814 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[April 18, 1896, 
A NEW AUDUBON SOCIETY. 
Boston, Mass. — Editor Forest and Stream: I inclose a 
circular of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, just started 
here. We mean to have members only within the State 
of Massachusetts, trying to thoroughly canvass the State. 
This makes it possible to keep up a permanent interest 
among the members through annual reports orsomesuch 
reminder. The rest of the work of the society is publish- 
ing articles in newspapers and being represented at the 
State house, where we hope for better laws and better 
enforcement. 
What we especially desire is that other States shall 
take up the work on the same lines; and if every State 
would do this the result would be inevitably good. A few 
private contributions of money would cover the expenses, 
which are not large, the principal expense being a sec- 
retary's salary, and the membership fee covers distribu- 
tion of circulars. (Miss) Minna B. Hall. 
The announcement to the society reads: The purpose 
of the society is to discourage buying and wearing for 
ornamental purposes the feathers of any wild bird, and to 
otherwise further the protection of our native birds. 
We would awaken the community to the fact that this 
fashion of wearing feathers means the cruel slaughter of 
myriads of birds, and that some of our finest birds are 
already decimated, and may be utterly exterminated by 
the demand for their feathers. 
We would make an appeal to all lovers of nature, since 
by this reckless demand of fashion the woods and fields 
are being stripped of one of their chief attractions, and 
the country deprived of indispensable friends to agricul- 
ture. 
The use of the aigrette so commonly worn, which is 
obtained from the egret or snowy heron, is a marked 
instance of the evil we would restrain before it is too 
late. These plumes are almost invariably taken from 
the parent bird while it is hatching or rearing its young, 
and the whole family is therefore usually destroyed. 
Chapman in his "Birds of Eastern North America" 
says: "The curse of beauty has numbered the days of this, 
the most dainty and graceful of herons. Twenty years 
ago it was abundant in the South. Now it is the rarest 
of its family. The delicate aigrettes which it donned as 
its nuptial dress were its death warrant. Woman de- 
manded from the bird its wedding plumes, and man sup- 
plied the demand. 
"The Florida herons have gone, and now he is pursu- 
ing the helpless birds to the uttermost parts of the earth. 
Mercilessly they are shot down at their roosts or nesting 
grounds, the coveted feathers are stripped from their 
backs, the carcasses are left to rot, while the young in the 
nest above are starving." 
To lessen the demand is the most effective method of 
staying the evil, and it is earnestly hoped that all intel- 
ligent and humane people will join the society. 
The feathers of the ostrich and other domesticated birds 
may be worn. The ostriches are farmed for their feathers, 
which are taken from them without injury to the birds. 
You are invited to j oia the society. Membership $1. 
No annual assessment. Address Miss Harriet E. Richards, 
secretary and treasurer, Boston Society of Natural His- 
tory, Berkeley street, Boston. 
The pledge reads: "Being in sympathy with the prin- 
ciples of the Massachusetts Audubon Society, I hereby 
agree not to purchase or encourage the use of feathers of 
wild birds for ornamentation. I hereby subscribe $1 to 
become a member of the society." 
THE CAMP ROBBER. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I send you herewith a faithful drawing of a little ani- 
mal which inhabits the forests upon the western slope of 
the Cascade Mountains, and of which I can find no 
description in my natural history. It is called the 
"wood rat" by the hunters, trappers and lumbermen who 
see most of it and know its life history. 
It is a rat sure enough in habit, appearance and charac- 
ter, all but its tail. Its slender muzzle, long whiskers, 
beady eyes, round ears, nearly naked feet and gray-brown 
body indicate the rat; but the tail is that of a chipmunk, 
though a little longer. A big rat, with long, furry tail, 
flattened as is that of a chipmunk, and thinly covered. 
The wood rat is a sociable fellow, loves a joke, and 
affects the Bociety of mankind. 
He loves to steal as well as does the magpie, and will 
carry off anything he can handle just for the fun of the 
thing. His sense of humor is great, and it is no uncom- 
mon occurrence for a whole household to be kept awake 
all night by the rollicking, reckless and tremendous fun 
a couple of these rats will have playing tenpins under the 
rafters. J. A. Beebe, M. D. 
Tacoma, Wash. 
