FOREST AND STREAM. 



209 



Forests and Rainfall. — The relation between woodlands 

 and rainfall and oilier climatic" conditions has of late been 

 the subject of much dogmatic theorizing. A comparison of 

 maps in Walker's " Statistical Atlas of the United States " 

 shows that the forests of Washington Territory and in 

 regions having an annual rainfall of sixty inches and upward. 

 The magnificent forests found from Minesotato Maine have a 

 rainfall precisely identical with that of the nearly treeless 

 prairies which extend westward from Chicago, viz., from 

 twenty-eight to forty inches. The northern part of the 

 Michigan Pcnninsula, with its heavy timber, is marked with 

 precisely (lie same rainfall as large portions of Southern 

 Minnesota, lying in the same latitudes, and nearly treeless. 



Fine Specimens.— It is always a pleasure to notice, and 

 more particularly to receive, anything in our way really su- 

 perior. We therefore wish to notice an exceedingly fine and 

 well grown cockscomb from Mr. Segnitz, gardener to C. F. 

 Erhart, Esq , Brooklyn, measuring thirty-one inches in cir- 

 cumference, and from Mr. J. Coupland, 161 Pierrepont street, 

 Brooklyn, two magnificent specimens of the Late Melocoton 

 Peach, weighing together one and a quarter pounds. This is 

 a very fine late peach, though in unfavorable seasons inclined 

 to be rather acid. It is a noble looking peach, however, on 

 the table; and a few trees of it ought to be grown by all who 

 can find room for late varieties. 



Symphytum Officinale Vakiegattm.— This is a very 

 strikingly beautiful variegated variety of the old and well- 

 known Comfrey. Its large lanceo late leaves are broadly and 

 distinctly marked with creamy white. It is a very effective 

 plant for plnnting in mixed borders, and is no less so in ribbon 

 borders ; indeed it is one of our very best plants for this pur- 

 pose, keeping its variegation till frost comes. It is not nearly 

 so well known as it ought to be. 



Fall Flowering Heebaoeous Plants. — Many of our 

 autumn-flowering herbaceous plants are now in full beauty, 

 and are well deserving of more attention than they gener- 

 ally receive. At Messrs. Yeitch & Son's, New Haven, we 

 lately saw a plant of Helianthus orgyalis, a native of Kansas, 

 about eight feet high, every stem being clothed with its 

 graceful recurved leaves, and the whole plant covered with 

 its graceful golden yellow blossoms. In the setting sun it 

 appeared one ef the most lovely plants imaginable. Numbers 

 of Asters are now also in flower, as is also the beautiful and 

 effective Anemone japonica, which, beautiful as it is, is great- 

 ly excelled in size of flower, height and robustness of growth 

 by its compeers, A. japonica alba, and japonica intermedia. 

 These also do well in pots, giving abundance of flowers all 

 through early winter, and seems to have been specially de- 

 signed to gratify the modern passion for variety in cut flowers. 



Jfo Hqnnql. 



To Correspondents.— Those desiring us to prescribe for their dogs 

 wi:i please take note 01 and describe the following points in each ani- 

 mal: 



1. Age. 2. Pood and medicine given. 3. Appearance of the eye ; 

 of I he cnat; of the tongue and lips. 4. Any changes in the appearance 

 of the body, as bloating, drawing in of the flanks, etc. 5. Breathing, 

 the number of respirations per minute, and whether labored or not. 

 6. Condition of the bowels and secretions of the kidneys, color, etc. 7. 

 Appetite; regular, vanable, etc. 8. Temperature of the body as indi- 

 cated by the bulb of the thermometer when placed between the body 

 and the foreleg. 9. Give position of kennel and surroundings, outlook, 

 contiguity to other buildings, and the uses of the latter. Also give any 

 peculiarities of temperament, movements, etc., that may be noticed ; 

 signs of suffering, etc. 



Cu/pid.— Mr. Chas. II. Raymond, of Morristown, New Jer- 

 sey, whom every one knows as ihe importer of many of the 

 finest setters in this country, has again shown his appreciation 

 of the efforts of his friend, Capt. C. D. Viele, 10th U. S. 

 Cavalry, to introduce prize sporting dogs into the State of 

 Texas, where his regiment is stationed, by presenting turn 

 ■wiili that splendid half Laverack dog Cupid, by Pride of the 

 Border, out of Horace Smith's Fanny. The dog is a trio col- 

 or two years aud a half old— bkctr, white and tan. It will be 

 remembered that Mr. Raymond last Spring presented to Capt. 

