FOREST AND STREAM. 



145 



11, an oriole's nest, which bad been preserved in the 

 garret, was brought flown and securely suspended near the 



i the sparrows, and the little unfortunate was placed in 

 it. The parent birds not only began at once to feed him, but 

 the next morning it was noticed that they had removed all 

 their other little ones into the eafer nest, where their wings 

 BOon came to maturity. The. social/* usually avoids Jsuch an 



at by building Ctn the ground or a low bush. In this 



. eing the peculiar immunity of birds about the house. 



:: induced to get as near it as he could and lake, the risk 

 of a dangerous elevation. Perhaps with time and experience 

 he will learn, like the oriole and vireo, to build on the suspen- 

 sion plan. This is not altogether -my fancy, for the progressive 



i mrc of birds is a well-established fact. They, as well 

 as we, study tactics and meteorology, and build according to 

 circumstances. I have certain boxes which are sure to attract 

 rSl bluebirds that come with the first warm day of spring. 

 This bird, in spite of the softest warble in the world, is so 

 Unneighhorly to his own kind that you can never have but one 

 pair near the same house. One spring a pair commenced lay- 

 ing in a little iron box, long before Jack Frost had finally ab- 

 dicated. Knowing there were two eggs in the nest, I put in 

 a finger one morning, expecting to find at least three, but not 

 one could he felt. My first thought was that the cat had been 

 making the same experiment before me, and it was well that I 

 did not meet her just then, for the next day I found Bhe was 

 quite innocent. The birds had covered up their eggs with the 

 best non conducting substance to be found to keep them from 

 freezing, for the night had been cold enough to congeal them, 

 and I was too dull to discover at first what they had done. 



—The enormous forest fires in Algiers caused a los9 of many 

 millions to the French Government. In fleeing from the flames, 

 bens' s of prey and beasts on which they habitually preyed, 

 ran side by side, the former without thought of molestation, 

 and the latter without fear. An Arab said that he saw from 

 an eminence a lion in an open space surrounded by flames. 

 He roared, lashed his sides with his tail, and in vain sought an 

 escape. Finally, he ran into the flames. 



Arrivals Received at Central Park Menagerie fob Week End- 

 ing Sept. 88, 1S77.— One Virginia fleer, OarHteus virgniianuz; one robin, 



Tuning migratm 

 pigeon ha-wlr, J 



i'tt,v ; one raccoon, Pi 



me India elephai 



Elepltas africanmi, plaei 



a number of srmilL Afrh 



iK'il by Mrs. J. Williams, N. T. City; one 

 deo, presented by Mr.. Chas. V. Aflee, N. Y. 



presented by Mr. Campbell, N. Y. 

 Blephax indicus, and five African elephants, 



ton. Ttiis is the first time so large 

 elephants have been exhibited together in 



this city. The India elephant is one or the collection brought to Eng- 

 land by the Prince or Wales on his return from his late trip to India. 

 Among the many absurd notions of the elephant, wliich obtained ere- 

 deuceln Europe a little over three Hundred years ago was the idea it 

 had ao joints and could never lie down. In 1681, however, an ele- 

 phant was taken to the city of Dublin and exhibited to the public, 

 when ol course most of these erroneous ideas were removed. This 

 animal was afterward destroyed by five, leaving the people very much 

 grieved at the loss. There had been an elephant in England previous 

 to this, Louis 15. of France, being credited with having sent one to 

 Henry III., which was placed in the. tower of London. During the 

 middle ages little was known of this animal until the Portuguese had 

 penetratedto the interior of Africa, when it became a conewhat com- 

 mon object. During the time of the Koman Empire the elephant was 

 kept not only for war purposes and gladiatorial shows, but. also for 

 amusement. Suetonius mentions that an elephant, in the presence of 

 the Emperor Galba climbed up an inclined rope to the roof of the 

 theatre and descended in the same way. These animals never breed 

 now in captivity, though Pliny says that they at one time bred in Rome. 

