24 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Jtjlt 10, 1897. 
records of tlie days gone by, lay within a few days' journey 
from where we then encamped, and fully visible from our 
prairies, lying high and bold upon the further boundary of 
that high cup of the mountains which is now the home of 
the Blackfeet people. 
O-to-ko-mi, as I have said, told his story in Piegan, and 
held his usual discourse in that tongue; but he had a sort 
of underetanding of English as well as Blackfoot, which 
was perhaps as well, considering the polyglot medium of 
communication in vogue in the pamp. Schultz would be 
talking Blackfoot to O-to-ko-mi with one hand and English 
to Billy with the other. BUly speaks English, French, 
Kegan, Cree, Sioux and, I think he said, also the Crow 
language. At times, when busy talking with O-to-ko-mi 
and myself at the same time, he would get his linguistic 
wires crossed, somewhat after the fashion of old John 
Monroe, though more intelligibly. Once, I remember, he 
said something to O-to-ko-mi which sounded like "Ex sin- 
u-sak, na cook it — ^to grease the pan with." In response to 
this, O-to-ko-mi handed him a bit of bacon rind which was 
lying near by on his side of the fire. By this I inferred 
that Billy had asked for this piece of bacon rind, though I 
do not know how near I have come to the Blackfoot pho- 
netics of it. 
Another story, I remember, Billy told us that first night 
around the lodge fire, a story of war and heroism whose 
scene was laid not far away, and whose time was within 
the memory of the narrator. 
"There is a hi^h rocky hill," said Billy, "a sort of fortress, 
on the top of a bie rise of land some sixty miles northwest 
of Fort Keogh, and this place is called to-day the Crow 
Rock. One time I was riding by this place with two Sioux 
Indians [I think he said their names were Round Wooden 
Shield and Lone Standing Bull], and these Indians told me 
the story of the Crow Rock. 
"They said that some years ago there were some Crows 
camped not far from the place where a good big body of 
Sioux were hunting, and some of the Crows lay in wait 
and shot two Sioux boys who came by them in the grass. 
Others of the Sioux gave the alarm, and it was easy to see 
that there would be a movement for revenge at once. As 
the old men of the Crows knew they were very much out- 
numbered, and as there was no place on that flat prairie 
country where a fight could be made with any chance of 
success, the chiefs of the Crow party hurriedly called their 
people together and ordered a swift retreat. There was 
only one place, as they said, where there was any hope 
that they would be able to make a fight, and tbat was 
many miles away, at this natural fort which now is called 
the Crow Rock. The chiefs ordered every member to 
mount at once and make for that rock as fast as they could 
ride, not stopping on the way, but using every effort to 
reach the place before the Sioux, who were sure to follow 
in full force as soon as their men could be notified. I 
think one or two persons of the party did not obey orders, 
but rode on across the country and so escaped, but the bulk 
of the party kept together, and by riding late into the 
night made the cover of this stronghold. Here they felt 
tolerably safe for the time. 
"The next day the Sioux, who had followed hot on the 
trail, came into sight of their enemy, rounded up in this 
stone fort. The Sioux made efforts to drive the Crows out 
but failed. The Crows only laughed at them and taunted 
them, telling them to come on up and try to take them 
out. They also fired down at the Sioux and shot a few of 
their warnors. Yet the Sioux could inflict no loss on the 
Crows, for they could not see a face at the cracks in the 
rocks, while the Crows could peer out in safety and shoot 
at them. 
"There was with that party of Sioux a young warrior by 
the name of The Little Assinaboine, a good fighter, and a 
man who was not afraid. This man said: 'It is all useless 
for us to stand down here around the foot of this rock, for 
we will never drive the Crows out in that way. The way 
to do is to charge up the hill and get right in under the 
walls, then we will be close to the Crows, and we can get 
over the walls and kill them in a hurry.' " 
"This sounded all very well, but there were few of the 
Sioux who cared to risk a run up the long face of the hill, 
exposed to the rifles of the Crows. The Little Assinaboine, 
however, started up the hill on ahead, crawling fi-om one 
rock to another, keeping under cover the best he could, 
and soon he was followed in this way by other young men, 
who crawled with him as high up the hill as they could 
go under cover. Then The Little Assinaboine ran out 
from cover and started for the next rock which would 
shield him, this being still a little higher up the hill; and 
the others did this also. At last there was no more possi- 
bility of cover from where they lay, clear up to the edge of 
the rock walls behind which the Crows were lying. Then 
The Little Assinaboine called out to the men to follow 
him, and he started out in the open and ran as hard as he 
could up the long, bare front of the hill, till at length he 
was directly under the shelter of the walls, and, luckily, 
unhit by any of the shots fired at him. Others of the 
party seeing that he was not killed, after awhile began to 
run up to him also. Meantime he was calling to the Crows 
inside and putting his rifle up to the cracks in the rocks 
and firing through at the Crows. When a number of the 
Sioux had joined him at last, he said: 'Now let us go over 
the wall, and when we are inside we can kill them all the 
more easily.' So they scaled the walls and jumped down 
in among the Crows and began to shoot and fight with 
clubs and knives. It was not long until every one of the 
Crows was killed— thirty-one in all. Thus the place got 
its name of the Crow Rock. 
