508 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fJuLY 29, 18R0. 



The gun is the only anii one is likely to have use for, 

 though a revolvec or rifle may be of use in whiling away 

 the time at target practice. So far as necessity tor the 

 revolver goes, there is none. Mine has lain in my trunk 

 Since .1 left, and is rusty for want of use. 



A hammock, a pair of blankets, a rubber blanket, and 

 the various simple articles of use in camping out in the 

 North— all these should be taken. Books should be taken 

 sparingly, and then only such as you would wish to 

 leave among the people, for the various and varied use 

 o which one may put his time will permit of little time 

 for reading. Paper, ink, pencils, note-books, etc., of 

 course ; and, if one is artistically inclined, he should by 

 all means attempt to sketch the wondrous mountains and 

 the scenery of hill and coast. Not being gifte'd myself, I 

 long ago sought aid in preserving by photography these 

 wonderful pictures that each day unfolds. A camera is 

 an indispensable part of my outfit: formerly 1 worked 

 the old-fashioned •' wet process,'' and it took two large 

 trunks to hold camera and chemicals ; but now, all this is 

 ; my camera occupies hut about a square foot of 

 space, and plates for one hundred pictures are packed 

 among my clothing in my trunk. The instrument to 

 which I am indebted for all this Having of space and lug- 

 gage is called the " Tourograph." and is the invention of 



: i i. i photographer of Boston, Mr. Blair. At first 



si edit it appears only a square box, hut Dy removing a 

 slide the lens appears, and by drawing another an in- 

 ner box is disclosed, which contains a dozen prepared 

 " gelatine plates." These plates are contained in grooves, 

 each in a separate groove, and held in raace by screws, 

 each one numbered. Each number corresponds with 

 another on the focusing slide, so that, by an ingenious 

 arrangement, all one has to do to expose a plate is 

 to focus for distance ; then, turning the focusing slide 

 till the number of the plate wanted is in the right 

 place, loose the screw, holding the plate in position, thus' 

 letting it drop into a rack below, by means of which it is 

 carried into focus. The lens is then uncapped, and the 

 exposure made ; after which, the lens is again covered, 

 the rack carried into position by a thumb-screw, and the 

 plate elevated to the dark-box and held in position by its 

 proper screw, Mr. Blair has also prepared a tripod upon 

 which to mount the camera, so compact that, when 

 closed, it presents the appearance of a large walking- 

 stick ; it makes a very good alpenstock, in fact, with a 

 brass-capped head and sharp-shod point. Upon this tripod 

 the camera can be mounted, by a few turns of the screw 

 the plate exposed, replaced, and the camera compactly 

 packed in a very few minutes. If this invention develops 

 all it promises "to, there is no reason why every tourist 

 should not carry his own " Tourograph "' and take his 

 own pictures. Thus far, I have exposed for about sixty 

 pictures ; but, as I have not yet seen one of them. I can- 

 not report upon the merits of the instrument. This may 

 seem, to the uninitiated, very strange ; that a person in 

 his senses should go about over mountains, and in and 

 out of craters and valleys, setting up a machine in a cer- 

 tain position, squinting through it at a certain angle, and 

 hen, alter turning a few screws and making sundry mo- 

 tions, pack up his camera and depart, satisfied that he 

 has obtained a duplicate of the picture seen on the ground 

 glass. It does require a great deal of faith, especially 

 when I transfer the plates, upon which I fondly hope are 

 the images of beautiful objects, from the dark-box to the 

 boses in which they must be transported home. This 

 can only be done by a peculiar light, in the night shining 

 through ruby glass or prepared paper. To the eye, every 

 plate looks -alike, whether it contains the undeveloped re- 

 i lection of tropical vegetation, or whether it remains in a 

 slate of virgin purity. 



It would be an easy matter to develop a fow, as I have 

 the chemicals for the purpose with me, but I prefer to 

 remain in a state of delightful suspense, and defer this 

 operation till my return to the States. But if — ah 1 if — 

 all this labor has been in vain ! I have too much faith in 

 the perfection of my "dry plates," and in the honesty of 

 Mr, Blair and his work, to entertain any doubt; at least, 

 I'll not cross the bridge before I come to it. 



The preceding are, in the main, the articles comprising 

 my outfit, but there are a thousaud-aud-one others that 

 one may take, which will suggest themselves. By all 

 means, if you come down this way, bring out fresh books 

 and papers to give to the people. Though there is now 

 direct communication between New York and Trinidad, 

 Still the inhabitants of these islands do not receive half 

 the reading matter they could devour. English papers 

 and magazines three weeks old are their staple supplies. 

