212 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



feet clearness in this water, we would state no less an au- 

 thority than Mr. Lloyd, in his correspondence with Mr, 

 Coup, has demonstrated that this lack of clearness at first 

 is a necessary evil, which will soon be overcome be means 

 of the system of aeration now actively going on. 



When it is remembered that the whale tank alone re- 

 quires a boat load of water a day, some idea can be formed 

 of the expense and difficulties attending this single effort. 

 «»**■ — , „— 



—A great deal of discouraging difficulty has attended 

 the efforts to obtain specimens of tropical fish for the 

 aquarium. Four expeditions have been dispatched and 

 returned with absolutely nothing. In the first instance a 

 storm encountered off Sandy Hook, killed all these fish, a 

 second party lost their full cargo on crossing the Gulf 

 Stream, and the third and fourth having landed safely at 

 the New York dock, yet failed to bring their rare treasure 

 to the Aquarium. Another expedition to Wood's Hole, 

 Mass., started homeward after a month of hard labor with 

 a rare and rich cargo, but again a storm deluged the vessel, 

 and not one of all the lot reached its city home in safety. 

 Again an expedition has for a long time been out on the 

 Pacific Ocean, and it is hoped that their efforts will result 

 in the capture of walrusses and a sea elephant. 

 — , «»•«>- — . 



^- A fisherman living at Sodus. Point, Lake Ontario, 



caught a shad in the lake a few days ago weighing four 



pounds, and has forwarded it to Seth Green along with 



proper affidavits, which entitle him to a reward of .$25 



offered by Mr. Green, for the first shad taken from the 



lake weighing not less than 2£ pounds. 



.*.«*». 



Good Results in Virginia. — A Lynchburg correspond- 

 ent of the Nashville Rural Sun writes:— 



Atier the war, the streams of Virginia were found to be 

 almost barren of fine game fish, when her legislators con- 

 ceived the idea of a "fish and game" protective law, and 

 appointing reliable commissioners to re-supply all the larger 

 streams and tributaries with a full stock of game and pan 

 fish, which has been done with astonishing success. 



No seining, no netting, no gigging with spikes, nothing 

 but hook and line can be used under a heavy penalty; and 

 the result is to-day one man can catch enough for a day's 

 supply with, hook and line in an hour. Bass (or trout as 

 your name) have taken possession of the stream, and are 

 now caught, weighing from one to six pounds. There are 

 also a multitude of silver perch, which are as fine to eat 

 but not quite so gamey; they are caught with minnows — 

 the largest about eight to nine pounds. 



Pike are also abundant, ana the salmon trout (our jack) 

 are beginning to be plenty. 



The fish commissioners have established three hatching 

 houses, Blacksburg, Lexington, and Nelson C. H., .which 

 can and do hatch five to seven millions annually, young 

 bass, salmon, and pike, and distribute them every spring 

 in the different streams, after they are sufficiently large 

 enough to protect themselves. Thus, you see with a tri- 

 fling expense to the State, and good protective laws, every 

 citizen is benefited, and abundant supplies of the finest fish 

 for table use in the world are at their command. Any boy 

 can, with hook and line here, catch in an hour or so enough 

 for a day's supply; and the market is full and very cheap. 



Trout Culture in Tennessee.— John C. Ferris, of 

 Davidson county, Tennessee, gives to the Nashville Rural 

 San the results of his efforts in trout culture, which indi- 

 cate that these fish can be raised as easily in portions of 

 that State as elsewhere. He says: — 



"I began my fish pool the 2d of October, 1875, and fin- 

 ished it in two weeks. I commenced by digging out the 

 earth from my spring the distance of 175 feet in length, 20 

 feet wide, and from four to seven feet deep. The water is 

 pure, coming as it does, from three springs that rise at the 

 head of the pool. I then stocked the pool with trout, black 

 and white perch. I did this on the 30th of last October, 

 and afterwards put in a few large fish of the same varieties 

 as I heretofore put in. I made a bed of sand and gravel 

 for them to spawn in, and the result was wonderful. They 

 hatched out thousands. These little ones I protect by shai- 

 lowSvater, out of reach of the large fish. They are thriv- 

 ing finely. They are fed once or twice a week on bread 

 and boiled liver, which is very good food for ail sizes. 



