April 10, 1884.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



208 



p$totyi. 



BIRD NOTES. 



A SOLITARY robin, the only one noticed this season, 

 appeared here on the 19th 'instant, and, after hopping 

 about in a subdued kind of way for a few hours, suddenly 

 rose up and disappeared, going south, and has not been seen 

 since. Query—Did that Robin forecast the fearful snow- 

 storm which commenced to rage here on the day following 

 its departure southward? The weather for two weeks pre- 

 ceding the 20th inst. was warm and pleasant. Ducks and 

 geese appeared during this time in moderate numbers and 

 proceeded to occupy the open water places in the lakes and 

 streams, but the snowstorm referred to, which continued 

 for two days and nights, sent them whirling back toward 

 the South.' No jack snipe yet. Andy Paintkil 



Fort Russeli,, Cheyenne. Wy., March 20, 1SS4. 



The cold winter North sent to Florida .great uumbers of 

 woodcock, to the joy of the shooters. Quail have been quite 

 numerous, and the gardeners now complain that they take 

 more strawberries than the robins North. The Everglade 

 kite, Roalrhanms wciabilix 'plvmbcv.s.ffi&g,, has been making 

 us a visit near Jacksonville this winter. Three are now in 

 the taxidermist's hands, taken near here. 



Geo. A. Boardman. 



.TACKSONVUiLK, Fla,, March 30. 



We are once more gladdened by the songs of the robins 

 and bluebirds. They have been with us for nearly two 

 weeks. Crows and red winged blackbirds are gist) here. 

 Several flocks of wild geese have passed here, going north. 

 Ruffed grouse have wintered well here, and the prospect for 

 next fall's shooting is very good. A. I. J. 



Carleton, Vt., March 30. 



Spring has fairly opened with us here. Many of the 

 migratory birds are now on the wing. During the past week 

 or two large flocks of white-bellied swallows (Tachycineta 

 bieolor) and purple martins (Progne subis) have arrived. The 

 purple martins breed here in holes in the tops of decayed 

 trees. The woodpeckers seem to be out in full force, and 

 the cry of our northern species (Cokxptes auratus) is often 

 heard. Redwing blackbirds (Agdcmis phoenicmis), meadow 

 larks (SturneHa magna) and bluebirds (tiialm sialis) are be- 

 coming more plenty every day. I have not seen a robin for 

 several weeks. The weather is very delightful here now. 

 All the wild flowers are in bloom, and the birds' tuneful 

 voices are heard from morn to night. J. C. C. 



Charlotte Harbor, Fla., March 27. 



Mr. Peter Johnson, who lives about nine miles from here, 

 yesterday morning shot a golden eagle {Aquila clirysaetus), 

 length, 3ft. lin., extent, 7ft. lin. Like the one "J. S. P.," of 

 Lockport, reports, this one had its legs and feet full of por- 

 cupine quills. It was very poor, having a hard winter of it 

 undoubtedly. The Grand Army of the Republic will have 

 me mount it for their hall. The first appearance of the 

 birds was on March 24, when robins, bluebirds, chipping 

 sparrows and blackbirds put in an appearance. C. F. C. 



Waupaca, Wis., March 26. 



I have noticed a habit in the woodcock for several years 

 past that I have never seen reported in your paper. They 

 begin to lay as soon as the snow is off in March, and while 

 the female is sitting, the male, just at dusk, will begin to rise 

 with a chipperiug noise and continuing to rise in spiral 

 circles out of sight, then it will descend in a straight down 

 plunge, with a short, sharp whistle, and after alighting on 

 !li? ground it makes a noise very much like the common 

 . r.igkt hawk. Have other observers noticed it? Saw white- 

 breasted swallow March 21, robins and blackbirds March 

 10; bluebirds have been with us all winter. There are 

 thousands of water fowl in Narragansett Bay, and off Point 

 Judith the gunners are killing great number's of them. 



