348 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



enes, and note what change in size and form, if anv, exists upon 

 Ihem. This, if carefully done, will afford data, after a time, by 

 which the seal fisheries can be regulatpd with comparative cer- 

 tainty, so as to produce the greatest revenue to the government, 

 without injury to this valuable interest. 



NridBER or Seals Killed,— Since 1870 there havp been killed, 

 on both islands, 112.000 young male seals each year. Whether this 

 slaughter has prevented the seals from incrtabing ia numbers or 

 not, and, if so, to what extent, can only be deduced from their 

 '^'floJ^' wWch unfortunately is very imperfectly given. In 

 iSdb to 1839 there were fewer seals upon the islands than had ever 

 been seen before since their first disc overy in 1786. On St. Paul 

 Island, then, there were not mure tiiau t vvelvo or fltteeu thousand 

 of sll kinds. The killing of lueni was theu stopped, and not re- 

 sumed until 181b, when it was done gradually, and, as had never 

 been the case before, only the j oung males were killed. The 

 rookeries continued to increase in size until 1857, since which time 

 they have remained in about t he same aggregate, although a loss 

 number of bachelor seals weie killed yearly between 1857 and 1868 

 than have been slaughtered since. 



One word more: I\lr. Dall speaks of buying Alaska 

 fur seal skins in 1865-'67 for 12^ cents each— these skins, 

 as sold in the fur markets then, brought from $2 50 to $5 

 each, Henky W. Elliott. 



ROCKPOBT CoxTAGE. Olevelani. O., Nov. 9, 



P. S.— Since writing the foregoing I hare found and 

 send you one of my original field diagrams, made by me 

 July 12, 1874, on St. Paul's Island. This particular spot 

 measured was right under a vertical bluff 16ft. high, 

 which enabled me to have a perfect bird's-eye view of 

 several thousand square feet of the breeding area. — 

 H. W. E. 



AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 



''pHE ninth annual meeting of the American Ornitholo- 

 -L gists' Union is now being held at the Museum of 

 Natural History in this city. It opened on Tuesday, 

 Nov. 17, and is to continue for three days, closing this 

 evening. 



The session of Tuesday was devoted to the business of 

 the Union, and was not open to the pubUc, being mainly 

 devoted to the reception of reports of committees and the 

 election of officers, and other routine work. The report 

 of the treasurer showed that the assets of the Union 

 amounted to over $4 000. 



The election of oificers resulted in the choice of the old 

 officers with the exception of the vice-president, Mr. 

 Ridgway, who resigned. Mr. H. W. Henshaw, of the 

 Bureau of Ethnology, was elected in Mr, Eidgway's 

 place. Mr. Ridgway was chosen a member of the Coiin- 

 cil in Mr. Henshaw's place. To supply the vacancy left by 

 the death of Col. G-oss, Mr. C. F. Batchelder, of Cam- 

 bridge, was elected a member of tbe Council. 



It was voted to elect no new active members this year. 

 Nearly 100 associate members were elected, one honorary 

 member and two corresponding members. 



After the business meeting was concluded two papers 

 were read, one by Rev. Samuel Lock wood, "Why the 

 Mockingbird Left New Jersey— a Geological Reason," 

 the other "A Probable Occurrence of the European Car- 

 lew {Nmmnms arquatm) on Long Island, N. Y.," by 

 Wm. Dutcher. 



On Tuesday other papers on the list were read, the 

 president, M^ Elliott, leading off. His subject, "The In- 

 heritance of Acquired Characters," while it has received 

 much attention from biologists generally, has been 

 neglected by ornithologists. In his interesting address 

 Mr. Elliott devoted special attention to the evidence on 

 this point which birds furnish. 



