FOREST AND Sl'REAM 



^08 



by a new and undreamed-of delight. The first few 

 minutes passed in ailenee, for pleasure was too deep for 

 words; then the Righter, laying down his knife and fork, 

 arose and eolemnly addressed his companions: 



*'I have eaten terrapin and canvasbackson Chesapeake 

 Bay, clam-chowder from Harpswell Point to Stratford 

 Beach, broiled mackerel fresh from the Banks ere death 

 had time to dim his prismatic hues, crab-gumbo in the 

 old French market in New Orleans, salmon-roe on Puget 

 Sound, kippered herring from Heligoland and fl sunders 

 fresh from C Jcasieu, but never in all the long years of a 

 wandering life has anything so filled and satisfied my 

 gastronomic longings as does this last triumph of the 

 g-enius of our incomparable comrade The Old-Man-Who- 

 Bakf s-Fiah. Give me another 3 pounder, please 1" 



And the Churchman, breaking the philosophic silence 

 which usually enwrapped him as the shell enfolds the 

 pearl, said, calmly but firmly, "Them's my sentiments, 

 too !" H. P. U. 



A DAY ON THE KALAMAZOO. 



WHEN one goes a-fishing there is nothing like having 

 a proper companion, and when I jointed my rod 

 on the shady banks of the Kalamazoo River in Michigan 

 a few weeks ago, I felt I was in great luck. My com- 

 panion was the Sophomore of the University of Michigan. 

 He had been with me several times before, but then only 

 as a plain everyday youth who acknowledged there were 

 many things yet to learn in this world of ours. But when 

 a youth gets to be a Sophomore then his knowledge is 

 supreme; he solves all problems off-hand; nothing is too 

 deep for his understanding or his upperstanding. Never- 

 theless, the Sophomore loved angling as a boy loves to 

 steal watermelons, and his book lore on fishing was im- 

 mense. He could quote from Prime and Nessmuk, from 

 Walton and Henshall. And he had some ideas of his own, 

 and good ones too. His great motto was "test your tackle," 

 "for," said he, cocking his hat at a sophomoric angle, 

 "many fish are Ipst at the critical moment from a failure 

 of the tackle which a proper examination might have prp- 

 vented." This was such sound advice that Izaak, Jr., could 

 not help saying, "Correct my boy. But we all know a 

 heap sight more than we practice. When I was a Sopho- 

 more like you many years ago I also was fuU of know- 

 ledge: but as the years go by I am gradually unlearning, 

 and it I live long enoitgh I will yet know something." 



Discoursing thus, we arrived at a choice stretch of fish- 

 ing ground along a green, shady bank, where the river 

 current was deep and strong, and where the bronzed old 

 bass were wont, in times past, to ply their vocation and 

 their avocation. And now, what a 'sight met our eyes! 

 Along this choicest stretch of river was congregated a 

 church picnic party, with all th-at it implies. Throwing 

 sticks into the water, and splashing along the shores, 

 seemed to be the principal pursuits of these excursionists, 

 and while it was no doubt fun for them, it was exas- 

 perating to us. So we turned the boat up stream for a mile 

 above, where was another good reach of water, "I'd like 

 to know," I said to the Sophomore, "why, as soon as one 

 finds a good spot for fishing, these blasted excursions and 

 picnics have to come nosing around and spoil one's sport. 

 Ain't this world big enough without their having to fol- 

 low up the poor angler wherever he goes to render his life 

 miserable? Ain't there plenty of fine places without fish 

 where these people could goj' Why, I believe they set 

 spies on the anglers just to find new places to visit. I 

 can't see through it, I'm sure." And then the Sophomore 

 began a labored explanation, but a well directed slip of 

 the oar sent a small stream of water into his eyes and 

 mouth, and Izaik, Jr., was spared the infliction. 



But as we got up the river our spirits begin to rise. 

