Sept. 22, 1894.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
245 
Bucephalus was always allowed the freedom of the 
grounds as there was good pasturage all around, and the 
place being inclosed by a fence, he could not stray far. 
One morning while we were still in the land of dreams, he 
managed in some unaccountable manner to open the lid 
of our provision box, which we kept just outside the tent, 
and before we were "awake devoured Bibs, of crackers 
and a loaf of bread, besides slobbering over everything 
else in the box so that we were compelled to renew our 
stock immediately. On another occasion he succeeded 
in getting hold of a bag of oats which we kept just inside 
the tent and fed to him only on state occasions, but we 
caught him in the act this time and prevented him from 
gorging himself, which he probably would have done in 
short order if left to himself. He was a very wise and 
knowing animal and possessed the queerest appetite of 
any horse I ever had the fortune to run across. 
There was plenty of good sport to be had, and on leav- 
ing Wabasis we took with us as large a supply as could 
be disposed of among our friends. On the last day of our 
stay, C. and I secured in one and a half hours, seventy good 
sized perch and bluegills, some of the perch weighing as 
high as Hlbs. This was the best record made on the trip, 
which will long be remembered by all concerned in it as 
two of the most enjoyable and well spent weeks of their 
existence. The sum total of expense netted each individ- 
ual only $7.50, which is, I think, a very reasonable figure 
for two weeks of solid enjoyment and healthy sport. I 
will say in conclusion to all who are similarly inclined 
that I know of no better way than this to spend a summer 
vacation and can heartily recommend this mode of travel. 
W. H. Barlow. 
THE DYING SUGAR MAPLE. 
When walking through the woody way, 
That pleasant leads to the North Bay, 
With rod and line and landing net, 
And angler's hopes full joyou? set, 
Oft have I paused to catch again 
A sweetly-perfumed airy vein, 
That a soft wind across my path 
Did striking to my senses waft. 
And oft have hunted toward the wind 
In tangle thick some flower to find, 
That adds such sweetness all unseen 
To northern woods, half ever-green. 
This often done in summer time, 
Not on me then did fortune shine. 
In other woods when autumn came, 
With dog and gun, I found my game; 
I got it not by casting hook, 
Nor shooting of swift-flying duck, 
Though rod and gun had lured me out. 
Great Nature teams with other sport; 
Five senses keen, thought on each waiting, 
Find pleasing game without life taking. 
I saw where stood a stump decaying, 
A fungus broad upon it growing. 
It was a maple, large and old, 
Slow yielding life from earthy mold. 
I broke from it that living growth, 
That odor sweet came startling forth! 
Great Homer tells when warrior fell, 
Life came from wound with blood as well; 
And I with faith did fain receive 
This thought so pleasing to believe- 
As soul of saint at death goes flying — 
'Tis the sweet soul of maple dying ! 
MOOSEHEAD LAKE. NELSON MkKRILL. 
The Yellowstone Game Exploration Trip. 
Louisville, Ky., Aug. 11.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
I yesterday read tbe last of the thirteen articles which 
appeared in FORESt and Stream in the last winter Park 
expedition. I wish to say that I was greatly delighted 
with the whole series and it seems to me that that was one 
of the noted expeditions in the history of the Park. What 
was written about the segregation strip will convince all 
Americans who are not, as Mr. Hough says, either "idiots 
or fools," or I would add a still more numerous class of 
those who would sacrifice the whole Park to place a dol- 
lar in their pockets. I would like to suggest the propriety 
nf getting those articles into pamphlet form. Tbey wou Id 
be of great value. H. M. C. 
Good Books for Every One. 
This is a reading age Young and old. rich and poor, buy 
and read books. To meet these demands there has been an 
enormous production of printed books, good and bad, and a 
great competition in the book trade, which has resulted in 
the publication of standard works at prices that seem ab- 
surdly low when compared with the prices charged for the 
same volumes a few years ago. 
For many years the Forest and Stream Publishing Cs. has 
been known as the largest publishers in America of works 
on outdoor sports, and in that time it has supplied many 
thousands of its readers with volumes on the especial sub- 
jects, and with the lapse of time the trade in such volumes 
has been constantly increasing. With this trade in special 
lines has of late come an increased demand for works more 
general in character, and this demand is growing day by day. 
