March 17, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



IBS 



Rough weather all day. Saw some hags, bos'ns (poma- 

 torhinns), winter gulls, mostly immature ones, and pe- 

 trels, both 0. oceanica and C. leucorrhoa. 



Oct. 2.— La Have Ridges, lat. 42° 48' N., long. 63 c 18' 

 W. Strong northwester all day. Saw a sea hen {Mega- 

 lestris skua) twice to-day. This bird came within 30yds. 

 of the stern. I did not shoot the first time because it- 

 seemed too rough for men to go out in a dory. The boats 

 were lashed so that it would have taken some time to get 

 them ready to put out. However, the men having volun- 

 teered to go for so rare a specimen, the second time it 

 came near I shot at it. Though hard hit it got away to 

 leeward. Had it been smoother water I think this speci- 

 men could have been found dead on the surface astern of 

 us. Shooting from a vessel rolling and pitching, as was 

 the Grampus at this time, renders ''killing clean" a mat- 

 ter of much imcertainty. Those who have tried it will 

 appreciate this. There is no doubt whatever about the 

 identity of this specimen, as it was seen by both Captain 

 Collins and myself. It seems perhaps singular but none 

 the less time, that this species is most commonly noticed 

 when the weather is stormy or blowing hard. The flight 

 is bold and strong. 



Oct. 3.— La Have Ridges, lat. 42° 52' N.. long. 63 1 4' W. 

 One winter yellowleg (Gr. melanoleiica) flew around the 

 vessel and then headed for land. I shot one adult winter 

 gull and several others mostly immature. Also saw a 

 noddy, a jaeger (j^omnforhimis), a hag (P. major), and a 

 few Leach's petrels. 



Oct. 4.— Passage from La Have to Rose way Bank, I 

 shot three winter gulls (P. tridaeti/la), two were adult 

 and one immature. Saw perhaps twenty-five or thirty of 

 these birds, a few bos'ns (S. pomatorhmus), and one hag 

 (P. major).' Roseway Bank, lat. 43' 19' N., long. 64" 46 

 W. — Saw three duck's fly past the vessel and alight ahead. 

 We sailed past them when they arose, and as they flew 

 by a second time one of them was knocked into the water. 

 It was picked up and found to be an immature velvet 

 duck (M. velvet ina). This bird, in its immature stage, is 

 the common gray coot of the New England coast. In the 

 adult plumage, or when old enough to show white in the 

 wings, it is the white-winged coot, of which mention is 

 made in the beginning of these notes. After dinner we 

 filled away for Shelburne. N. S. On nearing the land the 

 kittiwakes or winter gulls became scarcer, and the her- 

 ring gulls, mostly immature gray plumaged birds, seemed 

 to take their place. 



Oct. 5. — Shelburne, N. S. Gray gulls (L. argentatns 

 and L. marinus) were frequently seen flying about the 

 harbor. Several crows (C. americaniis) were noticed. A 

 short walk on shore brought to notice one robin (S. migra- 

 torius), two Canada jays or whiskey jacks (Perisoreus 

 canadensis), two song sparrows (M. melodia) and a number 

 of snow birds (Jmteo Ityemalis). Ruffed grouse (B. um- 

 bella) and Canada grouse (6'. canadensis) are common. 

 We bought them for twenty -five cents a pair. They are 

 known by the names of birch and spruce partridges all 

 through Maine and the provinces of New Brunswick and 

 Nova Scotia, 



Oct. 7.— Underway along the coast from Shelburne to 

 Pubnico. N. S. I saw a flock of twelve eidex& (somateria), 

 among which were two old females. Some argeirfatiis 

 seen, but the winter gulls seem not to have worked in 

 from the banks as yet. At Pubnico I saw some crows 

 alight on the rigging of a schooner that was lying at a 

 wharf. Of course, no people were on the. vessel. Crows 

 here seem to feed around the rocks, wharves and beaches 

 wherever fish or fish offal may be picked up. I saw them 

 eating dead squids on the beach at Shelburne. 



Oct. 8.— Off the mouth of Pubnico Harbor I saw a lone 

 eider drake and a flock of white-winged coots. 



