Oct. 34, 1889.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



268 



rapidly, and what must be done, must be done at once. 

 So we were perforce compelled to submit to the extortion, 

 and we paid the money, very much in the same spirit as 

 the traveler in Spain, who, when wending his way along 

 a mountain defile, heard a soft voice crying, "Charity, 

 gentle stranger, for the love of God, charity!" and gazing 

 around beheld a half a dozen long barrels of the mus- 

 ketoons leveled at his heart. 



So we cashed up, Tim hoisted sail and in a few minutes 

 we were safe on the steamer's deck. Tim shouted good- 

 by most cordially, and said we must certainly let him 

 know when we came to these parts again. Chasseur. 



tm[nl fftetorg. 



" IN A GARDEN." 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



If Miss Fannie Pearson Hardy will permit me to bor- 

 row the above caption from the first charming number 

 of her "Out of Doors Papers," I will relate a little 

 "episode" (as "Kingfisher's" friend "Old Sam" would 

 call it) wMeh ] witnessed "in a garden" to-day, albeit I 

 cannot approach Miss Hardy's felicitous style of treating 

 such a subject. The "episode," though only a trifle, is 

 perhaps worth relating. 



I was walking along one of the streets of this village, 

 and passed by a" flower garden where a large bed or bush 

 of salvia grew against the front palings. The plant or 

 plants was filled with a great profusion of bright red 

 flowers, some of which reached above the fence. Hover- 

 ing over these were two hummiug birds, whose coats of 

 metallic sheen glistened in the sun like burnished gold 

 and silver. The little creatures darted hither and thither, 

 inserting their long bills into the tube-like flowers with 

 absolute precision and lightning-like rapidity, but all the 

 while engaged in a fierce combat with each other. They 

 constantly maintained a position facing one another, and 

 only six or eight inches apart, suddenly rising a dozen 

 feet into the air, where they would have a little battle, 

 and as suddenly dropping like two bullets on one string 

 back to the flowers, over and among which they would 

 flit about like animated sunbeams. 



Occasionally they would "hitch" and flutter all the 

 way to the ground through the leaves and branches, 

 where they would lie and pummel each other like two 

 school boys, one on top and the other beneath, the top 

 fellow pausing to take breath and then pummeling some 

 more. 



The under bird would appear to give up and look very 

 dilapidated, with outstretched wings and disordered 

 feathers; but the moment the top fellow let go and rose 

 up to the top of the bush the bottom one would be there 

 facing him again. 



The most interesting feature of the performance was 

 their utter obliviousness to my presence. As I stood near 

 the palings watching them, which I did for a quarter of 

 an hour, they would flutter around my head and about 

 my face, occasionally striking me with their fluttering 

 wings on face and hands, and one of them lighted for a 

 moment on my thumb. 



One* now and again lighted on a picket within a foot 

 of me and gave a quick side glance toward me, which 

 was the only notice I appeared to excite from them. At 

 last one of them retired, vanquished, and the other ex- 

 ultantly took possession of the flowers. 



These birds had a greenish color on the back with 

 dusky white underneath, and their bills were scarcely an 

 inch long. COAHOMA. 



CLARKSDAEE, Miss. 



THE HIBERNATION OF REPTILES. 



(Concluded from Patje SkS.) 

