- et... 
Ds Pa 18, 1884. ] 
OREST AND STREAM. 
408 
never heard the ery of the fisher, and know of no one who 
has. 
“Nessmuk” wants to know if anybody has eyer been 
drowned three times, Well, I can come very near answer- 
ing that in the affirmative. Like him I haye been drowned 
thoroughly twice, and for a third experience, went over a 
sixteen-foot pitch, was shot like a catapult off a thirty-foot 
apron, on to ragged ledges, ten feet below the surface, which 
pounded me (so that for two days I could not stand), then 
through an undertow, by a miracle, where huge mill logs 
would sometimes be tossed for an hour, and it was a very 
limp and helpless specimen of humanity that strong but 
tender hands carried up the bank, a quarter of a mile below. 
Still I was not quite drowned, as I remembered seeing, like 
ole in a dream, the wild excitement of the hundred meu on 
the bank, My triends have oftened encouraged me by 
quoting a well-known adage which will doubtless at_once 
recur to ‘‘Nessmuk.” With this proverb asa benison I will 
close this ‘‘crazy quilt” communication, PENOBSCOT, 
MAINE. 
HORNS OF THE FEMALE CARIBOU, 
Eiditor Forest and Stream: 
During February or March last I noticed a letter in your 
columns from Mr. Geo. Bird Grinuell, with the same head- 
ing as above, in which it was affirmed that ‘the female car- 
“ibou is always or nearly always provided with horns,” and a 
theory was advanced that the especial use of these horns 
was to protect the female from the male during the winter 
season, when the stronger of the herd attempt to force the 
weaker away from the patches of moss from which they 
have scraped the snow—the moss forming their principal 
food at this season. As I write froma brief memo., not 
haying the paper before me, I may have madesome mistake, 
in which case [ shall be pleased to be corrected. 
I find written under this memo. in my notebook: “This 
does not agree with what I have observed in New Bruns- 
wick. Ihave seen exceedingly few female caribou (I think 
only three) with horns, and have never seen the males inter- 
fere with the female while feeding iu ~vinter,” 
Not considering that my own observations had been 
sufficiently extensive to warrant me in basing any theory 
upon them, nor in contradicting the statement of so weil 
known an authority as Mr. Grinnell, [ asked for the opinion 
of several gentlemen, residing in different portions of the 
country, whom I knew took an interest in such matters; I 
also talked upon the subject with several hunters, Indians 
and whites, and all have indorsed my opinions. I will 
gnote from the letters of two gentlemen who have studied 
the herds in widely separated sections of this country. One 
who has hunted principally on the upper St. John, Says: 
*‘My opinion is that it is a yery uncommon thing for the 
female caribou to haye horns. I haye heard of one that 
carried her horns for three years without shedding, The 
female'has ample protection when carrying her young, as 
the male at that time is helpless, or nearly so.” 
Another close observer, who has made considerable study 
of the deer of Eastern New Brunswick and the adjoining 
districts of Nova Scotia, writes: 
“Tt is not a fact that the female caribou, as a rule, have 
horns; it is only a rare cccurrence, and I can conceive 
of no reason for such provision. One might as well advance 
a theory to explain why female sheep occasionally have 
horns. I consider it simply a matter of reprogeniture. I 
*.@an conceive of a time when both males and females were 
equally endowed with antlers; that through ‘sexual selec- 
tion’ the females. always chose the males haying the largest 
antlers, and they, haying to use them in battle and in defend- 
_ ing their does and young, would naturally in the course of 
years develop an enlarged growth. Now, the same holds 
good in an opposite sense when considering the female’s 
horns, for by constant disuse they would gradually deteri- 
orate until some were without, and to-day a female caribou 
haying horns is simply a case of reprogeniture, I think this 
matter is fully discussed by Mr. Darwin when treating of 
horned animals, * * * 
“I have never yet seen caribou in any way molest one an- 
other in their labor to obtain food. Persons reporting such 
haye not fully understood that it was only the old males 
keeping the young bucks at a distance, which they invariably 
do long after the rutting season is ove7, even sometimes after 
they have dropped their horns. In this latter case the old 
bucks usually get the worst of it, as the youngsters still have 
their horns and use them, 
lf the horns were for defense while procuring food, -then 
the older males would be without them when most needed— 
when the snow lies deep. I find that all female caribou after 
the fourth year haye rudimentary horns. I have one head 
on my table asl write that exhibits them very plainly, 
though this doe never had a pair of antlers developed, and 
she was at least five years old. * * * During the last 
twelve years I have shot a great many caribou, and of them 
all only one female carried horns.” 
Perhaps, Mr. Editor, that observers in other parts of Can- 
ada may have found matters different from what has come 
under our notice in this eastern section. I should like to 
hear from some other district regarding this. 
