116 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 1, 1888. 



this side of the Atlantic henceforth expect the issue between the 

 leading- types to he fought to its end by American cutters designed 

 and sailed for all there is in that type which was original with 

 the English hut which Has now been transplanted to American 

 shores. That the big cutter will come out. ahead as the small 

 keel craft have alrcadj doue is the firm belief of an 



American. 



A WINTER CRUISE IN THE SOUTH.-III. 



FRIDAY moraine, Jan. 20, we made sail out of East Bluff Bay 

 at 7 o'clock. Wind, W., fresh; thermometer, 40°. Ran E.N.E. 

 about two miles to get a good offing; then headed the Monarch 

 north once more, with the promise of a quick and pleasant run. 

 The day was bright and gradually increased in warmth, until atl 

 o'clock the thermometer stood at 60°. 



We ran first for Gull Shoal Buoy to get our course, passed it at 

 8:15 and Long Point Shoal Light at 10:30; then making line of brush 

 beacons which mark the deep channel for about five miles up to 

 Roanoke Marsh Light , we passed the light at noon. 



Lying in our old anchorage in Roanoke Marshes was the schooner 

 Ocean Bird, which runs most of the fish caught in the pound nets 

 here up to the railroad at Elizabeth City. The crew of t he schooner 

 recognizing us, saluted, which we answered by dipping the colors. 



Shortly after noon we passed the schooner yacht Rebecca M M of 

 Philadelphia, Capt. Frank Collum owner, bound south for Flor- 

 ida. Wo heard from her afterward. She went out Hatteras Inlet 

 and was hove to in a gale she met outside for three days, but 

 escaped serious damage. 



Soon after wc passed a black sloop yacht, also bnmnd south, but 

 cound not ascertain her name. 



We carried a good wholesail beam wind all the way up from 

 East Bluff Bay, which sent us along at the rate of seven knots, a 

 remarkably steady wind for a westwardly one. Most of the small 

 craft in sight carried reefs. One schooner of about 20 tons came 

 out of Oyster Bay and tried to give us a tussel, but gave it up 

 after half an hour, in which time we gained a mile, and trimmed 

 down for Croatan Light. 



Roanoke Island, which we ran along the west side of, made the 

 prettiest view wo had on the cruise. The bright, sun shone on the 

 sandy shore until it almost, made us believe the winter was over. 

 The western side of the island has a bluff of sand 10 to 30ft. high 

 along its whole length; on the top of the bluff are a large portion 

 of the houses of the inhabitants. Some day when this section is 

 well populated this shore will become one of our best winter 

 resorts. The eastern shore of the island is a low marsh over- 

 flowed at very high tides, and almost uninhabitable. The one 

 road is from one to two miles back of the western side and runs 

 north and south from one end of the island to the other; it is 

 pret ty well built up. From this road small private roads run off 

 to the farmhouses on either side. 



Between Roanoke Island and the seacoast is Roanoke Sound; 

 there is a verv narrow channel through it for vessels drawing 

 5ft. .but it is very little used, and a stranger could not find it, even 

 under the most favorable condit ions. Croaton Sound, however, 

 raj the west, is a splendid body of water. During the war the 

 Confederates sunk vessels and drove iron-shod piles in the best 

 part of the channel, so that it is best to follow the buoys. Most 

 of these obstructions have been removed, but near the northwest 

 point of Roanoke Island several still remain. They are marked 

 by a can buoy on the south and a pile beacon on the north, both 

 to the east of the obstructions. 



Roundiug these buoys we started sheet and working the slue 

 through the shoal at upper end of Roanoke Island passed the red 

 sea buoy into Nag's Head at, 1:30. We then set course for a pile 

 beacon which would give us bearings to enter Shallowbag Bay, 

 but found it down, as was likewise the inside buoy, although two 

 of the piles were standing, which sufficed for us. 