 Now, by introducing American literature publishers may 

 be paving the way for the annexation of these islands 

 by bringing abou t" a change of sentiment, 



'This again brings me around to my starting point — the 

 facility with which we may now reach the larger islands. 

 A direct line, started two years ago, is now running from 

 New York, the Quebec and Gulf Ports Steamship Line, 

 and tickets may be procured for any island between Porto 

 Rico and Trinidad. As these steamers carry cargo, and 

 consequently make a stay of a day or two in each port, 

 a round-trip excursion ticket to Trinidad would enable 

 one to see the best of all the islands, and at the same time 

 make his home aboard. 



This, the Fhtmb<> rough, the second steamer of the 

 line, upon which I have taken passage, during this cruise, 

 is as comfortable and pleasant an abiding place as one 

 could desire, even with the thermometer at ninety or 

 thereabout. 



The Bocas are now in sight, those gateways to the Bay 

 of Paria and Trinidad, and I must bring this roundabout 

 ramble to a close. To-morrow is the Fourth, which, be- 

 ing Sunday, will be celebrated on the fifth. To-morrow 

 and the day after I shall be in Port of Spain, and I'll 

 wager I don't smell the smoke of a cracker. In refreshing 

 contrast comes the memory of a Fourth in Martinique two 

 years ago. There were no crackers, no fireworks and no 

 speeches, except one by our Consul- " Takeanother glass. 

 my friend, in honor of the great American eagle." In 

 my mind's eye 1 see him yet, beaming upon a half circle 

 of chairs - , said chairs ranged about a two-gallon jar of 

 punch, each chair containing a patriotic American, for 

 the time being, It was only a week ago that I heard 

 him give Orders to Sam, his servant, for the brewing of a 

 mightier punch than that of two years ago, and here 

 am I, three hundred miles away, with not even a brother 

 American to grasp my hand and exclaim, "Long may 

 ,iiu> W8 \ e ! " Here's to the Hag, all the same, though. 

 Fkisd Beverly, 



Jla/wv?/ §mtarg. 



—Address all communications to " Forest and Stream 

 Publishing Oompany, New lor/.-." 



Bright Feathers.— Mr. Frank R. Rathbun, who is 

 well known to many of our readers by his valuable 

 ornithological papers, has commenced the publication of 

 a beautiful work on birds, entitled " Bright Feathers.'' 

 The author's purpose is to furnish, in cheap form, a series 

 of illustrated biographies of ten or twolve of the more 

 highly colored birds of the Northeastern States. 



Judging from the initial number, the work will be one 

 that all should have. It is a well printed folio on heavy 

 tinted paper, with wide margins, and is illustrated by an 

 excellent colored plate and a number of beautiful wood- 

 cut vignettes. 



The purple finch is excellently portrayed in the plate ; 

 the coloring is good and the attitudes natural anil life- 

 like. Figures are given of the male and the female, and 

 of the egg — all natural size. The text is bright and in- 

 teresting, and contains quotations from many of -the 

 best authorities. The present work will have a great 

 value in arousing an interest in ornithology among 

 many who, without such a volume to bring it to their 

 notice, would never realize the beauty of the science. 

 Mr. Rathbun's volume will, we truBt, be as successful 

 from a pecuniary point of view as it promises to be from 

 an artistic standpoint ; and we do not hesitate to recom- 

 mend it to our readers. The price per part is $1. 



Count L. F. de Pourtai.es.— We regret to notice the 

 death of L. F. de Pourtales, long an associate of the elder 

 Agassiz, He came to this country twenty years ago, and 

 has devoted much of his time to the study of the Ra- 

 diata. He has been engaged in deep-sea dredging, and 

 was for some years an assistant on the Coast Survey. 



Count de Pom-tales was a Swiss by birth, and recently 

 came into possession of estates in Switzerland, He was 

 the author of many valuable scientific papers, prominent 

 among which are his writings on corals. 



