April 81, 1887.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



278 



of all. As the pigment which determines the color of the 

 squirrel is found m the hair, it follows that if a squirrel 

 has no hair it is a perfect albino— there being of course 

 an absence of coloring matter. On that basis 1 make my 

 claim, as last fall two young red squirrels were raised in 

 a tree just across the street that were totally deficient of 

 hair except on the paws and head. I saw them once or 

 twice and finally succeeded in capturing one in my hands 

 for examination, as they were quite tame. Of course it 

 looked something like a rat. I suggested to one of the 

 ladies of a sewing society that a flannel jacket would be 

 highly acceptable to the little fellows in view of he ap- 

 proaching winter, but I fear my suggestion was not acted 

 upon. 1 hear a dog caught one of them soon after and I 

 fear the other came to an untimely end. I had great 

 hopes that the fashion would spread among the gray and 

 black squirrel, as it would much facilitate their prepara- 

 tion for the table, and as long as they were killed in the 

 fall before cold weather set in it could make no especial 

 difference to the squirrel. — C. 



The Spring Migrants.— Albany, N. Y., April 5.— Birds 

 appeared in this section, notwithstanding the severe 

 weather, as early as Feb. 19, when several goldfinches 

 flew through here. Following are the dates upon which 

 various species were first observed: Goldfinches, Feb. 19; 

 hawks (species undetermined), March 5; downy wood- 

 peckers and a robin, March 12; song sparrows, March 13; 

 hairy woodpeckers, a bluebird and one which I was 

 unable to identify with certainty, but which was perhaps 

 a shrike, March 19; red-winged blackbirds, March 21, and 

 fox-colored sparrows and doves, March 26. During the 

 past week the remaining early migrants have appeared 

 in considerable numbers. The only birds that to my 

 knowledge, and I searched diligently, wintered here, are 

 owls, crows, chickadees, white-bellied nuthatches, 

 English sparrows and partridges, all of which, excepting 

 the first and last named, were abundant. Crows were as 

 numerous as at any other time of year. — J. W. D. 



Spring at Washington.— Washington, D. C, April 15. 

 — Among the birds I noticed robins, bluebirds, crow 

 blacks, redwings, phebes, wood pewee, barn, bank and 

 white-bellied swallows, savanna and chipping sparrows, 

 grassfinch, flicker, cedar birds and doves. Song sparrows 

 are very plentiful and are building. Passer aomesticus 

 has built, and in some localities as many as a dozen nests 

 with eggs may be seen. Eobins are assiduously at work 

 on their nests, although there are very few sitting birds. 

 F. L. J. 



"That reminds me." 

 208. 



LAST summer, while we were camping out, Bob, our 

 captain, often amused us by relating stories of ad- 

 venture, of which he had an inexhaustible fund. One 

 night the talk turned upon snakes and their habits of 

 prowling about at night. (This for the benefit of the 

 timid member.) "That reminds me,'' said Bob, "of an 

 old hunter who lived in Greene county years ago. He 

 was a good hunter, but he used to tell some queer yarns 

 about his exploits. He said that one day he was out 

 deer hunting, and night found him a long way from 

 home. It was dark as six black cats, so dark he couldn't 

 see his hand before his face, and he went stumbling along 

 over logs and everything he could run into. Suddenly he 

 heard the sharp warning of a rattlesnake, but in which 

 direction he did not know. Afraid to move, he was in a 

 quandary what to do, when a happy thought struck him. 

 Cocking both hammers, he fired one barrel of his gun in 

 the air, and before the flash died away aimed and fired 

 the other barrel, killing the snake." Rambler. 



209. 



"Yes," said M., "I can bear witness to the fact that 

 imagination plays an important part in our lives. I 

 remember a little incident that happened when I was a 

 boy. Some one told me that mink skins were worth 

 money, as I set out one day with the old dog to gather a 

 few mink skins. I found a hole, andas the dog said game 

 I went to work with a vim (and a spade), brought out the 

 mink after hard digging, and started for home with my 

 trophy. I noticed a rather strong smell about the mink, 

 but was not affected by it, and thought all minks smelled 

 that way. Slinging my prize over my shoulder I walked 

 proudly along, and when I got in sight of the house 

 mother came out into the lane and sung out, 'What have 

 you there?' 'A mink,' said I; 'Hurrah! Ain't he pretty?' 

 and I held him up at arm's length. 'Stop right where 

 you are!" screamed my mother. 'Don't you come a step 

 nearer! That is not a mink, it's a skunk!' And right 

 there, the minute she uttered that last word, I turned 

 deathly sick, and vomited and vomited till I could vomit 

 no more, and I was the wretchedest boy you ever saw. 

