Jmmi9. 189?.] FOREST AND STREAM. 488 
"We go on a few yards. Another bird is found and flushed. 
Goodness! how he goes. Two shots ring out but he tiies off 
unharmed. Did you hear him whistle? No — he didn't 
whistle a note. How is that?— he went like a cannon-ball 
and if the sound is made by the r'lpid motion of the wiogs, 
how can he help whistling, whether he wants to or not? 
"He cannot help it, if he makes the noise with his wings; 
in that case it is merely a case of mechanical action and is 
classed with the buzz saw. He wishes to place the greatest 
possible distance between liimself and you in the smallest 
space of time. So the greatest burst of speed must come at 
the start. 
"Now let Nordica or Melba take a whip and swish it 
thnugh the air, and if the motion is rapid enough there will 
be heard a whistling sound and it cannot be prevented. 
Bat these singers do control their throats, and so do the 
woodcock. 
"But here come a number of reliable gentlemen and say, 
'Now we have decided the matter b:yond all doubt. We 
have picked up a wounded woodcock, with half, or perhaps 
the whole, of his bill shot away. We held him by the legs, 
he seemed perfec'l}' strong, made his wings go as if he was 
fljing, and whistled like everything. Must have done it 
with his wings, you see, because he had no bill to whistle 
with.' Well, Madame Nordica does not sing with her bill. 
She sings as your canary or as my mocking bird does, or as 
the woodcock does. When he woos his mate he sings to her 
with his throat. I have seen many a woodcock burst out of 
cover without a note, though he had speed enough to give a 
glorious whistle if the wing theory were true. I have 
watched many a woodcock fly at a very rapid and uniform 
rate— whistle and stop — whistle and stop— repeating this 
performance till he disappeared. If he whistled with his 
wings this would be impossible, but if with his throat, it is 
as easy as it is for a linnet or a bobolink, both of which birds 
sing as they fly. 
"I have been taking notes for more than thirty years. 
"James Wight." 
The Monkeys of Gibraltar. 
The monkeys of Gibraltar — the only ones living in a wild 
State in Europe — have been made the subject of a learned 
monograph by Don Salvador Calderon, in the eighteenth 
volume of the "Anales de la Sociedad Espanola de Historia 
Natural." The fiist known mention of these animals, which 
belong to the plebeian barrel-organ variety (Irmus eoaudatus), 
was made in 1789, in the Memoirs of the Eoyal Society of 
Edinburgh. There has been much discussion of the question 
whether they were originally imported from Morocco or 
were mdigenous to Europe, furnishing proof, in the latter 
case, of the former connection of the two continents. The 
Arabs had a tradition that these animals came to Europe by 
a submarine passage known to them only. It is significant 
that the Mohammedan writers, in their descriptions of the 
newly conquered Iberian Peninsula, nowhere make any 
mention of monkeys. It is only since 1855 that statistical 
records of the monkeys have been kept at Gibraltar. At 
that time they seemed to be dying out. Brehm found only 
eleven in 1856, and a few years later the number was 
reduced to four. It was then replenished by the addition of 
several couples brougbt over from Tangier. This necessity 
of "coloniziilion" led Blainville to express the opinion that 
these monkeys were descendants of a domesticated pair that 
escaped a century or more ago. Their threatened extinction 
forty years ago was largely due to the fact that many of 
them were trapped by the owners of fruit orchards which 
the monkeys used to pillage. This trapping was stopped by 
a special edict of the Government. At present the colony 
includes about twenty monkeys. They are seldom visible, 
except when water is ecarce, and it is believed that theii- 
principal food consists of the roots and fruits of the dwarf 
palm {pahnito), he&idea scorpions and other insects. — I^m 
York Emning Post, 
Singing Mice. 
Mb. HotJGQ's reports of the singing mice, whose songs he 
has so poetically translated for us, reminds me of one that I 
heard many years ago. 1 was doing chores in the barn one 
day in midwinter, when out of a mow of unthrashed oats 
there came a low, sweet warble, which would have attracted 
attention at any time, but still more in the midst of the song- 
less desolation of winter. I did not see the singer, but know 
it could be only the singing mouse, till then a myth, After- 
ward my brother saw and heard one several times in the 
kitchen. This one did not warble, but uttered only separate 
soft musical notes. Awahsoose. 
A Two-Headed Snake. 