The following is a complete list of the papers presented 

 and to be read during this session: 



'*The Inheritance of Acquired Characters," (President's 

 Address), D. G. Elliot. "The American Scoter," Gurdon 

 Trumbull. "The Migrations in Chester County, South 

 Carolina," Leverett M. Loomis. "Summer Birds of the 

 Crest of the Pennsylvanian Alleghanies," Jonathan 

 Dwight, Jr. "Birds Attracted by the Rays of Liberty's 

 Torch," Jonathan Dwight, Jr. "Tbe Genus Fenccea'as 

 represented in Cooke County, Texas," George H. Rags- 

 dale. "A Preliminary StudyVjf the Grackles of the Sub- 

 genus Quihcalus,'" Frank M, Chapman. "Geographical 

 Variation in the North American Forms of the Genus 

 Colaptes" J. A. Allen. "The Intergradation of Colapten 

 auratiis with C. ea/e?'," J. A. Allen. "Suggestions re- 

 garding the Genesis of the North American Forms of 

 Colaptes," J. A. Allen. "List of Birds Observed at Tala- 

 manca, Costa Rica, from March 15 to April 12, 1890," 

 G-eorge K. Cherrie. "Why the Mockingbird left New 

 Jersey— a Geological Reason," Samuel Lock wood. "Hab- 

 its of the Black-bellied Plover in Massachusetts," George 

 H. Mackay. "Habits of the Eskimo Curlew in New 

 England," George H. Mackay. "The Bu-ds of the Priby- 

 lof Islands, Alaska," illustrated by lantern slides, Wil- 

 liam Palmer. Exhibition of lantern slides, representing 

 birds in life, contributed by members, "Causeof the late 

 Breeding of the American Goldfinch," Henry Hales. 

 "Former Occurrence of the Carolina Parakeet in the Ohio 

 Valley," Amos W. Butler. "A List of Warblers Found 

 in Raleigh, North Carolina," C. S. Brimley. "A Probable 

 Occurrence of the European Curlew (Numenius ariquatus) 

 on Long Island, N. Y.," William Dutcher. "Some of the 

 Results of the Death Valley Expedition," Dr. C. Hart 

 Merriam. 



The paper on the birds of the Pribylof Islands and the 

 exhibition of lantern slides will be given in the Lecture 

 Hall of the Museum, at 4 P. M. Thursday, Nov. 19. The 

 other papers will be given in the Reading Room of the 

 Library. 



The following is a list of the officers and Council of 

 the American Ornithologists' Union, 1891-93: President, 

 D. G. Elliot; Vice-Presidents. H, W. Henshaw. William 

 Brewster; Secretary, John H. Sage; Treasurer^ William 

 Dutcher. Additional Members of the Council: J. A. 

 Allen, Charles B. Cory, R. Ridgway. Elliott Coues, C. F. 

 Batchelder, C. Hart Merriam, Leonhard Stejneger. 



Wolves in Floeida.— New York City, Nov. 12.— 

 Editor Forest mid Stream: In your issue of to-day, imder 

 the title of "South Florida," I note that Dr. J. F. Det- 

 weiler mentions wolves as occurring in De Soto county. 

 The wolf is now so near the verge of extinction in Florida 

 that a more detailed account of the information obtained 

 by Dr. Detweiler will be a welcome contribution to the 

 last pages of its history; indeed any Florida records of this 

 animal will be of value.— Frank M. Chapman (American 

 Museum of Natural History), 



Names and Pohteaits of Bihds, by Gurdon TrumbiiU. A 

 Iwok particularly Interesting to gunners, for by Its use they can 

 Identify without question aU the American game birds which 

 they may kUl. Cloth, 220 pages, price $3.50. For sale by Fokbst 



Antelope and Deer of America. By J. D. Caton. 

 Priee $2.50. Wing and Glass Ball Shooting with the 

 Rifle. By W. C. Bliss. Price SO cents. Rifle, Rod and 

 Gun in California. By T. S. Van Dyke. Price $1.50. 

 Shore Birds. Price 15 cents. Woodcraft. By ''Ness- 

 muk.' Price §1. Trajectories of Hunting Rifles, Pt-ice 

 50 cents Wild Fowl Shooting; see advertisement. 



