228 



FOEEST AND STREAM. 



[Octobee 20, 1881 



in a house of its size. Well, teams had been ordered for the 

 next day (Sept. 5th.,) with every prospect of favorable re- 

 sults, -when, lo! the wind had shifted to the northwest ! Ir 

 was a cool, crisp, bracing morning, and scarcely a bird to be 

 seen anywhere. This little narrative will show how de- 

 pendent we are at this point upon an easterly storm for 

 golden plover and curlew-shooting. It so happens that for 

 years there will not to be at the proper time a storm 

 sufficient to throw the birds on to the land, and of course 

 there will be no shooting during those years. In this in- 

 stance, had the birds not been on the" wing to the east- 

 ward of Cape Cod, they would not have been blown on to 

 the land by a wind from that quarter. A change 

 during the night enabled them to escape "westlin winds 

 and slaughtering guns," nor did they wait for daylight or 

 lunch. On departing they take a southeasterly course 

 evidently to get back on to their Hue of travel as soon as 

 possible. A " flight" of birds is liable to occur anywhere up 

 and down the coast during the migrating season, when the 

 wind and other conditions are favorable. Mr. S., afterward. 

 "His Honor, the Mayor" of Portland, writes October, 1S78 : 

 "There was the most immense flight of golden plover and 

 Esquimaux curlew on a Sunday, the last of August. I ever 

 knew on the coast, during n sudden storm, but a northwester 

 following closely, they all dissppeared." The same stories 

 are told at Currituck Sound and other points along the cast. 

 If then the line of flight of these birds is due south from 

 Newfoundland for a period of six weeks, and if during that 

 time an easterly gale prevails the results will be as we have 

 Etated. Several trustworthy fishermen who arc excellent, 

 sportsmen as well, and who have often been cod-fishing off 

 'George's Banks, seventy miles east of Cape Cud, inform us 

 they have frequently seen golden plover and dough birds there 

 in large flocks, always mixed up together, going south, and 

 for weeks, when not too foggy, there was scarcely a moment 

 when one or more flocks were not visible. Capta'ln B. wrote 

 us from Oienfucgos, June 23d.: "Ou the passage (from 

 Boston) May 27th, forty miles southeast from Nantucket, I 

 saw, distant from the ship, not over one hundred and twenty 

 yards, eight plover swimming very gracefully on the water. 

 They took wing aud shifted a few hundred yards further to 

 the westward." He gives a very interesting account ot the 

 natural accumulation of marine vegetables In the eddies at 

 sea, and thinks the birds stop to rest and feed on tiny oralis 

 and other marine animals, myriads of which make their 

 homes in these bunches of seaweed. Again we quote from a 

 letter of September 11, 1879: "August 12, sixty-seven 

 miles southeast of Nantucket, 1 saw quite a large number of 



migratory birds." "I saw no large birds on the wing, but 



I passed several flocks of them sitting ou the water, and 

 eiiher feeding or bathing. There were at least three kinds." 

 We have cited the above very reliable authorities to prove 

 that if these birds get weary on the long voyage of over two 

 thousand miles, from Newfoundland 'to the West Indies, 

 they can safely stop anywher,' to rest as they are graceful 

 swimmers. 



We shall now attempt, very briefly, to follow our beauti- 

 ful little winged wayfaicrs on their voyage to South Amer- 

 ica. The data on hand, however, are few and quite incom- 

 plete, and we have had to patch them out aud till up gyps 

 and interspaces as best we could. We hardly know how to 

 express to the reader, intelligently, the great difficulty of ob- 

 taining from any point of interest in South America the 

 most meagre information in relation to these birds. We have 

 from several correspondents in various localities the most posi- 

 tive assurance that they know nothing at all about the "birds, 

 nor can they obtain from those around them any items of 

 interest upon the subject. None of the books that have fall- 

 en under our notice give any detailed account of the migra- 

 tory shore birds that visit the continent. From some books 

 of travel, special papers read before certain societies, inci- 

 dental remarks here and there, and from our own corres- 

 pondents, we have been able to glean such information as to 

 warrant the belief that these birds not only reach the conti- 

 nent in immense numbers, but that they cross the equator 

 and pass as far south as Patagonia or Terra del Fuego. This 

 theory is, however, pretty conjectural and liable to greai 

 modification by further investigations. The evidence to sus- 

 tain it is not as ample as that we had the satisfaction of pre- 

 senting in support of the theory that the breeding-grounds of 

 these birds embrace even polar regions, but, by grouping and 

 cementing the few scattered links we trust the chain "is strong 

 enough to sustain at least a portion of its own weight. 



