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FOREST AND STREAM. 



[May 26, 1892, 



THE MONGOOSE. 



The introduction of this animal into California is now 

 being advocated by many of the farmers on account 

 of its reputation as a vermin destroyer. 



Before it may prove too late I would ask the readers of 

 Forest and Stream to give in these columns their opin- 

 ion of such a proceeding and its probable consequences. 



My personal knowledge of tbe creature is nil, and if any 

 reader of the Forest and Stream is acquainted with its 

 habits and history, especially in any country where it 

 has been introduced, it would be a great boon to the pub- 

 lic to write them up. Let us have no more such mistakes as 

 was made in the introduction of the pestilent house spar- 

 row into America, or the rabbit into Australia. We 

 must try and ascertain if possible whether this creature 

 may not prove a pest, too, instead of a friend of man. 



The mungoos, or mongoose, is a native of India, and is 

 there tolerated as a friend of man on account of its habits 

 as a serpent killer. It is carnivorous, and lives on snakes 

 and reptiles, small animals, birds and eggs. It is espe- 

 cially destructive to poisonous snakes, which abound in 

 India, and attacks and kills them on sight. 



So much we can all read in the works on natural 

 history; and the picture of the little creature attacking 

 and killing a dangerous serpent is very attractive. But 

 this is not all. In the first j)lace, we have no dangerously 

 poisonous snakes in California, and if this favorite food is 

 wanting, what will be preferred next? It is claimed that 

 they will destroy the spermophiles, or ground squirrels, 

 and the gophers, that are so destructive to our crops. 

 Yes! But will they stop there? 



What about our quail and all other ground-nesting 

 birds? What of our domestic fowls, and their eggs? Will 

 they prefer a rat to a chicken, or a gopher to a quail, or a 

 squirrel to a nest of eggs? That's what we want to know. 



Can we be sure that change of country and environment 

 will not work some change in the habits of the mongoose, 

 and that the creature that is a blessing to man in its 

 natural habitat may become so prolific and destructive 

 under the changed conditions of its new home as to prove 

 itself a curse to the country? 



The only snake that is at all plentiful in California is 

 the harmless gopher snake (Pityophis cutenifer). It lives 

 almost entirely on field mice, gophers and the young of 

 the spermophile. Will it advantage our farmers to im- 

 port an animal to destroy this useful snake? 



I have seen some accounts of the ravages among 

 game committed by the imported mongoose in Jamaica. 

 See the papers now being contributed to the columns of 

 the Auk by Scott, on the birds of Jamaica, West Indies, 

 and note how he speaks of the destruction of quail and 

 other game. In the April number of the Auk, page 121, 

 he says: "From this it is apparent that coincident with 

 the introduction of a few individuals [nine in all were 

 imported into the island] of the mongoose began the dis- 

 appearance of the quail, and that now, in a period of less 

 than twenty years from the date of the introduction of a 

 few individuals of the mongoose, the quail, formerly 

 very abundant, are practically exterminated from the 

 island, and no longer can be considered as a part of the 

 bird fauna of the region." 



A little further on is the following: "The once abund- 

 ant quail has become so rare that by many it is regarded 

 as extinct. * * * That the evil is directly traceable 

 to the mongoose there can be but little doubt, as prior to 

 its introduction quail were common, even in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of Kingston." it seems that at some time 

 prior to tbe beginning of this century guinea fowl had 

 been introduced into Jamaica and, up to the introduc- 

 tion of the mongoose, had become so plentiful as to be a 

 pest (another example of interfering with nature), by 

 reason of its depredations in the provision grounds. I 

 will quote from the same page regarding its fate: "Like 

 the quail, this bird has decreased in numbers sadly, and 

 apparently from the same cause. Again , on page 123, 

 in speaking of the white-bellied pigeon, he says: "It is 

 undoubtedly one of the native birds that have suffered 

 seriously from the persecutions of the mongoose." On 

 page 125, speaking of the turkey-buzzard, he says: "Said 

 to have decreased greatly in numbers in the past few 

 years, being preyed upon, like all other ground and low- 

 tree builders, by the mongoose." 



Now, this is all that I know about the mongoose, and 

 it is not much to his credit. Who knows more? Let 

 every one that does come forward and tell us. If it is a 

 creature that will benefit the agriculturist without injur- 

 ing others, let us know it; giving facts and figures, if 

 possible. 



I believe for myself, and I presume to say on the part of 

 the majority of my readers, that the facts should be 

 overwhelmingly in favor of the mongoose before we 

 should allow his introduction into our country, It is 

 never safe to disturb the balance of nature by man's in- 

 terference. The result is generally either futile or disas- 

 trous. 