 What music it is to hear the purling waters, and how 

 pleasant to gaze upon the wooded banks of the river! No 

 picnickers up here to mar our joy. Only the scolding 

 chatter of an occasional kingfisher or the "kerplunk" of 

 a turtle or frog as it tumbles into the water. But here at 

 this point, just ahead of us, is a famous hole for bass; 

 here is where Izaak, Jr., pulled out seven last year in a 

 half -hour's time. There, at that old log on the bank, is 

 the place to tie up. Aye, there is the same old stick we 

 tied to last year; and in the water we see the same old 

 snags. How these familiar things please one; after a year's 

 absence, they are like the grasp of a vanished hand and 

 the sound of a voice that is still! 



I stand on the log, the Sophomore sits in the boat. Into 

 the water, at the same time, we cast our minnows, and 

 anxiously await results. Out straightened the line of the 

 Sophomore with that steady strain which told of more 

 than a minnow's -struggle, and I heard "I've got one," 

 and my comrade began to reel in; there was a rush, and 

 back came the empty hook. In the first round the bass 

 was too much for the University of Michigan. Then the 

 Sophomore tried to explain that why he lost the fish was 

 because the angle of the strain upon the point of the hook 

 was not in conformity to the theorem of Euclid, that the 

 sine— but zip! went the line of Izaak, Jr., a slight pause, 

 then a twist of the rod, and, after a few minute^' tussle, 

 into the net slid a pounder. "Game, for a small one," 

 said the Soph. "And the 'sign' was all right in my case, 

 eh?'" Then the Soph, took in a small one in good style, 

 and Izaak, Jr., another. No big bass here to-day, so up 

 the river we go to where the Rabbit Creek enters. 'Tis a 

 a most delightful spot, and a couple of more pounders 

 were taken. But tne sun was getting low in the west, 

 and we pulled down the river and went to the hotel for 

 supper. My ! what wonders a university education can do 

 for the stomach. The way that Soph, caused the food to 

 disappear was marvelous. He seemed to eat in aU known 

 languages. No time for learned theories then, but he did 

 manage to say, between eulps, that it was always best to 

 "test your tackle" before going fishing. 



Next morning before the fog had lifted, Izaak, Jr,, and 

 the Sophomore were down at the river's bank, but our ex- 

 perience did not give us a great idea of day-break fishing. 

 Only one was caught before breakfast, and the honor fell 

 upon the Sophomore, who handled the two-pounder in a 

 very creditable manner. 



After breakfast we took the boat and went up the river 

 again to the scenes of our exploits of the afternoon before. 

 At the deep pool at the point, Izaak, Jr., caught a couple 

 of fiuM babs, and his comrade had some good bites, but 

 lost them, "in spite of my university education," as he 

 exclaimed. And here happened an incident to me which 

 no doubt sounds like a "fish He" to the non-angler. 

 While standing on the log my hook became snagged with 

 about 30 Ct. of liae out, and being unable to l<5)Ben it, I 

 laid my rod em the log, and went along the bank to get a 



frog. I was gone perhaps five minutes, and as I was re- 

 turning I heard the Sophomore calling me in exciting 

 tones to "accelerate my footsteps, as there was a vibration 

 at the extremity of my rod;" so I "accelerated," and sure 

 enough there was a good "vibration." I soon reached my 

 rod, and pulling gently found there was a fish on, but as 

 I struck to fasten him, like the Irishman's flea, he wasn't 

 there. I reeled in my line and found on the hook two 

 minnows; one had been hooked from the gullet of the fish, 

 thus enabling him to escape. But I was much obUged to 

 Mr. Bass for unsnagging my line. A few hours later, at 

 another place, I again had a caught hook released by a bass, 

 but this time the fish became mine. 



We moved up the river watching the clean gravelly 

 bottom for signs of bass. As we neared the shady side 

 near a deep pool we saw a very large bass, looking to be 

 2ft. long as he lay fanning the water. "A veritable 

 Anak," said the Sophomore, who was vainly casting a 

 minnow in the direction of his lordship. We went up the 

 stream a short distance and then returned to find the big 

 fish still taking his ease. This would not do; so we went 

 to near shore above the pool and tied to a fallen tree. 

