Jcne 29, 1882.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



427 



\dtui(dl ]§i$torti. 



ARCTIC EXPLORERS. 



IN connection with Arctic expeditions that haw from time 

 to time been undertaken by various countries, one es- 

 pecial feature has always presented itself to my mind. It 

 has always appeared to* me that the expeditions have not, 

 been composed of the right kind or stamp of men, and I 

 have always, when reading the journals of any expedition 

 that has fallen under my uolice, been strongly impressed 

 wit)) the, belief that, hud the members of the expeditions re- 

 ferred to been composed of a, different class of individuals, 

 much better results would have been obtained, and much 

 suffering and. in many eases, loss of valuable life avoided. 

 My idea is that each Arctic, expedition should include a cer- 

 tain proportion of a class of men commonly known as North 

 American trappers, who, for a trip of this nature, possess 

 certain qualities eminently titling them to assist in under- 

 takings of this kind. 



I wish to be understood as casting no reflections upon the 

 ability, hardihood, high inond and physical courage of sea- 

 faring men, but the very fact that they live for years as they 

 do. braving the dangers of the seas and giving their entire 

 time and attention to the duties and study of their profession, 

 naturally deprives them of the advantages of learning the 

 various expedients, contrivances and hahits of landsmen, 

 who give all their attention to their own pursuits and only 

 arise to prominence as guides and explorers, hunters and 

 woodsmen, after spending the best part of their days follow- 

 ing their own peculiar vocation. It needs no mention from 

 my pen to direct attention at this late date to the various 

 brave, noble and heroic efforts of seafaring men who, in all 

 ages of history, have done so much f r the advancement of 

 science and commerce, and no encomiums would be too 

 great to pay the tribute of praise to the names and memories 

 of countless numbers of nautical men. But life is too short 

 for individuals to climb to the top of the ladder of more 

 than one profession, consequently a mixed commission, so 

 to speak, embodying and combining the elements of the best 

 skill and talent for both land and sea, is what is required in 

 expeditious of the class I refer to, for they differ from most 

 others, which are generally confined wholly either to a land 

 or water journey. 



Were seamen not among the bravest of the brave, they 

 would naturally shrink from undertaking a voyage that at 

 any time is liable to be changed to a land or ice march, when 

 all their nautical lore and experience does not tell for much, 

 and perhaps be thrown upon a land trip in an inhospitable 

 country where to save their lives might be a matter that 

 would tax the abilities and best efforts perhaps even of the 

 very natives of the country, who notwithstanding a life of 

 study of the various contrivances possible to be accom- 

 plished, have often sufficient to do to eke out a scanty sub- 

 sistence during the long and dreary winters of northern lati- 

 tudes. 



Reverse the position and place men of the type of Kit Carson, 

 Daniel Boone, Joe. Meek and other prominent trappers, at sea 

 in a vessel of the best class, equipped and fitted with all the ap- 

 pliances that science could suggest ami money procure ; leave 

 them to their own devices, and what would tney make of the 

 situation ? Go still farther, place them at a moment's warning 

 in mid ocean in a ship's boat with scanty supply of provisions, 

 insufficient supply of water, and what would they accomplish, 

 or be expected to accomplish under such circumstances? 

 And yet the hardy and intrepid navigator cast upon the ice 

 is placed in almost as bad a situation in many ways as the 

 landsmen would be in the former mentioned case. 



One very noticeable circumstance is apparent to readersof 

 the various narratives of all former expeditions, and that is, 

 that to such men as Ebierbing or Esquimaux Joe, who ac- 

 companied Capt. C. P. Hall, were due the salvation of the 

 party, who, unaided by their efforts, would have surely 

 perished by starvation, while Hans and Petersen, in the 

 voyages of Kane and Hayes, showed no less prominence in 

 their admirable fitness as members of a northern expedition. 

 Indeed the annals of all the different exploring voyages teem 

 with abundant evidences of the necessity of incorporating 

 men of different classes in parties of the kind alluded to. 



