226 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 20, 1882. 



porcinus), and one Virginia deer {Germs rirgunanus). Birds 

 ^-twenty undulated grass parakeets (Melopsiiuieus undulatus), 

 two wild geese (Bra/ita canadensis), two English pheasants 

 (PhaSianUS cokhims), two gold pheasants (Thiiumaka picUi), 

 two silver pheasants (Euplocennus nyrthemerus). The total 

 number of animals now on exhibition is 811, of which 279 

 are mammals, 488 birds and 44 reptiles. The additions to 

 the collections during the year were 138, of w r hieh ten mam- 

 mals, thirty-three birds and six reptiles were donated, twenty 

 mammals and twenty birds purchased, fifteen mammals and 

 twenty-eight birds bred in the garden, three mammals and 

 two birds received in exchange, and one hird captured in 

 garden. Owing to the intense cold of the winter before last 

 and the great heat of the following summer, it might have 

 been expected that the year would have been a severe one 

 on the collections, but, "owing to the care expended by those 

 who had them in charge, the percentage of deaths has been 

 very small. 



CANADA WINTER BIRDS. 



QUEBEC, CANADA. 



THE past winter throughout Lower Canada will remain 

 a marked one for some years to come, for the atmo- 

 spheric disturbances that were of such frequent occurrence. 

 Whether this wdll account for the abundance of certain 

 boreal species of birds and the abnormal appearance of other 

 summer migrants I know not. Herewith 1 append some ex- 

 tracts from my field notes: 



October 9th — Snow bunting, I'oiseau blanc (PlectropJianes 

 nivalis). Abundant till first week of January, now passed 

 south. 



November 3d — Pine grosbeak, le roi (Pimcola canadensis) 

 very abundant throughout autumn and winter to date. 



December 1st — Lesser red-poll (JEgiolhus Unarm). Less 

 common than usual. 



December 4th — Crow (Corvus americanus) a band of seven 

 "Kilmarnock" field, since daily observed generally about 

 Cote St.Ignaee, ranging west along continuous groves termin- 

 ating on St. Foye heights. 



North of the St. Lawrence, the presence of the crow as a 

 winter resident, is an event that rarely claims attention. 

 1851-2, 1878-9, and the present season, are the only instances 

 of such distributions recorded in the writer's diary. In some 

 localities about the Eastern Townships, their presence dur- 

 ing winter is almost regular. 



6th to 16th — Hairy wood-pecker (P. vilhsus), downy 

 wood-pecker (P. pubescent), log cock (Hylotomus pileatu's) 

 la poule iles bois. The two first rather migratory, but oc- 

 casionally met the year round ; the latter sedentary, rare 

 north of the St. Lawrence, not abundant anywhere." Hud- 

 sonia'n titmouse (Parus Kudzoniciu), autumn and winter only, 

 very rare about settled sections. Yellow bird, le ehardonwret 

 (Ghrysomitris tristis), a summer resident, occasional during 

 winter. An adult male in company with "cedar birds" 

 taken 10th Febraary, 1871. The same year, a hermit, or 

 WiLson's thrush, was observed on December 28th. 



21st — Purple finch, I'oiseau rouge (0. purpureas) since Feb- 

 ruary 4th very abundant — singing gloriously. 



February 4th — Wild ducks — three individuals at Crescent 

 cove. Not identified — probably female golden eye. 



February 14th — Robin (T. migratorius), a straggling band, 

 consisting of six or seven birds. One male made an attempt 

 at song, but failed to find voice. Robins are known to range 

 far north; these, it may be presumed, find here their extreme 

 southing. 



Mr. YV. TJ. G. , lately returned from the St. Maurice River, 

 states that, he detected a company of waxwing (Ampetis 

 garrulus), an inhabitant of the extreme north of this, and the 

 continent of Europe — a very rare winter visitor. Of its 

 habits little is known. As to owls, whisky jacks, red and 

 white-winged crossbill — the latter a rather rare variety — none 

 have been observed the present season. Chickadees and nut- 

 hatch rare. J. N. 

 Doniald, Cap Rouge Road. St. Foye, Feb. 17, 1883. 



