SEPT. §0, 1888.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



185 



AMress aU communimmm to tJic Forest and St/rcmn Pub. Co. 



THE AUDUBON SOCIETY. 



CINCINNATI, Ohio, Sept. 20.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream : I liave been advocating the Audubon So- 

 ciety's ideas and am astonished at the opposition I meet 

 with among my lady friends. They seem to consider the 

 birds created for the sole purpose of adorning their bonnets. 

 I stiU keep np the fight, though.— Caluhiet. 



Harper s V^eeMy says: "A correspondent calls attention 

 tothe fad that stirffed birds are again exhibited in the 

 •windows of the fasliionable miUuaery shops, and it is an- 

 nounced that birds will once more be in fashion for hats 

 and bomiets. This is a direct incitement to a cruel 

 slaughter for the gratification of a false and morbid taste. 

 The protest against it has not been unavailing, despite the 

 reappearance of the inonstrous fashion. The agitation has 

 turned pubhc attention to the subject, and the woman 

 who wears a dead bird for ornament is in danger of being 

 regarded by intelligent persons as they regard' a fantastic 

 barbarian. " Savages wear the scalps of their enemies, 

 but the bnds have done the yoiuig women no harm that 

 they should decorate their heads trinmphantly with the 

 birds' dead bodies. More than this, tlie law liappily inter- 

 feres, and at least attempts to protect the bii-ds against 

 the boys and girls. * * * This is a law in accord with 

 the best sentiment of the communitj^, and the^exLstence of 

 such a law is the severest rebuke of a repulsive fashion. 

 The lady who wears a dead bii-d need not affect contempt 

 of her fellow-savage who wears a nose-ring." 



Only six months ago the Audubon Society was started. 

 To-day it numbers 12,200 members. The expenses inci- 

 dental to its organization and conduct \ip to the present 

 time have been born entirely by Forest and Stream. 

 It invites to membership only humane and intelligent 

 peojjle. Donations from symxDathizers with its work are 

 promptly returned to the senders. Nobody is supplied 

 with a good, easy office and fat salary by it. In several 

 respects, as wiir be understood from these brief state- 

 ments of fact, the Audubon Society is quite a miique 

 and mildly surj)rising tiling. — New York Sun, Sex^t. 26, 



RATTLES AND FANGS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



A few weeks ago I, with a friend, explored for and 

 found a gilt-edged pond in the mountains (our climb sug- 

 gesting that we were on the direct road to the zenith) said 

 to contain no fish under five pounds in weight — "there or 

 thereabouts." We really did find a large rattlesnake in 

 our camp, and as we had had two hours sleep the night 

 before we did not feel particularly sleepy during the 

 night that folio-wed the discovery of its snakeship, and 

 my friend, Judge R. , and I sat up all night. The judge 

 said he had no objections to a male snake (which was 

 what we killed) seekmg the hospitahtj' of our chalet, but 

 a female snake might ghde in without ringing the bell, 

 not knowing that it was highly improper, and politeness 

 demanded that we prepare to give undisturbed possession. 

 We were the more Avilling to do this, for aside from the 



{)leasm-e of sitting on a log in the rain in a camp that 

 ooked as snaky as the serjpent department of a zoological 

 garden, we Avished to make sure that the men kept the 

 fire up to the illuminating point. We did not have all the 

 conveniences of one of "Wawayanda's" camps, but even 

 he never had a wetter skin than I had that night. Both 

 of om- men had killed snakes without number that carried 

 rattleboxes, and the information that they gave us about 

 them would be valuable if memory would retain it. One 

 of the things that we learned was that a rattlesnake could 

 not rattle when its rattles were wet from swimming, wet 

 grass, rainstorms, etc. Recalling this statement this 

 afternoon I put some rattles, without the snake, into a 

 glass of water and soaked them for two hom-s; then I 

 tried to make a noise with them. I must confess that the 

 result was not as successful as I have known a snake to 

 be with dry rattles, but it was sufficient for me in case I 

 I should bear it, with such additional vigor as a snake 

 would readily lend, to step about nine feet high without 

 other orders. Experiment will at times knock legend 

 higher than a kite. A. N. Cheney. 



aLENS Falls, N. Y. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I note in issue of Sept. 16th an article on rattlesnake 

 fangs and the multiphcity thereof. It is not uncommon 

 for a large rattler to have more than one pair of well 

 developed fangs. 