Oct. 9.— Southeast of Nova Scotia, lat, 43° 03' N., long. 

 65° 55' W., Captain shot one and Mr. Carswell shot two 

 winter gulls. I went out in a dory, taking a bucket of 

 fish livers to decoy the birds within shooting distance. 

 Pieces of these livers thrown into the water and allowed to 

 drift to leeward will almost invariably draw such birds as 

 jaegers, gulls, fulmars and shearwaters witliin gunshot. 

 ' For the rest, 3}drms. of powder and l|oz. of No. 4 shot 

 in a 7+ or 81b. 12-bore, will be all one needs. Almost all 

 the birds obtained will be inside of thirty-five yards, and 

 frequently a less distance, As a result of my efforts, 

 under circumstances as above related, I have to-day shot 

 two gray gannets (S. bassana), two whiptails (S. buffonii), 

 two noddies (F. glacialis) and twenty-one bos'ns S. poma- 

 torhinus). Four of the latter were in the dark plumage 

 and the balance in the more common mixed dark and 

 white. I have seen to-day three gray gannets. about 

 forty bos'ns (pomatorhinus), four whiptails (S. bujfonii), a 

 hundred or more winter gulls (P. tridactyla) about equally 

 divided between adult and immature birds, two Gary 

 chickens,species uncertain,and a flock of six or eight phala- 

 ropes too distant to name the specief . These little birds 

 are commonly called sea geese by fishermen, though why 

 I do not know. Certainly the size has nothing to do with 

 the name. Not a hag (P~. major) has been seen for the 

 past two days, and that they "are found on the coast in 

 winter," as some writers state, is, in my belief, incorrect, 

 not only as regards P. major, but also angloriim and fuli- 

 ginosus. Captain Collins agrees with me in this. I have 

 been interested in our coastwise birds for twenty years, 

 and have yet to see the first one of these birds off our New 

 England coast in winter. At noon to-day a little snow 

 bird (J. hyemalis) hovered around the vessel a minute or 

 two and then, without alighting, flew away to the land. 

 From this and numerous other similar instances that have 

 fallen under my notice, it seems plain that these stragglers 

 from terra firma possess an instinct which tells them the 

 course back to land. 



Oct. 10.— Bay of Fundy near the 48d parallel of latitude 

 and between 67 3 and 68" W. longitude. Scattering jaeg- 

 ers (S. pomatorhinus) have been seen to-day, and one 

 flock of twelve winter gulls were seen silting on the 

 water in a very cosy and sociable appearing manner. 

 Between Cashes and Cape Cod a land bird was seen. It 

 looked like some kind of a sparrow. A snowbird (J. 

 hyemalis) alighted several times on the vessel. In the 

 afternoon, just before making Highland Light, Cape Cod, 

 two or three scattering winter gulls were noticed flying. 

 It seems clear that these birds work south in the autumn 

 off shore and move in nearer the coast later on. 



Oct. 12.— Vineyard Haven, Island of Martha's Vine- 

 yard. Early this morning some three hundred, perhaps 

 more,terns, apparently hirundo and macro lira, young and 

 old, were observed. Ornithologists know how much alike 

 these species appear when only a short distance off, and 

 even in hand when young, I beg, therefore, to be appre- 



ciated in my use of the word apparently. These birds 

 were in two flocks, and when first noticed were flying- 

 close to the water and compactly, after the manner of 

 shore birds. They came into the Vineyard from the east- 

 ward and soon scattered about in search of food. 



Oct. 14.— The objects of this short cruise were to ob- 

 serve the mackerel catchers, and to look for birds with 

 the view to obtain, if possible, some black hags (Pufflnus 

 fuliqinosus). We left Wood's Holl at 7:30 A. M. and 

 stood out into the Sound. Besides the usual members of 

 the Grampus's crew one other gentleman, Mr. Thomas 

 Lee, of the U. S. F. C. steamer Albatross, went with us. 

 The first birds to attract our attention were the jaegers 

 S. parctsiti&Us), in dark mottled immature plumage, 

 fhey were very common. Of that new bird, Corey's 

 Shearwater, we must have seen seven or eight hundred. 