 At its birth the elephant is about thirty-five inches high, growing 

 nearly eleven inches in the first year; in the second, eight ; in the third, 

 six ; in the fourth, live ; in the fifth, five; in the sixth, three and a half; 

 in the seventh, two and a half, attaining their full growth between the 

 ages of eighteen and twenty -four. Period of gestation twenty and a 

 half months. It is said to live one hundred years, though the Kotnans 

 believed that it lived two or three hundred years, and made it the 

 symbol of eternity. W. A. Conklin. 



Arrivals at Philadelphia Zoological Garden During Week 

 Ending Tuesday, Sept. is, ISTT.— Two moccasins (A. pisHvorus), pur- 

 chased ; one garter snake (B. sirtalis subs, ordinaia), purchased ; one 

 A bastor erythragraiituvm, purchased ; one chicken snake (Coluber quad- 

 rivitatus), purchased ; one ground rattlesnake (Crotalopkorw miliama), 

 purchased; one rabbit (Lyras cuniculw), presented; two swift foxes 

 iVulpes velox,), presented; one gray fox (Yulpes trirginianus), present- 

 ed ; one horned toad (Phrynosma cornuta), presented ; four leopards 

 (Felte pardis), born in garden. Arthur E. Brown, Gen'l Supt. 



ORNAMENTAL TREES. 



IN planting for effect, the habit of the trees employed is of 

 the first consideration. Next to the general design, there 

 is nothing which so much affects the appearance of a country 

 seat, for instance, than the form of the trees that adorn it. 

 Perhaps no tree that has grown up naturally can be called 

 ugly ; but no one would think of comparing, for ornamental 

 purposes at least, a shapely umbrageous Beech, Sycamore, 

 Walnut or Linden, with, their far-spreading branches and 

 symmetrical heads, with bare-limbed specimens of the same 

 class. For planting in masses no species come amiss, but for 

 single specimens suitable varieties arc not so numerous. 

 Much, however, depends on soil and situation. No trees will 

 n a shapely form without room and light, nor will they 

 be likely to withstand the hurricane unless they have been 

 reared iu the open exposure since their infancy. Hence, in 

 parks, which have been extended by clearing away the timber, 

 there is often great ruin worked among the trees which have 

 been left, whether singly or in groups. Thinning out should 

 therefore be performed with great care when the trees are left 

 with an eye. to effect, and the species should be considered. 

 The Oak, Hickory and Walnut will perhaps bear isolation, 

 after being " nursed," as well as any. So will the Tulip tree 

 ami Chestnut. The Elm, beautiful as it is, is a somewhat 

 dangerous tree, as it is often apt to lose an important limb ; 

 but when reared in the open is one of the very best and most ' 



reliable. The Sycamore and other Maples, though the foliage 

 and smaller branches often suffer from the wind, present a 

 stout front to the storm, considering its heavy mass of foliage. 

 The Chestnut, though of lofty bearing and luxuriant leafage, 

 is one of the best to keep its place. For planting to grow into 

 specimen trees, the Linden is perhaps the most handsome in 

 form. A uniform and somewhat round head is its general 

 habit, but in some situations it forms a perfect cone, its shape 

 being seemingly affected by the character of the soil in which 

 it grows. It has always a very branching habit, but, in finely- 

 divided soils the branches appear to be more twiggy and sub- 

 divided, which helps to give the head a more symmetrical 

 shape. Next to the Linden comes the Beech, which in the 

 open park forms an even, round head, the diameter keeping 

 pace with the height. This tree, with the Horse Chestnut and 

 Oak, lends a distinct character to the landscape, and is gener- 

 ally associated with rich meadow land and an undulating 

 country, as the Fir is with mountain slopes and Alpine 

 ranges. How totally changed the appearance of the landscape 

 may be by the character of the trees with which it is fur- 

 nished, must be apparent to the most casual observer. A few 

 groups or rows of Poplars, rearing their tall spires against the 

 sky, create, a distinct impression on the scene, while a sky- 

 line of distant Firs, with tbeir motionless pyramidal forms 

 towering one above another, completely alters its aspect. 

