Feb. 9, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



27 



scored two— the most glorious achievement of his life. A 

 happier looking mau I never saw. And that night, thanks 



to the unusual good fortune of Angus, the day's triumph was 

 on out Bide, the. other party having gotten" hut two deer, 

 though they burnt, much more gunpowder. Sandy, though 

 on the losing side, got out his fiddle, and the woods re- 

 sounded with the "Blue-tailed Fly," "Old TJuele Ned," 

 "Suwanne "River " and other songs, which, though now not. 

 very fashionable, still contain far more of the soul of music 

 thau all the German or Italian products which can come 

 from the brain of professional composers. With the strains 

 of melody still warbling in the ear we lay down on our 

 pallets, and soou soft slumber spread her gentle drapery over 

 us, and we reposed until the morning "horn of the hunter 

 •was heard " calling us to a renewal of the healthful and ex- 

 hilarating recreation. Wells. 



hinml 



WATER WITCHES. 



THERE is no feature of Forest usb Stream which 

 pleases me more, than the pleasant little discussions on 

 matters of natural history or natural science, which so fre- 

 quently occur therein. They spring up spontaneously, so it 

 seems, and are conducted with a good deal of spirit. Thus 

 we had a debate long ago as to Whether the polecat or skunk 

 is or is not a natural reservoir of hydrophobia; then as to 

 whether the moon shining on fresh fish will spoil them, or 

 make their flesh poisonous as food; then as to whether robin 

 redbreast is in the habit of getting drunk on china berries; 

 then as to whether horsehairs ever turn to snakes; then as 

 to whether it ever rains frogs or fishes; then as to whether 

 the mocking-bird is an imitator or an original songster, and 

 now we have it hot on the tapis as to whether "water 

 witches" and "divining rods" are facts or frauds. 



I have sometimes taken a little part in these debates, when 

 it so happened that I had any knowledge on the subjects 

 involved. I have gained a good deal of instruction from 

 these debates as Well as entertainment. For instance, I was a 

 firm, believer that horsehairs did sometimes turn into snakes. 

 I thought it was a very strange sort of transformation, but not 

 a bit more strange than the jellyfish should turn into mollusks: 

 mollusks into fishes: fishes into reptiles; reptiles into birds ; 

 birds into marsupial mammals; marsupial mammals into pla- 

 cental mammals; monkeys into men, and rneu into angels. 

 Besides I could not resist what I took to be the evidence of 

 rny own senses — having once witnessed in a stagnant pool a 

 quantity of wiggling tilings instinct with life, which had all 

 the semblance of horsehairs turned into snakes. I sat over 

 that stagnant pool fully half an hour, and could make noth- 

 ing out of those wiggling things except horsehairs turned into 

 snakes. I am somewhat suspicious even to this day that they 

 were exactly that sort of thing; but the philosophers in 

 Forest and Stream, laughed at me and said I had found a 

 nest of the parasitic w r orm known as "Gordius." I have 

 accepted their solution of the matter in entire good faith, but 

 not without some mental reservation that "they may be 

 deceived and that I was right. However, we will not call 

 up any uneasy spirit now. 



In Texas those who believe that subterranean waters may 

 be found by means of "divining rods" and who practioe that 

 faith, are known as "water witches." Their "divining rod" 

 is the forked twig of some fruit-bearing tree, such as peach, 

 plum or apple. It is usually green, but this is not necessary. 

 When the "witch" proposes to locate a subterranean stream, 

 he takes a branch of this forked twig in each hand with the 

 butt end projecting forward, and then walks over the premises 

 to be examined, with all the pomp, dignity and solemnity of 

 an owl. Meantime he utters not a word. He is overwhelmed 

 with a sense of the dignity and solemnity of the occasion. 