The full texts of the game laws of aU the States, Terri- 

 tories and British Provinces are given in the ^ooTc of the 

 Oame Laws. 



MR. OLDMAN AND THE YOUNG MEN. 



BUZZ-Z-ZI "A splendid covey," soliloquized a sports- 

 man, as he emerged from the bushes, through 

 which he was making his way to the open fields thick 

 with brown cover, in which some twenty quail had 

 settled and so beautifully scattered as to make the face 

 of an enthusiastic sportsman glow with delight. 



"Hold on there, old man, them's our birds!" was the 

 imperative and impertinent expression of one of three 

 young men, who, with a dog, were coming up with 

 rapid strides. 



"Pardon me, I didn't see you, or I wouldn't have in- 

 truded," said the man. "But I like to shoot once in a 

 while, and if you will allow me to take a few chances 

 you may have all the game I shoot." 



"There's three of us now, and that's too many; I don't 

 like so much bangin'," said the principal spokesman and 

 owner of the dog. But as you are here and will give us 

 the game, come along." 



This was addressed to a rather queer-looking individual, 

 somewhat tall, stoop-shouldered, with but one eye and a 

 lame leg, and bearing the weight of about 65 years. As 

 they walked toward the place where the birds lay, the 

 man said, "I'll step off to one side so we won't be bunched 

 together too much. I'll pick up the stragglers if they 

 chance to come my way." So saying, he moved a con- 

 siderable distance from the eager, expectant young men. 



"To-ho, Bob." 



The dog had scented the birds. 



"Come up," said the foremost to his companions. 

 "Every one get a shot." 

 Whiz! Whirr! 

 Crack! Crack! Bang! 



Away went the birds unharmed, and every barrel 

 empty. Bob ran furiously after the fleeing birds, and in 

 his impetuosity ran upon one which flew (Srectly toward 

 the old man. Cyclops saw it coming and instantly 

 turned his back to the approaching bird. 



"There he comes, old man; down him!" vociferously 

 shouted one of the boys. 



With the rapidity of lightning the bird whizzed past 

 the old man's head. The next moment the gun of Cy- 

 clops was at his shoulder, and the quail fell dead. 



"Bully for you, old man!" 



Before the old man could pick up the bird the dog 

 pitched in and proceeded to make mince meat of the 

 beautifully shot quail. With some difficulty Cyclops 

 succeeded in snatching it from the murderous jaws of 

 the ill-trained or spoiled Bob and shoved it into his 

 pocket. 



"Two bad faults, boys." 



"How so?" 



"Running in when you shoot and craunchtng a dead 

 bird." 



"Did you ever own a dog?" 

 "I should say I did." 



"Come, old man, load up," said one, as all proceeded to 

 "tmlock" their barrels. But almost as soon as they had 

 their cartridges in place, Cyclops had the empty barrel of 

 his muzzleloader charged for another trial of skill. 



After a few sound lashes on the dog as a wholesome 

 check to his over-eagerness, he was bidden to "hie on." 



"There, he's found 'em!" 



A moment later and three birds rose. All the young- 

 sters blazed away at one bu-d, which escaped. The other 

 two flew in good range of Cyclops, and both fell at the 

 touch of his triggers. 



"You beat the dickens, old man: you've shot quail be- 

 fore," exclaimed one of the young men in a tone that 

 savored more of chagrin than of admiration for the old 

 man's skill. 



Cyclops answered not a word, but picked up the quail 

 and put them into his pocket. 



"I wonder if he means to keep them birds," said one. 



"We'll choke him if he does," says another. 



"Just wait and see," said the third, "if he makes off 

 with them we'll stop him or dose him with bird shot." 



All had again loaded up and struck out for the timber 

 among which the birds had flown. 



"Ho, Bob!" 



"Where on earth is the dog?" 

 "Here he is," shouted the old man. 

 Crack! 



Down came another bird to the aim of Cyclops, 



"Hang us if he didn't kill that bird!" 



