)eo. 15, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



403 



I cost rue about five dollars and were uninjured, supposing 

 Ml could not possibly have any further use for them. 

 I At 3 P. M. we bade farewell to Indian Eiver, having a 

 I boy of twelve for our teamster, who proved to be no ex- 

 ception to an adult "Cracker's" thriftlessness, for when 

 I we camped at dark in the woods, he had no cooking ap- 

 I paratus. However, boiling our coffee in a lard can and 

 lour eggs in a peach can, and after drinking the coffee, 

 jour hominy in the lard can for breakfast in the morning, 

 jae it caul 1 be handled cold, Ave lay down on the groimd 

 ■and looking sky-ward went to sleep, as often before, 



■ counting the stars. Rising at 3:30 in the morning, I ended 

 jmy camping career of fifty-one nights, and exchanged 

 ruoy butternut hunting-dress and blue flannel shirt for 

 {broadcloth and linen, and donned my beaver in place 

 •of the worn-out straw hat which I left sticking upon a 

 retake. 



I At 9 A. M. we reached the steamer Volusia, gratified to 

 Jfind Erwin comfortably established on board, and at 2 P. 

 IJf. sailed away from "Crackerdom" down the St. John's. 

 lSharing a stateroom with Capt. B. — previous and subse- 

 quent to the war, lighthouse keeper at Cape Canaveral — I 

 jlearned from him some interesting particulars of his ex- 

 •perieuoe during the war. On the secession of Florida he 

 Iwas ordered by the State authority to put out his light. 

 |He obeyed, and more. In the darkness of the night and 



■ the retiracy of the surroundings, he took down the lan- 

 Itern and everything movable, and transferred all by a 

 I mule-cart to a lonely spot four miles distant, and safely 

 I hiding them, kept the secret during the war. At its close, 

 I when a TJ. S. vessel came down the coast to re-light the 

 I lanterns, he was inquired of for the equipments. Leading 

 I the officer to the hiding place, he brought all out to 

 | light uninjured, and for his discretion was recommeded 

 I by the officer as a suitable person to continue in charge of 

 jibe light, and was successful in receiving the appoint- 

 I tuent from Washington. He also informed me that early 

 I in the war Jefferson Davis and h's Cabinet entrusted him 

 I with keeping concealed in the inlet near the cape as large 

 | a vessel as possible, to take any of them, in case of dis- 

 Idster, to Nassau, under British dominion, being assured, 

 l if once there, they would be protected according to the 

 1 Mason and Slidell precedent. During the last year of the 



■ war the Union gunboats found their way into the Indian 

 I River and captured the vessel, with much other contra- 

 Ban d material that had been accumulating as the safest 

 ■pace on the coast. On the surrender of Lee and the sep- 

 I juration of Davis and his Cabinet, at their last meeting in 

 ] the second story of the bank budding at Washington, 

 I Wilkes county, Georgia, each strove to reach, by differ- 

 I ent routes, the rendezvous in charge of Capt. B. , to make 

 I his escape to Nassau. Sir. Davis — taking his family, who 



had been boarding for some time four miles out of Wash- 

 ington—followed the route leading through Taliafero 

 county, and passing across the very plantation where I 

 spent the year 1841 teaching a private school, was cap- 

 tured a few miles further south. Breckenridge alone 

 found his way unmolested to the appointed rendezvous, 

 and was ena led to escape to Nassau by Capt. B.'s fur- 

 nishing him with an open rowboat of large size, which he 

 had fitted with a jmy mast, Capt. B. showing me a gold 

 dollar hanging at his watch chain, which he said Mr. 

 Breckenridge gave him as he stepped aboard the boat, as 

 the only remuneration he could offer him for his kind- 

 ness, J. W. P. Jenks. 



Addrcsss all communications to the Forest and Stream Pub, Co. 