 My clothes had to be buried, and myself scrubbed and 

 disinfected. So long as I had a mink in my hand there 

 didnt seem to be anything wrong, but with its change of 

 name everything seemed to come over me like a flash. 



Kansas. Rajmbler. 



210. 



Speaking of fish I send you a clipping from the country 

 where I learned to cast a fly. It is from the Portland 

 Oregonian. The old sturgeon man from Sauvies was 

 having a little wa-wa with the boys. 'And that puts me 

 in mind," said he, "that I saw a sturgeon wearing a set 

 of deer horns a few days ago." 



"Now, old man, you're going to wander from the truth 

 again, I fear," said Deputy Sheriff Witherell. 



"Just wait till I tell you how it was. I was over on 

 Big Sturgeon Lake looking for a duck or goose for dinner, 

 when, just as I paddled my skiff around a point I saw a 

 deer's horns sticking out of the water near the shore. I 

 thought it was a deer swimming across the lake, and 

 without stopping to look, blazed away. I heard some of 

 my shot strike the horns, and then saw them go under. 

 I thought that singular, but after awhile I saw them roll 

 up again half a mile off. The idea of a deer swimming 

 that far under water was a paralyzer. I rowed out 

 cautiously to the horns, and found that they were stick- 



ing out of a sturgeon's mouth. He had swallowed the 

 deer, but had not room for the horns, and was waiting 

 till he should have digested the animal so he could spit 

 out the horns. I recognized the sturgeon as old 'Gros 

 Ventre j' a fish I had known ever since I took up my claim 

 on the island. He was named by a priest who had been 

 a missionary among the Indians in Montana. The fish 

 recognized nie, and his eyes twinkled as he rolled up to 

 have a look at me, and his silvery sides sort of rippled, as 

 he was trying to laugh. He evidently realized the 

 ridiculousness of his situation, but lie probably found it 

 was uncomfortable swimming around with the horns 

 under water, and so turned over to rest. Now, 1 did not 

 like to see an old acquaintance in such a fix, so I just cut 

 the hprne off, and blessed if old 'Gros Ventre' didn't swim 

 out a piece and rise up about 5ft. clean out of water and 

 make me one of the gracefulest bows you ever saw, and 

 then he leaped his whole length out of the water and 

 came down with a splash which sent the ripples circling 

 to the furthest shores of Big Sturgeon Lake. I reckon 

 tliat fish weighed a ton at least." 



While I was in Washington Territory a. family was 

 crossing the Shokomish River in an emigrant wagon." They 

 were strangers, unwarned of the dangers of the place. 

 When they were in the middle of the stream, a band of 

 salmon rushed upon them from a pool, upturned the 

 wagon and devoured all of the family except the eldest 

 son. Even the horses fell a prey to the voracity of these 

 fish. The Western editors, although fully acquainted 

 with the details of this and similar incidents, give no 

 pubheity to such affairs, lest they should discourage im- 

 migration. The fact is no child is safe after dark on the 

 banks of the Columbia, as the salmon patrol the shore 

 and the neighboring w oods in droves. They roar horribly. 

 These facts have, I am told, received recognition in the 

 Eastern press, although I have myself never seen them 

 them published. Wall Street. 



211 



It was once the fashion in Bangor, Me., for young men 

 who wanted a good time fishing, to drive up to Lake 

 Pushaw, in the town of Glenburn, and spend a day on 

 its quiet bosom, trolling, or bottom-fishing for whatever 

 the gods might send them. One day in '47 my running 

 mate and I found ourselves there for the purpose named. 

 Whether we caught one or ten fish I haven't the remotest 

 idea, for what we saw completely sponged the slate of 

 memory as to our own luck. In a batteau just opposite, 

 across a small arm of the lake, were two persons; one a 

 short and very stout man, the other a little chap, the very 

 antipodes of the first; our attention was at first attracted 

 by their uproarious laughter. We guessed the cause of 

 it might be schnapps, or brandy, or whisky — at any rate 

 some kind of a bottle imp. After some time the big one 

 tried to get the anchor; it had probably caught in the 

 roots at the bottom, for he tugged away in vain for some 

 time. At last Avhen it started, he lost his balance and 

 went over to meet it. He soon came up spluttering and 

 tried to get into the boat, but his avoirdupois or liquor was 

 too much for him. His comrade in vain tried to hoist 

 him, until at last a bright idea struck him, for, getting 

 the anchor himself, he seized the coat collar of "Jumbo," 

 and walking along to the stern coolly sat down in the 

 sheets, put out an oar, and sculled the boat ashore, tow- 

 ing his friend all the way. 



If any big bully thinks the little fellow's task was an 

 easy one, just let him try it. I know a dozen fellows 

 who would take the job of towing him ashore just for 

 the fun of the thing! Ben Tenuto. 



