Feb, 7, 1S84.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



23 



He had been fooling the Old Man. The Old Man ran back 



as fast as he could after the coyote, and when he got to the 



fire the coyote was sitting upon a little hill eatingthe rabbit, 



"Oh, my little broth e r," cried the Old Man, "giremfea 



P iece ° ! i .t. 



"Come and get it," said the coyote, as he swallowed the 



last piece of it. and trotted off on the prairie. 



Moral: Feed the hungry. Things are not always as they 



look to be. 



THE OLD MAS PUNISHES A THIEF. 



One night the Old Man sat by the fire roasting a piece of 

 meat. It" was a very large piece of meat, and he went to 

 sleep before it was cooked. A lynx, which had been watch- 

 ing him. now crept up and began to tut the meat. The Old 

 Man woke up. and seeing what was going on grabbed the 

 fvnx savins, "Oh, vou thief." and he pulled off his tail, all 

 but a short piece, and pounded him on the head, making Ins 

 nose very short. "There," said he, throwing him Out into 

 the brush, ■•that's the way you lynxes will look after this." 

 To thisdav the lynxes have short tails and noses. 



[Note.— Many of the best legends which explain the differ- 

 ent phenomena ©f nature are related with the doings of the 

 Old Man, but unfortunately they are so indecent that they 

 cannot be translated and printed.— J. W. S. I 



luhwtl %fi$torg. 



WILDCATS. 



THE name of "wildcat" is very generally applied to the 

 two speci°s of Lynx (L. canadensis and L, rufus), which 

 occur more or less abundantly throughout the Dominion of 

 Canada from the Atlantic to 'the Pacific. The French-Can- 

 adians call the smaller of the two (L. rufus) "cbat-cervier," 

 and. the larger (L. canadensis) "ioup-cervier," which latter 

 name in the modified form of "loocervee" is used in the 

 Maritime provinces to distinguish the larger from the smaller 

 wildcat. 



Neither of these animals can be properly called "cats," 

 for although they are classed with the Felida and have 

 numerous feline characteristics, they differ from the typical 

 cars who are represented in the American forests by the 

 panther, ocelot, etc., distinguished from the lynxes in ex- 

 ternal form by their more cat-like appearance, their short, 

 glossy fur and long, tapering tails, the absence of long, black 

 pencil tips to the ears, and the high forelegs — in lynx the 

 hind legs are much the longer. 



The correct vernacular name of Lynx canadensis, instead 

 of "loup-cervier" or "wildcat," is Canada lynx, and the 

 smaller of the two (Lynx rufus) is properly bay lynx, called 

 so from the bay or rufous color the fur assumes during the 

 summer, though the Canada lynx also wears a tinge of rufous 

 in the warmer weather. 



Among those interested in the subject there has been con- 

 siderable discussion as to the validity of the species canaden- 

 sis, some claiming that the differentiations were due to the 

 differing conditions of environment. Even so close a student 

 as Dr. G-arnier has stated: "I have long been of opinion 

 that those two varieties— species if you will — are one and 

 the same; that Lynx canadensis is merely a more northern 

 form of Lynx rufus, the variety being produced by climate 

 and food." 



There is a very good opportunity for studying these lynxes 

 in New Brunswick, as both species are common here, and 

 the result of my observations leads me to take friendly issue 

 with the learned authority, just quoted, and- to agree with 

 those who consider canadensis a valid species. 



Between the two there is certainly a very close superficial 

 resemblance. They have much the same general form and 

 coloration; the same high hind legs, rather long body, ears 

 with long black pencils of hair, and short stubby tails tipped 

 with black. 



