June 3, 1886.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



369 



sweet undefined interval between full daylight and twilight. 

 Mountains of snow-wbite clouds were drifting leisurely 

 toward the west, as if to catch some of the brilliant hues 

 which the sun was scattering so lavishly. The _ sky was 

 flecked with their sprays and needles of gold, while the far 

 away clouds were tinted with pale luminous lilac and brilliant 

 orauge which rapidly darkened, and then deep purple shad- 

 ows filled the valley, which became fainter and more indis- 

 tinct in the dream like light as long and low they crept. 

 Then came the crescent moon and the trembling stars, making 

 the sky one great field of throbbing light, and all was like a 

 sweet, soft dream, mingling and harmonizing with our own 

 content. 



After everything had been snugged up for the night, we 

 entertained and wearied each other with recitals of experi- 

 ences of forest and stream, some perhaps truthful, some prob- 

 ablv otherwise. 



"Speaking of bears," says Storm, "you have noticed, all of 

 you, that bears in a state of captivity have a great fund of 

 humor. They do many little things which show their appre- 

 ciation of a good joke; but it was once my good fortune to 

 witness the quaint humor of one which was not only wild 

 but had sufficient reason to be mad. I was hunting between 

 the timbered hills on Cold Springs, in Northern Wyoming. 

 My companion was a dizzy tenderfoot, named— well, call 

 him Ferguson, who actually didn't know tall grass from 

 short timber. He once asked me, in all seriousness, if there 

 wasn't more land to the acre in Wyoming than in New York. 

 We were after white-tailed deer and jumped a bear. My 

 companion shot at it and must have merely stung it some- 

 where, and not seriously. My rifle, a repeating one, had 

 just that moment got out of order, and was of no present 

 account,. 



"The bear came for us and we lit out. Ferguson was too 

 speedy for me and soon reached the nearest available tree, 

 while I did my best to get there, encouraging myself by say- 

 ing, 'Go in legs; if body wins you shall have half.' 1 reached 

 the tree which Ferguson was hugging, but standing on the 

 ground. 'Quick, Storm,' he said, 'climb right up behind 

 me.' He was either pleading the baby act, insanity, or 

 some defense of that kind, and it proved as good as an alibi. 

 I had barely time to secure a safe position up above, 

 when bruin " arrived and halted to survey the ridiculous 

 scene. Ferguson had braced his feet on the ground and was 

 clasping the tree in his closest embrace. Evidently the bear 

 enjoyed the picture, for casting a pleasant look at me and a 

 pitying glance at Ferguson, and saying, as near as I could 

 understand him, Well, that fellow just downs my compre- 

 hension,' he turned and lumbered away." Millard. 

 Cheyisnne, Wyoming. 



Address all communications to the Forest and Stream Publish- 

 ing Co. . 



FRIENDLY CRITICISMS. 



A STROLL through the animal quarters in Central Park 

 J\. on Decoration Day showed an enormous crowd of 

 people, all of whom were greatly interested in the various 

 animals confined here. To mingle with this throng and 

 witness the eagerness with which they view the different 

 wild creatures to be seen there, would convince any one of 

 the value of such a collection of animals, the importance of 

 keeping the captive beasts in good condition, of adding to 

 their comfort and of increasing their numbers. It is certain 

 that there is no sight in or about New York which affords 

 so much pleasure to so large a number of people as the 

 collection of animals at the park. 



This collection is in charge of Mr. W, A. Conklin, who is 

 greatly interested in it, but he is«allowed no sufficient sum 

 to expend upon the animals, and the space devoted to them 

 is utterly insufficient for their needs. 



To maintain captive animals in a condition at all approach- 

 ing health, their surroundings should as nearly as possible 

 resemble those to which they are accustomed in a state of 

 nature. They should have the food best suited to them, and 

 in as great variety as possible ; should have as much room as 

 practicable and every attention should be paid to relieving 

 them from the ailments which must necessarily follow the 

 unnatural conditions of their existence in captivity. We 

 feel sure that Mr. Conklin makes every effort to do as much 

 for his charges as is possible, under the circumstances, but in 

 the hope of awakening some intelligent interest in the public 

 rniud in this collection we desire to call attention to a num- 

 ber of instances in which the animals are improperly cared 

 for— a stranger may often discover omissions which would be 

 overlooked by one who is always on the ground. 



To the left of the Fifth avenue entrance to the Menagerie 

 is a divided cage, which holds a buffalo bull, cow and calf. 