I want something to lay before the people of California 

 that will be authority upon the subject, and trust to the 

 columns of Forest and Stream to furnish it. 



Arefar. 



Auburn, Calif ornia. 



A Curiously Placed Bird's Nest. 



Rochester, N. Y.— On Wednesday, April 6, while a 

 friend and myself were out for an ornithological tramp 

 in the suburbs, it began to grow steadily colder and to 

 look much like snow, so we started for home. Having 

 walked some distance, we stopped to rest in one of the 

 gullies through which a stream flows into a creek near 

 by, and here an old, abandoned, oval-shaped wasp's nest 

 attracted my attention. As it was a particularly large 

 one, I went up to and cut it down, intending to carry it 

 home. I did not then observe it closely, but after going 

 on for half a mile I looked at it and noticed that one side 

 was partly torn away, and the insides pulled out and re- 

 placed with hay and such substances as go to make up 

 an ordinary bird's nest. Sitting down I examined it more 

 closely and found a small hole in one side. Putting my 

 hand in it I found, from its shape and lining, that it was 

 probably a nest of the common English sparrow. This 

 conclusion was confirmed by the fact that on the same 

 tree from which I had obtained the wasp's nest I had seen 

 a pair of English sparrows, which had, no doubt, been 

 putting the finishing touches on their summer home. 

 This was such a strange site for a bird to choose for its 

 nest, that it seems to me worth recording among the 

 many instances of peculiarities of bird life.— Bob. B. 

 Pattison, 



Philadelphia Zoological Society. 



The twentieth annual report of the Philadelphia Zo- 

 ological Society has just made its appearance. The total 

 membership is now 2,039. During the last year there 

 were 286,419 visitors to the garden, an increase of 74,535 

 over the previous year. The heaviest months were from 

 May to October inclusive, when the attendance averaged 

 36,500 per month. The total receipts for admissions 

 amounted to $37,783.21. Sunday has always shown the 

 largest attendance, tbe average receipts for that day for 

 the year being $283.75. Last year it was determined to 

 establish a cheap day on Saturdays and holidays, except 

 July 4, and this system has proved satisfactory, the in- 

 creased attendance making up the difference in the price 

 of admission. During the year the accessions to the col- 

 lections were as follows: Mammals 191, birds 229, rep- 

 tiles 496, batrachians 38, a total of 954 new specimens. 

 A number of species were exhibited for the first time dur- 

 ing the year. Among the animals bred in the Garden 

 were 4 prairie wolves, 3 American buffalo, 1 camel, 2 elk, 

 2 Virginia deer, 2 hog deer and 1 nylghaie. Arrange- 

 ments have been made for displaying to advantage a 

 number of species of pheasants, which will add to the 

 attractions of the Garden. Mr. Arthur Erwin Brown 

 continues to care efficiently for the collections of the 

 Society. 



NEW YORK GAME LAW. 



The full text of the new law has been put 

 into type toy the Forest and Stream Publishing: 

 Co., and is now ready. Frice, 25 cents per copy. 



A special edition has been prepared for the 

 use of clubs and associations, who may order 

 in lots of 100 or more. These will be supplied 

 at a nominal price. Write for terms, stating; 

 the number wanted. 



THE OLD-TIME GUNS. 



"Podgers's" governor was a man of the right stamp. 

 To change the flint-locks of a genuine old "double Joe" 

 might suit tbe tastes of him who should prefer to see 

 Sir Roger de Coverly arrayed in a derby hat and tennis 

 shoes, I would as soon think of using an Andrea Ferrara 

 or a Damascus cimeter as a cheeseknife, or of advocat- 

 ing the transformation of the Coliseum into a modern 

 brewery. 



It is odd, though, that the flint-lock should have held 

 its own for something like two hundred years, while 

 there were many chemists, as I believe, who were famil- 

 iar with some of the fulminates. That there was no cer- 

 tainty of an explosion at all comparable to that felt by 

 the user of even a cneap percussion gun is quite certain. 

 I remember that the more or less "celebrated Col. Thorn- 

 ton," who published, I think about 1802, an account of 

 a sort of "progress," which he made into Scotland, dur- 

 ing which forty carts were employed to convey his 

 duffle, speaks of changing his flint five times in one day, 

 and without satisfactory results; and he had probably the 

 best flints obtainable. 



I once saw a fine French four-barreled flint gun 

 changed (and spoiled) by being percussioned. There were 

 two hammers and four pans, and the barrels revolved on 

 drawing back the guard, not automatically, however. 

