FOREST AND STREAM. 



413 



on and Prof, ETartmaim, in the presence of a 



eminent Berlin physicians, and showed that the 



which carried off our friend was acute inflainniation 



Is. The cause of the disease is now no mystery, 



found in Pongo's stomach the button of a 



wire and a number of pins. — Ed. ] 

 __^», — , 



ITKIL HlBTORY Of THE HoWGATE EXPEDITION. — NatUt- 



nay await with interest the success or failure of the 



ilowgate Polar Expedition. The interests of natural history 



thnology arc to receive full attention, Mr. L. Kumlein, 



accompanying the party as naturalist. He has been furnished 



by Pi' i! F. Baid, with the following rnemoran- 



region you visit is one of the most interesting in North 



America and the least explored by the naturalist. It will 



furnish an ample field for research, especially as you will be 



e the greater part of your absence from the United 



Your great object should be to make collections of 



! mg in the ethnological, animal, vegetable, mineral and 



1 apartments, so that you can prepare a report on the 



perhaps illustrated, to be published in some suitable 



r on your return. In this view you should make copious 



if the habits, association and general condition of every- 



ou meet: with. 



Mammals.— Of mammals, good mountable skins of the 



epared with alum or saltpetre, will be desirable. 



ies of reindeer should also be obtained, as well as foxes, 



: ml other animals. A good series of seals will enable 



many questions in regard to their own special 



home. The walrus, both male and female, should be pro- 



:.s many skeletons as are procurable, and several skele- 



: all mammals, land and water, will be readily market- 



The -kins of cetaceans cannot readily be preserved ex- 



ossibly in salt. Sketches should be made of the out- 



tnd distribution of color of each, and the corresponding 



skins and skeletons preserved. 



Whales.— Particular attention should be paid to the nar- 

 whal, of which skeletons are in much demand Should op- 

 allowed yon some skulls of the smaller whales 

 e procured. 

 Is.— In regard to birds a special memorandum prepared 

 by Dr. Brewer and myself has been furnished. You will, of 

 look very carefully for the small insectivora and con- 

 iterniine the northern distribution of our 

 Probably saxicolas will be frequently met with. Of 

 water fowl the rarer geese, the Labrador duck, Sabine's and 

 Koss' gulls and the ivory gull are most desirable. Any pe- 

 waters will be desirable. Look out for speci- 

 mens of the black guillemot with a blackish bar partly across 

 the white of the wiDg. 



Reptiles you will probably not find, unless it maype[a f rog, 

 which, of course, should be secured. 



Fishes.— The fishes should be looked after very particularly, 

 and especially the different species of trout, salmon and white- 

 fish, which should be secured, if possible, of different ages 

 and in the different seasons to show the variations of the 

 spnwni up: condition. Any large salmon or trout, say over a 

 nd or two, woidd be better skinned and the skins put in 

 ■■!, although a sketch of the original should be made. 

 Other species of fish should be secured if they present^ them- 



Insects. — Of course it will be important to obtain a full rep- 

 resentation of the insects of the country — butterflies, beetles, 

 Vhatever species of invertebrates are procurable should 

 be gathered in — star fishes, shells, crustaceans and the like. 



If you succeed in securing a complete series of all the ani- 

 mal life, if possible in several sets, the great object of your 

 mission will have been accomplished. You should endeavor 

 to secure a variety, but a complete collection will be of much 



Mineral Specimens.— Any choice mineral specimens should 

 tained, especially crystallines. Get samples of all the 

 constituting the strata ; these should be sketched, and 

 overlying position indicated and verified by specimens. 

 Look very carefully for rocks containing fossil remains either 

 of plants 'or of animals. 

 Saurians. — Some very interesting specimens of saurians 

 ieen brought from different portions of Artie America, 

 while the fossil plants are of very great interest. Make a 

 thorough study of the ethnology of the country, securing as 

 crania of Esquimaux as practicable, and also skeletons 

 can be got. Illustrations of the handiwork of the 

 natives in objects of stone, bone, wood, etc., should be care- 

 fully gathered, especially any of great antiquity and such as 

 icrseded by modern articles. 

 It is not improbable that Mr. Kumlein's investigations may 

 finally the much mooted question as to the relationship 

 the Barren Ground Caribou bears to its woodland con- 

 gener. 



Quail with Abnoemal Pltjmage. — We beg to acknowl- 

 edge from Jaw. F. Carr, Esq., of Portsmouth, Va., two quails, 

 as the ordinary quail, and the other a nondescript bird, 

 Lose identity he seems in doubt. Upon examination we 

 re that the bird which excited our correspondent's at- 

 me of the common species of the 0. mrc/iniarms, 

 With a tendency to albinism. Both birds were females. We 

 noticed, last season and this, quite a number of quails 

 image of peculiarly fight color, tending to white. 

