810 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Dec. 14, 1895. 



the deer, there being two sorts: one was flat-horned, with 

 "narrow, white horns;" the other "round-horned, with 

 dark, round horns." The latter sort always had shorter 

 legs than the other. Dave Cochran, between Eagle River 

 and Buckatabon Lake, killed a deer said to have been a 

 black-tail. Joe Blair, a trapper, said: "I think it was a 

 black-tail." 



Our trappers thought the deer were gradually working 

 West along Lake Superior, away from the cut woods. 



The mice and porcupines eat up the shed deer horns 

 very fast. 



The Indians killed the deer at any season. So did about 

 anyone who wanted meat. 



In October, 1894, in one month, over one road, from 

 one region of Wisconsin (that in which we were trap- 

 ping), there had been shipped 8,6501b3. of short saddles of 

 venison. 



The horns of deer do not depend for size so much on the 

 age of the deer as on its condition. If a deer has had a 

 good winter its horns are good, and vice versa. 



Indians. 



Our friends said they had often found arrowheads and 

 the like in their travels. I asked them about the chain 

 of signal mounds, said once to have extended from Lake 

 Superior south to lower Illinois. They were unanimous 

 in the belief that, no matter what other Indians may 

 have done, the Chippewas were too lazy, to build any 

 signal fires. 



The Chippewa method of catching bass is with a 5ft. 

 rod and a 2|ft. line, with a big frog for bait. The squaw 

 does the fishing, the buck paddling the canoe softly along 

 the lily pads. The bass jump at the frog and are jerked 

 into the boat before they know what has happened. 



Ginseng. 



Ginseng, or "ginshang" root, is one of the staples in 

 the trappers' world. He traps fur in the winter and 

 "hunts ginshang" in the summer. Nearly a 11 fur buyers 

 handle ginseng also. It sometimes brings $30 a pound. 

 The root when dry is light and pithy, yellow-white, of 

 flat, insipid taste to the beginner of its use, though the 

 trappers say that one can get in the habit of chewing it 

 all the time. The roots are long and slender, and do not 

 yield much to the plant, and the plant is scattered, a 

 "patch" of it being held a lucky find. Brandis, who is 

 one of the best of ginseng gatherers, had some at the 

 camp, and we saw and tasted it. He says that often in 

 getting this plant in the hot, close woods, the mosquitoes 

 are so bad that the hunter has to keep a bit of lighted 

 punk in his hand while he is working. Of course, he has 

 to stoop over, with his face to the leaves, and the mosqui- 

 toes are too much for most men. Ginseng is sold nearly 

 altogether for the China trade. Some dealers are dis- 

 honest and cheat the trappers who send in ginseng. One 

 trapper "plugged" a lot of ginseng with shot once and 

 made a good thing of it. 



Trout. 



Brandis had fished brook trout for market. He said 

 the Evergreen had been the best stream he had fished in 

 late years, but the catches were made by wading the 

 stream down through the swamps, which was cold, hard 

 work. The fly could not be used. 



Muscallonge. 



I was told that thousands of pounds of muscallonge had 

 been annually speared and shipped in the winter from 

 the Manitowish chain. Thus had not been done so much 

 on the Turtle Chain (which is Chippewa water, lying to 

 the north of Manitowish chain), except near the railroad, 

 where the lakes were entirely cleaned out by the market 

 men and Indians. 



The feed of the big muscallonge is largely the "red 

 horse," of which sucker the Turtle waters contain great 

 numbers, they coming up in thousands in the spring. 



Fay Back told me that when they first went into some 

 of the Turtle waters the 'lunge were very bold. On three 

 different times he has had them strike at a metal-bound 

 oar which flashed in the water. Once the teeth of the 

 'lunge marked the blade of the oar. This fish (or one 

 taken near there soon after) weighed 29£lbs., and was 

 caught by J. W. Donnell, of 254 Wabash avenue, Chi- 

 cago. On No Man's Lake Fay had a 'lunge strike at a 

 tin cup which he was trailing in his hand over tbe boat 

 side. Mr. Donnell and Mr. Chas. Jarnegan, of 12 Sher- 

 man street, Chicago, saw this. The same thing happened 

 on Rainbow Lake, in the presence of Dr. Smith. The 

 latter wanted a drink, and Fay thrust the tin cup into the 

 water, when a muscallonge struck it. 



A 61bs. muscallonge was found by Fay Buck with a 

 6ibs. sucker fast in its mouth. Both were dead. 



Sea Serpent. 

 Our guides had heard tell of the famous sea serpent 

 which once infested the Madison lakes, and which Mr. 

