324 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



I Nov. :."J. 1883 



J£j/w/tf/ §WanK 



AN AMATEUR TAXIDERMIST. 



Editor Forest and &fo a 



During' u recent visit to Queliei:, 1 hail the pleasure of cull- 

 ing upon your talented correspondent. .T. U. Giui'iiri . K-q.. 

 Ag^ntoftJieMarineand Fishery Department of the Dominion 

 of Canada, a man whose modesty ia only esceetledby his 

 wonderful skill in thai mopl difficult branch of taxidermy, 

 in'.' |n i •-, i v;ii i> >n of the skins of fishes. 1 was shown a Bpeci^ 

 men of his art (lor il is an art to do what Mr. Gregory does) 

 ,,,,,,,, ,yv' .'. taken ihioughlhe ice last winter in Lake 

 A, Bome days after tfe was taken, 36 

 pounds, and measured 41 inches in length. 



Sir. Gregory had pj\ pared and set, up the skin in so .skill- 

 ful a manner, lhat il looked like life itself, having h>t none 

 of ii.-, brilliancy, and by a process known only to himself 

 had preserved Vdl the fiesbuess Of color of a lisb just, from 

 water. It is the only speeimen 1 haw ever seen in which 

 the skin was not morc'or less shriveled and discolored. It 

 ,,1-M-d through, the heal of summer without any per- 

 il ptibb change, 



To Mr. Gregory (although only an amateur) On. Dominion 

 is indebted for a very large number of the specimens pfvalu" 

 shown at the great 'international Fishery Exhibition, held 

 in London lasl summer, arid which contributed so largely to 

 lie' success if the Canadian exhibit. 



The collection contained eighty-one specimens of Mr. 

 Go Tory '- .-kill, including almost every variety of tisbes 

 found in Canadian waters, varying; in «ize fioui a'sea cucuni- 

 Ik r oi one-halt pound to a white whale or porpoise of 2,000 

 pounds. Among the specimens of S<ilmo ac/iv/' was oue taken 

 in the .Moi-ic. which weighed 47 pounds, and one from the 

 Cascapedia of 42 pounds. 



Mr. Gregory's private collection is becoming very valuable, 

 including also birds as well S3 flakes, Being an ardent 

 Sportsman, he doubtless derives a double enjoyment from his 

 love of taxidermy and the study of natural history. 



It is to he hoped that some of our own taxidermists may 

 be induced to give more lime and study to the preservation 

 and Betting Up of -kins of fiskA of our own waters. There 

 is certainly jj demand for such work i well done), and would, 

 no doubt, pay for time and slud\ in tbat direction. 



WAr,TBB M. Bbackett. 

 Boston, Nov 19. 



NOTES ABOUT REPTILES. 



EtUli'V Fvn«l and Sfrcml: 



I inclose a communication just received from Or. J. H. 

 Mathers, of West Virginia, which seems of so much interest 

 licit you will, I am sure, be anxious lo publish it, I am glad 

 to lin'd that my statements in your issues of Nov. 1 and .Sure 

 corroborated by so intelligent a gentleman as I know Dr. 

 Mathers to be; and 1 am also much pleased to know that we 

 have nn observer of reptilian habits in such an excellent lo- 

 calily 1'i.r study. I have answered the doctor's query as to 

 rattlesnakes perishing when confined in a box by sTlftinfl lhat 

 I consider it largely due to the want of exercise, food and 

 water, as it is almost impossible to make Ihem eat or drink 

 under such circum.-iauces; at least al the National .Museum 

 ai; our rat I lesuakes perish for tin: reasons given". 



H, 0. Yakkow, Cur. Rept, Nat .Ms. 



Sath,;.vi. Mi-secvi. Washington, Nov. It). 



[isolqbuhe.] 

 // G. ramw, M.D.: 



Utu: Sitt— Having read with much interest your eommu- 

 ,: 'ins in FOBEST AM" B'l'JSlsAJl, entitled "Notes About 

 Reptile.-," and your request asking for further facts on the 

 subject, I make bold to Send you a few observations of my 

 own. The belief in the venomous properties of the ^"blow- 

 ing viper'' is universal in this State, as it is in Virginia. 