We know, then, very well that these birds m masse do 

 leave the West India Islands in September aud October. But 

 where do they go ? Not northward, certainly, at this seas m 

 of the year. We have, however, the most, reliable tes'.iuiou\ 

 that they are very abundant in Guiana about the tame time 

 of their departure from the Antilles. Our friend Capt. B. 

 who is an intelligent gentleman as well as an enthusiastic 

 sportsman, was at Demerara with his ship about the cud of 

 September, 1877. While lying there lus friends invited him 

 to participate in a plover shooting excursion. In fact, he 

 had several days of the grandest sport in this line he has over 

 witnessed. Another voyage was made the next year to the 

 same place, but he arrived six weeks later expecting to enjoy 

 a repetition of the previous year's sport- lie went to his 

 friend and asked him if he could get a few days' shooting 

 while his ship was taking in cargo. Mark the reply. 

 " Why, Captain, you are too late 1 Had you been here" a 

 month earlier you would have had splendid shooting, as 

 there was an extraordinary 'flight* of birds, but now they 

 are all gone!" Further inquiry satisfied him that iu Sep- 

 tember aud October there is a "flight" at Guiana, just the 

 same as there is at Labrador, Newfoundland, Cape Cod aud 

 the Barbadoes. A letter from the ornithologist of the Na- 

 tional Museum at Bio de Janeiro, under date of July 9, 1879, 

 throws some light upon the subject. "I found Cltarafoiuk 

 pluviaUs, Wils., on the island of Marajo in the month of De- 

 cember in flocks of about twenty individuals. Later I found 

 it in the month of May in Rio de Sul and in December, 1S7S, 

 near Rio de Janeiro at Lopopember in a small flock of twelve 

 individuals. This bird seems to me to be one of passage in 

 these parts, because in Rio de Janeiro, for example, they are 

 known as migratory birds, appearing only in the wet season, 

 and iu other places they appear always in flocks of ten, 

 twenty or thirty individuals." As the" plover are accom- 

 panied in their departure from the West Indies by many 

 other species, so we may infer that, notwithstanding 

 they were uot seen at Rio, still they were abundant 

 in the vicinity. We are informed that, during the 

 migrating season these birds are plenty at the 

 mouths of the Rio de la Pla'a and further south, aud 

 we are not quite clear that they do uot breed there. They 

 certainly have time enough. Brant are not on their breed- 

 ing grounds over three months, and An.vr bcrnUla must 

 require as much time to propagate ,<■■ ■ ,:, ( , a. 



valued correspondent (Prof. B.) writes January 3, 1881, 



from Ooneepeion del Pruguay: "All the limir.im, with the 



■ ptaoa i : i \etltu eoyammsU and possibly RhyncteaOa 



semieoMarit, are migratory to a greater or less extent at this 



place," (Hie two exceptional species are peculiar to Houlh 

 America.) We must not forget that the seasons there are 

 the reverse of ours—/, e., their autumn corresponds to our 

 spring, their winter to our summer. All the LimkolK in- 

 troduced here have large, strong wings and are capable of 

 sustaining long continued flights. In tracing these birds to 

 the northeastern shores of South America we have left them 

 in a hot place, not over six degrees north of the equator. 

