Not. 30, 1897.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
403 
ABOUT THE BIRD OF FREEDOM. 
Editor Forest and Stn'eam: 
With a heart that is full of sadness, I feel it my duty to 
inform the readers of Forest and Stream of the untimely 
and disgraceful end of one of Uncle Sam's proud and noble 
birds. When I say disgraceful, I mean that he has dis- 
graced his country by tryine to capture a German leather 
carp, one of the meanest fish that was ever emptied out 
into any of the waters in this country. Mr. Editor, if 
German carp and English sparrows are fair samples of the 
fish and birds on the other side of the water, my advice 
would be to ship us no more. I will now give you a short 
sketch of the particulars of the sad end of this much ad- 
mired bird. 
It appears that Capt. Jesse Popler, while cruising over 
the Susquehanna Flata in his yacht, saw at a distance a 
great commotion in the water, and now and then heard a 
squeal as if something was in trouble. He was not long 
in reaching the object, and to his great surprise he saw 
that one of our large American eagles had both of his 
long claws hooked in the back of a large fish; and he soon 
learned that the fish was a large German leather carp. 
The eagle was nearly drowned when he hauled them both 
on board of his yacht, and he had to kill the eagle to put 
it out of its misery and to get its claws out of the fish's 
back. 
The captain says that the fish would weigh about Slbs., 
and that the eagle would weigh about 121bs. The captain 
seems to think that the eagle, while flying over the flats, 
saw a school of carp feeding in very shoal water, with 
their noses down in the mud, as that is the way they feed 
—exactly like hogs— and that the bird lit down on the 
back of the fish and grabbed him in the back with both 
claws, and closed them so tight that when he found that 
he could not lift the fish out of the water, he could not free 
himself; and there is where the fun comes in. The cap- 
tain says that he has many times seen Barnum & Bailey's 
great circus, but to see one of Uncle Sam's noble birds 
riding over the Susquehanna Flats on the back of a large 
German carp "takes the cake." This may sound a little 
fishy, but it is all true. 
Mr. Editor, I claim to know as much about the life and 
reputation of the eagle family in America as any man in 
this country, as I have known them seventy odd years. 
As far back as 1826, when I was quite a small boy and 
lived on Spesutia Island, where I was born and raised, 
there was there a great rendezvous for eagles, and, in fact, 
for birds of all kinds, vermin and reptiles. Eagles were 
so numerous, that in the spring of the year my father was 
compelled to have a shepherd to watch over his sheep, to 
prevent the eagles from carrying off' his young lambs. It 
was a sight to see a large eagle flying off with a small lamb 
in his claws, and the poor little lamb kicking and bleating 
as he went through the air. Upon one occasion one of 
these savage birds made a sad mistake, and undertook to 
steal a good-sized pig. He darted down and hooked his 
claws in the pig's back, but could not rise with the pig, 
and the pig commenced to squeal. This soon brought the 
old sow, the pig's mother, and she made short work out of 
the eagle, and made a good dinner out of the eagle for her 
and her family. 
I once saw a fight take place between two large eagles. 
When they clinched each other they were about 200ft. 
high, and they came tumbling down and struck the plowed 
ground, and an old colored man ran to them, and killed 
them both with a club. They had their claws fastened so 
deep in each other that he could not pull them apart, but 
had to cut their legs off to separate them. 
The eagle family is the boss family of birds in this coun- 
try, and a terror to all other families of birds, and they are 
the smartest and sharpest birds that I have ever seen. 
They take great delight when they see a fishhawk carry- 
ing a fish in his claws, in making him let go of that fish; 
and the eagle can descend faster than the filsh, and catch 
it in his claws before it falls to the water. This I have 
seen them do hundreds ot times. 
The eagle is an awfully savage bird, and a man runs a 
risk of his life to undertake to rob one of their nests when 
they have young ones. Three gentlemen of my acquaint- 
ance once found an eagle's nest that had two young half- 
grown eagles in it. One of the party swore that he would 
climb the tree and capture the young birds. The old eagle 
was not in sight when he started up the tree, but when he 
got about half way up to the nest the old birds came and 
attacked him. His friends happened to have a gun, and 
had to fire several charges at the eagles before they would 
leave. He went up to the nest and threw the young birds 
out, and his friends captured them and brought them to 
Havre de Grace, where they lived as pets for several years; 
but finally they became so cross about the house and so 
destructive to chickens that they had to be disposed of. 
