184 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[April 3, 1884. 



THE DEADLY MINK. 



I NOTE -with regret, the loss of Mr. Fred Mather, of Cold 

 Spring Harbor, N". Y. , of his flock of beautiful wood 

 clucks. Too bad! 



A few years ago. I had some fifty of these birds, collected 

 and caged for stocking other localities. One night about 

 midnight, I heard a rushing and roaring of the birds in their 

 room; within three minutes of the first alarm I was at the 

 pen, with light, and a heavy two-foot knife. I let down the 

 door, and put light, kuife, head and shoulders inside. Around 

 tome came the birds; behind, and driving them was a large 

 mink, which came near enough, and I split his head with 

 the knife, and left him heels up, kicking. I could see thai 

 the floor was about covered with ducks, heels up, and kick- 

 ing too. In the morning we found over thirty birds killed by 

 the "varmint," or so badly wounded that we thought best 

 to kill them, as they would die of their wounds. The fiend 

 had cut the throats of most of them, and some were bitten 

 in the head. None seemed to be dead when I first got out, 

 but he might have killed some before they gave the alarm, 

 hut I believe not. The mink did not notice me or the light, 

 except when I struck him, then he stuck up his bloody teeth 

 at me, for a fight, apparently. 



I have handled these birds since, sometimes, for breeding 

 and domestication, but like Mr. Mather, I "covered the well 

 since the calf was drowned," and at night confined the birds 

 in a room that is mink, weasel and rat tight, the only safe 

 way in this wild-woods country. At Cold Spring Harbor, I 

 expected a better civilization. Louts A. Lei-axd. 



Michigan, March 20. 



STEARNS'S NATURAL HISTORY OF 

 LABRADOR. 



IN the fifth volume of the Proceedings of the United States 

 National Museum, there is a paper of twenty-seven pages, 

 entitled "Notes on the Natural History of Tjabrador," by W. 

 A. Stearns. 



Mr. Stearns made a summer excursion to Labrador in 1875, 

 and spent nearly a year there in 1880-1881. He also visited 

 the coast again during the summer of 1882. His examina- 

 tions were confined to the vicinity of the seaboard. The re- 

 sults of these investigations are contained in this paper; and 

 are presented in the form of briefly annotated lists of mam- 

 mals, birds, "reptiles" and batrachians, fishes, and plants. 

 In his introductory remarks, Mr. Stearns states that the 

 spring catch of the Newfoundland and other sealing vessels 

 is from thirteen to sixteen thousand young seals. As a mat- 

 ter of fact, a single vessel sometimes" procures double 

 this number. The amtual catch of the Newfoundland seal- 

 ing fleet rarely falls below two hundred thousand, and com- 

 monly ranges between three and four hundred thousand. 

 Twelve times during the present century it has exceeded 

 five hundred thousand; four times it passed six hundred 

 thousand ; and once it reached the extraordinary number of 

 seven hundred and forty-six thousand ! 



In the list of mammals, the silver and black foxes are ac- 

 corded varietal distinction. 



The ringed seal or floe rat (Phoca faitida) is given as "not 

 uncommon in harbors in spring and fall. Distinguished from 

 last species [P. vitulina] only on close examination." In view 

 of the fact that this seal does not rank among the migratory 

 species, is it not possible that a still closer examination would 

 demonstrate its identity with P. vitulina? If Mr. Stearns 

 Drought back so much as a single skull of the animal in ques- 

 tion, and will submit it to either Mr. Allen or myself for ex- 

 amination, the matter can at once be settled. 



The absence of ihe large gray seal (HaUchcerus grypus) from 

 the list is surprising. I know from personal observation that 

 it is common at some of the localities mentioned. 



Our author says : ' 'Regarding the deer of Labrador some 

 confusion exists. Two species, about equally common, are 

 found throughout the peninsula in small, orless frequently 

 in large (300 or 400) herds. They are probably the following: 

 Tarandus rangifer, Brookes, var. Caribou, woodland c:m- 

 hou; and Tarandus rangifer, Brookes, var. Grodanddcus, 

 barren ground caribou ; Alces malcMs (Linne) gray, the moose, 

 and Certus canadensis, Erxleben, the American elk, have 

 both been reported as found on the southwest portion of 

 Labrador, abofit north from Anticosti, but they are doubt- 

 less very rare and occasional." 



I regret that I cannot agree with Mr. Stearns in consider- 

 ing it probable that hoth the woodland and barren ground 

 caribou are found in Labrador; and his remarks concerning 

 the moose and elk are most unfortunate. I have seen no 

 evidence to indicate that the elk ever inhabited the area 

 under consideration ; and the moose is known to be restricted 

 in its eastern range (along the north shore of the St. Law- 

 rence) by the Saguenay. 