 This reptile is ran- in Ibis section. T must confess that 1 

 shared in the belief of ils poisonous qualities unlil a few 

 years ago. when having secured a line upeejmeni I carefully 

 'dis.-oct.od it, but finding neither fangs nor poi.-.on glands, I 

 concluded il was harmless,. 



The delusion in regard to the hoopsuake is a prevalent 

 one. l have never yet met any pcr.-on who had seen it, ex- 

 cept one or Iwo chronic liars, who could not, be believed on 

 oath. 



I ibid the belief in the fascinating or "ekarmiug" powers 



ed--.es v,rv general. This power is attributed to nearly 



all kinds of 'si rpents, but more particularly to the rattle- 



ii and black snake. 1 have heard men of undoubted 



veracily declare that Hey have witnessed the •'charming" of 



i U and other animals, so while I am disposed to 



I,', | sralyzing effects may have been witnessed. 1 am 



of the Opinion thai it was simply the effects of fear, and that 



lb,, "charm, ' ■■ i ■ ' ■ ''■- are 'not proven." 



In the mountains of this section rattlesnakes abound, and 

 all the superstitions of the people in regard to them are in 

 full force. There is oin' error in regard to them lhat may 

 lead to serious results to persons unfamiliar with the habits 

 of these iinamiable reptiles. It is very generally believed 

 thai Muike never bites until il has sounded a warning with 

 : his is a mistake; when the serpent is lying in 

 wait he is still and silent, ana the first notice the victim 



receiv- i I,, Il\ stroke, followed immediately by the 



loud, and apparently, exulting rattle. This ha.- been my 

 experience ill several' cases ol biles, both in the human race 

 and in animals. 11 tin- scrpenl i- resting in calm enjoyment 

 after a full meal'it does not want to be disturbed, accord- 

 ingly the rattle is -oundea when the disturber is at a con- 



, I, sable distance. Of course, if approached near enough it 

 will now bile, ism while loudly sounding its rattle. A 

 knowledge of this fad may save some inexperienced person 

 from the very serious consequences of a poisonous bite. For 

 the Idle of a rattlesnake is no joke, although not often fatal 

 , an adult. I atn tempted to give you a short account, of a 

 fatal bile of a very large ratflesn: ke. About thirty years 

 ago, 8 man living about ten miles from this place, lost a 

 young horse, it having stray cd. After several days' scared 

 the horse was found by the owner in the woods several miles 

 from his huiiii. The horse was caught and a halter placed 

 on its head, and the owner proceeded to lead it home, 

 OS the coll had never been ridden. The man arrived 

 within two miles of his home, when passing through 

 some low but thick bushes a very large rattlesnake struck 

 at hirn ami indicted a bite on the front Of the man's thigh, 

 ulense depression that immediately ensued prevented 

 ill, .. ii-ttm from destroying the reptile. He was also unable 

 to lead his horse any further, so tying it securely to a tree 

 he, with great difficulty, made his way home. Aniving 



there be related his mishap, describing the place where he 

 had fastened his horse. Several of Ids neighbors proceeded 

 io the spot and found the horse without any difficulty, and 

 r by found the rattlesnake, and of so monstrous ' a size 

 thai they first hesitated to attack it. Rallying their cour- 

 age lm i ver, a few vigorous blows despatched it A care 

 ful measurement showed the monster to be eleven feet two 



ches in length and of proportionate thickness. The bit- 



n man died" the day after receiving the bile. This story I 



insider to be well authenticated, as three men of good re- 

 pute for truth have at, different, times tokl it to me, two of 

 the men having been present, al the dispatching of the snake, 

 and also present when the victim died. 



Another fallacy prevailing is that the number of rattles 

 indicate the age of the rattlesnake. As a general thing a 

 young and vigorous snake will have more' rattles than an 

 old one, though thev are not as large. The largest number 

 1 have ever seen was eleven on a small snake, A large old 

 one lulled at the same time had but five. The fact is the 



plilesare continually losing their rattles. 



I Will close this communication by asking a question: 

 Why do rattlesnakes, when confined in a box with a glass 

 lid and exposed lo the sun, die! I have seen this happen 

 three limes, which is, I think, enough to show it to be a- 

 fact. 



