April 8, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



207 



were many more scattered among the large numbers of 

 other ducks, hut none came near enough to us to posi- 

 tively identify. Those seen were not in one flock, but 

 in small ones of three and four birds, generally a male 

 and two or three of the brown-plumaged individuals. 



9. (168) Oidemia amerieana — American Scoter. 10. 

 (165) 0. deglandi— White-winged Scoter. 11. (166) O.per- 

 spicillata— Surf Scoter.— The so-called "coots" could be 

 counted by the thousands as before noted. The white- 

 winged scoter was the most numerous, probably from 65 

 to 70 per cent, being of this species, about 30 per cent, 

 were surf scoters and the balance were American scoters. 

 These figures of course must be taken as approximate, 

 being based on the identification of the male birds; the 

 females of these, three species being so nearly alike that 

 I do not think it possible to identify them except when 

 in hand. 



12. (217) Crex crex— Corn Crake.— Capt. Scott gave me 

 the greater portion of the skin of one of these birds, that 

 had been shot by a boy about Nov. 1, 1S88, while shoot- 

 ing quail. It was secured on a low marshy meadow about 

 three miles west of the point, near the Conkling farm 

 bouse. This is the third specimen of this species that I 

 have in my collection from Long Island. For previous 

 records see The Auk, Vol. III., p. 485, and Vol. V., p. 177. 

 In the Ornithologist and Oologist, Vol. XIII., p. 46, a 

 specimen is recorded from Connecticut. The number of 

 records of this species from the middle Eastern Atlantic 

 coast would seem to indicate that Crex would soon have 

 to be removed from the list of stragglers and placed 

 among the rare class. 



13. (273) JEgialitis voeifera— Killdeer.— An individual 

 of this species of plover was twice seen Feb. 17 on a 

 plowed field, between the village of Amagansett and the 

 beach. It is improbable that it had migrated from the 

 south so early in the season, and we must therefore con- 

 clude that it had remained on the island during the win- 

 ter, it more than likely being one of those that came in the 

 great flight of killdeer s that occurred in the latter part of 

 November, 1888, as recorded by Dr. Arthur P. Chad- 

 bourne in The Auk, Vol. VI., p. 255. My correspondents 

 from the eastern end of Long Island reported them in 

 great numbers at that time, and also that the bulk of 

 them remained but very few days. 



14. Hawks (Sp?). — But two hawks were seen during 

 the trip, both on Montauk, and both too far off to identify. 

 One was very large. We supposed it to be either an 

 American rough-legged hawk or a goshawk, probably 

 the former. The other one was undoubtedly a sharp- 

 shinned hawk. 



15. (373) Megascops asio— Screech Owl. —None were 

 seen, but one individual was heard during the night of 

 the 10th uttering its doleful cry from the boughs of an 

 apple tree close by the hotel at Amagansett. 



16. (412) Colaptes auratus— Flicker. — A pair of these 

 woodpeckers were seen in a dense thicket of scrub oaks 

 at the top of the beach just west of the Amagansett Life- 

 Saving Station. The crew informed us that a few indi- 

 viduals of this species remained there every winter. 

 Another one was seen on the 20th hist, in a close, warm 

 cover on the borders of Reed Pond, at Montauk. 



17. (474) Oiocoris alpestris— Horned Lark.— While pass- 

 ing over the Shinnecock Hills, from the car window we 

 saw a large flock of these birds flush from a sandy knoll; 

 another large body of them were seen the same day (16th) 

 on Amagansett beach. Daring the hard rain storm of 

 the 18th and 19th inst. none were seen, although we 

 tramped on both days over the same locality where we 

 saw so many on the 16th inst. A large number of them 

 were seen feeding in the roadway on Napeague Beach, 

 much after the manner of the English sparrow in the 

 streets of this city. The fondness that ' this species has 

 for feeding in the highways I have noticed in other 

 localities. At Montauk the horned larks were abundant, 

 frequenting the gravelly hills and edges of the beach, 

 especially in places covered with a sparse growth of 

 grass. They were rarely if ever seen on the bare sand 

 flats, which localities were left for the snowflakes, 

 although these latter were often found with the horned 

 larks in their favorite spots. No pratieolas were found, 

 all being true alpestris. 



18. (477) Cyanoeitta cristata— Bluejay.— In the fringe 

 of scrub oaks on the Amagansett Beach a number of 

 these birds were seen and others were heard while we 

 remained there. The members of the Life Saving crew 

 told us that the jays remained there all winter, feeding 

 on the acorns, which were plenty. 



19. (488) Corvus americanus— American Crow.— During 

 the whole trip, from Long Island City to Amagansett, 

 crows were seen at intervals, but not in large numbers. 

