Dec. IS, 1888.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



407 



formed, generally about twelve in number; and like that 

 animal also they receive them into their mouth when 

 alarmed or threatened with danger." 



Fifty years ago, judging from a series of articles enti- 

 tled '•Instructions to Young Sportsmen," the proportions 

 of powder and shot used in loading shotguns varied 

 materially from those of the present day, as appears from 

 a paragraph on page. 70, Vol. II. , which reads: "Beware of 

 an error, too often followed by most beginners, and that 

 is of overloading your gun. This is a mistake which many 

 split on, and one-half of the wounding, or missing the 

 game altogether, may be justly attributed to it. If you 

 have a gun of -Heal., ldr. of powder and ioz. shot is 

 sufficient." 



The "Natural History of the Basse," by "Piscator," in- 

 forms us that "Their astonishing bounds from the water 

 when hooked is well known to all anglers, and their des- 

 perate struggles to escape requires the utmost skill of 

 the disciple of 'honest Izaak' to secure his finny prey. It 

 cannot be said of the Basse, however, that it is as active 

 as some of its genus in Asia, where a species of perch are 

 said to climb trees, and repose in the water collected in the 

 hollow of the palm leaf, where it joins the trunk of the 

 tree. But it is a fact to be attested by many an 'honest 

 angler' that Basse will spring four or five feet out of water 

 when hooked, and jump over seines like a flock of sheep 

 over a fence, to the mortification of the disappointed fish- 

 erman." 



In general appearance these volumes would do credit to 

 the publications of to day. The print is good, the colored 

 plates excellent, and the title pages fine specimens of the 

 engraver's art, while the subject matter is entertaining 

 and instructive, and well worthy of perusal by those who 

 count among their happiest days those devoted to forest, 

 field or stream. Chetko. 



ANOTHER GLIMPSE AT DEMERARA. 



rpHE interesting account I read in the last issue of 

 -1 your paper of your corresrjondent's adventures (or 

 rather misadventures) in Demerara, S. A,, reminded me 

 of a trip I made to that part of the world during the 

 winter of 1873. I left New York in the staunch and 

 able brig Daylight of about 300 tons in the same month 

 (December) that he left Baltimore, but this fact of our 

 both leaving home about the same time seems to be about 

 the only thing we have in common, as my trip was a very 

 lucky and delightful one all through. Our brig made the 

 run to the northern limit of the frades without having to 

 shorten sail, except once for half a gale of wind that 

 lasted but a few hours. This was the only time we 

 took the royals off of her during the run out — something 

 quite unusual for a winter passage to the West Indies. 



Nineteen days from the time we left New York, after 

 meeting the usual streaks of calms and hght airs after 

 leaving the trade winds, we found ourselves early one 

 morning off the mouth of the Demerara River. Here 

 we took a pilot, who brought us to an anchor off George- 

 town, the capital of British Guiana. Anything in the 

 shape of land is very refreshing after even a short sea 

 voyage; and I thought I had never found anything half 

 so sweet as the rank odor from the typical vegetation 

 growing on this low, wet coast. The tall and graceful 

 palm trees are almost the first thing to catch the eye as 

 you approach the shore, and help to convince you that 

 you are indeed nearing a strange land. 



Georgetown being under English rule, and nearly all 

 the people there speaking English, you feel more at home 

 than when landing on one of the Spanish or French 

 islands a little way to the north. The population is very 

 mixed, negroes and coolies predominating ; you will also 

 meet Chinamen and East Indiamen, the latter black as 

 night. They have a saying that one can find a represen- 

 tative of every race under the sun on the main street in 

 Georgetown; but as my travels have not as yet been world- 

 wide, I cannot vouch for this. Each nationality wears 

 its native costume, and some are very light and airy. 

 Native Indians come in from the interior once or twice a 

 year to absorb a little civilization. They are short, well- 

 formed, copper-colored and not bad looking. When they 

 arrive they are not burdened with clothing. A strip of 

 cotton stuff a few inches wide and not over a yard long 

 makes up their entire wardrobe, and their tailor bills are 

 not heavy. As their wives adopt the same style of dress 

 the saving in dressmakers' bills must be considerable. 

 They present a novel and interesting spectacle to the 

 stranger as they stroll through the town, but they soon 

 fetch up at a general supply store and trade off their 

 hammocks and other articles of their own make for a 

 shirt and perhaps a straw hat, when they consider them- 

 selves dressed as smart as anybody. 



