446 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Jan. 3, 1883. 



SNOWY OWLS. 



OC-Ulry in a recent issue as to the 

 species, we will reply by quot- 

 ntcr of iw'.';. From 



Editor Fm; .:,' a,,./ 8ta>t am: 



In answer loMr. Jemcy '. 

 southern distribution of Hi 

 ing .rom OUT fliarv of the Jul 



II. e Porl Jarvis (N. T.) Union, December 4, 1876; About 

 three weeks ago il was noticed by residents of the surround- 

 country that large flocks of owls wen' flying southward 

 fl'Om tin' DOrtb. Since that time flocks have been seen now 

 and then, Many have been captured. The owls are nearly 

 all white, i. ... Arctic owls; a taxidermist, here lias received 

 six of these birds. One taxidermist in New York city re- 

 ceived sixty-two within ten days Capl. J. Birch, of New- 

 burgh, N. V.. received twelve 'while owlsat his store. 



Cleveland, Dec. id, 1876 —Big snow storm, migration of 

 northern birds in variety and numbers, beyond anything I 

 ever before witnessed, 



"About Nov. 85S, 1876, great numbers of snowy owls were 

 noticed migrating from the North to the South. ' The Bight 

 continued about two weeks and was noticed from Maine to 

 Denver. Colorado, and from there to Portland, Vancouver 

 and Astoria, Oregon and Washington Territory. At Boston 

 one taxidermist, received forty-two white owls' during Ibis 

 flight, thirty of which were White ones. White owls were 

 also brought to bird Staffers and bird fanciers during this 

 period in the following towns In great numbers, us follows: 

 Albany, Rochester and Buffalo. New York; Erie, Pennsyl- 

 vania,; Cleveland and Toledo, Ohio; Chicago, Milwaukes. 

 St. Louis, St. Paul, Omaha and Denver, the last two places 

 in great abundance." 



November 30. 1876, at Newbern, N. O, white owls 

 from the North were seen for the first time bv the oldest 

 inhabitant. This is further South than Mr. Jenvey's owl. 



Perhaps it may be asked, " Where did 1 get this infor- 

 mation?" From telegraphic and other clippings from 

 newspapers, as they published the daily records of what 

 tt, and is still, going on. 



In Hie fall of this migration of owls, an open winter was 

 predicted by tb "weather-wise." The husks on the corn 

 mere thin, the muskrats' huts were only ball' size, etc.. etc.; 

 but this winter of 1S?6-"T proved the most severe since Issue 

 December 18. 1876, 'here was ice in the Cuvnhoga. at 

 Cleveland. ./<(. « tncJltm thick, and it held its own until 

 spring; in fact is noted with the winter of ISSti, the (oldest 

 of cold winters. So much i'or prophets and corn shucks. 



1 do not know that the following has any bearing on cold 

 snaps, snow owlsund "weather miseries,' bid 1 quote never- 

 theless. 



"December 21, 1876+— To-night 8.80 P. M. Cleveland 

 time. — There passed over the greatest bolide or suction 

 noticed in modern times. Noticed first at Topeka, Law- 

 rence and Emporia, Kan. ; St. Louis. Morlity, Mo,; Jaeksou- 

 sonville, Peoria, Oalcsburgh, Clifton. 111.; Indianapolis, 

 Bloomingtou, Iud ; Toledo, Green Springs, Bueyrus, Cleve- 

 land, Ashtabula. Ohio; Erie, Pa.; New York' eitv; New 

 liaven and Wood's Hole, Conn. 



