NATURAL HISTORY. 



5 r -5 



AS TO GROUSE AND QUAILS. 



Please tell me the difference between 

 pheasants, ruffed grouse and partridges. 

 E. M. Loeftier, Keokuk, Iowa. 



ANSWER. 



The only one of the 3 birds you name, 

 that is a native of this country, is the ruffed 

 grouse. This is called, in various localities, 

 pheasant and partridge; but both are er- 

 roneous. We have no native pheasants or 

 partridges in this country. Some English, 

 Mongolian and Chinese pheasants have 

 been introduced and are being extensively 

 bred. In most cases they are confined to 

 game preserves or private lands; but in a 

 few cases they have been turned out, as in 

 the Willamette Valley, Oregon. In Oc- 

 tober Recreation you will see a picture of 

 2 men, each of whom is holding a bunch of 

 these birds that have been killed. 



The quail or bob white is also called a 

 partridge, in the South; but this appella- 

 tion is wrong. The partridge is an Eng- 

 lish bird which, in size, is between our quail 

 and our prairie chicken, and is darker col- 

 ored than either. 



A correct drawing of the ruffed grouse 

 appears on page 188 of September Rec- 

 reation. — Editor. 



notes. 



Referring to measurements of game, as 

 quoted in Recreation, I give dimensions 

 of a grizzly bear we killed in the Wind 

 river country, in 1891. Length from tip of 

 nose to tip of tail, 9 feet 8 inches. 



Breadth between ears 16 inches. 



Around forearm 24 inches. 



These figures are from memory. I have 

 lost the record of exact measurements but 

 the figures are impressed indelibly, on my 

 memory. We estimated his weight at 1,000 

 pounds, comparing him with the biggest 

 horse in the outfit, which weighed 1,200. 



An old trapper (B. Baker), who lived in 

 that vicinity, said this was the largest bear 

 he ever saw. 



I have the hide mounted, here in 

 Denver. 



D. L. Mechling, Denver, Colo. 



In June Recreation Mr. E. S. Thomp- 

 son asks if any reader of your magazine 

 has ever observed the habit the wolf has of 

 rolling in carrion. I have never had the 

 pleasure, or displeasure, of seeing a wolf 

 do this, but I have often seen a hound, be- 

 longing to a friend of mine, perform him- 

 self in this way. 



It was about 2 years ago that I first 

 noticed him smelling of a dead horse that 

 lay .near the edge of a bit of woods. 



The dog did not eat any of the decayed 

 flesh, but satisfied himself by rubbing both 

 sides of his body wherever the flesh of the 

 horse seemed the most decayed. 



The second time I noticed it, the hound 

 rolled in carrion of the worst kind. That 

 is, the remains of a dog, as nearly as I 

 could make out, that had been dead for 

 some time. 



P. G., Chicago. 



As the question, " why do dogs roll in 

 carrion " is up, I will give what I believe 

 to be the reason. 



A year ago last spring I took up a stray 

 dog which I thought looked like a good 

 one, and he has proven such, though no 

 one else seemed to think him worth feed- 

 ing. He was very thin; had mange and 

 was covered with lice. In fact he was a 

 regular tramp. 



This dog would roll in carrion, at every 

 opportunity, and I believe he did it for no 

 other reason than to rid himself of lice. 

 Since getting rid of those pests he has quit 

 the habit all together. 



O. B. Johnson, Orion, 111. 



I had the rare good fortune to get bit- 

 ten by a rattlesnake, some weeks ago, and 

 feel the effects of it yet. I say good fort- 

 une; but between you and me, I would not 

 have a similar experience for a good round 

 sum, again. All the same, I am glad it hap- 

 pened. You see, I have kept rattlesnakes, 

 as pets, for years; have bred them, handled 

 them, and can do almost anything with 

 them. It was entirely due to my own care- 

 lessness that I was bitten, and the snake 

 that did it is now my favorite pet. 



I have some individuals which have been 

 in my possession many years. Am afraid 

 you will think me a crank, but I like to take 

 up the less usual, without in any degree 

 losing interest in natural history, at large. 

 Percy Selous, Greenville, Mich. 



Where can I get some ideas on how to 

 mount birds? What is the best for a be- 

 ginner? 



F. D. Levens, Fort Edward, N. Y. 

 answer. 



The best book ever published, on this 

 subject, is " Taxidermy and Zoological 

 Collecting," by Wm. T. Hornaday. You 

 will find an ad of this book on page xxxi 

 of October Recreation. It is published 

 by Chas. Scribner's Sons, 153 Fifth Avenue, 

 Xew York City. Price $2.50. — Editor. 



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. 



" I see you have had your last winter's 

 sealskin made over." 



" Yes. It cost more than a new one, you 

 know." — Cleveland Plain Dealer. 