The tide was about average height, which gave 5ft. of water in 

 mid-channel into the bay, and aB we drew 4ft.9in.it was close 

 work; the inevitable brush beacons were, of course, plenty, but 

 what they marked was beyond our power of findiug out. We 

 dragged mud all the way in, and stooped once but came off easily, 

 and' dropped anchor off Manteo, the only town onRoanoke Island, 

 at 3 P. M., logged 59 miles in 9 hours. 



We bad been wonderfully favored with fair winds so far on our 

 trip. From the time we left Roanoke Marshes, bound south, until 

 we reached Manteo we bad not dropped our centcrboard, except 

 as before written, to mark shoal water; but a change was impend- 

 ing, as the dark clouds which were beginniug to bank up in the 

 north showed. 



We went ashore and purchased supplies and found the only 

 wideawake storekeeper we had seen since leaving Norfolk. The 

 general store was well so pplied -with everything useful , indicating 

 prosperity on the island. In fact all the town showed thrift and 

 enterprise, that is, of course, considering the country; and there 

 were even houses which had been given a coat of paint, of course 

 not wastefully, but still it was paint, because you could lean up 

 against it and not look like a miller after a hard day's work. 



There was a natty looking schooner lying at the head of the 

 bay, 1 rim and neat as a Yankee fisherman. We were informed, 

 that she belonged to a widow, who also owned a small toy-like 

 steamer that lay up on the marsh, and likewise the biggest fishing 

 net on the island. The steamer was used to east the net and the 

 schooner ran the catch to Elizabeth City twice a week. 



There is a steamer trades into Manteo twice a week, which 

 carries the moil. The mail is still further distributed by aclinker- 

 built boat which has two water-tight mail boxes built into her, 

 alongside the well. When she is not needed by the mail man she 

 is used for fishing. . 



Shad by the way were already being caught, not quite up to our 

 Delaware River shad, but they had the same number of bones. 

 Perch were plenty, good and cheap. We lived on perch for two 

 da vs. We had decided to find some of the ducks which we had 

 been informed bedded so thick in these waters that a man could 

 wall: on their backs from shore to shore, so, Saturday morning 

 at daybreak saw Capt. Tom and myselt in the yawl, nosing 

 around among the bunch of islands lying in Roanoke Sound, be- 

 tween Roanoke Island and the heach. But we saw no ducks and 

 no ducks saw us, barriug a few biackies and a couple of brant. 

 We concluded that liars were abroad in the land, and we sailed 

 back. Wo came across traces of geese in plenty, but none in 



As we rounded the southern point of Shallowbag Bay on our 

 return we saw the gig, with the steward ana two ladies in it, be- 

 ginning to cross the sound, here about 3 miles wide, to Nagshead 

 on the beach. A heavy sea was already beginning to roll up, 

 and the heavy black clouds fast scudding along out of the N.E. 

 looked threatening and ominous. We endeavored to attract 

 their attention, to get, them to return, and failing, started after 

 them, but our heavy yawl was no match for the light rowing gig, 

 and we were quickly left behind. Foreseeing that they could 

 never get back with the storm that was brewing after them, we 

 made haste to reach the yacht, and getting her under way, we 

 started for Nagshead, and although dragging the mud all the 

 way out of the harbor, fortunately kept in the channel and at 9:30 

 drooped anchor to leeward of the pier at Nagshead, in 6ft. of 

 water; then having a few minutes for breathing, went below, and 

 found' mv sister-in-law and the baby the only tenants of the 

 cabin half dead with fright. Knowing that the steward and the 

 ladies were at Nagshead, and supposing Capt. Tom and myself 

 would not return until late, she did not know who was getting the 

 boat under way, unless as she explained, it was pirates trying to 

 run off with them. And now for the reason of the escapade; 

 there was of course a woman at the bottom of it. Mrs. Y. desired 

 to send a te legram home, and finding the only way to get it off 

 was to go to the Life Saving Station and telephone it to Kitty- 

 hawk where there was a telegraph station, from which it would 

 be forwarded, induced my wife and the steward to accompany 

 her to the station. „ ,, ... 



Thev all had enough of it, tor by the time they were half way 

 across the ladies had to sit in the bottom of the boat, and every 

 sea covered them with spray, making them bail constantly. 



