FOREST AND STREAM 
163 
37. Great horned owl, (Bubo Yirginianus). Saw none, 
but heard several. 
38. Wild turkey, (Meleagris gallopavo). The shore of the 
lake is not suited to the habits of the turkey, though we 
saw feathers at the old Indian camps, probably brought 
there from the hammocks above on the Kissimmee, where 
it is comparatively abundant. 
39. Quail, (Ortyx Virginianus). None seen on the lake, 
though bevys met with above. 
40. Killdeer plover, (AEgialitis vociferus). Abundant on 
the Kissimmee; none seen on the lake. 
41. Snipe, (Gallinago Wilsoni). Abundant on Kissimmee. 
42. Yellow legs, (Gambetta fiavipes). Yery numerous on 
the Kissimmee. 
43. Red breasted snipe, (Macrorhampus griseus). Abun¬ 
dant at the ford on the Kissimmee. 
44. Sand hill crane, ( Grus Ganade?isis). But one seen on 
Okeechobee; abundant on the prairie of the Kissimmee. 
45. Clapper rail, (Pallus crepitans). Many heard*; none 
seen. 
46. Purple gallinule, ( Gallinula martinica). Not numer¬ 
ous; in the lily pads of the lake border. 
47. Coot, (Fulica Americana). Abundant. 
48. Louisiana heron, (Demigretta ludoviaana.) Not very 
abundant. 
49. Snowy heron, (Garzetta candidissima). Not numer¬ 
ous. 
50. White heron, (Herodias egretta). Yery numerous. 
Along the rii$pr and in several places in the lake I found 
them breeding in large numbers. The eggs were laid about 
February 15th and 20th; no young then hatched. 
51. Great blue heron, (Ardea herodias). Abundant; not 
near so many as of white; breeding. 
52. Blue heron, (Florida coerulea). Not common. 
53. Least Bittern, (Ardetta exilis). Rarely seen. 
54. Green heron, (Butorides drescens). Yery plentiful, 
and breeding. 
55. Night heron, (Nycticorax griseus). Common. 
56. White ibis, (Ibis alba). Exceedingly numerous, es¬ 
pecially along the river. They had not commenced breed¬ 
ing, to all appearances. 
57. Roseate spoonbill, (Platalea ajaja). Two pairs found 
breeding on an island in the lake; several seen there. The 
Indians°say they breed abundantly on Fish-eating Creek. 
58. Crying bird, (Aramus giganteus). Yery numerous 
along the Kissimmee and western lake shore. Eggs had 
been’taken a month before our arrival, February 22d, ac¬ 
cording to a resident on the river. 
59. Green wing deal. Abundant along the Kissimmee. 
60. Wood duck, (Aix sponsa). The most abundant, in 
fact the only resident species I saw on the lake. They 
were apparently breeding, as they were occupying holes in 
the dead cypress of the east shore. 
61. Florida cormorant, (Gracwlus Floridanus). Abund¬ 
ant, and breeding on the shore bordering the Everglades. 
The custard apple trees there were tilled with their newly 
built nests. 
62. Snake bird, (Plotus anhinga). The most abundant 
species, with the exception of the white heron, on the lake 
or river. It had both eggs and young as early as February 
23d; everywhere abundant. No mammals were seen about 
the lake, and signs only of rabbit and raccoon. Deer oc¬ 
curred on the Kissimmee prairie, but in small numbers. 
Feed. A. Ober. 
—Our Philadelphia correspondent, A. M. S., sends this 
description and habitat of a Pennsylvania fish which wants 
a name:— 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In nearly all the streams of Pennsylvania east of the 
Alleghanies there is to be found a fish which in common 
parlance is known as the chub. In Maryland, where, years 
ago, I found considerable sport in taking them, they were 
popularly known as the fall-fish. Now, will some one of 
your many intelligent correspondents oblige me with its 
true technical name? I presume it is unnecessary to de¬ 
scribe it in detail. I will, however, say that the fish alluded 
to attains a weight of from one to four pounds, is what 
may be termed oblong, rather flat, head and back greenish, 
sides silvery, belly pure white. It is a quick biter, will 
rise to a white bait, and when of good size is somewhat 
plucky. They are taken in the Wissaticon and Schuylkill 
rivers, and I presume all other streams in which they 
abound during the bright days of winter and spring, their 
special preferences being for a white grub bait. But why 
enlarge upon the subject? I presume nearly all your sport¬ 
ing readers are familiar with it, and hope some one will 
find it covenient to reply to my inquiries. A.M.S. 