Water Fowl. 



South Kingston, R. I., April 2. 



["Water Fowl" is notified that this habit of the woodcock 

 has been known for many years, and commented on by all 

 writers on the species.] 



■'What kind of a bird is that?" said this morning, 



■ pointing at the same time toward a brown-colored bird then 

 clinging to the side of a small tree. 



"That is a scansorial bird of the genus Picus," answered 

 the man with spectacles. 



'^O, yes, so it is, I see now; but really, I thought at first 

 it was a woodpecker." The subscriber moved on. 



Chickadees, woodpeckers and killdeers are here, the two 

 latter varieties just arrived, and first noticed about 8 o'clock 

 A. M. A warm wind from the south, well laden with mois- 

 ture, has prevailed for the past twenty-four hours until 

 about an hour since, when it commenced snowing, the wind 

 changing to the north. The snow is now two inches deep 

 and still falling. Andy Painter. 



Fokt Russell, Wyoming, March 31. 



poor phcebe;" 27th, I saw a pair of kildeer plover on a wheat 

 field, and also saw a spotted sandpiper, flying over; 29th ( 

 saw two white-bellied swallows today. Severe cold 

 weather up to April 1. G. A. K. 



Onondaga Hill, N. Y. 



SOME FLORIDA PETS. 



I WAS much interested with "How do They Live," in 

 Forest and Stream of Feb. 7. My heart goes out to 

 the writer, and 1 warm toward him, or any man who dares 

 express his kindly feeling for our little friends of the woods. 



Down here in Florida we have lots of outdoor pets, and 

 although there is no severe cold weather here, yet it is cool 

 enough in a norther to make them seek for shelter. We 

 have three little fellows in particular, who often come to the 

 house for shelter and protection, they are about the size of a 

 wren and of dusky brown color. 



The first we noticed them was one day when it was blow- 

 ing furiously, and there was a driving rain. They came 

 under the veranda, taking refuge under an old rubber blanket, 

 which hung over a chair. Tliere they remained all night, 

 and in the morning, after a hearty breakfast of crunibs, they 

 merrily flew away. 



The next cold rain they came again, and failing to And any 

 shelter on the veranda, they came to the window. This being 

 opened they entered without any hesitation and remained all 

 night as before. They have now become so tame, they will 

 come at our call, and will hap about within three feet of us 

 to get the crumbs we throw them. 



Not long since, while eating breakfast, a fluttering was 

 heard, and in at the open door came one of our little friends, 

 closely followed by a small hawk. The hawk finding his 

 prey was beyond his reach for the present, retreated in good 

 order to a tree near by, where he sat with great gravity until 

 a charge of shot knocked him over. I set him up and he now 

 sits perched on my inkstand watching me write. 



We have two more pets which were very cunning for 

 a while, but they are becoming entirely too 'familiar. On 

 one side of the house and quite near it, stands a large live oak. 

 Last fall when the acorns were lull-grown, we noticed two 

 crows coming every day for acorns. When they found they 

 were not molested they became perfectly fearless, and would 

 pick and shell the acorns while w T e sat on the veranda watch- 

 ing them, occasionally throwing them bits of bread, meat, 

 etc., until now they will come on the veranda, stalk about 

 with great dignity, come into the house, and if no strangers 

 are here, will go on the table, helping themselves to what- 

 ever they can get. A crow will steal anything he can carry, 



The woodcock were just a week later in appearing near 

 my home in New Jersey this year. Last year I heard and 

 saw the first ones March 14. On the 23d, our old friends 

 the phcebe birds, were examining their former nesting place 

 over the dining-room window, under the piazza. 



Geo. Shepard Page. 



Stanley, Morris County, N. J., April 2. 



