424 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Nov. 28, 189fe. 
Mb opportunity for investigation had been neglected or 
that ne never had had any. 0. W. Blanohakd. 
Keenb Valley, Adirondacks. — Editor f>,Forest and 
Stneam: Those who hold that the deer eats lilypads of the 
Jellow water or pond lily are right; unless they allow 
ulian to hold them technically to the broad leaves that 
lie on the surface of the water being pads. I cannot say 
they eat those, but I do know that deer eat the blossoms 
and stalks of the yellow pond lily, as I have killed them 
feeding on them, and their stomachs were filled with 
them. I have known it for years as a sign of deer having 
been there a short time before, new or old signs of crop- 
ping. 
Now, you may tell your correspondent that old Mountain 
Phelps says that deer feed on yellow pond lilies quite pro- 
fusely the latter part of June and most of J uly (leaving 
pads out of the question). Orson S, iPHELPS. 
Busiras, Me. — Editor Forest and Stream: Will say in 
regard to deer, they do not eat the pad, but they do eat 
the bloom and also the roots of the water lily. 
A. S. Douglass. 
Brewer, Me. — Editor Forest and Stream: Eegarding 
deer eating lilypads, one to be sure must either examine 
the contents of stomachs or else be very close or have a 
strong glass. As I never approved of killing deer to waste 
in warm weather, I have never even tried to kill one when 
feeding in the water, and never was near when one was 
so killed; but to the best of my knowledge and belief deer 
do eat pads. 
My son (now nineteen years old and a very close ob- 
server) was this summer away from me in the woods four 
days on an up-river trip. In this time he saw some fifty 
deer. On his return he told me of seeing deer eat pads. 
I asked him yesterday if he was certain. He says that he 
was close to one and saw her pull and chew and swallow 
lilypads. That she did not spit them out, nor have any-- 
thing else in her mouth. Also that another deer, which 
they came upon suddenly just as she had pulled a leaf, 
ran ashore, carrying it in her mouth with the long stem 
dragging. 
I can speak more decidedly from personal knowledge 
regarding Julian's statement that a deer cannot swim and 
eat lilypads. He says, "This is too absurd even to call 
for an answer." This shows that he does not know his A 
B C's about deer. A deer can swim and feed just as well 
as a muskrat. He says that a deer when in the short coat 
has all he can do to keep his head above water. It he 
had chased them in a light canoe as much as I did for 
fun this July he would think differently, and they were 
old bucks, with large, heavy horns to weigh them down. 
I have seen a deer in October when the water was cold 
lie out in the middle of a lake with only head and rump 
showing for at least an hour. A deer when shot in the 
water almost always floats. Of many hundreds I have 
known killed in the water I have never heard of but two 
sinking, and both these were bucks having large horns, 
and both were wounded and took in water. One of these 
rose and was recovered the same afternoon; perhaps 
only kicked under and rose again and was not seen till 
afterward. 
I know surely that moose both can and do swim and 
feed on lilypads when swimming. Moose wade a great 
deal, and when so doing feed both on pads and also on the 
immense roots of the yellow water lily, which they tear 
from the bottom and eat as cattle eat turnips, leaving 
great pieces which drop when eating. But when they 
swim and feed they only crop the pads. 
It is foolishness for Julian or anyone else to state that 
a deer cannot swim and feed. I will also state positively, 
what many will dispute, that a deer can dive and swim 
under water. The hounds of my old frinnd Rod Parks 
drove a deer in near the foot of Phillips Lake, nine miles 
east of here. The deer swam down toward the boom at 
the outlet, and on reaching the boom dove and swam 
imder the boom, and was seen when he did it. 
Moose often when wading deep and reaching down 
after Illy roots are entirely under water for quite a while. 
In your last issue Henry Braithwaite speaks of this and he 
is correct, as also when he tells of bear killing moose. I 
have for many years had sure proof that both of these 
things were done. Manly Hardy. 
Breweb, Me. 
Twin Dam, Me.— Editor Forest and Stream: I have 
seen deer pull up the roots and eat the small branches 
from the roots. I have also seen them eat the buds be- 
fore the lilies blossom, and I have seen them eat the flow- 
ers when in blossom; but I have never known them to 
eat the pads. As a proof, we find so many of the pads 
lying in the lakes and the roots and flowers gone. I have 
asked some old guides who have hunted, trapped and 
guided for the last thirty years, and they all confirm my 
statement. L. M. Geerish. 