To meet these requirements of our customers we have 
made arrangements by which we can furnish a number of 
the standard works of English and American authors at 
prices far below those at which they can usually be obtained, 
and we have, therefore, issued a small General Literature 
Catalogue, which will be forwarded free of charge to any one 
who may apply for it. In the list of works which we can 
furnish are found such authors as Walter Scott, George 
Eliot, Washington Irving, Charles Dickens, John Ruskin, 
Cooper, W. Clark Russell and many others almost equally 
well known. 
These works are arranged in series, their prices varying 
from 50 cents to $1.50 a volume. All the works are cloth 
bound except those at $1.50 a volume, which are bound in 
half morocco with gilt top. We have no doubt that as soon 
as this catalogue becomes known to our readers, they will 
avail themselves of its privileges. 
We have recently imported second-hand copies of several 
rather rare and out of print books on sport. Among these 
are Elliot's "Carolina Sports," Lamont's "Yachting in 
Arctic Seas," Dodge's "Hunting Grounds of the Great West" 
and others. Prices of these will be forwarded on application. 
Prairie Chickens. 
Recent reports received by the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Rail- 
way from stations in the prairie chicken country of Miunesota and 
South Dakota all indicate a prospect of the best hunting for years. 
Chickens are. very plentiful and in fine condition. Duck shooting 
pro-jpects are also good Full information can be had by addressing 
Ticket Agent, Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway, 207 Clark street, 
Chicago,— Adv. . 
THE CHARACTER OF THE ROBIN. 
I know of no bird whose manners are so expressive of 
energy and vigilance as those of the robin (Turdus migra- 
torius). Other birds are often to be seen ieisurely and 
idly moving about as though they had no particular 
object in view, or chasing and picking mock quarrels 
with each other, just by way of pastime, but the robin is 
never to be seen acting thus. Whatever he does, is done 
with the air of it being a strict necessity and in a uni- 
formly energetic manner, whether it be his most common 
occupation of exhuming earth worms, or that most 
important of bird doings, the construction of a nest. As 
for his vigilance, it is rarely that he is not on the lookout 
for danger; his most frequent attitude is one expressive of 
watchfulness and suspicion. 
I am watching as I write several birds who are picking 
up the various bugs and worms to be found in a newly 
spaded piece of ground in the garden below; and among 
them is a robin. The other birds, a couple of catbirds and 
some song and chipping sparrows, as they do not see any 
danger, are not expecting it and move about in a perfectly 
unsuspicious and confident manner. But the robin has 
scarcely unearthed one worm, when he must stop and 
listen and look about him. He mounts a lump of earth 
for the purpose of having a better view of his surroundings, 
and his observations being reassuring, he descends with a 
sudden rush, and putting his head close to the ground (as 
if he were a most nearsighted bird), he jerks out a worm 
with most unexpected abruptness. Then carrying his 
prey, perhaps some four or five inches long, with him, he 
ascends his hillock and listens again. 
He has a nest in a pine tree some distance away; not a 
very wisely designed nest for purposes of concealment, 
for it is placed on the end of a branch, and festooned 
with strings of white rags, so that it can be seen a long 
distance away; and judging from his constant vigilance 
and worrying, he believes everybody is conspiring against 
it. I fail to sympathize with a bereaved robin as much 
as with most birds, for the reason that his grief is so ob- 
trusive, and that he has previously shown, on all occasions 
where his fears have b" en awakened, an equal amount of 
it. His behavior in this latter respect has often debarred 
him from my assistance, for it is impossible to know by 
the amonnt of alarm he shows, whether he merely fears 
trouble, or his young hopefuls are being murdered before 
his eyes. 
The robin is not given like some birds to singing his 
song wherever he happens to be, when he takes the 
notion. He apparently considers a song of too much 
importance to be sung at all times and places. It is inter- 
esting sometimes to watch a robin preparing to sing, and 
his manner during the interruptions to which he is liable. 
