut-throat finches, 

 Amadina faseiata; four common wax bills, Ealrelda cincrea; seven 

 yellow birds, Chryeomitris trislis; one cow Mtd, MoMhrm pearto', 

 lour pine (Inches, chrymnitris pinus— all purchased. 



Frank. J. Tbomfson, Superintendent. 



this case ; and I will here say that he is, in my opinion, the 

 best "all-round" judge of a dog that 1 ever met with, and 1 

 am not alone in that opinion. It was here also that I learned 

 that a black dog had better remain at home, no matter how 

 handsome or intelligent. 



At Baltimore, in 1878, I got a V. H. 0. with a black and 

 white bitch called Meg, which I exhibited for Mr. Samuel 

 Scranton of Providence, and won second in the retrieving 

 spaniel class, being beaten by an Irish water spaniel that had 

 no business in the class. Said spaniel was entered by a Mr. 

 Whitman, who claimed that the dog lacked but a sixteenth 

 part to make him pure Irish, and winning only one month 

 before at Boston as an Irish water spaniel. I also won first 

 in the cocker class with a bitch named Panchon, owned by 

 Mr. E. W. Davis, of Providence. I also won first with this 

 bitch Bt Boston the month before, the judges being Mr. John 

 Davidson, and Dr. Twaddell for the non-sporting dogs, 

 the same as at Boston ; and in regard to Baltimore, I cannot 

 speak too highly of the reception there given to all exhibitors, 

 every member of tho club, from the president down, doing 

 all in their power to make the occasion pleasant. " Long 

 live the Baltimore Kennel Club!" say I, although it was there 

 I first met the full force of the Western " ring," who seemed 

 determined to have every prize " go West," regardless of fair- 

 ness or merit. 



It was there also' that I saw one of the Western gentlemen 

 sell a dog which he represented as thoroughly broken, but 

 which turned out to be sadly in want of breaking, and after- 

 ward cost the purchaser in the neighborhood of a hundred 

 dollars for that purpose. It was there, I think, that the 

 " war whoop " was first raised against that tried and true old 

 veteran, John Davidson, and it will require a different lot 

 of signatures to make me believe him in the wrong ; for I 

 sincerely believe that it would be a credit and honor to the 

 different exhibitions if the judges selected combined the 

 practical experience with strict integrity and fairness that he 

 does. 



My next appearance was at the second annual show of the 

 Westminster Kennel Club, at which I won first in the re- 

 trieving spaniel class, second with a pointer, Rake II., which 

 I exhibited for Mr. J. W. Coffin. I also exhibited for Mr. 

 Geo. Miller a setter dog that had arrived from England two 

 days before the show. The dog had hardly entered the ring 

 on the appointed day, when the judge, Mr. Lort, ordered Mm 

 out, assigning as a reason that he was "a bit coarse." Then 

 said Mr. Lort, " You Americans have a bad way of crossing 

 your dogs here." When I told him that the dog had landed 

 from England but eight days since he had, and that he had 

 taken a prize there under his judging, and that the owner was 

 there with the papers to prove it, he was dumbfounded. It 

 was only one case of the English judge's judgment of our 

 method" of breeding. 



This was a three-judge show, Mr. Davidson being allowed 

 lo judge the Gordon dogs and spaniels, and Dr. Twaddell the 

 non-sporting dogs. The dogs were well cared for at this 

 show, however, "as they always are at any exhibition superin- 

 tended by Mr. Charles Lincoln. 



My next trip was a two days' visit to the third annual show 

 of the Westminster Club, in which I made no entry, but was 



"WHAT I KNOW ABOUT BENCH 

 SHOWS. 



Providence, R. I., May 36, 1879. 