Lowell, Me., Oct. 30.— Editor Forest and Stream: In 
your issue of Oct. 31 I notice the statements made by 
Julian, that if Dr. Skinner has seen what he says he has 
he has seen what no other man ever saw before and what 
no man will ever see again. I do not like to squarely 
contradict Julian, but in this case I can't help it, for I 
have seen lily stems sticking out of the water, the pads 
having been nipped off by deer, and have seen deer feed- 
ing on them, and I have seen deer swimming and feeding 
at the same time. 
I have just returned from my camps on the Seboia 
Lakes. While I was there the dead water streams f rozg 
over. After they thawed out I was paddling my canoe 
up one of them when I saw what I at first thought were, 
ducks, but on getting closer I saw it was three deer. They 
were in the middle of the stream, which was some 40ft. 
wide. Their backs were a little out of water, and I 
think their feet were on the bottom most of the time. I 
"watched them but a short time, when they went near the 
shore and their bodies came out of water. They were 
feeding on lilypads and I noticed the new stems that they 
took the pads from. I know that at least one of them 
was surely a deer, for I took him into my canoe and car- 
ried him to camp. Jonathan Da^^jING, 
BpTPKL, Me.— Editor Forest and Stream: I have always 
found it a difficult job to approach a deer while feeding 
in the water in daytime near enough to make a success^ 
ful shot, let aloae seeing what he was eating; still I am 
peiisuaded tt^t the IMjpad is part Qt tUe di^fc of ijkQ red 
deer in summer — I mean the yellow'pond lily, "spatter 
dock (Ntiphar advena). I have never noticed their eat- 
ing the white water Uly, as that plant is not so common 
in the Maine woods. 
The lower Richardson Pond — situated about one mile 
north of the head of the MoUychunkemunk Lake (one of 
the Rangeleys)— is a famous place for deer to feed, and it is 
covered with the yellow lilypad, almost obscuring the 
water, and it is easy to see where the deer have fed the 
tops off; and it is just as easy to see that no other animal 
did it, as a sand beach reaches the whole length on the 
east side of the pond and no other tracks have we eVer 
seen there except of deer; and they have deep trodden 
paths leading to this pond from various directions. 
Again, aU woodsmen and huhtei"8 know that deer fre- 
quent that part of lakes and ponds where there is abun- 
dance of lilypads, and not so much where there are only 
grasses. 
And such has been my observation in all my hunting 
life of twenty-five years in the woods of northern Maine; 
and when I wanted a deer, before we had game laws, I 
went where there was abundance of lilypads, not 
dreaming of such an absurdity as that deer did not eat 
lilypads and lilies too. J. G. Rich, 
New York, Nov. 20.— Editor Forest and Stream: In 
looking for deer signs early in the season when travehng 
through the woods I always examine the cut ends of yel- 
low lily stems sticking out of the water. If the pads and 
flowers have been cut off by muskrats the end of the stem 
is torn and rather ragged. If a deer has cut them off the 
ead of the stem is clean-cut. One soon learns to tell at a 
distance of several yards whether a deer or a muskrat has 
been at work among the lilies. 
I have often seen doer eating lilypads and flowers, but 
do not remember to have seen a deer do this while swim- 
ming along, as one correspondent states. A deer could do 
it easily enough, for he is nearly as much at home in the 
water as a muskrat is. Muskrats are fond of the large, 
fleshy root of the yellow water lily, and they often depend 
largely upon this food supply in winter when ice covers 
the water. Some of the land rats and mice swina out to 
the lilies in summer and cut off the buds and flowers, 
which they eat after towing them ashore. 
Robert T. Morris. 
PHlLADELPHtA, Nov. 20,— Editor Forest and Stream: 1 
have frequently found lilypads in the stomachs of deer, 
as it has been my practice to examine the stomachs of all 
deer kflled by myself, or by others when I have been 
present. These deer were mostly killed at Tupper Lake, 
in the Adirondacks. D. N. McOadden, Taxidermist, 
MASTODONS IN ALASKA. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Our honored friend, Mr, Charles Hallock, judging from 
a recent article in your paper, apparently takes consider- 
able stock in the stories of miners and Indians relative 
to the existence of the mastadon in the interior forests of 
Alaska, 
I sincerely trust that these rumors showing that the 
animal still exists may not prove unfounded, and that we 
may be enabled to add this noble beast to our list of 
American game, 
I would not, howevet, advise a general exodus of our 
sportsmen to Alaska with the sole object of bagging a 
mastodon, as I imagine that disappointments would be 
many and successes few and far between. I do not be- 
lieve that there is the slightest probability that any of the 
giant proboscidians living or extinct would thrive or 
even exist in any portion of Alaska (some of the islands 
perhaps excepted), under the Clitnatic and other condi- 
tions that obtain there at this time, and would quite as 
Boon expect to encounter a plesiosaurus in an Alaskan 
stream as to find a mastodon in an Alaskan forest. 
