646 
FOREST AND STREAM 
orders, the most highly organized of which are the Ho- 
lothuroidca, or sea cucumbers. This classification is now 
generally acquiesced in by naturalists, a.t least as a pro¬ 
visional arrangement. Formerly the Eehinodermata be¬ 
longed to the old sub-ltingdoin Iiadiula, that vast and 
comprehensive division of living beings which have no 
joints whatever, and no limbs, because all their parts ra¬ 
diate from a common centre. The sea cucumber does 
certainly exhibit radiism in its structure, inasmuch as it 
protrudes from its fore extremity a circle of plumose re¬ 
tractile tentacles, and has five double rows of suckers 
exactly resembling in structure and function those Of the 
star-fish and urchin ; but the arrangement of the internal 
organs is mostly bilateral, and there is a distinct anterior 
and posterior extremity. Hence the necessity of the new 
classification. 
One of the most singular peculiarities about these sea 
cucumbers is their mode of walking, or i-atlier creeping 
— oue of the most extraordinary modes of progression in 
the animal kingdom. The rows of suckers I have men¬ 
tioned are really ambulacra! tube-feet. Each sucker has 
a soft head, which, when applied to any hard substance, 
adheres to it with tolerable firmness until the pressure is 
relaxed and the sucker released. The suckers continually 
move forward, seize upon the ground, draw the body 
gently along, and then search for a new hold, thus se¬ 
curing a regular gliding progress which hardly seems to 
be produced by voluntary motion, A circlet of feathery 
tentacles surrounds the mouth, which opens into a 
pharynx conducting to a stomach. There is a long con¬ 
voluted intestine, and a special respiratory, or water- 
vascular system, in the form of arborescent tubes which 
admit water from the exterior. 
The most remarkable peculiarity of the sea cucumber 
has yet however, to be described. Their skin is liighly 
contractile, and the body is provided with powerful lon¬ 
gitudinal and circular muscles to compensate for the ab¬ 
sence of any rigid integumentary skeleton ; in fact they 
are endowed with such high contractibility that they can 
eject their internal organs entirely when injured or 
alarmed, leaving nothing but an empty sack. Tliis act, 
however, does not, as might be supposed, terminate their 
existence ; they merely retire into private life for a short 
time and grow an entirely new set of organs. Alone, of 
all animal existences, the sea cucumber is endowed with 
the high function of being able to disembowel itself with¬ 
out injury or inconvenience, and to re-produce the organs 
destroyed. When suffering from dyspepia or liver com¬ 
plaint. or when uncomfortable, irritated, or alarmed 
from any cause, this talented creature promptly disgorges 
the whole of its interior apparatus. No emetic is needed ; 
the contractile muscles go to work and out leap the 
stomach, followed by the intestines; and the beautiful 
ball of tentacles around the mouth is shaken to pieces 
and sent flying in all directions. There remains nothing 
hut an empty skin which of course cannot eat or digest , 
having neither mouth nor stomach, and has no induce¬ 
ment to move about. Accordingly it remains torpid for 
somo montlis, and then first tentacles appear ; a new and 
healthy stomach and intestines follow, and the creature 
has recuperated and is ready for any emergency. How 
many huma n dyspeptics there are who would gladly have 
recourse, if they could, to such a “ happy despatch - ’ as a 
means of ending their sufferings and renovating their di¬ 
gestive apparatus. No need of drugs or doctors did we 
enjoy the enviable faculty of the sea cucumber. I think 
my specimen is worth his price and his alcohol, if only to 
enable me to exhibit to my friends a creature possessed 
of such lofty endowments. It is also noteworthy that 
some species can separate themselves down the middle, 
and thus in due time become two distinct animals. I am 
not sure that we should care to imitate them in this trans¬ 
formation. It would be difficult to preserve personal 
identity and individual responsibility, if men could divide 
their personalities in this way. The relations of debtor 
and creditor might be disturbed if the latter could thus 
become two individuals. In the shallow seas of the trop¬ 
ics the sea cucumbers reach a great size, being sometimes 
two feet in length ; but the average size is much below 
this standard, The omnivorous Chinese esteem them as 
delicacies, and the capture and preparation of them form 
an important branch of industry in the oriental seas. 
Usually they are obtained by diving for them in from 
three to five fathoms and collecting them by the hand. 
