164 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 24, 1885. 



The first I saw of these robins was on the 29th of March, 

 and then only one. It was a few days later when the fe- 

 males arrived, and then I. found I had both males here. On 

 the 19th of April one pair of the birds commenced building 

 in the same spruce tree that they occupied last year, and near 

 the place of their old nest. The young of this laying were 

 fledged the 2l8t of May. 1 was away" from home the last 

 week in May and a part of the lirst'week in June, and on 

 my return I found a second nest in the apple tree that stands 

 about twelve yards from the house. It was up quite high 

 among the thick branches in the crown of the tree. This 

 nest was fledged on the 3d of July, and on the 7th of the 

 same month I saw the pair building again. This time they 

 went just across the road, about ten j'ards from their second 

 nest. They are feeding this brood now (Aug. 4), and as 

 the young are beginning to peep, I think they will be fledged 

 in less than a week. 



Meanwhile, the second pair of robins built their first nest 

 in a little cedar tree that stands back of the shed. Then a 

 second one just across the road, and now they are feeding a 

 third brood (as I suppose) in a nest built in the same tree as 

 number one occupied in their second building, or perhaps 

 number two may be across the road, while number one has 

 a third nest within ten feet of the second that they built. 

 But naturalists must judge of this. I give the facts as they 

 are. 



And now my reasons for thinking that these are the same 

 birds that were here last summer and the same birds that 

 have been around the house all this season. Before the fe- 

 male arrived I used to see a fine black-throated male on my 

 lawn and near the spruce tree, where the nest was a year ago 

 and a year before that. He would sing morning and even- 

 ing, but not very much. It was not until the female arrived 

 that his whole song appeared to come out, and lie thought it 

 necessary to call teve-ieve-fei-e as he flew from one place to 

 another. But the tree and tbe lawn seemed especially at- 

 tractive to this bird and there was a battle at once if any 

 robin pi-esumed to alight on his possessions, as he seemed to 

 esteem them. Indeed many a fight and many a chase have 

 I witnessed in front of the window where I am now writing. 

 And many a "night walker" or angle worm have I seen 

 pulled from the lawn while I stood at the window as Mr. or 

 Mrs. Kobin, not five yards away, would turn their heads 

 from side to .side and peer at the sod, and then make a dash, 

 when after a few tugs out would come a worm that seemed 

 to me large enough to more than fill a robin's crop. Some- 

 times the birds appeared almost as though they wanted to 

 show me the science of catching angle worms, and tbis 

 familiarity has continued during the summer. Though I 

 have thought that since there are more people around' the 

 house or they had young ones to feed tbat the birds were not 

 quite so tame as they were in the early summer. The only 

 time that 1 can remember them exhibiting any particular fear 

 of me was when I first used the lawn mower. I then came 

 put with a straw hat on, and as I passed near the tree where 

 their young brood was growing they commenced calling in 

 their most distressing notes. I once left the mower and went 

 to looking around by the fence to see if there was a cat or a 

 dog near (for both pair have learned to call me when help is 

 required), and then I looked up the tree thinking that a 

 squirrel might be threatening their young, but no, nothing 

 could I find, while both birds witbin a few yards of my head 

 looked angry and anxious as their eyes sparkled in the sun- 

 shine. Nor was it until a branch touched my hat that I 

 guessed at the correct reason. They were afraid of the hat. 

 It was something new. But all this has passed with them 

 now and we are on the best of terms. 



The next bird that I have noticed somewhat particularly is 

 a Baltimore oriole {Icterus gaUitda). One of these bright- 

 plumaged fellows has built for three years at the end of a 

 limb on the apple tree spoken of in connection with the 

 robins. The robins have occupied the crown of the tree, 

 whOe the end of a branch that hangs over the road has satis- 

 fled his wants. I take the pair to be the same birds. They 

 are just as tame as ever they were. We talk and laugh and 

 read not more than twelve yards perhaps from the nest. I 

 saw the young ones climb out of their home and many a time 

 did my best to make the old birds think tbat 1 had one in 

 my baud. So I served the robins, too: and although I could 

 make strange birds anxious, 1 seemed to be incapable of dis- 

 concerting these. 



