FOREST AND STREAM 
766 
Perfectly recovered ? Had you seen them, as they went 
careening over the tree-tops, you would have thought 
that some fellow had been giving them hock and soda 
after a night's debauch. 
But the most curious nart of the whole affair was the 
comical resemblauce each robin bore to somebody of our 
acquaintance, when in his caps. There wasone old robin, 
a very Falstaff in size and vinous tendencies, who had 
the same moist eye, the same love of sack, and the rakish 
air of Sir John. 
One when the antidote had its full effect upon him, 
actually winked at me and the immature sawbones in 
the most paternal manner. Another, on staggering to 
hi6 feet, like old Col. L- , tried to get into an affair of 
honor, for ho pecked fiercely at ns both. 
Having established to my satisfaction that robins did 
get uproariously drunk, while others eating the same food 
did not leave the thorny-paths of sobriety, I determined 
to investigate the matter. 
Well. I found it just as I stated it to be. Some berries 
contain the alcohol in solution ; Others do not. Why, is 
one of those tilings that we cannot find out. So, Cock 
Robin gets hold of one or more of those berries in a morn¬ 
ing and gets drunk. “ Yell, wot of it! ” He gets drunk 
and he enjoys it; and, he is not ashamed, 
One would suppose from the eagerness with which your 
correspondents seek to vindicate the character of this 
bird, that they were the lineal descendants — no that 
couldn't be — the near relatives, of the "Babes of the 
Wood," whom his ancestors covered long ago, in Merry 
England, with leaves. 
There is an odor of romance hanging about Cock Robin, 
from which it is hard to dissociate ourselves. From the 
blood red picture of him, having his breast transfixed by 
that unerring archer, the sparrow, down to that immor¬ 
tal pair that covered the ‘' Babes in the Wood," we learned 
in our callow days to take him to our bosoms, as an ex¬ 
ceptional bird. Nor have we “gone back on him,” in our 
mature manhood. Witness the gigantic pot pies made of 
him ; fat. tender, and juicy, around which memory fond¬ 
ly lingers. 
Apropos desbottes (Apropos despates would be better). 
One of your correspondents, hailing originally, I presume, 
from Mississippi, speaks of killing enough robins for a 
pie : during which sporting episode, he caught one, and 
then let him go ! I have lived in Mississippi, and I have 
never seen an inhabitant of chat State who would volun¬ 
tarily let a robin go, when visions of pot pie were loom¬ 
ing up in his excited imagination. In fact, they say that 
gentlemen living in that State, can't shoot straight 
enough to hit a robin ; depending for their birds upon the 
well known convivial habits of Cock Robin. 
Be that as it may, slanderous, or true, I know that they 
(the correspondents aforesaid), ask us to believe a Baron 
Munchausen story, When we are told that one of them 
let a robin go! 
In concluding this part of my letter, let me say that 
gentlemen should lie chary of disputing facts, or theories, 
even in natural history, unless they have fully examined 
their ground. However, that the gayety of nations may 
not be eelipBed, I hope that they will continue writing. 
Another gentleman, who acknowledges that he has 
never read my article, evolves from his inner conscious¬ 
ness a pet theory of his own anent crows, with which lie 
crowns me. 
As to crows. However much advantage there may be 
in more northern latitudes, in eating up grubs, worms, 
aud insects generally, they are certainly graminivorous 
in the South, 
Ask any old farmer in any southern state, if a crow will 
pull up young corn, and see’ what liis answer will be. In 
the most emphatic, in the most unhesitating manner, he 
will say : " Bless your soul, they don't do anything else.” 
Well, now, I made my statement and I stick to it; that 
the crow is the brainiest, most rascally, most thievish bird 
in America. There ! ST, Clair. 
Bartoiv, Oa,, Sept. ZAth. 
PERDRIX ROUGE. 
T HE Perdrix rouge or red partridge of France, is one 
of the wariest and hardest dying birds it has ever 
been my lot to meet with. Were they found in open 
fields, as are the grey partridges, the shooting would be 
easier; but living, as they do, on the tops of the most 
thickly over-grown mountains, and in almost impene¬ 
trable thickets, it takes an ardent and persevering sports¬ 
man to do any execution among them. As is well known, 
they will not lie well to a dog, and when once flushed, 
are apt to make long flights, rendering pursuit practically 
useless. They have besides a disagreeable little habit of 
running when frightened, seemingly having more faith 
in their legs than in their wings, scuttling through the 
bush ahead of the dogs and never taking wing unless 
come upon suddenly, and caught unawares. For these 
reasons the Ted-legged partridge is very little hunted in 
France where indeed they are rather scarce, being chiefly 
found near tire Pyrenees Mountains and through the most 
southerly portion of the country. Market hunter's, how¬ 
ever, are willing to undergo an immense amount of work 
to secure this bird, since it is only inferior to the wood¬ 
cock in the- eyes of the French connoisseurs. 
