164 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sept. 19, 1889. 



terest themselves in the question and enlighten us. The 

 desiderata in our information respecting the sunfish 

 (Forest and Stream, Aug. 8, p. 43) may be repeated for 

 the black bass^ 



1. Time of ne3t building. 



2. Exact manner of preparing the nest, especially how 

 far the tail and mouth are used in clearing the chosen 

 site. 



3. Exact size and character of the nest. 



4. Mode of oviposition. 



5. Subsequent care of the eggs, whether by female and 

 male together or alternately, or by female alone or male 

 alone. 



6. Size and age of the young, and their movements 

 when abandoned by their guardian. 



7. Does the guardian fan or agitate the eggs, and in 

 what manner? 



8. Is a vacated nest really taken charge of by another 

 fish, or is the new occupant simply an interloper that 

 avails itself of a suitable resting place? 4 



The small-mouthed black bass is now abundant in the 

 Potomac River, and during the present year has furnished 

 excellent sport to the anglers of Washington. But time 

 was, and not very long ago, when it was unknown in the 

 river. When and how it was introduced will doubtless 

 be of interest to many, and Mr. Eoff's words may be 

 quoted exactly: 



"Mr. William Shriver, a gentleman of this place, and 

 son of the late David Shriver, E q., of Cumberland, Md., 

 thinking the Potomac River admirably suited to the 

 cultivation of bass, has commenced the laudable under- 

 taking of stocking that river with them; he has already 

 taken, this last season, some twenty or more in a five 

 box, in the water tank on the locomotive, and placed 

 them in the canal basin at Cumberland, where we are in 

 hopes they will expand and do well, and be a nucleus 

 from which the stock will soon spread." 



Theodore Gill. 



Washington, D. C. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have read with much interest articles in your paper 

 about nest building by th« sunrish. I noticed a note 

 from "R. F. R ," King "William county, Va.. who, lifting 

 gravel from the bottom of their nests, saw no spawn; 

 probably the fish had not spawned, l have had ample 

 opportunity to study the habits of sunfish. Those that I 

 have observed commence to build their nests in June in 

 some sandy spot, whole colonies building in one place. 

 The male commences to clear a place by flirting the sand 

 with his tail, and making the nest nearly round. 

 After the nest is completed the female makes her appear- 

 ance and takes charge of the newly made nest, watching 

 it with a jealous eye, until the last of July, when the 

 spawn is deposited, the fine pebbles on the botiom acting 

 as a support to keep them firmly together. I have seen 

 small fish try to devour the eggs, but the female would 

 attack and drive them off. Geo. F. Conkljn. 



Peekskxll, N. Y. 



DOUBLE-HEADED ANIMALS. 

 ^pHE two-headed snake noticed in Forest and Stream 

 J. of Sept. 12, recalls a young specimen of the North 

 Carolina king snake with two heads seen by the writer 

 in the Smithsonian at Washington a few months ago. 

 Mr. Ed. Rheem, of the Dept. of Reptiles, called my at- 

 tention to the animal, which was preserved in a buttle 

 of alcohol. It, also, had two developed heads, the union 

 taking place at about the same point as that of the Mary- 

 land reptile. 



I am led to believe that these monstrosities are of fre- 

 quent occurrence, especially among fishes. About one 

 year ago Mr. R. D. Kauffmann of Washington had in 

 his possession a double-headed hound or dog shark 

 (Mustelus sp.), which was captured near Lima, Peru. 

 Union of tue heads in this specimen took place imme- 

 diately behind the gill openings, which were five in num- 

 ber, the two sets being present. There were two spinal 

 chords, two sets of back or dorsal tins, and two upper 

 lobes to the caudal; there was but one pair of pectorals, 

 one of ventrals, and a single anal fin, one lower caudal 

 lobe, and one navel. The length of this example was 

 exactly 6in. It was presented by Mr. Kauffman to the 

 U. S. National Museum. 



Last fall a number of monstrosities were found among 

 the trout hatched out at the Central Station of the TJ. S. 

