Forest and stream. 
83 
old dog, I suppose tired of my bungling or inferior 
senses, finally lay down, placed his forepaws about 6 
inches apart, and with his nose touched the grass between 
them, saying, as plainly as he could, "There is your bird, 
pick it up." The expression of his face was so full of 
interest that I wished others were there to see it. Care- 
fully reaching under his nose, I found a quail, save for a 
few feathers on one wing apparently untouched; but 
upon dressing it I found it had been struck by five No. 8s 
and had carried them all that distance. But for the dog 
I should have supposed I had missed, and looked back 
upon the season of 'gg as a riddle I could not solve; but 
now I think larger shot would have solved it very quickly. 
In rabbit shooting ray experience has been much the 
same. I have changed to No. 4 for them; but as an in- 
stance of their vitality, have had one go quite a distance 
with back and hind legs broken and some of these big 
shot driven clean through the back part of his body. 
The second morning of the new year found me back to 
the old grounds at Lost Springs. Business took me up 
the railroad to a certain farm house. That attended to, as 
I had a little time at my disposal, pleasure took me back 
across the fields, where I knew the prairie chickens ought 
to be. Passing along a hedge, where the snow lay thaw- 
ing in the sunshine (why do the wild things love to leave 
their tracks in the snow so well? All the rest of the 
ground was bare.), what was my delight to see the fresh 
tracks of a small bunch of the big grouse. Following 
them slowly, I was soon greeted by the familiar strong 
whirr of wings, and the kuk-kuk of the old cock grouse, 
as they sailed away. I bid them a hearty, Happy New 
Year, and farewell. Mav their numbers increase. 
Pine Tree. 
Guineas and Balled Eels. 
' Editor Forest and Stream: . . 
There's a head line for you ! But I will justify it. Mr. 
'Robert B. White, in your last issue, asks about the 
guinea fowl as a game bird, and if any attempts have 
been made to treat it as such. _ t t • j 
, I have no knowledge of it as a game bird in the United 
States, but in Cuba, at any rate, the guinea fowl is a game 
bird and a very interesting one, too. 
Last winter, when up in the interior of Santiago— the 
easternmost province of the island— I heard a great deal 
about guineas, as they were always called by the Eng- 
lish-speaking people, and though still very weak from a 
severe attack of pneumonia, to which, however, 1 was in- 
■debted for my trip to Cuba, I fondly hoped to get a few 
shots at them. i • i . 
1 Whether the guineas are found wild over all the island 
I do not know, though I suppose they are. At any 
rate, in eastern Cuba they abound, and are "sure enough" 
wild, and T was told they were very satisfactory from the 
'sportsman's point of view. 
On more than one occasion I saw several guinea fowl 
brought in by hunters, and I examined them with much 
• interest. 
It was while spending a few days up at Alto Songo, 
some thirty miles from the City of Santiago, that_ I 
planned my raid on the guineas. We were messing with 
the American postmaster and his wife and two white cap- 
tains of negro companies stationed there, and were thus 
favored with an excellent table in a land where such a 
thing was then a rarity. 
One of the captains, a most genial and generous Mis- 
sissippian, often hunted guineas, and agreed to go out 
with me, he providing saddle horses, guns and entire 
outfit. Owing to several causes, we did not get off till 
8 o'clock in the morning, which was at least an hour or 
two too late, and owing to my weak condition, we were 
obliged to go at a walk. The sun was therefore high and 
hot before we got to the morning feeding ground of a 
flock of the birds, and where my friend had on several 
occasions had good sport. The safe retreat of the birds 
i' was to the dense thickets of bamboo that lined the water 
■ courses. From these they emerge for morning feeding, 
and to these they retreat long before noon, and there it 
is useless to try to follow them. 
We separated, and for an hour slowly quartered an 
old cane field, now more or less grown up to bushes and 
young trees. We were too late, however, and my desire 
was not to be gratified. It was something to be in the 
guinea fowl countr}^ however, and to learn as much 
as I did of their abundance and their qualities as a 
game bird. I believe they are wary and strong fliers. I 
cannot see why they should not do well in our Southern 
States. The canebrake regions of Louisiana and much 
of Florida seem to me to be just the country for them. 
