March t, 1896... 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
the front legs. I do not know the origin of either turtles or 
terrapin, though the former may have been derived from 
tortoise. As a whole they compose a very compact group 
lof the Reptilia, termed the order Chelonia, about 250 
■species of them being known. Dr. Giinther has very 
[truly said that "Ghelonians possess great tenacity of life, 
♦surviving injuries to which other reptiles would succumb 
tin a short time. The heart of a decapitated tortoise con- 
tinues to beat for many hours after every drop of blood 
•has been drained from the body, and the muscles of the 
trunk and head show signs of reflex action twenty-four 
I hours after the severance of the spinal cord. The lon- 
Igevity of tortoises is likewise a well-known fact." Several 
■years ago I personally made some of these experiments 
ton a few box-tortoises, and am prepared to fully confirm 
I what Dr. Gunther has said above. He is also right about 
■tortoises tiving to a great age, some of the species Over a 
■century, and I should not be surprised that our box-tor- 
Itoise might, under proper conditions, be kept alive in 
I confinement for more than half that time. The breeding 
■ habits of these reptiles are truly extraordinary; every 
I imaginable phase and fancy of them being characterized 
I by great deliberation and utter disregard for the length 
( of time it consumes in their accomplishment — quite in 
[keeping, indeed, with their slow growth of body and 
I the remarkable ages to which they attain. 
RHODE ISLAND BIRD NOTES. 
Providence, R. I,, Feb. 21. — Editor Forest and Stream; 
In looking over my note book for 1895 I find that I have 
a record of seventy-six species of birds observed, all but 
seventeen of which were found within the city limits. 
In January we found the black-crowned night herons 
sitting like gray sentinels in the tall pines of the park 
swamp, where they have passed several winters safe from 
harm. They probably find subsistence in the open spring 
holes and the outlet of the park lakes. 
This same swamp is a great place for birds; here in 
winter the little brown wren can be found playing hide 
and seek among the roots and dirt of the upturned trees, 
with unruffled plumage and tail always at the same 
angle. Flocks of tree sparrows winter here with their 
friends, the black-cap titmice and golden-crowned king- 
lets. These latter birds are very tame while with us. I 
have stood in a clump of pines in a driving snowstorm, 
and had them fly so close to my face that I could feel the 
wind from their wings. They are cheerful little birds, 
always hunting for grubs, apparently happy in the 
roughest weather. The brown creeper is another busy 
; little bird, but a hard one to find, its markings are so 
nearly like the bark of the trees which it frequents. This 
bird starts at the ground and runs up the tree trunks to 
the lower branches, and then with a rolling note he is off 
for fresh hunting grounds. 
In February I found all of the above birds with the 
addition of crows, bluejays and flickers. I watched a 
bluejayhold an acorn under one foot and hammer it 
until he succeeded in getting out the meat, when he 
dropped the shell and wiping his bill on a small twig he 
flew to his stone house for more. 
On March 18 I heard the first song of the song sparrow, 
and recorded the arrival of my first purple grackle, and 
counted five flickers, and a number of juncos and white- 
bellied nuthatches were also seen. The first pair of blue- 
birds were found on March 24, within the city limits; the 
next were seen in April in the country while on a trout- 
ing trip; they were scarce last year, and we shall watch 
for them more carefully this spring. 
On May 5 I found a screech owl's nest in an oak. The 
old bird was looking out of her doorway or I should not 
have noticed it, but I did not disturb her and hope she 
raised her brood in peace. In the spring and summer 
robins, orioles and vireos were very common, nesting in 
the trees of the resident portion of the city. 
Scarlet tanagers and iose-breasted grosbeaks are be- 
coming more common with us, and I saw more last year 
than ever before, but the grosbeaks are rather shy and 
have to be hunted for. In August the night herons were 
still in the park swamp, and I think they breed there in 
the tall pines, as a number of bulky nests can be seen in 
those trees. 
We had a rubythroat that stayed around the flower 
beds all summer and into the fall, Sept. 22 being the last 
day we saw him on his favorite perch on the telephone 
wire. 
On Nov. 3 while walking through a cedar and pitch 
pine grove I was startled by a whir, whir! a few feet in 
front of me, and looked up just in time to see a pair of 
Bob Whites disappear over the treetops, About 20ft. to 
the left I heard a rustle and carefully looking behind a 
small cedar saw Bob No. 3. He walked out in the open, 
looked at me for an instant and then went up in the air 
like a rocket. A little further on the fourth and last one 
went up and away. 