The two species can, however, be readily separated b} r a 

 differential diagnosis. The Canada lynx — the loocervee of 

 these Provinces — is much the larger of the two, and has 

 longer fur, which, while uot so fine in texture, nor so com- 

 pact, as is that of the bay lynx, has a prettier appearance 

 and feels more silky. The inner fur or "wool" of the bay 

 lynx is yellowish at the base and the remainder is of light 

 brown, while the inner wool of tne Canada lynx is of a dull 

 leaden gray for the basal half, terminating with rufous. In 

 the Canada lynx the feet are very much the larger, both by 

 measure and comparison, and are so thickly covered under- 

 neath with short close fur that the pads are almost entirely 

 concealed, while in the bay lynx the pads are naked. In 

 flie Canada lynx the tail is dull gray, tipped with black, the 

 black terminal patch entirely covering the end; iu the bay 

 lynx the tail is gray above and white beneath, the tip being 

 about equally divided, black and white. The bay lynx has 

 several black half-rings on the tail, above, and darii bauds 

 on the inner sides of the legs, both of which are wanting in 

 the Canada lynx. 



When met with in the woods the bold, fierce nature of 

 the Canada lynx stands out in very marked contrast with 

 that of the bay lynx, the latter lacking the courage as well 

 as the determined energy and self-relianee of its cogener. 



The .apparent dauutlessuess sometimes displayed by the 

 loocervee has been the cause of much controversy on the 

 question, "Will a wildcat attack a man?" 



Judging from my own observations, 1 should say that the 

 bay lynx will get out of a man's way if possible, and when 

 cornered will act strictly on the defensive. Usually they 

 skulk off at one's approach as timidly as a hare. I once 

 followed one that v* as trying to carry off a lamb wmich was 

 a trifle over-heavy for it, and whenever I came insight the 

 lynx would utter a short growl, pick up his load, and move 

 on. At length, becoming over-fatigued it dropped the car- 

 cass, that it might more readily get out of nryway, mutter- 

 ing some dissatisfaction as it trotted off. 



As to whether or net a Canada lynx will attack a man, un- 

 less under aggravating circumstances, I do not feel justified 

 in offering any positive opinion, although my own experience 

 with the brutes would lead me to distrust them. 



On one occasion I was walking on a logging road talking 

 with a teamster when his horses, hauling a load a few 

 yards in advance, abruptly stopped, giving a snort of alarm. 

 Upon moving to the front we discovered a loocervee lying- 

 in the middle of the road some thirty paces beyond" his 

 head turned toward us. While slipping a couple 'of heavy 

 cartridges into my gun we moved about ten paces nearer 

 and shouted several times to try the effect, but the loocervee 

 paid no mure attention to us than raising his head slightly 

 and cocking its ears. A charge of buckshot put an end to 

 any further trial of its courage. 



At another time I was collecting specimens of small birds 



and had followed one. that I was anxious to sec«re, into a 

 grove of heavy timber which was strewn with "wind-falls." 

 I had just climbed over a rough pile of upturned trees, reach- 

 ing about as high as my head, when a hare ran across my 

 path, and about eight or ten yards off, paused to look at me; 

 a fatal pause, for before it got under way again a lynx had 

 sprung from an adjacent tree and pinned it to the earth. 

 The loocervee, for such I saw it was. keeping one paw on 

 the hare, at once raised his head and gave me a most unat- 

 tractive look. The ears were thrown back, close to the 

 head; the eyes were dilated, and flashed with fierce anger; 

 the mouth' was open, disclosing two long rows of large 

 glistening teeth, while tongue and throat gave form to a 

 rapid succession of spits and growls, which were not. at all 

 reassuring. 



I have never had reason for considering myself more cow- 

 ardly than the average man, hut at that particular moment 

 there came into my mind a strong desire that the lynx would 

 go away and leave me alone. I found that standing face to 

 face with an enraged brute, as large as a setter dog and 

 more powerful, who seemed bent upon asserting bv force 

 his right to hunt undisturbed where and when the chances 

 of the chase might lead him — to face such an one was not 

 quite as interesting as I had heard it proclaimed. 1 would 

 gladly have retreated, but the wall of dead trees behind me 

 could not be mounted without turning my eyes from the 

 lynx, and that 1 considered too dangerous an experiment to 

 attempt, while piles of dead roots and brush on either side 

 shut off all hope for a successful flank movement, leaving 

 me uo chance of escape from the brute without passing close 

 to him— and I was quite as close, where I stood, as I had 

 any desire to be. 



