14 6 
FOREST AND bTREAM. 
[Peb. 24, 1003. 
Colorado Bird Notes. 
I MET with an unusual sight in bird life on Jan, 4. I 
was riding on the range and had reached the top of a 
ridge. The old saw mill road, which we were then fol- 
lowing, makes several sharp curves in its steep descent to 
the bottom of the gulch below. We had just rounded the 
first bend, when I noticed some distance ahead an im- 
mense flock of birds setting in the quaking asps, through 
which the road takes its course. 
My first thought was blackbirds, as they stay with us 
all winter in numbers. We soon approached near enough 
to hear their chattering, and I said to ray companion, 
"Waxwings," supposing tliem to be cedar waxwings. As 
we rode nearer, they all rose and circled about, returning 
to nearly the same place, keeping up their chattering all 
the time. 
Not being positive what they were, as they seemed 
larger than the common cedar waxwing, I dismounted, 
and walking closer, shot at the thinnest part of the flock. 
I secured one specimen, which lodged in the top of a tall 
aspen. As he dropped to the ground I discovered that 
it was a Bohemian waxwing. If the whole flock were of 
the same species, and I think they were, it occurred to me 
as unusual to see so many of this species together. There 
were 2,000 birds in the flock, at a very conservative esti- 
mate. The snow for some distance about was completely 
tracked over, where they had been feeding on the dwarf 
Chokecherrj'- and sarvis berries which grew among the 
quaking asps on the side hill. 
When on the hills again, on Jian. 12, I saw several flocks 
of the same species, each containing several hundred speci- 
mens. 
While riding home AUg. 3, in the morning, during a • 
rain, I chanced to look up at the cottonwoods which line 
the river, and noticed several large birds. There were 
about twenty of them, and I crept up beneath them, un- 
der cover of some scrub oaks, watching them for some 
time, and am positive they were passenger pigeons. 
I was on the range Aug. 19, and when near the top of 
Basalt Mountain, walking across an area of rim rock, 
among which stood a few scattering dead pines, we no- 
ticed a pair of birds. They acted queerly. One would 
fly away, circle about and return to his perch. Then the 
other would try it. Both together would then do the 
same. Tliis was kept up for some time. When separated 
the one resting would utter a peculiar whistling call note, 
which was continued till the one doing the aerial act would 
return. We were within close range of them several 
times, and could distinctly see the beautiful colorings of 
the passenger pigeon. This was at an altitude of over 
10,000 feet. 
Mr. Wilbur F. Smith, in your issue of Jan. 13, speaks 
of an early and late record of the phoebe note. It is pos- 
sible that the phoebe notes he heard were those made by 
the chickadee, as this is one of the many notes this 
sociable little busybody utters. In my winter walks 
through the woods I believe I have heard the phoebe notes 
of this species more on dark days than on days of bright 
sunshine. 
I have seen the passenger pigeon on three occasions 
during the past season. Jttly 20, as I was driving along a 
roadway, which lead through the willows and alders of 
the river bottom, five of these birds flew from a tree by 
the roadside. The day was bright, and I had a good look 
at them. 
I was very careful to identify the specimens seen, as 
well as one could, without having the birds actually in 
hand. I am familiar with the characteristics of the 
passenger pigeon, although I have never met with the 
band-tailed pigeon, but very likely shall during the com- 
ing season. 
The last specimens of Ectopistes migratoria which I 
had seen till last summer, were taken in 1891. My notes 
of Aug. 29, 1891, says: '"'Passenger pigeon had six acorns 
in its crop." As I was at Beaven Dam, Wis., visiting 
at the time, I failed to note any other data, and mounted 
the bird, which I still have in my collection. It was 
shot from the top of a large burr oak along the road- 
side, and was the only one to be seen. 
Notes of Sept. ti, 1891. has this record: "Passenger 
pigeon (juo.). Len., 14^; ex., 23^; wing, 8; tail, 6; 
bill, tar., V/i; toe, etc., ij^. Total len., I2>^. Legs, 
reddish; eyes, hazel; bill, black. Had twenty seeds in its 
crop. Was found dead on the college campus." This 
bird was brought to me by the teacher of the sciences at 
Downer College, Fox Lake, Wis., for whom it was 
mounted. Geo A. Morrison. 
Emma, Col. 
Old New York. 