I was watching one day a robin who, after the manner 
of robins, was diligently digging for worms in a newly 
ploughed field, beside an old barn. He had worked for 
some time, and carried many beakfuls of grubs and 
worms home, when he stopped by way of rest and recrea- 
tion to sing a song. But first he looked about the field to 
see that there were no other birds to lessen the supply of 
worms, and seeing none he started for the roof of the 
barn. Then after having taken the usual survey of his 
surroundings to make sure of it being safe to be off his 
guard a few moments, he, with the air of one dismissing 
all other thoughts from his mind, settled down to his 
song. He was apparently just becoming oblivious to all 
else, when a sudden shriek of triumph and defiance from 
a rival robin, who had taken possession of his hunting 
grounds in the field below, brought him to a sense of out- 
ward things with a start. He listened intently, and his 
attitude grew wrathful, but he hesitated to leave his 
perch; he was in a mood for singing and loth to go to bat- 
tle and work just yet. The challenge was not repeated 
and he was in a too elevated mood to mind the loss of a 
few worms. So after waiting a little he began again, and 
his clear hopeful notes were ringing out afresh when the 
offense was repeated. He did not wait now for consider- 
ation, but with a shriek of wrath and defiance, he started 
for that bird. I could not see them, a fence being in the 
way, but I am certain that other bird found an even more 
determined opponent than usual to deal with. 
C. A Tyndall. 
FLYING SQUIRRELS AS PETS. 
Mohonk Lake, Ulster County, N. Y,, Sept. 1.— A friend 
has just handed me a cutting from a paper with the above 
heading, and coming from Fohest and Stream, I am im- 
pelled to answer it, as I have had the same responsibility 
laid on me. 
I had three baby squirrels given me in the early spring 
of 1893. They were very easily tamed, and I gave them 
nuts to eat and branches to climb over, and thought I had 
provided for all their wants. After a month or so I 
found there was something wrong, as they seemed weak 
or hurt, two of them dragging their hindquarters and 
running with difficulty. After watching them carefully 
for some time I came to the conclusion that I was not 
feeding them their natural food, and then I tried to pic- 
ture their life and what they might eat under such condi- 
tions. I began by trying even at this late day to supply 
the loss of the mother, and gave them milk, which they 
would take from the end of my finger a drop at a time. 
Sometimes I sweetened it very slightly and warmed it. 
When they tired of this and would not take it, I gave 
tnem a thin custard — slightly sweetened, but the best 
thing of all, and the one that seemed to give them the 
most strength was rice pudding—the old-fashioned poor 
man's pudding. A little glass dish of the milky part 
with a little rice left in it was put on their table in the 
evening and in the morning was well eaten. Then I tried 
mushrooms with great success. 
My next experiment was in making the conditions of 
their life more natural. I got a good-sized, common 
kitchen table, had an edge put round it a couple of inches 
high, filled it with wood earth and planted it with moss, 
grass, ferns and a few mossy stones. At one side was a 
glass dish for water, which I was careful to have fresh 
every evening, for the flying squirrel i3 nocturnal, sleep- 
ing all day. coming out as the sun goes down, and eating 
very little till about 10 o'clock or later. I put a long 
mossy stick at the back of the table, and round the edge, 
hanging down, I tacked a chintz or rather printed cheese 
cloth curtain to keep them from falling off, as I feared 
they could not cling to the wooden edge. I put a small 
cage— a flying squirrel cage— at one end of the table and 
filled the floor of it with moss, this because they are pas- 
sionately fond of the turning wheel and spend hours in it, 
all three at a time, getting the exercise of many miles of 
running, I should think. Next, some branches with 
plenty of twigs, one leading to the floor for a ladder in 
case they fell off, and some to the window curtains on 
either side of the table. 
By chance I found they eagerly eat roses, the end of the 
rose leaves, maple blossoms and the ripened seed vessels, 
the nuts of the witch hazel, the acorns of the scrub oak, 
and indeed all acorns, and the pine cones as they open in 
the autumn. From these they pick the little flying seed. 
All these I give them on the branch, so that they may 
take them off and so keep their teeth in order. I give 
them all kinds of fruit, They will pick quite a large 
bush of blueberries in a night, leaving hardly a berry. 
The nut they like the best is the soft shell almond. AIL 
the others they tire of, even of chestnuts. I give them 
English walnuts, pecan nuts and peanuts and beechnuts. 
Occasionally I find a piece of well rotted hemlock in 
the woods. This they tear all to pieces, rolling themselves 
in the scraps. They take earth baths quite regularly. 
When they stop I know it is time to put fresh wood earth 
under the moss, which of course I keep lightly watered. 