WOLVES AND SQUIRRELS IN TEXAS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



f I passed much time last summer and fall in Young and 

 Stephens counties, about 60 or 70 miles from Abilene, ex- 

 amining the geological formations with respect to coal 

 and other minerals. In most part it is a hilly country, 

 covered with oak forests. Great rusty and moss-covered 

 sandstones lie along the hillsides, and often crown their 

 tops with rugged and grizzly confusion. This is a feature 

 Which almost always marks the carboniferous formation 

 in Texas. Many fine valleys wind among the hills, hav- 

 ing a very rich but arenaceous soil. The pecan tree 

 flourishes along the streams, growing to gigantic size, 

 ttiany of them yielding from ten to fifteen bushels of their 

 rich nuts at a crop. These the people gather, and derive 

 no small profit from their sale, selling them this year at 

 $2 to $2.40 per bushel; though some of extra size were 

 sold at more than double these figures. The hogs grow 



. fat on such as escape the eyes of the gatherers. Wild 

 grapes, V. rupestris and V. eordifolia, abound; also two 

 or three varieties of wild plums. The woods are full of 



I berries. The population is sparse, and wild beasts and 



l varmints are very numerous. 



K Of some of these animals I learned some curious facts; 

 i for instance, that the big gray wolf has expert knowledge 

 1 of watermelons, and is a great thief of these luscious 

 . fruits. I saw where he had eaten many, leaving their 

 1 linds as nicely hollowed out as any man could do it with 

 a spoon. That it was the wolf who had done it there was 

 no doubt, for his tracks were plain and abundant, also 

 the print of his teeth. In some instances he had eaten 

 the melon on the vine, but in other instances he had 

 pulled them from the vine and rolled them some distance 

 away to a secluded spot, just as we may suppose men to 

 [ do when they steal melons. His manner of detaching 

 I the melon from the vine was awkward and unintelligent, 

 it being done apparently by rolling it hither and thither 

 , till it came off, as was shown by the twisted and dis- 

 ordered condition of many of the vines. That his knowl- 

 edge of melons was good was shown in the fact that he 

 1 phi ked none but such as were ripe, for I neither saw nor 

 could hear of a single instance where he had molested an 

 immature one. In this he showed a better understanding 

 > of melons than men, for I dare say there is not a farmer 

 Irving who has not made frequent mistakes in plucking 

 unripe for ripe melons. I presume he makes this uner- 

 ring distinction solely through his keen scent, as nature 

 has not provided him with a finger with which he may 

 thump. 



1 I had considered the wolf as entirely carnivorous, but 

 the fact now stands that he is also a gluttonous eater of 

 watermelons. His brother, the dog, will sometimes eat 

 a little melon when it is given him, but he will not break 



the rind to get at the meat; much less will he invade 

 watermelon patches to steal. The little civet-cat, a strict 

 feline in appearance and habit, eats the muskmelon, but 

 does not touch the watermelon. Thus, between wolves 

 and civet-cats, the people of Young and Stephens lose a 

 large portion of their melons. However, these fruits 

 grow so luxuriously there that they do not feel the loss. 



The absence of squirrels in a country so admirably 

 suited for them, seemed very strange. In all my wan- 

 derings through that country 1 saw not one of these 

 little animals at large. On inquiring I learned that tfll 

 the fall of 1885 the woods wore alive with them, but at 

 that time they all disappeared unaccountably. They had 

 hot been stricken with a malady and died; they had not 

 filed away in detachments, but all had quit at once. As 

 a careful observer expressed it, "It was just like this: In 

 the evening there were millions of them, in the morn- 

 ing there was not one in all the country." And since 

 this sudden migration of a whole race, it is said that 

 there is but one nest of living squirrels in every county, 

 and these are carefully preserved as seed for another 

 crop: Noah and his family to increase and multiply 

 and replenish the earth. 



The year following this strange movement of the 

 squirrels, there came a terrible drouth in northwestern 

 Texas. All the crops of the field were destroyed. The 

 pecan trees refused to yield their nuts and the oaks their 

 acorns. Late frosts killed the wild grapes and plums. 