 The sombre Scotch and Austrian Firs, too, almost darken the 

 face of the landscape with their sable plumes and dark masses 

 of foliage ; they are most effective in masses, however, or in 

 groups where a distinct effect has to be produced, single 

 specimens being lost, unless it be on a lawn, where they are 

 ornamental enough. The Norway Spruce and Hemlock are 

 also noble adjuncts to a park properly planted ; the latter, 

 especially, lightens up the darker and heavier masses, and 

 gives more character and grace to the whole. Weeping trees 

 of most kinds must be included, but they associate best with 

 dressed grounds, their branches often trailing on the surface 

 of the lawn. Among these, the Weeping Ash must be reck- 

 oned as one of the most ornamental from the length of its 

 branches and the freedom of their sweep. For grace there 

 are none to equal the Birch, Beech and Willow, The Elm 

 looks well on a tall stem, but when worked near the ground it 

 has rather a stiff appearance, though such trees make excel- 

 lent arbors, the branches being close and thickly covered with 

 foliage. The Weeping Lime, Laburnum, Bosemary, leaved 

 and Kilmarnock Willows and others, are all of them more or 

 less ornamental, and adapted for pleasure grounds or parks. 



WHY THE PRAIRIES ARE TREELESS. 



Editor Foekst and Stream: 



Houston, Sept. 3, 1877. 

 In an extract copied into the Houston Daily Telegram from 

 an article written by a geologist named Whitney, he very 

 boldly makes the assertion that the prairies are treeless be- 

 cause the soil is too fine, too close, too compact, to admit 

 vegetation. He seemed to put this forth as an original idea, 

 but it was broached long before by the distinguished Agassiz. 

 The latter seemed to write on nature with a true inspiration ; 

 he did indeed illumine nearly all the dark and mysterious 

 places. Yet in this particular I am compelled to dissent from 

 him. If the prairies are treeless on account of the fineness of 

 their soil, why is it that trees flourish so readily when planted 

 upon them? That they do flourish, nearly all of us can bear 

 testimony. Indeed, I know of no country in the world to 

 which trees take more readily than they do to our Texas 

 prairies when once given a start. All that is necessary is to 

 stick them in the ground in winter and give them protection a 

 few years from cattle : they will then grow like " the green 

 bay by the waters." Perhaps for a finely comminuted soil, 

 our Houston prairie is unsurpassed. It is so fine that when 

 dry it may readily be converted into an almost impalpable 

 powder ; and yet all of us know that trees luxuriate in this 

 soil when Ave once put them forth. 



This is enough to explode the theory of Agassiz, grand as 

 that noble name is ; but there is another singular fact that I 

 wish to call your attention to. The great prairies which come 

 down to the Colorado Biver from the northwest are the most 

 treeless of all in Texas. You may sometimes travel over them 

 days together without seeing a sign of a tree, and yet, even in 

 these vast, treeless expanses, if you will notice you will con- 

 tinually find little tender switches of mesquite struggling to 

 get through the tall grass. Take a pick and dig where you 

 find these switches, and you will invariably discover, just 

 below the surface, a great network of living mesquite roots as 

 big as a man's leg. If these prairies will support roots of such 

 gigantic size, why couldn't they support trees ? It proves at 

 least that the finely comminuted and compacted soil has 

 nothing to do with it. 