 Fish Commission in Washinstoj. Among others there 

 was a lake trout (S. namaycnsh) having two heads and 

 two separate trunks back to the middle of its length, 

 from which point there was but a single trunk. There 

 were in this lot also two brook trout S. fontinalis), one 

 of which was similar to the lake trout above mentioned, 

 the food sac connecting the trunks from the pectoral fins 

 to the place of union. The other brook trout example 

 consists of two complete fish held together bv a single 

 food sac, which they seemed to share conjointly. 



There are quite a number of two-headed mammals on 

 exhibition throughout the country; and quite a collection 

 of monstrosities, of various shapes and forms, is in the 

 Army Medical Museum at Washington. 



It is a good thing for observers to have recorded such 

 freaks of nature mentioned by S. L., as well as all other 

 occurrences of an unusual character happening anionsr 

 animals. Bab. 



THE HORN-TAIL SNAKE AGAIN, 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have some more snake evidence which I wish to re- 

 late for the consideration of Miss Hopley, as it conflicts 

 with a statement contained in her last communication to 

 Forest and Stream. The following statement was made 

 to me by Doctor B., a prominent citizen of Vicksburg, 

 Mississippi, with whom I am on terms of intimacy. This 

 gentleman is an elderly physician, a man of learning and 

 scientific research, who gives no imaginative coloring to 

 his relation of facts. 



Some years ago, as Doctor B. relates it, he was having 

 some new ground cleared on his plantation in Louisiana, 

 and one day being present he saw the negroes roll over a 

 log, under which lay a snake about 6ft. long, jet black 

 on top and almost blood red underneath. Besides the 

 old one there were several voung snakes of the same 

 species, about 1ft. long. The old snake was killed 

 at once, and struck with its peculiar appearance the 

 Doctor gave it a close examination. There was a dis- 

 tinct horn-like terminal to the tail, of a dark color and 



quite hard, but he does not relate that the snake 

 showed a disposition to use this appendage. It was per- 

 haps killed too suddenly to afford an opportunity. But 

 the young snakes which he captured and preserved alive 

 left no doubt as to their intentions. Each one was pro- 

 vided with a horny tail also, of a lighter color but hard. 



Whenever a stick was pressed upon the head or neck of 

 one of tbem he would instantly strike it sharply with the 

 end of his tail, thrown upward over the back. This was 

 repeated quite frequently. A corroborative circumstance 

 was that having the old snake skinned in order to pre- 

 serve the skin, the operation was found to be difficult 

 from the close adherence of the muscles of the back to 

 the skin all the way down, requiring the use of a knife to 

 separate them, whereas in other snakes it is only necessary 

 to make a circumcision about the neck, when the entire 

 skin can be slipped off by inversion, like a tight glove. 

 The Doctor made a caretul examination of the tail for 

 evidences of a sting or venom, but found none. There 

 was no orifice in the horn, no sting, no poison sac, no 

 receptacle. 



This testimony conflicts with the position of Mi=s Hop- 

 ley, that ''such snakes do not inflictan intentional wound 

 with their tails, and if any should be made at all it should 

 be ascribed to accident." But Dr. B. says there was no 

 room to doubt the intention to inflict a wound with the 

 tail, though he thought it must be a comparatively harm- 

 less weapon in the absence of poison as an adjunct. 



Coahoma, 



BIRDS OF NIAGARA COUNTY, N. Y. 



WITH ANNOTATIONS BY J. L DAVISON, ASSOCIATE 

 MEMBER A. O. TJ., LOCKPORT, N. Y. 



NIAGARA COUNTY is located in the extreme north- 

 western corner of the State, bounded north by Like 

 Ontario, west by Niagara River, south by Tonawanda 

 Creek. Considering the large area devoted to agricul- 

 ture there is a liberal share of native forest still remain- 

 ing (principally of deciduous trees), which with the ex- 

 tensive orchards, for which it is noted, with some re- 

 maining swamp land, a number of creeks, numerous 

 small streams (which latter are, however, now fast dry- 

 ing up), a large extent of hillside, some cliffs and small 

 valleys, afford a diversified topography. The geological 

 formation of the county furnishes a varied soil, giving 

 rise to a widely diversitied flora. It can easily be seen 

 that the natural conditions would favor an extensive 

 resident bird fauna; and the Niagara River affording 

 a break in the chain of lakes, would probably induce 

 many of the small migratory species to adopt this course 

 in preference to crossing the larger bodies of water on 

 either hand. 