[Under the name camp robber the wood rat, or moun- 
tain rat, described by our correspondent, is one known 
through pretty much the whole Rocky Mountain region 
and even far out on the plains to the east, and the great 
piles of stick which form a portion of its nest are often 
seen near the crevices of the rocky buttes on the prairie 
and in ravines and coulees along the Missouri River. 
This rat belongs to the genus neotoma, and in one form 
or another is distributed over a good part of the country. 
It is more or less abundant in the South, extending as 
far north as Pennsylvania, and as already Btated is found 
in considerable numbers all through the Rocky Mountains 
and country to the west as far as the Pacific. Its common 
name— camp robber— is derived from its habit of picking 
up and carrying away from the camp anything that may 
strike its fancy. In this way it appropriates many 
articles which would be thought useless to it, and 
which it hardly seems possible that it could carry off, 
such things as knives, forks, tin plates, cartridges and 
so on. It is also likely to carry off towels, dish rags 
and small articles of clothing, but these it might be 
imagined would be used for the lining of its nest. In the 
North American Journal of Science some years ago Prof. 
Benjamin Silliman, describing the nest of the wood rat, 
says it is about as large as a bushel basket; it was formed 
entirely of railroad spikes that it had carried away. The 
wood rat is a bold fellow and if he receives any encour- 
agement becomes almost impudent. HiB fondness for the 
property of other people makes him very unpopular with 
campers and settlers in the West, and he is usually killed 
pa sight^JThe qualities of this little animal have attract- 
ed the attention of persons who dwell in the region 
which it inhabits, and a number of interesting articles 
have appeared in Forest and Stream about neotoma. 
One of these, entitled "Monty," was from the pen of the 
late H. P. Ufford. and another interesting sketch was 
written by Capt. Chas. Bondire.] 
Return of the Bluebirds. 
New Rochelle, N. Y., April 8. — Editor Forest and 
Stream: In answer to Mr. Ames's article I send you the 
following extracts from my notes: In the spring and 
fall of last year I saw very few bluebirds, and I know of 
only one pair that nested here last summer. On pleasant 
days this winter I have been surprised to see small flocks 
of " bluebirds, numbering from ten to twenty, in the 
neighborhood of New Rochelle. During last month 
(March), though the migration was very late, numerous 
quantities of bluebirds passed through here, and on 
warm days you can hear their tru-al-ly as of old, I have 
received newB from Maryland that large quantities have 
passed through that State, and have also heard favorable 
accounts from New Jersey . Edwin Irvine Haines. 
Fox Lake, Wis., April 6. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
After an absence of over a year the first bluebird of the 
season was seen here Thursday, April 2. Last season 
none at all were seen here. D. J. H. 
Ballston Spa, N. Y., April 10.— The cold weather 
has broken at last. Bluebirds and robins are here in great 
numbers. I saw three small flocks of black ducks on 
April 2, and quite a number of whistlers and sheldrakes. 
The ice in Saratoga Late is still firm, being 15in. thick. 
I have heard of very few ducks being killed ; those were 
in swamps and pond holes. Bluebird. 
P. S.— I am not a new reader of Forest and Stream, 
but I have had it for about twenty years. 
Providence, R. L, April 9. — I have a question to ask in 
regard to the increase of bluebirds this year over last, 
which I hope some one will answer. How is it that when 
the birds were so scarce last year, even during the fall 
migration, that they were so fairly abundant this spring? 
I have never heard of their breeding in the South during 
the winter. Now, where do they come from? G. C. 
Animal Intelligence. 
Augusta, Me., April 8. — Editor Forest and Stream: I 
agree with Raymond Spears in regard to birds and ani- 
mals having the power of thought and reason. Like M. 
M. S., in March 28, I too believe that they are often 
brighter than a good many of us. 
Now the difference between man and beast is that one 
has reason and the other instinct. In my opinion they 
are one and the same thing, only not so highly developed 
in animal as in man. 
When the mother partridge "plays broken wing," to 
draw the intruder away from her little ones, is it simply 
instinct that somehow, without any reason on her part, 
performs this wonderful piece of intelligence? Or, I sup- 
pose when a crow is flying overhead, and you raise your 
gun, and he suddenly sheers to one side, or turns com- 
pletely about and retraces his flight, that he is acting 
under this wonderful instinct— does not reason that there 
is danger in that gun? Queer, isn't it, this wonderful in- 
stinct that governs him? To my mind he shows as much 
reason in this act as you or I would if some one were 
pointing a rifle at us with the intention of killing. 