Another thing, the Llano Estacado is the greatest prairie in 

 Texas, and also the most treeless. The soil of that great 

 prairie is usually exceedingly fine, without a grit in it ; but it 

 is traversed very frequently by lines or ridges of sandy soil, 

 some of which are of great width. Now, these sandy ridges 

 or lines, as far as I have observed them, are invariably with- 

 out even the mesquite roots, and sometimes almost without 

 grass. Not so with the rest of the prairie ; elsewhere you 

 will And the mesquite roots, sometimes a little mesquite 

 thicket, and always a noble carpeting of grass. If the theory 

 of Agassiz is correct, it is the sandy ridges or lines that should 

 have the roots and other vegetation, while the rest of the. 

 prairies should not. In fact, the theory will not hold water at 

 all, at least so far as our Texas prairies are concerned. 



The article quoted also advances the idea, entertained by 

 many, that the prairies are treeless by reason of frequent fires. 

 The underground forests would seem to support that idea, but 

 I am sure from my observation that it is as incorrect as the 

 other. I have seen hundreds of beautiful groves and belts of 

 forests fa Away iu these vast prairies, in positions just as 

 much exposed to destruction by fire as they could have been 

 anywhere else. They bore no sign of tire. How did they 

 escape if this latter theory is correct ? The truth is, the cause 

 of the prairies being treeless, or nearly so, has never been ex- 

 plained yet on. any satisfactory ground, and probably never 

 will be. The prairie, the Indian, the buffalo, the mustang, 



the antelope and the prairie dog, are a'l of one family, and 

 they are all passing away together. Perhaps the prairie was 

 made for them, and perhaps they were made for the prairie. 

 Nothing can be more certain than that they are marching to- 

 gether a grand march into death — step by step, and hand in 

 hand. The epoch to which they belong is almost gone. Not 

 many years hence the Indian, the buffalo and the prairie will 

 exist" only in song and history. The ways of the Great Archi- 

 tect are full of mystery as they are of beauty. N. A. T. 



Fehn Catalogue:.— We have just received the most com- 

 plete and satisfactory catalogue of ferns we have seen for 

 many years. In calling attention to it, it is quite unnecessary 

 to enlarge on the advantages of the study and cultivation of 

 ferns. They are beloved by old and young, and a closer com- 

 panionship with them may be considered as one of the highest 

 and purest of pleasures, so that whether we are in winter en- 

 joying the genial warmth of the green-house necessary to their 

 growth, watching their development in the little Fernery or 

 Wardian ease in our room, or experiencing the delicious cool- 

 ness and shade of an atmosphere adapted to the cultivation of 

 the hardy species during the summer months, the feeling is 

 alike delightful and pleasurable, and is only to be realized by 

 actual experience. The. cultural notes are evidently compiled 

 with much thought and care, ar.d those cultivators whose ex- 

 perience is limited, will be greatly benefited by their perusal. 

 It is published by Messrs. Stansfield & Son, Vale Nurseries, 

 Todmorden, England, who, we have no doubt, will gladly 

 mail a copy to all interested in the cultivation of ferns, that 

 apply for it. It contains a list of nearly seven hundred hardy 

 ferns and over four hundred Exotic species. Ed. 



— The New York Horticultural Society holds it fall exhibi- 

 tion at Gilmore's Garden, commencing Wednesday evening of 

 next week. We are informed that the society expect to make 

 a finer display than they have yet done, and advise our readers 

 not to miss seeing it. The exhibition will remain open until 

 Friday evening. 



► .«, « 



J. P. — Your ferns are : No. 1, Pteris serrulata cristata; 

 No. 2, Pterin hngijolia ; No. 3, Polypodmm Ttexagonopterum 

 (a native sort) ; No. 4, Noihochlcena ehrysophylla. The latter 

 is very impatient of being watered over the foliage. 



W. B.— Your name is quite correct— Fittonia or Oym- 

 nostachyum argyroneicrum; the best red veined variety is 67. 

 Feared.— Ed.] * 



Notice to Sportsmen.— Having received so many communieationa 

 asking us for information in legard to our sis-section bamboo trout, 

 black bass, grilse and salmon rods, we have prepared a circular on the 

 subject, which we shall take pleasure in forwarding to any address. 