While there are undoubtedly instances where the re- 
mains of this mammal have been found under conditions 
that would seem to indicate that man was "in at the 
death" and possibly took a hand in the killing, it is also 
quite as evident that the game had been bagged very 
many moons prior to our grandfathers' days. Admitting 
that the mastodon was One of tlie last of the giant mam- 
mals to leave iis, the date when the last one took his de- 
parture from the shady groves of Alaska may be safely 
placed at thousands of years ago. The flora and fauna of 
Alaska in the days when the mastodon was in the flesh 
were wholly unlike those there at present, and the struc- 
ture and habits of this animal were such that it could 
probably exist only in a warm or at least temperate 
climate and corresponding environment. 
The excellent state of preservation in which many 
mastodonic remains are found in the Arctic regions is no 
proof of a recent demise of the animal, but is rather ac- 
counted for by the conditions and surroundings that 
have prevented decay. However, it is not proof positive 
that the missing link does not or did not exist, because 
we have not yet discovered it or its remains; and the 
same line of reason may be adapted to the problem of the 
existence at this time of the mastodon in Alaska. A care- 
ful study of existing conditions will, I believe, incline 
ninety- nine out of every hundred of us to the negative side 
of the question in this Alaskan case; nevertheless, in the 
interest of science, let us hope that the Stick Indian upon 
whose story the existence of at least one mastodon de- 
pends may have been of the George Washington order 
in the matter of veracity. If it should transpire that this 
one, as the sole survivor of bis race, still roams the wilds 
of Alaska, may the kindly offices of Fores r and Stream 
be invoked to counsel sportsmen and Alaskan hunters to 
spare that beast, touch not a single limb, nor hew a chip 
from its trunk. S. 
Troy, N. Y., Kov. 14. 
An Early Snowy Owl. 
JjOCKPORT, N. Y., Nov. 12.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
To-day a Mr. Whitcomb, of the town of Somerset, this 
county, brought to me a live snowy owl {Nyetea nyctea); 
this I think is an early arrival for this species. I have a 
number of records, the earliest of which is Nov, 29. 
Noticing that the bird did not seem to be hurt, I asked Mr, 
Whitcomb if he caught it in a trap, and was surprised 
when he told me that it was sitting on the fence and that 
he walked up behind and caught it by the legs. The 
bird seemed to be in good condition and Mr. Whitcomb 
aEfsured me "that it e&ts freely o^ meat andj ecrapa from 
the table," As he wished to sell the bird, I gave him the 
address, of three zoological associations. 
Mr. W. thinks that he can make more picking owls 
from the fences than picking apples ahd driving them to 
market to sell for 50 cents per barrel, when he has to pay 
28 cents for the barreli he puts them iUi 
Nov. 17.— Mr. C. L. Westerman, of Royalton, judt 
brought to me another snowy owl alive, but with brokeh 
wing, and like all others wants to sell it. I will not en- 
courage them to shoot the birds by buying when they 
bring them to me. They often ask how much it woUld 
cost to "stufii them," and when told $5 or |6, but that 1 
do not do it, they think that is more than they woiild 
care to pay. 
t saw a Northern shrike (Lanius horealis) this morning, 
which is also earlier than any record I have. 
J. L. DAvisoii. 
WHERE TO GO. 
One important, useful and considerable part of the Foekst and 
Stream's service to the sportsmen's community is the information 
given inquirers for shooting and fishing resorts. We make it our 
business to know vrhere to send the sportsman for large or small 
game, or in quest of his favorite fish, and this knowledge is freely im- 
parted on requesl;. 
On the other hand, we are constantly seeking information of this 
character for the benefit of our patrons, and we invite sportsmen, 
hotel proprietors and others to communicate to us whatever may b8 
of advantage to the sportsman tourist. 
AN INDIANA SOUIRREL SHOOT. 