"A very favorable hour for this independent metallic rock 

 to puss one way. Everybody up; no moon, consequently 

 quite dark; thirty-iiiuo' mile's a second in flight; twenty 

 eight miles in diameter; eighty miles or more above the 

 earth, but yet Within our atmosphere, bursting and tbundor- 

 iug from f fictional heat; sending off, now and then, a holi- 

 day chunk; rattling windows and shaking doors, proclaim- 

 ing; '1 am the boss St. Nicholas.'" Dr. E. Sterling. 



extermination of that 

 I have noticed for the 

 re congregated in largo 

 have" a few shots 

 the 



will confine their depredations to tl 

 most stupendous fraud of the age. 

 past tew days that the sparrows ha 

 flocks, and 1 would like very muc 

 among them, for at Snob. times I think this would 

 best and only way of exterminating them, and there arc no 

 other birds about to be frightened "away. There was one 

 thing about the hawks that 1 never saw before— each of 

 them bad brown ticks or flics on them. I inclose one for 

 your inspection ami explanation. I have read much in your 

 valuable paper of the ticks on ruffed grouse, but have never 

 Si en them. Can this lie the same, and has it left the grouse 

 and taken to Ihe hawkV I hope it may be SO.— J. L. DaTI- 

 son. [The insect inclosed is the same as the partridge fly, 

 or at least very closely resembles it. As we have said many 

 times, these insects are found on grouse, quail, hawks, owl's 

 and herons.] 



Taxidkiimists' Pkkmits.— In their annual report the 

 Maine Commissioners of Fisheries and Clame say: "Wo 

 hope no more commissions for taxidermists mav be granted 

 without the strictest scrutiny as to the objects of the appli- 

 cants, and bonds required for the faithful adherence to the 

 lernis of Hie commissions under the statutes. Is it less 

 damage to the State to kill birds for the sale' of their skins 

 during close time, thau to kill for the sale of their bodies 

 for food? Our song birds in particular are mosl eagedj 

 sought during the mating and nesting season, as thee are 

 then in their gayest plumage. We believe that among the 

 very many commissioned taxidermists of the State, but few 

 have sought the office for scientific purposes. Let our 

 farmers, who arc most intimately interested in the protec- 

 tion of insectivorous birds,- look to this." 



ivs the reason why so many snowy 

 Ives in more Southern localities than 



Tin; 

 logical 

 Bancrc 

 Indian 

 explain 

 Jamais 

 serious 

 first mi 



Monoo 

 Society 

 ft Espcl 



ed'iiia'i.' 



Uncle John Kride 

 owls are showing then 



they are Usually seen is "because they want to get out of the 

 very cold weather North," and that 'it does not so much in- 

 dicate that we are to have a severe winter in the Middle 

 States. We agree with Uncle John so far as I hat the owls 

 can't stand the pressure northward, but that we arc to have 

 a. very cold winter, notwithstanding a month of if has 

 passed without much indication of severity, we are confi- 

 dent, and do not agree with him. We venture to "Ven- 

 norize" and point out that January, February and March 

 will make up for the shortcomings of the last month of 

 1882. With all deference to the opinions of Uncle John; we 

 would say as all said at the hisl shoot of Ihe Philadelphia 

 Sportsmen's Club, when he took a part, "he is not so young 

 as he used to be. " Homo." 



In the course of an interesting paper on "Owls." read be- 

 fore the Buffalo Academy of Natural Sciences, Dec. 22, 

 Prof. Linden says of the snowy owls: 



"They never fail to visit our neighborhood and arrive 

 here sometimes in October, which is a sure indication that 

 the winter in the higher latitudes has set in very early and 

 with unusual severity. Their southern migrations extend 

 also over a great territory, since they have been reported as 

 far as South Carolina, 'although tliey are more common 

 along the snorts of the New England States and Lower 

 Canada, whence, following the course of the St. Lawrence, 

 i i !\ to our neighborhood. The snowy owl has been 

 shot here as early as the middle of October and remains 

 often until late in the spring. In my own experience 1 ob- 

 served one. near Angola on the 9th of June flying about in 

 an old stump lot. which il made for several days its head- 

 quarters. Among the many different specimens' shot here 

 not one, however, was marked with the pure white color 

 which, according to Gould, is characteristic of its full 

 plumage. Up to this present month about a dozen of them 

 have been killed this winter along the shores of the Niagara, 

 Which they frequent on account of the dead fishes and refuse 

 of all soils left by our fishermen on the beach. It is this 

 species only and the hawk owls, which arc strictly diurnal 

 in their habits, and never hunt after dark. Both are in- 

 habitants of the Arctic zone, where the sun never sets for 

 at least two months of the year, the very time in which they 

 raise their brood and require an abundance of food. Thi's 

 circumstance alone would account for the exceptional modi- 

 fication of (heir sight, which must conform itself to the 

 special environment in which they live." 