 They were not shy to approach, and were bold in coming 

 around for food. They sat in flocks scattered over the 

 water. These flocks numbered from 50 to 75 to 100 in 

 places, and again they were in smaller squads or single. 

 These birds have all the boldness in flying or sailing with 

 set wings within easy gunshot, to pick off pieces of liver, 

 that the so-called hagdons possess. They sit on the water 

 heading the wind and sea almost as lightly as the gulls. 

 In starting to fly, they first raise their wings, apparently 

 treading water with their feet at the same time. Keep- 

 ing their wings elevated and partly open, their bodies 

 having by this time become clear of the water, they run 

 along '"dog-paddle" fashion on the surface, gaining speed 

 and moving their wings. They rise thus to the wind and 

 proceed usually some 20ft. in this manner, when both 

 feet are moved forward together for some 10ft. further. 

 The bird by this time is fairly under way, and the feet 

 being drawn up so as not to catch the wind, our winged 

 passenger proceeds boldly about his business. In alight- 

 ing, they spread out both feet under and well forward of 

 the body. In taking food they keep their bodies clear 

 from (lie water by the use of both whigs and feet. Again, 

 when feeding as I have seen them, on small herring, at 

 Gay Head, they sit with folded wings on the water, and 

 feed by swimming to windward after these fish. If the 

 fish sink and reappear further ahead, the birds take wing 

 to the quickly-discovered spot and settle for feeding as 

 before. As observed by the writer, these birds seemed to 

 keep by themselves. Sometimes they might be seen sit- 

 ting on the water and also feeding in company with S. 

 parasiticus. 



Of the other birds seen there were 50 or 75 winter gulls 

 (P. tridactyla), adult and immature, one dark bos'n 

 (po mat orh inns), two gray gulls {L. argentatns) and a few 

 scattering white-winged and gray coots (M. velvetina) 

 were observed. Raymond L. Newcomb. 



MOUNTAIN GOATS. 



FORT SIMPSON, British Columbia,— In looking over 

 some old numbers of the Forest and Stream, given 

 me by a friend, I noticed that in the number of June 10 

 questions were asked about mountain sheep and goats. 

 Most likely the queries have been answered, long ere this, 

 by people of far greater experience than my own. Still, it 

 strikes me that to have data from various parts would be 

 acceptable. 



During the summer months the goats keep high up on 

 the mountains. In fact, on the tops of most of the hills 

 in this vicinity, tew of which are over 4,000ft. in height. 

 They appear to feed pretty generally in the daytime, and 

 I think rest at night. Their favorite food consists of vari- 

 ous plants, and of one species in particular of which I 

 send you a dried specimen. This grows nearly every- 

 where in this country— on the tops of the mountains, in 

 the low valleys, (when not too thickly timbered) and on 

 the sphagnum moss. I am not botanist enough to say to 

 which order of plants it belongs. Where goals are plenti- 

 ful this plant will be cut off close to the sod. Grass is 

 also eaten. 



Up to tins season of the year the old "billies" keep 

 rather by themselves (leaving the ••nannies" with their kids 

 and year-old offspring in flocks), which is often the 

 fashion of buck deer, isolating themselves early in the 

 year, and like the deer, seeking out their harems in the 

 autumn. As winter comes on they all move on down to 

 the foot of the mountain, and in the depth of winter it is 

 not uncommoa to see whole herds within a few hundred 

 feet of some of the inlets of the sea. Indeed, Indians 

 shoot them often from canoes. The .Indians state that in 

 the winter, when the mountains are covered with snow, 

 the goats seek strongholds partway up the mountain sides, 

 among the great slabs and blocks of trap and granite, 

 which in falling have arranged themselves into natural 

 roofs and sheds, generally at the foot of some crag. Hud- 

 dled together for warmth, they pass the winter- in these 

 places; not moving in boisterous weather, on more genial 

 days descending as I have stated, nearly to the foot of 

 the mountains to browse and nibble the bushes and lichens. 

 As the spring advances they follow the snow up the 

 mountain sides until the summits are reached, or, if the 

 snow be perpetual, to the very edge of it, where the her- 

 bage is kept green by the constant moisture. 