it soon became evident that the lynx had no intention of 

 retreating, and there remained no alternative for me but to 

 fight. But what should I fight with? I had no knife: and 

 although I had a gun, my only ammunition was "dust" shot. 

 which is about half the size of No. 12. At that moment I 

 remembered that in the left barrel was a cartridge loaded 

 expressly for extremely long shots, containing a full ounce 

 of "dust," backed by three drams of strong powder, and 1 

 resolved to try the effect of it. Without any definite idea of 

 the probable result of the discbarge, and in something of a 

 drowning man's straw-clutchiug mood, I swung back my 

 foot for a brace and raised my gun. As I glanced along the 

 barrels I saw that the lynx had taken my movements for a 

 challenge, and had crouched for a spring, so rapidly aiming 

 for the space between his eyes I pressed the trigger." Simul- 

 taneously with the report I heard a shoit, fierce scream, and 

 through the smoke saw the lyux bound into the air toward 

 me. but ere he reached the ground he was dead. 



My friend, James Straton, Esq., tells me of being one of 

 a party who were followed for a mile or more by a lynx 

 while the}' were walking on a wood road one night in the 

 vicinity of Andover. The lynx sprang from tree to tree 

 above them, growling continuously. Among other iustauces 

 of their fearlessness of men which have reached me. Ire- 

 member hearing some years ago of Colonel Wetmore, of 

 St. George, having been attacked by two or three while he 

 was out deer hunting, and though a keen knife and a strong 

 arm saved his life, he was severely lacerated. 



The food of both species consists of hares, grouse, mice, 

 squirrels, etc.. and such odd plunder as they can carry off 

 from the barnyard. Ther,e is an idea current chat they hunt 

 in couples, separated some handred yards or so, to drive the 

 game toward each other, but the more experienced and re- 

 liable trappers with whom I have talked about the matter, 

 think that this is an error. It may have arisen from the 

 habit, of the bay lynx of following' on the trail of its more 

 enterprising relative, and gleaning the scraps left from its 

 feast; many a good square meal they find, for it is not an 

 uncommon thing for the loocervee to kill simply to gratify 

 its love of slaughter, and after sucking a little of tke blood 

 of its victim, to leave the entire carcass. 



A tew years ago a farmer residing near St. John had two 

 or three sheep killed in a pasture quite close to his house on 

 each night for several- in succession. The carcasses were 

 found with a few scratches on the quarters and a* ragged 

 tear across the throat, but almost undisturbed. 



Many a graphic story of the wildcat's assault upon its 

 prey is written on the snow. A dainty tracing, made by a 

 wee" mouse as it ran along, or the sharply defined foot-prints 

 of a grouse, end abruptly just where the marks of four broad 

 paws are deeply impressed; a few small patches of bright 

 red color, and, perhaps, a feather or two complete the tale. 



I once witnessed a fight between two male lynxes that was 

 rather exciting. Sleeping under a "lean-to" I was awakened 

 about sunrise by a prolonged scream of most unearthly tone 

 — more wild and fierce than anything which had reached my 

 ear before. "What is it?" I asked under my breath of the 

 Indian who had slept at my side, and who was also aroused; 

 he whispered back "Ahpeek-wuseekun," the Maliseet name 

 for the loocervee, at the same time pointing iu the direction 

 from which he thought the sound came, for after the open- 

 ing scream there had ensued a continuous growling, which 

 I thought came from all around the camp, and the Indian 

 had divined my thought. 



However indolent the red man may be when the occasion 

 will permit, when his hunting blood is up he is no laggard, 

 and my friend Lola was not an exception, for so soon~as he 

 had determined for certain the direction of the sound he 

 started on the war path. 