After getting everything shipshape I started ashore to see how 

 the ladies were faring. There was such a sea running that the 

 yacht was dipping the end of her bowsprit every few minutOB, 

 although we were under the lee of the pier. This made landing 

 difficult- but if was accomplished after performing a few acro- 

 batic feats, and walking up to the store I found Mrs. W. awaiting 

 me there Having scon the yacht start off and having experienced 

 enough for one morning, Mrs. Y. and the steward had started for 

 the station, two miles down the beach. 



We found Nagshead somewhat different from a Northern 

 watering place. There were in all a hotel and about, thirty houses, 

 all destitute, of paint, and the hotel on the point of being over- 

 whelmed by sand. There was a bank as hign as the building to 

 the north of it and a fence perhaps 40ft. high had been erected to 

 stay the growth of the hill in that direction, but in vain, for the 

 fence was already overwhelmed. „ . .,...» 



It was bitter cold and the fine sand was flying so that it stung 

 our faces like needles as we walked down to the sea. The beach 

 is here half a mile wide, and a narrow-gauge track connects the 

 hotel with a pavilion by the sea. Walking down this track we 

 came to the main part of the town. Scattered along the beach 

 were perhaps two dozen houses, nearly all destitute of paint, all 

 weather-beaten and uninhabited; in the rear of each cottage was 

 either a pig pen or a horse shelter; it was sometimes difficult to 



define which was which. How a horse could be driven through 

 this fine sand I cannot imagine, but there were the hay racks and 

 signs of a horse's presence. 



The surf was grand, breaking out on the shoals a half mile from 

 shore, and along the beacli queer forms of siie.ll abounded. Not- 

 withstanding our anxiety about the stragglers, we could not re- 

 frain from gathering them, and before we made sail nearly a 

 barrel full were snugly stowed away on board. 



Seeing no signs of the truants we returned to the store at the 

 head of the pier, and snugging up to the stove laid out to obtain 

 some information regarding the place. We were told that in 

 summer the hotel and cottages were crowded, but that in winter 

 only the care-taker of the hotel and his family, a very pleasant 

 Northern lady and two children, remained in the hotel, wlule the 

 rest of the population consisted of one man, one woman and three 

 boys. 



During the summer a steamer runs over from Elizabeth City 

 daily, but in the winter communication is limited to the mail boat 

 twice a week and such few small craft as were dTiven over in 

 search of a sholter inside tne pier. 



We purchased among other things at the store what looked 

 like a pipe made by the ancient mound builders, so rough and un- 

 couth was it; hut wo were told that it was a regular article of 

 commerce and a favorite with the people thereabouts. The bowl 

 was made in South Carolina from the very coarsest (day, and no 

 attention whatever was paid to cleaning off the burrs made by 

 the joints in the mould, while a htm d red colors glittered in the 

 light. It was furnished with a stem made of a cane found in ihe 

 vicinity, and the clerk kindly cut me off several of various lengths 

 from his stock on hand. Anticipating a pleasant, smoke, 1 began 

 to put in a stem, which was about four feet in length, and had the 

 pine ready to fill. I vvas iuformed by the assembled populatioa, 

 who were watching my efforts with considerable amusement, that 

 it was first necessary to burn the pith out of the cane with a red 

 hot wire. Not feeling equal to the task of boring a crooked hole 

 four feet long I gave it up, and concluded to keep the pipe as a 

 curiosity, which I think it is. Every man down this way smokes, 

 and nearly every one cuts his own cane and makes his own pipe. 



Shortly before 3 o'clock Mrs. Y. and the steward turned up with 

 red faces from the cold wind and sand and with their pockets full 

 of shells. The life-saving people had tried to detain them until 

 the weather moderated, and offered them ford and such other 

 courtesies as lay in their power; but, of course, they were anxious 

 to get back to the boat. 



The wind was now blowing a gale, making the task of getting 

 aboard the yacht dangerous, and it was only accomplished after 

 getting well wet through and performing some rope-walking 

 feats. 