 There, for about half-an-hour, we had as fine sport as any 

 but a fish hog could want. Six fine bass, from three- 

 fourths to two pounds, were added to our string. Here it 

 was that the Sophomore's great idea of "test your tackle" 

 came into play. He was in the back of the boat, casting 

 toward the pool for an "Anak" of his tribe; he had several 

 fine bites, but only got one fast. Finally, with about 

 40ft. of line out, he got a strike, hooked him fast, and then 

 he yelled: "I've got that big one, sure:" and it looked as 

 if he had, the way the tip of the rod acted. "Give him 

 line," cried Izaak, Jr.. hue the Sophomore, who had been 

 catching fingerling trout and swinging them over into the 

 adjacent fields, didn't see the need of "giving line," but, 

 on the contrary, raised his rod, and his line parted 20ft, 

 out! Such a look as came over his face was a sight to be- 

 hold. Disgust, disappointment and revenge were all 

 there. "How did that happen?" I asked. "Did you test 

 your tackle?" Then he humbly admitted that he had 

 used the line a year ago, and had never tested it since, as 

 it seemed all right when he was "fishing for trout," 

 After repairing his line, and when ready to make another 

 cast, he said, "Uncle," for be it known that the learned 

 youth was entitled thus to call me, "a university education 

 doesn't help much in catching fish, does it? I feel more 

 like a sucker now than does any fisb. But I didn'c use any 

 cuss words when my fine broke, did I?" I assured him he 

 was a hero in that regard, and that profanity and whisky 

 were never desirable adjuncts for any angler. 



Up stream we again went to the mouth of Rabbit Creek, 

 but the sun was too hot for fish on that side of the river, 

 for it beat down with terrible effect with the thermometer 

 at about 100° in the shade. So we hugged the shady side, 

 and at every likely place we would get a strike. Even 

 during the noon hour, when the books tell us the fish do 

 not bite well, there was no cessation in the biting, and 

 while Izaak. Jr., handled the boat the Sophmore got the 

 bites, and that was about all he did get; for, except the 

 one in the early morning, his catch was only two small 

 bass, but, counting those he lost, his catch would have 

 been about fifteen. Now, why is it that two fishermen in the 

 same boat, using the same bait, and having similar tackle, 

 one will get the fish and the other will get left. Our rods 

 were both casting rods 7ft. Sin. long, weight 81oz., and 

 om- fines were both of silk. But the Sophomore persisted 

 in using a No. 1 Sproat, while Izaak, Jr., used a No. 2-0 

 Aberdeen hook, and therein I think may be found a 

 solution of the enigma. With a good-sized minnow, I 

 believe a No, 1 hook is too small in spite of the writings 

 of many in favor of whip lash rods, and finer tackle. On 

 our way down the river to the hotel I caught a fine 61b. 

 pickerel, or pike (which was it?), and the Sophomore 

 caught several fine bites. But the basket of fish we took 

 to the hotel was the finest seen for many a month, and 

 the astonishment was great that we should catch them 

 when so many had failed. 



And thus ended om- day on the Kalamazoo. Even the 

 Sophomore, in spite of his ill luck, declared he never had 

 such a time before, and would always remember the trip, 

 and especially the "Anak" which broke his line. Next 

 year, perhaps, when the Sophomore becomes a Junior and 

 is less wise, he and Izaak, Jr, , will again forget the cares 

 of the world in an outing on the clear and classical 

 Kalamazoo, for 



Better a day on the Kalamazoo 

 Than a cycle in the city hot. 



HOW TO COLLECT BIRDS. 



