July 6, ipor.l 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
3 
associates the penurious individual with the word "swine." 
Put the two under canvas, miles away from home, and 
how will they enjoy their outing together? 
Each individual- has his peculiarities and imperfectioiis. 
although there are persons who think they are exceptions 
i-o this rule. If one is determined, therefore, to take his 
hunting or fishing ont'ng with a companion, judgment 
should be exercised in the selection. Let the person be 
as near your own temperament and tastes as possible. My 
own experience has been that men of far better education 
than myself have made the most considerate and enjoy- 
able company. Refinement usually travels hand in hand 
with education, and the outgrowth of both is consideration 
for the feelings and failings of others. Of course there 
are thousands of uneducated persons who have been en- 
dowed by nature with feelings of consideration and sym- 
pathy. But the fact remains that these excellent qualities 
are more apt to be found with good breeding than other- 
wise. 
I have found guides excellent companj'^ and the very 
best of companions. They are intelligent, too, for their 
vocation naturally brings them in the company of people 
ni education. Many a guide has eaten and slept under the 
same canvas roof, for weeks, perhaps, with men whose 
names are household words throughout the civilized 
world. This being the case, it is not surprising that the 
majority of guides can talk intelligently and interestingly 
on nearly all questions of the day. Yet, many of them 
fail to see a newspaper for weeks, or, perhaps, months. 
If one takes his outing with a guide (which I freely 
admit to my mind is the ideal way), he should not con- 
sider that, in Maine at least, $2 per day is enough wages 
for guide hire, for $3 is not an exorbitant price, but about 
what should be the average in these days. The average 
guide doesn't earn that much for perhaps 125 days in the 
year, and $375 per annum is not much of a salary. I have 
heard penurious individuals argue that $1.50 per day is 
enough to pay any guide.' They are business men, too, 
and if you should deal with them they would demand the 
highest price for their wares. Such persons would 
luxuriate at a guide's expense, but they are not even 
willing that the guide should receive living wages from 
ihem. If, by accident, you should get into camp with 
such as these for companions, look out, for they will surely 
live at your expense. 
Days or half-days afield or afloat near home can be 
tolerated if one finds himself in distasteful company — it is 
soon over then. But on an extended outing the whole trip 
is spoiled, and one would be better off to stay at home. 
The most despicable individual that fate can throw 
an honest sportsman into the company of, even for the 
fractional part of a second, is the worthy who knows it 
all, and growls at the weather. Invariably he is -an igno- 
ramus of the first degree, but too brainless to know it. He 
blats of the ignorance of geologists, biologists, fishcul- 
turists, naturalists and all other scientists, and presumes 
to set up his own silly reasoning as the highest standard of 
intelligence. As Mark Twain would say, "He fails to 
mention that he is a lineal descendant of Balaam's ass." 
But intelligent people know it. 
This worthy would be amusing if the above were his 
worst characteristics. But he rides rough-shod over other 
people's property, breaks down fences, shoots trespass 
signs to pieces, helps himself to anything he sees (if the 
owner isn't looking) and blows of how he "would do 
up the game warden" if that person should happen across 
his path. But I can't do him justice, so I stop. 
William H. Avis. 
HiGKWOOT), Conn. 
Mosqwitoes Galore! 
Lieutenant Schwatka-'s experience with mosquitoes 
reminds me. Years ago I crossed the Newtown salt 
meadows on a horse car. It w-as from a point where 
Williamsburg left off and Newtown, then called Maspeth, 
began. Both are now included in Greater New York. 
The sun had set and in the twilight from the surface of 
the meadows could be seen innumerable coils of smoke, 
each one as clearly defined and separate as if emanating 
from the dying embers of a redman's camp-fire. 
First would the dark mass of smoke leave the ground 
in a slender spiral thread to broaden out as it ascended, 
keeping up the spiral twining of the cloud. 
This phenomenon could be seen upon the entire stretch 
of meadow ahead of us. It was a curious and interesting 
sight to watch those thousands of small camp-fires giving 
forth their spiral canopies of smoke. 
The air had been still and quiet and the smoke ascended 
slowly and gracefully from the grass. Smidenly a gust of 
wind passed over the meadows, blowing toward us, and 
instantly the spiral harmony of the situation was changed 
into a grayish atmosphere, and as it reached the open car 
in which I sat a realization that we were looking at spiral 
clouds of mosquitoes arising from the grass, instead of 
smoke, was forcibly thrust upon myself and the well-filled 
car of passengers. 
The woodwork of the car, the inside of the roof, the 
backs of the seats, the hats and clothing of the pas- 
sengers instantly assumed a dark gray color. The horses 
were covered from head to foot and became almost un- 
manageable. The car became, as some one once re- 
marked, "all bustle and confusion." 
While the passengers with handkerchiefs whipped the 
mosquitoes from their necks and faces, the driver urged 
the frantic horses to their utmost speed, and after a race 
of about ten minutes we emerged from the meadows and 
spent the remainder of the trip gradually getting rid of 
those mosquitoes that were traveling in our car. 
-I know nothing about Alaska mosquitoes, but if they are 
as thick every summer's day in Alaska as they were that 
particular evening twenty years ago on the Newtown 
Creek meadows, then I wonder how grizzly bears, moose 
or any other furred animals can live in Alaska and thrive. 