A man will bring up eight or ten at a time. They are 
split, pressed, dried in the sun, and then smoked" and 
packed in bags, and sold in the Chinese market under the 
name of Trepangs. They are in great demand for the 
composition of nutritious soups, and bring, according to 
quality, from two pounds to thirty pounds per hundred¬ 
weight. Trepangs are very repulsive to look at, being 
black and wrinkled, and see min g to have been made out 
of the upper leather of old shoes. They are. however, 
in as high esteem among the Chinese as turtle among 
ourselves, and are either stewed or converted into a rich 
palatable soup. Thus these repulsive-looking creatures are 
after all made subservient to human uses. Had the immor¬ 
tal Sairey Camp been a " Heathen Chinee,” she would, 
no doubt, have been inordinately fond of the Trepangs, 
a.nd would have had the strongest reasons for urging her 
friend Betsey Prigg “to try the eowcumbers,” having 
such an appreciation of succulent dishes. M, Harvey. 
ARE ROBINS TOPERS? 
Having read “St, Clair’s” article of May 8th, and that 
of “ N. A. T.” of May 13th, I desire to say something in 
defense of robin redbreast, and declare him no toper, but 
a victim, for the time, of unfortunate circumstances. I 
lived in North Louisiana — where these birds come in 
thousands in the winter — for many years, and during 
the early part of the season feed upon China berries, of 
which they are very fond—absolutely gorging themselves 
with them, They are naturally very gentle, and where 
the trees are full of berries, shooting only drives them 
away for a short time. 
When I was a boy I remember to have caught a few 
almost every day, lying on the ground, apparently stu¬ 
pefied or drunk, and it was quite common for the little 
negroes to watch for and catch them, The general as¬ 
sertion of everyone was the robins were drunk, and I 
thought it was so, until, one winter after I was grown, 
the robins came in great numbers, and while shooting 
enough to make a pie I discovered one on the ground, 
seemingly drunk, though he could fly, but not very far. 
I caught him, and upon examination found his crop very 
much distended with China berries. He kept his mouth 
wide open, but made little noise, though ho evidently 
tried to. The berries could he seen in the throat. I 
pressed two or three of them Up, and pulled them out, 
and in a few moments he was fluttering and whistliug, 
and when liberated flew away as rapidly as if nothing 
had ever been the matter with him. 
China berries grow on stems similar to, and about the 
size of a morello cherry, only a greater number grow in 
the clusters. The berry is of a light yellow color, and, 
when ripe in early winter, unlike any "berry I over saw, 
appealing to be shriveled or dimpled. There is a soft 
paste, small in quantity for the size of the berry, ad¬ 
hering to seed, and looking like yellow bar soap. These 
berries fall oil late in the winter, the moisture of the 
ground pulls them up so that they become as round and 
full as cherries, and one walking on them causes a con¬ 
tinued popping, not very loud, nut distinct. Now, the 
fact is, about the robins, they swallow the berries in 
such quantities as to fill the crop so full that either from 
the peculiar formation of the berry, or their swelling 
with the moisture and warmth, they press against the 
windpipe, and produce partial strangulation. I do not 
think it ever kills them. It is evident that the robins do 
not become intoxicated, but a small proportion of the 
myriads who fill their crops get choked, and that nigh 
unto death, too. Issaquena. 
North Middletown, Ey ., Sept . 6 th . 
The explanation given by “ Issaquena,” and, in a 
recent issue, by another correspondent, is plausible, and, 
no doubt, correct; but we can readily imagine that China 
berries, if partially decayed, might intoxicate robins, juBt 
as eating rotten apples is apt to make cows drunk. 
SKUNK BITE AGAIN. 
Editor Forest and Stream :— 
For lack of vigor in the prosecution, I fear the accused, 
whose name heads this article, has well-nigh proved an 
alibi in the minds of the great public by an array of 
most respectable witnesses who never saw him bite any¬ 
body ; who have known him to bite without harm result¬ 
ing ; who never knew death to result from his bite, or 
who know nothing at all about it. The same class of 
witnesses might say that nobody has died at Memphis of 
yellow fever because they have not witnessed such deaths. 
It is of no interest to me to prove that skunk bite is ever 
fatal, but since I believe that it sometimes is, I consider it 
my duty to help inform the people, so that those who are 
exposed may guard against the danger. 
When Forest and Stream .of April last, containing a 
number of contributions on the subject, came to me, I 
was away in the wilderness, with neither time nor oppor¬ 
tunity to write. I intended replying as soon as I got 
back to civilization, hut constant pressure upon my time 
has prevented. I will now occupy space only to refer 
briefly to four or five of said letters. 
“ W.” recites the particulars of a fight between his 
aunt and a skunk at Cape Cod, in which the former was 
bitten and deluged with perfume, but experienced no 
serious result. In answer to this, it has never been 
claimed that skunk bite is always fatal. I believe there 
are no well-authenticated fatal cases east of the Missouri 
River, except the one hereafter noted. This animal was 
not making an attack; it was seeking food (lienee in 
good health), and it only fought in self-defence. 