The Senses of Animals.— A correspondent writing 

 from Savannah, Tenn., gives an interesting account of 

 the acuteness of the senses of certain birds and insects in 

 perceiving the approach of an earthquake long before it 

 was observable to human feeling. He says : — 



" On the evening of the 13th inst., a few minutes be- 

 fore s o'clock, I was sitting on the front porch trying to 

 get cool and listening to the katydids that were keeping 

 up a racket all around. A large colony of martins have 

 established themselves in the upper part of the porch and 

 were quietly sleeping. All of a sudden the katydids 

 stopped short, and the martins came Hying out in a 

 breakneck fashion, as if a snake had invaded the quiet 

 of their home. In a few seconds afterwards wo felt a 

 distinct shock of an earthquake, which lasted about a 

 minute, shook the house and rattled the windows. The 

 shock was felt by every one in town, and extended for 

 miles around. The wave seemed to travel from the 

 southwest to northeast. What i want to know is why 

 and how did the birds and the katydids feel the shock 

 lief ore the rest of us ? Will, 



♦ 



A Snake Story.— A correspondent has sent us an ex- 

 cerpt from the York Pennsylvania)!, which gives the de- 

 tails of a remarkable circumstance, deserving to go on 

 record. No one can cavil at this story or pretend to dis- 

 believe it, for we have the most convincing proof of its 

 truth. Our correspondent states most emphatically that 

 he knows Locust Run well, and that it is a great place 

 for pheasants (local for ruffed grouse), for he has killed 

 them there ; he does not, it is true, say that it is a good 

 place for black snakes, but, on the other hand, he does 

 not say that there are none there. What could bo more 

 convincing ! We have Locust Run, the pheasants and an 

 inherent probability that black snakes exist. No one but 

 an extremely captious person will be disposed to doubt 

 the veracity of the York Pennsylvanian's little tale. 

 Here it is : — 



Several weeks ago, while clearing new land at the foot 

 of Locust Rim, in Lower Windsor township, there was 

 discovered a pheasant's nest with twelve eggs. Thurs- 

 day afternoon, last week, John and Peter Emenheiser, 

 sixteen and nineteen years old, on looking at the nest es- 

 pied seven young pheasants, about two days old — five 

 eggs remaining unhatcbed. At the edge of the nest lay 

 a black snake, live feet ten inches long, the serpent hav- 

 ing charmed the chirping birds. The youths killed the 

 snake, and throwing it into the road a few- feet from the 

 nest, the seven rescued pheasants manifested astonishing 

 excitement, and crazed with agony hastened to the ser- 

 pent, some creeping under it. At a short distance was 

 the old bird, realizing the perilous situation of the brood, 

 screeching and flapping her wings, 

 ♦ 



A Prolific Mother.— Early in April last, a three year 

 old short horn heifer belonging to Mr. Woi. Myers, of 

 Pittsford, Monroe County, N. Y., died during I 

 of gestation. On examination after death it was found 

 that she was about to become the mother of no less (ban 

 six well developed calves. The sire was a Durham year- 

 ling sixteen months old. The remarkable litter, if such 

 a term may be employed, are said to be now in the pos- 

 session of Mr, C. K. liowlett, of Rochester, N. Y. 



White Hakes, — Corpus Christi, Texas,— Editor For- 

 est and Stream: — I have seen white jack rabbits in tins 

 State many times in the spring, but they were always a 

 good ways off and I alwayB had the sun at my back in 



them, < hi several occasions 1 base killed these 

 apparently white jacks, ami I'oun.l, when I got to them, 

 that I bey were ash colored, or simply dingy old fellows, 

 which bad not yet shed their long' winter hair, which, 

 like the hair of all animals exposed to the weather, gets 

 dingy or faded, just us every black horse loses his gloss 

 and is a dirty brown in color just before shedding in the 

 spring. 



The siui shining on this dingy, faded hair from the 

 proper angle makes it look white, but the color green, 

 red or yellow, would be as nearly correct as white for 

 any specimen of jack rabbit it has fallen to my lot to ob- 

 serve. I have seen deer identically the same way— white 

 at a distance apparently, but never white when killed. 

 As to my opportunity of observation, yon will be satis- 

 fied when I state that I have lived in Western Texas over 

 thirty years and am fond of my gun. Of one thing you 

 may be assured : Tn Western Texas jack rabbits do 

 not l urn white in winter. Bexar. 



The hare referred to by our correspondent is no doubt 

 LcpiCs eallotis, which is not known ever to turn white in 

 winter. It is not probable that L. eampesiris would do 

 so either, as far South as Texas. 



Hissing. Snakes.— WasMitgitm, July 3d.— Editor For- 

 est <tnd Stream:— "Enquirer'' asked, on page 888 of vonr 

 issue of June 17th, "Do Snakes hiss Y' Our observations 

 on the collection of snakes in the Smithsonian institu- 

 tion enable us to assert that snakes do hiss. This is es- 

 pecially the case with the Heterodon, the gopher, or in- 

 digo snake (Spiloles crebennvs), and with the pine, or bull 

 snake {Pifkyophis metanolenens). The sound produced 

 by them, apparently in anger, is a loud and distinct hiss. 