"The Sioux always remembered the bravery of this 
young man. The Little Assinaboine, and in order to show 
their appreciation of his courage, and to point out plainly 
what a feat he had done in leading the party that stormed 
the hill, they got long, flat stones — white stones — and they 
laid them up the hill, in the footprints of The Little Assin- 
aboine, where he ran up the hill. I have seen these stones, 
and it may be that they are there even yet." 
E. Hough. 
1806 BoYOB BtriLDiNG, Chicago. 
North Carolina liongf Close Term. 
HlGrHiiAiTDS, N. C. — BMoT FoT6st omd stream: Law of 
North Carolina for Macon and Clay counties prohibits 
hunting with a dog or gun, or killing deer for five years 
from March, 1897, when law was enacted. H. STBVf akt. 
NOTES ON THE COTTON-TEAL OF 
INDIA. 
Mk. F Finn, B. A., F. Z. S. of the Asiatic Society of 
Pengal, India, has very recently ?ent me a copy of his paper, 
published in the proceedings of that Society, on the gait of 
the cotton-teal duck of that country, and its subject matter 
is 80 interesting that I felt a few comments upon it would 
not altogether be out of place in the columns of Foeest and 
Stream. 
Naturalists for a long time past have regarded the cotton- 
teal or goose-teal {Nettopiis m'oniandeliamua) as a very 
remarkable bird, as it was generally believed upon the very 
best of authority that it could not stand or walk like other 
wild ducks. Now a wild duck that could neither stand nor 
walk was certainly a novelty amona wildfowl in any 
avifauna It seems that as early as 1844 the eminent 
naturalist G. R. Gray, said in his "Genera of Birds," that 
this species was "totally incapable of standing or walking 
upon the ground, but invariably flutters along it in a strange 
scuffline manner, like a wounded bird." 
Mr. Gould, however, in his famous "Birds of Australia," 
figured this fowl as standing up, and for this he was criti- 
cised by Blyth, in his catalogue of the birds in the Museum 
of the Asiatic Society (1849). Dr. Jerdon followed suit with 
a contrary opinion, and stated in his "Birds of India" that 
the cotton teal always squat after walking a short distance. 
Blyth also attacked Jerdon, saying he was in error, and that 
the teals in question could only squat, creep and shuffle when 
on the ground. Even as late as 1881 the distinguished Mr. 
Hume, in his "Game Birds and Wildfowl of India," said the 
birds could not walk at all, and when they scrambled about 
on land their legs were never visible below their bodies. 
In other words, it has long been believed among naturalists 
that they had a teal duck in India possessing little or no 
powers of terrestrial locomotion, and in this important 
feature differed from all other known ducks in the world. 
Now, Mr. Finn in his observations has completely upset this 
theory for us, and that in the most conclusive manner pos- 
sible. He has kept many cotton-teal ducks in confinement 
for the very purpose of studying their gait, and has, more- 
over, exhibited before the Asiatic Society living specimens 
of this bird taken in the wild state. A fine male bird walked 
for several yards as soon as it was let out of its cage. Mr. 
Finn attributes the error of Blyth and others to the fact that 
their observations were made upon market-purchased speci- 
mens, and these from cruel treatment were so friofhtencd 
and crippled that they could not walk. They have never 
been noticed by any naturalist to stand upon one leg as other 
teals do; but they are fine swimmers and divers, and more- 
over, have a remarkable power of climbing up wire netting. 
When they normally leave the water in nature they often 
perch upon trees and buildings. 
It may be said in conclusion, however, that nevertheless, 
this teal does exhibit a certain weakness in its legs when on 
land, and this limitation of power is due to inheritance, as 
doubtless for a long time the circumstances of its life have 
been of such a nature as not to demand any exercise of it. 