There are probably not a few sportsmen who remem- 
ber the New York city of olden time. Perhaps there 
are men who have shot Avoodcock north of the Collect 
Pond, or have fished in the creek which ran through 
Canal street. Certainly there are still many men who 
have shot wild pigeons on what is now Riverside Drive, 
caught eels in brooks where now are paved streets, crabbed 
on the sites of great warehouses, and shot quail and 
woodcock near the Columbia College ground. A famous 
place for killing muskrats in winter used to be under a 
solid block of buildings now standing west of the 9th 
Avenue Elevated Railroad. The number of people who 
can recall such exploits is not great to-day, and is grow- 
ing smaller each year. Only last year there died here a 
man who used to tell of how, when he was a little boy, he 
had wandered out into the country beyond the almshouse 
on Chambers street, and had got lost in the fields. He 
recalled how first, as a small boy, and later as a youth, 
it had been his highest ambition and delight to capture 
killies in the old canal. As a small boy too — and a bad 
one — he used to collect fragments of the marble when 
they were building the City Hall and offer them to 
younger children for lumps of sugar, for in those days 
sugar came in a huge loaf and was broken into irregular 
fragments before it could be used. 
That wild ducks should be seen flying over the city is 
not strange, nor that they should be killed in adjacent 
waters, but that a _ ruffed grouse should have been seen 
on the island within forty years is more remarkable. 
Persons who are interested in the history of old New 
York and in publications relating to it, look with in- 
terest on the Historical Index to Valentine's manuals of 
the Corporation, which has recently been issued by 
Francis P. Harper, of this city. This index makes these 
manuals far more useful and more precious than they 
have ever been before. - 
mne^ nnd 0mt 
The White Man Against the Indian. 
In the fall of 1876, while engaged in the live-stock busi- 
ness, I was encamped in the valley of the Snake River, 
at, a point where it receives the waters of the Assotin, 
m the extreme southeast corner of what was then Wash- 
ington Territory, and at that time one of the principal 
camping- places of the Joseph tribe of Indians, known ae 
the "renegades" and "sun-worshippers" of the Nez Per- 
ces. They were "blanket," or wild, Indians, and were 
famed for their stealth and prowess in hunting. 
Such was their reputation in this respect that the ques- 
tion of which was the most successful hunter, the white 
man or the Indian, was often discussed among the mem- 
bers of our company. In fact, it became an every-day 
topic, some contending that there was no white man who 
could hunt with anything like the success of an Indian, 
and going so far as to back up their opinion with the 
offer to pay for the best dinner they could procure 
as soon as we should return to civilization. They claimed 
that they could select one Indian from the tribe then, en- 
camped there, who could make more points than any four 
white men the opposite party might name. 
"I will take you on that. Yes, I will go you one bet- 
ter," Avas the reply. "1 will select one white man of our 
crowd who will make more counts than any four Indians 
you can find anywhere." 
This was quickly taken, the selections were made, and 
the preliminaries arranged. 
The count agreed upon was as follows: Blue grouse i, 
fool-hen i, fox 25, coyote 25, otter 50, beaver 50, fisher 75, 
wolverine 125, grey wolf 200, yellow wolf 250, black bear 
300, brown bear 500, grizzly 1,000, cougar 700, mountain 
lion 800, mountian sheep 500, deer loo^ elk 500, goat 500, 
moose elk 800. 
The time was to extend over threfe days. The hunting 
ground was to begin at the mouth of the Grande Ronde 
River and extend south over a high range of mountains 
lying between the Imnaha, Grande Ronde, Snake and 
Willowa Rivers, embracing a stretch of territory sixty 
miles wide by one hundred in length, highly adapted to 
the habits of large game, which at that time was very 
abundant. This region was one of the principal hunting 
grounds of the Joseph tribe, but up to this time they had 
not commenced their fall hunts, consequently the game 
had not been disturbed. 
The four Indians selected for the contest were Pokh 
Pokh Mamelouse Mowich, the man who kills all the 
deer. 
Black Tail Eagle, the man who hunts elk; 
Nebbouse Testamena, the man of many horses, and 
Uses Ilpilp Metolt Pokh, Gray Three Feathers, the 
man who kills bear. 
I had the honor to be selected as the champion of the 
pale faces, and was called Mox Mox Hilii Suopo, or red- 
whiskered white man, also the man who climbs a tree 
when he sees a grizzly. 