I will tell 'you a good joke. When I was quite a small 
boy my father told me one day, when the snow covered 
the ground, to hook up our old family horse to the sleigh 
and he and I and old Ben, our family dog, would go down 
in the big woods and kill an eagle. That was fun enough 
for me and Ben. Ben thought that it was his duty to fol- 
low every wagon and sleigh that left home; he was a very 
large dog, with long, curly hair, and a great fighter. So 
the old gentleman put a heavy charge in his long single- 
barrel flintlock gun, and he and I and Ben went for the 
big woods; and we soon saw a very large eagle on the top 
of a large oak tree. Strange to say, it is impossible to 
sneak up near enough to shoot an eagle; but you can ride 
or drive a horse near enough to shoot one any time. Well 
when we got near enough I stopped the sleigh; and the' 
old gentleman banged away and down came the eagle. 
Ben concluded that it was his part of the play to get the 
eagle and bring him to the sleigh. 
As the eagle was only wounded, when he saw Ben com- 
ing he threw himself on his back with both claws up, and. 
when Ben opened his mouth to grab the eagle, the eagle 
grabbed Ben by the nose, and Ben threw his head up and 
also the eagle, and the eagle came down on Ben's back 
and stuck both claws in the long, curly hair on Ben's 
back, and Ben gave a yelp and started for home with the 
eagle nding on his back, and after Ben had gone about a 
half mile he jumped through the gate next to the top rail 
and got the eagle off, and when we found the eagle he had 
both claws full of Ben's hair; but Ben never stopped run- 
ning until he arrived home, and when we got home we 
found Ben lying in the front yard, and he hadn't a smile 
on his countenance, and when the old gentleman threw 
the eagle out of the sleigh and when Ben saw it he jumped 
over the yard fence and went down to the barn and didn't 
come near the house for over a week, and I bad to carry 
poor old Ben's meals to him, and every time Ben saw an 
eagle or a buzzard fly by the house he would run and 
hide. 
In conclusion, I have no hesitation in saying that the 
eagle family can fly higher and stay up longer and descend 
faster and fly faster than any other family of birds to be 
found in this country or any other country, as I watched 
them many times fly above the clouds. 
Capt. E. B, Gallup. 
AMERICAN ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. 
As stated in our last issue, the fifteenth annual congress 
of the American Ornithologists' Union was held in this 
city at the American Museum of Natural History, Nov, 8, 
and continued until Thursday, the 11th. 
Monday was devoted to a meeting of the Council at Mr. 
Dutcher's, and to the evening or business meeting of the 
active members, which was held in the Board Room at the 
Museum. The public meetings, commencing Tuesday, 
Nov. 9, were held in the Lecture Hall of the Museum. 
The active members present were: Drs. J. A. Allen Jon- 
athan Dwight, Jr., and George Bird Grinnell, Messrs. 
Frank M. Chapman, E. P. Bicknell, Wra. Dutcher and L. 
S. Foster, of New York citv; Charles T. Batchelder and 
Dr. Walter Faxon, of Cambridge; Dr. Elliott Coues, A. K. 
Fisher, C. Hart Merriam and Mr. E. W. Nelson, of Wash- 
ington, p. C; Ruthven Dean and D. G. Elliot, of Chicago; 
Dr. Thomas S. Roberts, of Minneapolis; John H. Sage, of 
Portland, Conn., and Witmer Stone, of Philadelphia. 
The associate members present during the sessions were: 
Mrs. Olive Thome Miller, Dr. Wm. C. Rives, Judge John 
N. Clark. Vernon Bailey, Harry D. Eastman, Dr. L. B. 
Bishop, Walter A. Johnson. Wilfred H. Osgood, Gerrit S. 
Miller, Jr., James Newton Baskett, Louis Agassiz Fuertes, 
Harry C. Oberholser, Louis B. Gillet, J. A. Dakin. C. C. 
Young. K. V, Lawrence, C. Will Beebe, Edwin J. Haines, 
Samuel N. Rhoades, Herbert Wheaton Congdon, Waldron 
D. W. Miller, Dr. E. B. Southwick. Henry Hales, Wm. L. 
Baily, Henry W. Beers, Abbott H. Thayer, Prof. W. T. 
Homaday, Frank E. Johnson, Robert B. Lawrence, Dr. W. 
E. Hughes, Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright. 
William Brew.ster was reelected President; Dr. C. Hart 
Merriam and Robert Ridgway, Vice-Presidents; John H. 
Sage, Secretary; William Dutcher, Treasurer; Charles F. 
Batchelder, Frank M. Chapman, Charles B. Cory, Ruthven 
Deane, Drs. Jonathan Dwight, Jr., A. K. Fisher and L. 
Stejneger, members of the Council. 
_ Mr. Charles W. Richmond, of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion, was elected an active member. Eighty-eight associ- 
ate members were elected, many being women. 
