FOREST AND STREAM. 



every one who is given to poking around the woods in 

 Winter often disclosed whole colonies of beetles by strip- 

 ping off a layer of bark. 



Still, though a meat diet is very good, and the Esqui- 

 maux find it the best Winter meal, it would alone be very 

 cloying to us, and we can imagine that some of the more 

 particular birds find it so, and want a change. It'will not 

 take very long to find it, though it is more in the nature of 

 a dessert — the nuts and raisins of our own dinner table . 

 Indeed, the sparrows in all their varieties, white throats, 

 snow birds, crossbills, pine finches, and red poll linnets, 

 seldom come in until the dessert and join the robins, cedar 

 birds, and blue jays. It is not worth while to say much 

 of the jays; they are regular gourmands, and eat anything 

 and everything almost. A good variety is set out, too. All 

 around the meadows, the dried stalks and leafless branches 

 of Summer's weeds and flowers offer miniature walnuts 

 and filberts to be had for the cracking. The berry pickers 

 have not labored so thoroughly that a few dried blueber- 

 ries do not yet hang from the bushes. The partridges and 

 quail can find many a checkerberry under the leaves, or 

 can look higher and pick off the seed vessels of the past 

 season's roses. Then in the dark pine woods the crossbills 

 and the finches, with their blushing breasts, tear open the 

 cones and find hearty meals in the meaty kernels. All 

 these are dainty birds compared with some, almost like the 

 spoilt child who cried for plum pudding and would eat 

 nothing else. No one would accuse the crow of being 

 dainty. He might sit at table with them, but he would be 

 liable to eat his hosts as well as their dinner. An old col- 

 lege song accuses him of an appetite for old horses and of 

 holding confabs with other crows about their meals. His 

 appetite, which craves anything, from an unfortunate 

 mouse through the whole bill of bird's fare, justifies one 

 part of the song; the other part needs none. A crow will 

 even so far depart from the habits of his forest brethren as 

 to dig clams or go fishing when necessity or appetite in- 

 spires. The owl and hawk, though too dignified and wise 

 to adopt all the low tastes of the crow, sympathize with 

 him in his taste for live food, rats and mice and such 

 "small deer." Perhaps the owl goes further than the hawk, 

 for a nice fat beetle never comes amiss to him. The butcher 

 birds come in the same carnivorous set, serving their din- 

 ners of mice or birds on the point of some sharp thorn. 

 And so the thoughtfulness of nature might be traced out 

 almost indefinitely in the care for the birds of the forest, 

 meadow, and stream. The woods do not seem so full of 

 birds and bird music as in Summer, but those that follow 

 the fortunes of Winter are just as light-hearted and care- 

 less of want, and twitter just as merrily as their warm 

 weather cousins. Many of them, indeed, are taking their 

 vacations, after the laborious cares of courting, house 

 building, and rearing a family, and preparatory to the same 

 loving work another year in a much more inclement cli- 

 mate. And so they spend their time, some gossiping to- 

 gether in the shelter of bushes or vines, or others commun- 

 ing with their own little selves, perhaps thinking of former 

 mates, and still others sailing gleefully in the cold winds 

 that make us shiver and retreat, and are contented and 

 happy, for they need nothing. 



. * » .» — 



Habits of Bees and Wasps.— Sir John Lubbock has 

 been experimenting upon ants, bees, and wasps, the results 

 of which he has communicated to the Linnean Society. 

 Previous experiments had satisfied him that bees did not 

 always bring their friends to share stores of food which 

 they had discovered. This was questioned by bee-keep- 

 ers, and Lubbock repeated his experiments. He put a bee 

 to some honey concealed in a flower pot so arranged that 

 the bee had only a small orifice through which to enter. 

 Under these circumstances, from early morning until dusk 

 she made fifty-nine journeys, and during the whole of this 

 time only one other bee found her way to the honey. He 

 also discovered that bees soon accustomed themselves to 

 look for honey on papers of particular colors. He placed 

 a bee to some honey on a slip of glass on green paper, 

 and after she had made twelve journeys to and from the 

 hive, red paper was put where the green had been, and 

 green paper with more honey about a foot away. The bee 

 returned, however, to the honey on the green paper. He 

 then gently moved the green paper with the bee on it back 

 to the old place, and when the bee had gone he replaced 

 the green paper by a vellow one and put the green again a 

 foot off. She again returned to the green. He repeated 

 the same proceeding with orange, white, and blue papers 

 with the same result, but the reversed position of the simi- 

 lar colors, blue and green, slightly confused the bee. This 

 adherence of the bee to the green was not because of any 

 fondness for that particular color, as further experiments 

 proved that the insect would return to any color where 

 they had become accustomed to find honey. As regards 

 wasps, similar experiments showed that for three successive 

 days the secret store of honey made known to one wasp 

 was not found by any other. In respect to color, Lubbock 

 found that wasps were capable of seeing color, though they 

 appeared to be less influenced by it than were the bees. 