ONTAGUE CHAMBHRLAIN, 
Sr. Joun, N. B., Dec. 2, 1884. 
SHARP-TAILED AND SEASIDE FincnEs.—Portland, Me., 
Noy. 25.—The more modern writers upon North American 
ornithology have named the State of Maine as the north- 
eastern limit of the range of the sharp-tailed finch (Amino- 
dromus caudacutus), and my attention has been recently 
called to this fact by a request to publish some notes of my 
personal observations. Finches of this species are common 
in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and indeed abundant 
in some localities, a fact known to me by the repeated obser- 
vations of many years, and perhaps of interest to collectors 
and those who deyote their studies to the literary part of 
ornithology, Upon some portions of the extensive Tantremar 
marshes, neat the head of the Bay of Fundy, these finches 
may be found in numbers by one familiar with their habits, 
Yet the collector who is unacquainted with their life history, 
and knows not when, where and how io find these birds, 
Inay visit the region named and report none found, I have 
found the species yet further north, and very abundant on 
the Tantremar marshes during the first half of October. 
The seaside finch (Ammodromus maritimus) does not have the 
Same range, and was omitted from my ‘‘Catalogue of the 
Birds of Maine” becanse of the lack of evidence of any oc- 
ceurrence of this species here; but it may now be added 
thereto. 1 found a singlespecimen, an immature bird, upon 
a treeless, grassy islet, known as Shark Island, on the coast 
of Maine, Aug. 18, 1884,—Everert Santa. 
; ; 
A Remarxaste Lopster.—Portland, Me,, Noy, 25,—A 
few days since a fisherman brought to me a lobster that was 
of the normal greenish color one side, and of a bright scarlet 
The division of color was the longitu- 
dinal median line, and was clearly defined without any shad- 
ing, not only on the back, but alsoon the belly, And through 
the semi-transparent covering below it could be seen that the 
division of color pertained to the flesh, which appeared to be 
white, with a pink line on one side, and darker with a green- 
red the other side. 
ish hue on the other side. This lobster was alive, well-formed, 
and about twenty inches in length. It has been sent to the 
National Museum at Washington, and ought to be kept alive 
in an aquarium and further developments observed.—EVER- 
ETT SMITH, 
Game Bag and Gun. 
COLORADO LARGE AND SMALL GAME. 
DeEnver, Col., Dec. 10, 1884, 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I propose only to give you a few random notes upon vari- 
ous subjects which you may use in any way you deem best, 
or not at all. 
Game generally: In looking through the markets and 
butchers’ stalls, the conclusion is reached that the offerings 
of wild game are not nearly so large at present as is usual at 
this season of the year. This may be more apparent than 
real, but if such is not the fact the trade must have changed 
its channel somewhat—left the retailers and gone into the 
hands of the commission men, who sell by the quarter, the 
saddle, or carcass, orin larger quantity. One prominent 
dealer who handles only upon commission, tells me that he 
sells fully as many deer and antelope this wintcr asin any 
former season. He gets very few elk—a great change even 
from last winter. Deer and antelope come froma much 
wider range and greater distances than formerly. The 
former are mostly killed in the western and northwestern 
portions of the State. He has an offer of any quantity of 
venison from the Territory of Idaho, and acceptable freight 
rate on the railway, but as yet has ordered none, the State 
supply being thus far ample for the demand, As our open 
season ends with this month, he thinks he may later order 
from Idaho. He mentioned one notable fact in connection 
with this winter's deer hunting. A certain hunter who con- 
signs to him, went into a new field in the extreme north- 
western corner of the State, where he found the game very 
plentiful and in superior condition, He has already sent in 
about one hundred carcasses, many of wuich weighed, when 
received, with entrails out and legs off at the. knees, over 300 
pounds each. He says he can send 400 more carcasses. Best 
venison saddles bring eléyen and twelve cents per pound; if 
injured by bullet or otherwise, about ten cents, mr 
Antelope are mostly killed on the plains from fifty to one 
hundred and fifty miles east of the mountains, but Consider- 
able numbers come also from North Park. And respecting 
this animal our dealer notes a curious fact. Those from the 
plains are this winter in much better condition than those 
from the Park, The latter are poor and the flesh blue; the 
best of them are suckling does. How can this be accounted 
for? Haying been through North Park but a few weeks 
since 1 have formed my conclusion, but it may be only 
theory. The feed was excellent—could not possibly be better 
—all over the Park, Antelope were fairly plentiful, but ex- 
ceedingly wild. At first sight they would be seen scurrying 
away across the plains as though running for life, "The 
whole country was overrun with hunters. Half the residents 
seemed to beso employed, while there were scores from 
other parts of the country. I think they kept the antelope 
80 incessantly upon the jump, or on the watch, that they had 
not time to feed and keep fat. The does, on the contrary, 
that were raising fawns were not with the herds in the open 
country, but hidden away in the little valleys and parks 
upon the side of the mountains around the rim of the Park, 
and despite their maternal tax they managed to accumulate 
or retain more flesh and fat than their kindred below, who 
were obliged to dance daily to the music of repeating rifles. 