The natives advised our get ting lines out and laying inside the 

 pier, which would afford shelter as long as the wind stayed m the 

 north, but in the heavy puffs which everynow and then swept clown 

 on us we noticed the wind had a little west in it. And should it 

 veer a little more we would be unable to hold our ground. So we 

 looked around for a harbor. Dead to leeward of us was Shallow- 

 bag Bay, a good harbor provided we could get in. The north wind 

 was rapidly driving the water down into I'amlico Sound, so that 

 there was already Sin. less water in the bay than when we left in 

 the morning, and we didn't fancy getting stuck in that kind ol a 

 hole. Twenty miles to the west of us, giving a beam wind, was 

 Alligator River in Albemarle Sound, while if when we got into 

 Croatan Sound we found the wind too heavy, we could always run 

 8 miles south to Roanoke marshes. And again, if the wind fell a 

 little after we got out m t he sound we could lay our course across 

 Albemarle Sound into North River, where we were aiming for; 

 so we concluded to get out while it was still daylight. 



Putting two reefs in the mainsail and Jib and getting our pre- 

 venter stays up, we got under way at 4:30. The way the Monarch 

 struck out was a caution; she had more sail than she could parry 

 properly, but we had to go. The water is only 8ft. deep the whole 

 length of Nagshead, some 8 miles, and the speed we wore going 

 churned the sand and mud up on the bottom and threw a wave at 

 the quarter which was higher than the rail. We made the 8 miles 

 from the pier to the black beacon at the head of Croatan Sound in 

 a trifle over 40m. 



Just as we flew past the beacon there was a crash, the jib flew 

 up to the masthead, the jib st ay came running back alongside the 

 yacht, the jib-boom, some 22ft. long, went sailing up in the air and 

 came down astern of the yacht and stuck up in the sand, while 

 the mast swayed backward. Ohas. L. Work. 



CHICAGO YACHTING— A WINTER REGATTA. 



IT has taken a decade or two of experimenting in the direction 

 of yachts for Chicago to learn what her possibilities are in the 

 way of yachting. For a season or two, owing largely to the 

 energy of a few members, the Chicago Y. O. seemed to have been 

 put firmly and squarely on its legs— sea legs— races wen; organ- 

 ized, prizes of such value offered as to induce foreign yachts to 

 compete, and the yacht-loving few of the city began to hope that 

 yachting had come to stay. But our yachts have been sold or 

 taken to other waters, the Chicago V.C. has practically disbanded 

 and the attempt made by a rival club for existence has been 

 dreary and feeble, because of the loose rules governing the admis- 

 sion of memoers. , - IJJf 



The fact of the matter is that although the dangers of Lake 

 Michigan are no greater than of other open bodies of water (pub- 

 lic opinion to the contrary), harbors in the neighborhood of 

 Chicago ha.ve been few indeed. They are improving, however, 

 and before very long there will be, perhaps, all that we can hope 

 for in this line. Going south, for example, goad shelter for boats 

 maybe had 12 or 15 miles off. Going north, at Evanstown, dis- 

 tant 11 miles, a pier offers a good lee. At Highland Park, a dozen 

 miles further, a long pier has recently been built. The Govern- 

 ment intends building a regular harbor a couple of miles further 

 than this, at Highwood, the new army post. Ten miles still 

 further comes Waukegan Harbor, ample for yachts of small ton- 

 nage at present, and within a year or two, for vessels of any size, 

 and so on, with Kenosha and Racine, a harbor may be found at 

 short intervals all the way to Milwaukee. 



A cause for the bad name that Lake Michigan has had given it 

 is the unsuitable character of the boats that have, been used on it. 

 The skimming dish, in its most extreme proportions as developed 

 from the requirements of harbor sailing, has been pretty thor- 

 oughly tried on these waters. With a westerly wind this is well 

 enough, and the boat not unsuitable lor the water, it being thru 

 smooth, but with an easterly wind the character of the water is 

 completely changed, and we find ourselves *on the open sea" with 

 a boat which perhaps yesterday was all that wo could have 

 wished for, but to-day entirely unsuitable. 



