FOREST AND STREAM 
545 
had five females and three males. The males have the 
whole breast fair, something like the breast of the wood¬ 
cock, with the dark, almost black markings in some. At 
the throat the females have the same color, with darker 
specks over the breast, which cease at the throat, leaving 
the throat fair, with no marks that are noticeable. 
About the 21st of this month I learned that nests had 
been foimd near where I released the quail. I visited the 
place, and on inquiring of the farmer, we were shown 
the nests. The first one was in a field where the hay had 
been removed. The nest contained seven eggs, but I am 
sorry to say that owing to the hen being disturbed, and 
deprived of all co ver, she had left the nest, and the eggs 
were cold, and the upper sides exposed to the sun were 
bleached out whiter tuan the rest. The next two nests 
on the adjoining farm were some three rods apart, on 
pretty high land, and were also in a mowing field. Each 
contained fifteen eggs, and presented a yery pretty sight, 
but I am very sorry to say that in mowing the grass one 
of the quail was injured, so that she also left her nest. 
On breaking one of the eggs we found that it contained a 
full grown chick, which would have hatched in a day or 
two longer. The other one was discovered in season to 
place a bunch of grass around it, and I think the eggs 
have hatched by this time, or will soon hatch. The next 
one was in a field much like the others, all near farm 
houses. The last one contained eleven eggs, and although 
the grass had been removed the hen stuck to the nest. 
These are all the nests I have heard from, but think there 
are many more in the grain fields and pastures, and I 
think the eggs will be hatched out before the grass is 
harvested. If any come back next, spring they will un¬ 
doubtedly build and hatch out the chicks before haying. 
All of the farmers where we let the. quail go have taken 
great interest in them, and would have left a spot of grass 
standing to conceal the nest if it had been found in sea¬ 
son. Some of the quail have moved two or three miles 
from where they were let out. On the whole, I think 
things look encouraging, but it all depends upon their 
coming back in the spring. James Wight. 
London , Ont., Aug. 4 —Editor Foreht and Stream :— 
Enclosed find a. clipping from the London Adverlizer of 
to-day, about the migratory quail. I know you take a 
great interest in this subject, so I send it. I will endeavor 
to get more information. 
“The migratory quail which’were imported and released 
at Strathroy last spring, appear from the accounts we have 
heard, to have become acclimatized and are rearing their 
progeny in a manner that will soon render the supply of 
this game bird abundant. The birds subsist largely upon 
grasshoppers and insects, and are believed to lie identical 
with the variety of quail mentioned in Scripture. Recently 
a nest with fifteen eggs was found in a meadow, but the 
passage over it of a mower and hay rake caused the 
parent bird to forsake it.” J. D. Niven. 
A Florida Manatee. — A huge sea cow has been re¬ 
ceived at New York, en route for Europe. Concerning 
its capture and habits a correspondents writes : 
Titusville, Fla,, July 26. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
A live manatee or sea cow (Trwhechus manatus) was 
•shipped from here to New York on the 18th inst. It was 
captured in St. Lucie River, one hundred and ten miles 
south of this place, by Messrs. August Park and John 
Kelly. It was estimated to weigh 1,000 pounds. The 
manatee is an amphibious animal, distantly allied to the 
t hocus or seals, but differing in very many points. Un- 
ke the Phocas, which feeds on fish" the manatee live off 
aquatic grasses and lily pads. They are very fond of the 
turtle grass that grows abundantly in the shallows of 
Indian River. They also eat parsely when they can get it. 
The head of the manatee resembles' that of a large calf, 
especially about the mouth. The eyes, however, are 
small. In the place of fore-legs they have two flippers, 
resembling the similar organs of locomotion possessed by 
the Cetatians, the whales, and porpoises. The tail is more 
like that of a Oetatian than a Phoca. It is a powerful 
instrument, lying horizontally in the water, and being 
semi-circular in its terminal outlines. The body is 
covered with a very few short scattered hairs, averaging 
perhaps an inch apart. The skin is pachydermatous, 
fully an inch thick. The ribs are ivory. The manatee is 
only found in tropical countries, Florida being the only 
place in the United States where it occurs. They are 
caught in immense seines, made of rope. Sometimes one 
is shot when coming to the surface to blow, or when feed¬ 
ing in shoal water. They are often seen in the ocean near 
the mouths of the Indian River and Jupiter Inlets. They 
resort to the St. Lucie River (fresh water) to breed. They 
•are foimd also on the gulf coast of the State. They are 
an inert, sluggish mass of flesh, easily handled in the 
water, but very awkward to manage on land. They are 
not vicious or dangerous at all. A person can get into 
the water with one, lift up his head or take other liberties, 
but must keep out of the way of his powerful tail. 
Al. I. Gator. 