 Norris called to mind. This creature used to chase the 

 loons which lived in those lakes, according to Mr. Norris. 



Flapjacks. 



Fay was very expert at cooking flapjacks. He declared 

 that he once threw a flapjack through a hole in the roof 

 of a tent, and then went outside and caught it in the 

 skillet, other side up, as it came down. This, it must be 

 admitted, is thirty-third degree work. 



Cedar Bark. 

 We learned that dry cedar bark makes the best kind of 

 insoles for rubbers or overshoes, keeping the feet warm 

 and dry and not chafing them. 



Unknown Country. 

 We were told that we would in our trip cross lakes 

 which are unmapped and unnamed, some of which have 

 never had a boat on them, and have not had SOOlbs. of 

 fish taken from them. This more especially of the bass 

 lake or the Presque Isle Chain, which are Lake Superior 

 waters. We were on the head of the divide between 

 Lake Superior and Mississippi waters, and between the 

 Wisconsin and Chippewa River systems. The latter 

 streams both flow into the Mississippi, and so their tribu- 

 tary waters carry muscallonge. Only Mississippi waters 

 carry lunge, and north of the divide that fish is not 

 found. Winding in and around the little known countrv 

 lying at tbe very head of these water systems, in the 

 highest part of Wisconsin, and probably in the best fur 



country of the State, we now had 120 miles of traps to 

 run on the total of the lines. To cover this each week in 

 the depth of a Wisconsin winter (where the thermometer 

 had been 30° below that month) was no light task for 

 three men. 



The Season's Catch. 

 The total product of the lines up to the time of our ar- 

 rival (about Feb. 15) had been 7 lynx, 5 otter, 65 marten, 

 7 fox, 4 fisher, 40 mink, 700 muskrats (the latter taken in 

 the' earlier fall by boat trapping). Our trappers thought 

 the season was nearly over, but believed they would clean 

 up about $500 on their winter's work. I must say I 

 thought they had earned it. In following chapters we 

 shall perhaps see further into the life and methods of the 

 modern fur trapper by continuing the actual story of our 

 trip. E. Hough. 



909 Security Building, Chicago. 



WHY ARE THERE SO FEW BLUEBIRDS? 



BY MRS. LOUISE M. STEPHENSON, HELENA, ARK. 

 [A paper read before the American Ornithologists' Union.] 

 Through nine years' observation of birds in this region — 

 Helena, Ark. — it is safe to say there have been few sunny 

 days, even in winter, in which one or more bluebirds 

 have not been seen in my neighborhood. The year 

 1894-95 was no exception to the rule, and all went well 

 with them until. Jan. 28. That morning, while the snow 

 was falling fast, four bluebirds were seen taking shelter 

 in a martin house close to our windows. As the storm 

 did not continue long and the sun shone at intervals next 

 day, it was believed they had flown further south as soon 

 as it ceased snowing. The weather, which was continu- 

 ously cold for twenty-three days (a, very unusual period 

 here), moderated greatly after that, and as the owners of 

 the little house might be looked for at any moment, it 

 was taken down Feb. 28 for some needed repairs, and 

 there were the four bluebirds, frozen to death. 



With such evidence at hand, inquiry as to the number 

 of dead birds found after the storm was instituted, and 

 the answers though few were alarming, inasmuch as they 

 showed what the effect had been on much hardier species 

 than Sialia sialis. These, with replies to questioning 

 letters sent later, and other material of the same charac- 

 ter, form, when collected together, interesting though 

 melancholy data. Feeling certain of this, and that my 

 correspondents would not object to so proper a use of 

 their reports, I take the liberty of submitting them in 

 full; all were written in 1895. 



Lagrange, Ark., April 1.— In answer to the inquiry 

 about dead birds, I have to report the death of a great 

 many bluebirds, and I would like to say that in my opin- 

 ion the lessening number every year is from two causes, 

 the severity of our recent winters and the ceaseless war 

 made upon them by the English sparrows.— Moses 

 Burke. 



Helena, Ark. , March 15.— In answer to the request of 

 March 12, 1 would say that one of my neighbors found a 

 dead yellowhammer and two sparrows; another a robin, 

 and still another two bluejays and two unknown gray 

 birds, all evidently frozen to death. 



Old Orchard, Mo., March 22.— With the exception of 

 ducks and blackbirds, birds generally are still scarce. The 

 most extraordinary feature is the almost total absence of 

 bluebirds and robins from their breeding places. There 

 are some troops of robins present, and once in a while we 

 hear the carol of a bluebird ; but they seem to be strangers, 

 and only here in transit. Our robins and bluebirds are 

 not with us yet, and the question arises, will they come 

 or are they all dead? Did they get killed or only chilled? 

