84 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



Successful Culture of Goldfish.— Two years ago 

 Mrs. Ford, of Melrose Villa, Red Lodge, near Southamp- 

 ton, purchased of Mr. John Robson, the well-known dealer 

 in game, fish, and other seasonable delicacies in that town, 

 four gold-fish, taken promiscuously from a small aquarium 

 "which ornaments his marble slab. Having safely deposited 

 them in a pond, freshly dug for the convenience* of supply- 

 ing water to the garden, they were left without further 

 attention to their fate, but with the very natural desire 

 that they might "go forth and multiply:" Mrs. Fold's 

 wishes in that respect have certainly been gratified to a 

 most extraordinary extent. The pond is at present liter- 

 ally swarming with them; units have multiplied into thous- 

 ands upon thousands, and Mr. Robson himself has on sev- 

 eral occasions been supplied with considerable quantities 

 of them, all bred from the original stock of four in this re- 

 markably short period. This fortunate lady's "private ad- 

 venture" in pisciculture, in well deserving the careful con- 

 sideration of all who have the means of "doing likewise," 

 as I need scarcely add that it is a most remunerative and 

 interesting amusement. Mr. Robsou's gold-fish came from 

 Havre, in France; whether tbey are a peculiar species 

 he cannot say; they are very beautiful in color, but small. 

 — Land and Water. 



«•*«. 



English Salmon Ova in Australia.— The Melbourne 

 correspondent of the London Times says: "One salmon 

 has been safely hatched at Ercildoun, near Ballarat, the 

 only result of the shipment of 30,000 eggs, which arrived 

 in the Durham two months ago. Acclimatization is costly 

 work when this little fish is all we have to show for £1,000 

 ($5,000), but Sir Samuel Wilson, who supplied the money, 

 is going to make another experiment later in the winter. 

 He does not attribute the failure of the last to oscillation 

 on board the steamship, or concussion from careless 

 handling of the boxes in which the ova was packed, but 

 to the warmth of the weather when the boxes were opened. 

 In differing from the opinions which have been expresed 

 upon these points, he is supported by the success of a ship- 

 ment to New Zealand, which was packed with ours, came 

 out with ours, and was subject to precisely the same condi- 

 tions as ours in its carriage up to the time of its tranship- 

 ments. The only difference in its favor being that it was 

 opened out in a little colder climate later in the year." 



tntuml ^intor}}. 



THE MIGRATIONS OF BIRDS. 



What a wonderful perception is that which teaches them 

 to migrate; tells them just the day to set out, the proper 

 course to take, and keeps them true to it over ocean and 

 prairie, and monotonous forests, and often in the night! 

 That the young, learning the route from the parent, re- 

 member it, would be no less remarkable were it true, 

 which it probably is not; for many species seem to go 

 north by one route, as along the coast, and return by 

 another west of the Aileghauies, or vice versa. In proceed- 

 ing northward, the males go ahead of the females a week 

 ©r so; returning in the fall, the males again take the lead, 

 and the young bring up the rear. Yet there are many ex- 

 ceptions to this rule, for with not a few birds, the males 

 and females travel together; and with some, old and fully 

 plumaged males are the last to arrive. All birds migrate 

 more or less, even such, like the crow and song-sparrow, as 

 stay with us through the year; for we probably do not see 

 the same individuals both winter and summer. Even 

 tropical birds move a little way from the equator and bacR 

 again with the season; and in mountainous regions most of 

 the birds, and many small animals, have a vertical migra- 

 tion only, descending to the valleys in winter, and reas- 

 cending to the summits ,in summer — difference in altitude 

 accomplishing the same results as difference in latitude. 

 We can see various causes of these migrations, some of 

 which have already been suggested, but the chief cause 

 seems to be the necessity of their accustomed food. We 

 find that those birds which make the longest and most com- 

 plete migrations, are insect and honey eaters; while the 

 graminivorous and omnivorous birds, and such, like the 

 titmouse and nut-hatch, as subsist on the young of insects 

 to be found under the bark of trees, go but a short distance 

 to escape inclement weather, or do not migrate at all. 