1 was soon ready to follow, for one's morning toilet, when 

 "roughing it,'' is never a very serious matter, and on tieiug 

 my moccassin strings and buckling my cartridge belt I was 

 prepared for any emergency. We crept forward under 

 cover of a clump of young firs which stood some thirty 

 paces off from where he had slept; and in an open space be- 

 yond, not ten paces away from us, we discovered two large 

 loocervees facing each olher and some two feet apart, evi- 

 dently bent upon settling an affair of honor, after the rules 

 of their code; on a hummock a few paces beyond lav a 

 female, presumably the cause of said "affair, "'stretched at 

 full length on her side and watching the contest with an air 

 of playful indifference as to the result 



were closely modelled after those of a pair of domestic tom- 

 cats under similar circumstances. The arched backs and 

 bristling hair; the right paws, with uncovered claws, raised 

 to strike; the lowered ears and fierce glaring eyes, the spits 

 and growls were all very much like those we 'may see and 

 hear any summer night in the backyard; but wheu the 

 loocervees closed they gave a scream peculiar to themselves. 

 Over and over they rolled, biting and scratching, being 

 particularly active with their hind feet, and all the while 

 growling or screaming. They fought in roftnds, and during 



one of these breathing spells, having seen as much fur fly 

 and blood r«n as I had any stomach for, we let our guns 



have a say in the matter, "when the combatants employed 

 their remaining energies in kicking the dried leaves under 

 their feet, and" the female started iu search of some olher 

 mate. Montague Chamberlatx. 

 St, John, N. B. J 



THE LEAST BITTERN. 



I AM not surprised that your East Onondaga correspondent 

 has "more trouble" over your statement that the Ardetta 

 is not vtery uncommon, and yet .you are right. The sly 

 and retiring habits of the least bittern, from which, no 

 doubt, it takes its "last name," exilis, are well calculated to 

 ke*<p even a keeu observer in ignorance. I have had a casual 

 acquaintance with the bird 'for twenty-five years, but my 

 earlier interviews were limited to a brief glimpse of a yellow- 

 brown bunch of feathers awkwardly flitting -from an alder 

 clump, at the head of some pond, iu the spring. For ten 

 years I was satisfied to be told by my companions in pike 

 fishing that the queer bird which thus changed its lurking 

 place on the near approach of our boat, was "a rail," "a mud 

 hen," "a poke." or "a quak." Then I was favored with 

 more light. In company with a friend, Mr. Henry Wain- 

 riaht. now The genial host of the Union House at Manas- 

 quan, N. J., I was one day tramping the salt meadows 

 around Squan Inlet. It was' in the spring, and although I 

 am not certain now, I think as early as April. We were 

 gunning without dogs, and probably with no definite game 

 in view 7 . Pretty soon, from the sedge at the border of a 

 salt pond, there' rose, before me a bird. Its flight was not 

 slow, but deliberate and tempting, a peculiarity of the whole 

 bittern tribe. Any one who lias started on the Absecon 

 meadows the larger species, called by the natives "butter- 

 box," "dunkadoo" and "hunchapuuehy." will remember 

 the expectant look that the bird always has when flashed 

 from the grass, as if to say, "Are you never going to pull 

 that trigger?" Well, I was tempted, and the bird fell. An- 

 other rose, and Henry yielded. We found that the meadows 

 were literally full of them. 



The apparent size of the bird and our ignorance of the 

 proportion of feathers and flesh made us exultant, as one 

 after another came to our pockets. We thought of the won- 

 derful roast down, or mammoth pot -pie that our birds would 

 make, for we had long known, what many who read this 

 have gone hungry by not believing, that the flesh of all the 

 Arddice frequenting our coasts is palatable when the bird 

 has had abundant feed, and the cook knows her business. 

 Is it too much of a digressim to say that after the "full of 

 the moon" I would not turn away from a dinner of well 

 browned "quaks" or even "pokes" for a common beef steak 

 or a store chicken. But never mind. When we reached 

 home and picked our game, we found that there was no 

 need to call the neighbors in. The fifty birds that had af- 

 forded us so much sport on the meadows looked awful slim 

 in the pan, and we were sorry that we killed them. I have 

 never sought for them again on the meadows at that season, 

 or seen them anywheres in such numbers. In fact, when 1 

 think of that day's work 1 imagine I feel a little as the "sports- 

 man" does after a day's shooting of pigeons from a trap. 