While reading Strain's narrative of the trip across the 

 Isthmus of Darien, which terminated so disastrously to 

 several of the party, I could not help being struck with the 

 disadvantages he labored under for want of practical men as 

 a component part of the command, for, while the}' were 

 traversing a country T having considerable game, the rivers of 

 which affording a generous supply of fish, although pro- 

 vided with arms and ammunition/, they were unable to se- 

 cure enough food for their maintenance, and while possess- 

 ing personal bravery, indomitable courage, ability to en- 

 counter and endure great, hardships, a large portion of the 

 command died from hunger, after the loss of their single 

 and only fish hook. Had such men as I have mentioned 

 been attached to the party, how long would it have taken 

 them to make other fish hooks out of portions of their .guns 

 or camp utensils, bones, etc. V The knowledge that a piece 

 of wood or bone pointed at both ends, tied by the middle to 

 a line, and when baited, laid alongside or parallel to the liue 

 but when swallowed by a fish and a sharp twitch given 

 would become a toggle fastened iu the fish's gullet or maw, 

 and consequently with gross feeding fish such as catfish and 

 others inhabiting tropical waters, becomes one of the most 

 efficient fish hooks to be had, might have been the means of 

 saving the entire party. Spears, gaffs, nets, traps and other 

 appliances would have been within the scope of such men, 

 who would have needed nothing but the wood that grew on 

 the banks of the streams and an ordinary knife to fashion them 

 into appliances for the capture of fish "and game. Many of 

 the animals of North America being nocturnal in their hab- 

 its, seldom offer an opportunity to mankind to secure food 

 by shooting them, but traps, when set by experienced trap- 

 pers, meet the difficulty and supply food and clothing ob- 

 tainable by no other means. 



Nobody ever makes a trip, takes a hunt with, or remains 

 in the company of an experienced hunter and trapper with- 

 out learning new wrinkles and contrivances. Books do not 

 treat of forest lore as they do of other sciences. The only 

 place to obtain education iu this branch is the school of ex- 

 perience, and the study, is of such magnitude that it is never 

 completed. Necessity being the mother of invention, per- 

 haps there is no other class of men who are so often placed 

 in positions requiring for success ability to adapt themselves 

 to circumstances; hence the value of their services in all 

 matters requiriug prompt measures, decision, and capacity 

 to make the best of the situation. How important it is, 

 therefore, that the very best material should be selected for 

 all such hazardous undertakings as arctic explorations. 



How many men of even average, intelligence can procure, 

 fire without matches? and when procured, does it strike one 

 man out of a thousand, when needing fire for warmth at 

 night (clothing being insufficient), that the proper plan is to 

 build two or more tires, and lie down between them and thus 

 almost do awav with the necessity for blankets at all? No, 

 it, does not; but he builds on > big fire that he can't get near, 

 if fuel be plenty, and the unfortunate person presents the 

 uuhappy condition of beiug nearly roasted on one side, 

 while being nearly frozen on the other, and after various 

 feats of ground and lofty tumbling, morning returns to find 

 him more tired than when lying down the night previous. 

 Many other examples of the devices, contrivances and shifts 

 appertaining to a knowledge of forest life might be intro- 

 duced here as illustrative of the correctness of the theory 

 involved iu this article, but those mentioned will perhaps 

 suffice. 



There are representative men of the class spoken of who 

 will leave the settlements, make a trip through au unin- 

 habited region (occupying months in duration) alone, and 

 live well and be clad "warmly, no matter how rigorous^ the 

 season or inclement the weather, where to a party provided 

 with a much better outfit such a journey would simply mean 

 death by starvation, unless some of the party were skilled in 

 the mysteries of woodcraft. The one would' live, so to speak, 

 upon the fat of the land; the others would scarcely see a 

 bird or beast on the trip. 



It is enough in all reason to send men out who are willing 

 not only to brave the dangers of the seas with which they 

 are acquainted, without endangering their valuable lives in 

 a laud or ice inarch of which they must, from the coLdition 

 of their past lives, know little or "nothing. 