The coolies are imported by the shipload from Calcutta, 

 under contract, to work the large sugar estates extending 

 for a number of miles inland on the banks of the river. 

 The ships that bring the coolies also bring rice as cargo, 

 this being about the only food that class eats, each in- 

 dividual receiving a daily ration of so much rice, accord- 

 ing to a contract made with them before they leave India. 

 They generally work three years; when their time is up 

 most of them go back to their native land, so that a fresh 

 lot is arriving nearly every month in the year. The 

 coolies are docile and frugal, and make good laborers. 

 Some of the women are so heavily loaded with bracelets 

 and anklets of solid silver that they can hardly walk. 

 Nearly all their savings are invested in this way. 



The sugar estates have to depend entirely on the coolies 

 for their labor, since the negroes, although very numer- 

 ous, cannot be relied upon for steady work, but the 

 majority prefer to work about the town and on the 

 vessels in the harbor. They are a happy-go-lucky lot of 

 beings, a few cents a day being all they really require to 

 eat, and by sleeping out of doors all the year round they 

 save rent and home expenses. As all the policemen in 

 George ton are negroes, the blacks can rest undisturbed 

 and are not ordered to "move on" if found peacefully 

 sleeping in a doorway. Many of them work on the ships 

 that lie moored in the stream taking on or discharging 

 their cargoes. These vessels very often work all night 

 to save time, generally working two gangs, one forward 

 and one aft. I was told it was impossible to get any 

 work out of them unless they were allowed to sing, sc- 

 one in each gang is told off to furnish the music, and is 

 paid extra wages for this accomplishment. When they 

 come to the chorus all join in and heave with a will, and 

 the 2,0001bs. or more hogshead of sugar comes up out of 

 the lighter and over the side in a hurry. In the night 

 this racket can be heard for a long distance, and with the 



swarms of mosquitoes that abound it effectually murders 

 sleep. 



A large proportion of the vessels trading here are large 

 iron ships. They take a cargo of sugar to England or the 

 continent, from there manufactured goods to Calcutta, 

 and from the latter port a cargo of rice and coolies to 

 Demerara , making the round voyage inside of a year with 

 full cargoes. Vessels arriving from the United States 

 (or "the States" as they are called there) bring breadstuff's 

 and take return cargoes of sugar; most of them large 

 brigs or schooners, with few small barks. Several cargoes 

 of ice are received each year from Maine. It is stored 

 when landed in a large ice* house, where it can be bought 

 in large or small lots for about two cents per pound. 



Raising sugar cane and making and refining the sugar 

 is the main business of all this section of country, and 

 little else is thought of or talked about. Some of the 

 sugar estates are very extensive. One I rode over had 

 over 1,000 acres under cultivation, nothing but cane being 

 raised. All the large estates have immense sugar houses 

 costing thousands of pounds, with their expensive 

 machinery' all imported, where the cane is ground and 

 partially refined ready for shipment. 



Georgetown is considered very unhealthy. All the 

 country around is low and wet, and fevers are very 

 prevalent. But although warned not to go out of doors 

 after dark and so expose myself to the heavy dews, I 

 went about as I would if at home and took a walk every 

 evening without suffering any inconvenience. Altogether 

 my trip was a very delightful one, free from accident, 

 with enjoyment of good health, and the clays full of novel 

 experiences. From Georgetown we ran up to Porto Rico, 

 to finish loading, and after a stay there of three weeks, 

 reached home again in just nineteen days, the time of 

 our outward passage. G. Benedict Frisbie. 



New York. . 



THE BIRD HOSTS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



For some time past it has not been convenient to pay 

 much attention to the interests of the Audubon Society 

 or to the habits of the birds; but I wish to say that it 

 seems to us that our feathered friends are now increas- 

 ing yearly in their numbers, while three or four years 

 ago I was confident that they were diminishing. This, 

 means something, and I can only explain it by my belief 

 that a healthier public sentiment has been inaugurated 

 throughout this region since the incorporation of the 

 above named society. 



It was particularly observed this spring that the birds 

 came earlier than usual, although the season was back- 

 ward, and even while the snow lay deeply on the ground, 

 they cheered us with their songs. I noticed a heron on 

 April 11, while still the lakes were full of ice. Barn 

 swallows appeared a month later, and our first humming- 

 bird was seen on May 20. The Tompkinses (as we call a 

 pair of house sparrows in which we are interested) built 

 their nest as usual just under the edge of our piazza, and 

 upon some vines, but two of then- eggs, by some mis- 

 chance, fell from the nest, which they then deserted, and 

 built another castle about three feet distant. Our house 

 wrens came early, and as we encouraged the cats to keep 

 at a distance, they (the birds) seemed quite happy. So 

 with the robins and yellowbirds. The English sparrows 

 are increasing in numbers, and have become annoying. 