—A correspondent in Florida sends us the following in¬ 
cident of a heron and rat: 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In an inclosure near the steamboat landing at Palatka, Florida, are 
several curlew, some alligators and one or two white her ons, and they 
furnish amusement, especially at feeding times, to a mixed audience of 
idle visitors and small and parti-colored natives. A few days ago a very 
impudent rat infringed upon this space, and to the surprise of a gentle- 
tn m who was passing, was instantly caught by the tail by one of the 
white herons, who, after a few skillful movements, tossed him up, and 
after a sharp pinch, deliberately proceeded to swallow him, apparently 
enjoying the morsel as one of unusual flavor. The beautiful bird then 
assumed an elegant position, as if above all the wants of mortal life, and 
subsequent visits proved that his meal suited him as well as it would a 
Chinaman. L. W. L. 
Arlington, Mass., April 10,1874, 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I notice in Forest and Stream of Aprils, an item stating that frogs, 
if subjected to torture, will shriek like a child. The above statement I 
can fully corroborate. While walking near a pond last summer I sur¬ 
prised a large bull frog (ranapipiens) some distance from the water. On 
cutting off its retreat to the pond, and while poking it with a stick, it 
uttered sounds resembling the cries of a frightened child. Continuing 
my annoyance its cries of fear changed to shrieks of rage, and it bit re¬ 
peatedly at the stick. It would be interesting to know whether this is 
the usual behavior of the creature under like circumstances. 
Newburg, N. Y , April 13, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
More than fifty years ago Captain Henry Robinson, owner of one of 
the Havre packets, brought the first carp and goldfish to this country 
from France. He placed them in a small pond on his place in the south¬ 
ern part of this village. Several years ago, when the dam of the pond 
broke away, many of the fish escaped to the river. They appear to mul¬ 
tiply very rapidly, and any number might be obtained from the fisher¬ 
men about the bay. 
In the year 1835 the English frigate Hussar visited New York. Her 
captain was owner of a London built, four-oared gig, which had never 
been beaten. Captain Harris of the Hussar challenged any crew in New 
York for a race, and the challenge was at once accepted by Captain Rob¬ 
inson, who named the boat “American Star,” to be rowed by the White¬ 
hall boatmen—Cornelius Cammeyer, Alfred Cammeyer, Richard Rob¬ 
bins and Charles Beattie; coxswain, John Palmerton. The Whitehall- 
ers won the race easily. The “American Star” was subsequently pre¬ 
sented to General Lafayette and sent to Havre. Yours, R. 
-- 
THE BLACK BASS. 
^ Albany, N. Y., April 13, 1874. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
An article on Black Bass, by A. J. Collins, in your issue of the 2d inst, 
impels me to say something on the same subject. DeKay says: “The 
black fresh water bass, Gentrarchusjasciaius, is common in the Great 
Lakes, and in the smaller ones of this State” (New York), and the speci¬ 
men described by him and also illustrated in the Natural History of the 
State of New York, taken from Oneida Lake, was divided, as regards fin 
rays, as follows, viz.; “Dorsal, anterior portion with 9 stout spines; a 
small and not very evident depression separates it from the other por¬ 
tion, which consists of 1 spinous and 14 branched rays. Pectorals with 
18 rays; ventrals with 5 robust, branched rays; anal, 8 spinous and 12 
articulated rays; caudle, 16 fiat, robust rays, and 6 accessory rays on each 
side.” 
I have taken bass atjvarious times, covering'"a' number of years, with 
the fly, spoon, gang, live minnows and belly of yellow perch, in the out¬ 
lets of Lake Ontario, and in the St. Lawrence River, from its confluence 
with the lakes to Alexandria Bay, including both sides of the river, and 
among the islands, and I find that the fish called there, and also in Al¬ 
bany, black bass, has its fins divided into—dorsal, 10 and 1 spine and 15 
soft rays; pectorals, 17 rays; ventrals, 1 spine ana 5 soft rays; anal, 3 
spine and 12 soft rays; caudle, 17 3-3 rays. I have also taken, casting 
with the live minnow', in the early part of September, between Ganau- 
oque and Kingston, Ont., bass, called there Osw r ego bass, which I know 
no scientific description of and no technical name for. The dorsal fin 
of this fish contained 9—1 spine rays and 14 soft rays; pecturals, 1 spine 
and 14 soft rays; ventrals, 1 spine and 5 soft rays; anal, 3 spine and 12 
soft rays; caudle, 16 6-6 rays. The weight of specimen was 4 lbs., 
length, 18 inches; greatest depth, 6 inches; thickness at the anterior part 
of dorsal, 3 inches; length of head, 6 inches; mouth, twice us large as the 
preceding species; color of the back, greenish black; sides v yellowish 
and pink; belly, whitish around the sub and niter operculars, and the 
pectoral and ventral fins reddish. Yours respectfully, W. W. Hill. 