 After having gone over the premises thoroughly, if the twig 

 has not behaved itself after a peculiar fashion, he pronounces 

 that there are no subterranean waters there, and that it would 

 be time and money w r asted to dig for a well. On the other 

 hand, if ho finds that the butt end of the twig at any par- 

 ticular spot is drawn downward, bending forcibly the 

 slender branches held in his hands, he declares that beneath 

 that spot, there is a subterranean stream, and that if the well 

 be dug there rhe stream will be tapped. If the downward 

 indication of the butt, end is feeble and slight, he says that 

 the subterranean fountain is either very feeble or is very 

 deep in the earth. On the other hand, if the downward. in- 

 clination is very powerful, he declares that the subterranean 

 waters are either very bold or hut a short distance under the 

 surface. He advises* that a well be forthwith sunk on that 

 spot, and most solemnly asserts that the water will be found. 



Of these "witches" and their doings I have no particular 

 experience, but there are thousands in Texas who religiously 

 believe in them, and some of these are as intelligent and sen- 

 sible men as you will find in the State or elsewhere. I will 

 instance one of these. Some two or three years ago a very 

 tine old English gentleman, about forty-six years of age, 

 established himself near Duval, Texas. The property which 

 he purchased is exceedingly beautiful, but he built his house 

 at an inconvenient distance* from running water. To remedy 

 this defect he set to work to digwellsand expended a deal of 

 money without avail, until he had almost honey-combed his 

 handsome yard with yawning holes. He dug and dug and 

 dug, and blasted and' blasted" and blasted, until bethought 

 that he should tap the Infernal Regions, and not a drop of 

 water came. He was one day sitting in a livery stable in 

 Austin bemoaning his powder and money wasted, when a 

 "witch" who happened to be present spoke up and said he 

 would go out with him and find plenty of water if any existed 

 in the ground. On explaining liis process mv fine old English 

 friend laughed at him, and as good as called him a fool. 

 But the "witch" took it in good humor and persisted in the 

 offer of his services. Said he, "I will show vou right now 

 that there is something in it. There is a strong subterranean 

 stream under this livery stable, as I will now show you.'' He 

 took a "divining rod" in his hand, walked dow T n the stable, 

 followed by the Englishman, and when they reached a 

 certain spot the twig bent downward very forcibly. After 

 passing that spot it. recovered its natural position. On return- 

 ing to it it again bent downward forcibly. My English 

 friend took the rod in his own hands audit performed pre- 

 cisely in the same way; whereupon the "witch" declared 

 he also was a "witch."" The latter then concluded that it 

 w r as a curious thing, to say the least of it. He took the 

 "witch" out to his home; the latter went to exploring with 

 his rod and in a short time found a spot very near the house, 

 where the rod cut up its peculiar antics in a" very marked and 

 decisive way. The "witch" declared that wa'ter would be 

 found there in abundance by digging. My friend, the 



Englishman, then took the rod in his own hands, when it 

 performed precisely in a similar way; whereupon the "witch" 

 again declared him also to be a "witch," and one of the pro- 

 nounced type. But the "witch'' did not stop at that. He 

 said to my friend that he would give him another manifesta- 

 tion of the virtue of his rod which would settle all doubts. 

 He asked him to blindfold him completely, then to bring a 

 gold watch or any other metallic treasure on the premises, 

 and he would soon find it with his rod. All that the "witch" 

 asked was that it be hidden not too far away so as to involve 

 much walking to find, and that he be put only upon the 

 direction in which it was hidden. He was then completely 

 blindfolded, and not only that, but the watch was hidden on 

 a. spot with a house intervening, so that it was impossible for 

 the "witch" to see. He was given the direction in which the 

 article was; he started out, and when he came immediately 

 on the spot the rod performed its antics, and the "witch"' in- 

 dicated the exact place. My friend then took the rod in his 

 own hands and it behaved likewise for him; whereupon the 

 "witch" again pronounced him to be unequivocal!? a brother 

 "witch" of the first water. The result; of all this was that 

 my friend procured a new force of diggers and a fresh sup- 

 ply of blasting powder. He went to work on the spot indi- 

 cated by the divining rod. and as sure as fate, in a short time 

 he had a glorious fountain of sparkling water on his premises. 