Yes, yes, of course this must be this yet unsolved and 
unexplained instinct that informs the crow somehow that 
on getting a certain height above you he is safe from the 
gun. Then circling and hovering far above he will send 
down his defiant battle cry. 
Can or does anyone dare say that the dog, fox and wol- 
verine do not think and reason in all their cunning ways 
and tricks? I think that anybody who half studies the 
life of reynard agrees with me that the crafty fellow is 
able to do his own thinking and planning about as well as 
the average man. Ebeeme. 
Intuition of the Cat. 
Miss Felina is a difficult animal to train, but she will 
sometimes "catch on" by a sort of intuition that is quite 
astonishing. Like a good many boys, I was naughty 
enough to get some fun out of animals by teasing them. 
I had observed that when a cat is weaning her kittens 
she snarls at and cuffs them a good deal if they are per- 
sistent in nursing. Well, when the old cat was particu- 
larly adverse to their attentions I would amuse myself by 
tossing the kittens toward her, when she would work 
herself into a real frenzy of rage, and make a dash for 
her offspring as if she would annihilate them at a stroke. 
Finding my persistence in the game intolerable, she 
started for one of the closed doors of the room which had 
a handle and thumb latch. She jumped and caught the 
handle with one foot, and with the other pressed the 
latch and opened the door. I think this was the first 
time she did it. However, if not the first time, it became 
a regular habit with her, and if she did not learn it at 
that particular time I am at a loss to gueBS how she 
"caught on" how to catch on in so skillful a manner as 
would do credit to any smart dog. N, D. Elting. 
A Blackbird Wintering on the North Side of 
• the Forty-ninth Parallel, North Latitude. 
Estevan, Assa, Canada. — Winter in this vicinity was 
ushered in by a big snowstorm on Nov. 5 and continued 
thereafter, with the exception of a few soft spells (but at 
no time wholly disposing of the snow) till the early days 
of April following. A solitary blackbird, probably de- 
terred by this untoward event from embarking on its 
southern flight, wisely betook itself for shelter to a lone 
police stable near by. For some time it manifested con- 
siderable alarm at its forced proximity to man, but the 
force of circumstances, coupled with the exercise of kindly 
offices in placing food at its disposal, gradually overcame 
this propensity, so that in a short time man's presence 
appeared to be regarded as a matter of course. And so 
this frail denizen of a sunny clime has been enabled, and 
with some degree of enjoyment as evidenced by many a 
cheery note, to withstand the rigors of a northern winter, 
beset with many a storm, and on the advent of spring hail 
the return of its congeners from their southern haunts. 
"' ' ' W.M, 
An Easter Woods Ramble. 
Framingh am, Mass., April 5.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
A pleasant Easter morning drove me to the woods for a 
ramble and I must say that I was both surprised and 
benefited by the indulgence. I Bought no particular 
cover, but my hour in the brush disclosed the fact that 
there was at least one spot in this vicinity where the 
birds had wintered well. I saw no less than seven ruffed 
grouse. I don't think I saw any of the seven twice, as I 
marked the flight of each and could see them quite a 
distance. Three I saw on the ground quite near each 
other, and watched them for a minute before the nearest 
one flushed. Surely here was a brood which must have 
been quite overlooked last fall, and which ought to fur- 
nish some sport for next fall. I saw one meadow lark, 
the first I have seen this season. An old gray squirrel 
diverted my attention for a few moments as I wended 
my way homeward, and a tempting looking brook made 
me register a vow to try it later. The season is backward 
here, ice is still upon secluded ponds, and it will be quite 
the first of May before we can expect to be in any condi- 
tion f jr fishing. Of that more anon. J. W. B. 
Red Squirrel in Southern Indiana. 
United States Fish Commission, Washington, D. C. , 
April 10. — Editor Forest and Stream: Tbe occurrence of 
the red or pine squirrel as far south in Indiana as Thorn- 
town, as recorded in the last number of Forest and 
Stream by Mr. C. E. Tribbett, is unusual and interesting. 
This is not, however, the first record of its capture in cen- 
tral Indiana. 