Jpn? J forsq m\tl th$ (fyoutm. 
—The American Jockey Club will open their spring meet¬ 
ing at Jerome Park on Saturday June G.th, and continue on 
Wednesday the 10th, Saturday the 13th, Tuesday the 16th, 
Thursday the 18th, and Saturday the 20tli. The improve¬ 
ments made this spring on the Club’s course are very notice¬ 
able, such as the widening of the course, a straight run of 
half a mile, which will tend to show an increase of speed, 
avoid collision in handicaps and two year old races where 
there are many starters and give full view of the horses 
from the grand stand. The track has been almost freshly 
laid and covered with a thick loam, care having been taken 
to pick the stones from It, which lias resulted in making 
one of the handsomest running tracks in America. All 
these repairs and improvements have been made under the 
superintendence of Mr. Charles Wheatley, the Secretary of 
the Club, and under his ablj management have made this 
course one of the best and popular ring tracks in the world. 
The following is the programme of the meeting. The 
races commence each day at three o’clock:—On the first 
day the sport begins with a dash of three quarters of a mile 
for all ages, with maiden allowances; followed by the Ford- 
ham Handicap, a mile and a quarter; The WTther’s Stakes, 
for three-year-olds, one mile; and the Westchester Cup, for 
all ag“es, two miles and a quarter. On the second day there 
is a dash of a mile, for all ages; a handicap sweepstakes of 
a mile and an eighth, the winner of which is to be sold for 
$1,000; The Jockey Club Handicap Sweepstakes of two 
miles; and a handicap steeple-cliase over the usual course. 
On Saturday, the third day, the sport will begin with the 
Belmont Stakes, a mile and a half, for three-year-olds; fol¬ 
lowed by the Juvenile Stakes, half a mile, for two year 
olds; a dash of a mile and a half for all ages; and a race of 
mile heats. Tuesday, June 16, opens with the Ladies’ 
Stakes, for fillies, three years old, $100 each, half forfeit, 
with $l,000_added; one mile and a half; closed with forty 
nominations. The second race is a purse of $600, one mile 
and a quarter, the winner to be sold for $1,500. The third 
race is a dash of one mile and three-quarters, for a purse of 
$700, and the day will end with a handicap hurdle 
race, purse of $700, one mile and three-quarters, over seven 
hurdles. On Thursday, June 18, there are five races:— 
First, purse of $500, for maidens, one mile and a half; sec¬ 
ond, purse of $700, one mile and three-quarters; third, 
purse of $600, for tliree-year-olds; miles to carry 105 lbs., 
beaten maidens allowed 5 lbs., the winner of the Withers 
Stakes to carry 5 lbs., and of the Belmont or Ladies’ Stakes 
7 lbs. extra, one mile and a quarter; fourth, Members’ Cup, 
valued at $400, added to a handicap sweepstakes of $25 
each, play or pay; three to start or no race; one mile and 
an eighth; fifth, handicap steeplechase, ‘purse of $800, 
about two miles and a half. Saturday, June 20, the last 
day of the meeting, also has five races. These are as fol¬ 
lows:—First, purse of $500, for two-year-olds, half a mile; 
second, purse of $500, for tliree-year-olds which have not 
won this year, one mile; third, free handicap sweepstakes 
of $25 each, with $500 added, one mile and an eighth; 
fourth, free handicap sweepstakes of $30 each, with $600 
added, one mile and five-eighths; and fifth and final, a free 
handicap sweepstakes of $50 each, with $1,000 added, two 
miles and a half. 
—The May meeting of the Goshen Park Association oc¬ 
curs on the 20th, 21st and 22d days of May. There will be 
running and hurdle races together with the trotting races. 
The purses amount to $7,500 as follows:—Three minute 
horses, $1,000; two-fifty horses, $1,000; two forty horses, 
$1,000; two-thirty horses, $1,000; two-twenty-six horses, 
$1,500; two twenty-two horses, $2,000. 
—The Louisiana Jockey Club held the fourth day of the 
meeting on April 20th. The track was heavy. The first 
race was one mile and one eighth for three year olds, Club 
Purse $500. The race was won by Bay Rum. Time, 2:14i. 
The second race was a selling race, one mile and a half, 
Club Purse $500. Edwin Adams won. Time, 2:59. The 
third race was mile heats, best three in five for all ages, 
Club Purse $800. Donnybrook won in three straight heats. 