 On the 19th, early in the morning, a very large body of 

 them were seen flying from an extensive tract of woods 

 northeast from Amagansett village. It was evidently a 

 roosting place, from which they were just starting out 

 on their daily foraging expedition. When we were at 

 Montauk we did not see a crow and we were informed by 

 Capt. Scott that they were never very plenty there. 

 None were seen again until we were near Amagansett on 

 our return. 



20. (501) Sturaella magna — Meadowlark. — These were 

 seen singly and in flocks at various places as we jour- 

 neyed toward Amagansett. At this place on the morning 

 of the 17th they were heard singing, notwithstanding the 

 stormy weather and the total absence of anything that 

 indicated that the spring had come. During our whole 

 trip these birds were seen in varying numbers, but at 

 all times could be considered common. The character of 

 the country at the eastern end of the island is especially 

 adapted to the wants of the meadowlark. I am inclined 

 to think that they have a local migration every fall from 

 the higher portions of the island, where they largely 

 spend the summer and breed, to the beaches and meadows 

 adjoining, where they spend the colder months of the 

 year. During this time they become largely gregari- 

 ous in their habits, sometimes being seen in very large 

 flocks. 



21. (534) Pleetrophenax nivalis — Snowflake. — None of 

 these birds were seen until we reached Amagansett Beach, 

 when we found one flock among the sand dunes quietly 

 feeding, notwithstanding a hard northeasterly storm. 

 Their tracks in the sand could be followed from place to 

 place where they had run among the dunes and hollows. 

 At Montauk they were very common indeed, flocks con- 

 taining several hundred being seen, especially where large 

 tracts of bare white sand occurred. It was almost im- 

 possible to locate them when the sun was shining brightly. 

 A sudden swirl of birds jumping up before you in a scat' 



tered flock would be the first notice of their presence. 

 They usually flew but a short distance, when they would 

 settle and commence to run about, so it was almost im- 

 possible to get more than a pair at one shot. 



22. (541) Ammodramus princeps — Ipswich Sparrow. — 

 When we reached the true abode of this species of spar- 

 row, we found them as expected. This was first at Ama- 

 gansett Beach, where some were secured on the inside of 

 the beach hills, and the low grassy swales adjoining 

 them. They were also seen in similar places at Montauk. 

 The secretive habits of these birds are such that they are 

 never seen unless special search is made for them. Even 

 then they will be overlooked unless the collector is 

 well acquainted with their habits and the particular sur- 

 roundings they favor. 



23. (559) Spizella monticola — Tree Sparrow. — This spar- 

 row, which we might naturally expect to be common, 

 was not found except on three occasions, and then only 

 in very small numbers. A great many thickets and 

 other localities where they are usually found during the 

 whiter months were examined, but for some reason they 

 were absent. During the whole trip not more than a 

 score were observed. 



24. (581) Melospiza fasciata)— Song Sparrow. — A small 

 number of these sparrows were seen on the 17th inst. in 

 a thicket near the Amagansett Life Saving Station, where 

 some of them were cheerily singing while perched upon 

 the topmost twigs of low bushes. Tin's habit of the song 

 sparrows of introducing their spring song while winter 

 yet lingers with us, goes far toward making them the 

 great favorites they are with all who love nature in its 

 many varying moods. 



25. (621) Lanius borealis — Northern Shrike. — Shrikes 

 were seen almost every day during our trip, and could 

 fairly be considered common. 



26. (728) Silta canadensis— Red-breasted Nuthatch. — 

 In the large tract of pines at the west end of Napeague 

 Beach we secured a few specimens while driving through 

 it on our way east on the 19th inst. It is probable that if 

 the whole area had been examined they would have been 

 found in considerable numbers. 



27. (735) Parus atricajjillus— Chickadee.— Associated 

 with the preceding, but in much greater numbers, chick- 

 adees were found. They were also seen earlier on the 

 same day in a tract of second growth of deciduous trees. 



William Dutches. 



New York City. 



A White Bluebird. — Elsah, 111. — Among the bluebirds 

 that returned to this locality in the spring of '88, was a 

 curiosity. It was an albino, a milk-white specimen, and 

 from the distance at which it allowed itself to be in- 

 spected, not a feather of a darker shade could be seen. 