 It is most unusual for them to stay away so long. Tbe 

 weather here is not unusually cold. It is not forward, 

 like last year, but we cannot yet call it unusually back- 

 ward.— Otto WlDMANN. 



Old Orchard, Mo. , April 3.— Unfortunately our blue- 

 birds have not yet come. The carol of this loveliest of 

 early spring birds used to be heard everywhere. This 

 year it is a rare treat. On the 27th ult. I went to Dar- 

 denne, forty-three miles north of St. Louis, and came 

 back on the 29th. On this trip I did not see or hear a 

 single one. On the 3Uth I went to Creve Coeur Lake and 

 heard one during the whole afternoon, and in a region 

 where I used to hear a dozen. It may be some will come 

 yet, but I doubt it. 



May 7.— Bluebirds are still scare in the neighborhood of 

 Old Orchard. — Otto Widwann. 



Mexico, Mo , April 20.— I am impressed with the al- 

 most total absence of the bluebird from my region this 

 spring. I have seen none and heard of only a few. This 

 absence extends well over my county, as I have heard 

 from inquiry. Have written North, and now ask you 

 about them.— J. N. Baskett, 



Rockpord, 111., April 21.— I have not seen or heard a 

 single specimen of the bluebird since the middle of Janu- 

 ary (previous to our extreme cold). To-day I took a long 

 tramp afield on purpose to find one, but was disappointed. 

 I can hardly think that it was the extreme weatlier that 

 destroyed them, as they are quite hardy little fellows, It 

 is not uncommon to see one or two here off and on 

 through the winter. — J. E. Dickinson. 



West Chester, Pa., April 22.— I have not noticed any 

 unusual diminution in the number of bluebirds in this 

 immediate vicinity. At best they cannot be called a 

 common bird here of late years, and we do not often see 

 them during the winter months, unless the weather be 

 mild. This winter, though severe in parts, was not an 

 abnormally cold one with us, and I don't think our winter 

 residents suffered from it to an unusual extent.— Thomas 

 Jackson. 



Stanford ville, N. Y., April 25.— The bluebirds do 

 not winter here, as I presume you know. I have never 

 seen them really abundant in my vicinity, but this spring 

 they certainly are scarcer. The first one arrived March 

 1 1 , and since then I have occasionally seen a few strag- 

 glers, or heard their voices in the distancf ; little companies 

 of four or five taking the place of the flocks of eight or 

 ten of previous years.— Mary Hyatt. 



Manchester, Iowa, April 27.— One pair of bluebirds 

 only, as far as heard from, has been seen in this vicinity 

 — I have seen none — where pairs other years have come 

 with the robins. Our birds came late this year. How 

 account for the missing bluebirds?— Mrs. Mart L, Rann, 



Orangeville, Mich., June 6.— Due inquiry has been 

 made in regard to the bluebird, and all are positive that 

 they have decreased sadly. Mr. Townsend, who is out in 

 the woods and about his farm continually, says he has 

 looked for them the past ten days, and has not seen one. 

 I saw one pair here a month or six weeks ago. The robins 

 are not as plentiful as formerly either.— Eli Nichols, 



Lacon, III., June 6— This spring I doubt if there is a 

 bluebird in our country. They were very plentiful here 

 in years gone by. Do not know why they are not here 

 now, unless the 'English sparrows have driven them 

 away,— Mrs. Mary I. Barnes. 



Easthampton, Mass., June, 11.— I am sorry to say that 

 we too have missed nearly all our bluebirds this spring. I 

 know of but one pair nesting here, and have seen very few. 

 In factall our birds, with one or two exceptions, have fallen 

 off in numbers this year. The bluebirds do not winter 

 here, but the cold weather extended so far south this 

 winter that many species must have suffered. We have 

 some faint idea this season what spring would be without 

 birds. — Mary E. Bruce. 



San Antonio, Texas, June 10.— I have been looking up 

 my notes and those of my acquaintances in regard to the 

 bluebird. The species is a common spring and fall 

 migrant and breeds north and east of here. Contrary to 

 the bulk of the notes I have lately noticed, I have 

 found the bluebird fully as common this year as any 

 other. I have found them breeding in March in the 

 heavily timbered country east of San Antonio, and have 

 reliable information that they were as numerous as usual 

 in the hills northwest of here. From what I have noted 

 it seems to me that more bluebirds than usual remained 

 to breed in this part of Texas this year. 