Some fine yachts have been owned in Chicago, hut there has 

 been no interest in racing, for nothing has ever been matched 

 closely. 



It is claimed that there are but two types of boat at all suitable 

 for Chicago waters; first, something non-capsizable and sea-going, 

 that may hope to live wherever vessels may live; the other so 

 small and light that it may be pushed through surf and taken ou t 

 of the. water wherever necessity overtakes if. 



Last season some enterprising spirits, with a better appreciation 

 of the possibilities and probabilities of the circumstances, organ- 

 ized what they have called the Corinthian Y. C. of Chicago, and 

 decided on boats with a length of 18ft. No time allowance is 

 given, and complete latitude with regard to character and amount 

 of rig is allowed. Generous prizes are offered, and live races, two 

 a month, are sailed for them. Each boat receives a certain num- 

 ber for its place in each race, and these are added at. the end of 

 the race, and prizes given in accordance. A favorable feature of 

 this system is that it will foster the best all-round boat, since such 

 may hope to make the best average showing. Of the live races 

 three of them are to be sailed to windward or leeward and return, 

 the other two on triangular courses. Provision is made (in the 

 event of such weather as to make outside sailing hazardous.) to 

 prevent disappointment by a race inside the harbor. This, with 

 the many laps, will eucourage smartness of handling. Last year, 

 in addition to the series of five races, about live informal contests 

 were indulged in, succeeding fish dinners, etc.. Held at, some miles 

 from the city. A repetition of last year's programme has been 

 laid out for the coming season. The fleet last season numbered 

 only seven or eight boats, but in one or two of its races invited 

 competitors made the number something over a score of sails. 



It is reported that, five lfii't. boats are positively to be biillt lor 

 this club between now and June, and as many mure members are 

 making up their minds. Everything in the way of type is being 

 talked of, except the extremely narrow cutter; outside ballast 

 with a wine glass midship section. Everything between deep 

 draft and extremely shallow, and one or two are going to try 

 what can be done with an exaggerated canoe. 



The crew in the races is limited to five. The ballast is fixed, 

 and all to be below the floor. The rales necessitate at, least half 

 decking, and, barring the fact that one-third of the overhang is 

 charged for in measurement, the rules and laws are judicious and 

 wise. Should this club have more than an ephemeral existence, 

 a few years may teach from what ft does, more than is now 

 known on the subject of 18ft. racers, sailed with limited crews and 

 stationary ballast. Nothing shows the present interest m this 

 matter here, nor promises so favorably the coming indulgence of 

 this interest as the success of an experiment tried by the 



Waukegan firm of builders, R. J. Douglas & Co. For a couple of 

 months past there has been a permanent regatta in progress on dry 

 land, adjoining the Board of Trade building, in Chicago. A very 

 large room lias been taken on the ground floor of one of the finest 

 office buildings, he aul if nil ,\ decorated, and crammed rather un- 

 pleasantly full of boats. A 121b. canoe, a 101 t. canoe, and a couple 

 of 20ft. steam launches give the ext lemcs of what maybe seen 

 here. Twenty varieties of rowboals, in all grades audst>lesof 

 construction and a variety of models, several sailboats, four or 

 five launches, hunting boats, combined row ar.d sailboats, canoe 

 yawls, a large variety of rigs, and an excellent show of fittings in 

 the wav of hardware, spare, cars, sculls, sweeps, paddles, tents, 

 etc., together making such an attractive show as has rarely 

 invited the water-loving public's attention. 



The place has become rather a rendezvous for dropping into and 

 talking water sports, and the manager of the exhibit, states he has 

 had as many as 1,500 people in a day looking at what they have to 

 show. It is not surprising, since !in exhibit ot this kind is inter- 

 esting, not only to practical sailois, but Lo a large class who from 

 lack of taste or timidity never go aboard a boat, but admire them 

 as things of beauty. 