 Sportsman recognize the fact that the snipe and woodcock 

 have returned, not because the rigorous wiuter days are 

 wholly passed, but because the frost is sufficiently out of 

 the ground to allow the worms to come to the surface; and 

 know that in warm, springy meadows, these birds may 

 often be found all through Ihe year. Man no doubt influ- 

 ences the migratory habits of birds . To many he offers in- 

 ducements in the shelter, and in the abundance of insects 

 which his industry occasions, to linger later in the fall 

 than was their wont, and return earlier in the spring. 

 While, on the contrary, the persecution which the shy 

 wildfowl have received, has caused them generally to re- 

 pair to secluded breeding places, far north of their haunts 

 of fifty years ago. But the migrations of most birds are 

 somewhat irregular, and we have so few reliable data that 

 we can hardly yet fully determine the laws which govern 

 their seasonal movement. 



The true home of a bird, then, is where it rears its young, 

 even though it be not there more than a third of the year, 

 and everywhere else it is merely a traveler or migrant. 

 Should you then, after say two years of observation, want 

 to write down a list of the birds inhabiting your district— 

 and you would thus be doing a real service to science— it is 

 important that you mention whether each biid breeds there, 

 passes through spring and autumn, or is only a winter 

 visitor. — Ernest Ingersoll, in Scribnefs Magazine. 

 ^»*. 



BIRDS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK. 



{Concluded from page 52.] 



Fiilica americana. Coot. Breeds, but is not very 

 common. 



Cy gnus buccinator. Trumpeter swan. Very rare. It has 

 been taken on Cayuga Lake. 



Branta canadensis, Wild goose. A common spring and 

 autumn migrant. 



A ruts boschas. Mallard. Not very common even m the 

 spring and autumn migrations. 



Anas obscura. Dm~ky, or black duck. It arrives in 

 March, breeds and departs in .[November. A few may re- 

 main all winter. ; . ■ .; , 



Dafila acuta. Pin-tail. Found in the spring and fall mi- 

 grations 



Ghaulelasmus streperus. Gadwall; gray duck. Spring 

 and autumn migrant. 



Querquedula carolinmsis. Green-winged teal. Common 

 in spring and autumn. 



Querquedula discors. Blue-winged teal. Migrating abund- 

 antly in spring and autumn. A few remain and breed. 



Querquedula cyanoptera. Cinnamon, teal. This teal 

 is a rare vistor, but has been taken on the Seneca River. 



Aix sponsa. Wood duck. Common in summer, and 

 breeds. It arrives in April and departs in October. 



Fuliqula marila. Blue-bill. Common spring and autumn 

 migrant. 



Fu'igula ferina. Redhead. Common in the spring and 

 fall migrations. 



Fuiigula vallisneria. Canvas-back. A rare spring and 

 autumn migrant. 



Bucephala clangula. Golden-eyed duck. A winter resident, 

 common in the spring. 



Bucepliala albeola. Buffle-headed duck. Rare in winter; 

 common in the spring and autumn. 



Sarelda glaciaHs. Long-tailed duck. A rare spring and 

 autumn passenger. 



Erismatura rubida. Ruddy duck. Rare, and seen only 

 in spring and autumn. 



Mergus Merganser. Goosander. Common in winter. 



Mei^gus serrator. Red-breasted merganser. A common 

 spring and fall migrant. 



Mergus cucullatus. Hooded merganser. Not common, 

 and only in the spring and fall migrations. 



Larus argentatus. Herring gull. Common in the spring. 



Sterna super ciliar is. Least Tern. Occurs rarely, and in 

 the spring. 



Colymbus torquatus. Loon. Spring and autumn; not 

 very common. 



Podiceps griseigena. Red-necked geebe. A rare spring 

 and fall passenger. 