 The animals appear to be in fair condition, but it will be 

 noted by every one who sees them that their coats are very 

 ragged, and that a large part of the winter's fleece still clings 

 to'their flanks. The wild buffalo would long before this 

 time have got rid of all this by scratching or by wallowing, 

 and his hide would be as smooth — except on the hump, neck 

 and head — as that of a well-groomed horse. These buffalos, 

 however, have no opportunity to rub or scratch or wallow, 

 and therefore the effort of nature to throw off the old dead 

 coat should be assisted. The buffalo should be groomed j 

 not perhaps with currycomb and brush, but a heavy card on 

 the end of a long handle, or even a garden rake, ought to be 

 used to tear away the dead hair of last winter's growth. 

 The scratching would not only improve the appearance of 

 the animals, but would add a vast deal to their comfort, and 

 while it might not be very patiently borne at first, would be 

 greatly enjoyed by them after a little. This same scratching, 

 carding or grooming ought to be done to many other ani- 

 mals. The miserable elk, and some of the deer and the 

 camels, would be improved in looks and their health bene- 

 fited by it. 



Coming back again to the buffalo pen, we notice that the 

 floor consists apparently of smooth boards. In a state of 

 nature the buffalo is constantly on the move. Walking and 

 running over ground now loamy, now sandy, or gravelly or 

 rocky, he wears down his hoofs, and this wear is, of course, 

 replaced by fresh growth. In the buffalo pen at the Park 

 there is no opportunity for this wearing away, and the hoofs 

 of the captives grow too fast and show a tendency to become 

 long. It would be an advantage to have the floor of the 

 cage covered with gravel to a depth of three or four inches 

 so that whatever wear is possible in this limited space might 

 take place. It must be said that these captive buffalo appear 

 to be in good condition and healthy. 



Passing along the walk among the paddocks occupied by 

 the camels, the cattle of various breeds and the deer, one 

 cannot but observe the limited accommodations allotted to 

 them and the utter absence of any green thing on the ground, 

 for the grass has long since been destroyed by the ceaseless 

 tread of the poor beasts, and only the hard, bare, parched 

 clay remains. It was not always so, for in years gone by the 

 Central Park had a fine deer pasture on the meadow where 

 now the Art Museum stands, and the elk and the deer could 

 then he seen there almost as in nature. 



The bears have the best accommodations of any of the ani- 

 mals in the park, and they repay the expense attending the 

 erection of their quarters by the interest which they excite. 

 At all hours of the day the cage is surrounded by a crowd of 

 persons of all ages, who seem never to tire of watching the 

 antics of the animals. In one division of the large cage are 

 two Polar bears in good condition, and in the other three 

 black bears and the two Forest and Stream grizzlies The 

 latter are most mischievous and full of fun, and spend almost 

 all their time— when they are not begging dainties from the 

 spectators— in playing with each other or with the black 

 bears. They wrestle and box and chase each othcrup and 

 down over the rocks in very amusing fashion. During one 

 of the warm days we have had recently, the female — known 

 as The Kisser — has spent a great deal of her time in the water 

 tank, where she bathes in most luxuriant fashion. We do 

 not know on what the bears are fed, but are told that it is 

 entirely bread. This should not be so. Any one who is 

 acquainted with bruin at home knows that at this season of 

 the year, and until the berries are ripe, his food consists 

 very largely of roots. So the bears should now have roots 

 given them. A bushel of mixed carrots, 'turnips and pars- 

 nips would go as far as a bushel of bread, and would cer- 

 tainly cost no more. Stale, worthless fruit might be given 

 them in considerable quantities and would cost no more than 

 so much bread, while it would be vastly relished by the ani- 

 mals, would make them healthy and improve their coats. 

 Bears will eat anything, and a variety of food should be fur- 

 nished them. 



An interesting inclosure is the one which contains the 

 prairie dogs. These little rodents do not seem to be in good 

 condition.' They have not shed their 'winter coats, and yet 

 on some of them appear bare patches where the hair has 

 entirely dropped off, as if they were afflicted with some 

 skin disease. Moreover they scratch themselves continually 

 as if greatly troubled with vermin. In their inclosure we 

 saw a heap of corn, on which, we presume, they are ex- 

 pected to subsist. There seems no reason why they should 

 not have an armful of freshly cut grass thrown to them 

 three times a day. It would certainly improve their appear- 

 ance and their health. Some plan ought to be devised for 

 moving their inclosure from time to time. The labor of 

 making fresh burrows would be good for them, and the 

 change would in a measure rid them of the fleas, which 

 ordinarily trouble them. 



Space does does not permit us now to call attention to 

 other matters where beneficial changes might be made. 



We are sure that no one regrets more than Mr. Conklin, 

 the wretched parsimony of the city government, which for- 

 bids him to expend money for the benefit of his collections, 

 but the suggestions which we have made could be carried 

 out without cost, and the trifling labor involved would be a 

 very small price to pay for the improved condition of the 

 animals. 



FLORIDA MOCKING BIRDS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I inclose you an editorial from the daily Times- Union of 

 this city, which voices the sentiment of ninety-nine-hun- 

 dred tbs of the liberal and enlightened people of this State. 