In presenting the following list I do so knowing that 

 it is not complete, as the 192 species given are only such 

 as have come under my own observation within the past 

 ten years. I ttdnk it is generally claimed that about 250 

 species occur in this vicinity. There are many sections 

 of the county that I have not visited. In fact most of 

 my collecting has been confined to the central part. 

 Among a collection of between 3U0 and 400 mounted 

 specimens, 154 species were secured in the county. A 

 few of the many species given as migrants may possibly 

 remain through the summer, but I have found them only 

 during migration. 



LIST OF BIRDS OF NIAGARA COUNTY. 



I. Colymbus liolljaitii (Keinh.), Holufjeli'c Grebe (2).— Rare. A Hvp 

 male specimen brought to rue ou Mav 4, 18t<7, captured at Wilson, 

 N. Y., Lake Ontario. 



3. Colymbus auritus Linn., Horned Grebe (3). — Not uncommon 

 during spring and fall migration. 



3. PottUymbm podiccps (Linn.), Pied-billed Gre>ie (6).— Not com- 

 mon, breeds along the shore of Lake Ontario. 



4. Urtnator imber (Gaun.), Loon (7). — A common migrant; a few 

 breed ou Lake Ontario. 



5. Uriiiator lummc (Gunn.), Red-throated Loon (ll).-Rare. I 

 bave ayoung specimen taken in toe Erie Canal in December, 1882. 

 An adult malt- was taken at Ole 'tt, Lake Ontario, in May, 1888. 



6. Larns marinus Linn., Great Blaek-bajked Gull (47).— Rare; 

 Feb. 1, lb8S, one was taken at Lewiston, Niagara River. 



S[. Larus argentatus smitnsrniianus Coues, American Hn-ring 

 Gull (M a).— Common; a winter resident along lIjc Niagara River, 

 and is often seen along the Erie Canal in the city of LoeKport 

 during April. 



8. La rut Ph iladelphia (Ord.), Bonaparte's Gull (60).— A ommon 

 migrant, arriving in Fcoruary and remaining until April along 

 the Niagara River. 



9. Sterna ltirundo Linn., Common Tern (70).— Common during 

 spring migration along Niagara River and Lake Ontario. 



10. Sterna dougalli iviontag.. Roseate Tern (72).— Rure. On May 

 31, 168G. one was Killed at Youngs town, on JSiaga-i a River. 



II. HydrochcUdon nigra surlnamemis (Gruel.), Black Tern (77).— 

 Rare. 1 have a -pecinien taken sept. 5, 1881. 



12. Oceanitcs oceanicus (Kuhl), W ilson's Petrel (109).— Rare. I 

 have a specimen takeu October 1875, by Mr. J. A. .Newton, while 

 shooting plover just outside the city linn's. 



13. Merganser americanus (Cass.), American Merganser (129),— A 

 common migrant, often taKen at trie mouth of Niagara River. 



U. Merganser scrratm- (L.nn.), Red-breasted Merganser (ISO). — A 

 not UuCpmwon migrant. 



15. Lophodgt.es e.uculkitus (Linn.), Hooded Merganser (131).— Rare. 



16. Anas buscltas Liuu., Mallard (132).— A common migrant. 



17. Anas obseura Gmel., rtlack Lutk (133).— A common migrant. 



18. Anas amerieana Gmel., Baldpate (137).— Rare. I have a 

 specimen taken at Oicott, ou Lake Ontario. 



19. Ana* citrolinemits Gmel., Green-winged Teal (139).-A com- 

 mon migrant. 



20. Anas discors Linn., Blue-winged Teal (140).— A common mi- 

 grant. 



21. Spatula clypeatei (Linn.), Shoveller (142). — A specimen was 

 brougut 10 me in October, lb85. 



22. Daflla acuta (Linn.), Pintail (143) —A not uncommon migrant. 



23. Aix sponsa (Linn.), VVoodauck (144).— A common migrant. 

 Breeds occasionally on Lake Ontario. 