 He. blesses the day that ever he heard of "water witches" and 

 divining rods, and will not permit them to be made light, of 

 in his presence. He claims that they are not only a true 

 [oik, but that he. is a member of their honorable fraternity. 



.Now, all of this is true; but as to what it proves, or does not 

 prove, I leave others to their own conclusions. You will 

 have _ to travel far to find a more sensible man than is my 

 English friend referred to. He is well known in both Texas 

 and England, is a line writer, and wiU no doubt promptly 

 respond to my statement in regard to himself and the 

 "witches" if assailed. It is not held that every man is or 

 can be a "water witch." The rod will perform only for a 

 select few, but why this is so, or why these few should be so 

 distinguished above their fellow creatures, I cannot pretend 

 to say. You must go to somebody With deeper philosophy than 

 mine. The fact that some who claimed to have power with 

 the divining rod have proved to be false or untrustworthy, 

 as stated by one of your correspondents, does not prove any- 

 thing. We know that there are merchants who are frauds, 

 lawyers who are frauds, and doctors who are frauds, yet this 

 does not prove that all merchants, lawyers or doctors are 

 frauds. So, doubtless there are "water w r itches" who are 

 frauds, but this does not by any means prove that all "water 

 witches" are so. Your correspondent from Kentucky was 

 probably unfortunate in having had his dealings only with 

 fraudulent "water witches," while the -good and true ones 

 escaped him. As for myself, I have tried to work with the 

 divining rod a little, by "way of experiment, but found it was 

 no go. The rod would not behave in any peculiar way for 

 me, though I have tried several very pretty and delicate 

 ones. I once, for experiment, bore the rod over a railroad 

 culvert under an embankment, through which a brisk creek 

 was running, but the rod gave no token at all. Since that 

 experiment I have ceased to labor in that direction; but this 

 does not prove anything against, the "witches" and divining 

 rods. It only proves that I am not a "witch," but simply a 

 plain man. N" . A. T. 



Palestine, Texas. 



THE ROAD-RUNNER. 



r pHE road-runner, paisano or chapparal cock (Geococcy.v 

 J- mltfomianus — Lesson), is one of the most interesting birds 

 found in America. Its habitat includes Central Mexico, 

 Middle Texas, New Mexico and California. The road- 

 runner, as it is most commonly called, is quite abundant in 

 the southern part of California. When not molested it becomes 

 quite tame and loves to stay around houses. It commences 

 to lay about the first of April. The eggs are white, varying 

 from two to twelve in number and about the size of a pullet's 

 egg (1.65x1.22). Few nests have been found containing 

 more than ten eggs, but in 1881 I found two with twelve in. 

 The nest is built in a thicket, low tree or a cactus, not far 

 from the ground, composed mostly of sticks loosely laid to- 

 gether, and is usually very shallow. The bird often uses the 

 same nest a second year. 



The food of this bird consists of snakes, rats, lizards and 

 insects. There are a great many tales told about this bird 

 killing rattlesnakes. One is that it hedges in the rattlesnake 

 with a circle of cactus joints, and the reptile, in trying to get- 

 out becomes enraged, bites itself, and falls an ea,sy r prey to 

 the bird. I dare say that this is a mistake, for I had the pleas- 

 ure of seeing this noble bird kill a rattlesnake one day when 

 I was up in a valley north of San Diego. The bird was quite 

 shy at first, but soon managed to jump upon its victim, just 

 behind its throat, and picked both of its eyes out. It did not 

 eat the snake, but ran away as I approached. The road- 

 runner has a very long tail, an erectile crest on the top of the 

 head, long and strong legs, a bare skin behind and around 

 the eye, colored bluish white and orange; the color of the 

 bird is grayish spotted black. They are afraid of a dog, and 

 w r hen pursued by one they take refuge in a cactus if possible. 

 Last month I went out w"ith my dog and caught two ; one I 

 put my hat on while eyeing the dog. I gathered twenty-six 

 eggs last year for exchange, all of which I found in cactus. 

 J. E. Wadiiam, 

 Sec. San Diego Historical Society. 

 San Dieqo California. 



HABITS OF CORMORANTS. 