By whom and when were guinea fowl first liberated in 
Cuba? 
It is an interesting question. I have the impression, 
though I cannot verify il;, that the bird is also found 
in Jamaica. 
Now as to "balled eels." On reading in Mr. Wall's 
paper his account of the queer mass of aggregation of eels 
which he saw in a stream, I determined to send you for 
record my one experience in this line. I am glad Mr. 
Mather thinks Mr, Wall's account so interesting, and has 
found courage to tell us what he used to hear froin the 
Long Island fishermen, but which he had always sup- 
posed to be mere fabrications. 
Once, in the autumn, I spent some time in Province- 
town, Mass. I should think it was in the year 187 1. 
While I was there a gale of extraordinary violence swept 
the coast. Ships dragged anchors in the harbor and 
one, I remember, came ashore just back of the post- 
oflice, and its falling mast crushed in the rear of the 
little building. The storm which, as I now recall it, came 
from the southeast, raised such a surf that I donned oil- 
skins and started to go along the inside beach east of the 
town and then across to the "outside" and open Atlantic. 
The force of the wind was so great that at times I could 
make no progress, and once I was thrown flat and rolled 
over and over some distance on the sand. Numbers of 
the little auk were blown inland by the gale, and be- 
wildered and exhausted as they were, they could be easily 
captured. I saw them in the hands of several people, one 
laoy having a bunch of perhaps a dozen. 
I remember that as I stood on the "outside" beach, 
which I finally reached, the surf was tremendous, and its 
thunderous roar nearly deafening, and the force of the 
gale was such, that, wet as it all was, the sand for a 
height of a foot or two drifted like snow. It was, in 
fact, a "sand blast" on a large scale. 
On carelessly exposing my hand to it the blood was 
drawn instantly. 
Out beyond the shore surf were numbers of wild ducks. 
When a comber approached they would gracefully dive 
through it, and come up serenely on the windward side. 
The miscalculation of one duck greatly amused me. For 
some reason, momentary absentmindedness it seemed, he 
did not make his dive at the right moment, and by what 
seemed to be a great crest of a wave forming directly be- 
neath him, he was flung helpless and sprawling, and 
turning over and over some 20 feet up into the air. But 
the strangest experience of my trip, and which I really 
started to write about, was something I saw in the less 
boisterous water of the harbor. It was a mass of eels 
such as Mr. Wall described. They were writhing and 
twisting, but turned in and out and tied up into a great 
ball as large as a half-bushel basket or larger. It was 
to me a horrible and repulsive sight. The mass of eels 
was in the water not many feet from the shore, and seem- 
ing to wash about in the waves, but all the time every part 
of it was writhing and twisting. 
I describe the thing as I remember it clearly even after 
the lapse of so many years. It was one of the most un- 
canny sights. I do not know that I ever spoke of it till 
now. We must have the secret of the eel ball. 
C. H. Amks. 
Macomb, 111.., Jan. 26. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
Robert B. White, your correspondent, asks if there has 
been any attempt made to breed the guinea fowl as a 
game bird. I answer the guinea fowl is a game bird, and 
a native of Africa, where they are found in large flocks 
in a wild state. They are in a wild state on the Island of 
Cuba, and are hunted as game birds. There is no ques- 
tion that the guinea could be turned into a wild state 
again, and would make good game birds. Their nature is 
wild, and if a person even handles their eggs after they 
commence setting on them in the field or brush, they 
leave the nest at once. 