Podilymbus podiceps, Pied-billed dabchick. A summer 

 visitor/ Breeds. 



Auburn, New York. H. G. Fowler. 



A Prize.— Our Chatham, JNew Brunswick, correspond- 

 ent, D.E. Smith, Esq., writes us that he killed a double 

 crested cormorant in Miramichi river in May last. It is a 

 very handsome bird, about as large as a brant and has been 

 mounted by Carnell of St. John, who now has it in his col- 

 lection at Mount Pleasant. This bird is very rare in the 

 maritime Provinces. 



— The largest alligator killed in Florida for many years, 

 was shot last spring by Dr. De Marmon, of King&bridge, 

 N. Y. The animal measured 12 feet 6 inches in length 

 when spread on the flock. It was 6 feet 10 inches round 

 the body, 5 feet 10 inches around the jaws, and weighed 

 about 700 pounds. The head, which is now in the Doctor's 

 possession, is 30 inches long. It was killed on the Homo- 

 sassa river, about two miles from Alfred Jones's grove. 



WHEN DO 



SNAKES 

 SKINS? 



SHED THEIR 



Morgan ton, N. C, August 30, 1876. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



I should be glad to know from you, or some reader of Forest and 

 Stream, if snakes shed their skins more than once a year; or whether 

 the disposition to do so is increased by captivity. I lnue two snakes in 

 a box, oue a rattlesnake {Orotalus hdrridus), the other a kingsnake 

 (Op/iibolvs doludus). Both have shed their skins twice since July 1st. 

 The rattlesnake appearing in a new coat for the second time today. 

 They both seem to be in line condition, and are freely supplied with 

 water. O. H. Mouan, M. D. 



[We really know very little of this or the other habits of 

 our snakes. It is generally supposed that the wild rattle- 

 snake sloughs its coat only once a year, just before going 

 into its winter sleep. At any rate the shedding is at toler- 

 ably regular intervals. There is no doubt that in captivity 

 the likelihood of their shedding their coats more frequently 

 is increased. We hope to learn something from our read- 

 ers on this topic. — Ed.] 



■•-♦♦" 



CROWS DISPONING HERONRIES. 



Indianapolis, Ind., September 2d. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: — 



It is generally conceded that "Jim Crow" does pillage the corn fields in 

 various parts of the country. In fact, it is admitted by the bird him- 

 self in the old lines: — 



"Says the blackbird to thecro.v, 



What makes tlie white man hate us so?" 



To which the crow rep.ied:— 



"Ever since the days that Adam was made 

 Picking up corn has been our trade." 



How ofteu when a schoolboy I endea ored to secure the liberal boun- 

 ties offered by the farmers of the Nashua Valley, in the old Bay State, 

 for a t-calp of these black rascals. But invariably the ambling thieves 

 discovered my position, either from the smell of powder in that old Con- 

 tinental horn behind the stone wall, or were warned by the caw of a 

 mate in the top of a distant chestnut. 



While the crow is so hungry for corn in the New England and Middle 

 States, I have never known a held to be molested by them either in In 

 diana or Illinois. In the latter State I have seen them by thousands 

 winging their luzy flight across the prairie to some grove where they 

 roost both summer and wiuter. They observe the same line of flight as 

 they near their roost. They go miles away, dropping down upon the 

 open piairie, and seem to feed on grubs and injects. I have never seen 

 them eating carrion either here or in the South. In the years of 1874 

 and 1875 a party of us made two round trips to Lake Okeechobee 

 Florida, by way of the Kissimmee river. We also took a third hunt as 

 far as Fort Kissimmee. In these voyages it was very interesting to ob- 

 serve the habits of the crow. AH the herons and water turkeys (darters or 

 snake-birds) had built in the hammock adjoining the water. Whenever 

 our boat, the "Forest and Stream," suddenly rounded a point there was 

 a great stir in the "rookeries," and a lively time for the crows. The 

 latter birds seemed to know our movements; for they were ever on the 

 alert at every disturbance, and began actively to plunder the nests; 