24. AyUiya amerieana (Eyt.), Redhead (146). — A common migrant. 



25. AyJiya vallisnena (Wiis.), Canvasbaek (147).— Rare. Occa- 

 sionally taken on Niagara River. 



26. Ayt.hya marila n caret tea Stejn., American Scaup Duck (148). 

 -Rare. 



27. Aythya apnis (Eyt.), Lesser Scauo Duck (149).— Rare. A few 

 takeu w ltti the preceding ou Niagara River. 



28. Glaueionelta elangula amerieana (Bonap.), American Golden- 

 eye (151).— Hare. Occur occasionally on Niagara River. 



29. Charitonetta aibcota (Linn.), Bufllekead (153).— A common 

 migrant. 



30. Clangula hyemalis (Linn.), Old Squaw (154).— A common mi- 

 grant. The most ommon duck taken on Niagara River. 



31. Oidemia amerieana Sw. & Ricb., American Scoter (163).— A 

 common migraut. 



32. Oidemia dcylandi Bonap., White-winged Scoter (165).— A 

 rare migrant, 



33. Oidemia perspteillata (Linn. ), Surf Scoter (166),— A not uncom- 

 mon m grant, 



31. Erismatura rubida (VVils ), Ruddy Duck (167).— A common 

 migrant on Niagara River. 



35. Branta canadensis (Linn.), Canada Goose (172),— A common 

 migrant. Mr. .Norman Pomeroy, living abo t tour miles from 

 Lot kport, captured 13 a few years ago, which had alighted among 

 his flock of tame geese during a severe storm, and all taking shel- 

 ter in the barn, when the door was closed on them. They 

 mated with his tame geese, and he keeps a flock of 40 to 50 of the 

 hvbrid geese. 



36. OZor cohunhianus (Ord..), Whistling Swan (180).— A not un- 

 common migrant. Nearly every season a number of this specie 

 are taken in a wounded condition in Niagara River, below the 

 falls. They are probably wounded by flying into the falls during 



storms while migrating during the night. T have also been told 

 tbat dead specimens have been found on the shore of Lake On- 

 tnrio, near the Niagara River, after the ice had broken up m the 

 spring; they undoubtedly bad rema ; ned in the ice all winter. 



37. Botaurm lentigi.nosus (Montag.), American Bittern (190).— 

 Commo i. Breeds. 



38. Botaurm exilis (GmeL), Least Bittern (191).— A not uncommon 

 migrant, and I tnniK a few breed along Lake Ontario. 



o9. Aidca hcrodias Linn., Great Blue Heron (194).— Common. 

 Breeds m Tonawanda Swamp, in the adjoining county of Orleans 



40. Ardea eg-retta Gmel., American Egret (196).— Rare. Ausr 18' 

 188(3, two specimens were taken at Oicott, Lake Ontario, by differ! 

 em parties, both of wuich were brought to me for identification 

 I to k the measurement of one of them: Length 36.50 inches, ex- 

 tent 48, wing 15.50, taisus 6. 



41. Ardea vtresccm Linn., Green Heron (201).— A not uncom- 

 mon summer rtsident. 



42. Nycticorax nycticorax nmviw (Bodd.), Black-crowned Nieht 

 Heron (202).— A rare migrant. 



43. Rallm virginicinus Linn,, Virginia Rail (212).— A not uncom- 

 mon migrant. 



44. Porzana Carolina (Linn.), Sora (214).— A rare summer resident. 

 Breeds. On June 2, 1883, I took 4 eggs, nest and s. See Forest 

 and Stream, June 14, 1883, p. 384, "Do Rail Carry Their Eggs ?" 



4o. Galtiuula galeata (Luht), Floiida Gallinule (219) A rare 

 summer resiuent. On July 9, 1888, a young of this species was 

 brought to me lor identification, it was ta<en ox the ( tonawanda 

 GrceK) cne Canal west of Lockport. The party kept it in a cage 

 for two weeks. I have an aduli specimen taken at Wilson, N. Y„ 

 May 10, 1883. 