The male oriole arrived on the 11th of May, I did not see 

 the female until the next day, and on the 15th the pair com- 

 menced to build. The young were fledged on the 7th of 

 July. I have never known orioles to build a second nest, 

 except when the first one was destroyed, This happened 

 this year to a second pair that I have aroimd here. Thay 

 built their first nest at the end of a pear-tree limb, just oppos- 

 ite my gate on the other side of the road. It was a fine nest 

 and quite conspicuous. Tbe consequence was that, while I 

 was at church one Sunday, some mischievous bo^^s that live 

 near her went up and cut oli' the branch and took away the 

 nest. The same bird, I take it, then went over in my neigh- 

 bor's orchard, where boys cannot come, and there built and 

 reared her young. I used to hear the youngsters calling for 

 food during a part of the second and third week in July. 



An orchard oriole {Icterus spurius) built in a maple by my 

 woodshed. So far as I have learned they only build one 

 nest too. This pair succeeded in rearing their brood. 

 They were fledged the second week in Jidy. 



A pair of catbu-ds {Qaleosc&ptes caroUnensis) have been here 

 for three years. I think they are the same ones. They arc 

 as tame as the other birds. Their first nest was back of the 

 shed among the blackberry bushes, and there is now another 

 across the way. I do not think they have made more than 

 two nests. 



Then a pair of thrushes {Hyloaichla musielina) have built 

 near me, but none that I know of this year upon my 

 ground. Theu- first nest was in the rear of the woodshed 

 over among the cedars, and the second in my neighbor's 

 orchard. They are just through with their second nesting. 

 They seem to regard the ground under my spruce trees as 

 their especial province, and the male during the summer has 

 favored me with his sweetest trills. I was very much pleased 

 to find him the first morning after his arrival, May 6, sitting 

 on a limb of a cherry tree near his old nest, picking and 

 pluming his feathers. Poor fellow, he looked tired, and as 

 I came down the hill and stood within three yards of him 

 and watched his movements, he hardly seemed to notice my 

 presence. I went away without disturbing him. I claim 

 th.e birds as mine, and think they have made their home here 

 for three years. 



Song sparrows and robins are the only ones that it seems 

 to me raise three broods, and this only when they are pro- 

 tected, and not always then, perhaps. 



The robins that are feeding their young do no seem to be 

 moulting yet, nor is their plumage much faded. They gave 



up singing on the 28th of July, very much as Bicknell says, 

 and so did the catbird. I have listened for them in the early 

 morning, and at night and at noonday, but not a song note 

 except once, and that at a distance. Occasionally I hear 

 the song sparrow yet. and sometimes a few notes from the 

 purple finch, but otherwise the trees are silent. 



I am not sure but that the robins tbat have been raised 

 around here are around here still. They frequent the mul- 

 berry trees, especially in the early morning, and as these 

 gave out I see they are taking to the wild cherries. Poor 

 things, it is not long that they will enjoy immunity from 

 the shotgun now. A. H. Gr. 



Scarborough, N. "V. 



A FLORIDA WHIP--SCORPION. 



Editor Forest and Sli^eam: 



1 send herewith drawings of a remarkable bug which is 

 new to me. The drawings are done in mj usual felicitous, 

 saw-horsy style, but not bad as to portraiture. Any natural- 

 ist who knows the reptile will recognize the likeness. What 

 is it? It is well known to the cracker farmers here, and 

 the testimony as to its venemous qualities is universal. It 

 has almost as many local names as the helgramite. It is the 

 "scrauncher," "mule-killer," "grampus," and "devil-buU- 

 driver." Its reputation as a kiUer is as well established as 

 that of the water moccasin, or the diamond rattlesnake. 