Last season I sent two fine diamond rattlers from 

 Tarpon Springs, Fla., to WdUamsport, Pa., for mounting. 

 They were sent to August Koch, who is an enthusiastic 

 naturaUst and skillful taxidermist, and who has the finest 

 collection of any amateur I know of. Whoever will call 

 on Mr. Koch can see a large, well-mounted specimen of 

 the Florida rattler displaying five well-developed fangs, 

 each about tlu-ee-fourth of an inch in length, and looking 

 like to bite. It is a yellow (or male) diamond-back, with 

 a head Sin. broad. It measured 6ft. in length, with a 

 girth of 17in. The other is a black rattler, measui-ing 6ft. 

 liin. in length, with a head 2|in. broad, and with just 

 one pair of fangs, three-fomths of an inch in length. It 

 was of no use to measm-e the girth of this one, because 

 her fair proportions were spoiled by a full-grown rabbit, 

 which she had recently swallowed. 



Being male and female, nearly of one size, and demon- 

 strating, as they do, the fang question, I doubt if anothei- 

 such pan- can be found in two cities. Nessmuk. 



Wellsbobo, Pa., Sept. SO, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



In February, 1857, I shot near Quincy, Florida, a rattle- 

 snake that mounted 7ft. 6in. in length, and gh'thed 1-S^in. 

 The "drag" or mark it left in the sand, when it had 

 moved over the ground, was 5^in. in breadth. I was in- 

 formed by several gentlemen in Quincy that it was about 

 as long as most of them, 8ft, being the longest known, 

 but that they had frequently foimd the "drag" which 

 measured 13in. across; and Col. Stockton (the sportsman 

 jpar excellence in Florida at that day, and who sometimes 

 wrote for the old Spirit of the Times imder the nom de 

 j3h<me of " Al Freseo") told me that he had taken full- 



grown rabbits from the inside of rattlesnakes. I have his 

 snakeship properly set up in my library here; he had ten 

 rattles and a button. OLD Fogy. 



BrRD's Nest, Virginia. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



As yom- correspondent, Mr. H. R. Smith, states, rattle- 

 snakes often have more than two fangs. I have never 

 seen one with less than three, save in one instance. 



Four days ago I was at a friend's house. There wore 

 several gentlemen in the pai'ty. One of them was mquir- 

 ing about rattlers, A Mr. Pent made the remark that he 

 had lived there eight years, and had seen two live rattlers; 

 another one said, "I have been here four years, and have 

 seen but one." About tliis time there was an outci-y at 

 the house, and upon investigation we found a large rattle- 

 snake slowly crawling tlu-ough the yard. It had as a 

 body-guard three half -grown chickens, wliich were walk- 

 ing by its side, and apparently unconcerned. The snake 

 did not seem to notice the chicks, nor, when sun-ounded, 

 did it seem to notice us. The dog stii rted to rusb^ at it, 

 but was caught and held back, and the snake \vas finally 

 killed with a small stick, not having shown fight nor 

 sounded his rattle. It was -5ft. long, with twelve rattles 

 a-nd one immense fang on the right side over an inch 

 long. I could not discover any signs of more nor of any 

 having been broken oflE. Query: Was the snake sick, or 

 had he been flghtmg and expended his venom? 



Taepon. 



Tarpon SPBirNGtS, Florida, Sept, 20. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



The circumference of that rattlesnake was 13in., not 

 30in. The error was on my part. H. R, Smith. 



FROTTiiANDS, Florida, Sept. 20. 



ECONOMIC ORNITHOLOGY AND MAM- 

 MALOGY. 