March 1, saw a flock of black snow buntings; 3d, first 

 chipping sparrow; 4th, shore larks and snowbirds abundant; 

 0th, first bluebirds; 7th, saw a song sparrow; 8th, this morn- 

 ing I observed snowbirds and shore larks flying north, and 

 at night tney were flying south in large flocks. I observed 

 this for four days; 12th and 13th, song sparrows and blue- 

 birds plenty; 15th, saw first robin; 19th, saw a fine cock 

 grouse or partridge budding in an apple tree, I watched him 

 tor several moments and he did not seem in the least afraid ; 

 20th, saw first chipmunk or ground squirrel. It was a gala 

 day for the birds on the 20th, cedar birds, bluejays, blue- 

 birds, robins, song sparrows, purple grackles and cow bunt- 

 ings were abundant everywhere. 21st, saw a meadow lark 

 near Syracuse, N. Y., and have heard of their being quite 

 plenty on the meadows by the Onondaga Creek; 22d, hawks 

 of two species have put in an appearance to-day, the black 

 hawk aud the rcdtail hawk; 23, a phcebe bird took a seat 

 in a hickory tree, where she rocked back and forth with 

 great gravity and had considerable to say about "phcebe, 



whether it be food or not. As 1 said before, they are becom- 

 ing too familiar. I don't like to kill them, for I have coaxed 

 them to be friends, but something must be done, as they will 

 turn us out of house and home. 



We have mockiug birds here which will hardly get out of 

 our way they are so tame. Two black squirrels live in a 

 tree near the house, and are so fearless that they are per- 

 fectly at ease within ten feet of U3, and will sit and munch a 

 nut with all the coolness imaginable. 



This is a new place and very little shooting is done here. 

 I expect, when the place gets well settled, the birds will be 

 more shy. 1 dread the day when it will be so, for 1 like to 

 feel that friendship and confidence is the rule rather than the 

 exception. And 1 want to say to "Nessmuk," that although 

 I have never seen him and don't even know his name, I like 

 him. 1 should like to meet him in the woods or on some 

 lake. I couldn't believe it was "Nessmuk" if I met him in 

 town or city. We may meet some time and swap hints on 

 cruising. Quien sale. Brave "Nessmuk;" may you and 

 the Sairy find blue water, pleasant skies and easy carries. 



1 am getting ready for a cruise to the southward. Mean 

 to spend four weeks in Charlotte Harbor and then go to 

 Thousand Islands, perhaps further. Will write you what 

 we see, find, feel and think about: until then, good-bye. 



Tarpon Springs, Fla. TARPON. 



PROTECTING SONG BIRDS. 



I AGREE with Mr. Tinglcy and "F. G. S." in your issues 

 of March 13 and 20, especially "F. G. S." in his last re- 

 marks about how few naturalists and taxidermists are to be 

 found in the various towns and cities. The city in which I 

 live at the North is quite a large one, and I know of but two 

 professional taxidermists in the city, and one of these two 

 does not work at his occupation. These taxidermists col- 

 lect birds when migrating, but do not, I am sure, collect 

 such birds as breed around our homes in summer. I do 

 know of boys and men that shoot robins and our other song 

 birds in the summer just for the mere fun of having some 

 bird to kill. These are the ones that ought to be stopped. 

 There are several young ornithologists in my city, and 

 although their collections are not large or mounted in first- 

 class manner, they show an appreciation and interest in their 

 work. There is one more thing I should like to inquire into. 

 In your issue of March 20, in an artitle entitled "Protecting 

 Song Birds," your correspondent, "X.," gives the reply of a 

 member of the Legislature to a taxidermist, which is as fol- 

 lows: "Well, perhaps you are right; but would you expect 

 a traveler sent out to a far country to study the habits of the 

 people to take a shotgun with him and kill and stuff the 

 skins of all the people he could find? He would come back 

 with a full knowlege :of the habits and customs of the 

 people, wouldn't he?" 