If the foregoing will be of any interest or use to you I 

 will be much gratified, and will be pleased to furnish you 

 any information on the subject in inv power. 



J.'R. Mathers, M. D. 



BtKJKfiAHNOB, Upshur Co.. W. Tn., Nov. IS. 1888. 



\\ 



REARING PHEASANTS. 



l / H y is it, that the amateurs aud sportsmen of the 



United States have paid so little attention to the 

 breeding of pheasants? In England, France, Germany. Bel- 

 aud Holland this most interesting branch of aviculture 

 owed by such a number of breeders, aud with so great, 

 lry that importers aud dealers have no difficulty in 

 obtaining prices for species not previously introduced which 

 would appear fabulous to one unacquainted with the busi- 

 ness. But it is net the intention of the writer to call the at- 

 tention of the readers of FOEEBT and Stream to what are 

 actually termed "fancy varieties." but to give his experience 

 in rearing some of the cheaper ones, which can be done with 

 so little trouble and expense. Take, for instance, the silver, 

 gold, common or Japanese for a beginning — a single pair 

 will suffice — aud after gaining some experience, if one 

 , lioo-es to lly al higher game, he can easily answer croakers 

 as Dr. Coues did his cynical visitor. Perisoreus. "JSMJlMTI *l(* 

 iiwjotii. " 



Suppose an intending breeder has procured a pair of silver 

 pheasants (Eiqikiia iuuk nyethemenn>), which 1. would recom- 

 mend as being hardier, and consequently more easily retired 

 than any of I he family, The first thing" to be done will be 

 the construction of a proper inelosnre, which should be 

 some sixteen or eighteen feet square, and about seven feet in 

 height. This will" be ample for a pair or two of birds. It 

 should be located on a sloping, well-drained piece of turf, 

 facing the south or southeast, and built of pickets or wire 

 netting. The back or north side should be of solid boards, 

 to break off the cold winds, as pheasants will generally roost 

 in the open air, in preference to going into shelter houses. 

 Any of the species which I have mentioned do not require 

 as much protection (luring the winter, as our common barn- 

 yard fowls. Advantage can be frequently taken of the side 

 "or angle of a building, to form one or two sides of the in- 

 closure, thereby saving expense and getting shelter at the 

 same lime. Across the back of the iuclosure, build an open- 

 fronted shed, about three feel high, and of the same depth, 

 to serve as a retreat for the birds during wet. stormy weather. 

 [Jndei 1 this should be placed the food and water. Nail up a 

 few rough, round perches near the top; scatter about a small 

 quantity of fine gravel and a piece or two of plaster, and the 

 iuclosure will be ready for occupancy. The birds should be 

 placed in their quarters some little time before the breeding 

 season commences, so as to become accustomed to their sur- 

 roundings, and should the spring be a favorable one the 

 first eggs will be laid during the latter portion of March, 

 Lean a few boards or mats against, the back of (he iuclosure, 

 with a little hose hay behind them to serve as nesting places. 

 Some hens will drop their eggs at random, while others will 

 use the nests prepared for them. In either easo lake away 

 the eggs as fast as laid, keep them in a dry, cool place, and 

 when eight or ten are secured place them, if possible, under 

 a bantam hen tor hatching: if not, a common dunghill will 

 answer. I prefer the common bantams, as they generally 

 make good mothers, and being smaller then the dunghills, 

 are not SO apt to injure the chicks by treading on them. 