 One of these, presented to us by Horace Fassitl, Esq, of 

 Philadelphia, we have in our cabinet. 



THE LAMPREY. 



Philadelphia, Pa,, Dee. i;.. 

 LSD Stueaii : 

 I at el; loosing- ovei a file of your paper, I noticed an article 

 four edition of April 13, 18TT. This writer states 

 making a clam in a stream of water, and asks to 



el wits. 

 myzmimarinwi) inhabits the sea, but enters fresh 



spawning.— En] 



, ins " i llustrated Natural History," punli&Hed in 



the Lamprey, when preparing for 



lamprey deposits its Bpawn, It Is obliged to 



'. of the stream, in which H can leave the eggs 



ms this operation with great speed and no 



sinallaTdll. It takes advantage of the current, to help it in lis labors; 

 and, by the mingled force of the stream and its own muscular action, 

 soon contrives to carry away the pebbles that would interfere wiili the 

 Well-oeingfol its future young. The process is simple enough : when 

 the Lamprey has axed upon a suitable spot by its unfailing instinct. It 

 surveys the locality for a short time, and then sets vigorously to work. 

 Fastening Itself to oneol tie obnoxious pebbles, and disposing of its 

 longest hold upon the rushing stream, it ' backs 

 water' fi itlt wonderful energy, and fish and stone arc soon seen tum- 

 bling together clown the current. Iu tills way the Lamprey will remove 

 stones of such magnitude that a fish three times its dimensions would 

 appear unable even to stir them, As soon as the stone has been moved 

 a yard or two away, the Lamprey wriggles its .vir. bac* again, and takes 

 possession of another stone. By a repetition of this process, the hollow 

 is soon made and the industrious fish is able to deposit Its eggs therein." 

 Last summer, while shark fishing on the coast of Kantuekei, a shark 

 was hauled aboard, to which was attached a Lamprey, which was suck- 

 ing blood from the fish, and which did not release its hold until it had 

 been out of the water for some time. J. w. 



ALL ABOUT DEER. 



Editor Forest and Stream ■ 



I wish yon would be so kind a3 to give space iu your valuable journal 

 to the following explanations to '-Sycamore'' : 



The reason I say that deer will go afl with their tails down when a 

 shot passes close to their heads is from this fact: la the days now 

 and gone, when deer were so numerous that I was not very 

 particular whether I killed or not, I used to exercise my skill with the 

 ride by shooting at their heads, and 1 would make an occasional miss, 

 and the deer would run off with its tail down, »nd act as though it was 

 badly wounded; but upou bringing it down with the second shot, I 

 could not find any sign of the first. Now, sir, I consider myself a 

 pretty fair rifle shot, therefore I have reason to believe that my ball 

 passed pretty close to the deer's head. As I think I have giveu ' 'Syca- 

 more" a sufficient explanation, I will add one for friend Clark, and 

 at the same time beg hitn to favor the readers of Poeest and Stream 

 with his views regarding the horns of the deer, as being an index to 

 their age; he doubtless can throw some light upon the subject, as he 

 has possessed a herd of deer ibr sever tl years. Priend Clark seems 

 to think that- the deer I spoke of as being over a year old, as It had no 

 spms was a fawn of that year, but it was not. Although he Is right 

 about the fawn's not retaining its spots longer than four months, he 

 seems not to be aware of the fact, that the fawn shows the blue beforo 

 its spots are entirely gone. The one I spoke of was perfectly red, no 

 blue hair on him, and he was about as large as two fawns would have 

 been at .the time I killed him. I await lhe next. Anti.v.r. 



[The foregoing communication has been inadvertently 

 pigeon-holed for several weeks. We hope the hiatus will not 

 impair the value of the discussion between the writer and his 

 friends, from whom we hope to bear in due time.— Ed. F. 

 amFS.] 



CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN QUAIL. 



Los Angeles, Nov. IS, 1817. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



la the Porest and Stream and Rod and Gun of Nov. 3, 1 notice a 

 tmery as to the probability of California quail standing the cold weather 

 of your Eastern winters, I may be mistaken, but my impression is that 

 the experiments of introduction have been made with our valley quail 

 only. The mountain quail is a much hardier, as well as in every way, a 

 finer bird ; and would, I think, live and do well in the Middle and South- 

 western States. They remain in the snow belt on the San Antonio 

 (Coast fiange) Mountain throughout our winter, and although the orange 

 trees are in blossom in the valley, it is cold enough up there, as I have 

 many good reasons to know. I am sorry that I am not ornithologist 

 enough to describe, technically, the two birds, but I am well acquaint- 

 ed, practically, with the habits, range, appearance, etc., of both varie- 

 ties. If you wish it I will write you what I know. H. M. Mitchell. 