 Tide some of his finest siock to take to Texas, which was 

 duly recorded iu this journal. Capt. Viele. is about to close 

 his leave of absence, aud will return to his regiment on the 

 Mexican frontier next week, from which we expect to hear a 

 g >od r.-c ird in regulating the difficulties on the Rio (irande. 

 Capt, Viele is a nephew of Gen'l. Egbert L. Viele. 



Dog Pobtkaits. — Mr. P. H. Morris has placed on exhibi 

 tion iu our office, a handsome oil painting of his champion 

 native setter Luk. It was pain ed by Mr. E. Sanguinetti, of 

 28 West 22d street, and is a truly life-like portrait of this mag- 

 nificent animal, so well known as the peer of the "blue 

 bloods." The artist has taken " Lark upon a point," as the 

 subject of his painting, and has produced a work of art which 

 challenges criticism, every feature being distinct, and totally 

 devoid of that stiffness so common in animal portraiture. 



The IitJBonER.— The Lurcher is almost, or entirely, un- 

 known upon the American continent, and in England is an 

 animal of considerable ill repute, which has been obtained en- 

 tirely though the fact that it is seldom seen except as the 

 companion of poachers and other disreputable characters. 

 This is a matter of considerable regret, for the animal is by no 

 means unhanusome in appearance, and is eminent for speed, 

 scent and intelligence. A cross between the greyhound and 

 coUie, fie combines all the excellent qualities of bis parents. 



even excelling them in some particulars. A lurcher is sup- 

 posed to be most valuable when bred from the Sotch grey- 

 hound and Scotch colly. His sagacity is something wonderful, 

 readily learning to obey the unspoken commands of a master, 

 and hunting with a quietude and stealth unknown to other 

 (logs. For this reason he is the favorite of the poacher, as 

 he appreciates quite as fully as his master the necessity for 

 lying concealed when foes are near, and even pioneers the 

 way, giving him timely warning of hidden enemies. The 

 poacher seldom owns any one dog long, for the game keeper is 

 the sworn foe of the lurcher, and is sure to shoot hi m at the 

 first, opportunity. That punishment generally falls on the 

 wrong shoulders is proverbially true, and holds good in this 

 instance i for the poor dog, with perfect self abnegation to the 

 will of his master, is but doing his duty when engaged in 

 capturing or marking game, and should not, by right, be sub- 

 jected to so severe a penalty for obeying the orders received. 

 Yet there is some excuse, for so admirably is the animal 

 adapted for the pursuit and capture of game, that with his as- 

 sistance a single poacher is able to secure twice or thrice as 

 much as could any two men unaided by dogs. 



Destructive of all game, whether of fur or feather, the 

 lurcher is especially obnoxious in the rabbit warren, or in 

 any localities where hares abound. Its extremely acute ol- 

 factory powers and great speed enable it to discern its prey at 

 long distances, and to pounce upon hare or rabbit before it 

 can by any possibility shelter itself. As a retriever, too, it is 

 unexceled, bringing its prey as soon as caught to the hand of 

 the master. Eveu birds are sometimes caught by this crafty 

 and agile animaL 



If, as sometimes happens, this animal develops an unex- 

 pected taste for mutton, he becomes an intolerable nuisance to 

 the farmer, as it devotes its whole time and energy to the pur- 

 suit of the flocks, committing sad havoc among them. 



As the lurcher causes such suspicion in the mind of the 

 . game-keeper, owners of these dogs frequently dock their tails, 

 in order to strengthen the resemblance between them and 

 their honorable cousins, the sheep dogs, and also to escape 

 the tax which is levied upon all dogs used for sport. It can 

 take upon and acquit itself with credit the character which 

 the cropped tail is intended to indicate, keeping the sheep in 

 order, watching the fold, or conducting them from one place 

 to another with all the fidelity of the true sheep dog from 

 which it sprang. It can also be entrusted with the guardian- 

 ship of the house, and watches over property committed to 

 its care with vigilance and fidelity. 



There are many breeds of the lurcher, owing to the numer- 

 ous dogs from which the parentage is formed. As before re- 

 marked, the greyhound and sheep dog are the original pro 

 genitors, but their offspring is crossed with various other 

 races in order to obtain the desired qualifications. Thus the 

 greyhound is used on account of its" swiftness of foot and 

 silent tongue, the sheep dog for its hardiness, sagacity and 

 readiness to obey commands. The spaniel and setter too are 

 often made to take part in the pedigree in order to give its 

 well known predilection for hunting game, and the hound is 

 sometimes employed for a similar purpose. Yet in all these 

 crossings the greyhound must morally predominate, although 

 its form is barely to be traced under the rough lineaments of 

 the lurcher. 