A YEAR ago last August I made a note in Forest aihj 

 xA_ Stream of finding the more northern cormorants (trra- 

 culus diloplms) nesting on trees in Illinois in company with 

 the large blue heron and the larger white heron (Ardea 

 Ei/retia), all occupying exactly the same kind of nests and 

 all three species having nests on the same tree, all with the 

 young still in the nests, but about fledged, on the 23d day of 

 August. 



Since coming here, until within the last three weeks, what. 

 I suppose to be the Mexican cormorant- (Graculu* mwicanu*) 

 has been very abundant. They are known by the people 

 along White River as "Water turkeys*' and "carrion geese." 

 Along the White River there are a great many old river beds 

 known here as lakes and bayous. These are full the year 

 around with clear water. Many of them are quite deep and 

 abound in fish, particularly black bass and perok. From 

 these lakes bayous run out from a few feet to several rods 

 and end gradually in shallow water. The Smaller fish run 

 up these bayous 1o feed and to get out of reach of the larger 

 fish. The cormorants take advantage of this, and entering 

 the mouth of a bayou, any number of them, from three to a 

 dozen or more, all start together up the bayou, making all 



the_ splashing and flopping possible, and scaring the fish 

 which flee before them. The cormorants chase them in this 

 way up into the shallow water at the head of the bayou, and 

 then business commences at once; and if these cormorants 

 don't eat fish like a cormorant, then 1 don't know how fast 

 or how much a cormorant can cat. 1 think that they can 

 eat their full weight inside of ten seconds. Eat, did! say? 

 There is no eating about, it — the fish follow each other down 

 their slender but india rubber throats in one continuous 

 stream. And it is truly wonderful how huge a fish they can 

 get "outside" of without seeming effort, and how much they 

 can eat. Then, when their meal is finished, they swim 

 slowly back into the 'lake," scramble up into some old tree- 

 top, and sit and digest their meal, preen their feathers in the 

 sun and rest, and then in a few horns run their dragnet; up 

 the same or some other bayou. 



These ravenous, uncouth birds destroy myriads of young 

 game fishes, and should be shot by the sportsman whenever 

 a chance offers. But I think that they can stand more shoot- 

 ing than any bird of their size in the' world. Their skin is 

 very thick and strong, and is covered very thickly with a 

 compact, strong mat of hair-like down, and over all is a 

 heavy coat of thick, strong, hard feathers, 



This appears to be a bird for which man has no use, for 

 the interests of the two are entirely antagonistic to each 

 other, and that nature has no use for 'in a country inhabited 

 by man. One fisherman is enough in a country, and man 

 should be that fisherman. Therefore the cormorants, the 

 herons and other fishing birds and animals should be de- 

 stroyed. The skillful fishing of these cormorants in compa- 

 nies and armies shows themlo have considerable intelligence. 



Byrne. 

 Crockett's Bluff, Arkansas. 



Feathers ehom a Rattlesnake. — Mr. O. H. Keep, of 

 this city, while in Louisiana shooting, noticed his dog, which 

 was reading a bevy of quail, suddenly jump back and act in 

 a strange manner. Approaching to learn the cause, he found 

 a large rattlesnake, and at once opened fire upon him. At 

 the second discharge he noticed quite a number of feathers 

 that the charge had knocked from the body of the snake. 

 Upon a closer examination he found that the charge had torn 

 open the snake, exposing the body of a quail, and apparently 

 there were several more, in his* capacious maw. The dog 

 then took up the trail and soon led him to the bevy, Which 

 was evidently the one from which his snakeship had secured 

 at least a portion of his meal. 



A Captive Raxl.— Bristol, Pa., Feb. 4, 1882.— A rail bird, 

 in good condition, was caught alive at Cash Point, a few 

 miles above Bristol, on the Delaware River, Jan. 30. Benj. 

 Bradford, the captor, has caged the bird and will endeavor 

 to keep him alive as a mid-winter curiosity. C. E. Scott. 



