Fet.. 5, 1885.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



27 



ling of a day to the fully fledged recruit able to take care for 

 itself. 



Two broods arc usually reared in a season, and perhaps 

 three, but when we calculate the time for producing a bird 

 able to take care for itself, and dating from May 1 as the 

 period of incubation to begin, it is quite evident that in 

 order to rear three broods in a season no time must be lost. 



1 have seen a parent bird feeding several voracious young 

 recently ejected from the nest, while the mother was again 

 setting on her second clutch of eggs. Such a case is rare, 

 however, as the young are generally under the care of the 

 old birds all of a week or ten days alter leaving the nest, 

 and the old pair rarely more than repair the nest until the 

 young are disposed of. The robin is so well known that a 

 lengthy article is almost out of place, but a few notes touch- 

 ing on the period of incubation may not be inappropriate. 

 The following observations were taken during the past 

 spring: "First egg laid May l;May 2 two eggs; May 8, I 

 P. M., three eggs in nest; May 4, 1 P. M., there are four 

 eggs. Old bird begins to set steadily, although she has 

 beeu on the nest over half the time since May 2; May 15 

 found two eggs and two young; May 16, 9 A. M., oue egg and 

 three young. " This shows fairly that the eggs were incubated 

 as soon as laid, or else that the time of incubation varies 

 greatly even in the egcs of one clutch; May Hi, 1 P. M., four 

 young; May 29, 8 A. M., young all in nest; 1 P. M. young 

 all out of nest, sitting around in the old apple tree and chirp- 

 ing loudly : May 30 could only find two young; June 1 could 

 not tind the young, undoubtedly killed by cats." The old 

 birds were disconsolate for a few days, but at the end of a 

 week began another nest in a maple near by, and ail of 

 twenty-five feet from the ground, quite three times the eleva- 

 tion of the first nest. The young appeared outside of the 

 second nest July 18. At least ten weeks are occupied in 

 building a nest and rearing two broods, which would bring 

 the completion of the nesting season well into July, aud 

 although three broods are occasionally reared in a season, 

 according to some writers, such a case has never come under 

 my observation. 



The nesting habits and structure 'of the nest are well- 

 known. The boy, who, on being asked what the nest was 

 composed of, replied "oh, everything," came very near the 

 truth, for, with mud, principally used in its construction, 

 are also agglutinated almost everything of a light nature 

 that the female finds suitable to work into the structure, and 

 rags, strings, paper, straw, grass and kitchen rubbish are 

 often found ; a nest in a city or village that does not contain 

 rags or string being a rarity. In the rural districts, where 

 such material is less liable to be found, a corresponding de- 

 crease in the various civilized materials is observed, and in 

 deep woods, or fields, far from the habitation of man, only 

 mud, grass, and occasionally leaves, are used. Twigs are 

 rarely found in a nest. 



The site selected is variable, aud perhaps there is no bird 

 which so freely adapts itself to circumstances. Some of the 

 situations in which nests are found would indicate that the 

 birds were almost indifferent as to locatiou, and yet, after 

 mating, some time is generally occupied in deciding on a 

 location, nests frequently being abandoned after completion 

 without apparent cause, and in some cases even when con- 

 taining eggs. 



Nests are frequently found under the eaves of houses aud 

 barns, as the swallows build; within buildings on sills and 

 plates; in trees quite sixty feet from the ground; attached 

 to cornstalks near the ground in a barren field; adhering to 

 the roots of an overturned tree: in deserted woodpeckers' 

 holes. But the most singular place was a nest found on a 

 small stump one foot above the water in a millpond, and 

 quite twenty feet from shore. A peculiar case is recorded 

 of a pah- building a nest in a freight car and depositing eggs 

 therein. Finally when the car was moved the female main- 

 tained her position for some time till dislodged by a sudden 

 jolt. Trees, bushes and rail fences are, however, the prin- 

 cipal places where nests are found, which are placed from 

 four to thirty feet from the ground. 



