FOREST AND STREAM. 



185 



Such prompt action and the prospect of so severe a 

 penalty might be a warning to all poachers, and the West 

 Jersey Game Protective Society deserve all credit for their 

 enterprise. It is their lntefttion to prosecute not only this 

 case, but all others coming within their jurisdiction to the 

 fullest extent. 



Quails is Ohio.— We have received from the Forrester 

 Shooting Club a placard offering a reward for the convic- 

 tion of any persons detected in shooting quail before the 

 15th of November, 1877, as prohibited by the Legislature 

 April 11th, 1876. 



— — — ~— — «•»»■■ — — — — 



Protection Against Insects in Europe. — The small 

 birds, especially the black- bird and starling, are kept 

 as a constant protection against the ravages of insects in 

 France and the other European States, and the killing of 

 them is a criminal offence. The vineyards of France and 

 Germany are inestimably indebted to them, In Egypt the 

 people consider the ibis a sacred messenger sent to destroy 

 locusts and other noxious insects and reptiles; the law pro- 

 tecting them is thus scarcely needed. The birds sheltered 

 in the Calabrian mountains are efficient in keeping the 

 Neapolitan plains free from locusts. About Temeshvar, 

 Hungary, locusts were once got rid of by driving into the 

 fields 15,000 swine, which devoured the grasshoppers with 

 great rapidity. In Austria, in 1828, upon the arrival of 

 flights of locusts the people resorted to firearms, and kept 

 up such an explosion of gunpowder that the first and sec- 

 ond flights were driven forward, but when the main army 

 arrived the noise was disregarded, and, although the inhab- 

 itants destroyed 20,000 bushels, the crops were all devasta- 

 ted. When the air is so densely filled as to darken the 

 sun it has been found that neither cannon nor any other 

 stratagem will succeed in driving them onward. In Asia 

 Minor and Arabia noise and smoke is resorted to to drive 

 away the pests, but in Morocco the remedy is mainly wet 

 ditches about the fields. In the year 1855, in the district 

 of Leoff, Russia, the inhabitants are said to have expended 

 22. 95G days' labor collecting and des'roying locusts. The 

 Bulgarian colony expended 23,000 days of labor. In Tar- 

 tarbuna 20,000 days' labor were expended. In Alonesh 

 6,000 days' labor. In other districts 80 000 men were em- 

 ployed, besides innumerable animals, vehicles, etc. Never- 

 theless the locusts left behind in various places, having 

 acquired wings, spread themselves over all the fields in 

 such multitudes that their former diminution, which 

 seemed so monstrous while their destruction was going on, 

 became imperceptible. Each day they alighted in new 

 places, and everywhere produced devastation; consequent- 

 ly all the labors described were only so much time and 

 labor thrown away. In China, where the population is 

 exceedingly dense, there is every year republished an old 

 edict, commanding the local authorities to call out the in- 

 habitants and utterly exterminate locusts wherever they 

 may appear. In many of these countries a regular fund 

 is provided for payment for eggs and young. In South 

 America Darwin saw them in dense clouds, and says "the 

 poor cottagers in vain attempted, by lighting fires, by 

 shouts, and waving branches, to arrest the attack." 



It would seem evident that, except where the population 

 is densely compac, it is impossible to collect and destroy 

 them; that in damp, well-shaded countries, they are never 

 destructive; that where birds are most numerous the grass- 

 hopper plague is least to be apprehended. The planting 

 of groves would shelter the birds, and the birds will take 

 care of the insects. This is a great argument for tree cul- 

 tivation in our West. In the Isle of Bourbon, the grass- 

 hoppers becoming destructive, the Governor imported gra- 

 kles (black birds). As the birds increased the locusts 

 disappeared. The inhabitants then destroyed the grakles. 

 The grasshopper plague returned; birds were again intro- 

 duced, when the. evil subsided, after which the people pre- 

 served the birds. The value of these facts and suggestions 

 might be urged by argument and illustration at great 

 length. 