THE Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy of the 

 the U. S. Department of Agriculture has issued the 

 subjoined circulars asking for information on the eco- 

 nomic relations of birds and animals. 



Circular No. l—Food HaMts of Birds. 



It is well known that certain birds are directly destructive 

 to farm crops, causing a loss of many thousands of dollars 

 each year and that others are highly beneficial, preying upon, 

 mice and insects which are injm-ious to vegetation, but the 

 extent and significance of these effects and their bearing on 

 practical agriculture is little understood. Moreover, great 

 difference of opinion exists, pai-ticularly among farmers as 

 to whether certain well-known species are on the whole ben- 

 eficial or injurious; and many kinds which ai-e really of 

 great practical value are killed whenever opportunity offers. 

 For example, hawks and owls are almost universally re- 

 garded as detrimental, w^hile as a matter of fact most of 

 them never touch poultry, but feed largely and some almost 

 exclusively on mice and grasshoppers. 



The wholesale slaiighter of small birds has been known to 

 be followed by serious increase of noxious insects; and inva- 

 sions of insects which threatened to devastate large tracts of 

 country have been cut nearly short by the timely services of 

 some of our native birds. 



In view of the above facts and many others which might 

 be cited, it is clear that a comprehensive, systematic inves- 

 tigation of the inter-relation of birds and agricultm-e will 

 prove of enormous value to farmers and horticulturists. 

 .Such an investigation has been undertaken by the newly 

 established Division of Economic Ornithology of the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture, and the assistance and co-operation of 

 persons interested are earnestly solicited. 



The food of all birds consists either of animal matter or 

 vegetable matter, or both, and its consumption must be ser- 

 Adceable or prejudicial to the interest of mankind. There- 

 fore, according to the food they eat, all birds may be classed 

 under one of two headings— beneficial or injurious. Many 

 species are both beneficial and injurious, and it is impossible 

 to assign them to either category until the percentages of 

 their food elements have been positively determined and the 

 sum of the good balanced against the sum of the evil. 



In a very large proportion of our small birds the food varies 

 considerably with the season, sometimes changing froniA^ege- 

 table to animal, or fi-om injurious to beneficial. Further- 

 more, many birds feed their young upon substances which 

 the adults rarely or never eat; 'and the young on leaving the 

 nest sometimes greedily devoiu- things which are discarded 

 as they grow older. Hence it becomes necessary to ascertain 

 the food of each species at different times of the year and at 

 dilferent ages. Information is desired on all questions 

 relating to this inquiry, and special attention is invited to 

 the folloAving: 



1. Has the common crow been obseiwed to catch young 

 chickens or to steal eggs? 2. Has it been observed to eat 

 corn or other cereals in the field? If so, how long after plant- 

 ing, and how extensive was the injury? ,3. Has the crow 

 been observed to feed upon injurious insects? If so, what 

 kinds of insects were thus destroyed, and to what extent? 



4. Has the crow blackbird or grackle been observed to 

 carry off the young of the robin or other small birds or to 

 destroy their eggs ? 5. When breeding near the house has it 

 been observed to drive off small birds (such as robins, blue- 

 birds, etc.) which had previously made their abode on the 

 premises? 6. Has it been observed to eat corn or other cerals 

 in the field? If so, how long after planting, and how exten- 

 sive was the injury done? 7. Has the crow blackbird been 

 observed to feed upon injurious insects ? If so, what kind 

 of insects were thus destroyed, and to what extent? 



8. What birds have been observed to feed upon or other- 

 wise injure buds or foliage, and what plants or trees have 

 been so injured? 9. What birds have been observed to feed 

 extensively on fruit? What kind or kinds of fruit have 

 been most injured by each species, and how extensive have 

 been the losses thus occasioned? 



10. The bobolink (rice bird or May bird of the Southern 

 States) congregates in vast flocks during its migrations and 

 commits extensive depredations in certain parts of the South. 