The referees were Noble Henry, a white man who had 
married -a squaw, and Glen, his brother, the former act- 
ing for the Indians. 
The rules governing the hunt were as follows: The 
hunters must be at the mouth of the Grande Ronde 
River on the following Monday night, must camp on the 
north side and not cross over until daylight Tuesday 
morning, when they would be at liberty to pursue the 
game, each in his own way. 
The referees, with the squaws who were to take care 
of the game, must keep in as direct a line as possible from 
this camping ground to a spring located at the top of the 
range, some thirty-five miles distant, where the second 
camp would be located. 
The game must be brought into camp, otherwise it 
would not be counted. 
This contest created a great deal of excitement among 
the Indians, being something entirely new to them, and 
it is needless to say tliat they went into it with a grim 
determination to win. They each had a late improved 
Winchester with an abundance oE ammunition. 
All started early Monday morning for the rendezvous, 
except myself. I was at that time gathering a herd of 
stock to drive across the plains in the spring, and on 
that day I had to superintend the branding of some wild 
horses that had just come in. This detained me until two 
o'clock, when I hastily collected my hunting outfit, 
mounted my best hunting and mountain horse, and, with 
my "old reliable" across the pommel of my saddle, started 
alone to join the party at the motith of the Grande Ronde 
River. 
With thirty miles to travel over a rough range of moun- 
tains, and down the precipitous gorge into the great can- 
yon of the Grande Ronde River, it was but natural that 
I should feel somewhat anxious to reach camp before 
dark. I reached the top of the range a little after sun- 
down, and, in the early twilight, looked down from my 
lofty height into a chasm of dense darkness into which 
1 must pursue my way to reach camp not less than six 
miles distant, and, possibly, many more. 
In order to be as well prepared as possible, I hastily 
dismounted, tightened the saddle girth, placed the can- 
tenos on the back of the saddle, reloaded my revolver, and 
placed a fresh cartridge in my "old reliable," then re- 
mounting, I was soon enveloped in the darkness of the 
canyon, trusting mainly to the sagacity of m}"^ faithful 
horse to keep the narrow trail which followed a sharp 
ridge or spur extending out from the main mountain, 
well knowing that there were places where the slightest 
deviation from the trail on either side would be fatal. 
But I banished all thoughts of danger as signs of weak- 
ness, and soon w^as gladdened by the light of the camp- 
fire gleaming through the darkness far below. Our party 
had built a beacon fire to guide me on my dangerous 
way to a welcome camp and a sumptuous supper. 
Half an hour more and I was in camp. My attendant 
took my horse, and, while I was enjoying the bountiful 
repast of prairie chicken and blue grouse, cooked after 
the most approved camp fashion, my Indian competitors, 
one after another, came in to see me, for up to this time 
they had not known who had the nerve to make the con- 
test against such odds. 
"Totts, mox mox suopo," interpreted "Good evening, 
red-whiskered white man," was the salutation of Pokh 
Pokh Mamelouse Mowich, the leader of the party. After 
they had looked their opponent over and politely made 
a few complimentary remarks, they strode away to their 
tepees, possibly to felicitate themselves on the easy vic- 
tory in store for them. 
But, being well acquainted with the habits of all the 
game in this section, I felt confident that I could at least 
make it interesting for the red men, although they had' 
an advantage in being familiar with every foot of the 
ground, while my knowledge of it was, of course, limited. 
However, with my plans for the following day all ar- 
ranged, I retired early, after placing my "old reliable" 
along side of me and my ammunition tmder my head by 
way of caution, and was soon sound asleep. 
The next morning I awoke at 4 o'clock and called the 
cook, who was out at a bound, and soon had the fire go- 
ing with pots and frying pans filled with the food made 
ready the previous evening for the morning meal. By 
the time the breakfast was eaten, the first streaks of day 
appeared down the dark canyon. Then, all was bustle. 
Tents came down and were quickly packed, horses were 
brought in and saddled, lariats were coiled and securely 
tied, for use in case of emergency. 
While this was being done, I selected an ample supply 
of ammunition, placed it in my cantenos with a small 
lunch of bread and meat, some salt and a generous supply 
of matches, in case I should be compelled to stay out 
over night, and stood leaning on my old reliable, waiting 
for the signal from the referees to cross the river. 