 Now, we do not suppose any of the shore birds— possessing 

 as they do the means whereby they can put distance so rap- 

 idly behind them— will tarry for any great length of time 

 in the torrid zone. Their natures seem to lead them to tem- 

 perate, north temperate, or even frigid Zones, They must 

 pass at once from the chilling, repulsive blasts of our autumn 

 across the equator to the attractive, wooing breezes of a 

 Southern spring. They are very sensitive to heat and cold, 

 aud it is not in the nature of things that they should remain 

 four or five months sweltering under a tropical sun. A few 

 may linger, as seen at Rio, down into December, but most 

 of them must have "crossed the line" before the end of 

 November. The fact that the people of the torrid zone are 

 ignorant of the existence of these migrants is proof that they 

 do not stay there during all I he long Northern winter months. 

 Those seen SO lftte as December at Rio must; have been the tail 

 end of the autumn flight, nor would they be at all likely to 

 abide as near the equator as the mouth of the La Plata," Int. 

 35 deg.. but would push on still further south, even down to 

 Cape Horn to regale themselves in the cooling breezes of 

 that region. Very few if any of these birds north, breed as 

 near the equator as 35 degs. Most of them seem to be more 

 ambitious to reach the seventieth parallel. May we not 

 then safely conclude, in the absence of positive evidence, 

 that, their habits south of the equator would correspond with 

 their traits north? It is not very clearly established what 

 route they take in passing from Guiana to Patagonia, 

 Whether they follow the coast line and double i 

 Rogue, or take a' shorter or more direct route across the 

 country, is not so fully determined. The weight of evidence 

 is in favor of the direct route. Some of the main branches 

 of the Amazon reach up very nearly to the head waters Of 

 the Paraguay, and these rive'r valleys woidd seem to offer 

 natural highways for our migrants. The birds seen at Con- 

 cepcion would most naturally follow this route to that inland 

 town. 'I hen the mountain ranges are mostly parallel to this 

 line and the birds seen at Rio 'do Jaueiro may have flitted 

 along down the valleys aud water courses to tha 

 Some of the stronger winged, as Chnrudrht.? VI 

 A' //,ii ruins dorealis and T 



pt 



Jkreipes, may follow the 

 coast line, or they may divide as they do in going north in 

 spring, on. a question of food, some taking the ahore and 

 some the inland route. Still there is a serious obs . I ii 

 the way of their following the shore. The "tradi 

 Which blow constantly from S. !•;., would be likely to drift them 

 inland, and this possibly may account for their appearance 



•epc 



at o 



onUt 



the birds do ret 



and do arrive o 



this poiut one v 



same route, wh 



disturbing c 



nfluence woul 

 rip, though it would not 1. 



the northern shore Of (hi 



ould naturally expect tilt 



Bh undoubtedly they wpu 



but in crossing the 



>ear upon them 

 a land wind. But 

 March and April, 



■age 



meet the northern "trade wind/," which t 

 N.E. current of fifteen knots from the ninth to the thirtieth 

 degrees of north latitude. Of course at either extreme there 

 is very little, if any, observable current, not enough to im- 

 peilu the progress of the birds whichever way they might 

 wish to steer. " We have seen, however, by the letters frVuu 

 1he Barbadoes and Turks Island, that they do not, come there 

 in spring. They are forced by the trades down on to the 

 coast of Centra! America and Mexico, from whence they 

 beat their way up across the Gulf, some reaching Cape Coil 

 via tin- Atlantic coast, and some turning up the valley of the 

 .Mississippi, soon reach Fort Dodge, where they will be 

 heanily well >med by our friend, the Doctor, having com- 

 pleter! their circuit as hereinbefore narrated. 



\V. Hii-oooi). 



An 



red Goi 



.P> 



qu 



■ M 



IS THE TURTLE FISH OR GAME? 



.'■"J. &trttsm ■■ 



ie Putluekian is never appealed to in vain for at least 

 lion; BO, although not a member of the "Turtle 

 I eubinii the following considerations. This is an ex- 



.--..-- for a lawyers' debate for reasons I hat Shall 



— in the forum ot science it cannot be answered. 