A RECENT issue of the Bulletin of the U. S. National 

 Museum contains a very useful article entitled: 

 Directions for Collecting Birds, by Mr, Robert Ridgway, 

 the curator of the Department of Birds, Mr. Ridgway's 

 gi-eat experience as a collector and as a handler of skins 

 collected by others makes him perhaps the best qualified 

 person in the country to prepare a set of directions such 

 as are given in this paper, and as a perusal of them wUl 

 interest a very large number of our readers, the unscien- 

 tific as well as the ornithological, we quote from this paper 

 at considerable length. 



Passing over the subject of the collector's outfit, which 

 includes the collecting gun, ammunition, skinning tools, 

 poison labels, and so on, we come to the actual work of 



PROCURING SPECIMENS. 



The collector having provided himself with the kind 

 of gun and ammtmition which seem, according to his 

 experience or judgment, most suitable, he should then 

 place in his collecting-box or basket the following imple- 

 ments and materials: 



(1) A considerable "wad" of raw cotton for plugging 

 shot-holes and the throats of specimens. 



(3) An insect powder bellows filled with com meal, 

 and an extra quantity of the latter. 



(3) A supply of paper cones or "cornucopias." These 

 are best made of some moderately soft, bibulous paper, 

 as newspaper or pamphlets. Some collectors prefer 

 making the cones as they are needed, and carry with 

 them folded newspapers or old pamphlets, but time will 

 bo saved if the cones, or some of them at least, are made 

 before starting. 



(4) A small bottle filled with strong carbolic acid. (This 

 is needed only in warm weather.) 



What to do 'With birds after they are fciZZed,— Immedi- 

 ately a bird is killed it should be picked up by the feet 

 (never by the tail) and held head downward to allow the 

 blood to drain from the mouth, which may be hastened 

 by gently pressing the bird; "flip" or otherwise carefully 

 remove the blood clots which may adhere to the bUl, 

 feathers, or other parts, and apply corn meal to absorb 

 what may remain. In the absence of corn meal clean 

 sand will do, and in the case of birds with white plumage 

 plaster of Paris will answer, but should be carefully re- 

 moved before it becomes hard. The holes made by the 

 shot, together with the throat and the internal (but never 

 the external) nostrils, should be plugged with cotton, to 

 prevent the escape of blood and the juices of the stomach. 

 Before plugging the throat a small quantity of corn meal 

 or clean sand should be inserted, as this will absorb the 

 blood, etc., and prevent its escaping arotmd the cotton.* 

 Should an eye be broken by the shot, the liquid should 

 be carefully pressed out and what can not be otherwise 

 removed absorbed with corn meal or sand, as nothing is 

 more difficult to remove from feathers after it once be- 

 comes dry. 



It is very important that as much pains be taken as 

 time and other circumstances will allow to clean blood 

 and other stains from the plumage before becoming dry, 

 as neglect of this precaution will in the end involve far 

 greater loss of time or perhaps necessitate loss of the 

 specimen itself. 



In very warm weather, before the throat is plugged, 

 the gullet should be swabbed with carbolic acid by saturat- 

 ing a small wad of cotton which has previously been 

 wrapped around the end of a small stick, straw, or wii-e, 

 or held in small spring forceps, with the acid, and then a 

 small quantity of the acid should be appHed to the skin 

 along the median line of the abdomen, the feathers hav- 

 ing of course been previously parted. In both these 

 operations great care should be taken to prevent the acid 

 from comiug in contact with the feathers. Some persons 

 use for this purpose a hypodermic syringe, but this in- 

 strument is quite unnecessary, besides being cumbersome 

 and expensive. 



When the bird has been properly cleaned and plugged 

 it should be carefully dropped, head downward, into a 

 paper cone o: suitable size, the end of w^hich should then 

 be folded over the tail— care being taken not to bend or 

 break the latter, f and also to avoid doubling the head, 

 which is likely to be done unless the bill is kept exactly 

 in the middle of the cone and guarded from too forcible 

 contact with the paper during its insertion. 