The next writer—“ Tonic,” of Berlin Heights, Ohio— 
gives a somewhat similar ease, which had recently oc¬ 
curred without having yet reached any result. The sub¬ 
ject—a young man—was digging a skunk out of a hole in 
the ground, and putting in his hand, a skunk bit him. 
This was also a case of self-defence on its part. 
Charles E. Ingalls, of East Templeton, Muss., reports a 
death at Pomfret, Conn,, from skunk bite thirty years 
ago ; also that two hogs died about the same time 
from hydrophobia, of which the same skunk was sup¬ 
posed to be the cause. The evidence upon this point is 
very indefinite, hut if true the case is of peculiar interest, 
as showing the effect upon animals as well as upon man. 
The next writer—“ M, Cf. E.,”of Blacksburg, Va.—is 
incredulous upon the subject. The next, and last in 
that paper, “ Modicus,” evidently believes that skun k 
bite may be fatal, though he does not. say so, but he ad¬ 
vises a certain course of treatment in such case. 
I think there have been frequent references made to the 
subject in Forest and Stream since, generally discredit¬ 
ing the fatal theory, but I have none of the articles now 
at hand, except the contribution of “ S.," Fort Johnson, 
N. C,, April 19th, who classes skunk bite stories with 
those of moon-spoiled fish, though he is evidently a fair- 
minded juror, and can he convinced by evidence. 
A few weeks ago I heard that a case of skunk bite had 
recently occurred at Fort Dodge, Kansas. I wrote to the 
post surgeon making inquiry, and if true, requesting a 
history of the case. He replied that no case had been 
under bis charge for years, but that he hud heard of a 
case at Fort Elliott, Texas. He concluded his letter: “The 
general impression is that liydrophia is caused by the bite, 
but I am inclined to think it is only when the animal is 
rabid,” 
I next wrote to the post surgeon at Fort Elliott, and 
have just received his reply. As1 deem it of great interest 
I send you His communication entire. He says that it was 
prepared for a medical journal, but freely gives permis¬ 
sion to use it as original. As in the medical publication 
it can reach only a limited number, confined almost ex¬ 
clusively to the profession, I think you will be justified 
in giving it full place, since in Forest and Stream it will 
be read by thousands in all classes of people, including 
quite as many scientific and professional gentlemen:— 
HYDROPHOBIA—MEPHITIC INOCULATION, 
“At6 A. m., May 26tli, was called to seel-W-, aged, 
eight; female. Obtained the following history from 
father and patient:— 
“ While himself and wife were absent from home, and 
the child was stopping with his brother’s family, she was 
bitten, March 15th, while sleeping on the floor of cabin, 
on upper lid of right eye and cheek immediately below, 
the latter point being only slightly abraded. She caught 
and held the intruder down upon the floor until her uncle 
could rise from bed and start to her rescue. She then 
released her hold upon it and sprang into bed. Her uncle 
at the same moment ignited a match and saw it was a 
skunk, which was advancing toward him with apparent 
evil intent, but the light evidently altered its purpose as 
it slowly retreated behind a trunk in the room where Mr. 
W. shot it as soon as possible. Upon being shot the 
skunk gave out its characteristic odor very strongly, so 
much so that they had to vacate the house soon afterwards. 
The odor was still very strong in the house when visited 
several days subsequently by the child’s father. 
“ Mr. w. excised with a knife as well as he could the 
bitten portion of the eyelid within a half hour after the 
at tack, He had no caustic to apply to the wound, but ap¬ 
plied a poultice of cactus, which applications were still 
being continued three days afterwards when the parents 
arrived, accompanied by Dr. W., another brother of the 
child’s father. The child’s hands were lacerated some¬ 
what. while holding the skunk, but whether any of the 
abrasions were made by its teeth they were unable 
to determine definitely, but thought not. The Doctor re¬ 
mained some time with them and cauterized two or three 
watery vesicles that made their appearance on the cheek 
near the eye, but whether these vesicles were produced 
by the poison or by the cactus briars, he (the father) was 
unable to state, but thoughtthe latter, as there were several 
of same character upon forehead afterwards, produced 
evidently by cactus points. The wound healed nicely and 
after a few days, during which time she was somewhat 
depressed, knowing her danger, her spirits rose and she 
appeared in perfect heath. This state of things continued 
until May 24th, when her father upon returning home 
after an 'absence of several days, at once noted a very 
E eeuliar expression upon her face, different from anything 
e had ever observed there before. Upon investigation 
he found that she had no appetite, acted depressed, and 
had been troubled with vomitings; complaining before and 
after each emesis of a peculiar itching and burning pain 
around the right eye. She being somewhat constipated 
they gave her some salts, hoping that it was only a bdious 
attack. The salts operated freely during the night but 
she appeared no better; they started next morning, May 
25th, for this post, dreading lest their worst fears were 
about to he realized. 
