Apriij 8, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



203 



to be on the point of sailing. At Garden Key the -whole 

 island is covered, or rather inclosed, by Fort Jefferson, a 

 Cyclopean structure of concrete faced with brick comprising 

 an area of about six acres, of which the sea wall outside the 

 moat has a leugth of nearly seven-eighths of a mile. The 

 edifice is in the form of a hexagon, with towers at the angles, 

 and consists of three tiers of casements (only the lowest one 

 of which has been completed), and is surmounted by a para- 

 pet. Within are two large brick buildings for the quarters 

 of officers and men. As the foundation was laid on piles, 

 the fort is settling in many places, and its unfinished condi- 

 tion permits the weather to act freely and hasten the impend- 

 ing ruin. The roofs of the buildings within are also out of 

 repair, and the floors are rapidly decaying with the conse- 

 quent leakage. At a distance the great inclosure looms up, 

 a monument of apparently misdirected energy, as it is im- 

 possible with the unaided, vision to determine why such an 

 immense fort should ever have been deemed necessary to 

 protect so insignificant a harbor. 



The Tortugas have long been noted as a collecting ground 

 for corals, and large quantities are shipped yearly to dealers 

 in New York and other cities, The constant search for good 

 specimens, however, during the past sixteen years, by Mr. 

 Messina, keeper of the lighthouse at Garden Key, has ren- 

 dered it impossible to gather anything desirable within three 

 or four miles of that point. Bird Key, one of the group, 

 was long famous for the immense number of gulls and other 

 sea fowl which came there during the early summer to lay. 

 At this season the fishermen and others used to collect the 

 eggs for food, and when the fort was occupied they formed 

 an important element in the rations of the garrison. Such 

 wholesale interference with the domestic affairs of the birds 

 has rendered the locality less popular as a summer resort for 

 them, and Bird Key now owes its name chiefly to history. 

 At Loggerhead Key, the largest of the group, is a light of 

 the first order, and here, as well as at the other islands of the 

 group, turtles are very abundant in season. Rare shells are 

 occasionally found on the beaches, but few are prettier or 

 more interesting than the ianthina, or purple snail, a fragile 

 univalve shell, whose occupant passes the time floating about 

 on the coral seas, the female towing after her a raft many 

 times larger than herself, which supports the numerous 

 young in cells attached to the lower surface. 



On the voyage back from Tortugus it was my fortune to 

 experience a norther, which at the present season is some- 

 what of a rarity, We left the mooring at Fort Jefferson 

 about sunrise, and with a light but favorable breeze were 

 plunging over the heavy swell produced by the strong 

 wind of the previous day. Toward noon the breeze began to 

 die out and for several hours we flapped along eastward, 

 barely making headway, the reef paints rattling on the can- 

 vas with the sound of a distant volley of musketry and the 

 sheet blocks every moment being jerked along the trav- 

 elers and slammed on the deck with a violence somewhat 

 prejudicial to the quiet enjoyment of a day. A few Portu- 

 gese men-of-war floated along with purplish sails on the 

 greenish white water and half a dozen porpoises followed us 

 closely in search of provender. So we lingered, the wooded 

 group of the .Marquesas gradually coming into view and 

 drawing nearer until by some imperceptible^agency, in the 

 course of long hours we were nearly abreast of them. At 

 last we began to feel the influence of the flood tide and the 

 southerly wind freshened until we were making fairly six 

 knots. Meanwhile the sun had set, the northern horizon 

 had darkened and clouds were gathering fast. 



"There's some wind off there," remarked the skipper, 

 "and I'd as lief get in before it reaches us." 



But Key West is a good twelve miles away, its watch 

 towers and steeples appearing indistinctly above the water 

 and that rolling cloud bank will reach us within an hour. 