Time, 1.59f, 2:00f, 1:58L The meeting closed on the 21st. 
illmth 
—Maurice Daly has accepted C. Dion’s challenge and 
covered his forfeit of $250 to play a game of 600 points, 
three ball caroms, for $1,000 a side. The game will be 
played on Friday evening, May 15tli, in Tammany Hall, 
and will, as did their last contest, attract a large audience, 
as they are generally considered pretty evenly matched, al¬ 
though Daly, partly owing to his famous run of 212 in their 
last match, is slightly the favorite in sporting circles. Some 
amateurs look for a repetition of the big run but they must 
recollect it was a remarkable performance, even in this age 
of “big billiards,” and not often repeated. 
—It Is reported in billiard circles that an unknown will 
soon challenge Gamier for the championship, and much 
curiosity is manifested as to said unknown’s identity. 
—William Dodds, of Pittsburg, Pa., who has been pas¬ 
sing a few days in this city, has challenged E. Welms, of 
Philadelphia, to play a three ball game for from $250 to 
$500 a side, and it is reported for the State Championship. 
Welms, in answer, pr°P oses to play a Lome and home 
match, one three ball and one four ball game. 
—Joseph Dion and Maurice Daly are billed for an exhi¬ 
bition at Sandford’s Rooms, Newark, next week. Mr. v 
Dion has charge of these rooms, and business has much im¬ 
proved under his management. 
—There will Ibe a billiard tournament held in this city 
some time next month under the direction of Mr. M. 
Delany, of Wire Cushion fame, and everything will be done 
to make the meeting pleasant and memorable for skillful' 
playing. It is reported on good authority that Rudolph’s 
departure for South America was a canard, and that he will 
be on hand to play in the tournament. 
—Mons. Dbassy has dissolved his connection with Silver- 
brand’s Rooms. Monsieur is playing well and does not lack 
backers, as a well known gentleman has repeatedly expressed' 
his readiness to back him for $1,000 against any one at the 
three ball game. Table and length of game not specified. 
—Last Friday evening Mr. Joseph Price and William, 
Fulgrove played a game of 200 points (French) for $50 a 
side. Price won the game by 18 points. Highest runs—. 
18, 16, 14, and 12. The game was played at the Fulton 
Hotel, 4th avenue. 
—Messrs. Cyrille Dion and Maurice Daly have commenced 
practising for their match, Dion at his rooms, No. 1,239.' 
Broadway. Daly will play practice games with leading ex¬ 
perts every Tuesday and Thursday evenings at the Spingler 
ILouss rooms. 
—There are several fine and profitable cocoanut groves at j 
Miami, on Biscayne Bay, Florida. The trees bear all the' 
year round. 
-- 
—Letters from Rev. J. C. Macdona, “Homo,” “Idstone,” 
F. C. Pearce, Esq., of the Kennel Stud Book of England^ 
are unavoidably left over. 
—Mr. Egolf, while gunning on Rattlesnake Hill, was 
confronted by a pole cat and six young ones. The battle 
was not with the strong, for he killed the whole seven at 
one shot. 
--- 
—The Mississippi River is now said to be fifty miles wide 
from Cairo to the Gulf, and an extent of territory larger 
than the State of New York is under water. 
----- 
—A convention of fish culturists was held at Lexington, 
Kentucky, on the 18tli instant for the purpose of forming * 
a permanent association. 
—The town of Waldoboro’ has appropriated $2,200 for* 1 
the purpose of building a fishway, under direction of the 
State Commissioner of Fisheries. | 
—---—- 
Natural Wonders on the Ottawa.— A professiona 
gentleman of this locality sends us for publication the par¬ 
ticulars of* a floating island, which he has observed in one 
of the back townships of Argenteuil. Between the third 
and fourth ranges of Wentworth is a sheet of water about 
a mile long and half a mile wide, called Long Lake, through 
which flows the West River. In this lake there is a small 
island about three quarters of an acre in length and breadth; 
this island, says our informant, has trees growing upon it, 
and floats up and down the lake by the action of the wind. 
Our informant says he landed upon the island and found it 
of a marshy or cranberry-swamp character. It is said that 
during a recent lumber season the island floated to the lower 
end of the lake, where it blocked up the outlet to the river, 
and caused no inconsiderable effort on the part of the lum¬ 
bermen to tow it. away and free the passage for the logs. 
This country is rich in natural wonders and magnificent 
scenery. We hear of a stream called the Lost River, which 
suddenly disappears beneath a huge mass of rock, and re¬ 
appears at the surface a distance of some three or four 
miles further on. There is also in the country a trembling 
mountain of great height with a lake at its summit. The 
scenic attractions of Argenteuil require only to be made 
known in order to be visited by a large concourse of tour¬ 
ists in the summer season .—Argenteuil ( Canada ) Advertiser 