 Back in the centuries many experiments 'were made to 

 produce a satisfactory revolver. Prince Rupert tried it 

 among the rest. They came so near the Gatling and 

 other standard revolving weapons, that, as a friend once 

 remarked, "It seems as if all those old fellows needed to 

 have the most of our modern improvements in guns was 

 to have somebody give 'em a percussion cap.'* 



Kelpie. 



NEW YORK GAME PROTECTORS. 



At a meeting of the Fish Commission, May 24, a 

 schedule of game protector districts designated by coun- 

 ties were adopted and protectors was appointed as fol- 

 lows: 



1. Richmond, Kings, Queens and Suffolk Counties. — 

 Protector, Robert Brown, Jr., Port Richmond, Staten 

 Island. 



2. Orange, Rockland, Westchester and New York 

 Counties. — Protector, Dr. Willett Kidd, New burgh. 



3. Rensselaer, Dutchess, Columbia and Putnam Coun- 

 ties. — Protector, Matthew Kennedy, Hudson. 



4. Hamilton and all of Essex lying south of a line drawn 

 from the southeast corner of Franklin County, east to 

 Port Henry on Lake Champlain.— Protector, Isaac Ken- 

 well, Indian Lake. 



5. Franklin, Clinton and all of Essex lying north of 

 the line drawn from the southeast corner of Franklin 

 County, east to Port Henry on Lake Champlain.— -Pro- 

 tector, not appointed. 



6. St. Lawrence, except the town of Hammond. — Pro- 

 tector, John Hunkins, Hermon. 



7. Lewis and all of Herkimer lying north of the towns 

 of Russia and Ohio, and all of Oswego north of a line 

 drawn from Pulaski to the northwest corner of Oneida 

 County.— Protector, George Meyer, Lowville. 



8. Fulton, Montgomery, Schenectady, and all of Herk- 

 imer lying south of the north line of the towns of Russia 

 and Ohio. — Protector, Thomas Bradley, Rockwood. 



9. Delaware, Sullivan, Broome and Tioga Counties.— 

 Protector, S. F. Snyder, Davenport. 



10. Onondaga, Madison, Courtland and Oswego from 

 Pulaski to northwest corner of Oneida County. — Protec- 

 tor, Harrison Hawn, Cicero. 



11. Jefferson and the town of Hammond in St. Law- 

 rence County.— Protector, Joseph Northrup, Alexandria 

 Bay. 



12. Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne and Tompkins Counties. — 

 Protector, Henry C. Carr, Union Springs. 



13. Yates, Schuyler and Ontario Counties. — Protector, 

 John Sheridan, Penn Yan. 



14. Monroe, Genesee and Livingston Counties. — Pro- 

 tector, G. M. Schwartz, Rochester. 



15. Niagara, Erie and Chautauqua Counties. — Pro- 

 tector, Charles Ripson, Youngstown. 



16. Ulster, Greene, Albany and Schoharie Counties. — 

 Protector, James McMillan, , 



17. Warren, Washington and Saratoga Counties.— Pro- 

 tector, C. H. Barber, Greenwich. 



18. Otsego, Chenango and Oneida Counties.— Pro- 

 tector, Ephraim Burnside, Cooperstown. 



19. Chemung, Steuben, Cattaraugus and Allegany 

 Counties.— Protector, Cameron Cotton, Bath. 



Chief Game and Fish Protector, J. Warren Pond, 

 Malone, 



A BARK CAMP. 



In response to a request for a description of a bark 

 camp we cannot reply more aptly than by quoting from 

 Mr. Samuels's "With Fly-Rod and Camerar 



"A description of a bark camp and the method of its 

 construction will, perhaps, not be uninteresting here. 

 June is the best month for building such a camp, and 

 Indian hunters and fishermen who design passing a part 

 of the season on the lakes contrive to peel their bark and 

 build their camp in this month. In peeling a large tree 

 the operator stands on a log or other object sufficiently 

 high to raise her from the ground a foot or two, and with 

 a sharp ax cuts the bark through to the wood, as high as 

 he can reach; he then makes a similar incision around 

 the tree near the ground, and then cuts or splits the bark 

 down from one girdle to the other. Pushing in the blade 

 of the ax down inside the perpendicular cut he proceeds 

 to pry up the bark for its whole length. In a short time it 

 is separated from the tree for half of its whole circum- 

 ference, when, if the trunk is large, it is cut off and tbe 

 other half is peeled away in another piece. These strips 

 are laid on the ground, if a level rock is not near, and 

 pressed out flat, the pieces being laid across each other in 

 alternate layers. In a few days they are dry enough to 

 retain their flat form, when they are ready to be used in 

 construction of the camp. 