 Ominously and majestically it comes; in front and above two 

 lines of white cloud like a folded veil; below the dark gray 

 nimbus stretching east and west with indefinite extent and 

 hanging with uniform depth over the dark green water as it 

 advances. We are moving slowly along with a southerly 

 breeze abaft the beam ; but gradually the air becomes still, 

 and the norther, now only a few miles away, seems to in- 

 crease in speed. Orders are quickly given to unbend the 

 staysail and take in the foresaii, and are as quickly obeyed. 

 Oilskins and sou' westers are donned, and everything made 

 fast. A moment's utter silence and the squall is upon us. 

 Yielding gracefully to the pressure of the wind, the smack 

 heels over until the water boils in at her scuppers, and, under 

 jib and mainsail, flies over the water like a teal startled from 

 its cover. To windward the water is greenish gray, with 

 the reflection of the cloud, save where a rift allows the twi- 

 light to enter dimly on the scene, and flying white caps fleck 

 its surface. To leeward a narrow band of leaden sky ap- 

 pears below the border of the fast flying storm cloud. On 

 we scud, the able craft dashing the spray from her bows. 

 At this rate we shall be at our anchorage in less than an 

 hour. At Ias"t we near Fort Taylor. Now comes the tug. 

 There are five men of-war lying at anchor in the channel, 

 and we have to work our way among them with a head 

 wind. Now we are driving straight at the starboard quarter 

 of the Swatara, and a collision seems inevitable. "Ready 

 about 1" commands the captain. A rush to the sheets, a 

 moment's overhauling of sails, the smack quivers an instant 

 in stays, and now we are flying past the Swatara, seemingly 

 turning our backs on Key West. Again we tack and threaten 

 instant destruction to the antiquated paddle wheels of the 

 Powhatan. So it continues until after a long series of tacks 

 we reach the anchorage and make fast. The boat is hoisted 

 out and the passengers are ready to go ashore. 



"Captain, how much do I owe you?" 



"Nothin' at all, sir. Why wrackeis always carries people 

 up from Tortugas, an' I never heerd of any of 'em chargin' 

 a cent." 



The fishing in this vicinity has been so well described by 

 Dr. Henshall that it would be superfluous for me to add any- 

 thing on the subject. During the present season many dead 

 fish have washed up on the shore, and their destruction has 

 been attributed by some to the low temperature of the past 

 winter. A similar mortality is said to have prevailed among 

 the sponges, and is attributed to the same cause. Having 

 had no opportunity to investigate the matter, I can offer no 

 reliable explanation, but I doubt the probability of the re- 

 cent cold weather having to any injurious extent lowered the 

 temperature of that portion of the equatorial current which 

 flows through the Gulf of Mexico and unites with the Gulf 

 Stream north of the Bahamas. Some of the residents here 

 advance the theory of poisoned water coming from some of 

 the swamps of the mainland of Florida. Apropos of this an 

 anecdote is related of a former well-known citizen of Key 

 West. A number of gentlemen were discussing the cause of 

 mortality in fish and sponges, which has occurred before. 

 Mr, S. attributed it to colu weather, while Mr. B. asserted 



that it was owing to a volcanic eruption in the Everglades, 

 which had caused the swamp water to flow into the gulf and 

 poison the fish. The well-known citizen referred to on being 

 asked his opinion replied, with a sententious air, "Gentle- 

 men, there's no doubt but what Mr. B. is right, and there's 

 been a vulgar corruption in the Everglades." 



F. J. H. Merrill. 



Key West, Fla., Marsh t2. 



turpi l§i$totu* 



THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 



WE had thought that Boston and Philadelphia were the 

 chief centers of extended work for the Audpbon So- 

 ciety, but Buffalo, N. Y., bids fair to rival these larger cities 

 in the interest which it shows in the movement. ALamecting 

 of the Buffalo Field Club, held on Friday last, Prof. Linden 

 read a report on the proposition to join or otherwise co- 

 operate with the New York Audubon SocfETv, and the 

 followiug was adopted by the club: 