 robbing them of both eggs and young birds. When we came to a rook- 

 ery of plume-birds our guns created great confusion among the herons; 

 but the crows seemed to take in the situation, and apparently under- 

 stood our intention, for they paid no attention to the noise of our guns, 

 but plied their work of destruction upon the eggs and young as merci- 

 lessly as did we upon the old birds. As long as we continued shooting 

 they made havoc among the nests. We saw no crows m the islands of 

 Okeectiobee. We were greatly amused one day at a pair of crows 

 endeavoring to induce a Brazilian eagle (vulgarly called Mexican buz- 

 zard) to leave its nest. The crows tormented the eagle Jbj turns, one 



always remaining above the nest to pounce upon the eggs the moment 

 they were exposed. j „ l 



Arrivals at Philadelphia Zoological Garden, Sept. 4 to Sept 

 11.— Four reed-birds (Dolichonyx oryzivorus), one chewink {PipU irv ' 

 throphthalmus), one brown thrush (Harporhynchus rvfus) and one olive- 

 backed thrush (Turdus Swainsoni), presented by Parsall and Snyder" 

 Philadelphia; one copperhead snake (Agkistrodon cordortrioc) , presented 

 by A. W. Mitchell, Elkton, Md.; one pair ©f flying squirrels (Pteiomy» 

 volucetta) and one rabbit (Lepns cimicvlus), presented by Miss Fannie H 

 Bryan, Vincentown, N. J.; two raccoons (Procyon lotor), presetted by 

 George H. Johnson, Philadelphia.; one green snake (Chlmmoma tern, 

 lis), presented by Howard A. Kelly, Philadelphia. 



Arthur E. Brown, Superintendent. 



hx and Ewer 



FISH IN SEASON IN * SEPTEMBER. 



FRESH WATER. 



Trout, Salmo fonlvnalis. 

 Salmon, Salmo salar. 

 Salmon Trout, Salmo con finis. 

 Land-locked Salmon, Salmo Gloveri. 

 Gravling, Thymallus tricolor. 

 Black Bass, Micropterus salmoides; 



if. nigricans. 

 Mascalonge, Esox ndbilior. 

 Pike or Pickerel, Esox lucius. 

 Yellow Perch, Perca Jlavescens. 



SALT "WATER. 



Sea Bass, Scicenops ocellatus. 



Sheepshead, Archosargus proba'o- 

 cephaius. 



Striped Bass, JRoccus lineatus. 



White Perch, Morone americana 



Weakfish. Oynoscion regalia. 



Bluefish, Pomatomus saltutiice. 



Spanish Mackerel, Cybium macula- 

 turn. 



Cero, Cybium regale. 



Bonito, Sarda pelamys. 



Kingtish, Meaticirrus nebulosus. 



For list of seasonable trout flies for September see our issue of July27th. 



♦ 



Fish in Market.— Fish of all kinds continue scarce and 

 prices high . The best fishermen are doing but very little, 

 and in the Great South Bay the pound nets have stopped 

 work. We quote: — Striped bass 25 cents per pound; blue- 

 fish, 12 cents; salmon, frozen, 50 cents; mackerel, 15 to 25 

 cents each, according to size; weakfish, 15 cents per pound; 

 white perch, 15 cents; Spanish mackerel, 25 cents; green 

 turtle, 15 cents; halibut, 18 cents; haddock, 8 cents; king- 

 fish, 25 cents; codfish, 10 cents; blackfish, 15 cents; floun- 

 ders 10 cents; porgies, 12 cents; sea bass, 18 cents; eels, 

 18 cents; lobsters, 12 cents; sheepshead, 20 cents; white- 

 fish, 18 cents; black-bass, 18 cents; pompano, 50 cents; 

 frogs legs, 50 cents; terrapin, $12 per dozeu; soft clams, 

 40 to 50 cents per hundred; scollops, $1.50 per gallon; 

 hard shell crabs, $3.50 per 100; soft do., $1.25 per dozen. 



