90 
THE SCIENTIST. 
take them for human beings. This, no 
doubt, gave rise to the mermaid, merman, sir- 
en, triton and sea nymph legends. The so- 
called mermaids to be seen in dime museums 
are all manufactured. 
The story of the Ibex dropping from lofly 
precipices and lighting on its horns as com- 
posedly as we would jump a few feet, has 
long since ceased to be considered anything 
but a "fake" though early Naturalists often 
reported it as a fact. 
"Blind as a mole" no longer prevails, as 
Moles have eyes though they are small and 
well hidden in the thick coat of soft fur cov- 
ering their head and body. 
Thus, gradually, the fiction and romance 
connected with and surrounding many of our 
animals, is succombing as reason and study 
penetrates and disperses the fog of ignorance 
and superstition. 
Death Notices. 
John C. Cahoon, a young Naturalist, of 
considerable promise, met a premature death 
by falling from Shag Roost Cliff at St Johns 
while collecting. His home was near Taun- 
ton, Mass. 
Edward E. Height, another enthusiastic 
young Scientist, formerly of Mound City 
Kans., died of consumption at his parents 
home in Riverside, Cal. 
Mr. Height was an expert Taxidermist and 
an excellent Botanist. 
The eminent Philadelphia Scientist, Prof. 
Joseph Leidy, M. D., LL. D., died at his 
home in Philadelphia, April 30th during his 
sixty-ninth year. 
Almost every branch of Zoological liter- 
ture is indebted to him for valuable addi- 
tions. 
It will add more enjoyment in life 
whatever our business or profession may 
be, than can be told in words, to have 
some one branch of science or nature 
so well understood as to enable us to 
})erceive all its beauties. — B. K. Piei'ce, 
JJ. D. 
The White-Kumped Shrike as a Pet. 
In the Spring of 1877 the writer found a 
young "Butcher-bird" in the woods just 
south of Kansas City. He was taken home, 
well cared for and soon became a family pet. 
He never knew what it was to be caged and 
always took his food from our hands. He 
soon learned to expect food, a grasshopper, 
or a fly from those coming in, and the call of 
his name, "Pedro, Pedro" would bring him 
to my shoulder from any part of the house. 
Pedro was very mischievious, stealing thim- 
bles and such things as he could carry, fly ng 
with them to his perch over a window in the 
dining room, where he would set and turn 
his head from side to side with an air of 
great satisfaction. Whenever the sewing 
machine was being used, an old Eliptic, 
Pedro would light on the moving arm, and 
there bob up and down seemingly in 
great enjoyment. As summer advanced, he 
was permit'ed to go into the yard, where he 
caught grasshoppers for himself, finally, 
staying out all day, only returning to get a 
drink or to his perch, at night. Many 
amusing incidents occured while he remain- 
ed in the neighborhood. One "wash-day" 
we noticed that a large number of the 
clothes pins (the old double ones) held grass- 
hoppers wedged in tightly, and while won- 
deiing how they came there, Pedro lighted 
on the line with a large grasshopper and 
shoved him well down into the slot. He 
was easily called from the house top and 
would light on my hand much to the amaze- 
ment of passersby. The school children 
soon formed his acquaintance and would call 
him down for an insect or worm. No doubt 
he was called once too often, for one evening 
he failed to return. He was home at noon, 
lighting on the screen-door, where he contin- 
ued his shrill cry until I gave him a glass of 
water on which he perched and drank, then 
flew away, and we never saw him again. 
S. J. H. 