"The Buffalo Field Club declares its unqualified indorse- 

 ment of the annouDCt d aims and purposes of the Audubon 

 Protective Bird Society, and pledges hereby its hearty co 

 operation in any case that the same is requested for the fur- 

 therance of any legal measures which may be adopted to 

 prevent the reckless decimation of our useful birds. Their 

 skins or feathers are still permitted to be exposed abroad 

 like any other legitimate article of commerce, or are freely 

 sold in the home market by unscrupulous venders for exclu- 

 sive purpose of ornamentation, and in open defiance to the 

 true spirit of existing legal restiictions which are on our 

 statutes to insure the protection of our useful native birds." 



On Saturday Dr. John Parmenter delivered a lecture before 

 the Woman's Union, at the close of which he devoted some 

 time to our cause. His hearers were greatly interested and 

 were almost unanimous in their wish to support the movement. 

 This was no small triumph and a great compliment to the 

 powers of the lecturer, for the majority of the audience were 

 bird wearers. The greatest energy is being displayed by the 

 Buffalo members, who have before them always the destruc- 

 tion of birds constantly taking place at Niagara for ornaments 

 From all over the country warm expressions of interest are 

 heard, and many thousands of pledges have been sent out in 

 response to letters asking for them. Of these a large pro- 

 portion have been returned signed. The press as well as the 

 people give most cordial support to the movement and all 

 are agreed that the birds must be saved. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I do not think that the milliners' assistants have invaded 

 this region yet, but no one can tell how soon they may, if 

 the abominable traffic is not presently checked. I think the 

 effect of the ruthless slaughter elsewhere is noticeable here, 

 however. Orioles were scarcer last season than for many years. 

 Forty years ago it was something worthy of note to see a 

 "hang-bird" about, but they kept increasing in numbers, 

 and till last summer, almost every roadside and door yard 

 elm had one or more of their hammocks swung in it. And 

 bobolinks grow fewer year by year; and so do meadow larks, 

 though perhaps "sportsmen" are partly to blame for the 

 falling off in the number of these. 



This winter there have been no chickadees about our 

 house, when for many winters past they have come in dozens 

 to be fed with scraps of fat, along with many nuthatches 

 and hairy and downy woodpeckers. A few nuthatches and 

 woodpeckers are daily visitors, but not one chickadee. This 

 might be attributed to the English sparrows that are becom- 

 ing altogether too plenty; but in a long tramp in the woods 

 a few days since 1 heard but two of my little black capped 

 friends, when in no day of any other winter do I remember 

 going without having an inquisitive company of them about 

 me every time I halted to light my pipe, or took my stand 

 upon a runway. I heard and saw a few nuthatches and 

 two or three bluejays, but these were noticeably scarce. 

 Our farmers have a foolish prejudice against the jays, but 

 for all that they seldom kill one, and their absence is not to 

 be accounted for on that score. 



I have seen but one large flock of snow buntings, and 

 that flock but once. In past winters hardly a day, certaiuly 

 not a week, went by that a flurry of these birds did not drift 

 over the fields, or settle on the tops of the dead weeds. The 

 Canadians have been slaughtering these winter visitors for 

 years for market. A friend told me that he saw strings of 

 them six feet long in the Montreal markets last winter. Such 

 slaughter there, with the work of our skin collectors here, 

 with whom, I see by Mr. Chapman's list, they are greatly in 

 favor, mu?t make sad havoc with them, 



Somt thing or other is thinning off all our birds except the 

 crows and English sparrows. I did not think it necessary 

 to tell you that I for one am very heartily with you in your 

 efforts in behalf of our harmless birds. I am, and if you 

 will send us the circulars, etc., my wife and I will do what 

 we can to help. 



In the "woods loafing," before mentioned, I saw three 

 ruffed grouse, and the tracks of four more, a pretty good 

 showing, 1 thought, for this season and these years. 



Awahsoose. 



