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RECREATION. 



ningly pick up things and carry them, 

 sometimes to his cage, sometimes to an- 

 other hiding place. Often when fed, if he 

 had more meat than he could eat he would 

 hide the remainder under his wing, and 

 walk around his cage with the most inno- 

 cent air. Under these conditions nothing 

 could induce him to open his wings. 



C. C. Haskins, Chicago. 



The long-billed marsh wren, Cistothorus 

 palustris, is one of the most interesting of 

 the Troglodytes. It is found on the marshes 

 about large bodies of water; generally in- 

 habiting the same locality as the reed bird, 

 Dolichonyx oryzivorus. I found quite a num- 

 ber of these wrens nesting on the marshes 

 along the Delaware river, a. few miles below 

 Philadelphia. They arrive in this latitude 

 about May 15th. On May 21st I spent the 

 day on these marshes, and watched them 

 closely. I noticed that when flying from one 

 rush to another they keep their tails erect, 

 almost perpendicular with the body; utter- 

 ing a peculiar sound at the same time. When 

 they make this sound as they rise in the air, 

 it is safe to say there is a nest near by. 

 I found this true in 5 cases. They are not 

 timid, and will allow a person to approach 

 within 3 or 4 yards. The nest is built among 

 the rushes, 2 or 3 feet from the ground, with 

 the opening on the side. They generally 

 have 4 eggs of a light chocolate color. 

 Bradford Richmond, Philadelphia, Pa. 



A curious sea monster has been seen sev- 

 eral times in this section — a big, ugly brute, 

 at least 40 feet long, that follows in the wake 

 of the seals. It was pronounced by a Gov- 

 ernment expert a rare and little known mam- 

 mal. 



Geo. G. Cantwell, Houcan, Alaska. 



This is probably the Great Killer, Orca 

 gladiator, common in Bering sea and along 

 the coast of Alaska. It follows the seals 

 when on their way to and from the Pribilof 

 islands, and causes considerable destruction 

 among them. 



The great killer, or killer whale, belongs 

 to the family of marine mammals known as 

 the Delphinidae, to which belong, also, the 

 dolphins, grampuses, porpoises, and the like. 

 The killer reaches a large size. It is pelagic 

 in its habits and apt to occur anywhere, es- 

 pecially in Northern waters. — Editor. 



In September Recreation you print a 

 cut of an exceptionally fine mule deer head. 

 We will appreciate it if you will look this 

 matter up and give me the name and address 

 of the owner, so we can communicate with 

 him. 



Schleyer Bros., San Antonio, Texas. 



I had not the name and address of the 

 owner of the head, or of the maker of the 



photograph in question, when I published 

 it. Will either of these gentlemen kindly 

 furnish me this information, and write 

 Schleyer Brothers direct? — Editor. 



What becomes of the rice hens during the 

 winter? We see thousands of them in the 

 rice beds in the fall until about the first of 

 November, when they suddenly disappear. 

 Now everyone knows they are slow on the 

 wing, and seldom rise more than a few feet 

 above the water. I have never seen or found 

 anyone who has ever seen them flying across 

 the country, either in the fall or in the spring. 



If they go South the same as other water 

 fowl, how do they escape observation? 



B. F. Hurd, Star Prairie, Wis. 



You doubtless refer to the Sora rail, Par- 

 zdna Carolina. This bird migrates at night 

 only, and usually flies at a great height. Its 

 nocturnal migration is proven by the fact 

 that one is occasionally killed by coming in 

 contact with a high telegraph wire or an 

 electric light tower. — Editor. 



A few years ago I had what were consid- 

 ered the largest pair of mountain sheep's 

 horns ever seen in this district. The skull 

 was bleached and the horns were dried, but 

 still in good condition and a perfect match. 

 TJhe lower jaw was missing. They weighed 

 31 pounds 6 ounces. Length of each horn. 

 4 feet 3 inches. Circumference of horn, a 

 foot from the skull, 19 inches. 



S. Howarth, Florissant. Col. 



With all his cunning ways and harmless 

 airs the red squirrel is a hypocrite and a 

 murderer. Where they are plentiful few 

 blacks or grays will be found. Sentence of 

 death should be passed on the little red devil. 

 He should then be broiled, buttered, and 

 served hot. 



N. R. Hill, Corning, N. Y. 



There are still some unfortunate sports- 

 men who are not readers of Recreation. 

 If you know any such send in their names, 

 and greatly oblige them and 



The Editor. 



Little Lillie — Don't you think, Doctor, 

 that I look just like my mamma? 



Mother — Hush, child! ,Don't be vain. — 

 Tit-Bits. 



Don't forget that $2 will buy a copy of 

 that beautiful book, "Bird Neighbors" 

 and a yearly subscription to Recreation. 



In making np your list of Christmas 

 presents put down a yearly subscription to 

 Recreation, for each of your best friends. 