Foster Hens for Quail’s Nests:— Cleveland, August 
3,1879.—Like “ Miles,” your correspondent who found an 
old hen and a quail occupying the same nest I also found 
several amalgamations of this kind, when a boy, in search 
of eggs. The most remarkable of the lot was one near 
the old bam, by the side of a rail fence. It contained five 
eggs of the quail before the old hen made her first deposit. 
This mutual deposit of eggs continued daily until the 
quail laid fourteen and the old hen ten. The hen drop¬ 
ping the last egg, making, big and little, twenty-four 
eggs, when the nest, for some reason, was abandoned, 
and fearing putrefaction or destruction to the deposit 
by skunks, I carried the eggs home for the family table. 
Dr. E. Sterling. 
Defending their Young — St. Leonard. Province of 
Quebec, July 19, 1879.—Yesterday I heard a great com¬ 
motion amongst the birds in the trees round my house, 
and upon g< :ng near to ascertain the cause of the row. 
saw a squirrel springing through the branchee of a small 
pine tree, closely pursued by a couple of small gray birds. 
The birds attacked the squirrel braVely, uttering shrill 
cries, and seemed to be trying to take from the squirrel 
something he was carrying, JJpon my approach the 
birds fled, and I then saw that the squirrel was engaged in 
eating a young bird, that no doubt he had just dragged 
from the nest. As the tree was a small one I managed to 
make him drop his prey, though he tried hard to carry it 
away. The young bird was about half fledged, and its 
break and neck were much torn and eaten. The squirrel 
sat near by chattering angrily, and I noticed that his 
throat was covered with blood. The squirrel was one of 
the small red sort, the only kind we see in this part of the 
country. Is this an unusual case? W. Hamhersly. 
SINGING MICE. 
Washington D. C. July 15,1879. 
Editor Forest a nd Stream 
Sir .—Several years ago I read in your paper a few letters and ex¬ 
tracts in rogard to singing mice. Since then I have been on the 
lookout for one. At 10 o’clock v. si., June 35, in my rpom, I heard 
a sound which seemed to proceed from under some trunks In the 
corner, and resembled the faint chuck! chuck! chuck! of a chip¬ 
munk in Us hole, This inoident aroused my eurlosityandsetme to 
musing. After heaving this sound, I was on the alert and listened; 
For several nights I heard this peculiar note but nothing more, 
concluded it must come from some insect and thought no more of 
it. On the 30th of June, liras startled upon hearing the same 
noise louder than before, and at the same moment a rustling 
of paper in the trunk. This thing drew my attention, whatever it 
might be, as it worked its way out of the trunk, and passed rapidly 
over the bureau, uttering all the time the same chucking note- 
The bureau is near the window, and I was on the other side of the 
room. The sound ceased when it reached the bureau, and I turned 
over to go to sleep. A few moments later I heard the sweetest, 
softest trill and warble, and thought of the canaries outside of the 
window, hut the warble cont inuing, I was brought to understand 
that it was in my room and under the bureau. Then thinking of 
the chucking note of a few moments previous, X pronounced it a 
Binging mouse. If, continued singing seyuralmoments, then passed 
back under the trunk and sang no more. 
I did not hear it again until the third of July, when I called my 
mother in to hear, and she was delighted. So far I had not seen it, 
and was not absolutely certain, although confident it was a mouse, 
and made up my mind to catch it if possible. 
On the fourth 1 set a *‘ Novelty " trap, Wont to bed and listened 
with eager attention. Soon it begim singing and came out of its 
hiding place over the bureau where the trap was set. I heard it 
enter the trap and begin to nibble the cheese, but strange to say, 
the act of nibbling did not interfere with the song, for it was con¬ 
stant. It nibbled on and warbled, until I thought that the trap 
was a failure, more t han once thinking of getting up to smash it. 
At Iasi I heard the little tin door slide down with a clink , and the 
singer was captured. I jumped up and lighted the gas to examine 
this thing which had excited me so. it looked to be nothing moro 
than an unusually large house mouse. (The size will he explained 
hereafter.) Seeing no monstrous form or gaudy color, which my 
excited mind led me to believe would he the case, I conoludod that 
the charm of this little creature was in Its song. So placing a large 
hook on the trap to mnke secure, I retreated to my couch for the 
purpose of listening. T lay some time listening to its frantic 
efforts to release itself, ana this spirit-like music which gradually 
toled me Into a land of dreams. Next day I started after a large 
cage before looking at the mouse, and did not get hack for several 
hours. Returning I peeped in the trap and found there nine mice. 
Alaok-o-day for that disconsolate family—the “ Novelty ” trap had 
done the business. 