. Ferrisburgh, Vr., March, 1886. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Your letter with accompanying circulars of the Audubon 

 Society, has been received. I took the papers home to din- 

 ner, and while disposing of my rations, discussed with the 

 mistress of my affections and household, the tenor of three 

 pledges submitted for signature. 



Said I: "I don't wish to kill any 'wild birds not used for 

 food ;' in fact I haven't done such a thing in a long time. You 

 remember when, last summer the blackbirds were devouring 

 our corn, and I charged the little muzzleloader and went 

 forth to sweep them from the face of the earth, and when 

 they rose in a mass from the corn and settled in the dry top 

 of a tree and when I had walked up to a point distant about 

 thirty yards and cocked both barrels of little Jenny, the 

 Impertinent things just sat there and chirped and glittered 

 and flourished their tails, as if to say, 'Shoot if you can,' 

 and— well I couldn't. I ju-t stood there looking at those 

 birds, and I suppose looking like a fool to my neighbor 

 Watts who, with his myrmidons, stood glowering open- 

 mouthed across the fence, and wondering why I didn't cut 

 a swath right through the flock. I do not think it would 

 have been an easy matter to explain to him just why I low- 

 ered the hammers and stalked back to the house, and my 

 reputation for possessing some skill with firearms must have 

 made the thing seem all the more odd." 



"I don't like to have the birds killed," said the lady, "and 



1 think that we can manage to protect our crops more easily 

 without a gun than without the birds. I do not see how I 

 can manage to sign all the pledges just yet, though, for my 

 hat has some feather ornaments on it and I must wait until 

 1 can get a new one. There shall be no wild birds' feathers 

 on that; but you know that if I were to tear the trimming 

 off this hat it would look awfully." 



"Very true," said I; "and now I come to think of it, I 

 selected that hat myself. The feathers seem to have belonged 

 to some wild bird, though of no variety against which I ever 

 pointed gun. The hat does not trouble my conscience, how- 

 ever; but there is one point on which I fetl a little like 

 kicking.' Do you remember when we lived on our old 

 place, Riverwood, that a great hawk one day made a descent 

 upon our chickens, and that you came running out of the 

 house with my old 12-pound deer gun in your hands, just in 

 time for me to catch the piece and take a snap shot at the 

 robber as he sped away through the trees in the direction of 

 the river? Three feet ten inches was the distance across 

 that fellow's wings. It does seem to me that the A. S. 

 might let up a little on birds of prey. However, 1 am going 

 to whack down my autograph beneath the three pledges, 

 and let this matter take care of itself. When your new hat 

 arrives you can do the same." 



It is no time to hold back in this matter. The senseless 

 fusillade which has been kept up along our lakes during the 

 past five years has so far destroyed the bird-life of this region 

 that I have repeatedly paddled for many miles without see- 

 ing a single song bird, hawk or owl. I hope ere long to see 

 the day when stringent laws shall teach the wanton butchers 

 of our feathered friends to seek some substitute for any pleas- 

 ure they may now find in this needless slaughter, for which 

 the perpetrators appear not to have found, m this region at 

 least, the poor excuse of a scanty pecuniary compensation. 



I shall endeavor to bring these matters before the public 

 through the medium of our local press, and shall feel obliged 

 if you will send me more circulars for that and similar pup- 

 poses. Kelpie. 



Central Lakk, Mich., March 28, 



Northampton, Mass., March 15, 1886. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



Being at home only for a moment, I have but scant time 

 to say that I am heartily in sympathy with your Audubon 

 Society. 



I offer but one limitation ; the wearing of feathers as or- 

 naments may be indulged in, if I am not mistaken, to some 

 considerable extent without blame. For example, ostrich 

 plumes, got from ostrich farms do not, I believe, stand for 

 any suffering inflicted anywhere. Cock feathers, worn as 

 military or millinery adornment, are not evidence that any 

 creature has suffered appreciably in yielding them. The 

 wearing of hawks', jays', owls' and other predatory birds' 

 wings, I see no more harm in than in sporting a belt or pair 

 of slippers made of snakeskius, or a tiger-skin saddle cover. 