 Editoe Pobest and Stream : 



Being a great lover of dogs, I have taken great pains in 

 breeding them, and to do so intelligently, have spent consid- 

 erable time and money in visiting the different dog shows 

 within my reach, paying from eight to twenty dollars entry 

 fees on a number of occasions, besides my expenses— and 1 

 am a poor man, too. My object was to learn, if possible, 

 which was the best breed of dogs to devote the most time and 

 attention to. I find I am as much in the dark as when 1 

 began. 



My first experience was at Springfield, at a show given by 

 the Rod and Gun Club, in 1876, when I was lucky enough to 

 get third with a black dog called Jim and first in the retriev- 

 ing spaniel class, but received no notice in the cocker spaniel 

 class, although 1 exhibited what was admitted to be the 

 handsomest specimen of the class, and one that I have never 

 seen equaled since, being beaten by a dog with a top-knot 

 and curly coat. A black bilch was awarded first in the Eng- 

 lish setter class. The judges were Dr. Wm. Jarvis and 

 Messrs. Luther Adams and Theodore Morford. So much 

 for the judgment there. 



My next attempt was at the great International or Centen- 

 nial Show at Philadelphia, in which one of our late Boston 

 judges worked so hard to win the Scott gun with a dog 

 named Guy Manneriug. But as that show was not recog- 

 nized as regular, I will pass on to the next one I attended, 

 ■which was at Providence, It. I., in 1877. Here I won first 

 in the setter class with my black bitch Smut, and also won 

 second in the cocker spaniel class. This was a one-judge 

 show, Mr. Wm. M. Tilestou being the one chosen as judge. 



My next appearance was at Boston, in 1878, at the show of 

 the Mass. Kennel Club, it being their first show. Here I got 

 a V. H. C. with my black bitch Smut. This was also a one- 

 jud"e show, John Davidson, Esq., .being the one choEen in 



well pleased with the show, and also to meet some old friends 

 of mine. The judgment was fair, and 1 think, with a few 

 exceptions, well received. 



My last experience was at the second aunual show of the 

 Massachusetts Kennel Club at Boston, and I almost feel as 

 though it would be my last appearance at any show ; for 

 when a bitch, handsome in every part, thoroughly broken, 

 and intelligent in every movement, is led into the ring only to 

 be ordered out again, for the only apparent reason that its 

 color was black, it seems to me that the " color line " is get- 

 ting to be too strongly drawn to be consistent with fairnessor 

 encouraging in any degree to patient and careful training, 

 whose results are apparent to every eye, except those blinded, 

 like some feminine ones, by fashion. The old say id g that 

 you might as well be " out of the world as out of fashion," 

 seoms to be exemplified when a black dog or bitch is led into 

 the ring, though the rule seems to vary, according to taste, or 

 rather to the wishes of the clubs or individuals it is thought 

 proper to "toady." to 



If some kennel clubs exhibit a dog of a peculiar kind, he is 

 the standard that year ; but if an outsider shows one, every 

 way as good, he will be, according to the "unbiased (?) 

 opinion" of the judges, a little throaty, his hair a little too 

 curly, or he will be a little out at elbow, etc. Ho matter how 

 good an eye you may have for a dog, if you can't see the 

 fault the " unbiased (?) judge " can ; so take him out. 



Mr. 8amuel Scranton exhibited a bitch at this show, aud a 

 handsomer one, or one nearer perfection of its kind I never 

 saw. Teeth are bad, was the opinion of the judges. Take her 

 out, the command. She was twelve years old. 



One of the rules (No. 4) at this exhibition was this : " No 

 dog shall be qualified to compete or entitled to receive a prize 

 who is suffering from mange;" but in the show they allowed a 

 dog to win in class 50 who had the mange, and had had his 

 tail sheared to help his looks. This dog was protested 

 against, and no notice was taken by the club of the protest, 

 nor did one of the members give me a civil answer to a 

 straightforward question. 