Now if a traveler was sent out to a far country to study 

 the habits of the people, would he not be among them nearly 

 all of the time, and if he should at any moment want to find 

 out anything about them, could he not do so at once? Can 

 we do this with the birds? Are there not many species that 

 are seen only when migrating, and then only for a brief 

 time? Only men that have plenty of money can follow 

 them thousands of miles from their breeding place to their 

 winter home. Are there not many species which, if they 

 could be caught, would not live in a cage but a very short 

 ti me ? 1 low, then, can these birds be studied without making 

 up their skins? Did not Audubon collect and make up 

 many bird skins? J, c. Cahoon. 



Charlotte Harbor, Fla,, March 27. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have been much interested in several communications 

 and in other articles, which have appeared in the columns 

 of the Forest and Stbeam referring to the needless destruc- 

 tion of our singing and forest birds. I would like to call 

 attention to something which seems to me to be outrageous 

 and an enterprise deserving the most unqualified condem- 

 nation. I refer to the infamous, wholesale traffic in bird 

 eggs, carried on by certain persons in this and other States. 

 I have in my possession samples of circulars which are 



doubtless scattered broadcast over the land and come into 

 the hands of hundreds of boys, thus stimulating them to 

 engage in the work of destroying our birds in the most 

 effective manner. For it is unnecessary to add that more 

 birds can be destroyed at the breeding season with less labor, 

 than at any other time. A nest is seldom robbed, but its 

 entire contents are taken or injured and in many cases, to 

 conclude the outrage, the parent birds are shot/ And for 

 what, pray ! In a very great majority of cases, as is well 

 known, merely to satisfy the passing fancy of an idle boy, 

 or at most, an irresponsible and unscientific collector of 

 curiosities, And I do not blame the boys, either, a fraction 

 as much as those who encourage them in such a pursuit, in- 

 stead of endeavoring to teach that birds should be guarded 

 and protected by everybody. Listen to this from one of the 

 circulars referred to above: 



"In order to reduce an immense stock of birds' eg!?s, the following 

 low prices will bold good until April 15, 1884. * * * We make a spe- 

 cialty of oologieal specimens. Over 10,000 eggs in stock. Lists for 

 stamp. Collectors having * * * eggs for sale or exchange at low 

 rates, in large or small quantities, will please send their lists and 

 prices." 



Then follows a long list of birds and the prices of their re- 

 spective eggs. They are all there, and apparently can be 

 supplied by the wholesale. Here are some: 



Robin $0 09 Baltimore oriole $0 05 



Bluebird 08 Meadow lark 06 



Song sparrow 02 Pewee 08 



Rose- breasted grosbeak.. 20 Etc., etc. 

 Now, Mr. Editor, this seems to me a nefarious business. 

 The idea of trafficking, bujing and selling, and getting gain 

 out of the eggs of our little feathered friends, who never do 

 us aught but good, and deserve the most jealous protection! 

 Is it not contrary to law? Cannot it he suppressed? 

 I do not intend "to say aught against the collection of birds 

 and eggs for scientific purposes by duly authorized and re- 

 sponsible persons. That is a very different matter from en- 

 gaging in bird-nesting as a business, and thus, doubtless, 

 employing directly and indirectly hundreds of skilled labor- 

 ers, as well as many an amateur and bungling hand, in this 

 atrocious business. H. W C 



Rye, N. Y. 