 But the use, for ornament of person or drawing-room, of 

 feathers, wings, heads, etc., cruelly got from harmless birds, 

 I think should be discountenanced everywhere as unworthy 

 of any people professing to be humane. 



I have'five little daughters— quite an Audubon Society 

 in numbers, and avowedly so in their intentions — to wage 

 war agamst no innocent, and make peace with no harmful, 

 practice. Yours truly, G. W. Cable. 



Frank Leslie's, of March 27, had an effective full-page 

 illustration, entitled "Slaughter of the Innocents." It 

 showed a gunner shooting song birds, and a corner sketch 

 illustrated the bird feather hat ornamentation of the day. 

 The page tells its story very effectively. 



WILD CELERY. 



TAPE GRASS — VALISNERIA SPIRALIS, 



THE following account is reprinted from the Forest and 

 Stream of Jan. 5, 1882, in response to a number of in- 

 quiries : 



Mr. Robt. O. Morris, of Springfield, Mass., to whom I 

 sent seeds and roots, Oct. 6, 1881, sent me an extract from 

 Prof. H. D. Butler's history of the wild celery, as follows : 

 "Tape Grass, which may be had in the Hudson River, es- 

 pecially near New burgh, or On the Delaware and Raritan 

 Canal, where it becomes seriously abundant occasionally, 

 about Princeton, N. J. [Add: In the Chesapeake, Dela- 

 ware and Sandusky bays; in several of the interior lakes of 

 Wisconsin, and in portions of Lake St. Clair.] The Valis- 

 neria spiralis came originally from Italy, and is named 

 after Valisner, an Italian naturalist, who wrote on insects 

 and plants in the last century. As the male and female 

 flowers of the plant grow from'different roots, care must be 

 taken to secure both for propagation. They may be dis- 

 tinguished without difficulty. The female flowers are found 

 on long, spiral foot-stalks, the male ones on straight, 

 short flower-stalks. The female flower ascends by the assist- 

 ance of a coil, and floats on the surface of the water. The 

 male flowers, when matured, gallantly detach themselves 

 from the plant stalk and follow their feminine relatives to 

 the surface. Here they expand, float among their favorites, 

 and impart to them the pollen with which they are laden. 

 The female plant then descends to the bottom, and the pro- 

 cess of reproduction goes on agreeably to the order of 

 nature. The wild celery is also propagated by offshoots, A 

 lateral shoot (a rhizoma) branches from the mother plant and 

 pushes forward until it discovers some suitable spot in which 

 it may strike a root. Here it fixes itself at once, and in its 

 turn assumes all the characteristics of the parent plant, and 

 devotes itself to the same functional performances." 



While the above is undoubtedly substantially correct in a 

 scientific and botanical sense, yet, by careful observation of 

 the growing plant, I have been unable to discover the 

 "straight short flower stalk" of the male plant. 



What I have observed is this : There are a great many of 

 the plants that bear no seed. In fact, in deep water there 

 may be found acres of such, while in water from three to five 

 feet deep, large patches are found, nearly all bearing seed 

 pods. Why this is so I cannot tell. It may be that they are 

 all male plants, but as that would appear unreasonable, I 

 conclude that it is owing to the depth of the water affecting 

 its temperature and the influence which the sun would have 

 in deep water, while in shoaler water it would aid in 

 warming and maturing the spiral flower stem, the flower and 

 the seed. The growth of the narrow green blades, three cr 

 four from each root, is very rapid. They reach the surface 

 early in August, where the water is from six to eight feet 

 deep. The spiral flower stems, eight to twelve feet long- 

 when the numerous coils are stretched out, also come to the 

 surface in August, bearing a little three-leafed flower, not 

 bigger than a neld-pea. 



Behind the flower the spiral stem (which, at the roots, is 