 Paradoxical as it may s^eni, it was a white bluebird, and 

 yet it was not a bluebird, because it was a whitebird. Its 

 song and habits were identical with others of the same 

 species. On three different occasions we were within a 

 few yards of it, but were unable to determine its sex, or 

 whether it paired with any other bird of its kind during 

 the breeding season. It was often seen during the sum- 

 mer of that year and during the months of October and 

 November was in its favorite haunts nearly every week, 

 and sometimes every day, but nearly always in company 

 with bluebirds. It seemed enamored of the sunny slopes 

 and deep, cool, wooded ravines along the bluffs of the 

 Mississippi River at that point. Late in the fall, when 

 the frosty nights proclaimed the summer ended, it would 

 flit about its favorite trees, dashing in and out of the yel- 

 low sunshine with its feathered friends that were getting 

 together to seek winter quarters, and we wished it a safe 

 and speedy journey to its balmy Southern home, little 

 expecting to ever see it again. But it returned the fol- 

 lowing spring, spent the second summer with us and re- 

 mained until December, when with others of its kind it 

 was evidently preparing for its annual migration to 

 warmer climes. We trust it has not fallen by the gun 

 of the pot-hunter or the taxidermist, and we often ask 

 ourselves, "Will it come again?"' — Cameron. 



National Zoological Park Appropriation.— The 

 House of Representatives has just passed by a vote of 117 

 to 66, the bill appropriating $92,000 for the organization, 

 improvement and maintenance of the Zoological Park. 

 An amendment was adopted requiring the District of 

 Columbia to pay half the amount appropriated, but oth- 

 erwise the bill was passed precisely as introduced in the 

 Senate. The Senate will no doubt concur in the House 

 amendment, and within a few days more the bill may 

 become a law. The Park is placed under the direction of 

 the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and all the 

 living animals now in the custody of the Institution are 

 to be turned over to the Park at once, and as rapidly as 

 possible transferred to the Park grounds. The passage 

 of the bill may well be regarded as a victory for popular 

 science, and we are informed that the attitude of a large 

 majority of the members of both houses of Congress to- 

 ward this particular measure has been highly compli- 

 mentary to the cause at stake. The National Zoological 

 Park is thus given a fair start in the world , and much 

 may be expected of it. The triumphant passage of this 

 appropriation bill so early in the session is a high com- 

 pliment to the Park, and is due to the merits of the cause, 

 combined with great energy and good management on 

 the part of Professor S. P. Langley, the Secretary of the 

 Smithsouian, and Mr. W. T. Hornaday, the Superinten- 

 dent of the Park. 



Notes op Spring.— Snow, ice and frost about gone, but 

 there is plenty of mud and wind. Snipe should be on. 

 Bluebirds and robins have been here for two weeks. 

 Some ducks and geese, but these do not stay long as they 

 are pounded at all the time, night and day. — W. A. C. 

 (Saratoga Springs, N. Y., March 28.) 



Northwood, N. Y., March 27.— Editor Forest and 

 Stream: Robins, crows, hawks and ducks have arrived 

 here. Roads are very muddy. Fairly good sugar weather. 

 Some snow on the ground, but not enough for sleighing. 

 Woodpeckers have been here for a week or more. — 



WOOCHTJCK. 



Northern New York. — March 31. — While riding yes- 

 terday I saw a meadowlark (Stumella magna), and to- 

 day a" friend mentioned having seen one this A. M. in an 

 entirely different part of the village, so I take it there 

 must tie more than one here. I believe this to be a rather 

 early appearance of this bird in this section. Robins are 

 quite common. --Osceola. 



"FOREST AND STREAM" GUN TESTS. 



THE following guns have been tested at the Forest AND 

 STREAM Range, and reported upon in the issues named. 

 Copies of any date will be sent on receipt of price, ten cents: 



Colt 12, July 25. Parker 12, hammerless, June 6. 



Conx 10 and 12, Oct. 24. Remington l(i, May 30. 



Folsom 10 and 12, Sept. 26. Remington 12, Dee. 5, Feb. 0. 



Francottb 12, Dec. 12. Remington 10, Dec. 26. 



Oreener 12, Aug. 1. Scott 10, Sept. 5. 



Greener 10, Sept. 12, Sept. 19. L. C. Smith 12, Oct. 10. 



Hollis 10, Nov. 7. Whitney Safety 12, March 6. 



Lefever 12, March 13. Winchester 10 and 12, Oct. 3. 

 Parker 10, hammer, June 6. 



THE PARK BILL HEARING. 



ON Monday last a meeting of the House Public Lands 

 Committee was held to consider the bill for the pro- 

 tection of the Yellowstone Park. Of the Committee Mr. 

 Payson, of Illinois, was not present. Among the friends 

 of the Park present were Gen. B. H. Bristow, Hon. 

 Theodore Roosevelt, Mr, Arnold Hague, of the Geologi- 

 cal Survey, Mr. W. Hallett Phillips. Captain F. A. Bou- 

 telle, Superintendent of the National Park, and others. 