 It applies not only to our sweet-throated songster, but to all 

 of our song and forest birds. Our State bas been ravaged 

 the past winter by the taxidermist and millinery butchers, 

 until longer forbearance has ceased to be a virtue. Our 

 beach and shore birds have almost entirely disappeared : our 

 bluejays, cardinals and mocking birds are rarely seen. We 

 are determined to put a stop to this. I am now preparing a 

 game law, which we trust our Legislature will pass in Janu- 

 ary next; and if so, you may rest assured it will be enforced, 

 at least in this portion of the State. The great work of the 

 Audubon Society came none too soon. Through their 

 agency alone will the depopulation of our woods and fields 

 be stopped. Let them persevere. Public sentiment all over 

 the country is coming to the rescue, and a grand triumph 

 awaits them. Sportsman. 



Jacksonville, Florida. 



The Times- Union says : 



The destruction of our song birds has been so great of 

 late years that we have found it our duty as well as pleasure 

 to protest against it and to urge that legal measures should 

 be taken to prevent their extermination. Prominent among 

 the feathered choir we have mentioned the mocking bird — 

 the prima donna of the Southern field and grove. The de- 

 struction of which we have spoken has been wanton; it had 

 no aim save to destroy something, or to get a subject for the 

 taxidermists, or for those horrid milliners who decorate in- 

 describable bonnets with the remains of feathered beauties, 

 whose natural plumage they debauch with their abominable 

 analine dyes. But it seems that there is another class of 

 people who war against the birds, and particularly against 

 the mocking birds. Mr. Kennard, of Waldo, sends us the 

 following letter . 



Waldo. Fla., April 39.-2'o the- Editor of the Times-Union: Having 

 seen several pieces published asking to have a law passed to protect 

 the mocking bird, I, for one, heartily protest against any such law. 

 I consider the mocking; bird one of the greatest pests that we have. 

 We have to depend for support in a great measure on raising small 

 fruits, and no one knows but those thus engaged the amount of dam- 

 age done by this same curse. And now to have a law passed not giv- 

 ing me the right to protect my own interest! what next? No sir; I 

 say the mocking bird must go. Very respectfully, Sam. J. Kennard. 



Oh, no, Mr. Kennard; the mocking bird must not go. You 

 will feel differently on the subject after you have reflected a 

 little on the cruel sentence of extermination you have pro- 

 nounced. We don't dispute the declaration of your bill of 

 rights ; you have a right to protect your property and your 

 crops; so has every American citizen. But how? If your 

 mule should get hungry and break into your cornfield, you 

 surely would not kill him; you would not even "wallop" 

 him ; you would get him something to eat j you would — 



"Put him in the barn and give him some hay, 



And say, Gee, whoa! Come up, Jerry." 



At least that's what we think you would do, for it is what 

 we should do under like circumstances. Now apply this 

 principle to the mocking bird. He is one of your scavengers ; 

 be eats twice as many insects as he does berries, and he is 



worthy of his hire. Instead of spending money for powder 

 and shot and losing valuable time in gunning for him, plant 

 an extra patch in berries for his use and let him eat his fill 

 of the succulent fruit. He will vary bis diet with bugs and 

 worms and insects galore, all of which are destructive of 

 your berries and your crops. The idea that birds are a nui- 

 sance because they eat a few berries, is a relic of the un- 

 thinking and ignorant ages when the peasant thought the 

 goatsucker bird really milked the goats instead of catching 

 the flies and vermin that were continually pestering the ani- 

 mals. 



The mocking bird must not go. Look at the trim, saucy 

 fellow as he sits swaying on the topmost bough of the water- 

 oak, gazing brightly up into the clear empyrean, the liquid 

 trills, crescendo, diminuendo and staccato notes pouring 

 from his throat with a spontaneity that tells of his content- 

 ment with this world and all that is therein. Note the air 

 of abandon and reckless glee with which he gives the whistle 

 of the quail, the piping of the thrush, the scream of the 

 jay, and the softened sweetness with which he executes the 

 trills and quavers of the smaller of his feathered brethren, 

 The Northern bobolink and robin, the English lark, the 

 tuneful linnet, and the pet of the drawing-room, the canary, 

 are all rivaled at once in his delirious song. He is emphatic- 

 ally a Southern institution. The clash of arms and the roar 

 and smoke of battle did not change him in the least. The 

 sounds of strife and the discordant echoes of brother cursing 

 the brother whose blood he sought added not a single piece 

 to his repertoire or a new note to his song. As he was in 

 the beginning he is now and ever shall be, world without 

 end, the most glorious and truest-hearted songster of the 

 Southernwoods. He never has been and he never need he- 

 re constructed. 