I was determined, notwithstanding the remonstrances 
of my friends, to have a day after the partridges; so one 
day in September, after much persuasion and no little 
bribing ol' Jacques, whom I have mentioned before, lie 
consented to guide us to the haunts of the partridges, 
inserting the proviso that we were not to blame him 
if we found more obstacles than birds. It was well that 
he made this stipulation, for the rough climbing and fati¬ 
gue of the trip was out of all proportion to the number 
of birds secured. Indeed, bad we known what we 
were going into, it is very doubtful if we would have 
started. 
The one advantage, and about the only one that the red- 
legs liave;over other birds, is that you are not obliged to get 
up early in the morning to shoot them. Such a preceedmg 
would be entirely unnecessary, since for some hidden and 
mysterious reason no one was ever known to find one before 
the sun was up. This may be due to the inherited laziness 
of French nature, or we might explain it by saying no 
Frenchman was ever known to arise himself before the 
sun. Both reasons would be unsatisfactory, but still the 
fact remains. The birds are not found eariyin the morn¬ 
ing. There is a good deal of romance, perhaps, in arising 
early in the morning before the sun has driven away the 
mist, but there is more romance than comfort, and ac¬ 
cording to Art. Ward, it must be dangerous, since he says, 
“ the only danger of French duelling is the fact that the 
parties concerned are apt to catch cold by being out so 
early in the morning and this may apply as well to 
hunting parties. 
But to proceed to our sport. At the moderately com¬ 
fortable hour of 7 o'clock, our guide awakened 11 s from 
our slumber, and in the course of an hour’s time we were 
en route for the mountains which were to be the scene of 
our introduction to the perdrix rouge, After much 
scrambling and some tumbles we reach what appeared to 
be a small plateau on the top of the mountain, where 
Jacques assured us we would find a oompagnie of birds ; 
and he proved to be right, for scarcely had we traversed 
half of the open place, when the dogs commenced to work 
and immediately flushed two birds, which were killed no 
one knew by whom, as four of us fired at them. They 
proved to be the old birds which, were led to take wing so 
soon in hope that they would be followed and the young 
ones left alone. 
Had they not been killed at the first fire, their trick (a 
very common one with these birds) might, have succeeded; 
but, as it was, we immediately went about hunting the 
young birds. We found them some hundred yards down 
the hill, lmt we could not flush (hem. The dogs trailed 
them for some distance, and we did not put them up until 
we bad driven them down the side of the mountaiu, arid 
into a cornstubble Held, when by approat hing them from 
both sides and allowing the dogs to run in we managed to 
get a shot, killing two more. The rest escaped up the h ill 
again and we deemed it better not to follow, having 
already hunted two hours after one convoy with the poor 
result of four birds, ami being assured by our guide that 
the clinnees of again finding tho birds would not pay us 
for climbing the mountain again. 
After taking a little dyeuner after our work, we pro¬ 
ceeded on our expedition, hoping to find another covey of 
birds. All the rest of the morning and all the afternoon 
we climbed and re-climed the mountains and not infre¬ 
quently we found birds, but as for making them’ take 
wing, one might just as well have flushed arabbit and ex¬ 
pected it to fly. Time and time again the dogs struck the 
scent, but no matter how persevering we were, it was 
quite impossible to get any more shots. There was no 
help for it. We were obliged to return without seeing 
another bird. Of course we made it a point to revile our 
friend and guide in our best French, but that did not 
bring any birds to bag, so we finally were obliged to stop 
as much in want of words as breath. 
The conclusion we unanimously came to, as regards red 
partridge shooting, or rather hunting, was, that it was a 
fraud and delusion, and that the result did not justify the 
labor spent. We determined that our first attempt should 
also be the last, aud that we would turn our attention and 
guns against game not more worthy of them, but less dif¬ 
ficult of access. 
However-, our day spent in tbe Pyrenees was not 
thrown away. We had added something to our know¬ 
ledge of the habits of birds, and enjoyed the opportunity 
of seeing how the red-legged partridge was pursued in 
France. w, De F. 
ARE THERE MOSQUITOES IN FLORIDA? 