[We should be very glad to hear from our correspondent on 

 just the points which he mentions.— Ed. 1 



gWrffonrf, <gtmn znd §m&m. 



THIS DEPARTMENT IS EDITED BX W. J. DAVIDSON, SEO. N. Y. 

 nOETIOTJLTnRAL SOCIETY. 



-BT 



SHEEP RAISING IN NEW MEXICO. 



Home Ranoh, Cinnamon P. O.,) 

 New Mexico, Dec. 4, 1877. J 

 Editok Forest and Stream : 



"Sheep raising in New Mexico" has been the subject 

 of many a letter to the press, but my opinion of every 

 one I've had the fortune to read is that it has been writ- 

 ten by a party who knew only what he had been told of 

 the business, and it may be that my six years' experience as 

 agent for the Burdett Loomis Sheep Co. has taken the ro- 

 mance out of it, and mine maybe too practical a letter to be 

 readable. _. . , 



This country is so very little known, I cannot expect to be 

 understood. If I should give a description of the country, 

 and not write its history, which would be so long and dark, 

 I'd not care to relate it, even if I were capable. The sheep 

 of this country were formerly from Spain, and Avere without 

 doubt pure Spanish rneriao, but from the ignorant manner ot 

 their breeding in this country they have deteriorated till they 

 do not. bear the slightest resemblance to the pure stock, and 

 even breed the most curious monstrosities, such as tour or 

 more horns, and they often have a thud horn in the centre of 

 the forehead, while the fleece has become so coarse it is often 

 nearly worthless ; and the average weight of the unimproved 

 Mexican fleece is not over one and a half pounds per annum 

 This may seem a dark outlook for improving a flock out ot 

 such a stock, but the effort of a cross of any fixed blood on 

 these mongrels is wonderful, and produces a halt-breed we 

 need not be ashamed of, and the increased weight of fleece 

 and improved quality makes the improvement a good mvest- 



m Mexican ewes cost an average of about S2 per head. They 

 are very hardy, good mothers, and their mutton is equal to any 

 in the world for sweetness and excellency of flavor, though 

 they are too small for good mutton sheep. 



Some of the flock owners have great numbers. Two or 



three families claim to Lave more than 100,'JOO sheep each, 



and those probably live at (heir ease, sirrrourided with peons, 



a style very much like the old co --'• before 



the war Some of these large flock-owners have caught the 



spirit fi - om the white men who are growing improved sheep 

 all around them, and have introduced fine merino and cots- 

 wold rams to their herds, and only the smaller bands soon 

 will, be what we call here "natives." 



I trust I will be excused if I speak of the flock in my care, 

 which is one of the best improved flocks in the territory, num- 

 bering about 10,000 head, and shearing nearly five pounds per 

 head per annum. This flock was started in '72, from the best 

 improved ewes we coidd buy, and has been bred with care, 

 and a view to mutton and wool qualities, and we cannot real- 

 ize that it bears any relations to the native breeds by its ap- 

 pearance now. Owing to financial embarrassments of East- 

 ern proprietors the flock has recently »been offered for sale, 

 together with the finest ranches in this part of the country, 

 and to cash purchasers will be sold at a great bargain. 



Having ground this ax, I will say, the fact that sheep can 

 graze the year around without shelter or any provided food, 

 save the natural grass and the superabundance of free pas- 

 tures, makes the growing of wool a complete success, and it is 

 no longer an experiment, The grass dries on its roots, and is 

 kept during the winter in the dry climates like concentrated 

 nutrition ; and it is wonderful how well the stock keeps its 

 condition through the winter. 



The lambing season is latter April and May, and the grass 

 starts enough for good feed for the earliest lambs. July and 

 August furnish the rain for the year, with the exception of 

 now and then a shower before, and afterwards, on rare occa- 

 sions. The climate . is wonderfully beautiful, and is especi- 

 ally good for those inclined to pulmonary troubles. 



The altitude, being about 6,000 feet above sea level on the 

 plains, gives a rare and pure air, and the climate has a fascina- 

 tion for every one whe tries it. Were I to write of its game 

 and people, and the grand scenery, it would take too much of 

 my time, and my "capability" may already be a matter of 

 doubt, so I desist. I am, with respect, very truly yours, 



H. M. Ajbms. 



For Forest and Stream and Bod and Gun. 

 ORIGIN ,OF THE VARIOUS CLASSES OF 

 STRAWBERRIES. 