I was almost home when honk! honk! came down to 
me from the sky, and looking up I saw a string of geese 
flying due south. There were about fifty of them, as near 
as I could count. Why is it that the honk! of the wild 
goose stirs the blood in our veins? Does it arouse the sav- 
age that still lies dormant in most of us? John Burroughs 
says: "I hurry outdoors when I hear the clarion of the 
wild gander; his comrade in my heart sends back the 
call." 
In December we tramped down to where Gaspeel Point 
runs its long yellow finger out into the blue waters of 
Narragansett Bay. Here we found shore larks running 
along the sands searching for food; white gulls were fly- 
ing low over the water, and far out in the bay a flock of 
ducks were resting, keeping a sharp eye open for gunners. 
In a hollow back of the point we found a downy wood- 
pecker, black-capped titmice, tree sparrows and gold- 
finches in winter plumage. Nuthatch. 
Grizzly Bears in Labrador. 
Dr. Robt. Bell, of the Dominion Survey, says that a 
paradox to zoologists is the presence of the grizzly bear in 
the forested area of Central Labrador, as he does not 
occupy the intervening country which lies between that 
peninsula and his Western home in the Rockies. Two 
hundred and nine species of birds have been noted, but 
with the exception of the two species of ptarmigan, game 
birds are not plentiful. Forty-five species have been dis- 
covered since Dr. Coues prepared his list thirty-six years 
ago. 
Bird Notes. 
Springfield, 111., Feb. 24.— Sunday, Feb. 16, 1 observed 
the first robin. A few days of zero weather followed, 
and after that and up to date mild and springy. This 
morning, while taking a three-mile drive in the country, 
I saw and heard a number of bluebirds, also meadow 
larks. I was informed afterward that the latter had 
been around for a number of days. Last year I noticed 
the first robin Feb. 27 and bluebirds March 8. T. M. S. 
Belleville, Ont., Feb. 25. —Mr. A. Dulmage, fur 
buyer, recently purchased the skin of a small silver fox, 
which was shot within twenty miles of this city, also 
three cross fox skins. Pine grosbeaks, which are rare 
visitors, are here in large numbers. This is the , third 
time within fifteen yea.rs that they have wandered hither 
from their Northern home. The birds are remarkably 
tame. A high-holder was seen here yesterday. This is 
the earliest visit of this migrant that has come to the 
knowledge of the scribe. R. S. Bell. 
AsburyPark, N.J., Feb. 28.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
I saw to-day near Woodbridge, N. J. , a large flock of black- 
birds and robins, the first I have noticed this season. It 
is to be hoped that these harbingers of spring have not made 
their debut prematurely. Strange, isn't it? how those 
familiar sights stir up the blood and intensify one's long- 
ings for the fields, the streams and woodland delights. 
Leonard Hulit. 
Springfield, Mass.— On Feb. 15 I was riding in Chico- 
pee Falls when a big red-breasted robin alighted on a 
tree right over the street. I stopped my horse, and my 
companion and I feasted our eyes on the rare sight. We 
were within 20ft. of him. A. B. U. 
Dr. Elliott's African Expedition. 
Dr. D. G. Elliott, Curator of the Field Columbian 
Museum in Chicago, sailed on Wednesday, March 4, from 
New York, on his contemplated trip to Africa. As stated 
some weeks ago in Forest and Stream, Dr. Elliott ex- 
pects to visit Mashonaland for the purpose of there collect- 
ing specimens of large African mammals for the Field 
Museum, He is accompanied by the chief taxidermist of 
the museum, and there can be no doubt that, with reason- 
able good fortune, the results of this expedition will be 
important. Dr. Elliott goes from here to England, where 
he will learn all the latest news about the little-known 
country which he proposes to visit. He has recently been 
in consultation with Dr. A. Donaldson Smith, the well- 
known African explorer who recently returned from the 
Dark Continent. 
Dr. Elliott's armament will consist of both English and 
American weapons. He expects to take at least two 
.50-100 Winchester rifles, and will probably purchase in 
London two 12-bore Paradox guns. He may also take 
some Mannlicher rifles, of the effective work of which 
we have recently heard so much. 