40. IhiHem amerieana Gmel., American Coot (221).— A common 

 sum , er resi ,eut. 



47. Ptiilvhela minor (Gmel.), American Woodcock (228).— A com- 

 mon summer resident. 



8. Gahinago delicata (Ord.), Wilson's Snipe (230).— A common 

 migrant during the spring; none dur.ng the fall. 



49. Tringa maculata Vieill., Pectoral Sandpiper (239).— A rare 

 migraut. 



50. lYinga minutilla Vieill., Least Sandpiper (242).— A rare 

 migraut, 



51. 'L'otanus melanolcucus (Gmel.), Greater Yellow-legs (254).— A 

 common migrant. 



52. Toteinus flavipes (Gmel.), Y'ellow-legs (255).— A common mi- 

 grant, 



53. Totanus solitar ius (Wils.), Solitary Sandpiper (256) — A rare 

 migrant. 



54. Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.), Bartramian Sandpiper (261). 

 — A not uncommon summer resident. 



55. Tryngites subruficollis <Vi«ili ), Buff-breasted Sandpiper (262). 

 —A rare migrant. Aug. 31, 1886, 1 saw in the window of a restau- 

 rant some golden plover, ana among them was a specimen of this 

 species, wnich I secured and sent to Dr. A. K. Fisher, or Wash- 

 ington, D. C. 



56. Aetitis macularia (Linn.), Spotted Sandpiper (263). — A com- 

 mon summer resideut. 



57. Numenius hudstmicus Lath., Hudsonian Curlew (265).— A 

 rare migrant. I have a specimen, secured while shooting plover. 



58 JSumcuius horculis (Forstj, Esquimau Curlew (2Wb.— a rare 

 migrant. Mr. L. a. mil, of tnis city, has a specimen of inis 

 ^pecies, kdled wlule shoourg plover. 



59. Charaariu.i squatarola (LmH ), Black-bellied Plover (270).— A 

 rare migrant, iormerly not uncommon, 



60. Charadrius dominicus MILL, American Golden Plover (272). 

 —A common migrant dunng the fall; none in the string. 



61 JEgtitUtis vacifera (Linn.), Killoeer (273).— A common summer 

 resident. 



62. (Mtovus virginianns (Linn.). Bob White (^89).— a common 

 resident, formerly aoundaut; protected since May, 1883, for three 

 yeat s. 



63. Bonasa umheltus (Linn.), Ruffed Grouse (300).— A common 

 resiuent, protected as the preceoing. 



64. jtictopMes migratorius (Linn.), Pasienger Pigeon (315).— A rare 

 migrant, lormeily very atimidant. 



6:->. ZenaMura macroura (Linn.), Mourning Dove (316).— A com- 

 mon summer tesideut. 



66. Circus ItucUoniws (Linn.), Marsh Hawk (331).— A rare summer 

 resident. Un a pril 19, 1888, 1 secured a specimen of decidedly 

 oluisu plumage, and taken irom the highest ground in Niagara 

 couuty. 1 had never seen one before, except on low, marshy 

 ground. 



67. Aceiplter velox- (Wils.), Shax-p-shinned Hawk (332)— A common 

 summer resideut. 



68. Aecipiter cooper i (Bonap.), Cooper's Hawk (333).— Rare. Do 

 not know that it breeds. 



68a. Aecipiter atricapiUus (Wils.), American Goshawk (334).— On 

 Feo. 5, 1j8j, 1 secured a tine female specimen of this species, being 

 the first 1 had ever seen in tnis vicinity. 



69. iJuteo borealis (Gmel.), Red-tailed Hawk (337).— A common 

 summer res dent. 



70. Buteo latissimus (Wils.), Broad-winged Hawk (343).— Rare. 1 

 do not kn >w ilia, it breeds 



71. Haliteetw teucocepnalus (Linn.), Bald Eagle (352).— Rare. Oc- 

 casionally seen along iviagara River. Do not know of any breed- 

 ing in tne couniy of inte. 



72. Faleo columburiiis Linn., Pigeon Hawk (357).— A rare mi- 

 grant. 



73. Faleo simrverius Linn., American Sparrow Hawk (360).— A 

 common summer resident. 