It may be said that the natives of the country are the best 

 persons" to be had in the capacity of guides," hunters and 

 auxiliaries. This is decidedly wrong, the argument being 

 good to a limited degree only". Thcwhite race the world 

 over is superior as a class to any other; they are better 

 skilled in the use of firearms, means of travel, endurance, 

 and in many other ways. What a white trapper would 

 learn iu a few days in Greenland would enable him to dis- 

 count the average native in anything, except perhaps the man- 

 agement of a kayak or something of like nature. Then there 

 is a moral courage that is associated with education and in- 

 telligence, that frequently is of the utmost importance, 

 which in matters requiring decision of character and judg- 

 ment, more than makes up for a large amount of physical 

 courage, since superstition, going hand in hand with ignor- 

 ance, renders the uneducated native of very little account in 

 many affairs. 



I would not say by any means to exclude natives as form- 

 ing part of the expedition, for their services hitherto have 

 been of a very important character, but a desire to return to 

 their homes and families, and various other reasons, cause 

 them often for their own purposes to magnify dangers and 

 otherwise mislead the persons in command, and often a fear 

 of ridicule, or a desire on their part to keep certain matters 

 secret, prompts them to assign other motives for their wish 

 to abandon further efforts toward the objects of the under- 

 taking. Again when the native is aware that the lives of 

 the party are wholly in his hands, treachery is more apt to 

 come to the surface than when he is aware that his services 

 can if occasion require be dispensed with. Many Indians 

 of my acquaintance could be easily secured to go on the 

 warpath, encounter ferocious animals, run dangerous rapids 

 and enter into other perilous undertakings involving great 

 personal risks, but would shrink from and in most cases 

 utterly refuse under any consideration whatever to simply 

 visit certain lakes and other places inhabited according to 

 their belief by Sla-li-eums or monsters, who cause all sorts of 

 evils to be inflicted upon those daring to intrude upon their 

 domain. 



The true reason of their not undertaking a visit to such 

 places would, however, be carefully concealed from any 

 other than a particular friend in whom they had implicit 

 confidence. " Nay, very often to merely mention the name of 

 these imaginary monsters is productive of till sorts of calam- 

 ities to the offending mortal. Such matters in all ages and 

 all lands are attributes of superstition and ignorance, and 

 are perpetuated to a greater degree, even among enlightened 

 nations, than many are aware and willing to admit. Take 

 some natives along, by all means, if considered as adding to 

 the strength of the expedition, but don't forget the trappers, 

 who, if the north pole is ever to be reached by means of 

 appliances now within human ken, will add an element of 

 success to any undertaking in that direction of a greater 

 value than I "believe any r other that can be secured. 



The sufferings of the Jeannette's crew lend at the present 

 time an increased interest to all couccrued in providing 

 ways and means for mitigating the perils anu hardships con- 

 sequent upon northern trips, and with a view of adding my 

 mite, I am induced to use the best medium at my command 

 as a" means for expressing my ideas on the situation. 



J. C. Hughes. 

 New Westminster, B. C, May 1, 1882. 



April 8; blackbreast, May 14; wild geese, flying north, 

 April 9.— A. L. Townpkxd. 



Niagara, May 29, 1883. — Below 1 give you the datos of 

 the arrivals of a'few of the earlier birds: bluebirds, Peb. 17; 

 meadow-larks, last week in February; robin, March 1; swal- 

 low, April 1; oriole, May 9. — W. S". L. 



A MALLARD'S STRANGE NESTING 

 PLACE. 