 It was a year of desolation and sorrow, and seemed 

 guided in all things by a hand which had determined 

 that it should be so. The people believe that the de- 

 parture of the squirrels was connected with this drouth, 

 and such also is my own belief. Had they staid it would 

 not have been possible for more than very few to escape 

 death by starvation. 



Now, was it instinct that led to this migration? If so, 

 and instinct be solely an inherited feeling, how did the 

 squirrels inherit from their ancestors knowledge of a 

 fact which had not transpired, and from the coming of 

 which they fled? For at the time they fled the country 

 was full of all such things as they rejoice in. 



Such things bring us to a period of great perplexity, 

 beyond which when we step we are brought face to face 

 with the Invisible Maker. Then comes the illumination. 

 As I wander in the fields and forests and break the ancient 

 rocks of the hills with my hammer, this saying of the 

 Wonderful One of Nazareth recurs constantly to my 

 mind: "Five sparrows are sold for a farthing, and not 

 one of these shall fall to the ground without your Father. 

 Ye are of more value than many sparrows." I do not 

 question that the Father spake to these squirrels, and they 

 obeyed Him. Man hears His voice, but does not always 

 obey. 



That country which the drouth so sorely afflicted seems 

 now as going into great abundance of all .fruits of the 

 earth, and I doubt not that the squirrels which fled from 

 the impending famine will soon return. N, A. T. 



Abilene, Texas, Dec. 8. 



[The gray wolf is generally supposed to be wholly car- 

 nivorous, but as our correspondent shows he is not invari- 

 ably so. In certain portions of northwestern America, 

 notably in British Columbia, we have found this wolf 

 in berry season feeding almost wholly on berries as a bear 

 would do.] 



A QUEER DICK OF A WOODCOCK. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Eeading a short time ago an account given of a 

 captured woodcock prompts me to relate an experience 

 of my own with one of these singular birds. 



Upon going home to dinner one day several years ago, 

 a twelve-year old son of one of my neighbors, and a born 

 sportsman, met me when near my residence, saying with 

 much eagerness that a woodcock w T as hidden in the grass 

 in the large yard connected with the house. He had seen 

 the bird drop down, and his keen sportsman's eyes had 

 seen it on the ground as well, but he had not attempted 

 to flush it. Going into the yard, one of my boy friends 

 (and I am proud to say I have many) pointed out Mr. 

 Scolojiax to me. I saw from the bird's attitude that it was 

 either sick or injured, and telling the boy to stand in 

 front to keep the bird's attention, I crept around in his 

 rear and caught him under my hat. A careful inspection 

 disclosed no injuries like wounds of any sort, still the 

 poor fellow seemed nearly dead. Taking the bird into 

 the stable, I put him in a large basket, placed some grass 

 and earth in with him, with water in a small wooden 

 bowl, and left him for several hours, until after dark. 

 Then, remembering my captive, I went to take a look at 

 him, fully expecting to find him dead. Upon lifting the 

 cover, it was at once to be seen that he was much better 

 than when caught, being able to move about in the 

 basket, trying to hide in the grass inside. I began to 

 believe he might live, and taking a lantern, I went out 

 to the garden and dug nearly a pint of earth worms, and 

 placed them in the basket with my prisoner, or rather 

 guest. 



The next morning he was quite bright, running about 

 the basket briskly. I could see no worms in the basket, 

 nor upon the floor, and came to the conclusion that he 

 must have eaten them during the night. Procuring him 

 a fresh supply of ration. I went to my business. Upon 

 my return at noon my wife, who took a lively interest in 

 my odd guest, told me he was all right, and added that he 

 did not seem to have any fear of her whatever; and in 

 fact, the bird did not at that time show any fear of people 

 at all. 



I kept him four or five days, and during that time he 

 was taken out of the basket in my own or my wife's 

 hands many times, to show people what a live woodcock 

 looked like, a performance to which he showed but little 

 dislike, like the gentleman he was. 