Belleville, Ont., Dec. 11. — A snowy owl was shot on the 

 bav shore near the railway wharf a few days ago by Mr. 

 Henry Pretty, ' ' g. S. B, 



Enkmiks of hit Spa Know. — Lockport, IS. Y., Dec. 23 

 I8s:j. — Within the past two weeks my son has had given 

 him to put up two pigeon hawks, shot near the center of 

 the city while in pursuit of English sparrows. I expostu- 

 lated with one of the parties for killing them, while doing 

 so beneficial an act. I should almost be inclined to pro- 

 tect them within the city limits during the winter, if they 



be cffei 

 plantc 



ffi tn Jamaica. — At a meeting of the Zoo- 

 of London, held Nov. 28. 1882, Mr. W. 

 read a paper on the acclimatization of the 

 ■ {Hi >i" nil * grisovs) in Jamaica. The author 

 ie object in introducing the mungoose into 

 destruction of rats, which had committed 

 among the sugar and coffee crops. The 



were introduced in 1871, and so beneficial 

 produced that the saving to the sugar and 

 now was estimated at feast at .£ I tin, 000 a 



A is Faulk Attacks a Ciiilii. — Belleville, Out., Canada, 

 Dec. 11. — A verv remarkable event occurred in this eilv on 

 October 20, which, although fully described in a local 

 journal, I have not seen any note of in your columns, In 

 the afternoon of that day a boy aged" about five years, 

 named Wall, was playing near, his parents' home, near the 

 outskirts of the city, when an eagle swooped down upon 

 him. and, fixing his talons in his dress at the shoulders, 

 tried to carry him off. The burden was, however, so heavy 

 that the bird' could not, rise with it, and as the child strug- 

 gled and screamed, the eagle heal him about the head with 

 its wings, dealing out very powerful blows. What the issue 

 would have been it is impossible to say, but the struggle 

 was. ended by an elder sister of the little boy, who, hearing 

 his cries, came out and drove the eagle off with a stick. 

 This,. I think you will agree with mc, is a strange occur- 

 rence to happen in a city of 10.000 inhabitants.— R. S. B. 



SHOOTING DEER IN SUMMER. 



TT was a. delightful evoning'of May, 1870. f had been to 1 

 ten to ail able discourse on the" probable immortality of 

 human and animal life. The. faithful dog. the patient ' 

 long-suffering horse, and shy wild animals, were ably and 

 interestingly 'discussed. I returned home, and, as my wife 

 was away on a visit and I was alone, 1 culled mv faithful 

 hunting dog into the house with me. Rctir'ma to 'rest, I fell 

 into a fitful slumber, when I distinctly heard my name 

 called. Rising up, I saw a mist-like form, with beautiful, 

 expressive eyes, and a sweet, quiet voice said, "Come with 

 me." An irresistible power seemed to control me, and we 

 passed up into mid-air. above my dwelling, when, with a 

 seemingly familiar voice, my companion asked me if I 

 would like to visit the Adirondacks. " O, yes," said I, and. 

 twining its transparent, drapery about me, we flew along 

 rapidly. The soft, warm air fanned my cheeks, crickets 

 were chirping, and the katydids were having their dispu 

 I was both startled and delighted as we floated along o 

 towns and cities, and looked down upon them, /it one 

 point, hearing strains of music, I asked my companio 

 where we were. " Listen," said she ; "this is Saratoga. 