The news which Mr. Elliott receives in London about 
the abundance of large animals in the different districts 
of Eastern Africa will determine his course from there on. 
^ He may go to Mashonaland, or perhaps to Somaliland, 
* and possibly even into the country of the warlike Masai. 
He can hardly reach East Africa before May or June next, 
and after he leaves the coast nothing will be heard of him 
until he returns to it again. It is likely that he will 
spend six months in the interior, and may return to this 
country some time next winter. 
The Linnrean Society. 
The annual meeting of the Society will be held in the 
American Museum of Natural History on Tuesday even- 
ing, March 24, at 8 o'clock, and a public lecture will be 
delivered in the lecture hall of the American Museum of 
Natural History, Seventy-seventh street and Eighth 
avenue, on Tuesday evening, March 3. 
March 3, public lecture, William Libbey, "Two Months 
in Greenland," illustrated by lantern slides. 
March 24, L. S. Foster, "Remarks on Twenty Species 
of Birds frequently observed in New York |City and 
Vicinity." 
Walter W. Granger, "Mammals of the Bitter Creek 
Desert, Wyoming," postponed from meeting of Feb. 25. 
Walter W. Granger, Secy. 
American Museum of Nat. History. 
%n[£ Jf?## %nd %wu 
FIXTURES. 
March 16 to 31, 1896. — Second annual Sportsmen's Exposition, under 
the auspices of the Sportsmen's Association, at Madison Square 
Garden, New York city. Frank W. Sanger, Manager. 
REARING PHEASANTS. 
Holland, Mich., Feb. 20. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Our game and fish protective association has lately com- 
pleted an addition to our pheasantry, and as I have had 
the rearing of the pheasants in charge for the past two 
years I will, for the benefit of clubs or individuals desir- 
ing to rear these birds with which to stock our woods and 
fields, give a description of our yards and breeding 
coops and our method of rearing and feeding the young. 
For a breeding pen of five birds our yards are 8 X 16ft. 
and 5|ft. high, covered with 2in. mesh wire poultry net- 
ting. Perhaps 2 ft. higher would be better, although I do 
not know as it would, for we have not had a bird killed 
by flying against the top when frightened. We had a 
supply of 4ft. netting on hand, so used that. The yards 
are boarded up l^ft. at the bottom; use 1ft. wide stuff sunk 
6in. in the ground. In each run we have two perches, 1^- 
and 3ft. from the ground; upon these the pheasants like to 
sit and preen themselves. At one end of each yard, and 
connected with it, is a coop or box 4J X 3 X lift. , with a slop- 
ing roof to shed the rain. One-half of this roof serves as 
a door, and to make things safer a sliding door is 
arranged inside. Owing to the abundance of English 
sparrows, all grain fed is placed inside the box in a trough 
made by nailing a narrow piece of board at an angle on 
one side of the box. A small shelf upon which to place the 
drinking fountain may be put up. A door with a sort of 
entry to keep out rain or snow is made in the front of the 
box; also a window, 8Xl0in., covered with glass and pro- 
tected on the inside by wire netting. 
The birds often resort to this box during heavy rains, 
or to scratch in the sand when there is snow on the 
ground. Always build your yards on high, dry ground, 
and arrange them so that the boxes will face the south. 
The different yards should be connected by gates, so that 
one may pass from one to the other, as it is sometimes 
necessary to do in gathering the eggs. 
Our nesting or hatching boxes are 15 X 15 X 15in., with 
a sloping roof serving as a door. No bottom is made for 
these boxes; simply fasten a piece of lin. mesh wire net- 
ting on, so cats or other animals cannot dig under and get 
the eggs or the sitting hen. attach to this box a run 4ft. 
square and 18in. high, sunk 6in. in the ground, and cov- 
ered with lin. mesh netting. On top, at the end next the 
box, make a door 1ft. wide and the full width of the 
run; really, you make two doors by cutting this door in 
two about 1ft. from one end. You can use the small door 
for watering and feeding, and the larger one for conveni- 
ence in catching the young pheasants when you wish to 
remove them to a larger run. 
When the birds are 4 to 6 weeks old you will need to 
give them more room. Our runs for birds after this age 
are 4 X 8ft. and 2ft. high, boarded up 1ft. at the bottom 
and covered with lin. mesh netting. The coops attached 
to this are 24 X 24 X 24in. 