I felt strongly tempted to try to keep him, and see how 

 much familiarity he might acquire; but thinking it 

 would be almost impassible to arrange for his accommo- 

 dation through our long winter, and preserve the con- 

 ditions sufficiently natural, so as to maintain his health 

 and insure his living until spring, I concluded to set him 

 free, as he was now well and very hearty — it seemed 

 incredible that a bird of his size could consume the num- 

 ber of earthworms that he did, after getting in feeding 

 trim. Taking my wife along to drive, I got into the 

 buggy with the bird in my hands, and drove out of the 

 city to our club grounds, on one side of which ran a 

 small brook, both banks covered with a fringe of alders, 

 making a good cover for woodcock, and frequented by 

 them every season. At no time during the drive had the 



bird shown any desire to escape, and when upon arrival 

 at this spot I opened my hands, leaving him sitting on my 

 palm, he failed to take advantage of the opportunity, but 

 sat contentedly, glancing around with, a knowing look, 

 and apparently without any fear of myself or wife. 

 Finally, the horse moving a step or two disturbed him, 

 and he sprang out of my hand; but flying away only a 

 rod or two, whirled around and coming back dropped 

 upon the ground two yards from the buggy, and with no 

 notion of being allowed to capture himagain, walked 

 slowly toward him, expecting, of course, to see him arise 

 and fly away. On the contrary he ran only two or three 

 feet, stopping under a sweet-fern bush, and there he 

 stayed until I picked him up in my hands once more. 

 He sat in my open hand unconcernedly for a while, untfl 

 I began blowing upon him and ruffing his feathers, when 

 he left my hand and flew out over the bushes, but turn- 

 ing after going a short gunshot away, and coming back 

 to the edge of the bushes, dropped to' the gi-ound again 

 not more than thirty feet from us. Remarking to my 

 wife that I believed I could catch himagain, I Avent down 

 to the spot where he dropped, and after a little looking, 

 found him sitting snuggled up to a clump of alder shoots 

 in true woodcock fashion. When I stooped and picked 

 him up, he never moved other than to cower close down 

 to the ground, and suffered me to again take him in my 

 hands, to all appearances as willingly as a pet kitten. 



Returning to the carriage, I gave him a smart fling out 

 over the bushes, and then he finally flew away out of 

 shotgun range before dropping down. I fully believe 

 that he had lost all fear of me, as he flew all right, and I 

 also believe that if it had been early spring instead of late 

 summer, I would have had him about the premises where 

 I live, as familiar as a pet chicken. I have since wished 

 I had made the attempt to tame him so as to let him 

 remain in the stable cellar, and see if the migratory in- 

 stinct would not have impelled him to leave for his 

 winter home at the proper time, and he ought have come 

 back in the following spring, provided he escaped death 

 from the countless enemies his tribe encotinter. 



Nor'east. 



Auburn, Maine. 



Texas Buffalo. — A late number of the Tacosa Pioneer 

 relates: "Lee Howard, an old-time puncher of this 

 country, came in the first of the week with a load of 

 buffalo meat which he promptly disposed of. He found 

 this game near the head of the Beaver, upward of 100 

 miles north of here, and he killed thirty of the noble 

 fellows. He disposed of the hides at $10 apiece. Howard 

 has made himself a stake capturing buffalo calves. 

 Hartland, Tex., Nov. 22.— Hunters from the Panhandle 

 arrived here with the carcases of eight buffalo, the resi- 

 due of a 'kill' of twenty-three, after having supplied the 

 different towns south of here in Stevens and Grant 

 counties. The game was readily sold to local butchers, 

 and the hunters" will return for another supply. These 

 men, who seem to be reliable, say that it is all a mistake 

 that the buffalo are all killed off in the southwest, and 

 they claim that vast herds still roam the prairies of the 

 Panhandle and great staked pig ins. They also report a 

 plentitude of other game, especially deer and turkey, 

 among the breaks and the streams where timber or brush 

 grow, and antelope unlimited. Jack rabbits are quite 

 plentiful, also water fowl along the streams and in the 

 lakes, and some prairie chickens are found; in fact they 

 say — and attest it by bringing with them a supply — that 

 game is still quite plentiful and in excellent condition. 

