^5* 



RECREA TION. 



beneath white except on throat and belly, 

 marked with large, distinct spots of dusky. 

 The eggs of this species are of a deep 

 greenish blue color, and are 3 or 4 in 

 number. 



The eggs of the brown thrush are 4 or 5 

 in number, with a ground color varying 

 from white to light blue, thickly and uni- 

 formly speckled with reddish brown. 



It is a very easy matter to mistake the 

 wood thrush for the brown thrush. When 

 seen in flight, the easiest way to distinguish 

 between them is by noting the length of 

 the tail, which in the brown thrush is much 

 greater than in the other. 



C. S. Scribner, Canton, O. 



Seeing in November Recreation that 

 you have called attention to the eyes of ani- 

 mals, I should like to ask if you have ever 

 seen an instance of a snake apparently 

 charming, or otherwise exerting any mys- 

 terious influence over a bird, or other an- 

 imal. 



Frank G. Speck, Jr., Hackensack, N. J. 



Answer. — There is scarcely room to 

 question the well-established fact that in 

 the presence of serpents about to attack, 

 birds are subject to the same paralysis of 

 fear to which many animals, and even man 

 himself, are subject. Indeed, no wild 

 species is any more subject to the benumb- 

 ing influence of terror than is the lord of 

 creation. It is probable that quite as many 

 human beings have lost their lives through 

 excess of fear as have birds through, the 

 so-called " fascination " of serpents. It 

 would be an easy matter to elicit number- 

 less instances of fear paralysis in animals; 

 but they would be only so much additional 

 evidence in support of facts already well 

 established. 



Dr. H. L. Ross states, in November 

 Recreation, that he raised 41 young 

 pheasants out of 45 hatched. This breaks 

 the record, and I would be glad to know 

 how it was done. I have been raising 

 pheasants for many years, and with fair 

 success. If I raise 75 per cent., I think I 

 am doing more than well, and if l / 2 the 

 birds hatched, reach maturity, I am satis- 

 fied. 



Recreation is delightful, and constantly 

 improves. We are not much troubled by 

 the game hog. The shooting is mostly 

 done by sportsmen who know when they 

 have enough. The quail crop in Western 

 Ontario, this season, is better than for 

 some years past. This, I think, is owing 

 to the mild winter of last year. Early 

 broods were much hurt by the wet weather 

 in May and June. Even now, many of the 

 coveys are not fully matured. Ruffed 

 grouse are scarce. 



J. S. Niven, London, Ont 



The article in December Recreation as 

 to what has become of the passenger 

 pigeon (E. Migratorius) has appealed to 

 me as a subject of unusual interest; and on 

 turning to notes and records of my cabinet 

 I find that on May 20, 1893, a fine male 

 specimen of the wood pigeon was killed 

 inside of our city limits. I procured it and 

 have it in my collection. 



Again, in October, '96, I met a boy who 

 had shot a bird he did not know. It proved 

 to be a fine male specimen of pigeon. Dur- 

 ing the same month a bunch of about 30 

 birds was near my home, and although I 

 did not see them, I am satisfied the men 

 who did were not mistaken. 



E. F. Steinhauer, Vandalia, 111. 



I read Mr. Waterloo's article on the wild 

 pigeon, in December Recreation, and will 

 give you a bit of news as to this bird. In 

 July last a small flock of passenger pigeons 

 made their appearance in this town, and lit 

 on a pine tree close to one of the stores; 

 but only stopped a few minutes — not long 

 enough to be shot at. One man who saw 

 them light went for his gun, but they were 

 gone when he came back. 



This is the first flock of pigeons I ever 

 saw in the mountains. There were about 

 a dozen of them and they were the first I 

 have seen since the 70s. 



M. P. Dunham, Ovando, Mont. 



In the last number of Recreation, I 

 saw an article, from Mr. MacCurdy, of 

 Fresno, Cal., about jack rabbits swimming. 

 While out hunting in the Santa Anna wash, 

 a short time ago, I saw 2 rabbits swim 

 across a place about 40 feet wide. One was 

 in a very swift place and the jack was 

 taken under 4 times, and carried down 

 about 25 yards, in crossing. He seemed to 

 be about played out, but on landing gave 

 himself a shake, and ran off into the brush. 

 P. K. Dugan, Redlands, Cal. 



I have read, with deep interest, the ac- 

 counts given in Recreation relating to 

 record coons, and many of us derived a 

 good deal of amusement from these state- 

 ments. It would now be interesting to do 

 the same as to the woodchuck. Personally 

 I have not had the pleasure of shooting 

 any record breakers; but will start the ball 

 rolling at 12^4 pounds. 



P. K. Rossiter, Ithaca, N. Y. 



I should be glad to have you put me on 

 the list for membership in the L. A. S. and 

 will endeavor to attend the proposed con- 

 vention, to be held in January. 



Walter D. Griscom. 

 433 Chestnut St., Philadelphia. Pa. 