SOMETHING over a week ago some gentlemen were 

 walking from a station in the eastern part of Colorado 

 on the new extension of the B. and M. R, R. to Danver, to 

 a, ranchman's house a mile distant, when they dusked a female 

 mallard iu the open prairie. On going to the spot from 

 whence she arose, they found that she had a nest contain- 

 ing eleven eggs and evidently was sitting. The prairie there 

 was nearly barren and only a sprinkle of sage brash and 

 grass weed to cover the sandy soil, and the ranchman 

 declared positively there was not a lake, pond, slough or any 

 body of water within seventeen miles, the Platte River being 

 thirty-five miles distant. He carried the eggs to his anch 

 and put them under a hen he had sitting. The questions in 

 this case are how the duck subsisted while she was sittiug, 

 aud what she would have done with the young after hatch- 

 ing them out. How would she have gotten them to water? 



From all accounts there are more ducks breeding in this 

 vicinity than ever known before, some few mallards, but 

 chiefly teal and widgeon. On Suuday last I drove out to a 

 little lake three miles from the city and Hushed from one end 

 of it twelve ducks, a pair of mallards and the rest appeared 

 to be pintails, but were probably widgeon. They got up so 

 far away that I could not decide positively as to their species. 

 I am sorry to say there are a pack of simpletons who are 

 shooting ducks here now. 



Chickens promise to be abundant. Burr. H. Polk. 



Lincoln, Nebraska, June 20, 1882. 



Arrival of Spring Birds.— Pay Ridge, L. I., June 4, 

 1882.— Below I give a list of some arrivals of buds during 

 the past spring: Hermit thrush, April 8; brown thrasher, 

 April 27; wool thrush, May 2; tawny, May 8; robin, all 

 winter; catbird, May 2; brown creeper, March 2; golden 

 crowned kinglet, April i8; ruby crowned, April 25; marsh 

 hawk, April 21; tishhawk, April 2; sparrow-hawk, April 21; 

 pigeon-hawk, April 8: tree-sparrow, Feb. 10; song-sparrow, 

 Peb. IS; white-throated, Feb. 28; fox-colored, May 8; 

 towhee. April 26; white-crowned, May 22; chip-sparrow, 

 April 23; field, May 2:1; yellow-bird, May 2; purple-fiueh, 

 April. 22; indigo-bird, April .20; pewee, May 2; kingbird, 7; 

 wood-pewee, 22, great-crested, 21; warblers, golden crowned 

 thrush, May 17: black and white creeper, April 29; uash- 

 ville, May 10; yellow T -rump, 10; black throated green, 17; 

 black-throated blue 18; blue yellow-back, 20; chestnut- 

 sided, 80; blackpoll, 20; blaekburnian, 22; summer, 8; 

 Maryland yellow-throat, April 80; green black capped, May 

 20; redstart, 20; yellow-breasted chat, 3fNblue-headed soli- 

 tary vireo, April 26; warbling, May 5; white-eyed, 13; yel- 

 low-throat, 20/ red-eyed, 20; Baltimore oriole, May 2; 

 orchard (male of second year), Mav 10; male full plumage, 

 18; purple-martin, May 21; white-bellied swallow, May 21; 

 sancMnartia, 20; barn-swallow, April 2, cow-bunting, April 

 8; rose-breasted grosbeak, male, May 8; female, May 10; 

 redwing-blackbird, April 1; purple-grackle, 2; golden- 

 winged and yellow-bellied woodpeckers, April 2; redhead, 

 May 10; yellow-billed cuckoo, May 22; kingfisher, April 3; 

 humming-bud, May 3; night hawk, May ti; swifts, April 



AN AVIAN GLUTTON. 



Philadelphia, Miss., June 12, 1882- 



ISEND by this mail some skins that I pulled from a pair 

 of birds that I shot. Although they are here by thou- 

 sands from March until October, I am not sure that I have 

 their right name. Please give me their name, and if tiere 

 are any of the readers of Forest and Stream that can tell 

 me of a good way to get rid of the wretches, the informa- 

 tion will be thankfuily received. As a general thing I am 

 not in favor of destroying the small birds, but this little fel- 

 low seems determiue"d on mischief from the time he gets 

 here in early spring until the Cold drives him to his winter 

 home. Their earliest arrival in the spring can be noted by 

 their chatter, which can be heard from early morning till 

 dark around the bee-hives. Here they chase the "busy 

 bee" all day long, with as much determination on the de- 

 struction of the bees as some sportsmen (?) seem to have for 

 the destruction of our game birds. It seems that the only 

 idea that these birds have when so engaged, is to see which 

 of them can make the largest bag (of bees) during the day, 

 week or month, and I firmly believe from what I have learned 

 of their destructive habits, ancl from some observations I 

 have made around the bee-hives, that they take a great deal 

 more game (bees) than they can consume* and that it is left 

 on the ground to rot. 