 Quite a lot of buffalo meat was shipped east from this 

 point to-night." 



The Garter Snare Dines Leisurely.— I was on my 

 way home from a short shooting excursion vvith a com- 

 panion, when we came upon a very large toad coming 

 clown the road as though very much, frightened at some- 

 thing, and then we saw a garter snake coming after it. 

 We kept perfectly still, and when the toad was in front 

 of us the snake caught him by the hindlegs and began 

 the slow process of swallowing. I think it must have 

 taken at least twenty-five minutes for the snake to get 

 the toad inside its stomach. We did not move until the 

 snake began to crawl off; then I killed it, and as we 

 could see that the toad was alive, we cut the snake open, 

 and I took him out and held him in my hand. He gave 

 a kick and was ready for flies. The last we saw of him 

 he was making for the woods, to all appearances as happy 

 as ever and not the least out by his strange adventure. — 

 Cowboy. 



Recent Arrivals at Philadelphia Zoological Garden.— 

 Received bv purchase— Two paradoxures {ParaOomrUS typus), one 

 jelerang squirrel (Scturus bicolor), one moor monkey (Scmnopithe- 

 cm maunis), two blue bonnet parakeets (Psetpkatvs iicanatogaster), 

 one Cuvier's toucan (Ramphavtos cut-ten), one Cole titmouse (Parus 

 ater), one whistling swan [Dygrtm amerftscwtfflX and two bullfinches 

 (Pyrhula rubiciUa). Received by presentation— One opossum 

 {Didclphys virginiana), one golden agouti (Dasyproct a aguti), one 

 ground hog (Arctomys monax), one great-liorned owl (Bubo virgin- 

 iamis), two turtle doves (Turtur risorius), one short-eared owl 

 (Brachyotus palustrix), one meadow lark (Sturnella magna), one 

 killdeer plover (jEgialttte vocifcra), one turkey vulture (Gathartes 

 aura), one rough-fogged hawk (ArchiJmteo lagopus), one banded 

 rattlesnake (Grotalua liorridxis), one alligator {Alligator niississippi- 

 ensis), and one menopoma (frlcnopoma alleghmiemis). Exchanged 

 —One short-eared owl (Brachyotus palustrUs). 



The defeat of the bill to require a license tax of $1 per 

 annum to he paid by the owner of every dog in the State, is 

 more significant than it is generally regarded. The member 

 of the Legislature who introduced the bill asserted that the 

 presence of these pet vermin costs the State of South Caro- 

 lina $3,000,000 a year, and we have no doubt that a careful 

 investigation of all the facts will substantiate his assertion. 

 But for these worthless animals, at any rate, South Carolina 

 could and probably would soon become one of the leading 

 wool-producing States in the Union. The difference between 

 what it is and what it might be, in this respect, measures a 

 part only of the penalty paid for preferring dogs to more 

 valuable property. 



It is useless, it seems, to argue the question; but the laugh 

 that is raised always when a "dog law" of any kind is pro- 

 posed, is at the expense of the farmer, at least. They save 

 one dollar a year on each cur they own, and lose hundreds of 

 dollars on the sheep and wool they have not, and on the food 

 and clothing they have to buy in consequence of their foolish 

 policy. It is not surprising after all that the farmers should 

 find it difficult to get along when by their votes in the Legis- 

 lature — where they have a majority— they show that they 

 think more of their curs than of their cows, of a hound than 

 of a hog, of a setter than of a sheep. 



Every effort to effect a reform m the whole State on this 

 subject has failed, and is likely to fail hereafter. It should 

 be tried now in single counties, or even in a smaller field.— 

 I Cha rleston News and Courier. 