I have been much interested in this reptile, and have taken 

 some pains to investigate his habits, and learn all I could of 

 him by interviewing old coasters, spongers, hunters, fisher- 

 men, etc., men whose lives have been mainly passed in the 

 woods and waters of Florida— men, let me say just here, 

 who do not he when they talk of what they have seen, men 

 who have no occasion to lie, men who were all through the 

 Indian war, and helped to build and defend the forts" in the 

 Everglades, to cut roads through the interminable swamps, 

 and hunt Billy Bowlegs— witirno hope of ever catching him 

 — for months on end. Such men have a fund of actual and 

 interesting fact to draw on that relegates the most scientific 

 liar to the back seats of story telling. And most of them 

 have a personal knowledge of incidents confirming the 

 reputation of ithe "mule-killer" as a deadly reptile, quite as 

 poisonous as the rattlesnake, and infinitely more so than the 

 black scorpion. Of the stories told me about him, I will 

 briefly repeat a few that are true, if evidence proves any- 

 thing. 



A small party of road makers were at work on the Anclote 

 in a cold, wet time in winter. They had a pair of mules, 

 and it became necessary to ride one of them pretty hard in 

 the early morning. Eeturning to camp the rider hastily dis- 

 mounted, picked up a damp blanket and buckled it around 

 the sweaty animal. Almost immediately the mule began to 

 plunge and kick frantically, then it lay down and rolled on 

 the ground in agony. The blanket was quickly removed 

 and a large "mule killer" or "scrauncher" was found firmly 

 fastened by its formidable claws to the mule's back, with its 

 sting deeply inserted. It took some force to knock the rep- 

 tile loose, and the mule died in an hour. 



On the same side of the Anclote, a few miles higher -ap, a 

 horse was blanketed, with a "scrauncher" under the blanket. 

 The horse was stung and lived but a short time. 



A well-known cattle buyer of this coast was riding a young 

 mare through the "flat woods " when, in crossing a palmetto 

 bog-head, the mare began to plunge and kick fui-iously. 

 Thinking she might be snake-bitten, the gentleman dis- 

 mounted and found a "scrauncher" sticking by sting and 

 claws to the mare's hind leg. Energetic kicking had failed 

 to break his hold, which was just above the hoof, and as in 

 the other cases death resulted in an hour or two. 



These cases are ail recent and came under the observation 

 of the narrators. There are many others, some of them in- 

 cluding the deaths of human beings, But the above will do. 

 I send rough drawings by this mail, and by next mail I 

 will send the veritable "scrauncher" alive and ready for 

 business. Look out for him. I want to know what the 

 savans will say to him. Probably they know all about him, 

 or will say so. They are not going to give themselves away 

 by confessing ignorance to the ignorant. 1 have' had the 

 reptile before me on the table where I write for some days, 

 under a large glass cover, and have almost become attached 

 to him. He is "rather an amiable devil. Perfectly tame and 

 quiet when well used (unlike the scorpions I have had, which 

 go restlessly about, with elevated tails and a rabid desire to 

 sting the world in general). Just now he is calmly taking 

 his morning drink from a tin pill-box cover. He "has had 

 his breakfast of big horse flies and "man-eater" bugs, and he 

 feeds greedOy. 



By the way, I will send two or three "man-eaters" in an 

 envelope in this letter. They are the fellows that invade 

 your peaceful Florida couch at night, drawing more blood 

 than you can well spare, and leaving a painful swollen lump 

 that itches and burns for days. I have caught as many as 

 eight about my bedding in the early morning. I think he is 

 of the CJiinch family. Am I right? Anyhow, it is a satis- 

 faction to catch him in the morning and put him under glass 

 with the "scrauncher." It is quite amusing to see the cat- 

 like manner in which the latter goes for him, and the leisurely 

 way he eats him up. 



Put the "scrauncher" under a large glass on the table 

 where you write editorials. He is an inspiration. When 

 you are tired and want a little diversion, pat a lively cock- 

 roach or a big fly under the glass with him. It makes quite 

 a circus. His apparent stupidity arises from the fact that he 

 cannot see by daylight. But he is quick to hear or feel. If 

 you want to handle him, lift him carcf ull.y by the end of his 

 long, hair-like tail. Keep his claws clear, and he is harmless. 

 That is how I caught him. 