I won first in the retrieving spaniel class here ; but I must 

 say that the judges displayed no more practical knowledge of 

 dogs than children, judging the doga almost entirely from the 

 book, and with one or two' exceptions the dogs judged from 

 the book were the only ones judged at all. The judges were 

 Mr. Chas. II. Raymond, Dr. Wm. Jarvis and Major J. M. 

 Taylor. 



You will notice that 1 had exhibited under the judging of 

 Dr. Jarvis before, when he thought a black dog as good as 

 any, and I thought him a very clever little man. 



I saw some of the best dogs at this exhibition that I ever 

 saw exhibited, and that I never was so poorly used at any 

 show that I ever attended. I did not get a civil answer to 

 any question I asked from members of the club, except from 

 Mr. Copeland. Thomas M. Aldeicu, 



OUR LONDON LETTER. 



London, May, 1870. 



Editor Fokest and Stream : 



You may have heard this story before, though you couldn't 

 have known that the principal actor in the little drama was a 

 forbear of mine. A doughty Highland chieftain he was, and 

 lived and flourished some two hundred years ago. Moral, 

 religious and virtuous, as I have no doubt he was, the herds 

 and flocks of his lowland neighbors, grazing in the broad, 

 green fields of their rich owners, were too great a temptation 

 for the chieftain's nerves, and he used to amuse himself, Zulu. 



fashion, on moonlight nights, by descending from his moun- 

 tains with his faithful clan and driving home hundreds of the 

 enemies' kine. But the Laird o' Kilthingumie was too many 

 for him one night, for he beat back the cateran and took the 

 Highland chieftain prisoner. By way of securing pleasant 

 dreams to his guest, the Laird, before sending him to bed, 

 pointed out to him a very large oak tree that grew on his 

 lawn. 



"Do ye see that tree !" asked the Laird. 

 "Och, yes," said the chieftain, "to be surely she sees him." 

 " Well," continued his host, " you'll hang there to-morrow 

 morning." 



"And hang very well, to be surely," said my ancestor, de- 

 fiantly. 



But the Laird had a wife, and between them they had a 

 daughter, whose oval cavity couldn't have been made any big- 

 ger without shifting her ears back. She was known all over 

 the country as Miokle-mou'd Meg. 



"Noo, here's a chance," said the canny goodwife; "our 

 Meg will ne'er get a man. Spare this Hielan' chieftain's life 

 and mak' him marry Meg." 



Then the Laird put on his nightcap, tied the strings, and 

 having gone to bed, slept the sleep of the just, and in the 

 morning, before leaving his cell, the chieftain was duly ap- 

 prised of the ultimatum. 



" To be surely," said the chief, " to be surely, she'll marry 

 the bit lassie." 



But when Meg was presented to him, and great rejoicings 

 were being made, my worthy forbear suddenly put a damper 

 on the whole proceedings by observing staunchly : 



" Och, no, no—no, to be surely ! She couldn't stomach 

 that : she'll have the tree /" 



And so, Bir, the timely arrival early this morning of Forest 

 Aim Stebam saved your humble servant from a similar fate. 

 I stood upon the scaffold high. I don't know what brought 

 me there, but I suppose I deserved the elevaLion, and I've al- 

 ways had an ambition to rise in the world. However, there, 

 close beside me, stood the trusty Marwood, and I tried to 

 prolong my life by entering into a conversation with him. 



"Don't be in a hurry, James," I said, quite friendly like ; 

 " you've a long day before you." 



" There's a short 'un afore thee," said James ; '■ but heave 

 roond, if thee means prayin'. I'll give thee until I coouis 

 twenty " 



"James! James!" I cried, "couldn't you give me a drop 

 of something?" 



"A drop!" said James, "I'll give thee six foot o' that, 

 lad." And he proceeded to pull the cap ovbt my face. 



"Oh! hang the cap!" I cried. "I shan't be able to 

 breathe. Hie ! hie !" 



The bolt seemed stiff, and required two thundering kicks 

 to set me free. And the noise awoke me. It was the post- 

 man's knock. 