 A" sound closely resembling a hiss, but produced by rapid 

 motions of the tail, is noticeable in snakes of the species 

 Bascanium constrictor. Observer. 



Manchester, N, H., June 2?>th. — Editor Forest and 

 Stream: — One summer's day in 1870 I was hoeing in a 

 garden, when my attention 'was attracted by a peculiar 

 hissing— almost singing — note, different from anything I 

 had ever heard. 1 followed up the sound, and found 

 that it came from a common striped black and yellow 

 snake. He was coiled up under a, projecting stone of the 

 wall, and, with mouth partly open, was singing his little 

 song. His voice was sharp, pretty high pitched, and with 

 a harsh, grating quality. I am' no naturalist. Was it 

 Heterodon platyrhinos 1 B. B, 



Probably not Heterodon. 



State School of Mines, Golden, Col., June MUi.— Edi- 

 tor Forest and Stream. :— I had often doubted the same 

 fact as "Enquirer," until two or three years ago, when in 

 the month of May I turned up a flat stone along the 

 flanks of the Rocky Mountains anil removed a pair of 

 large bull snakes (a harmless species, sometimes attaining 

 four or five feet, and marked not unlike a rattlesnake). 

 They greeted me with a storm of hissing, that put all 

 skepticism on this matter to flight : and their formidable 

 attitude of defense and noise made me start hack for a 

 moment ere I attempted to capture the pair. This is the 

 only instance of hissing I have met with in mv inter- 

 course with the snakes of this region, of which the bull 

 snake, rattlesnake and blue racer are the commonest. I 

 never heard a rattlesnake hiss. These snakes had lain 

 there all winter, and were probably hybernating. 



A. Lakes. 



Augusta, Maine, July 10th.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream .-—Some fifteen years ago , . u; in Ware- 

 ham, Mass., I was preparing to go down the river to fish 

 for sharks, when I was suddenly astonished by hearing 

 our large mastiff dog, Barnum, violently barking. I had 

 my shark spear in my hand, and went to the hedge and 

 was startled to hear a loud hiss. Upon investigation, I 

 discovered a large adder holding my dog at bay. His 

 head was flattened, and he was certainly hissing fear- 

 fully. Taking the proper precautions, 1 pinned him with 

 my spear, and of course killed him. He measured two 

 feet eleven inches in length. Geo, 0, Tubey. 



Editor Forest and Stream .-— 



Observing in your issue of -July 8th the remarks on' 'Do 

 snakes hiss?" 1 am induced to relate the following inci- 

 dent: A few days ago 1 was fishing in a creek in Sul- 

 livan Count)- (this State). Passing along down stream. I 

 arrived at a point where the water, after tumbling over 

 some rocks, formed itself into a small eddy. Here I was 

 surprised to see lying on the bank of the stream twenty 

 or thirty water-snakes— large and small and of a variety 

 of colors. Most of the snakes disappeared into the water 

 as 1 approached, Those that remained on shore coiled 

 38 up and raising their heads darted back and 

 forth with remarkable rapidity their forked tongues, mak- 

 ing at the same time a distinct hissing noise. The ■■hiss- 

 ing" was, in fact, so loud that it surprised me and I stood 

 fur a moment observing the different snakes, all of which 

 seemed to he in a state of frenzied excitement. One in 

 particular — about two feet in length and of a greyish 

 white color — darted at me several times as if to drive" me 

 away, uttering the while this hissing noise. It was dis- 

 patched in the usual niannei . 1'erhapr. this will convince 

 "Shadow" that water snakes as well as land snakes do 

 hiss. 



Another incident : Not long ago I was on the Hudson 

 Palisades with a friend. We were seated upon a rock 

 leisurely putting our cigars, when suddenly we were 

 startled by a loud hiss (similar to that sometimes made 

 by parent geese), close to our heads. Springing to our 

 and ourselves confronted by a red viper or 

 ohalua contortrix) about three 

 and one-half feet in length and one and one-half inches 

 in diameter at the thickest part. Its head was almost flat 

 and would probably measure two inches across. The 

 animal did not appear to be in its pleasantest mood, and 

 had we not beat a retreat v e would probably have felt 

 the force of its wrath. We returned Shortly, however, 

 se, made of twine and attached to the end of 

 a stick, and captured Mr. Copperhead as he was about 

 to spring at one of uk. 



We intended to bring the snake to New York alive, but 

 the porter into whose charge it was given tightened the 

 cord, thereby strangling it. Ozias S, Freeman, 