Mr. Editor : — 
After a forty days’ rain—which flooded the flatwoods 
between this place and Enterprise, during which time our 
papers were delayed—we have at last a little sunshine, 
and with it a portion of our paper mail and several num¬ 
bers of the Forest and Stream, which is ever welcome 
and eagerly read by all, from tlie head of the home to my 
little six-year-old. boy, who delights in the pictures of the 
guns, boats, fishing-tackle, etc. I read every paper, even 
to the last “ad r and judge of my surprise when I read 
the article of Samuel Fairbanks, dated Oct. 2d, in answer 
to “ Al. I. Gaitor.” I first thought I had lost a paper aud 
had not read the paper referred to ; but on looldng over 
my file I found it, and see but iittle to complain of— in 
fact I consider it is more trutliful than that of Mr. Fair¬ 
banks, in which he states “that he has ignorantly or wil¬ 
fully stated what is not true,” and quotes “A1 Fresco,” 
who says '' he has never lost an horn’s sleep on account of 
mosquitoes.” Now let us take the Forest and Stream 
oi Sept. 25th, article by J. A. H. on East Florida. He was 
bound to see this country, and in order to get full infor¬ 
mation called on “A1 Fresco." I now quote : “To mv 
regret he informed me he had never been in Indian River 
country. He endeavored to dissuade me from my con¬ 
templated trip to that region ; said we would be devoured 
by the fleas, sand-flies, mosquitoes, etc." Now, J. A. H. 
came aud spent the winter on Indian River, and lived to 
return and write a history of his trip to the Forest and 
Stream, and 1 will venture to sav that, while he found 
the insects troublesome at times, lie enjoyed the trip, and 
if he ever comes to Florida again will visit this coast. I 
prefer that the immigrant to Florida should come here 
believing that the fleas, sand-flies and mosquitoes are as 
thick as the sand on the seashore, rather than that he 
should come thinking he will not be troubled with them. 
I have been in Florida since April, 1864, spring, summer, 
fall and winter, year in and year out. and during that 
time I have been located in West, Middle, East, and am 
now permanently in South Florida, and have yet to see 
the place that one’s rest wifi not be disturbed by mos¬ 
quitoes unless protected by netting. 
The festive mosquito came in force this year June 1, and 
has not yet left. There is no use in denying that we have 
more mosquitoes than we have any use for from June to 
November, and some few all winter. Nor is it any use to 
tell people, if they come here to locate or to hunt or 
fish, that they will bo devoured, forjhis section is fust 
settling, and when this county is settled by live, ener¬ 
getic farmers and fruit-growers, the lands 'cleared aud 
drained, this, the only drawback, will soon be a thing of 
the past. The mosquitoes have been so bad during a por¬ 
tion of August and September that ail work urns aban¬ 
doned, save on a windy day, and then it was tough work 
to do anything. 
As to the Indians killing all the game, let me state that 
all persons desiring to come to this section to fish or 
hunt can find all they want;; and those desiring to come, 
and wishing to know how to get here with then- outfit, 
and when to come, can get all the information they may 
need, by writing me, fully stating what they wish to do, 
Hundreds are deterred from coming here to settle or to 
spend the winter by stories told them of the insects by 
men who have never been here. A few vears since on my 
return from Washington I stopped in at the Brock House 
at Enterprise, and before registering I asked the landlord 
how I could get over to the coast. He at once told me a 
fearful tale of the dangers in going over, in consequence 
of the roads being flooded, and said if I did get over I 
would be eaten up with fleas, sand-flies and mosquitoes. 
After he got through I asked him if ho would please 
answer my questions, stating to him that I had lived 
there nearly five years, and when I left I had a family, 
and if they were devoured I wanted their remains. 
He had never been there, and had been in Florida 
but a few weeks, but long enough to give the usual reply 
to all who wish to visit the Halifax, Hillsborough or 
Indian River country, for it is all one to people in Jack¬ 
sonville. 
Now, I havo lived here since July, 1889, and “still 
live.” I like this section, and so do most of those who 
come here. No better place to hunt or fish in the State. 
Good boarding-houses and hotels; and most, if not all, 
who come once come again. But to all tourists who 
come to the State, let me tell you, among your outfit 
have a good sand-fly net, even if you come no further 
than Jacksonville. This is best made with two stout 
pieces of drilling, six feet long, sewed together, then get 
coarse, slazy, unbleached muslin, and cut it into six 
l'eet lengths. Sew enough of these together, which when 
done will go around the dwelling. To each corner sew 
in a thimble or ring by which it can be attached to stakes 
or the tent while in camp, and you will find it to be one 
of the indispensable articles in your outfit. 