I was greatly pleased to learn you had so good a show at 

 New York, and that the exhibitors were in a great measure 

 satisfied. Philadelphia, too, I see was good; but, Philadel- 

 phia, if I were a Yankee I would be ashamed of you. What! 

 You have judging in private ! You adopt our rotten old con- 

 servative Brummagen system ! You treated your exhibitors 

 with indignity and your judges as rogues ! And worse than 

 all, you trample on the liberty of the press ! And then your 

 Philadelphian papers boast about America being a free coun- 

 try, and all that. Yes, Phil., America is a free country, and 

 though a foreigner, 1 admire her institutions; but you ain't 

 in it, Phil., leastways your dog show iBn't. 



The idea of parading Die prize dogs is a good one. I be- 

 lieve it was first adopted at Keighley Torts, Eng., in 1873. 

 It elves people who come to see the animals an ocular educa- 

 tion of what a good dog should really be; that isn't readily 

 forgotten. 



What is that Girond'm disinfectant? Who isGirondin? 

 Can't you tell me ? We sadly want a good, cheap disinfect- 

 ant in this country. I have tried nearly all, and all have some 

 fault. 



Also, could you give me the points of a Chesapeake Bay 

 dog in some future number? 



You had no bull-dogs, I see— I mean good^ones. I suppose 

 we are getting fastidious, for they are far Irsm numerous in 

 England. 



Glad you have come to your senses regarding Skyes and 

 Yorkies. I should think they were different, indeed. 



You say a while and black dog ought to have won in Char- 

 lies. We don't like them, but I do lUte a tri-eolor. 



Newfoundlands, I suppose, wouldn't have been of much 

 account. Although the Yankees beat all the world in New- 

 foundlands, we beat the Yankees. 



By the way, a new terrier— the waterside— is rapidly be- 

 coming fashionable here in this country. He weighs nearly 

 forty pounds, is something like an Irish, but much Digger, of 

 course, and handsomer, and the ears are like those of a fox- 

 terrier. The hair is pin-wire, and they'll simply kill the devil 

 on four legs. It is fun, 1 can tell you, being the judge in a 

 ring of say twenty. "Walk them round," you say; then 

 they all pair and " tare," anil if they can't, they swear ; but 

 they are gentle and loving to the human race. 1 was the first 

 to describe them. I believe, in an article in the last "Live 

 Stock Jour. lal Almanack." 



By the time this reaches you the great International Han- 

 over Show will be a thing of the past; so, too, will be the 

 Alexandre Palace Bull-dog Show, a Bhort account of which I 

 will send you in my next. Oue feature, by the way, of the 

 Hanover show is this : they have a class for canine literature 

 and pictures of famous dogs. It does not strike me that the 

 literature class can do good; but if artists are encouraged to 

 paint the dogs of the day (the champion dogs.), these will cer- 

 tainly be found of very great service in a generation or two. 

 I am trying to bring a new favorite to the front. I meau 

 the Yack Indian or Esquimaux dog. I've seen a good many 

 of these in my time— as, like the bad penny, I've been mostly 

 every where— but I have seldom met with a nicer specimen 

 than he who will figure in the Live Stock Journal in a week 

 or two. The artist has succeeded wonderfully in catching 

 both coat and color as well as shape. 



The show season will soon be with us now in earnest. The 

 buds are appearing on the trees, and the Dandie Dimmont 

 Terrier Club are showing signs of excitement and meditating 

 meetings. The. Irish Terrier Club, yet in its infancy, will no 

 doubt prove a Hercules and a caution to snakes ; but Skyes 

 are still dormant. ■ 



Mr. Lort has been very ill, but you will be glad to hear he 

 is once more on the boards. 



The weather still continues very cold and wet, with now 

 and then snow, hail or sleet, which makes me think you have 

 been playing some game with the Gulf Stream. 

 May you flourish. Gordon Btablbs, M. D. R t .M- 