A memorial paper on Major Charles Emil Bendire, U. 
S. A., a distinguished member of the Union who died the 
past year, was prepared by Dr. J. 0. Merrill, of Washing- 
ton. In the absence of the author, it was read by Mr. 
Elliot. 
The portfolio carried by John James Audubon, and also 
the original MS. of the first volume of his "Ornithological 
Biography," were exhibited by Dr. Coues. Two original 
bird drawings by John Woodhouse Audtibon were shown. 
Mr. Abbott H. Thayer in an open air talk gave a further 
demonstration of his theory of the principles of protective 
coloration, a subject of great interest to sportsmen. 
Wednesday evening, Nov. 10. an illustrated lecture on 
"A Naturalist's Expedition to East Africa." was given by 
Mr. D. G. Elliot before an audience of 1,500 people, in the 
large lecture hall at the museum. 
The report of the committee on protection of North 
American birds, read by its chairman, Mr. Dutcher, was a 
most valuable document, giving the progress of the work 
done bv the committee during the past year. This report 
will be published in abstract in the Aulc, the official organ 
of the Union, and printed in full as a separate pamphlet. 
Mr. Frank M. Chapman gave an exhibition of lantern 
slides of birds in nature, from material furnished by mem- 
bers of the Union. He was followed by Prof. A. S. Bick- 
more, with lantern slides showing recent advances in 
methods of visual instruction. 
Dr. Coues remarked upon certain Laridm, Dr. Dwight 
showed a ppenimen of a new species of bird for North 
America [Puffimis assimiHs), and Mr. Chapman gave an 
informal talk on the gyrfalcon. , 
Resolutions were passed, thanking the trustees of the 
American Museum of Natural History for granting the use 
of the Board Room and Library for a place of meeting, and 
to the Linnsean Society of New York, for its generous hos- 
pitality. 
It was voted to hold the next annual meeting in Wash- 
ington, D. C, commencing Nov. 14, 1898. 
The papers read at the congress, in addition to those 
already mentioned, were: 
The Summer Birds of the Catskill Alomitains, with remarks upon the 
Faunae of the Region. Ed wiD I. Haines. 
Protective Adaptations of Insects from an Ornithological Point of 
View. Sylvester D Judd 
Summer Birds nf the West Vireinia Spruce Belt. Wilham C. Rives. 
Nestine Habits of Anthony's Vireo C. W, and J. H. Bowles. 
Is Uniformity In Local Lists Possible? .Jonathan Dwigbt, Jr. 
Ten days among the Birds of Northern New Hampshire. John N 
Clark. 
Some Notes on Liberian Birds. Harry C. Oberholser. 
Remarks on a New Theory of the Origm of Bird Migration. J A 
Allen. 
Experiences of an Ornithologist in Mexico. Frank >J. Chapman. 
The Great Roosts on Gabberet Island, opposite North St. Louis O 
Widmann. 
The Terns of Gull Island, N. Y. J. Harris Reed. 
The Petrels of Southern Calif ornia. A. W.Anthony, 
The Terns ot Mu-keget Island, Mass. George H. Mackar. 
Northern Raven Breeding in New England. H. K. Job. 
Breeding Habits of the Common Robin in Eastern Massachusetts 
Reginald Heber Howe, Jr. 
The Horse and tbe Moose. 
New York, Nov. 5.— The note in your issue of Nov 6 
under the heading of "Curious Freak of a Moose," remincled 
me of something that happened while I was staying at Mr. 
Hopkins's camp, two miles below Mr. Ketchum's camp, on 
Nahmakanta Lake, at the same time that Mr. Sargent was 
at Ketchum's. 
On the evening of Oct. 6, just about dusk, we heard some 
splashing on the shore just below the camp, and as we came 
out we noticed some dark object tryin^j to land on the steep, 
rocky shore. 
At first we thought it was a moose, but on closer investi- 
gation we discovered that it was a horse, and assisted it in 
landing, and found that it had received a number of bruises 
on the rocky shore. 
We later learned that this was Mr. Sargeant's horse— the 
same one referred to in your article as being followed by a 
moose — and that it must have swam those two miles from 
Ketchum's to Hopkins's camp, as the shore is too steep and 
rocky and the water too deep for a horse to wade; and any- 
body familiar with the shores of Nahmakanta know that it 
would be impossible for a horse to make its way through the 
forest, unless a way was cut through for him, which they 
had to do to get this horse back. M. L. Good. 
What is a Rou^h Grouse? 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
la Opie Read's novel, "A Tennessee Judge," an allusioH 
is made to one of the grouse family with which I am not 
familiar, and one which I do not remember to have seen 
mentioned in Forest and Stream. 