A rush was now made toward the man and dog, when 

 a bird almost trodden upon sent the dry leaves whirling 

 as it rose an(J sped away like an arrow. A volley was 

 poured in, and a few breeze- wafted feathers showed that 

 the bird had, at least, been grazed. On he went, how- 

 ever. Cyclops took a long shot and brought the bird to 

 earth. 



"See here, old man, it's about time you was counted 

 out." 

 "Why so?" 



"Because that gun of yours shoots better than ours do, 

 and gets all the game." 

 Til let you shoot it and I'll take yours if you say so." 

 'No, I won't bother with a muzzleloader, wouldn't have 

 one about me." 

 "Well, I'll withdraw if you say so," said Cyclops. 

 So saying he took the birds from his pocket and handed 

 them to the boys. 



"Maybe it's too had, old man, to take 'em after you've 

 shot 'em." 



"Oh, no it ain't, what I say I stick too. I don't go back 

 on my word— not for a few quail; besides, I can come out 

 here any day and shoot a good mesa for dinner even if my 

 old dog Dyke is dead." 



"Who may you be, old man?'' 



"The same you have called me. My name is Oldman, 

 but you have emphasized the last syllable pretty strong, 

 but it's the way of the rising generation. I hear my din- 

 ner horn bio win'. Good day, and better luck." 



||Confound it! why can't we shoot like that old feUowf" 

 "Don't know; suppose we try some court plaster over 

 the left eye?" JST. D. E. 



"MUD HEN" SHOOTING. 



THE mud hen, or clapper rail, is a game bird three 

 times as large as a rail bird, with like habits; and 

 when cooked, without the skin and after being soaked in 

 salt water over night, a well-browned and broiled 

 "-carsh hen" surpasses an ordinary beefsteak. The close 

 season ends Aug. 31, The Philadelphia gunners leave 

 standing orders along shore to be called by wire when 

 the heavy tides are imminent, and rush off for the shore 

 with their hammerless guns, ready for the mud hen fray. 



J. J. Sturmer, of Anglesea, has' a dog trained for mud 

 hen shooting, which will stand to a clapper rail as quickly 

 as to a quail. But it is dry work, with the marsh mud 

 8ft. deep, and the best gunner is only sure of an 

 occasional bird, either put up by the dog or caught run- 

 ning down the beds of the sloughs or creeks when the 

 sea tide runs out of the meadows. 



Two brothers, Frank and Harry Swayne. who live near 

 Townsend's Inlet, Cape May county (Harry Swayne being 

 the best wing shot in Cape May county) promised us one 

 good day among the mud hens. For this I had waited 

 two years, for a mud hen tide waits not on the gtmners 

 coming or going. 



My first born, Henry Sydney, who possesses a |135 

 hammerless, has grown to be a crack shot, who can down 

 25 pigeons out of 26 in a trap. He had never had a day 

 among the mud hens, and he was prompt to wager a big 

 pile of ammunition that he could "wipe my eye" on the 

 count of mud hens killed and brought in on a single tide. 

 Albeit I have long passed the fifty mile post and was edu- 

 cated in Indiana with a .flO muzzleloader in my hand, I 

 am not a bad shot with a $25 breechloader, which is good 

 enough for me. 



When the telegram came to Henry Sydney, " The tide 

 is on to us," we hastened by the West Jersey Railroad to 

 Swayne's Station, where we found our two friends, "Hal" 

 and Frank Swayne, waiting at the station, both stalwart 

 specimens of Cape May boys, born almost with a shotgun 

 in their hands : as ready with the blade of an oar or at 

 the top of a mast as in chasing a covey of quail with two 

 of the best dogs in West Jersey. These boys live on the 

 family homestead of 160 acres and always give their gun- 

 ning friends a warm and generous welcome. 



