NATURAL HISTORY: 



22 1 



Venom consists of peptone, globulin and 

 salt. Venom globulin produces paralysis 

 of the spinal nerves and rots the tissues of 

 the blood vessels. Venom peptone dis- 

 solves the blood so it can not clot or longer 

 flow in the rotted channels. Rattle- 

 snake venom has 25 per cent, more venom 

 globulin than venom peptone, and in Amer- 

 ica a bite from a rattler, if in the extremi- 

 ties, rarely proves fatal. If on the trunk 

 or head, however, it is a serious matter in 

 proportion as it is a one or a 2 fang wound, 

 in the flesh only, or in a vein or artery. 

 The usual quantity injected in a 2 fang 

 wound by a rattler is about one teaspoonful. 



If snake bitten, use the knife if possible, 

 and tightly place 2 ligatures, one on either 

 side the wound. Inject freely, through a 

 hollow needle, permanganate of soda ; or, 

 if not obtainable, iodine, perchloride of 

 iron, or bromo-hydric acid. In all cases 

 procure and use the antidote speedily. 

 Time here asserts its worth. Give whisky 

 copiously, not fearing intoxication; the 

 venom counteracts that up to a surprising 

 quantity. It is, however, no antidote, but 

 is what the heart calls for to assist in keep- 

 ing up its action, the tendency being to par- 

 alyze that organ. 



No sportsman should ever take an outing 

 where venomous snakes are known to ex- 

 ist without providing himself, in some 

 handy pocket, with a hypodermic syringe 

 charged with one of the drugs mentioned. 

 He might have the satisfaction of saving 

 the life of a friend if not his own. 



A. K. Stetson, North Pomfret, Vt. 



DRUMMING OF THE GROUSE. 



A particular description of the manner in 

 which the male grouse drums is given by Edward 

 Banks, of Rice county, Wis., who has spent some 

 time in observing it at this pastime, if such it 

 may be called. Early in May, Banks heard a 

 grouse drumming. As visual, the sound seemed 

 to be a long way off, but he decided to investi- 

 gate and began moving softly among the trees. 

 He found the bird within 50 yards, got within 

 20 yards of it, hid behind a big birch and watched 

 it. The grouse stood on a dead log nearly 3 feet 

 through and bare of bark. It was standing mo- 

 tionless when Banks saw it, apparently asleep. 

 Soon it began to show signs of uneasiness, poking 

 its head first to the left and then to the right. 

 Then it squatted, bringing its breast within an 

 inch of the log, and began to drum. 



The drumming* lasted 8 or 10 seconds, then 

 ceased, and the bird became once more erect. 

 Fully 5 minutes elapsed before it drummed again. 

 As long as he watched it, intervals of 3 to 5 min- 

 utes passed between the drummings. 



The grouse always preceded the drumming by 

 the signs of uneasiness, moving its head to right 

 ?nd left, sometimes shifting its feet on the log. 

 Just before the drumming started, when the bird 

 had squatted into position, it spread out the gray 

 feathers of its tail as widely as they would go, 

 making a fan, just as the turkey gobbler spreads 

 its tail when it struts. This fan the grouse 

 brought down on the log and held there, press- 

 ing it against the timber as tightly as possible, 

 and it kept it so while the drumming lasted, not 

 relaxing the tension until the last sound had 



ceased. While drumming, the head was stretched 

 far forward and the neck was rigid. 



The bird always began its drumming by 2 or 3 

 tentative Haps, given slowly and producing only 

 a softly muffled noise. It seemed to be doubtful 

 of its ability to drum and appeared to be trying 

 how it would go. After these 2 or 3 flaps it 

 brought its wings sharply against its body and 

 sailed out into the full tide of its instrumentation. 

 The strokes, at first slow, increased swiftly in 

 rapidity, finally merging into the thunderous roll 

 made by the wings of the grouse when in full 

 flight. Then the drumming ceased abruptly, not 

 shading down into slowness and softness, as it 

 had begun. 



Sometimes, having completed its beats, the 

 grouse would walk up and down on the log for 2 

 or 3 feet, evidently immensely proud of itself. Al- 

 ways when the drumming was resumed it took 

 its original position, standing with its feet in ex- 

 actly the same place. 



In making this sound the rear edges of the 

 wings were brought down and forward. The 

 grouse, in fact, seemed to be scooping its wings 

 forward and slapping itself on the breast in much 

 the same manner as a man slaps himself on the 

 chest in cold weather; only, of course, the wings 

 were not crossed. The wings were brought as far 

 forward as possible and outstretched before they 

 were slammed against the body. 



On every clear day since then this grouse has 

 drummed on the same log, standing in the same 

 place. It keeps it up for hours in the morning, 

 goes away shortly before noon and returns about 

 2 o'clock in the afternoon, drumming until nearly 

 sunset at intervals of 5 minutes. 



Banks is certain the bird does not brush the log 

 with the tips of its wings and that such contact 

 has no part in producing the hollow, thunderous 

 notes of the drum. There is short green moss on 

 the log where the grouse stands, and though the 

 bird has drummed there not less than a dozen 

 times this moss shows no sign of having been dis- 

 turbed. 



Banks is certain that the female is nesting 

 somewhere near. When the hen is sitting the 

 male bird does not wander far from the nest. — ■ 

 St. Paul Pioneer Press. 



HAWK, OWL AND CROW. 



I was greatly interested by articles about 

 hawks, owls and crows in December Recre- 

 ation. Mr. Hornaday's contribution proved 

 especially gratifying, as hitherto I had been 

 narrow minded, holding that these birds 

 should be exterminated. His unanswerable 

 testimony has made a willing convert of 

 me. It is true hawks sometimes bother the 

 farmer considerably in the chicken season, 

 but the occasional marauder may be picked 

 off with a gun if too persistent. 



As for the owl, so far as I can learn, in 

 this section it confines itself for the most 

 part to the woods, doing little damage. The 

 crow, too, is not half so bad as painted. 

 Of course, it is something of a nuisance in 

 planting time, but a free use of gun and 

 traps, or a few doses of poisoned corn, fol- 

 lowed by a generous display of the victims, 

 will speedly influence the survivors to a 

 change of diet. The wholesale destruction 

 of any creature should not be lightly en- 

 tered on, as the woods and fields lose at- 

 tractiveness with every specimen killed ; and 

 few species are so lacking in interest or 

 usefulness that representatives of them are 

 not necessary to the harmonious working of 



