466 



RKCREATIOX. 



does as much good as harm. His food is 

 insects, frogs, mice, corn, potatoes and 

 often young birds. 



C. W. Johnson, Plymouth, Vt. 



While near Bellefontainc, Ohio, I saw re- 

 cently large flocks of birds alighting in a 

 pasture among a herd of cattle. The birds 

 were a little larger than the common spar- 

 row. Some were jet black and others 

 brown. They kept coming in flocks until 

 the ground was black with them. While 

 flying they make a chirping sound. What 

 were they? 



Edward Thickinger, Gation, O. 



ANSWER. 



These were evidently cowbirds, Moloth- 

 rusater; a species of marsh blackbird. 

 They are parasitic, laying their eggs by 

 stealth in the nests of various other small 

 birds. The brown individuals are females. 

 — Editor. 



While fishing in Claybank creek I killed 

 a snake. Passing the spot an hour later I 

 saw another snake apparently trying to 

 move the dead one. Several times I drove 

 the living reptile away, but each time it 

 returned and twisting around the dead 

 snake, endeavored to drag it toward some 

 holes near by. I watched the performance 

 at least half an hour, and am sorry I did 

 not wait to see the final result. I have 

 wondered whether the snake was trying to 

 bury its dead comrade, or, supposing it 

 merely stunned or torpid, was trying to 

 drag it home. Anyway, I haven't killed a 

 snake since. J. G., East Lake. 



Several years ago, while shooting near 

 Dunkirk, Ind., I asked permission to hunt 

 over a certain farm. Its owner offered to 

 go with me if I would try to kill for him 

 a marked bird in a flock of quails he had 

 located. We found the birds without 

 trouble. I killed a number and finally se- 

 cured the one the farmer wanted. It was 

 a big plump quail with perfectly white 

 wings ; the rest of its plumage being nor- 

 mal. I have hunted all my life, and never 

 saw another quail with a mark of any 

 kind. In the same vicinity I afterward 

 saw and killed a pure white kingfisher. 

 Ollie Hoffman, Elwood, Ind. 



My boy has a little land turtle to which 

 he is greatly attached. Please tell me how 

 he can keep it through the winter and 

 what to feed it. 



B. F. Aurandt, Altoona, Pa. 



ANSWER. 



The proper course is to keep the tortoise 

 in a box of dry sand in a warm room. 

 Feed it chopped raw beef, bananas, let- 

 tuce and young celery. Give it drinking 

 water in a small dish. — W. T. Hornaday. 



It is not strange that Mr. Stowers never 

 saw a squirrel drink water in Kentucky. 

 I have been informed that even horses re- 

 fuse water in that State. In Oregon 

 squirrels drink water. I have often seen 

 numbers of them drinking at springs in 

 the mountains. 



S. K. Ogle, Klamath Agency, Ore. 



A SMART ONE. 



H. C. D. 



There is a man in our town, 

 Who thinks he's mighty cute ; 



He kills the grouse and squirrels 

 'Ere it is time to shoot. 



Fie hunts deer in the summer, 

 And catches bass in May ; 



He snares the scrawny rabbit 

 While the farmers cut their hay. 



He'd like to make the game laws, 

 And run the Ship of State — 



'Twould puzzle him to do it, 

 For he is out of date. 



He sneers at Recreation, 



Thinks Shields is off his base ; 



For Hampshire's herd of game hogs 

 He tries to set the pace. 



This man has got the big head, 

 From shooting on the wing; 



No wonder he's a marksman, 



He shoots irom spring to spring. 



Down South he goes in winter, 



He hates a chilly spell ; 

 But, say, Coquina, is there 



A hog pen down in ? 



Recreation is the best magazine for the 

 lover of gun and rod that I have ever read, 

 nnd is worth all the other sportsmen's 

 journals combined. I would not be with- 

 out it for 3 times its cost. To read the 

 stories which are told in it is almost like 

 being there and participating in the sport. 

 The department of guns and ammunition 

 especially interests me, and I also heartily 

 approve the roasts you give the game hog. 

 Edw. F. Loomis, Troy, Pa. 



Physician^-The truth can no longer be 

 hidden, madam. I am obliged to tell you 

 that your little son is — er — weak minded; 

 that is — well, it must be said — he is an 

 idiot. 



Mrs. Highupp — How fortunate that we 

 are rich ! No one will ever notice it. — 

 New York Weekly. 



Anxious Mother — Daughter, why do 

 you persist in reading those sensational 

 stories? 



Pretty Daughter — Because they make 

 my hair curl, mamma. — Chicago Daily 

 News. 