We are informed that the white whale ("Delphinapteriis' 

 catodon) is "common in the St. Lawrence River, at least as 

 far as Anticosti. " It is equally common at certain seasons 

 off the entire Labrador coast, and great numbers of them 

 annually pass through the Strait of Belle Isle. 



"Gray squirrels are said to occur here also, but I did not 

 see any," writes our author. The failure to inspect the gray 

 squirrel on the far-off rocky coast, should not be attributed 

 to negligence or bad eyesight; for Labrador is not only far 

 north of its known range, but the physiographical conditions 

 that obtain there are such as would preclude its occupancy 

 by this animal, even if the area were not latitudinally ex- 

 cluded from its habitat. 



The concluding mammal is the little brown bat (Vesper- 

 tilio suhulatus), and the record would be more acceptable 

 were it accompanied by the name of the person who identi- 

 fied the specimen. 



The list of birds contains one hundred and eleven species, 

 and some startling statements. 



The record of the wood thrush (RylocicMa mustelina) has 

 already been queried by Mr. Ridgway, and I will only add 

 that I have found both the hermit and the olive-backed 

 thrush breeding along the north shore of the Gulf of St. 

 Lawrence. , 



The pine grosbeak (Pinicola enuclea.tor) is given as "com- 

 mon in fall and winter." It unquestionably breeds through- 

 out Labrador, and I have myself found it breeding near Point 

 de Monts. 



The common Junco is said to be "not rare in spring and 

 fall." Of course it breeds. The rock ptarmigan (Lagopus 

 rupe&tru) is stated to be "not rare. Generally common in 

 winter. " 



When the author, in referring to the discovery of the nest 

 of the king eider (Somateria spertabilis) on an island off Min- 

 gan, says that he believes this to be "the first record of this 

 rare nest found on the Atlantic," he must employ the term 

 Atlantic in a somewhat restricted sense, for the species is 



known to breed abundantly in Hudson's Bay and Davis 

 Strait, and probably along Northern Labrador as well. 



Mr. Steams makes the" extraordinary announcement that 

 the Pacific eider ISomateria, v-nigra) is "abundant in large 

 flocks in spring." If this statement can be authenticated, it 

 is certainly a most interesting and valuable contribution to 

 ornithological science. 



The Arctic tern (Sterna macrura)\s given as "an abundant 

 spring and fall migrant in the Gulf." Large numbers breed 

 at certain places along the coast. 



Under the head of "Reptiles and Batrachians," our author 

 tells us that he heard frogs "in the marshes about the mouth 

 of Pinway River," and enumerates JRana septentrionalis and 

 PUtlwdon gluionosa as having been found by Dr. Packard. 

 Without mentioning a single reptile he goes on to say, ' "The 

 reptilian fauna will probably be enlarged, but not to any'great 

 extent," and passes directly to the consideration of fishes. 



Turning to the list of plants, we find 157 species enumer- 

 ated, twenty-eight of which are glumaceous and cryptoga- 

 mous. Hence, omitting the grasses and sedges, we have 

 but 129 flowering plants, more than fifty of which are in- 

 cluded on the authority of the Rev. S. R. Butler, whose list 

 was published in the Canadian Naturalist, in 1870. This 

 leaves less than eighty species as the result of our author's 

 botanical investigations during one entire year and two 

 summers. That this is not wholly attributable to the meagre 

 flora of Labrador is evident from the fact that I have myself 

 found, in an hour's time, nearly this number of species grow- 

 ing in a single locality not remote from the seat of our 

 author's labors. C. Hart Merriam, M.D. 



Locust Gbove. N". Y., March 13, 1834. 



AN INTERESTING RELIC. 



Editor F&rest and Stream: 



I regard the facts in the case I am about to report as suffi- 

 ciently interesting to be worthy of publication in your 

 columns, believing they will be re- 

 ceived with appreciation by the gen- 

 eral subscribers to your issue, and 

 afford material for speculation to 

 those who may regard the matter 

 from an ethnological or ornitholog- 

 ical point of view. 



About a fortnight since, while on 

 a gunning expedition to one of the 

 small islands in Chesapeake Bay, 

 Mr. James Frick, of this city, cap- 

 tured a specimen of the wild swan. 

 Though I did not have an opportu- 

 nity of examining the fresh speci- 

 men, when brought down, I am in- 

 formed that it was of average size. 

 There were no observations made to 

 determine the sex or probable age. 

 The curious feature of the case was 

 disclosed, however, after the bird 

 was prepared for the table, and sub- 

 jected to the carving knife, when 

 an iron arrow or spear head was dis- 

 covered beneath the pectoral mus- 

 cles, and lying against the breast- 

 bone. The sharp end was buried in 

 the bone to the depth of a quarter of 

 an inch, and when extracted showed 

 a slight bend near the tip. The whole 

 instrument was covered by a mem- 

 branous sheath, no sign remaining 

 in the region of the original wound 

 by which the probable time of its 

 infliction could be approximated. 