Chaumont, N. Y. — Some time in August, 1889, Mr. Will 
Miller, of Alexandria Bay, N. Y., was rambling in the 
woods near there and came across a female milk snake, and 
with her a number of young snakes about 7 or Sin. long. 
Among them was one witb two distinct heads, separating 
Irom each^ other about llin. Each head could open its 
mouth and protrude its tongue independently ot the other. 
This one he caught and carried hume in a cigar box It 
only lived a few days, and he then preserved it in alcohol, 
where I saw it two years afterward, I also saw it wnen 
first caught. Read, 
Deer in Rhode Island. 
Providence, June 10. — Timothy Fanning, who has a 
farm at Happy Hollow, near the Woonsocket water tank, 
reports that last Monday while at his farm he .'aw a deer 
grazing near him. He says the deer was not frightened at 
his approach, and after grazing about the place awhile wan- 
dered off in the woods and went in the direction of Marion- 
vilie. W. H. M. 
They tell this story of Lord Roseberry, who is a very bad 
shot: Not long ago he was on the Scotch moors, and having 
unsuccessfully tired at a covey of birds that rose not ruore 
than 20yds ahead, he exclaimed: "It is strange that none 
of them fell ! I'm positive that some of them must have been 
clruckl" "I dinna doot," returned the keeper, with the 
usual freedom of his class, "that they were struck wi' aston-. 
ishment at gettin' off sae easy]" — Outlook, 
The FoBssT AND Stbeajj is put to press each week on Tuesdau 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach ua at the 
atest by Monday, and as much earlier as practicabje. 
mie md 0m 
GOVERNMENT GAME RESERVES. 
Prom State Fish and Game Protector Chwles A. Shriner. 
Paterson, N. J, June 5. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Anent the project of securing game preserves under govern- 
mental control, permit me to suggest that the preservation of 
migratory birds would be a mere incident to the greater bene- 
fits to be derived from such a projpct. Take, for example, 
this little State of New Jersey. In the southern counties 
there are large areas of what are known as pine barrens, the 
home for many years of most of the wildfowl in the State. 
This property could have been acquired a few years ago for 
a song, and even to-day title might be gained to it for about 
two songs; it pays little taxes, and divided up as it is among 
many owners, is of no economic importance to the general 
public. If this property had been purchased some years ago 
and shooting on it prohibited, the wild deer would not now 
be nearly extinct in this State, nor would the white egret 
have been exterminated. The few people who eked out a 
miserable existence by chopping down the stunted trees or 
by trjing to coax the soil to grow a few vegetables — attempts 
almost invariatjly abandoned after a year or two of experi- 
menting — would have found occupation at something more 
profitable; no one would have been injured thereby, and the 
general community would have been vastly benefited. 
In the northern part of this State there are thousands of 
acres of territory which only a few years ago were leased to 
any person willing to pay the taxes thereon; to day some of 
it can still be obtained at a very low figure. If this property 
had been acquired a few years ago the watershed of the 
Passaic would not have passed into the hands of a few 
capitalists, but would have been owned by the public. I 
know that in other States there are similar tracts of land, 
valueless if the ownership is divided among a number of 
private individuals, but priceless treasures in the hands of 
the Government. 
The project presents difficulties, especially in the hands of 
the National Government officials; but I see no reason why 
each State should not acquire properties of this kind, and 
thus preserve not only the migratory birds, but also the in- 
digenous game, the watersheds and the forests. 
ChAELES a. SHBrNER. 
From W. S. Gfavitt, President of the New York State Association 
for the Protection of Fish and Game. 
Lyons, N. Y., June 10. — Editor Forest and. Stream: Re- 
ferring to a recent article in the Forest and Stream 
relative to the protection of migratory birds, from Mr. Van 
Name, I am more than pleased with the scheme advanced 
and am quite sure that the sportsmen and public generally 
throughout this whole country are becoming aroused to the 
necessity of some concerted action looking toward the better 
preservation of both our game and song birds, As stated, 
any plan which will afford souie additional protection be- 
yond that afforded by the laws of the several States, will be 
particularly desirable. 
It cannot be denied that wildfowl, shore birds and the 
snipe family, as well as the robin, are being rapidly exter- 
minated, by reason of being disturbed and slaughtered upon 
their breeding grounds. 