"The first I put in, a year ago, are now very near full 

 grown. Some of them 'are fourteen inches long, and are 

 plump and fine. I dont dictate to them in regard to the 

 ways and means of hatching their young, for I think they 

 know best what to do in the premises. All that I do is to 

 protect the young fish from the depredations of" the old 

 ones. I find that plenty of sand and gravel and shallow 

 waters are the things at last. 



After i Unshed the pond and leveled off the enbankment, 

 I put out maple tr^es for shade, and some grass seed on the 

 embankment, which is now very green and finely sodded. 



The water is not confined in this pool by the embank- 

 ment, but is held by the earth, dug below the surface. This 

 prevents the rats and minks from burrowing into the bank 

 and letting out the water. 



i found that I had plenty of water for still a larger pool, 

 and i have put up another one hundred feet long, twenty- 

 eight feet wide, and four to ten feet deep, and stocked this 

 with black bass, and our native trout, with a few perch. 

 This last pond, so far, is doing well. 



I hope to make this a profitable business, and will not 

 allow depredators to impose on my property. Pish can be 

 raised as easy as house-hies, and will accumulate as fast, if 

 you will give them plenty of fresh water, and prepare for 

 them to live in a clear, healthy stream or -pool. 1 encourage 

 everybody to have their own fish in the country. It only 

 requires a labor. Both of my pools cost me $210, all told. 



— The London New* any a uiut the Galling mitrailleuse, 

 which, despite its murderous action, has never found much 

 favor with the army, is, by direction of the Admiralty, now 

 being fitted in many of the vessels that are preparing for 

 sea, The Alexandra and Shannon are each of them to re- 

 ceive two or these weapons on board, to be especially em- 

 ployed against marksmen posted in the rigging, or hostile 

 marines engaged in firing through the portholes, or in re- 

 P 1 tag anyattempt at hoarding. Again, it is also intended 

 1 arni our gunboats and sloops with the same destructive 

 implements for coast and river fighting. 



fytutxl tHJistorg. 





A WORD OR TWO ABOUT SOME OF 

 OUR RAIL. 



FEW of our birds are as little known to the unscientific 

 as the species which are comprised in the family of 

 the Rallidce. Migrating altogether by night, and passing 

 their lives among the wet meadows and marshes, they are 

 rarely disturbed, except by the ornithological collector, 

 and for perhaps a month in the autumn by the sportsman. 



Yet they are very interesting little birds, active, ener- 

 getic, and above all inquisitive. At high water they may 

 often be seen in considerable numbers running rapidly 

 about over the floating sedge, the head well thrown back 

 and the short, pointed tail erect and brought as far for- 

 ward as possible. At such times, if the observer will but 

 remain perfectly motionless the nimble little feeders will 

 approach within a few feet of him, and he may note each 

 detail of form and coloring. At the least movement, how- 

 ever, all the birds take the alarm and run back to the shel- 

 ter of the standing grass or rushes whence they came. 

 Their swiftness of foot is surprising, and they splash along 

 over the floating reeds and grass in a most reckless and 

 noisy race. 



That they are not badly frightened, however, is shown 

 by the fact that if all becomes quiet once more they will 

 emerge from their hiding-places almost immediately to in- 

 spect the object which alarmed them, and after having 

 satisfied their curiosity, will recommence feeding in their 

 former jaunty and unconcerned manner. "While thus en- 

 gaged they do not confine themselves wholly to satisfying 

 their appetites; they are not so eager for food that they can- 

 not find time to stop for a little chatter and, gossip with oue 

 another. Indeed they often indulge in quite protracted 

 conversations, sometimes in the shrillest and most argu- 

 mentative tones, and at others in low whispered chuckles 

 that can hardly be heard at the distance of a few feet. 

 Often the bii ds can be called from their grassy hiding- 

 places by an imitation of their shrill cries, and we have 

 sometimes drawn a dozen birds to the edge of the rushes, 

 where they would stand and peer about until some slight 

 movement drove them back to their cover. 



