NATURAL HISTORY. 



i55 



Noticing that the dog was biting at some- 

 thing in the hole, the hunter pushed him 

 away, reached into the hole and pulled out 

 the fox, which was stone dead! Not a shot 

 had been fired at him and we concluded he 

 had been smothered to death. 



He had evidently been close pressed by 



the dog, and had tried to get into this hole, 



which proved too small for him. He was a 



red fox and his fur was in good condition. 



A. K., Sheboygan, Wis. 



Within the last month, the daily papers 

 have reported the death of a Nebraska boy 

 in a badger hole, also from smothering, 

 like the fox described above. Ed. 



I would like to trap sparrows and cat 

 birds. Also would like to know how to 

 pickle different fresh water fish. 



R. E. Borhek, 

 1st Ave., W. Bethlehem, Pa. 



Answer. — You should not trap wild birds, 

 at all; for the chances are as 10 to 1 they 

 would languish in captivity and soon die. 

 About the only way to make cage pets, of 

 wild creatures, is to take the young, and 

 rear them in comfortable confinement. 

 With birds this is exceedingly difficult, and 

 boys should never attempt it unless they 

 have big cages, and know all about bird 

 food. 



To preserve fish in alcohol, buy " proof 

 spirits " and dilute with 1-3 water. Open 

 each fish, by making a slit along the belly. 

 Remove the entrails, unless they are spe- 

 cially wanted. Wash the fish clean; then 

 immerse in the spirits. Do not crowd the 

 specimens. A large fish requires plenty of 

 spirits, renewed after 10 days. Seal the jars 

 air tight, to prevent evaporation. 



Editor. 



You ask if the buffalo head, on the front 

 cover of May Recreation, is a record 

 breaker? From the looks of it should say 

 no. The skin seems too tightly stretched. 

 If he looked that way alive I should say he 

 had been mixing up with poison ivy and 

 was badly swelled. I should also say the 

 set of horns was low; or rather that they 

 lopped down sidewise. I am inclined to 

 think an artificial skull was inside and that 

 the horns are not curved in enough. So 

 far as the circumference of base of horn is 

 concerned, if they are loose, and mounted 

 on pith, they might be boiled or steamed 

 and expanded to a considerable degree by 

 manipulation. However, I am not in the 

 horn business and have none to sell, 

 mounted or otherwise. 



Onyitta, Manchester, N. H. 



" Why is it? " asked the Elephant of the 

 Lion, " that when any mischief is done in 

 the jungle, the Leopard is always suspected 

 first? " 



" Well," replied the Lion, " he is spotted 

 J>y nature." — Louisville Courier-Journal. 



Are 6 toes common to cats? We have 

 4 kittens, 3 of which have 6 toes on each 

 fore foot, and 5 on each hind foot. The 

 other kitten has 7 toes on each fore foot 

 and 6 on each hind foot. 



J. H., North Abingdon, Mass. 



Answer. — Six-toed or " double-pawed " 

 cats are quite uncommon, although occa- 

 sionally known, from time immemorial. 

 This peculiarity is often transmitted to off- 

 spring, but it does not occur with any cer- 

 tainty. However, it is quite likely that by 

 careful selection, a six-toed race could be 

 produced. The " double-pawed " cat is 

 even a greater curiosity than the six-toed 

 freak. 



In June Recreation Angus Gaines, in 

 speaking of the brown thrush, says: " Her 

 4 eggs are of a delicate light blue color, 

 with perhaps a light shade of green, but 

 free from all spots and markings." 



I agree with him as to the color; but 

 think he has made a mistake when he says 

 they are free from spots. I 'have examined 

 a number of eggs, and have a set before 

 me; and all are spotted with fine dots of 

 reddish brown. 



Frank A. Tapley, Haverhill, Mass. 



I would like to know what is the best 

 book on Taxidermy, that will teach me the 

 rudiments, as I want to learn the business. 



F. E. Parsons, 

 8 Union St., Danbury, Conn. 



" Taxidermy and Zoological Collecting " 

 by W. T. Hornaday, is the best book in 

 the world, on taxidermy. It is published 

 by Charles Scribner's Sons, 153 5th Ave- 

 nue, New York City. The price is $2.50. 



Editor. 



How can the male and the female jack 

 snipe be told apart? 



L. McC, Little Rock, Ark. 



There is no way of certainly distinguish- 

 ing the male from the female jack snipe 

 (Gallinago delicata) excepting by careful dis- 

 section. The females average a little small- 

 er, but otherwise are exactly like the males 

 in appearance. 



While dissecting a great blue heron, re- 

 cently, I took a pickerel from its throat, 

 16J/2 inches long. T. W. Fraine, 



Taxidermist, Rochester, N. Y. 



Please send me the names and addresses 

 of all the sportsmen of your acquaintance, 

 in order that I may send them sample 

 copies of Recreation. 



Getting subscriptions for Recreation is 

 easy. The magazine does its own talking. 

 Turn to the premium list, on page xlviii., 

 and see what you can get by sending in a 

 club. 