To Messrs. Douglas & Co. are due the thanks of those interested 

 in boating ou Lake Superior, for they have at least awakened a 

 ical live interest in the subject months before the seasons would 

 have done so, and if they produce right along as good and liue 

 work as the boats in their exhibit show, tbeir success as builders 

 will be assured, 



LAUNCH OF THE NAROD.-On Feb. 22 the steam yacht 

 Narod, built by Theo. Dura.nd for Mr. .1. G. I loran former owner 

 of the steam yacht Angier, was launched from Englis's old ship- 

 yard, at Grcennoint, Long Island. The Narod i.Doran) is a 

 modern craft, 120ft. over all, 18ft, beam, and 7ft. draft. The 

 owner has been guaranteed a speed of 18 knots, but there is noth- 

 ing in the model to justify such claims, and if she jogs along at a 

 dozen miles she will be doing very well indeed. The yacht is 

 flush decked, with a, long pilot-house forward and a very high 

 companion at the exl rente after end. From the latter the owner's 

 quarters arc reached, the crew and cook being forward. She will 

 be propelled by a- Wells balanced engine, quadruple expansion, of 

 300 H. P., with a 1ft, Gin. wheel. The rig is the ordinary two- 

 masted schoouer. Fortunately, the launch passed off without 

 any •uch mishap as attended the launch of the Norma several 

 years since, but the risk of launching a vessel of this sort with a 

 large number of persons, many of them ladies, on deck, is a very 

 serious one, and apt some day to result fatally. 



NEW YACHTS.— The centreboard sloop building at Englis's 

 yard for Capt. Williams, is now in frame. S/ie is 53ft. over all, 

 about 46ft. l.w.l., 17ft. beam and 5ft. draft. The oak frame is 

 heavy enough for a 90 ft. schooner, but as she is not for racing the 

 weight will bo of little consequence. She will carry all her 

 ballast inside A compromise yacht is now building in Green- 

 point for 0. S. Chard, Last River V. C. She is 31ft. over all. 20ft. 

 l.w.l., 12ft. beam, 5ft. draft, with 2*4 tons of iron in keel, and will 

 be sloop-rigged — The Burgess steel steam yacht is for Mr. O. B. 

 Senning, of New York . . . . D. J". Lawlor has designed a steam 

 yacht, to be built of steel for a New York owner, to be 101ft. l.w.l., 



20tt. beam, and 6ft. 9in. draft At City island, Piepgtass is busy 



with the frames of the new Auehincloss yacht. She is laid down 

 and moulds made. 



HUDSON RiVER ICE YACHT CLUB.— Wc. have received a 

 copy of the club book for the present year. The officers of the 

 club are: Com., J. A. Roosevelt; Yice-Com., .1. C. Barron; Sec, 

 E. P. Rogers; Treas., Archibald Rogers; Meas., Ohas. Vau Loan; 

 Regatta Committee, ,. A. Roosevelt, H. Livingston, W. G. Morse, 

 W. H. Storms, J. R. Roosevelt. The club has now 65 active 

 members and a fleet of 32 yachts, all but one sloop-rigged. The 

 largest, yacht, Avalanche, is 49ft. 2in. over all, 26ft. Tin. from rud- 

 der post to center of runner plank, 26ft. 8J4U1. "oeam, and carries 

 825 sq. ft. of sail. Unfortunately, the weather ibis winter has 

 been such that no regattas have takou place, 1 hough the yachts 

 have been in use for sailing and scrub races. 



LOOKOUT, BOSTON.— Already the papers are making matches 

 between the three new Boston steam yachts, but in naming the 

 victor they leave New York entirely out of the count. Mr. 

 Burgess' and Mr. Frisbie's productions only aspire to a mean 15 

 miles or so, but New York pins her pride, on a craft guaranteed to 

 make 18 knots. Wait until she comes alongside these presumptu- 

 ous bean pots and proves to them that Now York can stiU build 

 fast yachts. 



CRUISING.— Coronet, schr., Mr. R. T. Bush, is fitting out for a 

 voyage to Sau Francisco — Mohican steam yaeuf, Wm. Clark, 

 arrived at Nassau ou Feb. 10, and sailed four days later for Port 

 an Prince .. Gitana, schr., W.F. Weld, sailed from St. Augustine 



for Boston on Fob. 22 Montauk, schr., J. E. Brooks, was spiJKCH 



on Feb. 22, 15 miles north of Havana Wanderer, schr., Mr. G. 