In Evermann & Butler's Preliminary List of Indiana 
Mammals (Proc. Indiana Academy Science, 1893, p. 130) 
this equirrel is recorded from La Grange, Huntington, 
Fulton, Wabash. Miami. Blackford, Randolph and Frank- 
lin counties. Randolph county is nearly due east of 
Thorntown, and Prof. U. O Cox reports seeing several 
examples in that county in the vicinity of Farmland in 
1888 to 1891. 
It was recorded from Franklin county, some fifty miles 
further south than Thorntown, by Dr. Rufus Haymond, 
the pioneer Hoosier naturalist. 
Barton W. Evermann. 
A Hawkish Pigeon. 
That a domestic pigeon should be meaner than a hawk 
is a statement not easily credited, but in one particular 
instance mentioned by an acquaintance of mine, whose 
word is not to be questioned, a large male bird belonging 
to a person in Ironton, Ohio, sought recreation in killing 
chickens. My friend now and then would find his 
chickens, which were from two to three weeks old, lying 
dead on the ground with their necks broken. He was 
much puzzled to know the cause of their death. But one 
day the secret was revealed, when he saw the pigeon 
alight upon the ground near a chicken and immediately 
pounce upon it and with great dexterity break its neck. 
Being granivorous he had no use for the chicken, and 
therefore his depravity exceeded even that of a hawk, 
N. D. Elting. 
Jf?## nnd (§mu 
OCTOBER DAYS. 
Oct. 16 was an ideal early autumn day, one of the sort 
that makes the business man feel good and the sportsman 
delightful. On this particular bright and cheerful day I 
had a telegram in my pocket from Massachusetts telling 
me to be sure and come. Leaves were off and birds plenti- 
ful, bo I was throwing off all business cares to become for 
a few. days the sportsman in the old Pelham Hills of 
Massachusetts, consequently I could for once in my life 
realize how good the man felt whom I had once heard 
say, under great pressure of pleasure, "I have an embar- 
rassment of riches." 
I sometimes think could any of my dogs understand 
some of the things I say to them while preparing for the 
trip and en route, as well as they understand and have it 
impressed on them while "at it, they would think me a 
fit candidate for an asylum, 
On this trip I take Jennette, but am sorry I can't take 
them all. One as fast as she is all I or any one man on 
earth would care to hunt grouse with. She is particularly 
selected, however, because she is a sure retriever, and 
with her along a wing tip has no terrors for me. 
The baggage master received her on the Boston & Al- 
bany train much as he would a sample trunk, coldly in- 
different, almost with an annoyed look; but how suscepti- 
ble is human nature in a blue uniform. The silver coin 
turned him into a prince of graciousness, and Jennette 
slept on a sack of letters addressed to cultured Boston. I 
in the meantime go back in the train, stow away my out- 
fit, and settle down behind some blue and curly wreaths 
to dream of the victories and defeats of the to-morrow. 
I Tiad just killed my twelfth or thirteenth grouse, and 
Jenn was pointing another, when the sport was rudely 
interrupted by "Play whist?" and realizing that I had 
thoughtlessly refused one time to play poker in Montana 
and old sledge in Colorado, and been set down as a ten- 
derfoot and treated as such, I played whist. 
At Springfield I secured my patient little traveler from 
the smiling baggage master, changed cars, and started 
north. There was a long delay at Holyoke. A freight 
train was wrecked ahead, and my train was to back down 
to Springfield again; but I was not going with it, nor had 
I any intention or desire at this time to visit Holyoke. I 
found that Bartlett's Corner was eighteen miles away, the 
time 9 o'clock in the evening, the stomach empty, the 
spirit fast becoming dejected. The sportsman expects, 
hardships and would be disappointed if he returned home 
without them; they are part of the trip, and to make it a 
success they must needs be. 1 found a liveryman who,' 
for the consideration of $5, agreed to carry me to my des-f 
tination by midnight. 
With Jennette curled up on the seat beside me under a 
generous fur robe the start was made. The foa: had set- 
tled deep and heavy along the Connecticut River, and 
the moon had retired early, leaving the night dark and 
threatening. At Old Hadley I discovered that my driver 
didn't know the road, and although the night was chilly 
I began to get hot. His only lights were two well-spent 
candles in the brackets on each side of the wagon. We 