"This is begun by driving into the earth, at a distance of 

 about 8ft. apart, four stout stakes, forked at their ends (if 

 small trees are not found growing sufficiently neat to- 

 gether to answer for corner posts). Two of these latter 

 are about 5ft. in height, the others about 7, which giveB 

 the proper inclination or pitch to the roof. On the tops 

 of these posts are laid stout poles, which are kept in place 

 by withes, and with the addition of two or three posts 

 driven into the ground between the corner ones, the 

 frame is ready for the bark. Tbe strips are first laid on 

 the back and two sides of the shanty, and are kept smooth 

 and in proper position by poles laid across them and 

 withed down to the frame. The front, facing the south- 

 east, is almost always left open, and if it is ever covered 

 it is only temporarily, when driving storms beat into the 

 camp and make it uncomfortable. The pieces of bark 

 are laid on the roof shingle-wise, lapping over each other, 

 the rough side out; these are kept in place by withed 

 poles, and the camp is finished. 



' For afire place a few thin, flat stones, built box-shape, 

 make a capital oven, and with a rousing fire burning 

 above it a capital roast may be made. Ordinarilly, how- 

 ever, in cooking, a large fire is made, and when a heap 

 of glowing coals is formed the frying pan or skillet is 

 called into requisition." 



NEW YORK ASSOCIATION. 



To the Sportsmen of the State of New York: 



The next annual convention of the New York State 

 Association for the Protection of Fish and Game, will b» 

 held in the city of Syracuse, beginning on Monday even- 

 ing, June 13, at which time the first legislative session 

 will be held. All organizations which are members of 

 the Association are invited to send the usual number of 

 delegates. All associations throughout the State which 

 are in sympathy with the objects and purposes of the As- 

 sociation, are. cordially invited to make application for 

 membership at the first session. And it is earnestly 

 hoped that influential men everywhere who are inter- 

 terested in the Association's work will affiliate themselves 

 with local organizations and thus make themselves elig- 

 ible' to seats in the convention New interest has been 

 awakened throughout the State in the subject of forest, 

 fish and game preservation and the ending of ruthless 

 devastation, and it is hoped that the attendance upon 

 this convention will be both large and represenative. 



It is probable that some new plans for broadening the 

 scope and usefulness of the Association will be considered. 

 A report is expected from the committee appointed pur- 

 suant to a resolution adopted by the State Convention 

 held in this city last February, consisting of J. S. Ams- 

 den of Rochester, D. H. Bruce of Syracuse, Robert B. 

 Lawrence of New York, Cbas. B. Reynolds, editor of 

 Forest and Stream, and J. S. Van Cleef of Poughkeep- 

 sie. 



It is presumed that the purpose of the committee will 

 be to bring into unison of action and concentrate the in- 

 fluence of all the forces of the State which are opposed 

 to the devastation so much complained of. It is believed 

 that the Association will gladly welcome such a proposi- 

 tion and give its best efforts to the furtherance of it. 



The shooting grounds will be at Maple Bay, on the 

 western boarders of Onondaga Lake, accessible both by 

 railroad and steamboat. The local clubs which have the 

 preparations for the meeting in charge, will in due time 

 make the usual announcements, 



Horace White, President. 



Stbaouse, May 23. 



Bite and Fright. 



Washington, D. C— Snake bite and dog bite are 

 both made extremely painful, and at times very 

 dangerous, through fright. Several years ago I was 

 collecting snakes in the vicinity of the Chain Bridge, and 

 had caught a black snake which measured about 2ft. in 

 length. It was a very vicious reptile and required care- 

 ful handling. I was bitten several times by it, but 

 thought nothing of it. A clerk from one of the depart- 

 ments saw me handle the snake and thought that he 

 would like to show his nerve for the entertainment of 

 some friends who were with him. He took the snake, 

 and being rather careless soon received a pretty sever e 

 bite in the hand. The young man lost his nerve, dropped 

 the snake and seemed ready to swoon away. I found it 

 impossible to pacify him, and he had to be taken to a 

 hospital for treatment. The hand was swollen to enor- 

 mous proportions, and it was about six months before 

 that man was cured of his fright and tbe bite. The same 

 snake had bit me before and after biting the stranger 

 without any effect save what comes from an ordinary 

 bite.— Henry Horan. 