Ordinarily they seem very much averse to using their 

 wings, and prefer to trust for safety to their powers of 

 running and hiding. If possible they will always run to 

 the thick grass or "cat-tails," which the sportsman's boat 

 cannot penetrate. When they have not time to reach such 

 places of refuge they may usually be forced to fly, though 

 they will sometimes hide in a bunch of grass, and permit 

 the boat to be pushed directly over them. Wounded birds 

 resort to every expedient of diving, swimming under wa- 

 ter and hiding, and unless the situation is exceptionally fa- 

 vorable for the marker, they are more often lost than se- 

 cured. We have known them to cling for several minutes 

 to the grass at the bottom, and it is believed that they 

 sometimes drown in this way, rather than expose them- 

 selves to the chance of being captured. One of their com- 

 monest modes of concealment is to sink in the water near 

 a clump of grass, leaving only the bill exposed above wa- 

 ter, and this small object partially concealed by the sur- 

 rounding grass is easily overlooked. 



By far the most abundant species in the Middle States, 

 especially during the migrations, is the so-called sora rail 

 (Porzana Carolina); next in abundance come the salt water 

 marsh hen (Rallus lojigirostris), and the Virginia rail or 

 corncrake (R. virginianus), the latter a bird most unwilling 

 to use its wings, and ordinarily not to be started from the 

 ground except by the aid of a dog. The coot (Fulica 

 ameruana) is rather abundant in the middle districts, and 

 from its size and habits is perhaps more generally known 

 than the other members of the family. The Florida gal- 

 linule (Oallinula galeata) is rare hereabouts, but we have 

 occasionally taken it. This family contains two or three 

 species which are quite rare, and which are eagerly sought 

 after by ornithological collectors. The yellow-breasted rail 

 {Porzana noveboracensis) is one of these, and the black rail 

 (P. jamaicensis) another, the latter being regarded as one 

 of the rarest of North American birds. The European 

 corncrake (Crex praiensis) is only found on this continent 

 as an accidental visitor. 



We were fortunate enough a few weeks since to make 

 some observations on the habits of P. noveboracensis which 

 deserve to be briefly noticed. While working a young 

 puppy on snipe over a wet meadow we were somewhat an- 

 noyed by the dog's often making what we supposed false 

 points. We were unable to start any birds from before 

 him, and several times called him away, supposing that he 

 was standing on the scent of a bird that had recently been 

 there. At length, however, the dog was seen, after stand- 

 ing for a moment, to reach down and grasp at something 

 in the grass before him, and immediately afterwards a 

 small rail rose and flew a short distance . Recognizing it 

 as a rail and seeing that it was very different from anything 

 which we are accustomed to see in this vicinity, we shot 

 the specimen, and when it was retrieved were surprised 

 and pleased to find that it was a yellow-breasted rail. 



Subsequent examination of the meadows proved that the 

 species was quite common, and we did no small injury to 

 our dog's training by allowing him to hunt the birds after 

 his own method. The little creatures were astonishingly 

 tame, and would hide among the bogs on the meadow or 

 creep into holes in the ground, from which the dog would 

 draw them forth in his mouth. We caught one in our 

 hands, and killed another with a dog whip. A third flew 



against the legs of one of the party, and then dropped 

 down into the grass again. In all about a dozen specimens 

 (of which nine were preserved) were taken in an hour or' 

 two, and no doubt had more time been at our command 

 this number might have been materially increased. It was 

 apparent that the species was migrating in considerable 

 numbers, and that its supposed rarity is in a great meas- 

 ure due to its retiring habits and to its propensity for hid- 

 ing when it can instead of flying. It is evident that a col- 

 lector familiar with these habits would have no difficulty 

 in securing a goodly number of specimens. 



The facts just related would seem to indicate that if 

 collectors did but know where and at what time to look 

 for them, some of the migrating birds how considered rare 

 in certain localities might be found there in considerable 

 numbers; and that as our knowledge of bird life and hab- 

 its becomes more and more extended the so-called rare 

 species will gradually be eliminated from our lists, until 

 finally the time will come when we shall know just where, 

 and when to look for any given species. 

 .**«. 



Rare Birds for Canada.— The London (Ontario) Ad- 

 vertiser says that Mr. G( orge Jackson of that city, while on 

 a shooting expedition recently, shot a splendid specimen of 

 the pelican, and also a sandhill crane of fine plumage.. 

 Both of these are rare birds in this part of the country.. 

 They have been handed over to Mr. Mummery for mount- 

 ing, one for Mr. Jackson's private collectian, and the other 

 for the museum at the Mechanics' Institute. 

 -— — ««» * <» 



LOCAL NOMENCLATURE. 



List of Gunner's Names for Birds ar,d Wild Fowl obtained in Plymouth 

 Bay, Mass. : 

 Fulix marila. Troop fowl. 