One word, and I am done. To all wish to hunt, fish or 
settle, or to spend the -winter on Hie coast, come, all 
stories to the contrary notwithstanding. You will find 
good hotels and boarding-houses at" New Britain, Day- 
town aud Port Orange, on the Halifax, at New Smyrna, 
on the Hillsborough, and at Titusville, aud all the way 
down to Fort Cypress. I have yet to see the place in 
Florida where mosquitoes are not troublesome at some 
time of the year, but I prefer them to the xuud and slush 
of the fall and spring, and the intense cold of the north¬ 
ern winters, and the heat of the summer suns, with the 
attendant sunstroke—a thing unheard of in South Florida. 
George J. Alden. 
The Mountain Oat. — Our correspondent Mr, Wm.Cra- 
pro, who writes from Cerro Gordo, Cal., desires some in¬ 
formation as to this animal, which we are happy to he 
able to give. What we cannot give, but should be most 
happy to receive, is a full account of its habitat. Of the 
civet cat’s life history but little is known. Cannot some 
of out readers give us some points about it. Mr. Crapro 
says :— 
Be kind enough to oblige me by giving through your 
columns the correct name and genus to which belongs the 
small quadruped known from the Rocky Mountains to the 
Pacific as a “mountain cat.” The animal when full 
grown weighs from 4 to 5 pounds ; is from 10 to 12 inches 
long, stands 5 to 6 inches high ; is a dun or mouse color ; 
has a tail 17 to 18 inches long, bushy like a squirrel, with 
alternate black and white rings j feet and claws like a cat ; 
with long pointed nose like a fox ; teeth and mouth like a 
cat; large, -wide-spreading ears like a cat's eare, only four 
times as large : large, black, beady eyes ; growls, snails, 
and barks like a coyote ; is carnivorous, living on mice, 
birds, etc.: is nocturnal in its habits, is easily tamed, and 
makes a capital mouser. 
The name Bassaris astuta was given to this little ani¬ 
mal by Lichtenstein. ItB habitat is given as Texas and 
Southern Rocky Mountains to the Pacific. We shall hope 
to hear from some of our friends before long a few facts 
as to the history of this curious little mammal. 
^ Wild Rice.— Janesville, Wis., Oet. lSlh. — I have all 
the wild rice there is in the country. The crop was a 
failure in many parts of Wisconsin and Minnesota, and 
but little was gathered. In sowing the rice care must be 
taken to sow where the roots will at all times have water 
over them. One foot of-water over them is better than 
less, and four feet of water will do no harm. It grows 
best on mud bottom, and where there, is little or no cur¬ 
rent, and will spread from the roots as well as from the 
seed. 
At Lake Koshkong I never saw any rice allowed to 
ripen. The birds pick it while it is in the milk, yet every 
spring the rice comes up, and m many places has greatly 
increased. Last February, as an experiment, 1 planted a 
bandful in a large aquarium that I have in my office. 
Some of it sprouted at once, while other seeds showed no 
signs of life until months afterward, a few only sprout¬ 
ing within the past month. I cannot account for this, 
but it shows that if rice plautedlast spring has not grown 
well during the past summer, still it may came on an¬ 
other season and do well. Last fall 1 sold ajquantity of 
rice to a fish eulturist, who planted it in one of his 
ponds to afford shelter for young trout. He now reports 
that it answered the purpose admirably. There is no 
doubt that the stalks are a great protection to young 
fish of all kinds. 1 have often noticed that the water in 
which rice grew swarmed with small fry. 
Richard "Valentine, 
—The preface to Mark Twain's latest book says: 
“ Written by one loafer for another loafer to read.” For¬ 
tunately for Mark Twain he has an established reputation 
as a humorist. The quotation above is full of subtle and 
keen humor, no doubt, but if it had been Mark Twain’s 
first-born, the worid would condemn it as coarse, vulgar, 
andnpt at all funny .—Brooklyn Union. 
—A foreign gentleman said to an employe of one of our 
railroads: “What is the next train to so-and-so?" “No. 
4; but she is late, because No. lo, which i3 juBt behind 
11, is not going out before 17 backs up before 6. Then 29 
will go out before your train, gets in, to let 17 come up on 
the track where 8 is." 
•—An old lady from New Bedford visited Boston re¬ 
cently for the first time, and while viewing the attractions 
of tbe Public Garden, was pointed out the bronze statue 
of Charles Sumner. “Well, I declare,” the old lady re¬ 
marked, “ I never knew Sumner was a colored man be¬ 
fore,” 