 Lingering but a moment, we sped away again. Wood- 

 bushCS, and mountains seemed all in quiet repose. Tli 

 moon rode bright and silvery, seemingly nearer than eve 

 befoie. Up, up, and away we rose-. As we passed over 

 mountain 1 heard the dismal howl of a wolf; then agai 

 we passed over a clearing, a marsh, and a small lake. Th 

 hoot of an owl rang out in apparent mockery as W0 passed 

 over a forest ; again we lifted up over a mountain, then 

 lowered our flight over a lake, where all was quiet. A 

 small flock of ducks, a mother with her brood, we i eem 

 ingly all asleep, and there stood a deer knee deep in the 

 water, slender and alert, apparently alarmed, turning his 



As we passed aiong, I recognized the lake and the very 

 place where, a year before, I shot by torchlight at a large 

 doe, Wounding her so severely, she was just able to get away 

 out of the water and up into the woods. As 1 spoke to rny 

 companion, she seemed to sigh, while a shudder passed 

 through her frame. Slowly we turned from" the lake, and 

 up the side, avc came to a beautiful glade, and 



descending here alighted wliere the tall, woody grass and 

 ferns formed a natural bower. Looking around, 1 saw be- 

 fore me two little fawns, emaciated and starving. Their 

 uakempt faces showed the want of the toilet of their mother's 

 tongue. Their little ueepingey.s ..,,. elo-ei and dealh- 

 stricken. I could only just hear a plaintive whispering 

 bleat of the little dying'infant deer. And as I stood there, 

 one leaning forward fell prone upon the grass, dead. lie 

 other settled down upon its little knees and closed its eyes 

 in death. Near them lay the festering form of their dead 

 mother. Turning away from the cruel, sickening sight, 1 

 spoke to my companion. She sighingly Baid, "11 islhodcer 

 you shot at" on the lake. Ah'l" says" she, 'the Angel of 

 Mercy passeth by on the other side and hath no tears loshed 

 when the cruel" man dies." Heartsick, I asked to return 

 home, and as we neared my house, I asked my companion 

 who she was. She replied^ "I am the spirit" of that deer 

 you shot at, the mother of those dead fawns." G. F. W. 



fmtf* §11$ m\tl 



fiAiiii SEASONS. 

 A comprehensive statement Of the game laws of America will he 

 found iti the Issues of this jcrai'iioj for December ? mid U, 1SSS. In- 

 dividuals and game clubs are requested to Inform us df tile enaor- 

 I of new local laws and oi elinDROS iliat may he made iu the taws 



ie several States anil lettHoileS. 



GAME IN TEXAS. 



I P- 



day morning last that two inexperienced gen- 

 Ion- with myself, boarded ihe east lound train 

 itroad, for a daj - shooting, hi seven o'clock 

 Bocorro, oial "spread out' over the valley in 

 guest of ducks and quail. The day was all one Could w'isb, 

 1 soon found a slough, iu which the water hail been turned 

 from the acequia, and along which the ducks were flying to 

 different feeding grounds. Just now the "natives" arc 

 letting on the Water for the purpose of preparing their 

 tls for wl, ,,- •■ a ;. A.I this lime the dicks always 



taking my stand a flock of mallards came up and 1 managed 

 to make a clear miss somehow, very much to my chagnil, 

 Soou two mallards came bv and i dropped both very nicely, 

 one with each barrel. The shooting was pretty e-ood for an 

 hour and then suddenly stopped.' In this time I bagged 

 eight mallards and two teal, making onlv four misses 



'Leaving the Slough I went, toward the mesa in eptcst of 

 mail, which T found quite abundant. Owing to the dense 

 ,veeds and the disposition of this bird to inn, 1 found the 

 shooting very hard. The valley quail found here is a 

 beautiful bird, but unfit for bunting with dogs, as it will 

 not fly, but will run as. long as it has life. Mocks of liftv 

 are not infrequent. Market hunters kill a great many and 

 find ready sale for them here at si!. 50 per dozen. In two 

 hours, by much walking, running and tiresome work, 1 

 managed* to bag sixteen of these beautiful birds. 



On my way to the depot i found some snipe along a stud- 

 io o aoia I got six in good style, not missing- a single 

 shot. 



Soon the train came by and brought us home. My friend.* 

 bagged only a few quail". 



North of this place, fifteen miles, there is pretl 

 antelope and deer shooting. Quail abundant (here. ' lam 

 going sooa and will give report. Ducks are to lie found in 

 abundance anywhere along the Rib Grande Valley, where 

 there ;ere ijouds or fields under irrigation. As soon as ihe 

 wheat is up the geese v, ill be here in great numbers. 