 Some of the pheasant 'hens make most excellent mothers, and 

 if thev show any signs of wishing to hatch allow them to do 

 so, luit always place the tirst clutch under the foster molher, 

 aud allow tile true one to hatch the second. The period of 

 incubation of the silver pheasant is from twenty -three to 

 twenty-five days, and the chicks should not be disturbed 

 until twenty-four hours after hatching. By this time they 

 will be able to run about and seek for their food, which 

 should be a simple custard, made by beating an egg with a 

 lablcspoonful of milk, and cooked by a gentle heat. This 

 should be mixed with a small quantitv of finely grated, 

 boiled, lean beef or bccfV, heart and given fresh twice a dny 

 Place it in some shaded place so that, the sun's rays cannot 

 reachit, Water should be given twice or tbrie, [„ i day, 

 and served in a shallow saucer. Should the amateur be within 

 reach of a bird store, procure a small quantity of what are 

 commonly known as ant's eggs, scatter a few of them in 

 grass in front of the mother's coop and watch how earn- 

 estly the chicks will hunt them up. If ant's egg's cannot 

 be obtained, catch a few grasshoppers and mince them 

 finely, as a substitute. Of course these directions are given 

 undei the supposition that one is not roubled by that im- 

 ported little thieving pest, the English sparrOW. U it has 

 located in your neighborhood, you will be lorced to cover 

 the young pheasants' runs with fine wire or twine netting, or 

 the v rati :d brutes will wax and grow fat whllatfcs poor 

 chicks will starve. I can speak feelingly on this subject as 

 they are the veritable betes wires of my existence, and it 

 keeps me constantly on the watch, to reduce their plunder- 

 ing lo a minimum. ' 1 fence them out by making run.- of 

 boards, eighteen inches wide, set ou edge, and covered by 

 frame- on which is stretche i line wire netting; these should 

 be moved once or twice a week, in order to keep the chicks 

 clean and give them fresh foraging ground. When the 

 chicks are some ten days old, give them a little canary seed, 

 mixed with some finely minced white clover, lettuce, or any 

 tender green food. Pheasants, old or young, should alv, ays, 

 have an abundant supply of green food. Spinach or cabbage 



will do in the winter, when nothing else can be obtained. As 

 the birds increase in age, I he transit ion will be easy from 

 canary seed to wheat screenings and buckwheat, which, 

 mixed with a little cracked Indian corn, forms the staple 

 food of the adult birds. The young birds should not be til- 

 lowed to range before the sun has dried the dew from off rhe 

 grass, and if the amateur isforced to rear in run-, a cloth 

 thrown over them at nightfall will be a great help, a- ihe 

 Chicks can then be turned out the first thing in the morning, 

 instead of being cooped up in a close, stifling hutch with the 

 mother. 



Thus far I have never been troubled by any special (Us 

 ease among my .voting birds, but as they are sometimes 

 affected by What is commonly known as llie "gapes/ a dis- 

 ease caused by the presence of entozoain the windpipe, the 

 following directions, given by Mr. W. B. Trgetnuiei. will 

 show how it should be treated: 



'With regard to the treatment of this disease, the plan of 

 giving remedies externally to remove the worms is objection- 

 able, as the medicine has lobe absorbed, pass into the blood, 

 and act powerfully upon fife body of the bird before its pui 

 pose can be accomplished; its direct application to Ihe worms 

 is therefore preferable. This may be accomplished by strip- 

 ping the vane from a small quill feather, except, half an inch 

 at its extremity; this should be dipped io spirits of turpentine, 

 aud, the chick being securely held by an assistant, (he 

 tongue may be drawn forward by catching the barbs at its 

 base in a lock of cotton wool, and then pulling it forward 

 so as to expose the small opening of the windpipe, down 

 which the feather is to be passed sufficiently Jar to come in 

 contact with the worms, and then turned round between the 

 thumb aud finger. The turpentine at once kills the para- 

 sites, aud its application excites a tit of coughing, during 

 which they are expelled. This mode Of applicali 

 some manual dexterity, and at times the irritation proves 

 fatal. Olive oil in the place of turpentine is sometimes 

 employed. Removing the worms bya feather is trouble- 

 some, and the operation is not always successful. Fumiga- 

 tion with tobacco smoke is rarely of much avail. The 

 administration of turpentine or camphor is attended with 

 danger lo ihe chickens, and opening the windpipe -and ex- 

 tracting the worms while the bird is under the influence of 

 chloroform requires surgical skill. Knowing the extremely 

 active influence of carbolic acid on the lower forms of ani- 

 mal life, I determined to try the effect of the inhalation of 

 its vapor in the cases of gapes that came under my notice. 