Dr. R. W. Shufeldt. 
Washington, DC, July 1. 
THE RED-HEADED DUCK.* 
(F'uligula fenna, Stephens.) 
At New Orleans, this bird is commonly known by the 
name of "Dos Gris." It arrives there in great flocks, about 
November 1, and departs late in April, or in the beginning 
of May. On the lakes Borgne, St. John, and Ponchar- 
train, it is very abundant, keeping in large flocks, separate 
from the other species. In that part of the country its food 
consists of small fishes, in pursuit of which it is seen con- 
stantly diving. It is caught in different sorts of nets, and 
easily kept in confinement, feeding greedily on Indian corn, 
whether entire or crushed by the millstone. In 1816, many 
thousands of these ducks, as well as others of different 
species, were caught in nets by a Frenchman, who usually 
sent them alive to market in cages from the narrows of the 
Lakes, especially from those called "Lapointe aux herbes," 
and the "Isle aus pins." So many of them, however, were 
procured by this man, that he after a while gave up sending 
them alive, on account of the great difficulty he encountered 
in procuring a suflicieat number of cages for their accom- 
modation. 
Although Dr. Richardson informs us that this species 
breeds "in all parts of the fur-countiies, from the fiftieth 
parallel to theh most northern limits," I saw none of these 
birds dining the spring and summer months which I spent 
on the coast of Labrador. I was equally unsuccessful in my 
search for it in Newfoundland. Indeed, I have never ob- 
served it eastward of the State of Massachusetts, although 
from thence it is more and more abundant the farther south 
you proceed, until you reach the tributaries of the Missis- 
sippi. Beyond the mouths of that river these birds are 
rarely seen; and when I was there in April, 1837, none were 
observed by my party or myself after we had left the south- 
west Pass on oiir way westward. In the Texas none were 
even heard of. From these circumstances I have inferred 
that, along -with several other species, the red-headed duck 
reaches the Middle and Southern States by passing overland 
or following our great streams, such as the Ohio, Missouri, 
and Mississippi, westward, and the North River and others, 
eastward, both in its vernal and autumnal migrations. This 
I am the more .inclined to believe, on account of the great 
numbers which on such occasions I have seen in ponds in 
the States of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. 
I found it abundant in the marshes near St. Augustine, in 
East Florida, on November 8, 1831, when the young males 
of that year had the breast and lower neck mottled with 
brown and blackish feathers; and yet whilst at General 
Hernandez's in that district, on December 20, they were in 
almost perfect plumage. At this latter period they were 
shy, and kept in company with mallards, American widgeons, 
scaup ducks, and spoonbills, generally in shallow fresh- 
water ponds, at some distance from the seashore. In South 
Carolina these ducks are now much more abundant than 
they were twenty years ago, especially on the Santee River, 
where my friend Dr. Samuel Wilson _ has shot many of 
them, as well as of the canvas-back species. 
The red-headed duck may be said to be equally fond of 
salt and fresh water, and is found in abundance, during its 
♦ From Auduljon's "Ornithologioal Biography," being tUe teyt to 
accompany the plates. 
stay with us, on the Chesapeake Bay, especially in the 
month of March, when it associates with the canvas-back 
and other ducks, and is offered for sale in the Baltimore 
markets in great numbers. There I have seen them sold at 
75 cents the pair, which was lower by 25 cents than their 
price at New Orleans in April, 1837. 
Although they dive much and to a great depth, while in 
our bays and estuaries, yet when in the shallow ponds of 
the interior, they are seen dabbling in the mud along the 
shores, much in the manner of the mallard; and op occa- 
sionally shooting them there. I have found their stomachs 
crammed with young tadpoles and small water-lizards, as 
well as blades of the grasses growing around the banks. 
Nay, on several occasions I have found pretty large acorns 
and beech-nuts in their throats, as well as snails, entire or 
broken, and fragments of the shells of various small unios, 
together with much gravel. 
In confinement they do not exhibit that degree of awk- 
wardness attributed to them when on land. It is true that 
the habitual shortening of the neck detracts from their 
beauty, so that in this state they cannot be said to present a 
graceful appearance; yet their aspect has always been pleas- 
ing to my sight. Their notes are rough and coarse, and 
bear less resemblance to the cries of those species which are 
peculiar to fresh wa'er than those of any other of their 
tribe. Their flight is performed in a hurried manner, and 
they start from the water pell-mell; yet they can continue 
very long on wing, and the motion of their pinions, especi- 
ally at night, produces a clear whistling sound. 