Some time I shall have something to say about the 
foreign game birds which can be introduced into this 
country successfully. I am pleased to know that the 
Mongolian pheasant is a success as far north as Massa- 
chusetts. It is claimed that I have the honor of im- 
porting the first of these birds over the Rocky Moun- 
tains from Oregon, March. 1890. I published it in the 
Forest and Stream, and in less than one month I re- 
ceived one hundred and fifty letters from Maine to old 
Mexico, asking where the Mongolian pheasant could be 
had. I answered every letter, and directed them to the 
State of Oregon, where Judge Denney imported the first 
elevn birds from China in 1872. The letters I received 
came from lawyers, doctors, bankers, real estate men, 
railroad men and the clergy. I was truly glad to learn 
that the shotgun and the dog had such a respectable fol- 
lowing. 
Congressman Lacey has introduced a bill into Congress 
instructing the Government to preserve the game birds of 
our country, and to import foreign game birds. Now let 
every person who is a friend to the game birds write a 
letter to his Congressman and Senator to assist Hon. Mr. 
Lacey to pass his bill. W. O. Blaisdell. 
Plumage of Wild Birds. 
The Audubon Society, of New York, in support of 
an amendment introduced by Assemblyman Hallock to 
prohibit possession of the plumage or skins or any part 
of wild birds other than game, urge that "the law as it 
now stands on the statute books is absolutely worthless, 
as it is impossible to obtain a conviction under it. if 
it is amended by the addition of the words 'nor shall the 
plumage or skins or any part of such birds be so 
possessed,' convictions can be obtained and offenders may 
be punished. 
"We appeal to bird lovers to write at once to their 
representatives in the Senate and Assembly, and urge 
them to aid by their votes in the passage of this amend- 
ment. See them personally if you can, but if that is not 
possible, write a most emphatic and urgent appeal to 
them. 
"Governor Roosevelt in his last message said: 'The 
State should not permit within its limits factories to make 
bird skins or bird feathers into articles of ornament or 
wearing apparel. Ordinary birds, and especially song 
birds, should be rigidly protected.' 
"The object of this amendment is to carry out the 
recommendations of Governor Roosevelt, and thus pro- 
tect the agricultural and forestry interests of the State 
which are now being very seriously damaged by the de- 
struction of birds. — Frank M. Chapman, Chairman 
Executive Committee; William Dutcher, Chairman Law 
Committee." 
Mu. Louis H. Porter has sent to the Assembly Com- 
mittee on Fisheries and Game a letter in comment upon 
the bill in which he writes ; 
I am a mernber of the American Ornithologists' Union 
and of the Linnean Society, and as such have had my 
attention called to House Bill No. 142, introduced by Mr. 
Hallock, which proposed to amend the game law (ex- 
cepting certain birds that are otherwise protected). 
The bill, in my opinion, is a most pernicious one, and 
I earnestly hope that it will be defeated. I am a bird 
lover and believe heartily in bird protection, but such a 
measure as this is the surest way to defeat the alleged 
objects. 
In the first place, the bill is legally very weak, and in my 
opinion violates the United States Constitution in two 
points. It makes it a crime for a man to continue to 
possess property which he has heretofore legally acquired. 
Bird skins imported into the State in the past, or brought 
here by dealers, are, and have been, recognized as prop- 
erty. The private collections of amateur ornithologists in 
this State are valued at many thousand dollars. This 
bill is clearly an attempt to deprive them of this proper^ 
without due process of law, and it is apparently an e.v 
post facto law also, as it makes it a crime for a man to 
remain in the passive and quiet enjoyment of property 
which he now legally owns and possesses. I therefore 
oppose the bill on account of this inherent weakness. 
In the second place, I oppose it on account of its un- 
just effect. I know Mr. Chapman, who is apparently the 
real sponsor of the bill, and I admire his scientific attain- 
ments. But I have no patience with the stand he has 
taken in regard to bird protection. He has probably 
killed as many birds as any man in the State of New 
York. And now he comes out on a crusade against 
amateur collectors who are attempting to follow in his 
steps and by bird study to attain to something of his 
scientific knowledge. He proposes to make it criminal 
for any man to have a collection of birds' skins, unless he 
has a permit, which permits are practically controlled by 
the aforesaid Frank M. Chapman. I do not suppose that 
Mr. Chapman intends to so use his power, but this bill 
would give him the opportunity to suggest to the various 
independent collectors throughout the State, that a present 
of their collection would be highly appreciated. 