 , -♦•♦* 



More About Albinos.— Several correspondents have 

 been inspired by the mention of albino grouse shot in New 

 England, to send us further notes. "Teal" tells us that he 

 has seen at Goodale's, in Boston, three albinos of the ruffed 

 grouse, none of which were perfectly white, but a pale 

 flesh or cinnamon color with the characteristic markings, 

 which no one would mistake for ptarmigans. "Audubon" 

 (Harrisburg, Penn.,) writes that several years ago a well- 

 known sportsman of Harrisburg, Wm. J. Magloughlin, 

 captured a white meadow lark (Stumella magna) inside of 

 what is now the city limits. A year or so previous Mr. 

 Magloughlin shot an albino quail— perfectly white— on the 

 premises of Mr. Eberly, Milltown, Cumberland county 

 Penn The following is clipped from the Lancaster (Penn.) 

 Intelligencer of recent date:-"Mr. G. W. Duchman, of 

 East Earl, in this county, captured a very small and beau- 

 tiful white squirrel while it was feeding in a corn-field. 

 This small animal measured about seven inches from its 

 nose to tip of tail; weighs about two ounces; it is entirely 

 white and has red eyes; its countenance is sharp, and the 

 animal is very neat, clean, and supple. Another of the 

 game kind was seen but escaped." 



_—_ ■«»»». — = — - 



—Some immense pairs of elk horns from Colorado have 

 lust been sent to J. Wallace, taxidermist, at No. 19 

 $*orUi WUliana street, for mounting. 



Barntjm's Sale.— It is very rarely that an establishment 

 founded on the mammoth scale of the late Hippodrome is 

 brought to the hammer . Many speculations are rife as to 

 the cause of the break up, and those who are, or profess to 

 be, well posted, intimate that the bulk of the property will 

 return to the possession of the veteran showman. The 

 prices paid for the animals can scarcely be taken as the 

 measure of their value, there being little or no competition, 

 and were far below what they originally cost. The fox 

 hounds, which were brought from England with some of 

 the horses, with the exception of three reserved by Mr. 

 Barnum and presented to Gen. Custer, brought but $7 

 each. The elephants realized from $3,000 to $4,500; the 

 dromedaries, $200 to $250; giraffes, $1,000; ostriches, $300; 

 polar bears, $575 and $6^5; sea lions, $400 and $500; the 

 gnu, or horned horse, brought $1,250; a lion, lioness, tiger, 

 and leopard realized $2,400. Many other animals were of- 

 fered but not sold. 



, , ■»!»» 



^' — Mr. P. H. Storer has observed that in the neighbor- 

 hood of Boston the common red squirrel (Sciurus hud- 

 sonius) is responsible for much damage to the fruit crop, 

 exceeding the most troublesome birds in the destruction of 

 the flowers, especially of the cherry tree. The flower is 

 bitten from its stalk precisely as a nut would be, and held 

 between the paws of the little animal, while he eats the 

 morsel of an ovary at the base of the flower. The flower 

 is tjien dropped unmutilated. A squirrel will thus destroy 

 200 flowers in the early morning of a single day. Freshly 

 opened blossoms are preferred, and the destruction begins 

 with the first of the season. When the flowers become 

 mature they neglect them and wait for the ripened fruit. 

 The squirrel has long been at enmity with the American 

 gardener because of his depredations on pears, which he 

 gnaws in two for the sake of the seeds alone. Mr. Storer 

 also accuses the field mice of aiding in the devastation of 

 the orchard by eating the flowers. 

 <+•» 



— The doctrine chiefly advanced by Lieut. Weyprecht, 

 which we mentioned not long ago, that the aim of future 

 Arctic explorers must be to make simultaneous scientific 

 observations extending over long periods, on the natural 

 philosophy, meteorology, botany, zoology, and geology of 

 high latitudes, and only in the second place on the discov- 

 ery of geographical details, has resulted in a decision of 

 the German Arctic Commission not to recommend the 

 sending of an expedition to the North Pole this year. They 

 recommend instead that fixed observing stations be estab- 

 lished, a principal one on the eastern shore of Greenland, 

 and at least two secondary stations, one at Jan Mayen, and 

 the other on the western shore of Spitzbergen. The co- 

 operation of other countries in extending the circle of ob- 

 servers is asked for. 