 /ANE particular toad (Bufo vulgaris) during a partial 

 \J hibernation afforded me opportunities of making 

 some observations, the recording of which may be of in- 

 terest to batrachiologists. Not to weary my readers I will 

 briefly state that this Bufo was an especial pet. and I had 

 reason to believe that a good understanding existed be- 

 tween us. For example, when I saw it was restless and 

 not able to find some snug corner in which to hide itself, 

 I covered it over with moss or mould or some sheltering 

 refuge where it remained content. Or, during very hot 

 weather, when Bufo looked somewhat dry and dusty, I 

 put him into a pan 'of water, out of which he would at 

 first scramble once or twice just to show that he had a 

 will of his own, but on being put back settled himself in 

 real enjoyment, particularly if a tuft of grass or such 

 like shelter screened him, where he would remain the 

 entire day, and subsequently go into the water-pan of 

 his own accord, which he had never done before, though 

 it was always there. Consequently when on the approach 

 of winter, this Bufo began to be sluggish, showing a dis- 

 position to retreat in corners which afforded no efficient 

 shelter as hibernating retreats, I scooped out a place in 

 some earth in one corner of the conservatory, and here, 

 having discovered that his needs were understood, he 

 readily established himself, working his way down with 

 his hind legs as frogs and toads do, and burying himself 

 entirely, excepting his snout and the upper part of 

 his head. Frosty weather setting in, I covered him with 

 a flower pot, thinking he was settled for the winter, but 

 though he remained thus for five weeks his eyes were 

 never closed when 1 cautiously raised it. Then came some 

 very mild days, and one morning, on lifting the flower 

 pot, the toad had disappeared. He had tunneled a pass- 

 age out. He was in a drowsy, uncomfortable position, 

 behind some plants. Next he w-as placed within a very 

 large, deep flower pot, with a supply of earth and moss 

 at the bottom, and here he again comfortably entrenched 

 himself, making a cavity as before till half buried, but 

 with his eyes still open" Not till the middle of Decem- 

 ber, during a hard frost, were his eyes quite closed as in 

 true hibernation. At this period one was able to observe 

 that the eyes, so prominent when open, now recede so as 

 to be almost on a level with the surrounding parts, and 

 that if the little animal were aroused, the eyes only by 

 very slow degrees opened and resumed their prominence. 

 This recession of the eyeballs — owing to a retractor mus- 

 cle possessed alike by toads and frogs— is distictly protec- 

 tive. If disturbed when the torpor is not thorough, the 

 creature extends its limbs in a helpless manner, *and 

 simultaneously you perceive the throbbing at the throat, 

 showing that respiration, a moment ago suspended, begins 



at once and that air is being rapiply swallowed. The ac- 

 tion of the nostrils at the tip of the snout is also seen, the 

 valve which closes the small orifices working quickly, 

 like a blinking eyelid. Should there be no other move- 

 ment whatever, the toad remaining apparently insensible, 

 the rapid breathing immediately betrays alarm. There 

 is also a ymlsation at the side of the head, Avhere the gills 

 formerly were. By degrees the eyes a,re then opened and 

 the breathing becomes regular. After such interruption 

 to its midwinter slumbers the toad does not readily com- 

 pose itself again; and even when replaced in its bed the 

 limbs remain uncomfortably extended. 



The temperature where it was at first being seldom 

 down to freezing point, and the toad never perfectly tor- 

 pid, it seemed kinder to place it out of doors altogether, 

 and also the frogs and newts in a similar receptacle. 

 That toad having displayed remarkable climbing powers 

 — though it seemed scarcely possible for it to reach the 

 edge of that deep prison, where it now was — a heavy 

 board was placed over it, and at the same time covering 

 the others, and the entire family were then left "out in 

 the cold," undisturbed for weeks. During a very hard 

 frost by and by, curiosity prompted me to peep once 

 more at my hibernating batrachians. The frogs and 

 newts, as already stated, were — with the exception of the 

 poor little Molge vulgaris that defied seasons — encased in 

 solid ice, but Bufo was non estl When he had got out it 

 is impossible to say. There had again been an interval 

 of thaw; but that this persisting and persevering toad 

 should have had strength to reach up and raise that hea vy 

 board sufficiently for his escape seemed absolutely in- 

 credible, but I am entirely convinced that he did this, 

 and by his own exertions only, having witnessed his per- 

 severing struggles and achievements on several previous 

 occasions, and that no other agent than himself accom- 

 plished that feat. 



With the return of spring the little garden was again 

 and again searched, and I had relinquished all hope of 

 ever seeing my highly endowed Bufo again, when lot 

 one morning, April 10, 1888, there he was, sitting quietly 

 meditating on the floor of the conservatory. Last sum- 

 mer he had discovered a little corner chink in the wall, 

 and had used this as a private exit and entrance on vari- 

 ous occasions, going and coming at his own pleasure. 

 This gap he had evidently remembered, and had now 

 made use of it to return to his old haunts. 



Catherine C. Hopley. 



The Wiles of a Mother Teal.— Lake Koshkonong, 

 Wis., Oct. 14. — While we were going up to the slough 

 after pike, late one afternoon in the early part of July, 

 we saw a striking illustration of parental protection 

 among our feathered friends. We were rowing leisurely 

 along, when all of a sudden out of the weeds on the river 

 bank fluttered a female bluewing teal. We stopped, 

 supposing that the bird was hurt, for she acted as though 

 her left wing was broken. She continued to flutter in 

 this way until she reached the middle of the river, when 

 she stopped, righted herself, and gave a peculiar call, 

 which, to our surprise, was answered in a few seconds by 

 eight young teal, who, while the mother had been man- 

 euvering, had gained a distance of six or eight rods up 

 the river. As soon as the call was answered, the old 

 bird flew to them and hastened them along, talking to 

 them as they swam, until they had gained a considerable 

 distance further up. Then she swam across the stream 

 with them, the young ones following in her wake. All 

 this happened in a very short time and we were astonished 

 at the skill and seeming reason which she displayed. — 

 Eex. 