When small f raits begin to ripen and the weather gets 

 hot, they seem to lose a great portion of their love for bring- 

 ing the busy bee to bag. This is caused in part by their 

 efforts to get outside of so much fruit, and in part from their 

 having but little time to spare from other mischief. They 

 destroy a great quantity of cherries and other small fruits, - 

 but when grapes begin to ripen they are at once in their 

 glory and will thank no one for cherries. Those who have 

 never watched them at their destructive work can have no 

 idea of the amount of grapes that these birds can destroy. 

 Those that they destroy for me annually would make several 

 barrels of wine, and if they were not watched and shot from 

 morning till night they would never fail to take the whole 

 crop. Did I say take the whole crop? If so I was wrong, 

 for they simply destroy the most of it. I have often concealed 

 myself among the grapevines and observed them at their 

 destructive work to make sure that I did not accuse them 

 wrongfully, and have, many times seen these wretches 

 alight upon some twig or trellis arm just under a branch 

 that contained a profusion of clusters of ripe, luscious grapes, 

 and with their strong beaks clip the tender skin that sur- 

 rounded the sweet nectar and then place their mouths be- 

 neath and seem to derive the greatest pleasure in having it 

 trickle down their throats. From grape to grape and from 

 cluster to cluster they would continue to pass and would clip 

 and drink until they" were full to their mouths, and then did 

 they stop their wicked work? They would have been a 

 Uttle excusable for their wickedness if they had, but they do 

 not. I have seen them when they were so full of grape juice 

 that they could not swallow another drop, continue to clip 

 holes in" the tender skins of the grape, and then watch the 

 glittering drops as they fell one by one into the dust, and seem- 

 ing to wish with all their hearts that their little stomachs 

 were as large as all the oceans combined, and that all the 

 rest of the world was grapes, and that the rivers were made 

 for the especial purpose of pouring this juice into them. 



When they had drained the juice from all the grapes within 

 their reach they would commence to pull the pulps from the 

 skins, aud after holding them in their beaks for a few 

 seconds, seem to grow sick at the idea of trying to swallow 

 them, and would drop them on the ground. As soon as they 

 had relinquished their hold on the grape pulp they would 

 seem to regret it, and another was taken to be served in the 

 same way, until all in reach were pulled out and dropped, 

 and then" the buds would either go off to rest awhile, or 

 move to another lot of ripe clusters, and continue the 

 destruction. This seems to be a hard accusation to bring 

 against these little birds, but I can bring proof of what, I 

 say. I acknowledge my inability to drive these birds away 

 with the shotgun. They are SO numerous and so wild that 

 it is a hard undertaking. Alter being shot at, for a while 

 they all become so shy that they cannot be approached while 

 on "the trees, and their flight, which is in pilches and jerks, 

 make them hard to hit on the wing. I kill hundreds of 

 them, but cannot destroy them as fast as 1 wish. They 

 could be shot best while eating grapes if it were safe to shoot 

 among the grapevines; When they are flushed they are 

 sure to put a grapevine between me a'nd them until they are 

 out of reach of shot. Many other birds depredate upon my 

 grapes, but all of the others combined do very little damage 

 compared with these. Oh I how I wish that the specimen 



29; green heron, May 9; night heron, 21, least sandpiper, _ 



May .22; spotted, 20; semi-palmated, 19; killdeer plover, I hunter would get among them, or that they would fall into 