On the plains the like of antelope is unprecedented, and 

 some buffalo to be found by hard hunting. 



Geo. W. Buses. ,1k. 



El Paso, Tex., Dee. 1 1. 



INDESTRUCTIBILITY OF GAME BIRDS. 



THAT every question has two sides is admitted, tacitly or 

 overtly, by every one; and if it has not been already 

 proved that the destruction of certain of our game birds is 

 inevitable, in spile of existing laws. I would like to say a 

 few words in support of the other side, and show, if possi- 

 ble, by advancing such theories as have seemed to me ra- 

 tional* and consistent wilii the point in question, that the 



total extinction of om game birds is next to impossible. 



Ill the li, :.■■■•. diccablelhat the ehanev-of bale 



its m birds ■' ' ' - e,ci...e:„: adubw.o escape 

 their [misueis. and tins change, therefore, ee ]u vales their 

 instinct of -df is -i ■ ad n, which is paramount in all the 

 animal kingdom. Witness the difference of habits of the 

 ruffed grouse ol the Maine and Canada voods and of those 

 iu the much shot over districts of Massachusetts, New York 

 and Connecticut, I venture lo say that of seven birds 

 flushed in Eastern Massachusetts, nol more than om is even 

 killed, day in and day out. 



To what limit, this'chauge may reach, we know not . in.it 

 it needs only to instance the increased development of this 

 faeultv to evade their enemies to show that it is sufficient lo 

 meet fhe dangers lo which I hey are exposed. 



Doubtless, too, I Ins faculty is hereditary, and birds that 

 have once associated the sound of a gam "to proximate dan- 

 ger to themselves, and the voice of man to imminent peril, 

 will in course of time hand down lo their offspring a like 

 association of perceptions. 



Again, those who assert Unit certain ouartera We shot over 

 too much for a continuance of its game supply must, from 

 the verv terms of their assertion, admil also that in those 

 same quarters the birds never die a natural death of old ane. 

 which entails the admission that none but the young, rela- 

 tively, and healthy survive till succeeding spring lo breed — 

 /. (,., only those that can and do reproduce their kind. 



That, 'owing loan undue pi e-i.-o-ur.- in their destruction, 

 quail and grouse make partial migrations from the localities 

 where they "'ere reared to others more remote and better 

 suited to "their peace and rest, none but the blindest will 

 deny. This holds equally true of deer. 



After being hunted arid hounded I'or some time in the 

 Plymouth Woods. Cape Cod. there appears to be a di ri ase 

 in 'the number of deer, and at the same lime a correspond' 

 ing increase in Ihe number of the-.. , norc out! rn parh 

 of Ihe Cape; from this fact it is fair to surmise thai 



they were driven from their wonted retreal I thers lei 



frequented. 



To revert to migratory birds, it is well known that wild- 

 fowl when disturbed at'nighl on their resting grounds , or 

 more properly speaking, waters), will forsaki tl oae kt rij, 

 and not, as is general) v the casv, return agai ftme, 



season at least; this, far from tending toward their I* 



lion (the popular view;, only increases n„dr chance of life, 

 fend) ii»g them as it does more shy, vigilant and suspicious 

 for the future, which in turn puts" thcin within reach only 

 of the most accomplished sportsmen — a very small class of 



Km the; more, when birds are shot in large numbers, the 

 market* become glutted, ami fhe price of the birds being 



little or no fear need be 

 brei o ing- grounds for 

 nd for them in the market 

 . and their season of ap- 

 lorcs so untimely lor active 

 ha1 li' -r total exlenniua- 

 i reech-loaders, is im- 

 ii i ao somewhere in the 

 ile pas Mi roe years shot - 



lowi red, offers 1 



ultimately the s 



Of the cxtine 



felt. These bin 



die mOBl par x 



ess inducements 



aughter must c, 

 ion of bay snipe 



remote, the dem 



p. akiug so sma 



lion, however s 

 possible. In ai 

 Gulf of St. Lav 



■basking. 



out-of-i 

 •rence, I have ft 