My own collection is fortunately situated without the 
State, so that I should not be personally affected by the 
measure. But as I own some 2,000 skins, under this pro- 
posed bill, I should be liable to a fine of $50,000 if I 
should wish to remove my collection to my New York 
residence. I heartily indorse the quotation from Governor 
Roosevelt's message, which is urged in support of this 
bill, "The State should not permit within its limits fac- 
tories to make bird skins or bird feathers into articles of 
ornament or wearing apparel. Ordinary birds, and 
especially song birds, should be rigidly protected." But 
I insist that the proposed measure does not strike alone on 
these lines. It is a high-handed attempt to confiscate the 
property of numerous bird lovers throughout the country 
m the interest of a few ornithologists who hold the 
State permits. 
I trust that the measure will certainly be defeated. 
Yours, very respectfully, 
Louis H. Porter. 
New York State Museum. 
Albany, N. Y., Jan. 18. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
It is the purpose of the New York State Museum to 
publish a bulletin on the birds of New York as soon as 
a thorough biologic survey of the State can be made. 
As the area of the State is so large, it is impossible to 
sc_cure the necessary observations without the assistance 
of those interested in the ornithology of the different 
counties of the State. All that are interested in mak- 
ing this report as complete and as of much value to 
the State as possible, are asked to co-operate with us in 
tins work. In this way the work of different observers 
will be systematized and each will get the benefits of the 
observations of others. The museum is not in a position 
to offer any remuneration for this work, but all due 
credit will be given for lists received and any observa- 
tions published, and all those who send lists and the 
desired information will receive future publications of 
the museum on ornithology. 
The information desired consists of complete lists of 
the birds found in the various sections of the State, with 
notes on the comparative abundance of the different 
specieF, dates of arrival, time of nesting, singing period, 
facts relating to local distribution, effect of storms and 
severe weather on bird Ufe, and the wet and dry season 
of the reproduction of species; notes on the food of 
birds at different seasons of the year and under different 
conditions to determine the comparative benefit and in- 
jury done through the destruction of insects, etc. 
To all those who are willing to co-operate in this 
work, a provisional list of all birds known to occur in 
the state will be sent with full suggestions as to the 
data desired. 
Any information regarding any of the species will be 
cheerfully given, and the assistant zoologist will gladly 
identify any specimens sent to him. 
The State Museum will be glad to receive donations of 
the rarer forms for the collection. 
Those who will aid in this work are respectfully re- 
quested to communicate with the museum at once, and to 
send in at their convenience any lists and important 
notes on last year's field work. 
Frederick J. H. Merrill, Director, 
Rhode Island Bird Notes. 
Providence, R. L, Jan. 28. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
One week ago to-day_, while walking along a country 
road, I saw three white-winged crossbills drinking out 
of one of the wheel ruts that held a little water. They 
were one male and two females. I hardly had time to 
look at them when they took flight and were joined by 
several more that were in the evergreen trees beside the 
road. I tried to find them again, but did not succeed in 
doing so. Probably they disappeared in the swamp, and 
as it was getting dark I gave up the chase. The curator 
of the park museum tells me that these are the first that 
he has any record of for a number of years. To-day we 
found two flickers, chickadees, golden-crowned kinglets, 
juncos and tree sparrows. Nuthatch. 
Bttds in Town, 
Mr. Fred Arts, Jr., reports that one winter morning 
not long ago he saw a chicken hawk flying around be- 
tween Charleton and King streets, which are in the lower 
part of New York City. 
NAMELESS REMITTERS. 
The Forest and Stream Publishing Co. is holding 
several sums of money which have been sent to it for 
subscriptions and books by correspondents who have 
failed to give name and address. If this note comes 
to the eye of any such nameless remitter we trust t% 
hear from him. 