Waders in Sandusky Bat.— Cleveland, O., Oct. 13.— 

 I had the opportunity yesterday of examining a number 

 of wading birds shot by Mr. E. A. Brown, of Ashtabula, 

 at Upper Sandusky Bay, Ohio. Anions: the lot I found 

 a few so rarely met with in this locality that I thought 

 the matter worth recording. Of the number most con- 

 spicuous was a pair, male and female, of the great mar- 

 bled godwit (Limosa fedoa), eight red-breasted snipe 

 (Macrorhamphus griseus) and four long-legged or stilt 

 sandpipers {Micropcdama himantopus). All of these birds 

 were in perfect fall plumage. But few of this godwit 

 have been met with on the south shore of Lake Erie. 

 The first pair ever noted were shot here by the late Mr. A. 

 Hayden, in 1837, and are now in the cabinet of the Kirt- 

 land Society of Natural Sciences. Of the red-breasted 

 snipe, several have been noted in this locality within the 

 last thirty years. Previous to this collection but one 

 specimen of the sandpiper had been seen here. This was 

 shot by Mr. R. K. Winslow, of this city, and is now in 

 the above-mentioned rooms. — Dr, E. Sterling. 



"The Auk" for October contains the following papers: 

 "The Present Status of the Wild Pigeon (Ectojnstes mi- 

 gratorius) as a Bird of the United States, with some Notes 

 on its Habits," by William Brewster. "Some Account of 

 the Birds of Southern Greenland, from the MSS. of A. 

 Hagerup," edited by Montague Chamberlain. "Descrip- 

 tion of the Nest and Eggs of Megascops asio maxioellim, 

 the Eocky Mountain Screech Owl," by Capt. Charles E. 

 Bendire. "Notes on Birds Observed in the Vicinity of 

 Englewood. N. J.," by Frank M. Chapman. "Notes' on 

 the Blue-Winged Warbler and its Allies (Helmintliophila 

 pinus, H. leucobronehialis, H. latrreneei and H. chrysop- 

 tera) in Connecticut," by Edwin H. Eames. "List of the 

 Birds of Fulton County, Kentucky," by L, Otley Pindar. 

 "A Second Specimen of Cory's Bittern (Boiauras neoxe- 

 ivus),*' bv W. E. D. Scott. "A Summary of Observations 

 on the Birds of the Gulf Coast of Florida," by W. E. D. 

 Scott. 



Another Black Fox.— Winnipeg, Man., Oct. 12.— 

 Feathered game, chickens and ducks, are reported plenti- 

 ful in this Province, but extremely shy and hard'to get 

 at. Wm. Hine, Jr., one of Winnipeg's crack shots, was 

 out yesterday after chickens. He saw plenty of birds, 

 but they would not lie to the dog. Though he got no 

 birds he bagged a fine black fox. "Blacky" was watch- 

 ing some pinnated grouse that were perched on a hay 

 stack, and as he saw the team approaching he dropped 

 into the grass and allowed Hine to come within close 

 range. It is needless to say that the said fox was a 

 male.— Stanstead. 



Names and Portraits op Birds, by Gurdon Trumbull. A 

 book particularly interesting to gunners, for by its use ttey can 

 Identify without question all the American game birds which 

 tney may kill. Cloth, 220 pages, price $2.50, For sale by Forest 

 akd Stream. 



mm 



THE GAME SEASON. 



Editor Forest, and Stream: 



To-day opens the shooting season with us, and the 

 prospects bid fair for fine sport. There is a greater supply 

 of quail than ever before; one day last week there were 

 twenty quail on Main street; they walked around as un- 

 concerned as if they were in a stubble field: and a day 

 later I saw one sitting on top of a dwelling house. The 

 report comes from the Territory of an abundance of quail 

 and chickens, which speaks well for our shooting, as we 

 can take the train and run down to the prairie country 

 in the morning and have four hours of shooting and be 

 back at six in the evening. The report comes of several 

 good bags to-day. John Tobien with his red Irish setter 

 Lara brought in 24, John Fetherstun killed 18, Murdock 

 10 and Jones 15. Ye writer was compelled to stay at 

 home, and could only wish for time to go out among the 

 birds for half a day. But my time will come in the 

 future. 