74. Feuidam haliantus earolincnsis (Gmel.), American ( 'sprey (384) 

 —A nut uncommon migrant, and a tew breed along Lake Ontaiio. 



75. Asio wilsoniamns (Less.), American Long-eaied Owl (366). — A 

 rare winter visnant. 



76. Asio aecipitrinus (Pall.), Short-eared Owl (367).— A common 

 w.nter visitant. 



77. Syrnium nclmlosum (Forst.), Barred Owl (368).— A rare winter 

 visitant, 



78. Nyctala acadica (Gmel.), Saw-whet Owl (372).— Not common. 

 I have seen only two specimens in ten years collecting. Have one 

 in our collection. 



79. Jieatiscopji asio (Linn ), Screech Owl (373). — A common resi- 

 dent. 



80. Bubo virginianus (Gmel.), Great Horned Owl (375).— Acom- 

 mou resident, Feb. 24, 1881, a live specimen was brought to my 

 sou to be mounted. It was killed by chloroform but not skinned 

 lor a week afterward. The body was a mass ot fat, and my son 

 wondering what it g it to live on to keep in such good condition, 

 tnought he would make an inspection internally, and on cut iug 

 it open the knife passed through an egg just ready to be laid. 

 Had she been kept alive sue would have laid the egg during the 

 day. 



81. Nyctca nyctea (Linn.), Snowy Owl (376).— A not uncommon 

 winter visilant, 



82. Swnia uluta caparoch (Mull.), American Hawk Owl (377a).— 

 A rare winter visitant. 



83. Coccyzus americamns (Linn.), Y r ellow-billed Cuckoo (387).— A 

 common summer resident. 



84. Coccyzus crythroplithalmus (Wils.), Black-billed Cuckoo (38S). 

 — A common summer resident, 1 have often found the eggs of 

 this species m the nest of O. americanus, but only once have I 

 found it in the nest of any other bird. June 17, 1882, I found a 

 biack-billed cuckoo and a mourniug dove titling on a robin's nest 

 together. The cuckoo was the first to leave the nest. On securing 

 the ne&t I found it contained two eggs ol the cuckoo, two of the 

 mourning dove and one robin egg. i'ae robin had not, quite fin- 

 ished thH nest when the cuckoo t. ok possession of it and filled it 

 nearly full of rootlets, but the robin got in and laid one egg. In- 

 cubation had commenced in the robui and cuckoo eggs, but not 

 m the mourning dove eggs. I have the nest and egers m my collec- 

 tion. See FOREST and STREAM, Aug. 24, 1882, page 65, "A Strange 

 Story." I am also quite certain that 1 have seen the black-billed 

 and yellow-billed cu koo feeding young in the same nest, an 

 account of which was published in Forest and Stream, since 

 when I have found a number of nests containing the eggs of both 

 species, and have come to the conclusion that 1 was not mistaken 

 in that observation. On Sept. 10, 1S83, 1 found a nest of the black- 

 billed cuckno containing two young birds not more than one day 

 out of the shell; the two previous nights we had severe frosts 

 that destroyed vegetables. 



85. Cerylc alcyon (Linn.), Belted Kingfisher (390).— A common 

 summer resident. Breeos. I have seen it as late as the 16th of 

 December at the foot of the locks of the Erie Canal in this city. 



86. B-ryobatcs villoma (Linn,), xiairy Woodpecker (393).— A com- 

 mon migrant. 



87. Di-yobates pubcscens (Linn.), Downy Woodpecker (394).— A 

 comni m resident. 



88. Sphyrapicus varim (Linu.), Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (402).— 

 A commou uinnier resident. 



88a. Meianerpeseryiihrocephalus (Linn.), Red-headed Woodpecker 

 (406).— A common summer resilient. 



89. Melanerpes carMnm (Linn.), Red-headed Woodpecker (409).— 

 A rare rnigrtiht. 



9J, Coiaptes auralus (Linn.), Flicker (412).— A common summer 

 resident. 



91, Antrostomus vociferus (Wils.), Whippoorwill (417).— Rare. 

 Have been heard, not seen. 



[to be concluded.! 