THE MADSTONE. 



Palestine, Texas, Feb. 15, '82. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



The following is clipped from the North Texan, a paper 

 published at Paris, in this State : 



"Mr. A. Z. Arnold, of Blossom Prairie, was bitten by a 

 rabid dog on Monday last, the flesh being pierced on the 

 right hand. In a short time after the bite, the dog died in 

 convulsions, which alarmed Mr. A. , and he at once set in 

 search of a madstone, which was found four miles north of 

 Cothran's store, in possession of Mr. Calvin Pfaff. The 

 stone adhered to the wound for ten hours, and drew, it is 

 believed, all the poison therefrom." 



I have seen many paragraphs in the papers relating to this 

 so-called madstone' and its wonderful effects when applied to 

 the bite of rabid dogs. It is popularly held that it will stick 

 unto the bitten part like a leech, and, like a leech, will not 

 fall off until engorged, or at least until it has sucked every 

 part of the venom out of the wound. It is held that when 

 thus applied it is sure to prevent hydrophobia or any other 

 unpleasant results. Now, what is this so-called madstone? 

 Is it a popular myth, or a popular nonseuse? Is there any 

 sense, or truth, or virtue in it? And what sort of a stone is 

 it? Is it sandstone, or limestone, or granite, or quartz, or 

 day stone, or trap, or trachyte, or lava? Let us have light, 

 ye who can give light. If this is a fraud that has been 

 walking the world For ages, let us puncture and destroy it. 

 If it be a true and good thing, let us know all about it. 



N. A. T. 



[The belief in the madstone is a very ancient one, and this 

 remedy is still implicitly relied ou in certain sections of this 

 country. We have been informed by persons of the utmost 

 reliability that they have been cognizant, of cures by its 

 means so well authenticated that they could not doubt that 

 they had been thus effected. The madstone is said to con- 

 sist of calcined bone, and therefore is really not a stone at 

 all. It is supposed to act by capillary attraction, and it is 

 stated that an instrument of rubber has been patented which 

 may be used for the same purposes and with the same effect 

 as an original and genuine madstone. This particular 

 remedy or charm, as the case may be, seems to be somewhat 

 more in favor in the South ami West than in the East. A 

 certain Mr. John Gatziuger. of Martin county, N. C, has one 

 of these stones of great potency, and we believe that there are. 

 one or two people in the same State w r ho possess the secret of 

 their manufact ure.] 



A Book on Dot Training. — Mr. 8. T. Hammond's book, 

 ' 'Training vs. Breaking" is now ready. It should be in the 

 hands of every dog owner. 



Anntsquam Laboratory. — -A seaside laboratory will .be 

 opened at Annisquam, Mass., during the coming summer, by 

 the Boston Society of Natural History, under the direction 

 of Prof. Alpheus llyatt. It will be capable of accommoda- 

 ting only a limited number of students, and will be open 

 from July 1 to September 1. Annisquam is situated on an 

 inlet of Ipswich Bay, on the north side of Cape Ann, and is 

 about three and a half miles by coach from the Eastern 

 Railroad Company's station in d-loucester. The purpose of 

 this laboratory is to afford opportunities for the study and 

 observation of the development, anatomy and habits of com- 

 mon types of marine animals under suitable direction and 

 advice. There will therefore be no attempt to give lectures 

 or any stated courses of instruction. It is believed that such 

 a laboratory will meet the wants of a number of students, 

 teachers and others who have already made a beginning in 

 the study of natural history. Those^ who have had some 

 experience in a laboratory, who have attended practical les- 

 sons, or who have taught in the schools are sufficiently qual- 

 ified to make use of this opportunity. The work "in the 

 laboratory will be under the immediate care of Mr. B. H. 