. — HH — « 



A Rare Dog.— Our friend E. D. Swasey, of Covington, 

 Ky., has received a pup of the famous breed known as the 

 St Walert Scotch stag hound. It is a very rare specimen, 

 about four feet high, and is a gift from the Earl of Dundreith. 



— San Francisco holds a bench show during the week com- 

 mencing Oct. 29, under the auspices of the California Kennel 

 Club, 'ihe rules of the National American Kennel Club 

 will be followed, and premiums amounting to $5,000 will be 

 distributed. 



— Capt. Jno. M. Taylor, of Nottoway, Virginia, will go to 

 Europe next year, and attend the Paris Exposition, where he 

 hopes to purchase some fine dogs for friends. 



Capt. John M. Taylor of Virginia, informs us that Jno. 

 Epps, Esq., of Nottaway, W. Va., has just purchased a couple 

 of fine fox hound pups out of the old Higgins stock of Michlen- 

 burg, Va. This breed has invariably thrown handsome work- 

 ing dogs, not particularly fast, but with plenty of bone, muscle 

 and bottom. He has named them Moody and Sankey. In 

 color they are black, white and tawney. 



Sim m\d J§ivtt <gt8hing. 



FISH IN SEASON IN OCTOBBER. 



31ack Bass, Micropterus aalmoiries; Weakflsh, Cynoscicm re.galis, 



M. nigricans. 



Mascalonge, PJnox nobilior. 

 Pike or Pickerel, Esox tuciiis. 

 Yellow Perch. Perca flaumams. 

 Sea Bass, Srfcenops oce.llatus. 

 Striped Bass, Rmx-us linneatus. 

 White Perch, Morone americana, 



Bluelish, Pumaiom.uit xaltatrix. 

 Spanish Mackerel, Cybium macula- 



turn . 

 Cero, Cybiicm regale. 

 Bonito, Sarda pelamys. 

 Kingflsh, MmlitHrrus nebulostis. 



Dog Fighters Convicted. — The Newark (New Jersey) 

 Courts have found Elly Mockridge and James Coyne guilty 

 of , being engaged in a dog fight. The jury were out seven 

 hours, and the sentence was two years in State Prison, or a 

 fine of $1,000. It is to be hoped that this will be a check upon 

 the brutal amusement so common to certain localities. 



Queens County Hounds. — The Queens county hounds met 

 yesterday at Garden City Hotel at one o'clock. Another meet 

 will be held at New Castle Wood at one o'clock Saturday, 

 Oct. 20th. 



J 1 'does fob the NAsnviLLE Field Trials,— In the county 

 field trials which are to take place next November 12th, to 

 which we have made frequent reference, the following capital 

 selection of judges has been made. We indorse it unani- 

 mously : D. O. Berganthal, Indianapolis, Ind.; Dr. Rawlings 

 Young ("Guyon"), of Jackson, Miss.; and C. Jeff, Clarke, 

 of St. Louis, 



Fish in Market.— Large quantifies of fish from the Great 

 Lakes. Bluefish are heading southward, and will soon disap- 

 pear from our waters. 



Our quotations are as follows: Striped bass, 18 to 20 cents per 

 pound; smelts, 18 cents; bluefish, 10 to 12 cents; sal- 

 mon, frozen, 30 cents 3 mackerel, 12 to 25 cents ; white 

 perch, 15 cents ; weakflsh, 12 cents ; Spanish mackerel, 30 

 cents ; green turtle, 15 cents ; terrapin, $15 ; frost fish, 8 

 cents; halibut, 15 cents ; -haddock, 8 cents; king-fish, 30 

 cents; codfish, 8 cents; black-fish, 10 to 15 cents; native 

 herrings, 6 cents ; flounders, 6 to 10 cents ; porgies, 10 cents; 

 sea bass, 18 cents; eels, 15 cents; lobsters, 10 to 12 cents; scal- 

 lops,$1.25 per gal.; soft clams, 30 to 60 cents per 100 ; salmon 

 trout, 18 cents; black bass, 15 cents ; sheepshead, 25 cents ; 

 whitefish, 18 cents ; pickerel, 18 cents ; yellow perch, 10 

 cents; hard shell crabs, $3 per 100 ; soft crabs, $1.50 per 

 dozen ; frogs, 45 cents per pound. 