Animals Received at Central Park Menagerie.— One blessbok 

 {Alalaphus nlbif roust, hab. South Africa: one leucoryx (Oryx leuco- 

 )•//.(■). bab. North Africa: one pronghorn antelope (An.telorapra amer- 

 ican(t). hab. Western TT. S. (all of the above purchased); one wliite crane 



ifl/'i's.-Hf-r/L-osii ■ and tivo golden er- tries ul^m'to canadensis), presented 

 by Mrs. S. F. Emmons; two dusky clucks (Anas obscura), presented 

 by Mr. C. A. Bradford. Vermont; one Mexican lizard \H<-bnl'-rmahor- 

 rkliuii), presented by Mr. J. Silvie Durand: one sulphur-breasted 

 toucan K-impho i hab. Mexico; one violet tauager et'»- 



pltonia violrirea), bah. Brazil: one European oriole {Oriolus qoUntla), 

 hab. Europe; one rock thrush (Moulicohi sa.xo.tiUs), hab. Europe; two 

 golden pheasants {Phasian us colclt is ), all purchased. 



W. A. Conklin, Director. 



§mqe §nq nqd §tt^ 



THE DESTRUCTION OF LA&GE GAME. 



Editor- Forest and Stream : 



" W.," in your issue of February 2, makes some good sug- 

 gestions touching the preservation* of the large game of trie- 

 West. Proper license laws enacted by the States and Terri- 

 tories in interest, and then rigidly enforced, would have a 

 very salutary effect and prove beneficial in a double sense j first, 

 in swelling the revenue, and, second, in preserving the game 

 — by far the most important consideration. But how to 

 frame such laws is rather a delicate question. Perhaps the 

 license laws of Nova Bcotia or New Brunswick would furnish 

 a good guide for their provisions. They must be general in 

 character and operate upon all non-residents alike. It will 

 not do to level the proscription at the offending English- 

 man alone, although he would be the one most to feel it. 

 It must be made to operate also upon the proxy as well 

 as upon the principal, for reasons that 1 will presently 

 show. The license should be limited as to time and also 

 to the number of animals that may be killed under it. 

 The fee should be high enough to iusure the enforcement 

 of the regulation, but not so high as to amount to a prohibi- 

 tion, because then it would be disregarded in frontier and 

 sparsely settled sections of the country. 



In approaching a license plan two serious difficulties are to 

 he met. First, the deep-rooted American prejudice that all 

 natural products of their land must be free for everybody's use. 

 It is this principle which opens to all the world alike our gold 

 and silver fields. The rule is different in other countries. 

 Second, the foreign sportsmen who come to our mountains 

 and plains are royal providers. They spend money prodi- 

 gally. They pay to guides, hunters, servants and ranchmen 

 higher prices for their services, their horses or their supplies, 

 than can be obtained from any one else or in any other way, 

 and this fact enlists the interest and the sympathies of all 

 these people, their neighbors and friends, upon the side of the 

 lordly huntsmen. And these influences are strongly felt — 

 perhaps to a controlling degree— in frontier legislative as- 

 semblies. Then there is the universal latent spirit, of toadyism 

 in the American character which causes every frontier hamlet 

 to feel a swelling pride whenever an English'Earl, or a Ger- 

 man Baron, or a French Count happens to honor it with his 

 disti nguished prese 1 1 ce . 



As a matter of fact, Colorado has not suffered so much from 

 foreign sportsmen as have some other portions of the country. 

 Wyoming and Montana have suffered much more. We fre- 

 quently have visits from English, German or French hunters, 

 but most of them are satisfied with one, {wo or three speci- 

 mens. I recall now only two parties from abroad in the last 

 half dozen years who 'killed any considerable quantity of 

 game. One was in 187T; two "Englishmen, brothers, who 

 went into the mountains with a very complete outfit and spent 

 two or three months. But they were heavy, easy-going men, 

 and had us a leader an American who is not wasteful of use- 

 ful game. 1 know his disposition because 1 have hunted with 

 him. Moreover, his ruling passion was bear hunting. This 

 party killed a great number of bears, which was no particular 