" < itific term for any group of animals; 



bo r« an and may be many am- 



hich are neither game nor fish. Terrapin are not 



; .■-.-■ vptation of this term, as they differ 



.o fishes in mode of breathing, in structure of" heart, 



skeleton a'ld otherwise. 



oners of Chesapeake ami trihu- 

 ion over everything that nioveth 

 he waters, and fairly avail themselves of toe 

 jeplation of tlio term "fish," which makes it iu- 

 >nly the "finny tribes" (even when they are game), 

 ous fish (as the oyster) and crustaceous fish (as 

 }, aud the whale fish, and shark fish, and perhaps 

 and seal, the giant cuttle fishes, the mermaid and 

 we are to suppose such monster fishes ob- 

 ■'■■ \ and also the Medusiau jelly- 

 ruling to a steamboat nor an iron- clad 

 •r a diving bell. A. regard to the general public 

 u'.ild induce a candid judge to commit the terra- 

 ■ tn ither fur nor feathers and differ from r ] - ,_■ 

 • ,'f game, while they have many and close relations 

 piscine, friends and enemies) to the culture and 

 ot the respected Commissioners of the noble- bav 

 and its tributaries. 

 ?e question reminds me o: 

 Ambrose Clark and Mr. Jol 

 vers, Mr. Anthon'a client had 

 niug leather, which was made 

 ade much the same thing 



from tlit [ 



general Fat 

 The res 

 Uries mig' 

 and iiveth 

 popular ac 

 elude not i 

 but testae* 

 the lobstei 

 the walrus 

 great sea serpen 

 taioable in the 

 n lb ■■-■ - but not 



'II. 

 wher 

 inglt 

 for ta 

 party i 



stead, and be was sued as infriug 

 defeuce was that it was no iol'iiiu 

 fisft oil, since a whale is not a 

 called upon a.s an ex perl, who, aft 

 the lawyers, was finally appealed t 



! a "story." In a suit 

 iu Author, were oppos- 

 a patent preparation 

 Kle of fish oil. Another 

 nly using whale's oil iu- 

 r on the first patent. The. 

 nent, as whak oil was not 

 ih. Prof. Mitchell was 



being greatly badgered by 



by Mr. Anthon to deli no 



minutely a Whale, lie replied: " A whale is one. of those 

 disagreeable animals which comes up before ft 



" The question, as far as I can learn, like that in 

 the Virginia Legislature, has "not been decided to this day." 

 pA-Tor -xci-Sta-Kwakt. 



The above letter was written previous to the publication 

 of our last issue, and was therefore prepared before its author 

 knew that the President of the Pot Puck Club had delivered 

 the oracle Erom his tripod. After these lucid dissertations 

 no man— gourmet, or legislator— can plead ignorance of the 

 turtle's place in nature. A truce to this politico-scienlific 

 subject] Let. us turn to metropolitan turtle-soup. Piick, 

 our professionally funny E. C, has been investigating the 

 culinary mysteries of a New York restaurant. The experi- 

 ence of the Puck man was as follows: 

 iron sour. 



An attenuated individual, with a great affluence of hair and 

 a soft, seductive smile, gently swaggered into a restaurant 

 down town not more than a week ago, hung his hat on a nail, 

 took a seat, and commenced to (hum for the waiter. The 

 latter appeared in due time, and began to brush around the 

 tumblers with a great deal of energy. The diner ordered 

 some turtle soup, and, while he was sipping it, chipped in : 



"Pretty good soup this ; what's the vintage?" 



" Tea a. m. i" replied the waiter, as he prepared to hurl 

 the check down like a, boomerang. 



"Made of land-turtles?" inquired the festive guy. 



"Land-turtles?" repeated the waiter in astonishment. 



"Yes, land-turtles," continued the diner -"these big, cor- 

 pulent, speckled, Punch-nosed reptiles that walk around rye- 

 fields with iuitials and dates cut on their backs ?" 



The waiter assured him that he was positive that that was 

 not the brand of turtle employed in the construction of their 

 best soup in the city for ten cents a. plate, including a roll. 



" No, I suppose it is not," continued the guest ;' "I sup- 

 pose it is not. I presume you use these little black, red- 

 spotted specimens that infect woodland brook3 and bird- 

 stores at three for a quarter— these little polka-dot rascals 

 that float on corks, chuck full of meditation. 1 suppose you 

 get. them in quantities ami open them like Little Neck clams, 

 and spring the result ou innocent people for terrapin. Does 

 my intellect light on the scheme?" 