The accompanying sketch I have 

 made in exact accordance with the 

 shape and dimensions of the orig- 

 inal, trusting that it may be given 

 in accompaniment with the relative 

 statements. The iron is tV of an 

 inch in thickness. 



Since the range of territory fre- 

 quented by the swan during the 

 breeding and migratory seasons is 

 very extensive, it becomes an inter- 

 esting problem to assign the origin 

 of this bit of iron, unless these facts 

 come under the observation of one 

 familiar with the implements characteristic of Indian, 

 Esquimaux or other savages. P. Bryson Wood, M.D. 

 45 Franklin Street, Baltimore, Md. 



BIRD NOTES. 



WOODCOCK are here, so are robins, -bluebirds, song 

 sparrows and fox sparrows, red-winged blackbirds 

 and golden-winged woodpeckers. I have also seen lesser 

 redpoll linnets, and quite a number of yellow-ruraped warb- 

 lers (J). coro7iata). A good deal of ice in our ponds, but the 

 snow is fast disappearing. X. Y. Z. 



Salem, Mass., March 88, 1884. 



Wild ducks were shot here on the 17th inst. ; two out of a 

 flock of six. They were black ducks. Dell Wells. 



Mantorville, Minn., March .22. 



Saw first wild geese Monday, March 17, bluebirds, rob- 

 ins, blackbirds, March 19, black duck, mallard, whistlers 

 and bluebills March 23; there is a good flight of ducks here 

 now. W. M. G. 



Woodvillk, N. Yr, March 28. 



Geese and ducks put in an appearance on the 20th ; 21st 

 robins and blackbirds, and the familiar "scaipe" of the snipe 

 was heard. This morning blue and other birds, and the air 

 is full of song. Crows remained with us all winter. 



Rosendale, Wis., March 22. S. B. D. 



Though snow is still on the ground, some of our songsters 

 have arrived, viz,, robins, blackbirds, and what is known 

 here as the Canadian nightingale. The quail that were im- 

 ported and turned loose at Lachine about three years ago 

 have all gone. Tuque Bleue. 



Montreal, Canada, March 28. 



Up to a week ago the season was backward, but since 

 then it has been much more forward, and woodcock have 

 been frequently seen; but last night very suddenly the 

 weather changed, and people upon getting out of bed this 



was leaving the last piece of cover up went a woodcock, I 

 think a male bird. A number of flocks of black ducks LI. 

 ohscura) were seen yesterday. March is goiug out like a lion 

 this year. x. Y. Z. 



Sat, em, Mass. 



Here at St. Cloud, Minn., I have seen the following birds: 

 Jan. 9, raven; Feb. 1, crows; March 14, one flock of seven- 

 teen ducks flying south; March 17, one duck flying west; 

 March 23, one flock of geese, lit in farmer's field ; March 24. 

 one flock of geese (wanted to light in Lake George at St. 

 Cloud) and one meadow lark; March 25, killdeer plover, 

 robins and blackbirds. That first, flock of wild geese were 

 reported to me by the farmer himself; he shot at them lint, 

 missed. We are having very nice weather here now. 



St. Cloud, Minn., Marcli 26. Lark. 



Robins appeared here to-day. Crows were first heard on 

 March 17. K. 



Okmeal Lake, Mich., March 25. 



A rapid tour through Prospect Park this afternoon gave 

 promise of the early arrival of the birds. Robins were quite 

 plentiful, and I saw a yelknv '-shafted flicker. Rather early 

 for him, is it not? Song sparrows Sing cheerfully their 

 quaint little song, and early in the morning the gray squirrel 

 scampers about in play. ' John 'Barf.ett. 



Brooklyn, N. Y„ March 88. 



A PROPOSED ZOOLOGICAL GARDEN. 



r T A RE following letter has been sent to several Congress- 

 X men at Washington, and sufficiently explains itself: 

 Hon. W. B. Allison,_ 1,124 Vermont Avenue, Washington, D.C.: 



Dear Sir — Permit ine to offer you the following suggestion 

 respecting an amendment to the bill now before Congress 

 relative to the National Park. During the past summer while 

 I was viewing the National Park scenery, 1 conceived the idea 

 of how valuable tkis Park would be to scientists, and conse- 

 quently the world at large, provided that a part of it was set 

 apart for a grand zoological garden. And that, since there 

 seems to be some guarantee that the birds and. animals— the 

 latter such as are without claws — are to be preserved, at least 

 so far as it is possible without strict confinement of these birds 

 and animals, I think that for the present only such a garden 

 should be established as would keep within its bounds the fol- 

 lowing described animals, mainly: The grizzly bear (Ursus 

 horribilis), black bear (U. amertcanus). cinnamon bear (U. 