„ ■»«»» - 



A New Brace for our Nerves. — The use of coca as 

 a stimulus to the nerves, which does not leave behind it 

 any ill effects, is becoming more extended. Travelers in 

 the Cordilleras have long used it with marked benefit to 

 counteract the enervating effects consequent upon breath- 

 ing the rarified air of great heights. Sportsmen, also, are 

 beginning to fiud thai; it enables them to withstand fatigue 

 and steadies their nerves, although there is no testimony 

 to prove that it is a cure of the "buck ague." A corres- 

 pondent of Land and Water, who could not hit half his 

 birds on account of nervousness, drank two ounces of the 

 tincture before starling in the morning on a shooting ex- 

 pedition, as an experiment. Of the result he writes: — 



"The effect produced was in a direction altogether new 

 and unexpected. As soon as the dogs pointed 1 expected 

 the usual inward commotion with its usual results; but, to 

 my surprise, nothing of the kind happened, and down 

 went the birds right and left. 'Eureka!' I said to myself ; 

 'the coca has made me a steady shot.' So, in fact, it sub- 

 sequently proved, to the wonder and pleasure of my host, 

 who is more gratified at seeing his friends enjoy good 

 sport, than in having the sport himself. I tried chewing 

 the leaves also with effect. From what I know of the 

 strength of the tincture I am inclined to think that the 

 drug is more active when simply chewed. Unfortunately, 

 however, my power of chewing the leaves is limited by a 

 nauseating effect of the process." 



Judged by the effects desciibed, coca would seem to be 

 inhibitory as regards the action of the heart. Whether 

 this result is prudueed by indirect action through the men- 

 tal functions up m which the drug is said to act remains 

 to be proved. ThQ Mats afforded ia the meantime may prove 



of great value. Coca in sufficient doses would seem to be 

 a powerful nervine tonic; and as its effects appear to be 

 entirely harmless its use will be hailed as a boon by many 

 a sportsman. 



4M4» — 



Florida.— We have received the second number of the 

 "Florida New Yorker," published monthly at 34 Park 

 Bow, this city, under the auspices of the Florida Land 

 and Immigration Company, an association which we be> 

 lieve to be wholly reliable and responsible, and to whom 

 it has been our pleasure to refer several inquirers who have 

 applied to us for information. This publication aims to 

 answer all such questions as an intending settler would 

 naturally ask, and we can therefore reasonably urge all 

 who desire to learn of the climate and physical character 

 of the State to obtain and read it. Its correspondence is 

 varied, and is derived from all sections of Florida, its 

 chief editor, Col. J. B. 011-6% having been connected 

 with the Jacksonville Agriculturist, and well acquainted 

 with the men and material resources of the State. Accom- 

 pany iug the present number of the paper is a supplement 

 that contains a map which shows 651,000 acres of land 

 owned and controlled by the "Floiida Land and Immigra 

 tion Company,'* and valuable instructions how to reach 



Florida, and what to do when one gets there. 

 «+■» 



With regard to the climate of Charlotte Harbor, Dr. 

 Kenworthy has written the following letter which he has 

 requested us to publish : — 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In one of my communications published in the Forest and Stream 

 and republished in '*Ca ~p Life in Florida," I referred to the climato- 

 logical a i vantages of Somhwest Coast of Florida— more especially that 

 portion known as Charlotte Haroor, as a winter resort for the invalid and 

 sportsman. I gave the thermometnc range for three years, and main- 

 tained that the difference between the minimum and maximum markings 

 was less than that of Indian river. 1 have before me the returns of the 

 War Department, office of Chief Signal Officer, "showing readings of the 

 exposed theimoineter at Punta Rassa, Fla., for the year 1875." And 

 for the information of tourists, inv^ids, sport'-men, and intending 

 settlers, I shall copy a few figures giving the maximum marking for each 

 month, with the highest and lowest ranges of the instrument for the hot- 

 test and coldest months of the year 1875:— 



1875. Maximum. Minimum. 



January 80.0 51.2 



February 81 5 43.0 



March 83.5 50.0 



April 82.0 54.0 



May 86.0 75.5 



June H9.0 69.0 



1875. Maximum. {Minimum. 



July 91 1 69.0 



August n.O 70.5 



September.:.... 89. 5 69 5 



October 89 55.5 



November 83.0 51.5 



December 81.0 42.0 



Maximum and minimum range of thermometer for the months of July 

 and December, 1875:— 



Julyl 



Maximum. Minimum. 