The best antelope saddles bring ten cents per pound, North 
Park saddles seven to eight cents. 
The market for elk meat is even worse than the supply. 
In fact, there is hardly any demand at all for it, and prices 
are hardly quotable. There are two reasons why but few 
have been killed this winter; first, their reduced numbers 
because of the great slaughter in former years, and second, 
alate open fall with unusually-mild weather, and hardly 
any snow. The elk have remained very high up on the 
mountains, and in places difficult of access by the common 
game butcher. As usual, a very large percentage of all the 
large game killed is lost by the spoiling of the meat before 
it reaches market, 
No buffalo meat has reached Denver this winter, One 
dealer, above quoted, says he heard of a small band of buf- 
falo—reported about one hundred—on the headwaters of the 
Republican some weeks ago, and sent two parties of hunters 
to look for them, Both came back unsuccessful. Three 
buifalo—a cow, calf and yearling—were seen in the south- 
ern edge of North Park last summer. My informant was a 
gentleman who was hunting elk'calves for pets. He found 
the tracks of the buffalo and followed up, hoping to capture 
the calf, which he said he might have done by killing the 
cow, but this he would not do, and she would not let his 
dogs get near the calf. He called them mountain bison, 
A lenge bear was brought ina few days ago from North 
Park. Ii is a “‘silver-tip” grizzly, and is said to weigh about 
650 pounds. The market firm who now own it publish, as 
an advertisement, avery heroic story about how it was 
killed by a hunter named Ish. (It is possible the killing 
was as heroic as the story.) ‘That reminds me” of two 
bear stories that came to my knowledge not long ago, One 
occurred in Kgeria Park. An old gentleman named Chris- 
topher, who began life with, and has just managed to keep 
even years with the present century, was down there visit- 
ing a daughter. When time hung heayy on his hands he 
went a-fishing. One day he sauntered out as usual along 
the valley of the Timponis Creek with only his rod and a 
walking-cane, The country is open, smooth prairie, with 
the exception of a fringe of willows along the stream. Our 
fisherman was walking along a trail that kept the general 
course of the stream without following all its meanders, 
Passing an elbow of the willow curtain, he saw coming at 
some distance across the ox-bow bend a médnstrons bear, 
They were both in the same trail or path. The old gentle- 
man said he thought to himself; “‘Now I'll scare that bear 
awfully, and seea nice race. across this meadow; that’s just 
what l’ye been wanting to see ever since I came over here hh 
and then he laughed quietly to himself at the fun he was 
going to haye at the bear’s expense. 
Both pursued their course, and in due time came within 
speaking distance. The bear’s head was down, and his atten- 
tion appeared to be entirely upon the path before him, Mr. 
C, began to think it time to give the word ‘“‘go” for the race, 
He thought that would be all that was necessary and then he 
could Jaugh, When about seventy-five yurds apart he gaye 
a small Indian war whoop. The bear stopped, looked up, 
said ‘“woof,” dropped his head and renewed his journey. Mr. 
C. stood still, When the bear had advanced another twenty- 
five steps, he yelled again, and this time he tried to eclipse a 
locomotive, The bear again stopped, looked up, remarked 
“woof, woof,” dropped his head to the old position, and 
came right along at the same old steady gait. Mr. C. said 
he knew it was then time for the race, and there could be 
“no postponement on account of the weather.” The race 
took place—a single heat. The bear was the spectator. He 
kept the trail and went on about his business—didn’t seem 
to realize the panic at all. I got this from one of the parties 
—it was not the bear—a few days later. 2 
The hero of the other story was Mr. W. W. Cook, and 
the scene was on the headwaters of Corral Creek, in Middle 
Park, Cook had been fora couple of years past in South- 
ern California, where they claim to have the biggest prizzlies 
to be found anywhere. About two months ago he returned 
to the Park and resumed hunting—a business that he had 
followed in that section more or less years ago. He went 
up toward timber line to look for deer, and in the course of 
his ramble came toa little prairie: opening, or park, sur- 
rounded by thick brush and trees. At the edge, and before 
exposing himself to view, he stopped to scan the ground for 
game, Nothing was visible, but there was an ominous 
crackling in the brush, and the sounds appeared to be ap- 
proaching the opening from another direction. He waited, 
and soon the brush parted and a large “‘silver-tip” bear ap- 
peared. Another followed, and then others, until six had 
filed outinto the opening. The first two and last two were 
ordinarily large animals; the middle two were monsters. 