W. Weld, sailed lately from New Bedford on a southern cruise. 



VIV3 l I)'*Vv*IZAKD.-^A series of matches between these two 

 yachts, the former owned by Mr. W. A. Wolff, the latter lately 

 purchased from Vice-Coin. Colt by Mr. Ernest: Staples, is reported 

 as arranged for next June; the first, twenty miles to windward or 

 leeward and return from Scotland Lightship; the second, over 

 New York Y. C. course, and the third, if necessary, over a trian- 

 gular course outside of bandy Hook. 



HULL Y. C— Officers, 18S8: Com., H. E. Converse; Vice-Corn., 

 John J. Henry, Rear-Coin., R. S. Whitney; Fleet Capt., L. 

 Stewart Jordan; Sec, Wm. A. Cary; Assist. Sec, Frank C. 

 Brewer; Treas., Ohas. C. Hutchinson; Meas., Ambrose A. 

 Martin. 



MARGUERITE.— It is reported that Capt. Haff, of Volunteer, 

 will command Mr. Burden's new schooner. 



\mwers to (^orrespantlent$> 



$W No Notice Taken of Anonymous Correspondents. 



G. W. T,, Toronto, Canada.— Have rabbits fur at birth, or is the 

 young absolutely naked? Ans. The young of the true rabbit. 

 (LrpiW cuniouhm) of Europe are naked at birth. Those of the gray 

 "rabbit" of America, (L. s>jlvaticiln) which is really a hare, are 

 born with fur. So both may have been righ t, according to the 

 species which they had under discussion. 



C. K., Davenport, la.— As "Hallock's Gazetteer" is out of print, 

 can you give me t he name of a book that gives names and natural 

 history of the fish found in the waters of the United States? If 

 so, let me know the price. Ans. If you want only the fishes 

 caught for sport, we can send Norris's "American Angler's Book," 

 $5.50, or Frank Forester's "Fish and Fishing,' $2.50. These are 

 general works. If you want a book containing all known fish in 

 America get the "Synopsis of the Fishes of North America," by 

 Jordan and Gilbert, published by the Smithsonian institution. 

 This is a technical book, dealing with species only, not mentioning 

 habits nor modes of capture. 



G. N. B., Billings, Mont.— Will you please inform me whether 

 the grizzly, cinnamon,. brown, silver tip and range bears are dis- 

 tinct species each, or how many? 1 have no work to refer to at 

 present, but have always understood that they were one and the 

 sarao species of bear, varying only in shades of color, size, etc. 

 Ans. We reprint from a back number: In North Ameiica there 

 are three species of bears— namely, the polar bear {Urms mari- 

 timm), the black bear (U. amerieamis), and the grizzly bear (XI. 

 honihiVis). The first of these is never found within the borders of 

 the United States. The second is charac terized by short claws 

 upon his front feet, not much if any longer than those on the 

 bind toes. In color he varies from glossy jet black through dark 

 and light brown to pare! yellow. He is found throughout North 

 America at large. In shape he may be short or iong. stout and 

 roly-poly, or slim and slab-sided. The third species, the grizzly, 

 has long claws upon his front feet, much longer and stouter than 

 those behind. He is larger than the black and occupies the west- 

 ern half of the continent. He may be of almost any color of tne 

 rainbow, and for each color there is a local name. In California, 

 and in the mouths of well-informed people gene rail y, he is a grizzly 

 wherever he is found, but m Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming and pans 

 of Montana he is a "cinnamon," a "range bear," a "gray bear," a 

 "silver tip" or a "bald face," according to the ignorance of the 

 man who sees him or his hide. He is, however, just as truly a 

 grizzly as his California brother, and he can be distinguished 

 always by his long fore claws. Color is absolutely valueless as a 

 specific character in the grizzly and black bears. 