Worcester, Mass. 



212. 



Some years ago a party of us were gathered at Connec- 

 ticut Lake, one windy day in March, to try the lakers 

 through the ice. Under the direction of our host we set 

 a dozen lines on an old fishing ground where he said we 

 should get some big ones, and returned to the hotel. 

 After breakfast the next morning the doctor went up 

 with us to help us bring our fish to the hotel, for he said 

 we were "just as likely to get some weigliing 201bs. or 

 more as not." I reached our lines before any of the rest 

 of the party, and hauling in the first line I came to I 

 found that I had on quite a large fish. I was much elated 

 to have caught the first "lunge," as the doctor called the 

 lake trout. The rest of the party came along by this 

 time, and I triumphantly hauled a large fish out on the 

 ice. "Ha, ha, ha," laughed the doctor, and I didn't 

 blame him for laughing, for such a looking fish Iliad 

 never seen. It would weigh perhaps 31bs., was about 2ft. 

 long, with a head something like a catfish, and a tail like 

 an eel. "What have I got, anyway," said I. "Oh, noth- 

 ing; only a cusk-eel," laughed the doctor, "the lake is 

 full of them; now see me catch a lunge;" and he ran to 

 the next line, and after bobbing a minute gave a furious 

 yank and commenced hauling in hand over hand, and 

 an expression of great expectation came over his coun- 

 tenance. "I've got a snorter, 251bs. if he's an ounce; see 

 him pull!" and he let him have more line and the fish 

 started for the bottom of the lake as if it meant business. 

 "Now, I am going to take him out," said the doctor, and 

 he began hauling in the line, and giving a final grand 

 surge, landed an old anchor rope with a stone attached, 

 weigliing about lOlbs. You ought to have seen his ex- 

 pression change as we rolled on the ice and roared with 

 laughter, while he returned to the hotel and didn't ask us 

 to see him catch any more "lunge." S. J. G. 



htq and 



Address all communications to the Forest ami Stream Pvh. Co. 



BOOKS RECEIVED. 



A Friend in Need, A Household Guide in Health and Disease. 

 —Under this title Dr. J. Frank Perry has given us au exceed- 

 ingly interesting and useful book. In his introduction Dr. Perry 

 says: "The leading design of this work, as implied in the title, is 

 to place before the reader those established principles, a knowledge 

 of which is essential to the preservation of health and to recovery 

 when suffering from disease." The volume is divided into five 

 "books," treating in order the subjects of Practical Hygiene, 

 Mental Hygiene, The Sick Room, Principles of Medicine, The 

 Practice of Medicine. Under Practical Hygiene most useful in- 

 formation will he found. What food to eat or avoid under differ- 

 ent conditions of health, how and when to exercise, how to bathe, 

 even to the selection of the kind of soap, how to care for the 

 mouth, hair, hands, feet, and so on. The diseases in the latter 

 portion of the work, while scientifically treaiel, are yet simplified 

 sufficiently to make them entirely intelligible to the unprofes- 

 sional mind. The hook ends with an almost exhaustive list of 

 those poisons which may cause trouble in a household. The symp- 

 toms and treatment are succinctly described. In glancing 

 through the hook, one is amazed at the vast array of facts that 

 have been brought together in so small a space. The volume is 

 heautifully printed, and would he ornamental on any hook-shelf 

 aside from its more solid character. 



GAME IN THE PARK. 



MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS, Yellowstone National 

 Park, April 7.— Editor Forest and Stream: The 

 snow is from three to five feet deep and very solid, almost 

 ice; people can move about the Park without snowshoes 

 by selecting cold days or nights after the crust freezes. 

 On March 18 the ice began to go out of the river between 

 and above the falls of the Yellowstone, ft did not break 

 up and go at once, but went slowly; by the 28th all had 

 disappeared but a bridge of ice at the brink of the great 

 falls, and the 100ft. bridge under them; these must have 

 fallen by this time. All the great cliffs on each side of 

 the upper and lower falls, which were so beautifully orna- 

 mented by frozen spray during the winter months, are 

 now free from ice. When it commenced to go, great 

 masses would fall into the canon with a sound like distant 

 thunder, laying bare great patches of the highly colored 

 rock. In ten days, from the 18th to the 28th',' all the ice 

 was gone but the bridges mentioned; now there is nothing 

 but the usual summer appearance of the canon to be seen. 



Mr. Al. Thome, who has been wintering at the falls 

 and was one of the men who saved the band of elk from 

 starvation mentioned in my report, crossed the ri ver above 

 the falls before the ice went out, and visited the open 

 country on the east side. Here he saw a band of fifty- 

 three elk — cows, spikes and yearlings. They were quite 

 poor but would live, as the warm weather was uncover- 

 ing a little f eednig ground additional to that blown free 

 from snow. ' Where the snow is of any depth the elk can- 

 not paw through it now as it is so wet and heavy. Mr. 