The bird thus enveloped should be carefuUy placed in 

 the collecting basket, which should never be closely 

 packed with specimens, as the pressitre thus caused will 

 not onlj^ force the blood through to the plumage, but 

 in hot weather will also hasten decomposition. The 

 larger specimens should be placed at the bottom, the 

 smallest on top; and if the bos or basket is only partly 

 empty the space should be loosely filled with grass, leaves 

 or paper, to prevent the specimens shifting about. 



Hon- to hill ivounded birds.— A wounded bird should 

 never be killed by thumping or pounding the skull. If 

 the specimen is of smaller medium size much the easiest 

 and best way is to take it between the thumb and fingers, 

 underneath the wing, and squeeze it tightly, thus causing 

 its death almost instantly by suffocation. If of a large 

 size this cannot be done, and the collector sometimes has 

 a difficult problem to solve, particularly in the case of the 

 larger birds of prey, whose sharp talons are to be avoided, 

 it being very often extremely difficult to release one's 

 self from their powerful grip, which, besides being ex- 

 tremely painful, may lead to serious results. A bite 

 from the beak of such birds, even the most powerful, Ib 

 comparatively a trifling matter, and in the case of the 

 larger hawks and owls may be quite ignored. These 

 birds when wounded usually throw themselves on their 

 backs, with open feet presented for defense. In such 

 cases the legs of the bird should be quickly seized and 

 held firmly, which can easily be done by a careful and 

 alert person. Then, while the feet ai-e held, a sharp 

 pointed knife or scalpel should be quickly plunged into 

 the anterior portion of the breast, so as to strike the heart 

 or its vicinity, and the bud held head downward to allow 

 the blood to drain from the mouth. All these methods 

 are more or less cruel, and therefore naturally distasteful 

 to a sensitive person. But there can be no question that 

 it is far more merciful to dispatch at once a wounded 

 bird than to delay putting an end to its suffering. When 

 practicable, chloroform can be used advantageously by 

 simply saturating a handkerchief with it and holding it 

 over the bird's head for a few moments. 



Care of specinmis on reaching camp or quarters— In 

 very hot weather, when specimens decompose rapidly, a 

 drop of carbolic acid should be put into the throat and 

 another into the intestines, to retard decay. This is most 

 easily done by means of a "swab," improvised of a small 

 stick and a little cotton. Care must be used not to allow 

 the acid to come in contact with the feathers. When 

 camp or quarters are reached, the specimens should be 

 taken out of the cones, one at a time, carefully ex- 

 amined, and the cotton in the throat removed and a fresh 

 plug substituted. Never delay skinning a specimen until 

 it begins to bloat or until it begins to smell offensively, 

 although, should it be impracticable to prevent this, very 

 desirable specimens should be skinned even in this condi- 

 tion. The best way is to skin the birds as soon as possible, 

 though in cold weather they may of course be kept several 

 days without danger of decomposition. At the same time, 

 however, allow a specimen to relax somewhat before yon 

 begin skinning it. 



PRBPARIKQ AND PRESERVING SPECIMENS. 



How to skin birds.— Before the process of skinning 

 is actually begun, certain preliminaries are necsssary, n 

 the work is to go on smoothly. A suitable table, stand, 

 or workbench must fii-st be provided and placed in a good 

 light. A paper cover should then be put over it (an old 

 newspaper is as good as anything). Then the box con- 

 taining the ai-senic or mixture of arsenic and alum; that 

 containing the corn meal; the skinning and stufling im- 



* Perhaps a still bettpr plan is to push one nlug of cotton down 

 the gnllet nearly to the stomach, before ttie throat plug is in- 

 sertpd, to prevent the .luices of the latter from colleciiDg in the 

 throat, since, if allowed to do so In warm weather, they cause the 

 feathers to slough otf . 



+Crumpled or bent feathers may have much of their elasticity 

 and original shape restored by dipping in hot water. Steaming 

 will answer the same purpose, 