 A, var. cinnamoneus). And of the deer family the following: 

 Moose (Cervus alces), wapiti or American elk (O. canadensis), 

 woodland caribou or reindeer (C. tarandus), nxule deer. (C. 

 macrotis), black-tailed deer (C. columbianus), common or 

 Virginia deer (C. virginianus), barren ground caribou (C, tar- 

 andus). All of these and many other animals could be con 

 fined in a park or garden within the boundaries of the National 

 Park, and by placing some one — an honest, competent observer 

 —in charge, great benefit would be derived from the notes he 

 would make, and which could then be published in like man- 

 ner as the reports of the Smithsonian Institute. 



At present but little is known respecting the hibernating or 

 various animals, and particularly of the several species of 

 bears. In the zoological gardens in this country and Europe 

 these animals are so closely confined that but little oppor- 

 tunity is given the animal to present his natural inclinations, 

 or that which might be considered his instinctive qualifica- 

 tions. Again, I can find no record that a hear has ever given 

 birth to a cub while in confinement. Lions are not so disposed 

 and more readily adapt themselves to the conditions of life 

 into which they are placed, and often give birth to youug 

 while in confinement. A very interesting study is that of tor- 

 pidity of animals, and one which in the near future will be of 

 great service in working out many vexatious problems con- 

 nected with the study of Nature. The location of the National 

 Park is of very great value for this particular study; not that 

 animals (and perhaps birds) do not hibernate in wanner 

 climates as well as in that latitude and altitude, but that the 

 periods of hibernation would be much longer and thereby give 

 greater length of time for study; and further, that for study 

 during the summer for breeding months) there could be no 

 better place found. It is well known that just such sur- 

 roundings as are found in the Park — the caves, dreary and 

 lonely places amid rocks and underbrush, plenty of clear, cold 

 mountain water, and with the ever cool atmosphere of the 

 high altitude there found— is Nature's breeding place for the 

 largest of the animals we call "game." And while this is the 

 fact respecting the advantages there found for the preserva- 

 tion of the family of bears, it is equally as serviceable for the 

 propagation of the various deer of America. With the ex- 

 ception of that very valuable report upon the study of "The 

 Antelope and Deer' of America," by Judge Caton, of Illinois, 

 we have but little knowledge respecting the habits of the an- 

 telope or deer of America; and this work is none else than 

 Judge Gaton's report of his study of the animals in question 

 while in his private park in Illinois. Outside of this mono- 

 graph we have absolutely nothing describing accurately these 

 animals, and were it not for the energy and studious nature 

 of Judge Caton, this interesting family of animals would have 

 been but very little known. 



But a few years longer can we expect, with the grand 

 waves ®f immigration now moving from East to West and 

 West to East, that bears, deer and many other interesting 

 animals can be found in the wild state ; and shall we let them 

 meet the ill-fated hand of destruction, and to be known then 

 in history only as the "extinct animals?" I earnestly hope 

 some action can be taken that will preserve at least a few of 

 these noble representatives of the fauna of this country, and 

 that, too, in connection with our park, which, like our Ursus 

 horribilis, is without equal. All the animals above named 

 can be raised in the National Park, and I might add the 

 "mountain buffalo" is found on Specimen Mountain, and it is 

 claimed cannot be found in any other part of the world. Other 

 animals I might mention which that climate would be suitable 

 for raising in, and would alike prove of great service to the 

 scientific world, are antelope (Antilocapra americana), moun- 

 tain sheep (Ocis inontana), mountain goat (Aplocerus mon- 

 tcmus). buffalo (Bos americanus). The last 1 think would 

 prove of very great value by crossing with our native cattle 

 for the purpose of producing a hardier breed of cattle. 



Merely as a suggestion I submit the above, and if consistent, 

 desire that an amendment be added to the bill now before 

 Congress, embracing the substance of the. above suggestion, 

 or as may be improved upon by a more worthy hand. 



I am, very truly, D. H. Talbot. 



Sioux City", Iowa, March 6, 1884. 



[The establishment of such a garden we believe to be per- 

 fectly feasible, and there can be no doubt that in proper 

 hands it would be of great benefit to science. Undertaken 

 at first for the purpose of preserving our native mammals, 

 it might afterward come to have a much wider scope]. 



Flew Against the Window.— Yesterday, April 2, two 

 yellow-bellied woodpeckers (Sphyrapiem mrius), still warm, 

 were brought into this office. A few moments before, the 

 birds, one pursuing the other, had flown against the plate- 

 glass windows of the Times office and been killed. It was 

 rather an odd place for this to happen, in the heart of the 

 city. They must have been resting in the City Hall Park, 

 and, chasing each other either in sport or rage, have so met 

 their death. 