The snow of Feb. 14-16 did not affect any of the birds 

 of this locality, as far as I was able to judge, although 

 snow is itself a rare winter visitant. I trust the bluebirds 

 will be found before long. I cannot imagine how a 

 species so .numerous could be utterly blotted out. One 

 unusual occurrence this year was the late leave-taking of 

 the robins, which were here in countless thousands 

 throughout the winter. My last note reads: "April 20, 

 six robins seen in San Pedro Springs— will any remain to 

 breed?" Whether this was due to the very cold weather 

 I am not prepared to say. — Arthur H. W. Norton. 



Kalamazoo, Mich., Oct. 26.— In latter part of March, 

 1895, observed one bluebird; only one was seen or heard 

 during spring of 1895, and they are very abundant here 

 generally. In late May took a fifty-nine miles buggy ride 

 through a territory just suited to them and where they 

 are generally common, and did not see one. In the first 

 week in October, 1895, a friend (reliable) reported a flock 

 of forty bluebirds. Could hardly believe him. I rode out 

 with him about the middle of month and saw nine old 

 and immature bluebirds at side of road. About Oct. 20 I 

 saw a dozen old and immature bluebirds. These flocks 

 were all migrants. — From Notes made by Dr. Morris 

 Gibbs. 



Old Orchard, Mo., Oct. 30,— As regards our friend 

 Blueback I have good news. From about the middle of 

 September to the middle of October I had the great pleas- 

 ure of meeting small troops of six to twelve bluebirds, 

 families probably in different parts of St. Louis county 

 and in St. Charles county, and the dear old call of wan- 

 dering bluebirds was almost daily in the air. This shows 

 that not all hope is gone, though it may take many years 

 before they become as plentiful as before. In traveling 

 through the country I used to see numbers of bluebirds 

 along the railroad lines, but this year all the way from 

 St. Louis to Boston, via Cleveland, Buffalo and Albany, 

 I did not see a single one, either goirjg (in August) or re- 

 turning (in September).— Otto Widmann. 



This closes the correspondence. What follows has 

 been clipped, as indicated, from different newspapers: 



Not a bluebird has been seen in Taliaferro county this 

 year, according to the Savannah Press. Poesibly they 

 have been ousted by the jaybirds, who mistook this 

 county for their regular Friday assembling place.— Borne 

 Tribune. 



A gentleman from London, Canada, visiting Boston, re- 

 ports that there, too, the bluebirds have entirely failed to 

 appear this spring. It would be comforting to know for 

 certain if it is the cold that has killed these shy, delicate 

 little companions of man. Undoubtedly this is so. The 

 gentleman just mentioned says his grounds were full of 

 half -frozen crows one week, so torpid and miserable that 

 they could be taken up by the hand.— Boston Transcript. 



One of the curators of the Smithsonian Institution, who 

 makes special provision for birds on his suburban place, 

 picked up seven dead bluebirds on his grounds after the 

 blizzard last February, and found fourteen more dead in 

 a bird house. He has not seen a living bluebird this year. 

 The shooting of birds this season will nearly amount to 

 extermination.— St. Louis Globe-Democrat, June 5. 



Rev. T. F. Cargill, of Fulton county, Arkansas, cut 

 down a hollow tree one day last week and found a num- 

 ber of dead bluebirds in it. He thinks they froze to 

 death.— Stuttgart (Ark.) Free Press. 



I write, and with regret, to record the fact not gener- 

 ally known, that in consequence of the protracted cold 

 winter the beautiful little bluebirds were exterminated. 

 Being insectivorous, their natural food was not to be had 

 during the long cold spell and starvation was their sad 

 fate. Not one is left in all this country to propagate the 

 species. The habits of birds, like those of man, are marked 

 by zones; hence I fear we will never know the beautiful 

 little bird again.— W. T. Hollis in Pine Bluff (Ark.) Com- 

 mereial, 



I have not done as much collecting this season as in 

 former ones, but have been around the country consider- 

 ably and have failed to see a single pair of bluebirds nest- 

 ing—something very unusual for these parts, as they are 

 one of our most common birds, or at least have 

 been in former years. I am in hopes our good eulo- 

 gists will spare what few are left for a few years uotil 

 they can be heard again in the latter part of March, sing- 

 ing their mournful chirp high up in the air when the 

 ground i3 covered with snow.— Almon E. Kibbe, Mayville, 

 N. Y., Aug. 2, in the Nideologist. 



Returning to my own district. Two pairs of bluebirds 

 nested within two miles of the city this season, but of 

 more than that the most diligent inquiry has brought no 

 evidence. The morning of Oct. 28 a friend telephoned: 

 "Six bluebirds in my neighborhood.' Since his observa- 

 tion has been the same as my own up to the present, and 

 these remained near him only a few monaentSj they were 