It was soon light enough to see to shoot with accuracy, 
and the word to go was given. I was in the saddle at a 
bound, and, giving the horse the spurs, plunged into the 
water. It was a rapid mountain stream, but my steed 
was a good one and we were soon safe on the other side, 
followed closely by Pokh Pokh Mamelouse Mowich and 
the other three Indians. They turned to the left up a 
canyon, but I kept the trail up the steep ascent of 6,000 
feet in the first six miles of the thirty-five we had to make 
before reaching our next camping place, for I knew that 
at this time of the year the game would be found in the 
thick undergrowth at the head of the canyons, and not 
lower down. So, when a little later, from the high posi- 
tion I had gained, I saw Pokh Pokh below and Uses Ilpilp 
Metotl Pokh hunting up another canyon, I was greatly 
encouraged, for I was sure that they did not know where 
to find the game. 
I pushed my horse along as fast as possible, intending 
to follow the trail until within six or eight miles of where 
we were to camp. Then I turned abruptly to the right 
and went a short distance over the brow of a hill, now 
leading my horse, as the thickness of the willow under- 
brush made it impossible for me to keep my seat in the 
saddle. I had not traveled one hundred yards after dis- 
mounting, before I knew from the signs that I was among 
the game. Coming suddenly upon a little opening at 
the brow of the knoll I dropped the bridle rein, and cau- 
tiously approached the top and peered over, and, sure 
enough, as I had anticipated, there was a large herd of 
mule deer quietly grazing, coming directly toward me. 
They were soon in close gunshot, but to be sure of 
getting, two, I waited for them to come a little nearer. 
I held in my left hand the usual number of cartridges, for 
old reliable was a single-shot rifle, and it took a quick 
motion to reload rapidly enough to get in more than one 
shot before the game would be out of reach in the dense 
woods. 
When they had reached the middle of the little opening, 
I selected one of the finest, which was standing broad- 
side toward me, with its head high up, eating some black 
moss from the trunks of a fir tree. At the crack of the 
gtm he gave three or four bounds: stopped, and, in a few 
seconds, dropped to the ground. Then, quickly reload- 
ing, while the herd was bewildered, I dropped another 
and could have killed more, but did not, because two 
were all I could carry to camp that night. 
It is always a hunter's desire to know where the ball 
strikes the game. In this case, both were shot directly 
through the heart, hence their quick death. The question 
now was how to get the deer to camp, so I brought up 
my horse and got the riata and tied one end of it to the 
trunk of a tree near the ground. Then I climbed a stiff 
sapling near and with the other end of the riata took a 
turn around it near the top, and by pulling with the help 
of my weight, I bent the sapling down and held it by 
means of the riata. Then I fastened one deer to the end 
of the sapling, loosened the riata, and by the springing 
back of the sapling was enabled to lift the deer on the 
horse. This I repeated with the other deer, placing one in 
the saddle and the other behind it, lashing them securely 
with a small rope which I always carried on .hunting 
excursions. 
As the combined weight of the two deer was something 
over four hundred pounds, the horse had all the load it 
could carry without the rider. 
So, after a lively walk of five or six miles, I arrived at 
camp, finding tents all pitched, fires burning, and all 
hands waiting for some one to bring game in for the 
evening meal. So I received a warm welcome. The 
checkmen then took my horse, quickly unlashed the deer, 
and, letting them fall to the ground, liberated the tired 
animal from his heavy load. Then they dressed and 
quartered the deer and "hung them up, taking some of the 
tenderest, juciest parts to cook for supper, I was greatly 
surprised to see how neat they were, and with what dis- 
patch they did the work. My previous experience with 
Indians had led me to believe that they were a filthy race, 
but here I found a tribe as cleanly as a large majority 
of white people, and I watched them with much interest. 
In a short time they had the savory venison cooking 
in as many difJerent ways as the most finished civilized 
cook c6uld have done, boiling, frying, roasting in the 
ashes, and broiling upon long sticks held over the fire, 
this last being the favorite mode with the Indians. 
It was now getting late in the evening, yet none of my 
competitors had appeared. I was not surprised at this, for 
I knew if they did meet with success, it would take night 
to drive them, and I did not expect to see them before, 
but I also knew that darkness would bring them, unless 