If it were possible to so arrange legislation in all of the 
States and the several Provinces of Canada by some mutual 
and just legislation, so that it would be unlawful to kill or 
market birds during their natural breeding season, and proper 
restrictions in regard to the shipment of game birds, we 
might expect a large and satisfactory increase, and no 
refuges would then be necessary. 
PubUc sentiment has long been asleep in the matter, and 
it is questionable whether it can be sufficiently awakened to 
meet the urgent demands in the case. With so many con- 
flicting interests and conditions existing throughout this 
broad land, it would be hard to adopt any plan entirely 
acceptable, but, in my opinion, until some united effort is 
made little can be accomplished. 
As above stated, the plan of shutting out the killing of 
game birds during the breeding season, properly graded so 
tar as open dates, to locations or latitudes, the universal pro- 
hibition of the killing of song birds at any time, and the dis- 
couragement of the use of the plumage of birds for decora- 
tions and hat trimmings is, to my mind, the true way of pro- 
tecting both our migraitory and non -migratory birds. 
Just how this can be accomplished is worthy the thought 
and action of every true sportsman in America to-day. 
Pending the putting into effect of such a plan, any such 
scheme as offered by Mr. Van Name is most certainly com- 
mendable, and should have prompt consideration by our 
National Government. 
It would certainly offer some additional protection to our 
migratory birds, and these several refuges might also be used 
in the propagation of certain game birds by the Government 
for the purpose of restocking depleted sections of the coun- 
try, the guards in charge bavin? a double duty to ^perform. 
One thing is certain; something must be done or we shall 
forever lose that which is so dear to every man who loves 
the fields and woodland. W. S Gavitt, Pres. 
From Henry J. Thayer, Secretary Massa<:huaetts Gun Club. 
Boston, June 4. — Editor Forest and Stream: I have care- 
fully read, and with, much interest, the article on "Govern- 
ment Game Preserves," and wish, it were possible to regard 
it as practical as it would be desirable. 
Regarding the desirability of some such system of game 
reserves, or sanctuaries, I ttiink there is no question ; and 
the greatly increasing number of preserves held by private 
shooting clubs, or by individual sportsmen in many sections 
of the East, have already made an appreciable difference in 
the amount of game both on protected land and the more or 
less immediate neighborhood. This has been very apparent 
in many cases wnich I have known, as well in respect to the 
migialory as to the resident supply of game. It has some- 
times seemed to me as if the game didn't mind being killed 
so much as being disturbed ; and in a number of places 
where game was carefully preserved and protected, I have 
noticid that they would leave their sanctuary, to the 
profit and pleasure of outside sportsmen, and when perse- 
cuted return— what was left of th'em — to the spot where they 
could dwell in peace, only to try it over and over again. 
The practicability of such a system — by National or by State 
supervision — I greatly doubt, however; although a system of 
National or State parks or reservations such as we already 
see a beginning of in many sections of the country, may do a 
little toward giving our resident and migratory game slight 
refuge. To give some adequate protection would require 
the whole country to be covered with a whole network of 
spots, some suitable to our wond game, some to our marsh, 
some for our uplands, and some our water fowl. 
Would it be of use for National or State government to 
acquire title to such large amounts of land without an ade- 
quate amount of supervision, such as even now almost no 
State government provides to what it has already? Would 
any of our States relinquish willingly title to its landB for 
the National Government to enforce a game law over ? Will 
the National Government buy waste lands at a probably high 
price for the purpose of preserving game, when it is still 
practically giving away for almost nothing valuable tracts 
elsewhere? The project is good— but the result in the next 
fifty years can only be done by a still further extension of 
the system of private preserves, wrong to my mind in prin- 
ciple, but the only way in practice to" bring the result. A 
game preserve controlled by intelligent men will always 
endeavor to have at the end of each season more game than 
it held the year before, and part or all of the surplus will 
spread to repopulate the surrounding country. The ordi- 
nary gunner in the free woods thinks— probably says— "If I 
don't get that bird some one else will," and he gets it if he 
can. If he had been on a preserve he would more than 
likely have thought, "I guess I can get it next time"--and 
he doesn't. 
The spreading system of private clubs, preserves, and "no 
trespass ' signs are not pleasant to see, and my sympathy is 
always for the man when I see a trespass sign with a charge 
of shot in it. Still, it does much good and will do more 
as it spreads, which it will sui-ely' do, and the salvation of 
our game— resident or migratory— will in the future, I 
think, depend more on private interests than on legislative 
enactments. Henry J. Thayer. 