 The brown thrashers are also more numerous each year, 

 and we are glad of their society. The scarlet tanageis, 

 which have been rarely noticed, came this spring in 

 numbers greater than I have elsewhere seen. They were 

 remarkably tame, and some were even taken by hand, 

 while others were easily approached within two or three 

 feet. They soon disappeared and I have seen none since. 



I last spring sought information through your columns 

 concerning parrots. The gentleman at whose instance I 

 made the inquiry, sent for one to Philadelphia. It lived 

 eight days after reaching its new home. 



To me the parrot is a weird and uncanny bird, much 

 more so than the owl. I like owls, and am sorry to see 

 their numbers apparently diminishing. Kelpie. 



Central Lake, Mich., Dec. 3. 



THE WAYS OF SNAKES. 



Editor Forest and Stream : 



I believe the snake subject is not yet quite exhausted. 

 I have never yet been able to find a snake charming 

 a bird, although I have been on the lookout since I was a 

 child. A few years ago, however, I was witness of a 

 scene quite the opposite. 



Every one who has visited this picturesque town of 

 Willington, Conn, (the birthplace of the renowned scholar 

 President Jared Sparks), will remember the cold brook 

 watering trough on the road from the railway station to 

 the hill where the little village is situated. This water- 

 place is known by all the horses far and near, and they 

 will prick up their ears and quicken their pace as soon as 

 they hear the ripple of the brook that comes singing- 

 down through the woodland, to rest for a little in a deep, 

 dark, mossy pool, before filling the great dripping wooden 

 trough that extends a deep and broad, if cool, welcome 

 to all thirsty comers, summer and winter, making a grate- 

 ful little halting place at the foot of the long hills. Tall 

 alders lean over and nod at their reflections in the shining 

 pool, and it is a question if the birds who love to build 

 their nests there amid the quivering leaves are not made 

 vain by over-much noting of their rnnrored grace and 

 beauty. All summer a pair of blackbirds had made 

 themselves at home in this thicket. They had talked, 

 chatted, scolded and protested every time a thirsty horse 

 had paused at the trough to drink, and their trepidation 

 and manifestation of it when a frolicsome dog dashed 

 through the bushes were amusing in the extreme. One 

 brood had been raised and sent out into the world and 

 another was just hatched, when one August afternoon we 

 neared the watering trough and heard a great to do 

 among the birds; they were flying about and dashing 

 themselves into the alders below the nest in the strangest 

 and most excited manner. • ' 'What can it be?" I said to 

 my friend, Mrs. Taylor, who was with me, "I never saw 

 anything like that." The question was soon answered, 

 for a huge blacksnake was unwinding himself from the 

 alder in, which the nest was built and making the best of 



his way to the ground. The birds gave him not a moment 's 

 peace, but hurried his ignominious retreat with renewe d 

 efforts. I stopped the horse, and his snakeship zigzagged 

 his way across the sandy road in front of us. Fully 7ft. 

 long, thick and sinuous; but what haste he made! He 

 was really under fire. The blackbirds were as active as 

 he. They flew from his head to his tail. They pecked at 

 his eyes. They beat him with their wings. They lighted 

 upon him, and they hopped along beside him, pecking 

 him continually. One caught his slim tail in its bill and 

 lifted it several inches from the ground. Their motions 

 were almost incredibly rapid. All the great, loathsome, 

 mischievous, cowardly reptile could do was to make haste 

 to get away, and as the end of his slim tail disappeared 

 in the tall grass by the brookside, the two blackbirds 

 whirled up in a delighted spiral of joyous chattering 

 and fluttering wings, and went back to plume themselves 

 upon their victory in the graceful alder bush above the 

 pool. Annie A. Preston. 



Maple Corner, Willington, Conn. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Col. T. B. Hooker, a gentleman who lives in Coahoma, 

 told me he once saw a live snake coiled upon or near a 

 dead one of the same size and species, which had been 

 killed and left in the road. The live snake showed great 

 reluctance to leaving the dead one. The obvious infer- 

 ence is that they were mates. Coahoma. 