They young are brought forth about the month of June, 

 possibly late in May. Though awkward looking, they in 

 a short time become so agile as to scale places whither 

 their poor dams scarce dare follow. 



Wolves are great enemies to goats, and no doubt make 

 great ha voc when the kids are young. Old goats, that is 

 full grown ones, have a habit of sharpening their horns, 

 the Indians say, always at a certain season to prepare for 

 fighting. However that may be, their horns certainly 

 bear the marks of having been whetted on stone, on the 

 outside of the points, and are as sharp sometimes as knife 

 points. 



A word, perhaps, anent the stalking of these queer little 

 fellows, may not be amiss. Moccasins must be worn for 

 this hunting, for both hard leather and gum soles are in 

 reliable, owing to the great quantities of moisture continu- 

 ally seeping through the thin soil on the mountain sides; 

 and though in some places it is hard and dry enough 

 footing, yet there are others in which a misstep or a slip 

 means a dreadful mangling if not death. All in all the 

 whole hunt, stalk and seeking, is in the climb up the 

 mountain side. Once the top is reached (in this section 

 at least) goats are nearly sure to be seen, if not, it is an 

 easy matter then to follow along the range until they are 

 found. Once found, of course keeping to leeward of the 

 band, they are very easily approached, and by taking the 

 most ordinary precautions of concealment, one may, if so 

 inclined, shoot ten as easily as one, for the sound of the 



rifle seems not to offend the uninjured ones. Who would 

 do this? None but an insatiate barbarian. 



Packing the best parts of one — including the head for 

 mounting — will be task enough for the hottest blooded 

 sportsman. Your goat is on your back, stranger, with all 

 the superfluous bone removed. Done up into a snug pack 

 to fit the angles of your back. Grab "old reliable" firmly, 

 pay no heed to the ptarmigan which whirr out of your 

 way.'r Don't listen to the Avhistle of themaimots, nor yet, 

 when lower down, to the blue grouse, but look to your 

 feet and where you are going to plant them. Camp is 

 reached finally, and then for a goat steak, of which you 

 will find that those taken from a kid or year-old are ex- 

 cellent. Old nanny, pretty good, but tough, old billy, as 

 strong as a steam engine. W. B. A. 



EGGS OF FARALLONE CORMORANT. 



(Phalacrocorax dilophus albociliatus Ridgway.) 



MR. W. OTTO EMERSON, of Hay wards, Cal., has fur- 

 nished me with a description of the nesting and 

 eggs of this new cormorant for the forthcoming third 

 edition of my work, "Nests and Eggs of North American 

 Birds," and as there is not yet a published account of 

 these particulars the following may not be without inter- 

 est. 



The series of eggs upon which these notes are made 

 consists of three typical sets, obtained through the kind- 

 ness of Mrs. Rugg, of Farallonc Island, who holds the 

 honor of collecting the first birds and eggs of this vari- 

 ety. 



The bird is as common on the Farallone as Baird's cor- 

 morant (Phalacrocorax pelagicus resijlendens And.), and 

 it nests on the rough ridges or points of rocks overlooking 

 the island. About the first of May they may be seen car- 

 rying weeds and dry sea kelps to their nesting sites, where 

 they construct a flat, loose and bulky platform , which is 

 on the whole quite a shallow structure. 



Their nesting is similar to that of other cormorants and 

 they may be observed sitting on their empty nests for 

 hours at a time, probably, as Mr. Emerson suggests, for 

 the purpose of working out the hollow of their nests with 

 then - large feet, for which yjurpose they are well suited. 



By the middle of the month many have begun to de- 

 posit their lime-covered eggs. These compare well with 

 those of Brandt's cormorant (P. pewiciltatuS Brandt), 

 and are a little larger than the eggs of Baird's. Mr. 

 Emerson says: "A set of five measures as follows: 60 by 

 40, 61 by 39, 62 by 39, 60 by 40, 62 by 39 mm. respectively; 

 these were taken May 20, 1886; then- general form is 

 rather ovate oval and quite, round at the greater end." 