 Melanetta vlrsiina. White-wing. 

 Pelionelta ])erspicillata. S u r f er . 

 Oidemia amencana. Coppemose. 

 Somaleria mollxbsinia. Sea duck. 

 Bucephala amencana. Whistler. 

 Hareida glaciatis. Quandie. 

 Bucephala albeota. Dipper or dopper. 

 BaJUa acuta. Sprigtail, English, duck. 

 tipatula clypeata. Spoonbill. 

 Mergus teirator. Sheldrake. 



Oolymbm torqaatus. Adult, Pond loon; young;, sheep loon. 

 V. urcticus. Graybaek loou. 

 Ceptentrionalu. Pegging awl or pegmonk 

 Podiceps. All valines. Water-witch. 

 Gracucus car bo. Shag. 

 Mergulus alle. Pine knet. 

 sterna. All varieties. Mackerel gulls. 

 Chroicocepkalus Philadelphia . Square- tail gull 

 Missa iridaclylus. Square-tail, also bay. 

 Lavas mannas. Daniel gull. 

 L. argentatus. Adult, white; young, gray gull. 

 Botaurus lentiginoeus. Plunkett. 

 Charadrius virgirdcus. Squealer 

 bquatarolahelvet ca. Bottle head." 

 Aegvxiitis melodus . Beach bird. 

 H&matopus palliaius? Brant bird. 

 Limosa? Humility. 

 blrepskas inttrpres. Chicane. 



Trmga canutus. Adult, red-oreaet; young, gray-back. 

 T. alpma. Stile. ' - 



'J'. Bonapanei. White-tailed stile. 

 T. n<acuiata. Mar^h plover. 

 Kreunetes petrificatus. Oxeye. 

 Culidns arenaria. Skinner. 

 Gambetta melanoleuca. Large cucti 1 . 

 G. havipes. Small cucu. 

 Namenius longirodris. Sickle bill. 

 N. borealis. l)oe bird. 

 Macror/iamph-js griseus. Driver. 



We print above an interesting "list of Gunner's Names,"' 

 received from Mr. F. C. Browne, of Massachusetts. The 

 list is valuable as showing, by comparison with others pre- 

 viously published, the different names given by gunners at 

 the various localities along the coast, to the same bird. It 

 is interesting to see how the mind in many cases seizes the 

 striking point about the bird and names it from that salient 

 feature. For example, who that has ever seen the full 

 plumaged scoter (Ordemia americana in Mr. Browne's list) 

 could fail to see the applicability of the name "copper- 

 nose"? The adult male of the so-called coot or white- 

 wing (Melanetta velvetina) is on the Connecticut coast called 

 "snuff -taker," another striking name, given no doubt in 

 allusion to the bright red of the bill near the nostril. 



Mr. Browne informs us that L this list "was made, and 

 the birds identified, during a season's residence at Clark's 

 island, of Pilgrim fame, in the harbor of Plymouth, Mass., 

 in 1852." 



Singular Incident. — The following incident, related 

 by a Brooklyn correspondent is worth mention: — 



"In reading over one of the recent numbers of the above 

 named paper I saw an article in which it spoke of a par- 

 tridge flying against a car window and breaking it, and 

 then being found on the floor of the car, stunned. A simi- 

 lar occurance came to my notice aoout two months ago, 

 when a partridge flew against a window of the Riverview 

 Military Academy, at Poughkeepeie, breaking the window, 

 then flying across a large room and breaking through a 

 window on the opposite side, falling on the piazza outside 

 of the window, where it was found somewhat stunned, but 

 not dead. These window glasses were not so thick as 

 those of a car window. W. Stanton. 



A Trap for Skunks.— A barrel balanced on the bilge 

 over a pole, about seven inches high, with open end 

 brought down to the ground, and bait put in bottom. The 

 skunk will walk into the open end, and when he gets past 

 the middle the barrel will right upon the bottom, leaving 

 the skunk a prisoner. This has often been tried success- 

 fully. — Canada Farmer. 



. *j-^e*. 



—It is proposed that Oregon take for its motto, Possumus r 

 "We can," as it is the greatest State in the world for can- 

 ned salmon.— Ex. 



—Psychological Senior— "There is no such thing as mo- 

 tion. It is your inner consciousness, the mind, the soul r 

 that weighs." 



— A telescopic gun-sight has been introduced in English 

 artillery practice. 