 Van Vleck, assistant in the museum and laboratory of the 

 Boston Society of Natural History, a thoroughly competent 

 instructor, and one who has also had long experience in col- 

 lecting and observing at the seaside. The erection of a 

 windmill, which will supply running water, will enable the 

 laboratory to offer additional opportunities for the study of 

 the habits of living animals kept in aquaria, and also essen- 

 tially facilitate the work of making a higher class of obser- 

 vations and original investigations. The apparatus in other 

 respects will consist of the simplest laboratory finniture, 

 collecting implements and row-boats. The yacht Arethusa 

 (thirty-four tons old measurement), belonging to the under- 

 signed, will take out dredging parties at suitable intervals. 

 Students will find it to their advantage to provide themselves 

 with a microscope. A convenient magnifying-glass and a 

 case of dissecting instruments will be furnished at reduced 

 prices to those ordering them beforehand. Terms — $3.00 

 per week for periods of two weeks or less, $1.50 per week 

 for periods of three or four w T eeks, and $1.00 per week for 

 all periods exceeding one month. Board and rooms in the 

 neighborhood can be obtained at prices varying from $5.00 

 to $10.00 per week. Applications should be made immedi- 

 ately, and can be addressed to Alpheus Hyatt, Curator Bos- 

 ton Society Natural History. 



My Pet.— Norwich, N. T., April 10. —Late in the fall of 

 1880, I saw in an apple tree in my dooryard, a bird which 

 at once secured my closest attention. It was unlike any bird 

 I had ever seen; it was the size and shape of a robin, but the 

 back of the head, neck, and parts of the wings and tail were 

 white. Getting as near as I could I looked him over thor- 

 oughly. Could it. be? Yes, it was a robin partially white. 

 When he flew, he showed the white much more than in sit- 

 ting. I saw r him frequently until the cold weather came, 

 when he left. In the spring of 1881, he again appeared, and, 

 with a mate, set up housekeeping in a tree in front of my 

 house. I watched him and pointed him out to many during 

 the summer. Last fall he again left, and ever since the 

 robins came this spring I have been looking for him, well 

 knowing how many chances there were against his return- 

 ing, I had heard of his being seen, but I did not get my 

 eyes on him until the 7th of this month. He is the same 

 chap. He is assuming ' 'squatter sovereignty" in my door- 

 yard, and is making it warm for the other robins who dare 

 intrude. This proves conclusively (perhaps it has been 

 abundantly proven before) that birds return where they were 

 reared. Many have remarked, "What a fine specimen he 

 would make mounted." But I have plead tor his life, using 

 the argument, "The greatest good to the greatest number" 

 should govern. If he were killed and mounted ever so 

 nicely, but few could see him. Now, many see him every 

 day, and enjoy him as a curiosity; and more, then his sweet 

 song would be hushed forever. As 1 look at him, the ques- 

 tion comes, What has guided thee, dear little bird, in thy 

 long journeys over mountain, river and plain, and brought 

 thee again and again to thine early home. There is but one 

 answer. He who "marks the sparrow 's fall" has been thy 

 guide. — A. C. L. 



Protection of Song Berds.— New York:, April 18, 1882. 

 — Editor Forest and Stream: In your issue of the 13th inst. I 

 notice that your correspondent, "Homo," complains bitterly 

 of the indiscriminate slaughter of small birds "from a tit to a 

 thrush" in the vicinity of Philadelphia. The same trouble 

 exists in the vicinity 6f the city of New York and other por- 

 tions of the Empire State to an equal, if not greater, extent. 

 The abuse has become so glaring here that the "Linnean 

 Society" of New York, at a recent meeting, appointed a com- 

 mittee to investigate the matter and see if some remedy 

 could not be found. The law in this State is substantially 

 the same as in Pennsylvania, viz: a person shooting has only 

 to swear that he is shooting for scientific purposes and he is 

 relieved from any and all penalties for destroying song or 

 insectivorous birds. The committee of the Linnean Society, 

 after carefully considering the matter, determined to go to 

 the root of the trouble and apply the only remedy" that 

 would effectually protect our feathered friends, viz; to have 

 a suitable amendment to the game law passed by this Legis- 

 lature now in session. To that end they drafted an amend- 

 ment, using the Massachusetts .statute as the basis, and by 

 the courtesy of the committee appointed by the "New York 

 State Society for the Protection of Game, " the same was 

 embodied in the game law which they were then preparing 

 for presentation to the Legislature. If the bill becomes a law 

 no birds, except those coming under the head of "game" can 

 be killed, except by persons holding a permit from one of 

 the five natural history societies mentioned in the bill. I 

 would suggest that "Homo" endeavor to have the same 

 remedy applied in Pennsylvania. — Wm. Dutcher, Member 

 of Linnean Society and of the committee. 