I wanted to say something about the word cahoots, and 

 also a few words to "Kingfisher," whom I would like and be 

 glad to meet in his well found camp. And I have a report 

 to make about cruising among the Florida Keys in dog days, 

 but can only paddle down in time for the mail. 



Use the bug weU. And if you have any doubts about his 

 poison qualities get a worthless cur from the dog pound and 

 tie a handkerchief around him with the bug under it, That 

 will tell the story. Nessmuk. 



Tarpon Springs, Fla , Aug. 10. 



I am just getting over a little fever and a good many bites 

 and a few scorpion stings and a trifle too much sun ou my 

 back when paddling and — well no matter, I am tough as 

 whipcoid yet, and was out a few days ago with the winner 

 of a Lake George paddling race for a forty-mile cruise down 

 the coast, and I loaned him the Bucktail and took the ten- 

 pound Rushton, and he was always going in swimming and 

 showing me his splendid physique and muscle, and being 

 sorry for me because I was old and my muscle seemed so 

 thin, "and how ever did I manage to keep up? and wasn't it 



phenomenal, an old man 63, to stand it so well, lying on the 

 sand and paddling all day in the hot sun, etc.", etc. And 

 how could I paddle without a back rest?" I grew tired of 

 being pitied, and coming up the coast I sort o' got down 

 ou to the spruce to go the way I looked. The dominie — for 

 so he was— complained of the heat and his back, and Ijegan 

 to cut off sailboats for a tow, but they were all going to the 

 wrong ports, and he finally wilted, ran ashore and spread 

 himself loose on the sand to rest his back. (The mercury 

 that day stood at 102 in tbe shade.) At the mouth of the 

 river he "caved" and went into camp with a friend, while I 

 paddled on five miles further up the river. "Old man! thin 

 muscle," hey? We, "Tarpon" and I, bit him up pretty well 

 with yellow flies, man-eaters and mosquitoes. But it would 

 take him a week to get home and he had plenty of time to 

 scratch, 



I am very sorry the "poison grampus" or "mule killer" 

 failed to reach you, I sent one to August Koch, of 

 TS''illiamsport, Pa., that went all right, I got his answer 

 yesterday. He is a naturalist of ability, and he says: "This 

 most interesting reptile, ThelypJionus cmdatus, or, in plain 

 English, 'woman killer,' arrived in good health. Brehm, 

 the naturalist, says he is found as well in Asia (and Java) as 

 in the warmer parts of America." 



I am doubly sorry you did not get the specimen because 

 just now the "poison grampus" is attracting attention here, 

 and a specimen was recently sent to Washington to settle the 

 question as to poisonous qualities. It was sent by Mr. G.W. 

 Davis, of Orange county, and here is part of the answer: 

 "Department of Entomology, Washington, D. C, June 25, 

 1885. G. W. Davis, Dear Sir: Your 'grampus' is the so- 

 called gigantic whip-scorpion {Thelyplwnus giganteus). It is 

 found in Mexico as well as Florida. Its poisonous properties 

 are doubtless exaggerated, and I believe there are no authentic 

 cases of fatal poisoning on record. Respectfully, L. O. 

 Howard, assistant." Thereupon the Tavares Herald, pub- 

 lished at Tavares, Orange county, Fla,, adds triumphantly: 

 "Thus another Florida 'bugaboo' has been sent winding.^' 

 Oh, has it? And how? 



With all respect to the authorities of the entomological 

 department at Washington, let me suggest that such expres- 

 sions as "I believe" and "doubtless" have no place in a ques- 

 tion of science. Science is positive knowledge or it is not 

 science. What do you know of the "whip-scorpion," Mr. 

 Howard? And how do you know there are "no authentic 

 cases of fatal poisoning on record?" I have been at pains to 

 hunt up some "authentic eases," and can furnish them with 

 "proofs strong as holy writ," where mules, horses and human 

 beings died in a few hours, through being infected with the 

 poison of the deadly "grampus." ' 



I will send you another as soon as I can capture one, and 

 the true way to test him is to tie a handkerchief with the 

 "grampus" inside around a worthless cur. Or get the Super- 

 intendent of Police to capture a member of a "bridge gang" 

 or "short-tailed gang," and drop the "grampus" down the 

 spine of his back. 