Shrikes Catch: Mice when Thrown in the Air.— A 

 few days since I was told by an intelligent young farmer, 

 who is attending the Union sehool in this city, that while 

 drawing in cornstalks in November he noticed some birds 

 following the wagon, catching the mice that were disturbed 

 when the stooks were removed. So, picking up a mouse, he 

 threw it in the air and the birds would catch it before it 

 reached the ground, when it would fly to the fence, and, 

 after killing the mouse, would return for more, and did so a 

 number of times. The young man did not know the name of 

 the bird, but stated that they breed on the farm every season, 

 and a few remain through the winter. I told him that the 

 bird was the shrike, or "butcher bird," but did not know the 

 same bird that breeds here remained through the winter, 

 although we often have shrikes here all winter. I supposed 

 they were the great northern {Collurio borealis), and that the 

 loggerhead (C. ludovicmna) were the only ones that, breed 

 here. I have found the nest containing eggs on the 24th of 

 April. Recently the young man was looking at my son's 

 collection of birds, and I asked him if he saw any like the 

 birds that caught the mice. He said he had not. I after- 

 ward took him to a case containing a number of birds, and 

 among them two shrikes, and as soon as he saw them, he said 

 "those were the birds." Two weeks ago I saw a field mouse 

 impaled on a small pear tree, and concluded it must have 

 been the work of a shrike. The next day it was gone. Is it 

 probable that the loggerhead (G. ludoviciana) remains hare 

 during the winter?— J. L. D. (Lock-port, N. Y.). 



An Old Fable. — While riding from the villaee to our 

 house, I showed to my companion, Mr. B. L. Hall, several 

 fox-colored sparrows, and observed to him that I only saw 

 them during their spring and fall migrations. This led to 

 some remarks about birds, and he astonished me by saying, 

 "I don't suppose you would believe that swallows go' into 

 the mud and have been dug out from it. " This was not the 

 first time I had heard of such a belief, but it was the first 

 time I ever heard a reliable man say he believed it, and knew 

 a man who had dug them from out the mud. Unfortunately 

 this man, Mr. Benjamin Washburn, is dead. Still the writer 

 remembers him well, and so far as he knows, his reputation 

 for truthfulness was good, It was useless for me to combat 

 this story of Mr. H.'s who declared he was sure that it was 

 as he said, and that others — whose names I have not learned 

 — knew of the finding of swallows in the mud. How so 

 strong a belief could be impressed on a person's mind I can- 

 not imagine. Can any readers of Forest and Stream sub- 

 stantiate this belief? Your correspondent tried to refute it by 

 showing its impossibility, but it was of no use. — Mergus 

 (East Wareham, Mass., April 4). [This is a belief which is 

 very ancient. See Coues's "Birds of the Colorado Valley."] 



Ooachwhip and Rattler.— Saw the hist robin (flying- 

 northward) on the 25th of last month. We have had a great 

 many with us the past winter. A large coach whip snake 

 over six feet long was seen in a fierce combat with a young 

 rattlesnake to-day. The rattlesnake was probably about two 

 years old, and was eighteen inches long. The coachwhip 

 nearly killed his adversary, when a charge of shot put an 

 end to both. The coachwhip snake is a great chicken eater. 

 We never heard before, uorhavewebeen able to find anyone 

 who has, of this snake being an enemy of the rattlesnake. It 

 is well known that the black snake kills every rattlesnake he 

 meets, and that where the former is common the latter are 

 rarely seen. I also killed to-day, and preserved the skin of a 

 very large gopher snake seven feet and one inch in length, 

 and nine inches in circumference in the largest part. I don't 

 want the readers of Forest and Stream to infer by the 

 above that snakes are abundant here, for they are not. This 

 rattlesnake was the second one I have seen in two years, and 

 I believe I am in the woods as much as any one in this section 

 of the country, being engaged in surveying frequently, as 

 well as hunting.— Red Wing (Glencoe, Fla., April 1). 



Seals in the Hudon off Sing Sing.— During the middle 

 and latter part of March, seals (Phoea ■mtulina) were quite 

 common in the Hudson off this place. They were seen on 

 the cakes of ice that floated back and forth with the tide; 

 few days passing but that some of the duckers saw one or 

 two. I received a carcass of a male that was shot by Messrs. 

 George and Benj. Smith, on March 18, near the channel; 

 the same day one was killed by another ducker. A few days 

 after, when the ice was soft, it was reported that one at- 

 tempted to climb up in the bow of a duck boat, not seeing 

 the man behind the screen. — A. K. Fisheh, M. D (Sine- 

 Sing, N. T). 5 