“ Upon examination 1 found the child lying quietly in 
bed ; pulse rather hard and full, skin dry, tongue coated 
with whitish-yellow fur, and a slight stare to the eyes. 
She complained of nothing whatever, said she had no 
pain at present about the eye or head, acted as though 
she did not care to be disturbed, and was perfectly ra¬ 
tional. Ordered some small pieces of ice to allay any 
vomiting ; visited her again at 9 a.m. ; found the ice had 
relieved the vomiting ; prevailed upon her to sit up in a 
chair. She drooped her head upon her hands and per¬ 
sistently kept her gaze fixed upon the floor; said she 
wanted nothing to eat, although she had then eateD 
nothing for over forty-eight hours. When offered food 
she refused and turned away her head to avoid seeing it. 
The mother, by my direction, brought some water in a 
basin to bathe her face and hands. Having stepped out 
of the room for a moment, I was called and told that the 
child complained of pain every time they attempted to 
touch her with a wet cloth. I told the mother to try 
again. She did so, but no sooner did the water touch her 
face than she had a very well-marked but not severe con¬ 
vulsion, clutching at her throat and face. The convul¬ 
sion was preceded and accompanied by marked redness 
about the region of the bite, radiating over forehead and 
down the cheek. Convulsions were of the chronic type ; 
laryngal spasm very prominent. Attempted to adminis¬ 
ter ether, but it only made matters worse, Then gave 
her one-eighth grain Alcoholic ext. Calabar bean hypo¬ 
dermically. The child being unfavorably situated, owing 
to the house being quite small and the occupants nume¬ 
rous, I ordered her to be taken to the hospital, where a 
room was assigned to her, and Steward C. w. Croft gave 
her the closest attention in seeing the treatment carried 
out, keeping careful notes of treatment and progress of 
the disease, and seeing that everything was done that 
could be for her comfort. 
“ Eleven a. M. ordered one oz.n beef tea per rectum, 
which was retained nicely. At 12,30 p.m. took small 
piece of ice on handkerchief with some trouble. Food 
being offered upon a spoon, for which she expressed de¬ 
sire she was again seized with convulsions of short du¬ 
ration. Saw her again at 1 p.m. ; had several spasms of 
milder type. Administered one-eighth grain Calabar 
bean hypodermically. Pulse 100; temperature 99 3-lfl 
degrees. 
“Three p.m., one oz. beef tea per rectum, hut was 
reiected 
“ Five p.m.. one oz.ii beef tea injected and retained, Six 
P.M., small piece of ice again offered, which brought on 
spasm, but was finally taken and swallowed with great 
difficulty. 
“Seven-thirty P.M. , one-eighth grain Calabar bean in¬ 
jected hypodermically. During theaftemoon the patient 
was more or less delirious. Any one coming into the 
room excited and threw her into spasms ; worried her to 
be looked at, and she would shift her position and try to 
avoid their gaze. She suffered greatly but heroically 
during the day, hut towards evening the agony became 
so great that she gave frequent expression to her suffer¬ 
ing. The vomiting, which was allayed for a short tame 
during the morning, again set in and continued until 
death brought relief. Between the spasms of pain and 
vomiting she was bathed in a profuse perspiration. 
“At 8 p.m., beef tea again injected, but immediately 
thrown off. 
“ Eight-thirty p.m., pulse 118 : temperature, 101 degrees. 
‘ ‘ Ten p.m., drachm milk injected per rectum, which pro¬ 
duced convulsions of severe type. The last few injec¬ 
tions attended with great difficulty, and were here aban¬ 
doned, as they only appeared to increase the suffering, 
“ At 1 a.m ‘ one-quarter grain Morphia sulph. hypoder¬ 
mically, the a dmin istration of which brought on convul¬ 
sions anew, which assumed at this time a very alarming 
character, continuing with hardly an intermission for 
about two hours, requiring at times main force to keep 
her in the bed. From this time on, everything tended to 
increase her sufferings, A draft of air, opening of a door, 
touch look, sight of any glassware—all produced the 
seizures. The countenance expressed great anxiety, ex- 