There are two apartments in this infernal machine. The first 
mouse caught, by passing on to a platform which is attached to a 
lever, is precipitated into the second apartment, the trap reset 
and eomunication shut off. This is the predicament In which I 
found this mother and her young. The young were born in the 
first apartment, and the mother, probably in her anxiety to find a 
bed, passed into the second and was shut off. During this calamity 
and all this woe, I had slept like a log. The naked little things 
were all alive but one, and thinking I had struck a bonanza, I 
hastened the mother Into the presence of this nude assembly in a 
new and larger apartment with a turning gymnasium attached. 
She cared for them tenderly, hut they pined and died one by one, 
and were devoured as the5 r expired, I don't think she committed 
infanticide once, but the fact remains, I have in my possession a 
caged singing cannibal. I have handed the mouse to Dr. Coues, 
probably we will hear from him ere long. 
Gaines R. Donoho. 
Animals Received at Central Park Menagerie for Week 
Ending Aug. 9, 1879.—1 Salle’s Amazon (Ghrysotes Sailed) Hob. 
St. Domingo, presented by Mrs. M'Callnn, Brooklyn; 2 Turkey 
Buzzards (Catholics aura) captured at Richmond, Va., presented by 
Masters J oseph A. and Charles Johnson; 3 Quails (Ortyx Virginia nus) 
presented by Mr. Isaac J. Pactae; 3 Lions (Felts leo) ; 1 Mexican 
Deer (Cervus mexir.a.na); 1 East India Goat (Capra hircus) all born in 
the Menagerie; 1 Brown Pelican ( Pelecanus funcus) purchased. 
W. Conklin. 
— It lias been considered of sufficient importance to 
telegraph to the daily papers the fact that a bantam hen 
killed a rat which had attacked her brood of chickens at 
Port Jervis. She gave him one well-aimed peck with her 
bill which went straight to his heart. 
South Chicago, July 10,1879.—C. Dittmar. Esq.:—I 
write to inform you that I got five cans of powder from 
Eaton and used the same, shooting snipe, and had good 
success also on duck. I convinced some of the shooters 
here that Dittmar's powder •null do as good execution as 
the black, with less recoil and no smoke. I use five drachms, 
the Bame as in black powder. Respectfully yours, 
Abe. Kleinman. 
N. B,—Mr. Vancott and myself got arguing about the 
powder, he contended that the black was the best, and he 
could kill more game with black powder than any man 
could with Dittmar's. I made him a small wager that I 
could beaf him with Dittmar’s powder. I will give you 
the score of oue day’s shoot: Vancott, 12 snipe, 9 ducks. 
A. K., 50 snipe, 22 ducks. We shot snipe together on 
the same ground. I killed snipe that he would not shoot 
at, as they were too far off. I think you will hear from 
him through the papers on the result of our day’s shoot. 
—The Merchants' and Exchange Club of Augusta, and a 
team of nine from the Charleston Sporting Club, hart a 
friendly contest on the 23d ult., which resulted in a vic¬ 
tory for the home club by 4 points. Charleston making 
225; and Augusta.229, out of a possible Bcore of 370. 
St. Louis Dog Show. — Mr. Chas. Lincoln writes us 
that the preparations for this show are progressing 
rapidly, and that the prize lists are now in the printer’s 
hands, and will be ready for distribution in a few days. 
They can bo had by addressing him, care of Brown. 
Hilder & Co., 604 North Fourth Street, St. Louis. The 
St. Louis Kennel dub dogs will not compete for the 
prizes. 
A New Kennel. —Mr. John Johnson, of North Man¬ 
chester, Conn., has lately purchased some very handsome 
and welT-bred setters, with a view to establishing a ken¬ 
nel in that place. Tliree of the animals were bred by 
the veteran Ethan Alim, of Pomfret Centre, which is 
sufficient guarantee of their quality. They include the 
dog Ethan," by Boss, out of Cosey; bitch Pansey, by 
Cush, out of Fan, and bitch Prink, by Mort, out of Cosey 
There is also trouble, bred by G. F. Rich, and by 
Ethan, out of Pansey, whose pedigree on both sides is 
traced for many generations through the A l l i n strains. 
With these dogs Mr. Johnson ought to breed some very 
fine stock. 
A Big Dog Corporation. — We find in the advertising 
columns of the English sporting papers notices of a new 
club which is being formed in that country with'the title 
of “The Sporting Dog and Field Trial Club” (Limited). 
The projector, and also the manager and secretary, is Mr. 
T. H. Scott, a gentleman who will be remembered as 
having brought some dogs to this country last year, and 
who was one of the judges at the first show of the Massa¬ 
chusetts Kennel Club. The capital of the company is to 
be .£6,000, divided into £5 shares. Holders of shares are 
to have certain privileges, proportionate to the number of 
shares they hold, such as shooting over the company’s 
moor, and over its dogs ; also obtaining the services of 
the company's servants at dog shows. The idea is not a 
bad one, and if properly worked out may be made very 
attractive. 