The fine pair from which I made the two figures in the 
plate were given me by my friend Daniel Webster, Esq., of 
Boston, Mass., whose talents and accomplishments are too 
well known to require any eulogium from me. 
The flesh of this bird is generafly esteemed, insomuch that 
many persons know no difference between it and that of the 
canvas-back duck, for which it is not unfreqiiently sold; 
but 1 look upon it as far inferior to that of many other 
ducks. Individuals of both sexes vary much in size. On 
comparing American with European skins, I am unable to 
perceive any difference of color or proportions indicative of 
specific distinction. 
Ravages by Collectors. 
The immense destruction of birds for millinery purposes, 
if continued,' will have the effect of depleting the North 
American continent of insectivorous birds in a few years, 
and the consequent increase of noxious insects detrimental to 
fruit growing and agriculture. The question is, what is the 
remedy, and how to apply it? What, with lazy, loafing bird- 
catchers, the schoolboys and their toy guns, and many of the 
so-called scientific collectors, the constantly decreasing num- 
bers of our beautiful feathered songsters is a matter of pub- 
lic importance. Copies of the insectivorous bird act should 
be displayed in every class and schoolroom, and teachers in- 
structed to impress upon their pupils the reasons why bird 
nests should not be robbed or molested. The destruction 
caused by collectors can be illustrated by the conduct of a 
well-known newspaper man of Buffalo, who, with his 
friends on a Sunday recently, while on an egg-collecting 
tour, was arrested by the Ontario game warden and his col- 
lection of eggs confiscated. In the collection there were 
fifty -four eggs of one species. Many of these eggs were in a 
state of incubation, and worthless for scientific purposes. 
Ladies have it in their power to a great extent to make the 
traffic in bird skins unprofitable, by refusing to wear or pur 
chase millinery having birds or feathers for trimming. 
Ranger. 
"That reminds me." 
HOW I KILLED MY FIRST BUFFALO. 
Away back in the year 1872, when I was a sixteen-year- 
old boy living in northeastern Kansas, and at a time when 
there were thousands of buffalo roaming over the plains of 
the western part of the State, two. bachelor, home.steader 
friends invited me to accompany them buffalo hunting. 
The invitation was gladly accepted, and we started in mid- 
September. We had a good strong wagon, well provisioned, 
also all the necessaries of a complete camping outfit. Our 
team, however, was sure but very slow, for our wagon was" 
drawn by a large yoke of oxen, the property of one of the 
settlers w'ith us. We led two small horses, to be used in the 
chase, under the saddle, when we should come to the 
buffalo. 
How well I remember the days we jogged slowly along 
over the undulating Kansas prairies. After we had traveled 
150 miles we came to the short, curly buffalo grass, which 
barely covered the ground. This grass was burned to a red- 
dish-brown by the" sun shining from a sky with never a 
cloud. And that sky, which seemed of hammered brass, 
produced a sun which would melt the heart of any but en- 
thusiastic hunters. And so we journeyed on, making from 
eighteen to twenty-five miles a day, camping at night beside 
one of the numerous timberless creeks that flow into the Re- 
publican River. 
We met several hunters coming back, all loaded with buf- 
falo meat and hides. This kept om- courage up, and in- 
creased our anxiety to reach the range among the buffalo. 
We saw plenty of small game; also numerous bands of ante- 
lope, to which we paid little attention. We were after the 
great American bison, and bison we would have. 
How slow Pete and Jerry— our oxen— wagged along, 1 
need hardly tell you. It seemed as though the nearer we got 
to the buffalo the slower they became. Every known means 
of increasing their speed was tried, without avail. 
We had traveled two days without road or trail, and 
thought it about time to see something of the game we were 
after. We were approaching the headwaters of the 
Sappa Creek. For nearly a half a day we had seen hoof 
prints and the fresh droppings of buffalo. After making a 
three-mile turn and getting back to the creek we met a 
hunter who told us that the buffalo were all around us, and 
that it was very strange we had seen none in the last _ ten 
miles we had traveled. We pitched our camp at dark in a 
sheltered bend of the creek, turned our oxen loose to gi-aze, 
picketed the horses near, and, tired hunters that we were, 
cooked and ate oiu' supper and lay down to dream of the 
next day's hunt, which should result in tons of meat and 
piles of hides. Before we slept it was decided that each one 
should strike out with his rifle aa early as he pleased, to try 
to get some of the strays from the main herd, now only a 
few miles away. 