 The Division will be glad to receive detailed accounts of 

 these depredations from persons living in the aft'ected 

 districts, to whom a special circular will be .sent on appli- 

 cation. 



12. What birds have been observed to feed upon injimous 

 insects, and upon what kind or kinds does each bird feed? 



13. Do blackbirds (other than the crow blackbird already 

 mentioned) commit serious depredations in your vicinity? If 

 so, which of the several species of blackbirds are concerned, 

 and what crops are affected? 



14. Has any kind of birds been observed to feed upon the 

 honey bee? If so, what .species and how extensive has been 

 the injury done? 



When possible the exact date should be given of all occur- 

 rences reported. Persons willing to aid in the collection of 

 birdii' stomachs will be furnished with the necessary blanks 

 and instructions. 



Circular No. ^—EngUsh Sparrnio, 



The Department of Agriculture desires facts, from per- 

 sonal observation, in answer to the following questions con- 



cerning the European house sparrow, commonly called "Eng- 

 lish sparrow," in this country. 



1. Is yolU' locality city, suburb or eoimtry? 2. Is the Eng- 

 lish sparrow present in, ycmv ^•i(Jluity? If not, what is the 

 nearest point at which yon Ictiow it to occur? If present, 

 when did it first appear? 3. Is it abundant and on the in- 

 crease? i. Is it protected by law? .5. Is it artificially 

 housed and fed? 6. How many broods and young does a 

 single pair rear in a season? 



7. Do any of our non-predatory birds habitually resist 

 encroachments of, oj' attempt to drive off the English spar- 

 row unless themselves first attacked and with what success? 

 8. Which of our native birds attempt to reclaim former 

 nesting sites when these are occupied by the sparrows? State 

 examples. 9. Has the English sparrow been obsers'ed to 

 molest or drive off any of our Jiative birds? If so, what 

 species are so molested or expelled from their former haixnts? 



10. Does it injure shade, fruit or ornamental trees or vinesJ" 

 11. Does it injure garden fruits and vegetables? 12. Does 

 it injure grain crops? 1-3. Has any case in which it has 

 been of marked benefit to the farmer or horticulturist come 

 under your notice? If so, in what Avay has the benefit been 

 derived? 14. Under what circumstances does it feed upon 

 insects? What kinds of injurious or Ijoneflcial insects or 

 their larvte does it destroy and to what extent? 1.5. What 

 means, if any, have been taken to restrict the increase of the 

 English sparrow? 16. What is the prevailing public sen- 

 timent in respect to the bird? Information is particularly 

 desired concerning the presence of the English sparrow in 

 the Southern States and in the region west of the Missis- 

 sippi. 



Circular No. 3— Economic Relations of MammaU. 



The Department of Agriculture desires information con- 

 cerning the effects of mammads upon agriculture, and solicits 

 replies to the following questions: 



THE stock EjVISEES ON THE EEONTIEE. 



I. Have you personal knowledge of one or more cases in 

 which cattle, horses, sheep, or pigs have been killed or in- 

 jured by bears, wolves or panthers (known in the West as 

 moimtain lions) ? If so, give full particulars. 



TO POULTEY FANCTEES. . - 



3. Have you personal knowledge of the loss of turkeys, 

 geese, ducks, chickens or doves from the attacks of predatory 

 mammals? If so, how many and what kinds were killed on 

 each occasion ? In each case mention the animal by which 

 you suppose the mischief was done, and your reason for this 

 belief. 3. What mammals, if any, steal feed put out for 

 poultry? 



TO FAEMEES, FEUIT GEOWEES AND GAEDEIsEES. 



4. What mammals, if any, are injurious to fruit, and what 

 kind or kinds of fruit are eaten by each species? Is the loss 

 thus occasioned of trifling or serious consequence? 



6. ^'hat mammals, if any, are injurious to vegetables, and 

 what kind or kinds of vegetables are eaten by each species? 

 Is the loss thus occasioned of trifling or seiious consequence? 