Decribing the characteristifcs of the wife of Judge Trap- 
nell, the author says: "At times Mrs. Trapnell was so 
smooth as to appear positively glossed with urbanity; but at 
other times her temper was as frowsy as the feathers of a 
rough grouse. " 
Is it possible that the sound of a word has misled Mr. Read, 
and it was a "ruffed" grouse he meant? That can hardly 
be, for our beautiful friend of copse and woodland with the 
ruff about his neck, is anything but "frowsy." Perhaps 
some of your readers may be able to explain the mystery. 
Lexden. 
uttie ^dg und ^uih 
The "Brief's" Pictures. 
There are twenty-nine illustrations in the current edition of Game 
Laws in Brief, most of them full-page half-tones, and all admirably 
printed. The book is a beauty, and well worth having for the illus- 
trations which, Mr. Charles Hallock says, so well represent America's 
wilderness sports. The Brief gives all the laws of the United States 
and Canada for the practical guidance of anglers and shooters. As 
an authority, it has a long record of unassailed and unassailable ac- 
curacy. Forest and Stream Pub. Co. sends it postpaid for 25 cents, 
or your dealer will supply you. 
WOODS LORE. 
How to Read Nature's Compass. 
It frequently happens that the chief pleasure of our an- 
nual outings comes in the pleasant anticipations that are in- 
cidental to the plans and preparatory details while getting 
ready, even weeks before the long-wished for day arrives. 
Also in numerous cases, the little honest pleasure obtained 
from a closer acquaintance with mother nature while in the 
bush is more than counterbalanced by the misfortunes and 
disappointments that befall one. The stories of those more 
favored and successful often appear in print, and are re- 
lated at social dinners, when the imagination, stimulated 
amid happy surroundings, not only draws on the memory 
for details, but paints pictures of its own creation that never 
would be recogaized if met during the last hunt or seen in 
the late camp. The facts that are untold glow with elo- 
quence, and would be by long odds the most interesting 
reading. The flex'ble spirit of the true sportsman, however, 
soon heals the wounds of misfortune, disappointment, etc., 
and it is not long before he is hopefully locking forward to 
his outing the next year. 
Many and varied are the causes that contribute to annoy, 
and, as often happens, when added to disaster, bring a sud- 
den stop to further proceedings and bury deep under disap- 
pointment what promised to be the most enjoyable days of 
the year. 
A whole library has been written by able pens in an en- 
deavor to instruct those who love the rod and gun, [how to 
avoid the evils of malaria and chills from sleeping on cold, 
damp beds at night, how to camp in comfort, how to avoid 
the ravages of black flies and mosquitoes, how to remedy 
the wretched and unhealthy cooking that is so often an ad- 
junct to camp life. 
That this instruction has borne good fruit is seen by the 
higher standard of sportsmanship that oow exists. None of 
these many works, however, have placed before the sports- 
man any information that would assist him to pilot his way 
around in the bush, other than by giving general advice re- 
garding the duties and necessary qualities of guides, etc., 
and careful instructions if you ventured beyond the light' of 
your camp-fire, to go with downcast eyes fixed on the com- 
pass, and to avoid being stared out of countenance or pick- 
ing a quarrel with it. There is probably no other annoy- 
ance, especially to a hunter, so disastrous in consequences 
as a lack of reasonable ability to find his way around in the 
bush. It is also probable that any amount of experience or 
education would fail to make all men alike excel in this par- 
ticular branch of woodcraft. Some of the poorest woods- 
men I ever met were among those who had lived near the 
woods and tramped the bush frequentlv as hunters for 
twenty-five years. The old adage, that hunters and fisher- 
men were born not made, applies with equal force to woods- 
men. The best one among many that I ever met was no 
hunter, rarely killing game of any kind except when in 
want of meat for food. He was contented with his love of 
the woods, to -tramp amid a wealth of shade, to climb 
mountains, and to paddle over the surface of stream and 
lake, purely for a love of his surroundings. His knowledge 
of bush lore would make a good library. 
I think most bushmen will agree with me that no fixed 
rules exist that can be depended upon as an infallible guide 
by which the big woods can be navigated, except those used 
at sea, namely, by the compass, and reckoning from latitude 
and longitude. While this as a system is correct, It does 
not commend itself with its many details to those that love 
to make their way around in the bush free from such mathe. 
matical accuracy attached to every footstep. 
The Sense of Direction. 
Nearly all woodsmen whom I have ever met or hunted 
with employ, to a certain extent, this system while finding 
their way around in a strange bush, where experience has 
furnished them no preyious knowledge of its localities, qsing 