 I have operated several times on chickens and turkeys that 

 were stiffi ring severely from gapes, being almost choked by 

 the worms. Each bird was placed in a small deal box, the 

 open top being covered with a cloth. I then lock a carbolic 

 acid fumigalor. consisting of a -mall metal saucer, heated by 

 a spirit lamp. Ou the saucer I placed about a dozen drops 

 of carbolic acid, lit the lamp, and put the apparatus in the 

 interior of the box. Dense while fumes soon ailed the box, 

 and, being of necessity respired by the bird, came at once in 

 contact with the worms. The operation was continued in 

 every case until the birds were in dangei of suffocation 

 They soon, however, recovered on exposure to Ihe aii . and 

 on the day following the treatment were running about per 

 fectly free from any symptoms of disease. No special ap- 

 paratus is required, lis any arrangement which will aerve to 

 volatilize a few drops of the acid will answer 

 of carbolic acid mav be used by puttiug a hoi 

 box and pouring a few drops of the acid upon it. or it may 

 be volatilized by putting three or lour drops tn a spoon, hold- 

 ing the latter over the flame of a lamp ami placing the head 

 of the bird in the cloud of rising vapor. 1 have bii 

 deal of experience with birds afflicted with gapes, but have 

 never found any treatment, at all approach in efficacy that of 

 fumigation with carbolic acid vapor, the worms, alter re- 

 moval, ought to be burnt, and the dead bodies Of any chick- 

 ens, young partridges, or other birds infested by these para- 

 sites should be treated in the same manner if we wi-h to 

 avoid the spread of the disease." 



Il will sometimes happen that the chicks will be hatched 

 out during weather which may be too inclement, to put them 

 out of doors, in that case they can be kept for a few days in 

 an old packing case, placed indoors, but be careful to place 



an inch or two of drv sand or sawdust in the hot! I the 



box to prevenl the toes from becoming distorted or out ot 

 shape. 



As many breeders would not wish to be at the extra ex- 

 pense of covering all their inclosures, the young birds can 

 be pinioned to prevent flying. The practice mosl in use is 

 to amputate the. wing, at what is commonly called the pinion 

 joint, with a pair of sharp scissors. I do not fancy it, being 

 both a painful and dangerous operation, as quite a number 

 of the birds will nol survive the shock. There is another 

 mode Which is almost painless and self-acting. Catch the 

 chicks when some four or five weeks old, and tightly tie a 

 small India rubber band just at the pinion point, and in a 

 few weeks the amputation will be complete; and 

 irix can scarcely be found. Every bird which I reared dur- 

 iu" the past, seaiou was treated in this manner without a 

 single loss, whereas, by the old way, much to my regret, 1 

 generally ' managed to commit uiuntential mur- 

 der. 'Alwavs Treat your birds kindly. \\ 'believer 

 you approach their iuclosure do so as gen lly 

 as possible, making some simple sound, so that 

 your wards may know who is corning. When their con 

 tideiier is once gained, it is wonderful what can be done with 

 them. I have hen birds, which, while incubating, will 

 allow themselves to lie gently lifted off. and replaced on the 

 nest without showing the slightest displeasure or fright. 

 The following occurrence, which happened ihirm. 

 derings in .lava will ,-ervc to illustrate what can at 



gentle treatment. 1 was silting on the veranda ot In i 



of the headman of the village, where I was to spend the 

 night, awaiting the arrival of my laggard coolies whom I 

 laid outwalked and trying lo make friends with my hosts 

 little son, when the bearers made their appearance. Placing 

 the bamboo cages in a row in front of us, they salaamed and 

 withdrew, leaving the feeding and watering to myself. I 

 immediately set to work, pressed the little fellow into my 

 service as water carrier, and as a reward for his labor, 1 

 carefully lifted the palm leaf coverings from the front-, and 

 allowed him a peep at their contents. The lasl 



tabled some freshly caught, wild bantams, and very naturally, 

 when the cover was raised they floundered. The child 

 instantly started back, ran to his father, anil whispered 

 something to him. The old man smiled and said, 

 says you tlo not treat your birds kindly, or they would not 

 become frightened, and he wishes lo show you how his ($» 

 act with him." Of course I immediately expressed a desire to 

 see him handle his pets, and at his father's bidding he slowly 

 walked off a few steps, and stooping down alongside a hen, 

 he gently ran both hands underneath her and drew out two 