7. What mammals, if any, are injurious to meadows and 

 pastures? In what manner are the injuries committed? Is 

 the loss thus occasioned of trifling or serious consequence? 



8. Are your fields subject to periodical invasions of meadow 

 mice ( A rvicola;) ? If so, can you give the exact dates of one 

 or more of such invasions? 



9. What mammals, if any, are injurious to forest, shade, 

 fruit, or ornamental trees or shrubs ? What kind or kinds 

 of trees or shrubs are injured by each, and in what manner 

 and at what season is the damage done? Is the loss thus oc- 

 casioned of triffing or serious consecj[Uence? 



10. Have you personal knowledge of an instance in which 

 cattle or horses have been injured by stepping into the bur- 

 rows of woodchuck, muskrats or badgers? If so, give par- 

 ticulars. 



II. What mammals, if any, are beneficial to the farmer? 

 In what manner are these benefits derived? 



TO EICE aROWEES. 



12. Are rats troublesome on your plantation? If so, are 

 they injurious by feeding directly upon the newly-planted 

 rice, or biu'rowing in tlie dikes, or both? Canyon estimate 

 the annual pecuniary loss thus occasioned? 



13. Do any other small mammals affect the interests of the 

 rice grower? If so, what kind or kinds, and to what extent? 



TO HOP GEOWEES. 



14. W^hat mammals, if any, affect the interests of the hop 

 grower? In what manner and to what extent are these 

 eft'ects manifested? 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



15. Is the common mouse about dwellings, barns and out- 

 buildings in your neighborhood the white-footed or the 

 house mouse, or are both present? In the latter case, which 

 is most abundant? If uncertain as to the species, please 

 send a specimen (the head will suffice) to the Department 

 for identification. 



16. What mainmals, if any, injure or deface buildings, 

 household goods, books or papers? 



17. What mammals, if any, injure canals or other em- 

 bankments, dams, dikes or drains? Is the damage thus 

 occasioned of serious or trifling consequence? 



18. In your opinion, are moles beneficial or injurious? On 

 what facts is this opinion based? (2foTE. — Meadow mice or 

 "voles" must not be confounded with moles). 



19. In your opinion are skunks beneficial or injurious ? 

 On what facts is this opinion based ? 



20. Do you know of one or more instances in which the in- 

 crease of a species of economic importance has been limited 

 by the abundance of its natural ememies ? If so, give parti- 

 culars. 



In the Mississippi A7"alley, and the region between it and 

 the Pacific, numeroxis small rodents called gophers do great 

 damage to farms and crops. There are two principal kinds, 

 pocket gophers, which live mostly imder ground are 

 characterized by external cheek-pouches and unusually large 

 fore-claws (Geomys and Tliomomys); and gophers ov ground 

 squirrels Avhich live mostly above ground and have neither ex- 

 ternal cheek-pouches nor claws of unusual size {Spermoph'l- 

 Uis and Tamias) . Of these, the common little striped gopher 

 {Spermophiltis trideeemlineatus) and the large gray 'Line- • 

 tailed' spermophile (SpermophiUts grammurus) and its 

 varieties are the most abundant and widely distributed, and 

 occasion the greatest losses to grain crops. Numerous other 

 species, more or less local, affect the farmer's interests very 

 appreciably. 



Detailed information is desired concerning the habits and 

 ravages of all these gophers. Such information should be 

 accompanied by a specimen (a rough skin will suffice) for 

 positive identiflcation. 



The above remarks apply with equal force to the various 

 small mammals known as kangaroo rats and mice, pocket 

 rats and mice, wood rats and mice, etc. 



In answering this circular, please mention your occupation. 

 If a farmer, state the size and character of "your farm, and 

 mention the principal crops which you cultivate. Write 

 your name and post-office address as plainly as possible. 



Replies to any of the above should be addressed to Dr. C. 

 Hai-t Merriam, Chief of Division of Economic Ornithology 

 and Mammalogy, Washington, D, C, 



All rcvf dealers sell Forest and Stream Fables. 