Tite "Nuttall Bulletin." — The April number of the 

 Bulletin opens with an interesting paper by Mr. William 

 Brewster, ou a collection of birds lately made by Mr. F. 

 Stephens in Arizona. The remarks on the species taken are 

 quite full, especially in relation to the localities which they 

 prefer, their habits, and their relative abundance, as indicated 

 by the. collector's field-notes, and the characteristics of the 

 individual specimens are given with considerable detail, and 

 make the paper one of unusual attractiveness. In his notes 

 on the Os prominent Mr. F. A. Lucas gives us the results of 

 his observations on a number of birds in which lie has sought 

 for this bone. It is present in most of the Bubonid-a in which 

 it has been looked for, as well as in many of the Faleonidm 

 and in some of the gulls. A further study of different forms 

 is needed to decide what, if any, are the functions of this 



bone. A paper by Mr. r O. P. Hay, entitled "A List of Birds 

 from the Lower Mississippi Valley, Observed During the 

 Summer of 1881," with brief notes, contains nothing espe- 

 cially new, except the statement that Panda /Mirrkniin is 

 abundant in Mississippi and Tennessee in midsummer. Mr. 

 Brewster's impressions of some Southern birds make up a 

 delightful little article, written in his own pleasant style and 

 attractive to all readers, whether they are bird -wise or not. 

 Mr. Montague Chamberlain gives notes on a short list, twenty 

 species, of the rarer birds of Southern New Brunswick, and 

 Mr. C. F. Batehelder a much more full paper on the " Sum- 

 mer Birds of the Upper St. Johns," which contains a num- 

 ber of points of interest. The "General Notes" of the Bul- 

 letin are, as usual, full of news interesting to the ornitholo- 

 gist. 



Partial Albino Snowbird. — 1 found among a flock of tree 

 buntings and snowbirds, which it seems habitually associate, 

 a single specimen that was in many respects identical with 

 the snowbird, but yet. strikingly different. The contour and 

 size were the same; bill tight flesh-color; head, neck and 

 breast dark uniform slate; "below white; marginal tail-feath- 

 ers white. These also correspond to the colors of the snow- 

 bird. The difference, and the only difference, as well as I 

 could judge by the use of a good field glass, was that the 

 wings, back and lower side neck, although having the 

 ground color of slate, were yet covered by irregular and 

 numerous blotches of wLite. This admixture of white, to- 

 gether with the white marginal tail feathers, made the bird 

 conspicuous as it flew in company with the others, so that it 

 could not fail to attract attention. I do not know that hybrids 

 occur among these birds, or what such a cross should look 

 like, but that it was one occurred to me at once as an ex- 

 planation, after carefully looking the Bpeeimen over and 

 noting its general resemblance to the snowbird. 1 cannot 

 identify a bird marked as this one was from my books. — J. 

 QuAY."(Watertown, N. Y., April 10.) [No doubt a partial 

 albino Jwneo hyemalis.] 



Wilson's Snipe Winters in Wyoming. — A correspond- 

 ent who resides at Qonio, Wyoming Territory, and who is 

 well acquainted with all the game birds aud mammals of the 

 West, writes us under date of March 23: "I see in the For- 

 est and Stream that it is very unusual to find Wilson's 

 snipe in the New England States in winter. I have seen 

 them here in every month this winter, They stay around 

 the 'Spring.' The 8th of January I killed on the Spring 

 Creek, four mallards three teal, and a gadwall, and three 

 Wilson's snipe, and it has not been a very open winter, 

 either. Ducks arc here now in considerable numbers, and 

 the shooting is very fair on the marsh." [The winters at 

 Como are usually terribly severe, the mercury often falling 

 to -30 or -40deg. Fahrenheit. The Spring spoken of is, how 

 ever, a warm one, and never freezes over, aud ducks are 

 usually to be found on it, all through the winter, We were 

 not aware, however, until now, that the Wilson's snipe ever 

 braved the severe cold and biting winds of a western Wy- 

 oming winter.] 