 Thorne came out of the Park on the first of April, walk- 

 ing on the crust from the falls to the springs via Noma. 

 He saw no game after leaving the falls. 



A few days ago Mr. T. W. Ingersoll, a St. Paul photo- 

 grapher, started out with a companion to take winter 

 views of the Park. They got out as far as the open coun- 

 try beyond Golden Gate and in all some four miles from 

 the Springs, when Mr. Ingersoll found he would not be 

 able to stand the trip: so he wisely concluded to return 

 to the Springs and home to St. Paul. If he had gone on 

 he wordd have had his trip for notliing, as all the winter 

 effects are gone; all that remains are the fields of ice and 

 snow. The warm weather of the past twenty-five days 

 has destroyed all the delicate frost formations. 



The game has moved from the vicinity of the roads to 

 Cooke City to the higher ground. Travelers on the road 

 now see very little; occasionally a band of elk are seen. 

 A band of blacktail deer have shown themselves in the 

 Park; they are now returning from their winter range, 

 working back into the mountains as fast as the snow will 

 permit. No young of any game has yet been noticed. 



The antelope and mountain sheep that wintered on the 

 mountain east of the Gardiner Paver Canon are occasion- 

 ally seen. The tame band of sheep that wintered in the 

 canon have left for higer ground and better feed. Moun- 

 tain sheep have not commenced to return; they are more 

 like summer tourists, waiting for the snow to go. The 

 hills around the Park that are free from snow are now 

 looking quite green, the fresh grass having grown enough 

 to show at a distance. E. H. 



QUAIL IN CONFINEMENT. 



A FEW years since the sportsmen of our State, owing 

 to the scarcity of our quail, caused a law to be passed 

 protecting the same for three years, anticipating a good 

 time at the expiration of that term. But as is well known, 

 they were grievously disappointed— the law off, the birds 

 were likewise. Nor were any seen from that time until 

 last fall, when a few fell victims to the skill of our resi- 

 dent sportsmen searching after woodcock. The discovery 

 made that quail were about argued well for stocking the 

 suburbs, and to that end arrangements were made. Hav- 

 ing secured the birds for delivery in January, a place for 

 keeping them through the winter was found in a large 

 bam at Cape Elizabeth— a few miles out of the city— on 

 the farm of that whole-souled sportsman George M. Stan- 

 wood, Esq. That the birds might not be in jured in flying 

 about, the barn was transformed into a miniature forest 

 of pine, fir and birch trees placed rather closely to each 

 other, and the windows screened with coarse bagging, 

 letting in plenty of air and sun. 



The first installment of birds— five dozen in all— ar- 

 rived in January and were placed in the charge of genial 

 Captain Minot, who cared for them so well that they 

 soon became pets — even feeding out of his hands. But 

 the birds did not thrive, in fact began to die off daily 

 until finally all went the same way. Concluding that 

 they were a poor lot we secured a fresh supply of twenty 

 dozen and tried again. In a short time the birds began 

 to drop off as before, and then we unmercifully arraigned 

 the New York commission merchant for swindling— and 

 right here we ask his forgiveness, subsequent events 

 proving the fault to be wholly with ourselves. An ex- 

 amination of the dead birds was suggested by a disciple 

 of Esculapius, which was done, and the mystery was out 

 — we had stuffed the poor things to death, the dead ones 

 showing a very bad case of inflammation of the crop. 

 This was eleven weeks ago, when a new method of feed- 

 ing was put in use, and up to yesterday, April 11, when 

 all that was left (ten dozen) were liberated, not a bird 

 died. 



The secret of successfully keeping quail in confinement 

 is to feed them sparingly, and it is our experience that 

 the best feed is cracked corn, cracked oats and middlings 

 mixed and cooked, with a couple of bunches of celery 

 and a cabbage or two thrown into the barn daily. 



Our experience is thus communicated to fellow sports- 

 men with the hope that some benefit may be gained 

 from it. * G. H. P. 



Portland, Me., April 1~, 



A Double Measure of Venom.— San Diego, Cal.— 

 My friend, Mr. W. Francis, was once out about one mile 

 back of the Florence Hotel quail shooting, and sent his 

 fine setter to retrieve a quail, when he saw the dog jump 

 to one side. Walking up to him he found that two rattle 

 snakes had bitten him. He shot the snakes, and his dog- 

 died before he could get him into town. A man must 

 "look a little out" when hunting in this section.— D. B, 

 HlNMAN 