On the wall I have a bracket covered with a piece of 
cloth, again to keep them from slipping off the smooth 
wood, and on this is a double-lidded basket (a candy 
basket). I keep one lid a little raised by resting on the, 
turned in handle. In it I put some cotton wool. Over it 
I throw a handkerchief, as they do not like the insecurity 
of the op e n lid. In this they live in perfect content (they 
are uneasy if the basket is on the table). They have 
grown sti-ong and vigorous and are in perfect condition, 
and of course very tame. 
This is a very long letter of suggestions, but there was 
much to say, and all of it necessary for the health of 
these fairy-like little creatures. I should be glad to hear 
of your five and that they are doing well. 
Emily D. Tyson. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Anent flying squirrels and what they eat. We had one 
in our cellar once some six years ago. We bought pota- 
toes a bushel at a time, and now and then some were 
missed. Some telltale pieces led to the discovery of a 
considerable quantity snugly stored away under a plat- 
form. Cakes and other eatables were attacked, and one 
time a cake filled with English walnut meats was nearly 
consumed. It was a mystery how mice or rats could 
reach these things, placed as they were. Finally a new 
tin wash boiler was procured to protect them. One night 
my lucubrations were disturbed by noises from the cellar, 
and taking a lamp I went down. The culprit was perched 
on the side of the boiler. He allowed me to come, lamp 
in hand, near enough to touch him, and remained some 
time. I thought him a squirrel. I had never seen a fly- 
ing squirrel, but when I had gone back up stairs readily 
identified him from the description and illustration I 
found in the eneyclopeedia. 
. A taxidermist friend wanted him, and we were willing 
to part with one who had caused us so much annoyance. 
A box trap was improvised and the game secured. My 
friend came for him and saw him plainly in the trap, and 
took him home in the passenger car. When he trans- 
ferred him to a wire cage he found that he had a large, 
ferocious rat, and the wood of the box trap was eaten 
nearly through. In ten minutes he could have escaped, 
and what might not have happened in the car is hard to 
tell. 
There was no doubt about the squirrel having been there, 
however, for we learned that one had boen turned loose 
shortly before by a nearby neighbor. We never heard of 
it after, nor were we troubled by rats, either before or 
afterward. 
Here is one instance where the squirrel failed to drive 
out the rats. Wykie. 
Barn Owls. 
Sioux Falls, S. D.— While in Nebraska I saw a pair of 
owls that while perhaps common enough elsewhere were 
new to me and also to those in that vicinity. They were 
captured in a nest that was found in the schoqjhouse, 
and perhaps a brief description may be interesting to 
your readers. The birds were about grown and stood 
about 10 or llin. high, were brown on the back and white 
on the breast, the feathers on the head and neck stood 
out and gave a round shape to the head with no evidence 
of the familiar ears common on owls. The beak was 
completely buried in the feathers which were white, 
while around was a narrow circle of brown feathers giv- 
ing the appearance of a monkey's face, a name given the 
birds by the finder. Whether the bird is rare or not I 
do not know, but no one in the vicinity ever saw one like 
it before. W. R. H. 
[The owls are no doubt barn owls (Strix pratineola).] 
The Call of the Coon. 
Essex County, N. Y., Sept. 10.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: There are doubtless among the readers of 
Forest and Stream those who positively know what the 
call or whistle of the raccoon is, if indeed he has any, 
loud enough to be heard any distance. Until last fall I 
was sure I knew the call of the coon; now, however, I 
am sure I do not. Old hunters about here laugh at the 
amateur who tells of hearing coons whistling by night. 
They say that every time, if it were traced up, it would 
be found to be a small owl, and this is my personal ex- 
perience. Last fall I was attracted about nightfall to the 
door by the familiar sound. I could almost have sworn 
it was a coon down by the lake. Presently, however, a 
small owl flapped out of a pear tree near by. I would 
very much like to hear from "them ez knows." 
Heathcote. 
Tame Rose-Breasted Grosbeak. 
Prince's Bay, N. Y.— A lady here in the village has a 
rose-breasted grosbeak which she has had since last April. 
He whistles away all day and seems to enjoy life with the 
rest of the family, being very tame. I thought it was a 
rare bird in these parts. A. L. H. 
[While the rose- breasted grosbeak is nowhere a very 
common bird it has a wide range and is not infrequently 
seen in captivity. It makes a beautiful pet.] 