To-day four of our market- hunters leave for Oklahoma, 

 to spend the winter shooting and shipping game. Their 

 absence will save more than two thousand quail to be 

 shot at by the sportsmen of our town. You will hear 

 from me later when I can take time to write. F. 



SENEICA, Mo., Oct. 15. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have found another skin hunter. A. G. Requa, of 

 this place, has a steer skin mounted on a light wooden 

 frame, which he and another man use for shooting geese. 

 They get into it, button the leg-skins around their legs, 

 and the imitation is so perfect that they are able to walk 

 right into flocks of the poor unsuspecting birds. They 

 are shooting for the market and have killed over 400 

 geese so far this season. 



The birds are abundant here, I was out to Fresh- 

 Water Lake, twelve miles north, one afternoon last week 

 and the lake and surrounding wheatfields were literally 

 white with Arctic geese. I presume we saw 10,000 of 

 them during the afternoon. There were also a great 

 many Hutchinson and Canada geese. I killed thirteen 

 with a .32cal. rifle and could have been killing yet if I had 

 been disposed to be piggish. 



Prairie chickens were plentiful at the opening of the 

 season, but most of them have been, killed off. One local 

 shooter killed forty-two in a day. Ducks are usually 

 abundant in this region, but owing to the dry season, are 

 scarce this fall. G. O. Shields. 



Devil's Lake, North Dakota, Oct. 13. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I have recently made several trips along the south 

 and west coasts of this island, and have made it a point 

 to find out as much as possible about the game prospects. 

 From what I saw and learned, there is an abundance of 

 fine game in many portions of the island, and if properly 

 protected will afford sportsmen good shooting. 



The new deer law, if strictly enforced, will prevent 

 many persons coming into the country from abroad and 

 slaughtering large numbers. At present quite a number 

 are shot in season and out by the natives, who think they 

 have a right to shoot as many as they like — to eat. At a 

 small hotel on the west coast last July and August ven- 

 ison was put on the table quite frequently, shot within a 

 few miles of the town. Bay of St. George and Bay of 

 Islands on the west coast are the best localities for caribou 

 shooting; and the steamer Harlaw makes fortnightly 

 trips from Halifax to points where the game abounds. 

 A number of English gentlemen come each season via 

 St John's in the steamer Volunteer. 



Black bears are quite numerous at St. George Bay and 

 other points on the west coast. Chester. 



Placentia, Newfoundland, August, 1SS9. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



I laid down Forest and Stream last night with real 

 regret at the close of the "Kingfishers," and only hope 

 we may have Douglass Lake in due season. What is 

 "Ahwahsoose" up to? I enjoyed his "Hunting Without 

 a Gun" much, for it is about the only kind I can indulge 

 in now. Nature has issued her "statute of limitations" 

 for me, but I think if your Pennsylvania correspondent 

 would send some of those squirrels here, I might get the 

 old gun out yet. The gray squirrel seems to have ceased to 

 be an important element in our fauna. My friend Paris's 

 factotum, "Jem," shot a ruffed grouse on his lawn a week 

 ago, and I have heard of two more in the village. Are 

 they yielding to civilization? Von W. 



Chareestown, N. H., Oct. 7. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Now that the trap season has closed the sportsmen are 

 turning then attention to field shooting. The open sea- 

 son for quail in this State went into effect last Tuesday, 

 and the future promises grand sport. Ducks, teal princi- 

 pally, are in good numbers, and several fair bags have 

 been made. Mallards also have made their appearance, 

 but very few have been bagged. Snipe are here and 

 some excellent sport has been had on them the past week. 

 The marshes are dry, and they are found about the edges 

 of the lake, which makes the pursuit of them very labor- 

 ious. Unser Fritz. 

 St. Louis, Mo., Oct. 15. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Wild goose shooting is at its best here now, and good 

 bags of both Canada geese and wavies are in order for 

 those who are experienced in this kind of shooting. 



Canada geese, canvasback, redhead and bluebill ducks 

 bred this season in Lake Manitoba, while the wavies 

 raised their broods along the western shores of Hudson's 

 Bay. The weather has come off warm and pleasant, 

 which will keep the birds here, but make them wary and 

 hard to approach. Stanstead. 



Stieewater, Manitoba, Oct. 14. 



To Hunt Lions.— Messrs. R. P. Carroll and H. A. 

 Carey, of this city, left on the City of Eome last week, 

 bound for Zanzibar - , where they will hunt lions and other 

 large African game. 