Four eggs seems to be the regulation number, but often 

 only three are found, and in extremely rare cases five eggs 

 are laid. They are well known to almost every one, and are 

 much admired for their beautiful blue color. 



The female takes upon herself the principal duties attend- 

 ant on the building of the nest, carrying most of the mater- 

 ial, while the male superintends its construction. She also 

 performs the greater part of the arduous task of incubation, 

 only occasionally being relieved by her hege lord, who is 

 generally trilling his characteristic and charming notes near 

 at hand. If disturbed while on the nest, the female, resent- 

 ing the liberty, boldly charges the intruder, and though 

 •arely, if ever, using either bill or claw, the besieger may 

 get a thump from a vigorous wing. The male, quickly on 

 the spot, aud frequently accompanied by other parent birds 

 of the neighborhood, is even more fierce than his mate, and 

 together such a chirping and flying about as they raise, if an 

 unlucky schoolboy is the despoiler, he not unfrequently 

 slinks away without the coveted blue treasures or callow 

 young. 



1 have written quite fully of this bird because of its inti- 

 mate relations with man, and trust the readers will pardon 

 an apparent digression from the semi-scientific routine usu- 

 ally followed, in mere descriptions of birds and mammals, if 

 I devote a few lines to the sentimental relations of our friend. 

 1 am aware that the relations existing between man and the 

 lower animals is a topic of such general discussion that little 

 need be said upon the subject; but such connection is gener- 

 ally based on the practical value of the so-called inferior ani- 

 mals to man, and it has undoubtedly occurred to many 

 minds that some more intimate relation exists which does 

 not depend wholly upon what we receive from the lower 

 animals, either in the -way of services rendered or gastro- 

 nomic attributes. In this age of liberal thought, will it be 

 improper to admit of associations existing, at least, between 

 these aesthetic beings, winged gems cf the air, and man? 



It is a question which will bear discussion, and the pro- 

 found sympathy which we nearly all feel for these "spoilt 

 children of nature, the favorites of creation," as Figuier so 

 beautifully calls them, will certainly cause us all to refrain 

 from too suddenly crushing such an assumption. 



We are principally attracted to the feathered tribe by the 

 elegance of outward form, the beauty and diversity of plu- 

 mage, sweetness and variety of song aud grace of movement, 

 and there are but few of 12,000 classified species, if any, 

 which would not inspire our admiration in some way. Even 

 the goose, so awkward and emblamatic, unfairly, of stupid- 

 ity, appears graceful in the extreme when floating leisurely 

 on the bosom of the mirrored lake. 



As our emotional natures associate tunes heard in the dim 

 past with events almost obliterated from memory, so we re- 

 call occurrences in childhood's hours associated with the 



Songs of birds. Nothing can exceed the freshuess of mem- 

 ories suggested by the simple song of the robin, and with 

 thoughtful age, when the happy retrospection of perhaps 

 four score of years is reached, how the incidents of child- 

 hood are retraced,- ushered in by the casual hearing of some 

 familiar notes by one of our feathered friends. 



7. Mimtis polyglottus (Linn.) Boie— Mocking bird. 



This species being a straggler in our State, and only occa- 

 sionally taken, is but little known as a Michigan bird. Many 

 ornithologists consider those specimens secured within our 

 boundaries as escaped cage birds. It is probably fair to 

 admit the species in our list nevertheless, although we do not 

 by any means agree with one list, in which the author states 

 that tiie mocker is quite common in some of our counties. 

 ♦Never having met with this remarkable, vocal performer 

 in the wild state, I can give no observations concerning it. 

 A number of captures axe recorded during the past twenty 

 years. 



| TO BK CONTINUE. | 



IS IT THE SAME BIRD? 



IT is three years ago last October since several white- 

 throated sparrows made their appearance in a gully at 

 the rear of my woodshed. No doubt they were attracted 

 thither by the "tine cover they found. This is full of black- 

 berry bushes and ragweeds grown tall. 