83.0 

 ...82 

 ...83.0 



4 87.1 



5 85.0 



6 84.0 



7 84 



8 86.0 



9 8*.0 



10 88 



11 89.0 



13 87.5 



13 88.0 



14 88.0 



.88.0 

 .85.0 

 .88.5 

 .91.1 

 .90.0 

 .89.0 

 .88.5 



15. 

 16. 

 17. 

 18. 

 19. 

 20 

 21. 



22 90.0 



23 WD.5 



24 90.6 



25 90.0 



26 91.0 



27. . ...90.0 



28 88.0 



*Q 90 



30 b81 



31 88.0 



71.0 

 71.5 

 72.5 

 69.0 

 72.0 

 73.0 

 74.0 

 70.0 

 72.5 



75 



76 

 76.0 

 77.0 

 77.0 

 77.5 

 78 

 80 5 

 75.0 

 76 



75 

 74 

 75.0 

 76.0 

 76.0 

 76.5 

 76.0 

 7i.O 

 74.0 

 73.0 



76 

 75.0 



Dec.fl 79.5 



" 2 78 5 



" 3 77.5 



Maximum. Minimum. 



I 



9 



10 



11 



12 



13 



14 



15 



16 



17 



18 



19 



20 



21 



i2 



23 



L'4 



25 



26 



27 



28 



29 



30 



31 



.76.0 



.79.0 

 ,80 



.76.0 

 ,.70 5 

 ,.b7.5 



.65.0 

 ..71.0 

 ,.70.0 

 ..62 5 

 ..63.0 



.61.5 

 ..69 2 

 ..7 2.0 

 ..64.0 

 ..66.0 

 ..73.0 

 ..77.0 

 ..78.0 

 ..74 5 

 ..76.5 

 . 76.0 

 ..77.0 

 ..80.5 

 ..79.5 

 ..79.5 

 ..81.0 

 ..81.0 



67.0 

 68.0 

 67 

 67.(1 

 65.0 

 72.0 

 69.0 

 65.0 



54 

 49.0 

 58.0 



55 

 48.0 

 55.5 

 45.5 

 47.0 

 57.0 

 45.0 

 4U.0 

 54.0 

 61.0 

 61.5 

 60.5 

 61.0 

 63.0 

 65.0 

 67.0 

 66 

 67-0 

 66.0 

 66.5 



Durine the year the thermometer marked 90 deg. and upwards on 14 

 davs; 9 in July, 3 in August, and I in September. Daring the same 

 period the instrument registered 50 deg. and below on 11 days; 5 in De- 

 cember; 5 in July, and 1 in March. Maximum, on July ISth, 91.1; min- 

 imum, on December l9ih, 42.0; extreme variation for the year, 49 1-10 

 degs. During the winter month the rain fall is trifling, easterly winds 

 are modified in their passage across the peninsula; westerly winds be* 

 come soft and balmy during their progress across the Gulf of Mexico; 

 the water of the gulf and inlets maintains a high temperature, admitting 

 of bathing at all times. Taking climate and sporting advantages into 

 consideration, we earnes'ly recommend the neighborhood of CI arlotte 

 Harbor to the sportsman or invalid who is anxious to try "Camp Life in 

 Floiida." 