So I first made the acquaintance of the least bittern, and 

 since that time I have met him every year, and learned that 

 in all our fresh-water ponds, at the time the alder leaves are 

 beginning to show color, a pair or two of them are likely to 

 be found. How Jong they stay 1 cannot say, as I only seek 

 their retreats during the time for spring pickerel fishing, but 

 I suppose they breed here, as 1 know the green heron (Unto- 

 rides rircsci ns) does. A little caution exercised, and you can 

 approach very near to them, near enough to see that they 

 are a most beautiful bird. The plumage of the male is es- 

 pecially rich in the bronze-green lustre of its breast tints, and 

 a pair of them mounted by Sauter. the taxidermist, made the 

 handsomest panel group I have ever seen. T. B. A. 



HlGHTSTOWN, N. J. 



Ptcoides AncTicrs ix NEwExGLAXD.-Mfcr Forest and 

 Stream: Your issue for Jan. 10, 18S4. contains a note by 

 Mr.W. A. Stearns, recording the capture of the black-backed 

 three-toed woodpecker in Massachusetts. After giving the 

 details, Mr. Stearns says: "Several instances of its capture 

 in ^ T ew England, and especially in this State [Massachusetts] 

 are on record." Although right in the main, this statement 

 is misleading, inasmuch as it does not go far enough. Dr. 

 T. M. Brewer states (North American Birds, Vol. IL, p. 531) 

 that "Audubon says it occurs in Northern Massachusetts 

 and in all portions of Maine that are covered by forests of 

 tall trees, where it constantly resides;" and continuing, that 

 "Professor Verrill says ttie bird is very common in Western 

 Maine, in the spring, fall and winter, or from the middle of 

 October to the middle or end of March." Messrs. Brewer. 

 Dean, and others have placed on record from time to time 

 captures in Massachusetts and elsewhere in New England, 

 In the fiual volume of the Bulktin of the Nutall Ornitholog- 

 ical Club, Mr. Brewster has given us an extremely interest- 

 ing note, from which I extract the following: ■•An 

 unusual influx of the three-toed woodpeckers into Eastern 

 Massachusetts. — I am indebted to Mr. George 0. Welch for 

 the following interesting notes: Some time in the summer 

 of 1860 a tire swept through a piece of heavy white pine 

 timber in Lynn, killing most of the trees. In the natural 

 course of events the charred trunks became infested with 

 wood-borers, and during the following winter (1860-fjf) the 

 place was a favorite resort of various kinds of woodpeckers. 

 In what manner the news of the feast was advertised iu the 

 remote forests of the ^Sortn is not explained, but certain it 

 is that with the first cold weather both species of Pic 

 appeared on the scene. Of P. america a us only three speci- 

 mens were actually taken, a female by Mr. Welch, and a 

 fine pair by Mr. X. Yickary. P. areiieus, however, was 

 actually abuudaut, and remained through the entire winter. 

 Mr. Welch often saw as many as six or eight during a single 

 visit to these woods, and numerous specimens were killed 

 and preserved. Most of the individuals seen weie females, 

 the yellow-crowned males being comparatively rare. Since 

 18(31 only two three-toed woodpeckers (both P. aniieus) are 

 kuown t'o have been taken iu Lynn." Although I have by 

 uo means exhausted the testimony. I think that I have given 

 sufficient to show that the statement was misleading" and 

 that more than "several instances of its capture in New En- 

 gland are on record."— Louis A. Zkkega (New York City). 

 [To our mind the most interesting fact in Mr. Stearns's note 

 was the date of capture — August. As our correspondent 

 states and the records show, it' has been taken a number of 

 times in New England, and this is known to every one who 

 keeps abreast of oui ornithological literature. The summer 

 capture of this northern bird in Massachusetts is, however, 

 certainly an extremely interesting note. 