From Hon. Chas. E. Whitehead, of the New York Association for 
the Protection of Game. 
New York, June 4,,— Editor Forest and Stream- As to the 
benefit and feasibility of the United States setting aside cer- 
tain portions of land as game preserves, I would fully con- 
cur in the benefit to be derived from such a protection. 
The game thus protected would increase rapidly in such 
places and from thence would distribute themselves over the 
country at large. As an illustration, the passenger pigeon 
thirty years ago nested by the millions annually in certain 
forests in Pennsylvania, about thirty miles south of Erie. 
They occupied about four square miles of forest and about 
two nests were built in each tree, each nest holding one 
squab. The place was annually raided by men who came 
in wagons from the surrounding country, bringing butter 
firkins and half ban els. They established camps in the 
woods. They either cut down the trees, or, climbing them, 
raked down the nests. The young birds were cut open, 
and drawn and spitted on wooden splints, packed in the 
firkins, salted and shipped to the markets of distant cities. 
In a few years the pigeons were driven away. They then 
nested in the Northern Peninsula of Michigan, and were 
treated in the same manner, and have since disappeared 
from there. The bird is now unknown. Had the United 
States preserved these nesting grounds by law and police, 
this wonderful bird would still have existed among us. 
As to the feasibility of the plan Mr. Van Name suggests, 
you will find it a matter of difficulty. There are so few 
who take an active interest in such matters that it would be 
hard to obtain the necessary legislation. 
The market-dealers care nothing for the extirpation of 
game providing they can make a present profit. Every pro- 
posed law is resisted by them, or if passed is presently im- 
paired at their solicitation 
Long Island is probably one of the most favored spots in the 
Eastern States for the propagation of game. You can almost 
hear the universal howl that would go upif it was attempted 
by the general government to set it apart as a breeding place 
and to forbid the use of a gun there. The same feeling would 
exist among the neighbors of any favorite piece of land 
from which the sovereign people with its fowling-piece 
should be excluded. 
The only lands that could probably thus be segregated are 
those in the territories. None more important than that 
fraction of land bounding the southeast corner of the Yel- 
lowstone Park.' There is the natural feeding ground and 
resort of the herds of game that live in the Park. Thither 
they all go at certain seasons for food and shelter. It is a 
rough mountainous place and peculiarly adapted to them. 
Thither follow the hunters for slaughter and extermination. 
This land should be included in the Park. A regiment or 
part of a regiment of United States cavalry should be per- 
manently stationed there, with power to exclude hunters and 
to punish trespassers. Then these various breeds of game 
would be preserved, and our children's children give ua 
their gratitude. C. E, W. 
From- Chief Game Warden Edward Tinsley, of Ontario. 
Toronto, June 7. — Mr. W. G. Van Name's excellent 
article should be must strongly indorsed by all true sports- 
men. My friend. Dr. G A. McCal um, of DunnviJle, is 
writing an article on the "Parks and Reservations of On- 
tario" for the Forest and Stream which I feel sure will be 
instructive and interesting to your subscribers. 
E. Thjsley, Chief Game Warden. 
Prospecting for Woodcock. 
New Jersey, .June 10 - While out walking the other day, 
I happtned to think about July woodcock hunting, so I 
started for some likely grounds, and after going through a 
wood I came lo a little brook which runs down through some 
undergrowih and low pin oaks. At last 1 came to a part that 
had been quite wet, but at present was only moist, perhaps 
a little muudy. Leaning down, I discovered the billing of 
woodcock. Then I went home tor my dog, just to see 
whether he had forgotten them or no. On returning, before 
I reached the place I noticed my dog working, so 1 watched 
carefully. All the time he was wagging his tail and going 
cautiously; L knew the bird was running, else he would not 
wag his lail so vigorously. In a moment, right alongside 
the little stream that I had previously gone down, he made a 
point and up got ttie woodcock, and a pretty sight it was, 
too, th )ugh toe foliage is so dense this year you can hardly 
see. He went right up straight until reaching the top of the 
trees, and then went 1 know not where but I don't think it 
was far. My dog flushed quite a num'^er, and I think there 
will be a good many more birds this year thau last, perhaps 
on account of early spring. T. E. D, 