We arrived at 6:30 P. M. At 7:30 Mrs, Swayne, the 

 mother of the boys, gave us a Fupper of fried eels, broiled 

 mud hens, scrambled eggs and waffles. It nearly put me 

 in my grave, for I saw all my grandfathers 200 years 

 back, and in pale and ghostly array rose before me, while 

 digesting the eels and mud hens in ray sleep, all the 

 defendants I had defended in homicide cases in a quarter 

 of a century last past! The next night I begged Mrs. 

 Swayne not to get us quite so elaborate a supper, with 

 the net result that we had a better meal ; but a good day 's 

 shooting in the marsh drove the spectres away, while 

 good digestion waited on appetite. 



Henry Sydney and J. M. S, looked over their guns at 

 4 o'clock in the morning, when Frank's heavy knock was 

 heard at our bedroom door annotmcing breakfast. It 

 was not yet light, when after the matutinal meal, good 

 enough for a king, "us four" took up our march for the 

 marsh. Henry Sydney arranged to go with Frank and 1 

 with Hal Swayne as pushers. The tide was so high that 

 our walk was brief. Each in a Httle boat, we pushed 

 down the creek for the open marsh. It was not yet light 

 when we started, but as the stalwart Hal poled my skiff" 

 toward the open country the far-off cloud peaks in the 

 east were delicately tinged with crimson and gold; and 

 slowljr, but seemingly with human tenderness, as avant 

 courners of the sun, the red, red blush of the modest 

 dawn ran lightly up the sky, leaving a faint visible flush 

 on the young clouds like the warm kisses of an ardent 

 lover on the lips of a maiden fair. 



Though all unused to shooting sitting down in the bot- 

 tom of a small boat, I managed to kill two out of three 

 birds. We were soon in sight of six mud hens slowly 

 crawling out of their roost of the night before, and T 

 speedily "bagged" four out of the six, leaving to Hal 

 Swayne to knock over a distant flying bird, so only one 

 escaped out of the first six. It looked as if I would be- 

 corne "high boat," as Henry Sydney and Frank were 

 sailing across the meadows putting up never a bird. 

 Presently I heard two rapid shot^ from the $135 hammer- 

 less, and looking across the "mash" (as the natives call 

 the marsh) I saw two birds fall to Sydney's gun, and the 

 halliards cut in two at the second shot, much to Frank's 

 amusement. Not two minutes slipped away ere Sydney 

 killed three at one shot in a cozy nest among the reeds, 

 where he only saw the glittering eye of one bird on 

 guard and ready to fly. We were now even, both with 

 five birds, and both eager to win that wager. May be we 

 didn't scour that meadow of 500 acres of submerged 

 marsh, including every nook and hiding corner where 

 reluctant mud hen could find cover. The shooting was 

 nearly even, as we were within sight of each other and 

 almost within gun shot. Finally, at 9 o'clock in the 

 morning, we called a halt, and our pushers turned the 

 prows of our little boats shoreward and homeward. 



I had almost forgotten to say that a flock of bay-birds 

 flying over my head yielded to my right-hand barrel 

 three English snipe to my count of twenty -two birds. I 

 had high hopes of being "high boat" among the October 

 mud hens on that morning tide. 



Frank pulled hastily to the long wharf and we began 

 to count. Henry Sydney had twenty-two birds. J. M. S. 

 had twenty-two birds. But, alas! Frank, the referee, de- 

 cided that as three of mine were bay bu-ds, Sydney was 

 "high boat," and my little birds didn't count. 



We were all well satisfied with the morning's sport, for 

 we were back at Swayne's at 9:30 A. M., and we had 

 missed the high tide of the afternoon before, on which 

 Gaffney and Piatt, two officers of ti e West Jersey Game 

 Protective Society, had killed fifty-foui- birds in one hour. 

 Ours was the last high tide of the week. 



The birds stay around Cape May county till the thin 

 ice begins to form over the meadows; then they make 

 their hegira, like the red drum or channel bass, and about 

 the same time, for the softer skies and milder tempera- 

 ture of Florida marsh and sea. 

 There must haye been over 1,000 marsh, or mud, hena 