But the birds stayed on, and from time to time would 

 show themselves round the place. I was particularly anxious 

 that they should remain. They reminded me of my boy- 

 hood, and I took every pains to make my home attractive; 

 consequently I baited them, and by the time the first snow 

 fell they had become quite accustomed to look for their food 

 in a certain locality. All I had to do then when winter set, 

 in was to sweep off the feeding bed and scatter some bread 

 crumbs and wheat screenings about. 



There were five of these sparrows then — two males and 

 three females. Last year four came back, and three are here 

 now. At least 1 suppose they are some of the same birds. 

 Of one I think I am certain. These are the reasons of my 

 assurance: Among the birds of 1882 was a male of very fine 

 plumage. His size, color and markings almost led me at 

 first to think that I was about to winter a white-crowned 

 sparrow. He is here to-day, and has been off and on since 

 the latter part of October; always disappearing when the 

 weather is mild and there is no snow upon the ground, and 

 returning again the day after the cold weather may set in. 

 This has always been his habit too since 1 have had the pleas- 

 ure of his acquaintance; and he always seems to be espe- 

 cially hungry on his return. This year he left me at New 

 Year's, and did not come back till 'the 19th of the month, 

 when a cold snap set in. 



Now is he same bird that made his winter home here three 

 years ago? We think that he is, and here are our more par- 

 ticular reasons for thinking so; 



First, the bird that we have in mind, as I have said, was 

 of large size and fine plumage, and so is this one. Then, he 

 became quite tame during the snows and cold of last winter 

 and the winter before, and this one is much more domestic 

 in his habits than his two companions. Then, the bird of 

 1882 was accustomed to feed just under the kitchen window, 

 and this bird is fond of feeding in the same place. Then, 

 the bird that we speak of had a peculiar habit if any one 

 came out of the door when he was feeding in the evening 

 (and he feeds quite late, almost at dusk), of skulking along 

 the ground, and looking over his shoulder at them, appar- 

 ently being reluctant to take to wing, and the bird that is 

 here now does the same thing. But it is the apparent fearless- 

 ness of the fellow at times that seems most convincing to 

 me. "When all other birds fly up from the feeding bed, j un- 

 cos, song sparrows, English and tree sparrows, and even 

 those of his own kind, he will look at me as I come in or go 

 out just as though he knew me, and pick away, exhibiting 

 scarcely a sign of fear. 



This year he is accompanied by two females. Though it 

 is plain to be seen that while he stuffs Ms own crop, he has 

 a strong preference for one of his companions. As we hava 

 implied, neither of his companions are as tame as he is, while 

 one is much tamer than the other. 



All these birds keep more in company with the English 

 sparrows than do any of my other birds. Or rather, the 

 English sparrow seems to follow them to the feeding ground, 

 while it is very evident that my friend considers himself the 

 master of the flock. Perhaps the birds feed together from 

 the fact that they all hide themselves in the same bushes, and 

 have made their home in the same place. 



But now, what of this bird? Is he not the one that came 

 here on his way south three winters ago? "What say the 

 readers of Forest abtd Stream who have some experience 

 in drawing birds around their homes? A. H. G. 



The Goldest -Winged Woodpecker "Wintering m 

 Maine.— A yellowhammer or flicker that has been inhabit- 

 ing an icehouse at Fort Popham, near the mouth of the 

 Kennebec Kiver, was shot Jan. 14, 1885, and found to be in 

 good flesh and plumage, with no evidence of any previous 

 wounds. During December and January the weather has 

 been alternately very mild and very cold. Evidently this bird 

 had found a continuous supply of food, of which insects and 

 larva? probably formed a small proportion only.— Everett 

 Smith (Portland, Me.). 



Live Rtjpfed Grouse Wanted.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream; Is there not some reader who has a single ruffed 

 grouse in confinement which he would give, lend or sell for 

 the purpose of aiding investigations looking to their domes- 

 tication? These birds would be treated with the greatest 

 care; if any gentleman has a single bird of either sex, he 

 would confer a favor by addressing Lock Box 110. Toledo 

 Ohio. 