— Quite recently, a brother of "Fred. Beverly," while 

 engaged in fishing off the east end of Long Island, in a 

 small boat, got lost in a fog, and passed eight days at sea 

 without his daily bread and water. Fred. Beverly was the 

 Florida correspondent of this paper — Mr. F. A. Ober, 



—A pickerel was caught at Silver Lake, K Y., last week 

 which weighed 15f Ids. , the largest caught there this season- 



X, Massachusetts— New Bedford, Sept. Sth.— Sea fishing has 

 somewhat improved here the past week. The Cuttyhunk 

 Club caught 32 striped bass this week, some of good size. 

 Bluefish, tauiog, cod, etc., are found in our markets in 

 goo lly numbers. Concha. 



Colia&set, Sept. 11th.— Smelts are now plenty, and as high 

 as 40 dozen to a boat have been taken at Black Rock. One 

 man took this week alone 175 mackerel with his smelt line. 

 Would like to hear from our friends at Chatham. S. K., Jr. 



Fishing Movements —The past week lias shown a de- 

 cided activity in the movements of the fleet which lias 

 been pleasing to witness. One hundred sail have arrived 

 against 54 of last week, as follows: 54 from Georges, 38 

 from mackereling and 8 from the Banks. The receipts 

 have been, 972,000 pounds Georges codfish, 640,000 pounds 

 of Bank codfish, 65,000 pounds of Georges halibut and 

 9,740 barrels of mackerel. Prices are well sustained and 

 goods ready for shipment find a ready sale on accumulated 

 orders. The demand for the best qualities of mackerel is 

 much in excess of the supply.— Cape Ann Advertiser, 

 September 8th. 



YmGmiA—Leesburg7i, Sept. Qth.— Fishing improving; 

 river clear. Goose creek clearing; fishing with minnow in 

 river has given moderately good returns in numbers and 

 fair in weight. Takes per fishermen have been from 10 to 

 34; weight from half a pound to two and a half pounds. 

 6 T. W. 



Norfolk, September 5th.— The seines have commenced 

 hauling again, and old ocean is yielding rich stores 

 of food to us poor fish-hungry mortals. It would do your 

 heart good to see the piles of fish daily brought in. In 

 these days of hard times, one good thing is that fish have 

 expanded in size, and contracted in price. Fishing has 

 been poor through the season until now. Diiake. 



—A large sea turtle, weighing 900 pounds, was captured 

 the other day at Wood's Hole, Vineyard Sound. It is said 

 to be the lasgest one ever seen in northern waters. 



—Mr. George Jelliffe, the efficient superintendent of the 

 fish hatching establishment at Wesiport, Conn., is quite an 

 artist. He has just compleeed a fine copy of "Comedy 

 after the original bronze. 



— A large number of dead fish have come to the surface 

 at Long Pond, Providence, R. I., within a day or two, and 

 the same is true of one or two smaller ponds near by. The 

 cause is as yet unknown. In a pond in Newport the dead 

 and decaying fish have become so great a nuisance that the 

 authorities have been obliged to remove them. 



A correspondent of large experience, writing from his 

 camp on Rangeley Lakes, speaks as follows on the subject 

 of insect pests : — 



"Many a man has been deterred from entering the -wilder- 

 ness by the thoughts of black flies. Now the black fly is. 

 after all, not such a bad fellow, and hasn't half the impu- 

 dent brass of the mosquito— leaves you at sunset or there- 

 abouts—and never routs you at night by the everlasting 

 "here he is" of his congener. Unquestionably, h( jwever, 

 the fly will occasionally poison a person, so that the ia 

 or hands will be extremely bloated, the lobes of the ea 

 swollen — as large as a pigeon's egg. All this is acco ' 

 panied by great irritation and slight fever. A man can 

 to Maine last year with a patent preparation to keep off w 

 flies, went into their midst daubed in it from head to io<% 