In former communications I recommended sportsmen to take steamer 

 to Fnnta Rassa, but the Post Master General, has left this point out in 

 the co!d, and the mail steamer from Cedar Ke\sgoes direct to Key West 

 To reach Charlotte Harbor, visitors must take sailing yachts from Cedar 

 Keys or Tampa or Manatee. Or take semi-weekly steamer fron Cedar 

 Keys to Manaiee, and small boat to Sarasota bey; then the outside route 

 to Gasparilla inlet ; or proceed to head of Sarasota bay and have boat 

 hauled over- land to the Myakka river or the head of Charlotte Harbor, a 

 distance of 12 or 15 miles. Al Fresco . 

 .«**. 



Major Sarasota. — The series of articles which we 

 begin this week over the signature of "Major Sarasota," 

 although not containing a vast amount of incident or nar- 

 rative, are especially valuable to the coasting trade of the 

 west coast of Florida, as they contain the only accurate 

 sailing directions extant for that locality, giving bearings, 

 courses, distances, soundings, etc., not given on any chart, 

 and correcting the most recent charts of the United States 

 Coast Survey. This series of papers is prepared by a U. 

 S. Customs officer, who has been familiar with the south 

 and southwest Florida coast for thirteen years or more, 

 both during and since the war. It will be comprised in 

 eight chapters, the latter being rich with startling incident 

 and valuaole information for sportsmen. When it is com- 

 pleted, a new series by "Al Fresco" will be begun. These 

 letters will make the Forest and Stream very desirable 

 upon the library table of all persons in any way interested 

 in Florida, whether sailors, sportsmen, settlers, cattle 

 rangers, speculators, invalids, or sight-seers, for the reason 

 that they devote some thought to each, indicating localities 

 for grazling, orange culture* settlement and commercial 

 fishing, 



Disraeli's Dress.— The idiosyncrasies of some of Eng- 

 land's most prominent literary men. as displayed in their 

 dress, are very striking. Benjamin Disraeli, late the 

 British Premier and now the Earl of Beaconsfield, is thus 

 described as making his debut in the House of Commons: 

 "He was very showily attired, being dressed in a bottle 

 green frock coat and a waistcoat of white, of the Dick 

 Swiveller pattern, the front of which exhibited a net-work 

 of glittering chains; large fancy-pattern trousers, and a 

 black tie, above which no shirt collar was visible, com- 

 pleted the outward man. A countenance lividly pale, set 

 out by a pair of intensely black eyes and a broad but not 

 very high forehead, overhung by clustering ringlets of coal- 

 black hair, which, combed away from the right temple, 

 fell in a bunch of well-oiled small ringlets over his left 

 cheek." Charles Dickens was another example of this re- 

 markable passion for showy dress. His bright figured 

 vests covered with "glittering chains,' 5 coats with velvet 

 facings, and huge button-hole bouquets will be re- 

 membered by all who heard him lecture in this country. 

 The late Lord Lytton was another "dressy" man, but "Pel- 

 ham" was more. of the Brummel in his get-up, elaborate 



but not loud. 



, ^i» ■ 



Wild Rice Culture.— We thank our Syracuse corres- 

 pondent for the data he has given. Any similar facts 

 from other sources will be thankfully received, and enable 

 us to prosecute the labor we have in hand of distributing 

 the wild rice throughout the inland waters of the country 

 where it does not now grow. The writer says: — 



Syracuse, Oct. 10th. 

 Editor Forest and Stream:— 



In the fall of 1875 some seed was procured from Henry Meriam, 

 of Rice Lake, and Pown at the head of Sfcaneateles Lake. NT. Y., and 

 also in a deserted marsh of (Jaynga Lake. It came up in from two to 

 four feet of water in both localities. In Skaneateles Lake tame geese 

 snipped the stem while the seed was yet green, so if it will not sprout 

 from the root another year it may prove a failure there. Mr. F. Rumsey, 

 of Seneca Falls, however, tells me that it has done well in Cayuga Lake, 

 away from incursions of tame water fowl. I also put in some seed at 

 Otisco Lake a few weeks since. Tue fact is thus established ihat it will 

 ihrive in this part of the countiy. A devoled sportsm-in of Conland, 

 A. Mahan. E-q., has sown it in «oirjeout-ol'-ihe-way lakes of tkiscoumy. 



There seems to be no good reason why the anuual flight of ducks 

 should not be directed to their favorite food, if sown in this section.: 