Harpoiuiy^uhus Rufus; Wintering, in New Jersey.— 

 Editor Forest and Stream: I saw a brown thrush {Turdm 

 rufus) to-day. Is not its appearance at this season very un- 

 common?— Chip (Engiewood, N. J., Jan. 18). [Quite so.] 



^Kecemt Abrivals at the Philadelphia Zoological Gakdkn.— 

 Purchased— Oue jaguar ( [Felts onca), female; one brush turkey (Tal- 

 tegalla ktthami ,\ two Swainson's lorikeets {'JVichoc/lossus novae, h ■ >l- 

 lan&im); eighi undulated grass parrakeets {Melopsittacus undida- 

 tus)\ two pale-headed parrakeets {Platycercus pallidicep&)', two 

 scaly-breasted lorikeets (Trichoglossits chlnroU pi, lotus); two Barra- 

 band spavvakeets (Polytrlis barntbandi), and one bald eagle (Hcdiaa- 

 tus leucocephalus). Presented— One screech owl (Scops asio); oue 

 summer duck (Aix sponsa). and one sparrow hawk (Falco sparser- 

 tus). Born in the Garden— One great kangaroo (Macr<Wu$ yiuao- 

 teus), 



h*H* §&g m\& <Bmi* 



REYNARD'S WAYS. 



Editor Fared and Stream: 



That's nothing to catch a fox asleep. These blunderers, 

 who have stumbled on sleeping foxes and shot them, have 

 only done by accident what an Allegany county man makes 

 a business of. We have an old still-hunter here, our gun- 

 smith, who says that he can kill more foxes without, a dog 

 than with one. Armed with a rifle and a field glass, and 

 keeping to the windward, as in deer hunting, he carefully 

 surveys the haunts of tho game from a long distance, and 

 finds them sleeping on logM, stumps, knolls, or other slight 

 elevations. Then a careful stalk, a sure shot, and the brush 

 is his. Here is a new form of sport. Deer-stalking is a thing 

 of the past; but foxes are more plentiful than ever before, 

 and more wily than buck or doe. It would be a triumph, 

 indeed, to bag him in this manner, and every fox "downed" 

 in winter means more birds in the fall. 



A. Stubbe Penn. 



Friendship, New V'ork. 



'Editor Fount and Streoiv. 



Mr, L. C. Robinson of Derham started a fox and put him 

 in his hole in less than ten minutes. The fox went directly 

 through and on his coming out, Robinson gave him both 

 barrels, missing him clean ; the dog gave chase, and Robin- 

 son had just time enough to insert, a shell, when the fox ap- 

 peared at his hole again, Robinson tired and the fox was no 

 more. Time of chase, fifteen minutes. G. H. M. 



Portland Me., Jan. 27 



Editor Fores/ and Stream: 



In your issue of 22d, " O A.T." of Franklin Falls, N. H. , 

 seems to treat incredulously the idea of the fox taking a tree. 

 On Thanksgiving Day of 1880, I met a countryman coming 

 into town with a fox, which he had trapped the night before 

 without injuring it. To buy the fox, call together a few 

 friends, send for the dogs aud adjouru across the river to the 

 hills, was the work of only a few minutes. We gave him 

 three-quarters of an hour the start and then slipped the dogs 

 and proceeded to enjoy a splendid chase. After perhaps an 

 hour and a half. Guess, (who, with Tan and Muse, you have 

 heard of before) the leader of the pack, gave us the inform- 

 ation, in which the others soon joined, that he had treed. 

 We found his f oxship in a thirty -foot pine tree, near the top, 

 from which we proceeded to oust him and made him con- 

 tinue his run, holding the dogs till he again had a good 

 start. I. C. L. 



Wilmington. North Carolina. 