Now, as to sitting hens. Get bantams if you possibly 
can. I have used larger hens with success, but they are 
so clumsy and heavy that many eggs are sure to be broken 
and young birds stepped upon and killed. We have a fine 
flock of buff Pekin bantams which we will use this year. 
They are just the right size, have an abundance of fluff 
feathers and make good mothers and sitters. Should any 
one desire eggs or young stock next fall, we can supply 
them. 
Before setting the hen dust her feathers full of Persian 
insect powder and place some in the nest, which is best 
made of a fresh sod hollowed out in the center beneath 
and covered with a little straw or chaff. Occasionally 
before the eggs hatch pour a little water around the edges 
of the sod so that they will not get too dry. Eggs will 
not hatch well without moisture. 
All the eggs in a sitting do not hatch in the same length 
of time, therefore it is well to remove the young chicks 
soon after they are hatched to a warm place until you are 
sure no more eggs will hatch. If you do not do this your 
hen may leave her nest as soon as a few birds are out of 
the shell, for you know that pheasants run about soon 
after hatching, and the hen is apt to follow them. 
For the first few days keep hen and chicks in a small 
coop or box, where the hen cannot move around much. 
In three or four days the chicks will be quite strong and 
will have learned the call of the hen. You can then put 
them back in the nesting box and run, and leave them 
there for about a month, after which remove to the 
larger runs. Do not crowd young pheasants too much; 
when 3 months old they require nearly as much room as 
the old birds. Do not allow the young chicks to get wet 
or they will die. I cover the smaller runs every night 
and during rains with old matting, oil cloth, etc. Keep 
plenty of straw in the boxes, so that they may have a 
dry and warm place in which to roost. 
Food for the newly hatched birds should consist of eggs 
boiled hard, chopped fine, shells and all, and mixed with 
about an equal quantity of ground barley; add to this a 
little animal meal, and once a day some bone meal. For 
the first week feed four or five times per day. After that 
three times will be sufficient and then you can begin to 
add a little grain to their diet. At 'four weeks grain can 
compose half the food, after which you may give less and 
less barley and eggs each week. After ten or twelve weeks 
they will need no more of the egg. Wheat and cracked 
corn, with a little barley, is about all you need in the line 
of grain. From the first give plenty of green food, such 
as clover, grass, lettuce, etc., each day; also a little 
chopped meat every day or two. Keep plenty of pure, 
fresh water where they can get it. It is best to use the 
patent drinking fountains, for if you use an open vessel 
many young birds will be drowned. 
We are stocking with the English ring-neck. I have 
had no success with the Chinese pheasants imported 
from Oregon. Out of thirty hatched none lived over a 
month. 
Last year we sold a number of sittings of eggs from our 
English ring-necks to different clubs and individuals who 
wished to stock with pheasants. This year we have a 
larger breeding stock and can furnish a few sittings at $5 
per sitting. 
The birds we liberated last spring have done' exceed- 
ingly well, and we feel very much encouraged, One 
pair reared nine young, and all were alive a short time 
ago. Reports of flocks of five, eight, twelve and seven- 
teen are frequently made. 
Pheasants are our coming game bird, and those inter- 
ested in game protection and propagation should investi- 
gate the matter. In my opinion money spent on import- 
ing Southern quail is wasted, for a hard winter kills them 
off. Arthur G. Baumgartel, 
Sec'y-Treas. Rod and Gun Club. 
Hard Times and Game Laws. 
I happened to be in Peekskill last Saturday evening, 
and while I was walking up from the station two young 
fellows passed me, and I heard the following dialogue: 
"I say, Jim, how 're you getting on?" 
"Oh, very well." 
"How the deuce can you say you are gettin' along 
very well when you haven't done a stroke of work in 
three months? These are the hardest times I have ever 
seen. The times are so hard that you can't go shootin' 
nor you can't go fiehin'. Take these laws just as they are 
at the present time; now look at it; if a duck comes up 
the river I can't shoot it; if I do there will be one of those 
game detectors after me ; and I read in the paper a little 
while ago that Grover went duck shooting and shot them 
by the back load. Then look at the fishin' laws. Why, a 
poor devil like me can't go down here and catch a bass 
that weighs Jib. or less; if you do another one of these 
detectors is around. I tell you these times have got to 
change. Mills ain't a-runnin', can't get any work, can't 
go a-shootin' or nothin'; what the deuce are we goin' to 
do?" H. 
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