O no, Mr. Kennard, the mocking bird must not go; plant 

 him a new patch of berries and let him sing and eat and eat 

 and sin»; until the long moss ceases to wave and bird songs 

 melt into the song of the angels at the last day. 



A Note about Audubon. — A Springfield, Mass., corre- 

 spondent sends us this extract from a letter written by Lewis 

 Wamner, Jan. 2, 1841, Audubon being at that time a guest 

 of Rev. W. O. B. Peabody, the Unitarian minister in Spring- 

 field : "I saw Mr. Audubon, the illustrious ornithologist, the 

 other day, a noble specimen of our fallen race, firm figure, 

 tall, something like S. V. S. Wilder, but with nothing of his 

 important air. 'A man of great simplicity/ Mr. Peabody 

 remarked to me, He is fifty -six years old. His hair is long 

 and almost white, and he has an eye of uncommon brilliancy. 

 I venerate him more than almost any one. His love of 

 nature is so strong that he is going to start for the Rocky 

 Mountains on the first of May next, to be gone five years. I 

 beard him say that he with his wife and two sons chased a 

 wren fifteen hundred miles and that the wren cost him one 

 thousand dollars. Mr. Howard told me that Mr. Audubon 

 was at a dinner-party at Mr. Th. H. Perkins's in Roxbury 

 when he heard the note of a bird he had been looking for a 

 long time, got excused for a moment, took his gun which he 

 always carries with him, slept in the woods that night, and 

 did not return for ten days, when he found the bird, having 

 been in the meantime on foot to Sandwich on Cape Cod." 



Habits of the Eagle.— East Toledo, May 15.— Editor 

 Forest and Stream: The young eagle hatched April 26 is now 

 about the size of a full grown barn pigeon, and is growing 

 very rapidly. I have closely observed the habits of the eagle 

 for many years. The pairs select their location for nesting 

 generally in the top of a white oak tree and as far from the 

 ground as possible. They nest in the same tree as long as 

 the tree stands, and then select a tree as near by as possible. 

 Their nests range from ten to fifteen and twenty miles apart. 

 They lay out their fishing and hunting grounds, and no eagle 

 is allowed to encroach on another eagle's ground ; if it does 

 there is sure to be a fight. As soon as the young birds are 

 old enough to take care of themselves, they are driven away 

 to hunt a new locality for themselves. In the month of 

 November the eagles have a grand rally and are seen high 

 in the air for several days, when the majority go South, but 

 many remain at home all winter. — Henry Hulce. 



\tw ^ttblimtion§. 



" OUR NEW ALASKA." 



TT is always pleasant to read a book written by Mr. Charles Hallock. 



His writings are always vivid and full of life, and convey a 

 striking picture of the scene described. To the sportsman his books 

 have an especial charm, for in his travels Mr. Hallock is sure to dis- 

 cover something that is worth telling about the fish or game of any 

 region he visits, and to tell it in his own entertaining way; away 

 which sportsmen have learned to love. 



It is with great satisfaction that we announce the coming publica- 

 tion of Mr. Hallock's new book on Alaska. That far off corner of the 

 globe, so long neglected, is rapidly coming into prominence in oui* 

 national affairs, and after having been neglected ever since the date 

 of its purchase, is now attracting the attention of tourist and capi-> 

 talist, and of trader, miner and fisherman. The Governor of Alaska 

 is now in Washington, urging upon Congress the importance of or- 

 ganizing the Territory, a work which is imperatively demanded by 

 its growing commercial importance. 



The most beautiful scenery in America— if not in the world— is to 

 be found in the rock-faced fiords of Alaska and along the coast to 

 the south of it, and the charms of a journey thither need no descrip- 

 tion to the many travelers who have visited it since it was made so 

 easily accessible by the opening of the great Northern highway across 

 the Continent. Nowadays the stream of tourist travel tends strongly 

 toward that northern region which has always been so distant and 

 is now so near, Omne ignotum pro magnifico, and the far off has 

 indeed a wonderful attraction. 



Mr. Hallock's personal investigations in Alaska have resulted in the 

 collection of a great amount of material on a variety of topics. He 

 treats of the country— its past and present ; of its resources— its timber, 

 its mines, its fisheries and its fur trade; of the Indian question, of the 

 government, of its natural history, the scenery and of sport. The 

 old Russian days, the subsequent period of stagnation, and the 

 present one of activity are fully discussed. Of Alaska's future Mr. 

 Hallock speaks in very hopeful terms. 



The book is one which will find its way into the hands of every one 

 who has followed the history of Alaska since it became a United 

 States Territory, and besides these all who expect to visit the region 

 will look eagerly for its appearance. 



The volume will be a handsome crown octavo, of about 250 pages, 

 beautifully illustrated from sketches made on the spot, and a map 

 covering all the points of interest along established lines of travel, 



It is now in press and will be published about July 1, by the Forest 

 and Stream Publishing Company. 