Cook didn’t shoot. He wasn’t hunting bears. He looked 
for a handy tree, and having measured the distance care- 
fully, he gave a yell. The ‘flock of bears” yaised their 
heads, looked him over, gave a few ‘‘woofs,” and scattered 
into the brush. Cook scattered also—to Hot Sulphur 
Springs, and told his story. 
Geese and ducks are less plentiful this winter than last, 
doubtless because of its mildness. We have to-day our first 
snow—about three inches—that seems like winter. There 
haye been squalls before that melted almost as it came down. 
Quail.—Thanks to the liberality and thoughtfulness of a 
few citizens, who ten or twelve years ago brought in some 
hundreds of quail, and secured their protection by law, the 
agricultural portions of Colorado, where they were turned 
loose, are now very fairly stocked with that elegant game 
bird, “Bob White” enlivens every grain field in its season 
throughout this section of the State. The whole year is yet 
a close season for him by our laws, but unfortunately pro- 
vection does not always protect. Some are killed, and at 
long intervals a poacher is punished for the killing. The 
Califorzia quail, planted here at the same time, failed or 
disappeared, Iocan hear of none, Probably if the moun- 
tain variety had been secured from that State, ey ve 
W.N.B. 
have adapted thémselves to our climate. 
—— 
LOUISIANA PLOVER SHOOTING. 
DD” you ever go a shooting in a buggy? This isthe way 
we do it in Louisiana, About the month of August 
the upland plover (or “‘papabottes” as they are called by the 
Creoles) arrive here on their southern migration. Ina very 
short time they become very fat from feeding on the smail 
beetles, Spanish flies and other insects that abound on our. 
prairies and their flavor becomes greatly improved by the 
food they obtain in such abundance, 
Having loaded up a lot of shells beforehand -with No. 6 or 
§ shot, on a cool pleasant morning in August, such as we 
are just now having, we hitch up a pair of fast stepping 
Attokopas ponies to a light buggy, with a top, to keep off 
sun or rain if required; and as soon as breakfast is over we 
put in a basket of lunch and a bottle of milk into the buggy, 
also a box to hold our loaded shells and another for our 
empty ones, and then our Scott or Greener 12 or 16-bore, 
and lastly get in ourselves, with a companion—one to drive 
and one to shoot—and we are off for the feeding grounds of 
the plover. The morning is delightful, and the cool inyigor- 
ating breezes from the Gulf of Mexico are wafted gently 
over the undulating prairie as our little ponies almost fly 
over its smooth surface. On, on, they ZO with tireless feet 
until the distant grove of timber which a little while ago 
seemed on the verge of the horizon is now almost gained, 
and the great opening in the prairie where sky and grass at 
first seemed to meet, now shows far off a long and beautiful 
skirt of forest. That beautiful stretch of timber away on the 
west is on the Bayou Vermilion, and that green curtain on 
the east that shuts out our vision in that direction is the 
woods along the Bayou Teche. That lofty eminence that 
suddenly rises from the level prairie to the northeast of us 
and raise its tree-crowned summit far above the surround- 
ing plain is La Butte Peigneur, and to the north of it, at its 
base, is the beautiful Lake Peigneur, and that other eleva- 
tion away to the southwest, just like the first, one is Petite 
Anse Island, the seat of the salt mine; and that timber away 
off to the south on the verge of the horizon is on Vermilion 
Bay. To the north rises the Cote Gelee hills, and all this 
broad stretch of prairie covered with rich grass and many 
herds of cattle is interspersed with small farms and cottages 
surrounded with small groves of China tree or catolpa red 
oak. Nothing can be more delightful to the eye than this 
view of fresh green interspersed with ripening corn and 
rice, here and there, even in mid-summer, 
Away off to our left flows a coulée through the prairie, 
and a long ridge of undulating prairie just beyond it. On 
that ridge are the plovers. We soon cross the coulée and 
begin to ascend the ridge; look out now for game. There is 
one, two, three just ahead. They are busy catching beetles 
in the close cropped grass. 'The nearest one stretches up his 
neck and takes a look at us; but he sees a beetle just now, 
and after it he goes, forgetful of danger. Now drive slowly 
off to one side and in a circle like, getting a little nearer all 
the while; but do not attempt to go straight toward him or 
he will be off. Now halt; we are near enough; and ag the 
bogey stops he takes wing; but our charge of one ounce of 
No. 8 stops him, and he is picked up and deposited in the 
buggy. Just down there are two more; drive around them 
in the same way, and we will take one on the ground and 
the other on the wing, or both on the wing if we are expert 
enough, Our light gun comes up quickly, and we have them 
——-— — 