TURKEY BUZZARDS AND COWB1RDS. 



rWISH to relate two incidents which recently came 

 under my observation, and which are suggestive of 

 points in natural history. The first is this: A short time 

 ago, while riding along a country road in Coahoma 

 county, Miss,, I saw a turkey vulture, commonly called 

 "turkey buzzard," alight near a pond. I stopped my 

 horse to see what had induced him to alight. After a 

 moment's pause the buzzard walked to the water's edge 

 and took four swallows exactly in the manner of the 

 domestic fowl. He then arose and soared about in the 

 usual manner. Did any of your readers ever see a buzzard 

 drink water? With many years of close observation of 

 nature, this is the only time I ever witnessed the inci- 

 dent. 



Number two: Yesterday, while riding along the levee 

 in Tunica county, my attention was attracted by the pecu- 

 liar conduct of a flock of blackbirds, ten in number. 

 These birds were what I suppose are called "cowbirds." 

 They had the gloss and metallic lustre of the crow black- 

 bird or bob-tailed grackle, but were only about half the 

 size of that bird. All of them except two appeared to 

 be males; the two females were smaller, of a dull brown- 

 ish black, speckled with gray. 



The peculiarity I observed was their close attendance 

 upon a cow that was grazing near the levee, in company 

 with several other bovines. But the birds confined their 

 attention to this one. They clustered closely around the 

 cow, following her in all her movements. They walked 

 about her feet and around her nose as she ate the grass. 

 When in danger of being trod upon or in coming in con- 

 tact with her nose, they would suddenly flutter a foot or 

 two out of the way. When part of the flock was left a 

 yard or two behind by the cow's movements, they would 

 hasten to collect again about her feet. At the same time 

 the birds appeared to be intent upon pecking at the 

 ground and at the grass, never picking at the cow's legs 

 or feet, and there was no apparent reason for their close 

 attendance except a desire for her society. The cow paid 

 no attention whatever to the birds. When I had watched 

 them for nearly a quarter of an hour the cow suddenly 

 walked away some dozen yards, when the birds, perceiv- 

 ing my proximity, flew into a neighboring tree. 



Coahoma. 



RANGE OF THE WILD TURKEY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Knowing your kind readiness to help on every scienti- 

 fic investigation, I beg to be allowed space in your 

 columns to ask the readers of Forest and Stream for 

 information in a matter of historical ornithology. It is 

 Avell known that in early times the range of the wild tur- 

 key was much greater than it is now. Its bones have 

 been found in the kitchen middens as far east as the 

 coast of Maine, and more than one writer has described 

 its abundance in Massachusetts at the time of the arrival 

 of the first colonists. Nowadays the story is a very dif- 

 ferent one, and the region that it still inhabits is much 

 more limited. 



I desire to get as exact knowledge as possible of the 

 northern boundaries of the bird's habitat at the present 

 time, and should like to ask every hunter, sportsman and 

 farmer who can speak from his own experience, to give 

 me any evidence which will help to determine just where 

 it is yet found. Is it to be met with anywhere in the 

 State of New York? And where does it still remain in 

 Ohio, in Michigan and elsewhere east of the Mississippi? 

 It is said to be abundant in the mountainous parts of 

 Pennsylvania; can any one tell me just where in that 

 State it does and does not occur? I shall be very grateful 

 to every one who, having information to contribute, will 

 write to me on the subject, and I hope that in this way I 

 may be enabled to record exactly the present distribution 

 of the wild turkey. 



I am also very desh-ous of obtaining some specimens of 

 wild turkeys from Pennsylvania to preserve for scientific 

 purposes. If any one can send me some in the flesh, per- 

 fect, and in good condition to stuff, I will gladly pay a 

 fair price for them, and assume all express charges. 



Charles F. Batchelder. 



7 Kirkxand Street, Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 3. 



Notes on New Mexican Shrikes. — I see by the Check 

 List of the American Ornithologists' Union that in men- 

 tioning the extreme southern limit of the migration of the 

 northern shrike (L. borealis), New Mexico is not included. 

 Now, this bird occurs here at Fort Wingate, N. M., every 

 year regularly, making its appearance about the middle 

 of November. Specimens I have shot of it appear to differ 

 in no way from those I have collected in northern North 

 America. The white- rumped shrike (L. I. exetibitorides) 

 is a resident species throughout all suitable localities in 

 the region of New Mexico to which I have referred 

 above.— Dr, Shufeldt. 