And now that I am on the reptile question, what can you 

 tell me of that neat little snake, the "ground rattler?" A 

 sub variety, I take it, of my old favorite, Orotnlus horridus. 

 A little active, bright-colored fellow, with a tiny set of rat- 

 tles, about as large as the lip of a well-developed match. He 

 shakes his tail precisely like his larger congener, but with so 

 little result that it is not easy to hear him. He has slender 

 and very sharp fangs, and can strike more times in ten sec- 

 onds than any other poisonous snake in a full minute. He 

 is not usually fatal. 'Three cases of his bite on human beings 

 have all recovered. One of them was in this neighborhood 

 about three weeks ago. Another at the Springs, a darkey, 

 bitten on the foot, got well in three _ weeks. Of three dogs, 

 bitten by the same snake and within a half minute, one 

 died. 



He is beautifully marked and spangled with coppery and 

 bronzed patches, light ash-graj^ and yellowish blotches, and 

 is to my eye a beautiful reptile. I sent a very fine skin for 

 mounting "to Mr. A. Koch, of Williarasport, Pa.; but like 

 your "grampus." it has failed to reach. Does the natural 

 history man of Fokest and STRE.ur recognize the descrip- 

 tion or know of a specimen in New York? If not I will 

 send one. I go reptile hunting every week, sometimes every 

 day. But decent snakes for specimens are scarcer than hen's 

 teeth. ISessmtjk. 



Sept. 10. 



[We would appreciate a skin of the ground rattler.] 



The Colored Patcu in the Crown op the King- 

 BiKD. — Editor Fond and Stream: The theory suggested 

 by Mr. Samuel L. King to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, as to the 

 attracting of bees by the flame-colored patch in the crown 

 of the kingbird {Tyranavs ciiroHnensis) is not new. I had 

 heard it before I knew anything of the habits of the bird, 

 but have never yc^l been able to prove the assertion, although 

 I have watched the bird for yeais. In the circular issued by 

 the Department of Agiiculture in the interest of Economic 

 Ornithology, I could not answer the question "Has any kind 

 of bird been observed to feed upon the honey-bee?" as the 

 circular asks for facts, and I could not give them. During 

 the past August I spent three weeks on Indian River, Jeft'er- 

 son county, this State, and I saw more kingbirds than I ever 

 saw here in a whole year. It was not an unusual sight to 

 see from six to a dozen birds together. I saw five kingbirds 

 and two wood pewees {Coniopus rirens) in a dead treetop 

 that had fallen over the water, and they were all engaged 

 catching flies, and perhaps bees, but 1 hardly think that the 

 insects were enticed there by the flame-colored patch in the 

 crown of the kingbird; more likely by the many flowers 

 along the bank of the river. As a general thing flycatchers 

 do not wait for insects to come to them, but will go one, two, 

 three and four rods for them. I have seen a kingbird that 

 was sitting in the top of a tree go after a bumble-bee that 

 was enticed within about one hundred feet of the bird, and 

 it had quite a chase before it secured its prey. The kinglets 

 {Regulus ealendvUi and satrapa) each have the ruby and 

 golden-colored patch in the crown that they can display at 

 will. Do they do so to entice the small insects upon which 

 they feed? I should as soon think so as that the honey-bee 

 is enticed by the colored patch in the crown of the kingbird. 

 — J. L. Davison (Lockport, N. Y., Sept, 19). 



WoIi^^;s IN New Jersey.— Exactly two hundred years 

 ago, on the 4th day of September, according to the town 

 records of Piscataway, Middlesex county, N. .]., a bounty of 

 twenty shillings was authorized to be paid to any one killing 

 a wolf in the said township. Who knows when the last 

 wolf was killed in this part of New Jersey?— J. L. K, 



Fawn. — A correspondent tells us of a fawn five months 

 old, which can be secured for a pet or some zoological 

 garden. 