The nailer didn't reply, and the guest went on: 



" Perhaps you use snapping turtles. These fellows that 

 grab at anything so hard that it makes them tired. These 

 ignoble beasts that draw the skin over their eye3 when you 

 look at them, and who have skin enough fur each eye to 

 make an apron, strings and all, and " 



"We use an iron turtle," broke, iu the waiter, who was 

 tired of being uu3 r ed. 



" An iron turtle?" 



•■ ( lertainly, an iron turtle." 



"To make turtle soup?" 



" Why, of course ; to make turtle soup, not to make lamb 

 stew, or fricandeau of nightingale's soul, or an epigramme of 



'• But," said the diner, " how do you make soup out of an 

 iron turtle." 



" Why, we wind him up." 

 " Wind him up V" 

 Precisely; he has a key-hoi 

 ght, until you can't wind ttl 

 lift 



ihiSll 



iry 



ack, yon wind to your 

 Then you I brow him 

 ■is, and be kicks and 



-' round for how's. We have a few eight-day turtles 



■ i; a where does the nutriment come from?" inquired 

 the aatonislipd guest in tones of excitement. 



"Why, from the ingredients : the call's head, aud the 

 beef, and the carrots, and the. lem.on." 



"Then, what is the use of putting in the turtle ':"' 



" Why, he furnishes the motion." 



" Wha'l, motion in sitip?" 



" 01 course ,- \vc throw him into the soup, and he splashes 

 round with his great paddle feet " 



" To tone the system with iron ?" 



"Oh, no, }U8t to keep the simp from burning. It's a great, 

 deal cheaper lo woik the turtle than to hire a boy to do the 

 stirring." 



Then the out-guyed diner left with a sadful look, as though 

 he had just come down stairs with some manuscript, and 

 half a dozen scries of editorial foot-prints all over him.— R. 

 K. M. 



A Woud ok Two os an Ot/D SriurccT.— The dealers in 

 firearms advertised in this issue of the Forest and Stkijam 

 are numerous. They are established firms, who do business 

 year after year. There is no ring formed to maintain prices. 

 The competition in the gun trade is strong. The firms, so 

 far as our acquaintance goes, are possessed of business brains. 

 All this means that no one firm can chaige exorbitant prices 

 for sportsmen's goods ; which also means that a good gun 

 can be bought of one of these standard dealers at the price 

 fixed for that gun as the result of competition. The mun 

 j is possessed Of average intelligence will, when he wants 

 a gun, go to some of these regular established, respectable 

 . It is only a fool who will invest iu the glowing, 

 catch-penny advertisements in non-sporting papers of eon- 

 -vn is which pretend to offer unheard-of bargains in gutiB. 

 Those men always seek to advertise in our columus and are 



regularly refused that privilege ; and with the advent of 

 each new cheap-gnu adventurer the ITORBS! inn H/t:i;axi'.s 

 mail brings frequent inquiries about the great bargains offered. 

 Our reply to one and all is to buy their guns of reputable 

 dsalers and not to buy the $25 guns for $3 00. 



.N ENGLISH AktiqtjaeiAH has recently given some curi- 

 extracti from an old book, published iu 1704, entitled, 

 tto-narivm MHsttmim ei IfrhaiticwHi, "A Dictionary or All 



Sorts of Country Affairs— Handicraft, Trading and Merchan- 

 dizing." How do the following paragraphs strike our read- 

 ers ? "Shooting flying.— -This being experimentally found 

 to be the best and sweetest way of shooting. The gun most 

 proper for the spoil should be four foot and a half hug in 

 the barrel and of a pretty wide bore, something uuder a mus- 

 ket." Under the head of "Fowling Piece" is the following: 

 'That piece is even counted Ihe best which has the longest 

 barrel, being of five foot and a half or six fool long, with an 

 indifferent bore, .tinder havquebu^s, tho' every fowler ought 

 to have them of several sorts and sizes, suitable to the game 

 io kill," 