 We keep on hand all grades, the prices of which range trom $ 1 5 to $150. 

 We put our stamp only on the best, in order to protect our customers 

 and our reputation, for we are unwilling to sell a poor rod with a false 

 enamel (made by burning and staining to imitate the genuine article) 

 without letting our customers know just what they are getting. 



P. 0. Box l,29i.— [Adv. Abbey & Iubrie, 38 Maiden Lane. 



|i!» xnd Eivw Ml 



FISH IN SEASON IN SEPTEMBER. 



FRESH WATER. 



Trout, Salnw fontinalU. 

 Salmon, Salmo mlar. 

 Salmon Trout, Halmo conflnis. 

 Land-locked Salmon, .sv</„,. ■/,:, , 



ig, Thymallus tricolor. 

 31ack Bass, Micropterus salmoides, 



if. nigricans. 

 Mascalonge, Ksox nobilior. 

 Pike or Pickerel, Esox tucius. 

 Yellow Perch, Perca flavescem. 



8ALT WATER. 



Sea Bass, Scicenops ocellatus. 



Sheepshead, Archosargws probato- 

 cephalus. 

 '. Striped Bass, Itoccus linneatus. 



White Perch, Morone americana. 

 ,-Weakflsh, Gynoscion regatta. 



Bin Rush , Pomcuo'mu.'i xaltatrUe. 



Spanish Mackerel, Cybium macular 

 turn. 



Cero, Cybium regale. 



Bonito, Sarda pelamys, 



Kingflsh, Menticirrus nebulosus. 



Fish in Market. — Among the many curious and notable 

 things displayed at Blackford's in Fulton Market the past 

 week, we noticed a catfish from the Mississippi Biver, w igh- 

 ing 149 pounds ; an American angler (Lophius americana), 

 weighing 45 pounds; a dolphin, weighing 22 pounds; an angel 

 fish ; a hammerhead shark, and a loggerhead turtle weighing 

 410 pounds. 



Fish of all kinds are in good supply, and prices are reason- 

 able. The smelts in market are remarkable for their large size 

 and superior quality. They come by express from Bathurst, 

 N. B., and retain the peculiar cucumber flavor by -which they 

 are distinguished when first taken from the water. Our quota- 

 tions are as follows : 



Striped bass, 18 to 20 cents per pound; smelts, 20 

 cents; bluefish, 10 cents; salmon, frozen. 30 cents; green 

 do., 35 cents; mackerel, 10 to 25 cents; white perch, 15 

 cent s ; weakfish, 12 cents ; Spanish mackerel, 35 cents ; 

 green turtle, 15 cents ; terrapin, $12 ; halibut, 15 cents ; 

 haddock, 6 cents; king-fish, 25 cents; codfish, 8 cents; black- 

 fish, 15 cents; native herrings, 6 cents; flounders, 6 to 10 

 cents ; porgics, 10 cents; sea bass, 18 cents ; eels, 18 cents; 

 lobsters, 10 cents; scollops, $1 per gal. ; English turbot,4o cents; 

 soft clams, 30 to 60 cents per 100; Salmon trout, 1(3 cents; sheeps- 

 head, 25 cents; whitefish, 15 cents; pickerel, 18 cents; yellow 

 perch, 10 cents; hard shell crabs, $3.50 per 100; soft crabs, 

 $1.00 per dozen ; frogs, 45 cents per pound. 



i^A Monster Halibut. — In Faneuil Hall Market to-day, I 

 saw the largest halibut ever brought in here. It was caught 

 with a common-sized cod line and hook by Cap!, .losbua 

 Story, a Swampscott fisherman, six miles off" Scituate, Mass. 

 Its length was nine feet. The head, minus its gills, weighed 

 35 lbs, and the weight of its body alone, after being dressed , 



