140 



RECREATION. 



yard, and this is a favorite bathing place 

 for the birds. The bluejays always chase 

 the sparrows away when they happen to 

 meet there. . 



The sparrow is not so much of a fighter 

 but rather depends on the number in the 

 bunch than on individual fighting powers. 

 Charles S. Pope, Moline, Til. 



NATURAL HISTORY NOTES. 



In February Recreation I saw an article 

 from W. C. Buell, Troy, N. Y., in regard 

 to the killing of a ruffed grouse by flying 

 against telegraph wires. Last fall 3 of us 

 were returning from a hunting trip in In- 

 dian Territory. It was past camping time 

 and there being no more suitable place in 

 sight, we pulled up alongside of a stone 

 fence on one side and a 3-wire fence on 

 the opposite. While part of us were eating 

 supper we heard the wire behind us twang. 

 Something had struck forcibly. Running 

 quickly over to where the wire was still 

 vibrating we discovered one dead quail and 

 heara one flopping in the grass, but before 

 we could locate it we heard it fly away, 

 being only stunned. Some of the boys 

 who had gone out after wood were return- 

 ing and had cut across the pasture, scaring 

 up some birds. It being dark and the 

 birds frightened, they had struck the wire 

 fence, in their flight. 



All true sportsmen should lend their 

 efforts toward the protection of game, and 

 I know of no better way to make the start 

 than to join the L. A. S. I have killed 

 more than the limit in a day's shooting, 

 but not since I began reading Recreation. 

 Thanks to Coquina and the good work he 

 is doing ! May more see they're wrong 

 and stop before it is too late and the game 

 is no more except in history. 



C. M. Tissue, Partridge, Kan. 



I have a cement aquarium in my yard 

 and should like to know what will keep the 

 water in it from getting green. 



W. M. Haynes, Austin, Ohio. 



ANSWER. 



The green of which you complain is due 

 to the growth of unicellular algae, or small 

 microscopic plants, which multiply rapidly. 

 It is easy for them to be introduced into 

 the aquarium along with the larger plants 

 which are put in intentionally. To keep out 

 these algse, first clean the aquarium thor- 

 oughly, then, when putting in the desired 

 water plants, wash them carefully by gent- 

 ly drawing them through water, in another 

 receptacle, of course, so that any adhering 

 algae may be washed off. Even then it may 

 be necessary to wash the walls of the aqua- 

 rium occasionally. — Editor. 



part of the country where they are plenti- 

 ful, and have been a close observer of their 

 cunning nature. I have heard several dis- 

 cussions as to whether crows smell powder, 

 and have decided to ask readers of Recre- 

 ation. A friend and I, while out in the 

 woods one day, saw a flock of perhaps 200 

 crows, which we could approach within 

 10 feet. I did not have my gun, but got 

 it in short order. When I came within 

 gunshot of them they commenced making 

 a fearful noise and took flight rapidly. A 

 person might think they smelled the pow- 

 der, but I thought my stealthy approach 

 alarmed them. Should like opinions on 

 this subject. 



R. Armstrong, Chatham, Ont. 



I killed some ducks on a small lake near 

 here last week and should like to know 

 what kind they were. The drakes had 2 

 small black tail feathers about 6 inches 

 long. The ducks did not have long tail 

 feathers. The feet were black on the back 

 and blue on the front side. The drakes 

 had black breasts, with white ring around 

 the neck, white on top of the head and the 

 under part of drakes was white. The 

 females were about the same color but 

 were duller. They had flat bills and were 

 not large, weighing about .2 pounds apiece. 



Sayer Rockwell, West Burlington, Pa. 



ANSWER. 



These birds are old squaws, or long tailed 

 ducks, Harelda hyemalis. Linn. 



Should like to hear from some reader 

 of Recreation who can give me any infor- 

 mation in regard to the raising and handling 

 of frogs. 



George S. Overdear, Fort Wayne, Ind. 



ANSWER. 



Not long ago the U. S. Fish Commission 

 issued a pamphlet on "The edible frogs of 

 the United States and their artificial propa- 

 gation." This pamphlet is No. 348, and you 

 can doubtless obtain a copy by addressing 

 a request to Hon. Geo. M. Bowers, Com- 

 missioner of Fish and Fisheries, Washing- 

 ton, D. C. — Editor. 



In March Recreation I saw an article 

 by W. O. Isaacson about 2 white squirrels. 

 Not long ago a white chipmunk stayed 

 here. It had its nest under a railroad 

 bridge. It was seen several times, but it 

 has not been seen latefy. 



L. T. Meminger, Spruce Hill, Pa. 



Do crows smell powder? I have not 

 khlled many crows', but have lived in a 



Will some reader of Recreation tell me 

 how the little spotted ground squirrel digs 

 his hole without showing any fresh dirt 

 around the mouth of the hole? 



Geo. E. Blackford, Algona, Iowa. 