^»»- 



— In Wiedersheim's recently published book is described 

 Sola mandrina perspicillata, a tailed amphibian, found only 

 in the western half of Italy, which in its organization 

 seems to connect the amphibia with the reptilia. It is a 

 prettily colored, small and slender animal, which lives on 

 land rather than in the water, feeds upon insects, and dur- 

 ing the dry Summer months sleeps for the most part, but 

 in Winter is very active. All the anatomical characters of 

 its skull elevate it above the salamanders, and are such as 

 characterize reptiles. The development of the vertebrae, 

 the numerous bones of the wrist and ankle, and the di- 

 vided kidneys, furnish additional support to the same view. 



— The work of removing the collections belonging to the 

 Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences from the so- 

 ciety's old building to its new one is now going on. The 

 delicate handling and slow motion necessary to the success 

 of this undertaking will probably delay the arrangement 

 of the cabinets in their quarters until some time in Jan- 

 uary. 



«i» — 



— We have been assisting the Zoological Society of 

 Philadelphia for more than a year in their efforts to obtain 

 live moose, and are now informed by Mr. John Wagner, 

 the superintendent, that he is now expecting soon to re- 

 ceive three moose calves, which are preferable to grown 

 animals, as they thrive better if put into the Garden when 



young. 



*•**. — 



— There is in this neighborhood a cat which lost its 

 left fore paw in a trap about four or five years ago. She 

 has had innumerable litters since the accident, and none of 

 her kittens have had any abnormal formation until the 

 other day, when she brought two into the world, one of 

 which had a left fore paw with only one finger to it, and 

 the rudiment of a thumb without any claw. The case is 

 remarkable in this— that no abnormality occurred in the 

 offspring until the cat was aged, and her fecundity began 

 to decline, as shown by the last litter being so small. — 



Land and Water. 



, __ — «*^^ — - — . 



HYBRID DUCKS. 



Brooklyn, December 6th, 1875. 



Editor Forest and Stream: — 



In answer to Prof. Le Conte's question about hybrids in ducks, I would 



say I have found the dasky and mallard cross quite often; have now 



three or four mounted in my collection. I once found a cross between 



what looked like a redhead and pin tail, and think perhapB such changes 



are now observed more than in former years. I have found no crosses 



within five or six years. I would like to ask if the male mallard does not 



change its plumage in Summer. They are not common with us. 



Geo. A. Boardman. 

 , — . -*+*$ *, — 



BosTON,£November 30th, 18T5. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I have been sufficiently interested in your late account of the "singu- 

 lar boldness of a partridge" to tell some of my own experiences. Last 

 year, when at Moosehead, I shot a chicken partridge (though in the 

 night), and as I stooped to pick it up another, evidently an older bird, 

 dropped its wings and came up within six feet of me, and then flew off. 

 I once remember seeing one on a nest of eggg within half a gunihot of 

 where m«n were blasting granite, and the bird batched a brood. 



Your*, TS4L, 



CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 



Department of Public Parks, ) 

 New York, Dec. 4th, 1875. f 

 Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 

 December 4th, 1875:— 



One Deer, Gariacm Jlrglnianw. Presented by Mr. W. B. Dins- 

 more. 



One young Panther, Felis concolor, from Central America. Presented 

 by Captain S. G, Parker, steamship Andes. 



One Black Bear, Ursus Americanus, from Madison county, N. C. Pre- 

 sented by Mr. Fab. H. Bushbee. 

 Two Lions, Felis leo. Bred in the menagerie. 



W. A. Conklin, Director. 



%Hlfaadlmd, <$Mtn and $mdm. 



— — * — 



HOW TO SELECT A HOME IN FLORIDA. 



THE first question to be decided by persons who -pur. 

 pose moving to Florida, is the kind of business they 

 wish or intend to pursue for a livelihood; if farming, 

 what kind of crops they intend raising; if fruits, what 

 kind or class of fruits; if vegetables, it must be to supply 

 the demand at the North and West for our early products. 