Repeated frosts, rains and a succession of windjr days 
had stripped most of the trees of their leaves, and kept 
the squirrels pretty closely indoors, but as yesterday morn- 
ing the day came with bright sunshine and promise of ho 
wind, it was sure to be a good squirrel day, and thesijuir- 
rels were sure to be good for a Sunday breakfast too, if 
they could be brought to bag. So after the fi-ost had 
melted from the sunny spots and the sunshine began to 
feel a little warm, I drove a couple of miles to a patch of 
woods that were known to be good squirrel country. 
There were 100 acres of the woods, level, eicept that 
along one side and across the corner ran a little creek, 
and where the land was sloped toward the creek it was 
divided into ridges by a number of ravines. This made 
an excellent lay of the land, for by walking along the 
ravine it was easy to get close to any game that might be 
just over the ridge. But this morning they were not 
there. It was plain that they were not on the ground 
now, for none were to be seen, and if there had been any 
they could have been heard for lOOyds. rustling the 
newly fallen leaves. A sharp lookout was also kept for 
squirrels running in the tree tops. A half hour's quiet 
stalking did not show one, 
Knowing that these squirrels were very shy from being 
hunted so much, and also knowing they haVe no fear of 
a stationaty object even though it be a man with a gUa, 
I sat down and kept motionless, Now it is a squirrel 
peculiarity, that if he sees a man moving, and the man 
sits down' and keeps still, the squirrel wonders what has 
become of the man, and often expresses himself by bark- 
ing. It was so in this instance, for in less than five min- 
utes one set uj> a vigorous barking a hundred yards away. 
Then I began a very stealthy approach toward the bark- 
ing. It ceased before half the distance had been covered, 
but i kept on until neat where the noiae had been and 
waited again. 
In a few minutes one was heard running over the rough 
bark of a nearby ash. There were two, and they seemed 
to have forgotten about me. for they were chasing each 
other over the big limbs. They were within fair range, 
and presently one of them offered a fair shot, which I 
took advantage of and missed, or at least did not kill, for 
the squirrel instantly ran down to the ground, keeping on 
the further side of the tree. The other one came to my 
side of the tree and a snap shot killed it. By this time 
the first one was on the ground and running away. The 
ejected shell was no more than thrown out of the gun till 
a fresh one was in, and I was trying to shoot the running 
squirrel, but so many bushes and bodies of trees were in 
the way that no shot was possible before the squirrel was 
on a rail fence SOyds. away. It jumped from the fence 
to a tree and quickly made its way up the other side and 
into a hole. 
Walking forty rods further, I sat down on a log near to 
and overlooking the creek valley, a hundred yards wide, 
covered with grass, with here and there a tree, but no 
underbrush. Presently a fox equirrel began barking in a 
suppressed way and not far off; but some beech trees with 
lots of leaves were in the way, and nothing could be seen. 
While cautiously trying to get nearer, I caught a glimpse 
of one running up' the body of a tree within 20yds, I 
dropped upon a nearby log and kept still, but not long, for 
another squirrel began barkine; within 50ft,, but could not 
be seen. The barking put confidence in the one up the 
other tree, and he ran out on a dead limb and squatted 
there for a sun bath, but instead got a shower bath of 
lead. Keeping perfectly still after this shot soon restored 
confidence in the one that had been barking, and he began 
it again. He was still invisible, but a third one now ran 
up to the top of a broken limb, and squatting on the end 
of the limb proceeded to adjust his tail so it would show 
to good advantage. This one was promptly brought to 
bag. The barking one jumped on to a shell bark hickory 
and scurried up its further side. I could hear his sharp 
nails scratching the bark and see small pieces of bark fallr 
ing, but got no glimpse of the squirrel. After waiting 
fifteen minutes, and having no sight nor sound from the 
squirrel, I took out the opera glasses and carefuUy scanned 
the tree. Away up yonder, 80ft. high, could be seen a 
foreleg and just a little glimpse of a hindfoot as he lay on 
a horizontal limb. Thinking a club thrown on the other 
side of the tree might bring him in plainer view, liried 
it, but it only drove him into a hole. 
I walked away and along the rail fence that ran 
through the woods, going very slowly and quietly, hop- 
ing to find some just over the little hill ahead of me. 
But none were visible, so I turned off across the woods at 
a right angle to the fence, and bad got lOOyde. when a 
fox squirrel began P h^U, app&rently Just where I bad 