 After some informal talk the hearing was opened by a 

 strong speech by Gen. Bristow, in favor of the bill. He 

 urged the importance of having a law for the Park and a 

 commissioner to carry out this law , and under the cir- 

 cumstances favored making the Yellowstone River the 

 boundary on the north side of the Park. Mr. Carey, 

 delegate from Wyoming, followed and made a telling 

 speech on the same side, enforcing very cogently many 

 of the reasons why this bill should at once be passed. 



Mr. Carter of Montana made a set speech in favor of a 

 railway from Cooke City to Cinnabar, and urged the im- 

 portance of giving the miners of that camp an outlet for 

 their ore. His remarks indicated that he and those 

 whom he represented would be satisfied with a railway 

 line outside of the Park. Mr. Hague, who was called on, 

 defined the present boundaries of the Park, explained the 

 proposed cut off to which the friends of the Park have 

 consented rather than see this bill fail, and was emphatic 

 in protesting against any right of way for a railroad 

 through the Park. Captain Boutelle made a few remarks, 

 and after some further discussion the whole matter was 

 laid over until the meeting of April 9. 



SHALL THE BOY HAVE A GUN? 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Parents would discharge a great duty they owe their 

 boys who are desirous of using or who have commenced 

 to use the gun, if they would place in the hands 

 of those boys the Forest and Stream. Boys will have 

 amusements; they, like men, will have a hobby; they 

 naturally take to field sports or the range. They ordi- 

 narily prefer amusements of a robust character. Their 

 disposition for such sports ought to be cultivated. Such 

 a hobby will attract them from vicious pastimes: such 

 sports will develop their physical and mental powers. To 

 deprive them of vigorous amusement is to dwarf their 

 energies, to make them simply "hewers of wood and 

 drawers of water' —underlings. 



Such papers are interesting to boys; they will read, 

 pore over, study them when they will study nothing 

 else. Through such a medium they will learn the ex- 

 perience of men accustomed to the uBe of the firearm; 

 learn the proper method of handling it in the field and 

 elsewhere; learn sportsmen's maxims, such as, "never 

 allow your gun, loaded or unloaded, to look at yourself, 

 nor at any other person, nor allow another person's gun 

 to look at you," and other kindred maxims of the sports- 

 man and of those accustomed to the use of that arm, 

 Such reading will make a strong, a lasting impression on 

 the mind. The boys will believe what they read; they 

 will become educated before they take to the field. 



A very great majority of gunshot accidents happen to 

 boys, and to those who are ignorant of the proper use of 

 the arm. They are accidents arrising from carelessness. 

 One great act of carelessness, I may say the greatest act, 

 is taking the gun by the muzzle. I would no sooner ex- 

 pect to see a boy who has been accustomed to read a 

 sporting paper take his gun by the muzzle, than I would 

 to see a boy who has been well educated in the etiquette 

 of the table take his fork by the tines and feed himself 

 with the handle. 



Such study a boy will carry into practice; the proper 

 method of handling his gun will become second nature; 

 he will learn from it that the true sportsman, the sports- 

 man of experience, will never bring his gun into camp 

 with a cartridge in the barrel, nor allow his companions 

 to do so; never get into a wagon with his gun loaded; 

 will never fire at an object supposing it to be game; will 

 fire only when he knows to a certainty it is game; will 

 take no chances of the object being a companion or a 

 stranger. Such and kindred rules will burn into his 

 memory; they will be in his mind's eye; whenever his 

 gun is' in his hands he will be forewarned. If a boy 

 wants a gun, get it for him, but be sure you furnish him 

 the paper. Do not delay. You may delay getting the 

 gun, but he will have it sooner or later — have it, may be, 

 when not educated in its proper use — and then, possibly, 

 when too late, the parent may regret not having helped 

 to educate his child. Early impressions, early habits, are 

 the most enduring, the most effective. 



Abstract study, as a rule, is not liked by boys. Object 

 lessons are the most effective methods of teaching them. 

 The great elements of success in life are attention, ob- 

 servation, will and energy. In the field the mind of the 

 boy is intensely concentrated, his energy untiring, his 

 determination unyielding, his whole soul is absorbed in 

 his work. By field sports the germ of these elements 

 commence a healthy growth, and mature in a success- 

 ful business mam H. L. 



Spring Flight at St. Louis.— St. Louis, Mo., March 

 28. — The weather has been quite mild in these parts for 

 the past ten days, and a few snipe have made their ap- 

 pearance to the delight of the sportsmen. Bluewings are 

 still due, but if the present weather continues they will 

 certainly be here in a few days. Large ducks, such as 

 mallards, pintails, blackjack, etc. etc., have about leftus 

 for this season, and very few have been bagged since the 

 fore part of the present month.— Unser FRITZ. 