Editor threat and Stream: 



On Friday, Jau. 30, several members of the Worcester 

 •'fur company" received a pleasant call from Mr. F. T. Gay 

 and Mr. L. II. Sargent, of North Chelmsford, Mass. They 

 made a short visit, all too short, not even giving us time to 

 get up a fox hunt for their benefit. It resulted, "however, in 

 the purchase by Mr. Gay of Mr. John R. Thayer's famous 

 foxhound Snap. This "sale was the subject of"general com- 

 ment when the members of the company met at "Shattuck's" 

 in the evening. The dog has the reputation of being one of 

 the very best in this vicinity and the general verdict was 

 that Mr. Gay had obtained a prize. Saturday, Jau. 31, Mr. 

 John Slocum killed a flue cross gray fox, being the first fox 

 of rare color killed by any of the company this season. 



E. Spkague Knowles, 

 "Worcester, Mass., Jan. 31, 1885. 



Editar Forest and Streum : 



A correspondent, in your issue of January 8, mentions 

 the fact of having shot a fox asleep on the top of a rock, and- 

 wants to know if any one ever had a like experience. This 

 brings to mind a hunting incident w r hich occurred to me 

 several years ago, when living in Canada. At that time, 

 and it may be so yet, it was the custom for the sportsmen of 

 two of our neighboring towns, to pit themselves against 

 each other in an annual hunt, the losing party to pay for a 

 dinner for the sportsmen and the umpires, or counters of 

 game. In this particular year, away back in the seventies, 

 the usual challenge had been issued by the defeated side of 

 the previous season, and a day appointed, and all prelimin- 

 aries settled. The autumn was a cold and boisterous one, 

 and the day appointed proved inauspicious. The hunt was 

 postponed to a later date. That day also proved a bad one, 

 and still another date was specified. On this day it was 

 agreed that the hunt must come off, no postponement on ac 

 count of weather. 



The time came, aud a worse day for a gun to be should- 

 ered in quest of game never dawned. It was late in Nov- 

 ember, the ground was hard frozen, a very high wind was 

 blowing, and occasional snow-squalls varied this pleasing- 

 picture. What kind of ground to choose for hunting over 

 in such weather was a puzzle. I at last decided to spend 

 my day in a dense swamp, which lay at some distance, 

 thinking that I could have some degeee of personal comfort 

 by being sheltered from the cold and cutting wind, and not 

 be so likely to meet injury from falling trees and boughs, as 

 in higher and more exposed grounds. My device proved a 

 wise one, for I succeeded during the day in making quite a 

 respectable bag — getting no less than nine ruffed grouse, two 

 hares, and several red squirrels, besides the fox. The grouse 

 were found near the edges of the swamp, into which they 

 had penetrated in search of shelter. 



Along in the afternoon I was working back through the 

 center of the swamp, and directly against the wind. I had 

 my dog at heel, and neither of us made the slightest sound 

 as we walked over the mossy carpet which covered the 

 ground, and which was also just whitened with snow. 

 Suddenly, at a distance of some twenty five yards, I spied a 

 fox curled up and soundly sleeping under an upturned root 

 of a fir tree. My dog saw, or scented him, as soon as I did, 

 and crouched to' the ground. I brought my gun to shoulder 

 and then waited to see if reynard would become conscious 

 of so deadly an enemy in such close quarters. But the 

 roaring of the wind and its direction left his senses of smell- 

 ing inoperative, and he lay so quiet that I did not know but 

 he had been poisoned and died in that position. After 

 waiting some seconds I advanced a few paces, still keeping 

 him covered, and then squeaked loudly in imitation of a 

 mouse (which sound will almost bring a dead fox to life), 

 when he raised his head quietly and looked at me. I im- 

 mediately gave him a charge of No. 6 right in the face, which 

 rolled him over dead. Upon examination I found him to be 

 a fine male, with a beautiful coat of fur and a magnificent 

 brush. I felt very proud of my bag that night as I presented 

 it for inspection to the umpires, as it nearly doubled in 