Movements of the Fishing Fleet. — The weather has 

 been unfavorable, most of the time for the past week, for 

 fishing operations or fish curing; and the market is substatially 

 without change. The Shore mackereling fleet are mostly off 

 Cape Cod, taking a few barrels daily when the weather will 

 allow, but the season will soon close, with a very l'gkt stock 

 on the market. There have been 65 fishing arrivals at this 

 port since our last issue — 24 from the Banks, with 960,000 

 lbs. codfish and 550,000 lbs. halibut, 23 from Georges, with 

 320,000 lbs. codfish, 4 from the Bay St. Lawrence with 750 

 bbls. mackerel, and 14 from Shore fishing trips. — Cape Ann 

 Advertiser, Oct. 12. 



y( New York— Schenectady, Oat. 13 — Black bass fishing still 

 fine. Parties are coming in with strings of from thirty to 

 forty; this is about the average day's catch. Eels are also 

 caught in large numbers in the Allpeans Creek, a small creek 

 about two miles below this city. Mr. J. White came in this 

 morning with a string of twenty, the largest weighing eight 

 pounds. This is the largest eel ever caught in this vicinity. 



C. W. 



North Bay, Oct. 12.— Fishing is better now than at any 



previous time this season. 



\r\ Glens Falls, N Y. — I send you a photograph of two bass 

 caught in Long Pond, August 1st, 1877. Tne largest was 

 eighteen and one half inches around the body, -twenty-two 

 long, seven broad and three and one-fourth thick ; weighed 

 seven pounds and fourteen ounces. The mouth opened three 

 inches. This is the largest bassevercaught in Warren County. 

 The other weighed six pounds and four ounces. On dressing, 

 the stomachs of both fish were empty. How is this for 

 high ? M. H. C. 



[These were certainly very large bass. The largest ever 

 caught in Lake George, from which Long Pond was stocked 

 eleven years ago, weighed just one pound less than the largest 

 of the above. — Ed.] 



Pennsylvania— Norristown, Oct. 10.— Trolling for bass is 

 the favo ite amusement here now, the late freshets having 

 cleared the river of grass. Y. 



Sunbury, Oct. 12 — Bass, sunfish and pike-perch fishing im- 

 proves as the cold weather comes on. 



Harrisburg, Oct. 10. — Bass fishing is excellent at McOor- 

 mick's Island. Several of our fishermen have make good 

 catches at the head of the island. 



Muncy, Oct. 16. — Bass fishing at the dam affords abundant 

 returns. 



Hummels'own, Oct. 14.— Large and young bass are reward- 

 ing anglers who visit the Swatara. 



** West Virginia — Berkeley Springs, Oct. 15. — I have no- 

 ticed while reading the Forest and Stream, that some of 

 your anglers are not very successful in taking bass in the Po- 

 tomac. 



I am not able to say much about the fish below Hancock, 

 only from there uo to Dam No. 6. I went over to the Dam 

 the 10th of July, and caught 16 by d;nner time, averaging H 

 lbs. One fellow weighing over two pounds on being clean- 

 ed, was found to contain something unusually hard in its 

 maw, which had the appearance of a chicken's g zzard, but on 

 pressing it, it appeared to be in halves. On opening it, what 

 was our surprise to find a live turtle. 2 inches in diameter. 

 How it ever swallowed it is a mystery. 



August 2d. Went over to the Carapou River, a tributary of 

 the Potoniac, and camp-d out all night, so that we might get 

 the early fishing, 6 a. m. to 2 p. m. ' Took 56, averaging from 

 three-quarters to one pound. August 1-1, wentto same place, 

 and before 9 o'clock, had taken 40 bass, averaging one pound, 

 'this was considered the best of the season. My friend, Nat 

 P., who was not to be outdone, went over the same ground a 

 few days later, and captured 60. I think no one need wish 

 for better fishing than 1 hat. 1 do not remember what my catches 

 were last year, but one day I caught: a good number of fair 

 size, and one. from below Dam No. 6, which weighed 4i lbs.; 

 at another time one that turned ihe scales at 5^ lbs. Visitors 

 at these springs always find good fishing, even in early sum- 

 mer. Our fa vbrite. bail is a minnow. Jt P . 



Floiuda— St. Augustine, Oct. 10,— Fine large trout are 

 caught from off the sea wall. 



Louisiana— New Orleans, Oct. 11. — Green trout fishing is 

 good at ( hef Minteur and Lookout Stations. Large numbers 

 of striped bass and sheepsheads are caught in Lake Pontchar- 

 train in the vicinity of Mandeville. Fishing cruises to the 

 Ch.'indeleur Islands are now in order, and the sport there is 

 magnificent, 



MioniGAN — Detroit, Oct. 13.— At St. Clair flats, Tuesday 

 last, A. C. and Thomas McGraw caught thirty black basF 