Important Sale of Dogs. — A very important sale of 
dogs was held at Aldridge’s, London, on July 19. Twen¬ 
ty-two pointers were sent from the kennels of Mr. G. 
Moore, a well-known breeder, and a number of celebrated 
animals of the Drake faintly from Mr. lloyd-Price’s’ken- 
nels. Mr. Moore’s dogs must have teen very fine, two of 
them being bid in when bona-fide bids of 120 and 105 
guineas had been made. Mr. Price sold Mind and Dandy 
Drake, two well-known field-trial performers, for sixty- 
one and sixty guineas, respectively. Although some of 
the dogs realized high prices, the figures brought by some 
of the setters were ridiculous, many not going beyond a 
guinea each. The following is a list of the pointers sold 
and the,prices obtained :— 
Pointers, the property of Mr. G. Moore. Gs. 
Mike, six years, by Duke—Midge . Mr. Yates 18 
Mark; four years, by Duke—the late Rev. J. Holden's 
Moll . .Mr. Arbuthnot 13 
March, one and a halt years, bv Marl—Midge.Mr. Wilmington 37 
Move, one year, by Mr. Edge's Brag—Midge-Mr. A. Brown lo 
Mao, one and a half years, by Marl—Mop.Mr. A. Brown 21 
Mole, one and a half years, by Marl—Mop.Mr. Bourne 10 
Mump, ten months, by Mr. Lowe’s Y. Bang—the late 
Rev. J. Holden's Moll.Mr. Leslie 10 
Met, ten months, by Mr. Edge's Brag—Mona.Mr. Cnniidi 19 
Mint, puppy, by Marl—Mite. .Mr. Rawlins 8 
Mule, pudpy, bv Marl—Mite. .Lord Waterford 3+ 
Mend ft., puppy, by Marl—Mite. Mr-B. Field 6 
Mall, three months, by Mr. Price’s Wagg—Moss. Mr. B. Field fjl 
Mock, throe months, bv Mr. Price’s Wagg—Moss Mr. B. Field 12 
Mousef three months, by Mr. Price’s Wagg—Moss 
. . Lord Waterford 13 
My, three months, by Mr. Price’s Wagg— Mag£ie^ W|ltertor(1 ^ 
Pointers, the property of Lieut.-Col. Cornwall Legh. 
Spot and Shot, liv w, by Lord Sefton’s Sam—Col. 
Legh’s Bonnie . Mr. Romer 24 
Major, eighteen months, by Col. Legh’s Bounce—Mite. 5 
Pointers, the property of Mr. R. F. Lloyd-Priee. 
Juno II. (pupped May, 1877), by Don Juan—Juno 
. .. Mr. Arbuthnot 20 
Grog (pupped Nov., 1875), by Grog— Belle, by Rap 
...... .....Mr. Townsend 21 
The irrepressible Drake (pupped Feb. 9,1877), lem 
w, bv Old Drake—Nimble Ninepenee--- Mr. Bass 25 
Mend (1S73), liv w 1 , by Mr. Shield's Duke—Mr. Moore's . 
Midge, bv Mr. Holden’s Romp. Lord Waterford 81 
Dandy Drake (pupped Feb. 0.1877), lemon w, by Old 
Drake— Nimble Ninepenee ..—Mr. Bass 60 
Pointers from Mr. C. C. Cotes, M. P. 
Don, by Shot . Mr- Townsend 25 
PatAbitch, by Shot..-Mr. Smith 23 
Don II., by ShoteDoll. ,, Mr A W00d 35 
Sam, by Shot II. . . . . Mr. Brown 17 
Beppo, sixteen months, hy Beppo—Don, hy Duck _ 
‘ . . ... Mr. Humpnnes £4 
Dick, two years. • Mr. Bass 85 
Juno, by Shot TI . Mr. Brown 10 
Disapproved of. — Perhaps there is something in the 
following extract from an English contemporary, which, 
if referring to a custom not yet established among us, 
yet comes in as a warning. Our system of advertising 
crack dogs through the medium of the large prices paid, 
or said to be paid for them, is but little less reprehensible. 
We question also whether this kind of puffery does not in 
many instances affect the decisions of judges at- dog 
shows. The following is the extract alluded to : 
Unfortunately the practice of awarding prizes to the 
progeny of certain stud dogs is taking root amongst us. 
A certain fox-terrier of renown has materially increased 
his master's hanking account by the special prizes given 
to his stock, and other owners are following the baneful 
example set. It is not right that our leading, shows 
should he made the direct agents of owners by the adver- 