THERE is no Natural Order of plants with which culti- 

 vators of fruits are more generally acquainted than 

 Boseacece, and, perhaps, there is none that is more 

 variable in character, or, in other words, less constant in fix- 

 edness of specific distinction. So much is this the case that 

 our systematic botanists are often confused in the determining 

 of species owing to this peculiarit3 r . True, we can common- 

 ly trace very distinctly the difference between the several 

 genera, as for instance, Rom, the family of roses ; Rubut> t 

 the Blackberries and Raspberries ; Fragaria, the Strawberries, 

 etc. ; but when we come to'examine more in detail and got 

 among the so-called species of the several genera we find a 

 sportiveness of character that oftentimes baffles the stickler 

 for hereditary exactness, and acts as a barrier to whomsoever 

 would endeavor to describe, in words, the minutiae of out- 

 ward form or organic structure. 



The genus Fragaria, that is the Strawberry family, is no ex- 

 ception to this rule, and yet, notwithstanding, there are sev- 

 eral apparent species found growing in their native habitats 

 which hold their individuality somewhat firmly so long as 

 nothing transpires to interfere therewith, or no other species 

 is located in the same neighborhood, and whereby the pollen 

 of either may fertilize its companion. We have, however, 

 ample evidence that our present subjects are not very particu- 

 lar as to the laws of monogamy, the result being a remarkable 

 increase of varieties from seed. 



This heing the case, let us consider the source from which, 

 and what has conduced towards the bringing about of the 

 great improvement in size and quality of our strawberries 

 during the last thirty or forty years. At the commencement 

 of this period the only strawberries in cultivation in the 

 United States were but a slight advance from the native 

 species, while at the present time American strawberries are 

 equal to those of any other country, either in size, flavor or 

 texture. 



The several species that have given rise to the numerous 

 varieties, both here and in Europe, are Fragaria virginiana 

 with its sub-species lowwntis, vesca, Ghiloensis, Grandiflora, 

 Elatior and Collina. These have, as established by botanists, 

 some claim to specific differences, with finely drawn and dis- 

 tinct characteristics, provided we keep out of the never-end- 

 ing hunt after ever-changing minutite which some persons are 

 so prone to. 



To make this part of our subject plain it may be well to give 

 the most prominent and distinguishing characters of these re- 

 spective species with a few remarks, incidentally by the way, 

 as we travel along; and, firstly: 



Fragaria. Virginiana — A native of our Atlantic States- 

 Fruit roundish ovoid; achenia, or seeds, imbedded in the 

 deeply pitted receptacle, or what we generally call the berry ; 

 flavor, sub-acid ; texture, soft. These characters are some- 

 what absolute and direct, and there is no mistaking the or- 

 ganic form. This species is certainly the original parent of 

 what are know as the Scarlet Glass, incluchng such sorts as 

 Jersey Scarlet, Roseberry Scarlet, Grove End Scarlet, and, 

 possibly the Iowa Seedling, by some considered as a species, 

 viz., Fragaria iowsensis, and many others. Allow me to re- 

 mark here that this sub-species, if such it be, is very distinct 

 from Fragaria virginiana, and yet it partakes of the hatter's 

 general character as to robustness, softness of fruit and sour 

 flavor; but the Iowa is larger and more globular, with the base 

 of the fruit sunk down upon the calyx, and we may venture 

 with certainty to assert that most of our largest varieties of 

 years gone by, such as Ohio Mammoth, McAvoy's Superior, 

 Austin, etc. , in fact all the former Western kinds of any note, 

 had their origin from this base, and even those of the present 

 day have been so affiliated in connection with the European 

 kinds, and consequently a portion of the firmness of flesh and 

 sweetness of Fragaria chiloensis is established in their qual- 

 ity. Hence we may account for the well Known difference 

 between the American sprightly sub-acid flavor compared 

 with the European honeyed sweetness, the latter having a, 

 preponderance of the Chiloensis with some admixture of the 

 indigenous species, as found there, viz., F. vesca, and perhaps a 

 t rifle of the native aromatic F. elatior. In connection with these 

 conclusions I quote the experience of that reliable authority 

 on these matters, John Dingwall, of Albany, N. Y. He says 

 in a letter to me, ' c The Austin originated a few miles from 

 me by the Shaker Community and was named after one of 

 them, Jeremiah Austin. It was an accidental seedling of an 

 old variety known as the Iowa, which was identical with it, 

 but being a seedling, perhaps it had a little more vigor and 

 no doubt was better cultivated, but its foliage, its habit, its 

 color, its flavor were out and out Iowa. The Iowa, I believe, 

 is the indigenous strawberry of that State and largely culti- 