Their color and general characteristics are the same as 

 those peculiar to other cormorants' eggs— light greenish 

 in color and coated with a chalky substance. "Another 

 set of four are more pointed at the smaller end and a 

 little longer, measuring respectively: 65 by 39, 64 by 37, 

 62 by 38, 63 by 37mm. This set was taken June 22, 1886, 

 and like the first, incubation was well advanced." 



Four eggs seem to be the average number laid, and 

 both male and female assist in the process of incubation, 

 one remaining on the nest or beside it while the other is 

 off on a short fishing excursion. According to the 

 A. O. U. Code the habitat of this bird is " Coast of Cali- 

 fornia, south to Cape St. Lucas and Revilla-Gigedo 

 Islands." Mr. Emerson says, "it no doubt breeds along 

 the coast northward from Santa Cruz and Monterey 

 Bay." Oliver Davie. 



Cotmraus, Ohio, March 8, 1887. 



Quail in Captivity. — Three months ago we procured 

 fourteen quail from West Virginia, I made a coop 2. J ft. 

 by 2-ift. square, but found after a few days' trial that it 

 was entirely too small, so I made a new one 8ft. by 8ft. 

 and 5ft. high. I give the birds what wheat screenings 

 they will eat up clean, varying the ration with cracked 

 corn and buckwheat, and every other day either cabbage, 

 turnip tops or celery. Three times a week I give them 

 about four quarts of dry fine gravel baked in an oven un- 

 til all the moisture is out of it. My birds are doing finely 

 and I have not lost one. I think that most of the losses 

 of quail, if traced, will be found to result from their be- 

 ing too closely cooped, with too much grain, dirty water, 

 and very little green food or none at all; and then, when 

 gravel is given, it is generally thrown in wet and freezes, 

 and thus the buds get very little benefit from it. Par- 

 ticular care should be taken every day to scald the vessel 

 from which they drink and to give only pure water. By 

 pursuing the above course, I think that quail can be win- 

 tered with very small percentage of loss. We have had 

 no quail here for years and hope to restock from this 

 small number. I will write this fall and tell you how 

 they pan out.— H. C. G. (Bodines, Pa.). 



The Weight op Quail. — Apropos of "J. M. W.'s" in- 

 quiry in your issue of Feb'. 17, as to the weight of quail, 

 and of his remark that the swamp quail in Georgia are 

 larger and of darker plumage than the. upland birds, I 

 will inform him that in Cuba we also have them of darker 

 markings than are the O. virginiana of the north and 

 east, and these birds are classified by Gundlach as Ortyx 

 cubanensis. We also have here quail of identically the 

 same plumage as the O. virginianus of New York and 

 New England, of which latter I have in my time killed 

 many bags, and also have a male and female now in my 

 dining-room that were killed and mounted in New York 

 with which to compare ours. These form a considerable 

 portion of most of my bags made here, and silica reading 

 "J. M. W.'s" inquiry I weighed four of these. 1. 1 en with- 

 out choosing, from my last bag, with the foLcw rg re- 

 sults, viz.: 5|oz., 5foz., 6^oz. anda-^oz. — Nejio. [T.iereis 

 but a single variety of quail in Georgia.] 



Spring Bird Notes.— Perth Ambov, N. J., March 14. — 

 The writer saw several flocks of grackles near Trenton, N. 

 J., on the 9th inst. He saw robins, blue jays, a song spar- 

 row and a shrike near South Amboy on the 4th mst. 

 Bluebirds have wintered in and around Perth Amboy, and 

 a song sparrow sang merrily in a garden here on the 12th, 

 when the mercury stood at 28\ The larger varieties of 

 hawks have begun to migrate. Three English snipe were 

 seen here on the 11th. — J. L. K. 



Wintering of Meadoav Larks. — Jersey City Heights, 

 N.J. , March 18. — C. H. A. asks where do meadow larks win- 

 ter, L. replies correctly. I have seen them all over where 

 there were salt marshes, when hunting in winter. If 

 your correspondent will take a stroll in mid- winter in the 

 marshes of New Jersey he will see more than he will be 

 able to shoot at any time.— -A. M. 