For the raising of corn, short staple cotton, oats and 

 rye, the northern belt of the State, comprising that portion 

 lying north of thirty degrees, covering a territory of 375 

 miles long from east to west, and having an average 

 breadth of forty-five miles, should be selected, where 

 there is heavy clay soil, rich in vegetable matter— more 

 especially the western part. Labor if abundant, with rail- 

 road and steamboat facilities to carry the crops to a near 

 market. This portion ought to supply all the demand in 

 the State for corn and oats, and stop the importation from 

 the North and West; and when properly developed will do 

 so. Tobacco has proved to be a profitable crop in this 

 section, and being a superior article, commands a high 

 price. 



Should the immigrant select fruit-growing as his occupa- 

 tion, then the portion of the State included between the 

 parallels of twenty-eight degrees and thirty degrees north 

 latitude, denominated Central Florida, comprising part of 

 the peninsula, should be carefully examined, especially 

 the southern tier of counties, as they are peculiarly 

 adapted to the growth of semi-tropical fruits, such as 

 the orange, lemon, lime, and grape-fruit, the fig, banana, 

 pine-apple, and the more tender fruits. In this section 

 the curculio never attacks the peach . 



The settler need not confine his attention entirely to 

 fruits. This is the country in which to plant sugar-cane, 

 which proves a sure and profitable crop. Corn and oats 

 do well, and our long staple cotton has a high reputation 

 in market. Good wheat has been made on clay soils. In 

 addition to these, we have arrowroot, cassava, jute, sweet 

 potatoes, &c. Many portions of this belt possess steam- 

 boat and railroad transportation facilities. New railroad 

 routes are being surveyed, so that ere long all points will 

 be within reach of markets. The country is rapidly set- 

 tling up with an energetic population, who are mainly 

 devoting their attention to fruit-culture. Labor is scarce 

 and high-priced. 



Those who wish to raise early vegetables for market will 

 find this belt well suited for such enterprise. They should 

 locate at such points as will afford rapid and certain trans- 

 portation of their products, as they must be placed in 

 market as soon as possible after being gathered. Water- 

 melons can be raised in the open air and be ready for 

 market the latter part of April and first of May. Grapes, 

 especially those belonging to the Scuppernong family, do 

 well wherever they have been tried. 



That portion of the State lying south of twenty-eight 

 degrees is sparsely settled. The more tender semi-tropical 

 fruits succeed, as it is but seldom that fiost is ever seen 

 there. Raising cattle is the most profitable business that 

 can be entered into in that section. They require no feed- 

 ing, as the large extent of savannas and prairies afford 

 fine pasturage all the year. This is the paradise of the 

 hunter and herdsman. " 



Probably there is no State in the Union that possesses so 

 great a variety of soil and is adapted to the production of 

 such a variety of plants and trees. From the stiff clays 

 of the northwestern portion to the prairies of the south all 

 classes and grades may be found. In the central and 

 southern portion the general character is sandy loam, 

 though some sections have a clay soil. Northern and 

 Western farmers, when they first see our soils, think they 

 must be worthless, forgetful that such a luxuriant growth 

 as it produces could not grow in pure sand; it requires 

 humus, alkalies and clay to do such wonders. 



The first choice of land will be dry hammock; the soil 

 generally contains a large amount of vegetable matter. 

 Some of our hammocks have a light, sandy soil, are thin, 

 and become exhausted in a few years, and require manure; 

 while others, though heavily cropped, retain their fertility, 

 and are apparently inexhaustible; these often have a marl 

 subsoil. One great advantage possessed by these lands 

 over pine land is, that as soon as cleared and broken up 

 they are fit for the reception of any kind of crop, and 

 produce well the first year. 



To persons of limited resources the pine land offers a 

 ready means of obtaining a healthy homestead and fair 

 farming lands at a small cost, and the expense of clearing 

 is much less than hammock. Fruit trees, sweet potatoes, 

 cotton and peas can be planted on them the first year, but 

 not corn, as the land requires to be sweetened for this 

 crop. T 



The question is often asked by strangers, How am I to 

 make a selection, where soil, climate, and productions are 

 so different from those we have been accustomed tot 

 When you come to look at the country do not be in too 

 great haste to locate. If compatible with your plans, take 

 time to look around, or rent land for the first year, bee 

 what kind of crops are raised, and what are the most suc- 

 cessful modes of cultivation; converse with intelligent 

 farmers; learn what are the indications of good land; as- 

 certain what are the peculiar advantages or disadvantages 

 of different localities; and when you have made your 

 selection, you will probably be satisfied.— Florida Agrim* 



/ 