 Many of our lakes and streams are favorable to its growth, and a small 

 expense and enLhu.-iasm by the different sportsmen's clubs will tnve 

 geod duck shooting here as well as in the Western States. Larue s-pnng 

 and fall flights of ducks pass over here, and will doubtless stay and re - 

 turn, if they can find wild rice. E. R. Wilson. 

 -♦♦«- 



Coaching Club Parade —The autumn parade of the. 

 Coaching Club will take place on Saturday next, 28th inst. 

 The coaches will assemble at their usual place of rendez- 

 vous, the east side of Madison square, at half past two 

 o'clock, and will proceed thence through Twenty sixth 

 street to Fifth avenue, and along Fifth avenue to the Cen- 

 tral Park. They will then drive along the eastern road lo 

 Stetson's, and returnicg will go down Fifth avenue to 

 Washington square, and thence back again along Fifth 

 avenue to Madison square. It is expected that eight or 

 nine coaches will take part in the parade, belonging to the 

 following gentlemen, members of the Coaching Club: — 

 Messrs. Bennett, Bronson, Jerome, Kane, Nellson, Rice 

 and Whiting. 



-*M»*. 



The Boy of the Period. — Nothing that the small boy 

 of the present day does astonishes us. His latest perform- 

 ance, however, as chronicled by an exchange, takes the 

 lead. He was a Boston boy this time, and his father took 

 him to a dentist to have a tooth extracted from Ids none. 

 He had fallen down, and the tooth had been driven 

 through its socket into the right nostril, where it could be 

 seen. But what gives this boy the premium, for the time 

 being at least, is that only a tew days before he had swal- 

 lowed a tin whistle, and thereby endangered his life. 

 What tune he played on the whistle our exchange saveth 

 not, but with a whistle in his stomach and a tooth in his 

 nose he ought to be a success as a concertina. 

 «»«»» 



A Fine Gun. — We had the pleasure yesterday of in- 

 specting one of the most elaborate guns, in point of gen- 

 eral finish, that we have ever handled. It was a "Daly" 

 gun, built to order for Mr. R. H. Allen, of this city, by 

 Messrs. Schoverling & Daly. The barrels were of the 

 finest Damascus, the pattern being brought out so strongly 

 in curious waves as to be rough to the touch. The locks, 

 triggers, guard, etc., were very handsomely ornamented 

 with birds in relief and most exquisitely engraved. The 

 gun is a 12 bore, but weighs only 6i pounds, with 28-inch 

 barrels,. Mr. Allen, being a naturalist as well as a sportsman, 

 designing it for procuring specimens as well as for field 



work. 



■*+++■ ■ • 



For the West! — We means the Far Away West, not 

 the west of fifty years ago, which is reached now in a day 

 and night, but the land bpyond, where the sportsman finds 

 game of every kind in abundance. To reach this happy 

 land the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad is the route to 

 take, even as far west as Omaha. This is a first class road 

 in every particular and one on which the sportsman will 

 find that himself, and dogs are well taken care of. 

 .*.•.«. — — 



The Parker Gun.— We desire to call the attention of 

 our readers to the advertisement in another column of 

 Messrs. Parker Bra's., of West Meriden, Conn. The 

 "Parker" gun is so well and universally known throughout 

 the country that it seems almost supererogatory to call at- 

 tention to its merits. The guns may be said to "speak for 

 themselves," and are found everywhere in the hands of 

 American sportsmen. ^_^ 



Personal.— We lose this week the aid of Mr. Ernest 

 Ingersoll, who for several months has been conducting our 

 Department of Natural History^ and who now return*: 1 ] 

 th& Tribune staff- 