Sprint. Notes. — Oskaloosa, Iowa. — I have a few late 

 ". spring notes" to present. April 1. — Temperature 86 deg. in 

 the shade ; I first heard the chatter of the martins overhead 

 to-day. April 8 — Fruit trees budding out. The little house 

 wren came yesterday, and the mocking-thrush {Harporhyn- 

 ehus rufus) I think, sweetest songster'of this region, came 

 to-day.— J. G. Sleever. 



Rushville, N. Y., April 10. — To-day the thermometer 

 stands 24 deg. above zero, which makes it quite disagreeable. 

 A considerable snow has fallen to-day, but the birds seem to 

 enjoy it singing merrily from bush and tree. Kobins, blue- 

 birds, crow and red-winged blackbirds are quite numerous. 

 A few meadow larks, also a few kildee have been seen 

 around here. Quite a good many wild geese have passed 

 over here, flying north. A flock of about thirty-five lit in a 

 field north of here, but I beard of none being shot. Ducks are 

 very scarce. — A. W. 



A Turkey Beard — Evening Shade, Arkansas. — I send 

 you the beard of the champion gobbler of Chonilcy Hill. 

 Notice the ring around the beard, which is the first one of 

 the kind that I" ever saw ; and 1 have killed a great many 

 turkeys. This old fellow was one of the smartest of his race ; 

 but his cunning failed him, and he had to succumb to my 

 wiles. What will smooth the wrinkles on a mother-in-law's 

 brow when a fellow wants to go fishing ?— J. G. S. [The 

 beard measures 9$ in.] 



White Muskrats in Canada. — Tilsouburg, Ont. , April 

 5. — In j r our issue of March 30, 1 notice a clipping from a 

 Hornellsville (N. Y.) paper, wherein is mentioned the cap- 

 ture of an albino muskrat. With us it is not a very un 

 usual occurrence to take these white rats. While down at 

 Port Royal Marsh after ducks and geese a few days ago, the 

 trapper in whose shanty I slept took two of them in one visit 

 to his traps. They answer the description given in your 

 clipping. — H. B. II. 



Birds that Have Come.— Bay Ridge, L. I., April 10, 

 1882. — During the past week I have observed numbers of 

 golden-winged and yellow-bellied woodpeckers, with robins, 

 purple grakels, song and fox-colored sparrows, and a few 

 snowbirds. On the ninth were seen four hermit thrushes 

 and one pine finch, also a flock of about seventy-five wild 

 geese flying north. Weather very mild. — A. L. T 



Beaver in Keuka Lake. — Hornellsville. N. Y., April 10 

 — The. carcass of a beaver was found under the dock at 

 Idlewild, Ketika Lake, a few days ago. It was a very large 

 one, and had evidently died of old age, as its teeth were worn 

 very short. It is a mystery where this animal came from, as 

 its species were supposed tb be extinct in this part of the 

 State many years ago. — J. Otis Fellows. 



A Nebraska Eagle. — Fairmont, Neb., April 4. — On last 

 Thursday, Messrs. Beecher and Nixon, while hunting ducks 

 and geese, about five miles southwest of this town, killed 

 a large gray eagle, measuring seven feet and four inches from 

 tip to tip of wings. It was donated by them to the museum 

 of Doan College, at Cerete, Neb.— D. B. F. 



Southern Industries ft the title of a new monthly 

 publication which is to be issued at Nashville, Tenn. We 

 understand that it is to be a progressive journal dealing with 

 the live topics of the day. Published by the Southern 

 Publishing Co., Nashville. 



A Sad Loss. — It is said that Mr. F.Elshes of Mobile, Ala., 

 devoted the labor of fourteen years to gathering an entomo- 

 logical collection of 8,000 specimen. Last week the whole 

 collection was destroyed by fire. 