Charles Cristadoro. 
Take inventory of the good things in this issue M 
of Forest and Stream. Recall what a fund ■was j{ 
given last week. Count on what is to c&fHe next {J 
week. Was there ever in all the world a tHore % 
abundant weekly store of sportsmen's reading f 5 
S 
A Plea for the English Sparrow* 
I SEE in magazines and papers so many articles de- 
nouncing the sparrow that I feel it my duty to tell of 
ni3'- thirty-five years of close companionship with this 
little chap. While I read the accounts of his alleged 
murders, and depredations on other birds, I have yet to 
see any such disgraceful acts on his part. 
My experience with him has proved to me that he is 
the farmer's best friend. He is the first little fellow in 
the spring to pounce on and destroy all the caterpillars 
and insects that are destructive to the farmer's crops; 
and he keeps pegging away at these vermin until the 
grain is ripe. Then the crops are so far advanced that 
they are safe. All he then aslcs in return for the benefit 
he has been to the farmer is a little grain to carry him 
through the fall and winter. 
So few know the reason for the introduction of the 
English sparrow to this part of the world that I wish to 
give it. Many years ago the streets of New York were 
lined with beautiful trees. In the spring, as soon as 
they began to put on their summer foliage, they were 
attacked by an ugly looking green worm called the inch 
worm. These would devour all the leaves, leaving the 
tree perfectly bare, and then hang from the trees in 
millions by a silken thread. They became such an in- 
tolerable nuisance that a great many people had the 
trees cut down to get rid of them. After the intro- 
duction of the sparrow this nuisance ceased to exist. He 
did his work bravely and well. This certainly is a proof 
of the benefit he is to the farmer. You can depend on 
it that he destroys more harmful insect Irfe in propor- 
tion than he takes back in pay for what grain he eats. 
While now and then there may be cases of disgraceful 
acts on his part to others of our most beautiful feathered 
creatures, he has always behaved himself in my pres- 
ence. 
At this writing he is living in peace with the catbird, 
robin, brown thrush, oriole and many other birds in and 
around my premises. The little chap cheers us with his 
presence and cheery note all winter; thousands of them 
are killed off by deep snow, cold and want of food. Not 
only is he a benefit to us in the way above mentioned; 
he is a shield, a protector to all the other birds, in that 
he gives up his life to tramp cats, hawks and the boy 
with rifle. If he were not with us surely all the other 
birds would have to suffer. 
I saw an article in one of otu: magazines advising the 
wholesale destruction of the sparrow with grain soaked 
in poisoned water. What a terrible combination that 
is to get in the hands of some idiot, who would use it, 
and destroy numberless other feathered songsters. Last 
winter one of my neighbors soaked corn in poisoned 
water and scattered it for the destruction of crows. He 
killed a bevy of quail. I saw the dead birds. Besides, 
many other birds may have suffered with the quail. 
Before condemning this little chatterbox make your 
home with him summer and winter, and the more you 
see of him the more you will see his value to the farmer, 
and you will find on the long, cold and dreary days in 
the country in the winter, when all the other warblers are 
in the sunny South, these little innocents will brighten 
5'our pathway with their cheerful notes. 
r am agreeably surprised this season to see the large 
increase in our most dressy song birds. Can it be pos- 
sible that we are reaping our reward so soon by pro- 
tecting the birds under the new law? 
I have studied bird life for the last thirty-five years, and 
in all that time never saw a bird like one I was inter- 
viewed by this week. This little creature gave me the 
pleasure of his company for some minutes one day this 
week while I was sitting on my piazza. He was about 
the size of a female sparrow, but more slimly built, with 
sharper bill. All his markings were dark, except decided 
pure white stripes three-fourths of an inch long length- 
wise across his head and down his back. These white 
bars looked as if they were made by the pencil or brush 
of an artist, coming to a point at both ends. 
I wish to ask what has our beautiful red-wing black- 
bird been guilty of that he is not protected by law? I 
cannot understand why he should be classed with the 
crow blackbird. I have as yet to see anything that we 
might term disgraceful on his part. He is the first beau- 
tiful creature to reach us in the spring); he always comes 
to our swamps the first week in March, and gladdens 
our hearts with those sweet liquid notes. We are fast 
becoming educated to the fact that all our feathered 
friends have been put here for some wise purpose, and 
all at some time in the near future will be protected. 
Were the scales to drop from our eyes we then without a 
doubt would see the important mission that the birds are 
meant to fill. 
Alfred A. Fraser. 
Oakdale, L. I. 
Remedy Against Mosqtiitoes* 
Consul E. H. Plumacher writes from Maracaibo : A 
simple remedy against mosquitoes has been employed in 
several places in South America and is equally well 
adapted to the temperate zone. It consists in planting the 
castor-oil plant (Ricinus communis) , or "palma christi." 
around the house and premises. 
In cold and temperate climates the castor-oil plant grows 
to a height of ^4_or 5 feet; in these countries it becomes 
a tall tree, and is perennial. It seems that the smell of 
the plant is disagreeable to mosquitoes and other in- 
sects, and it is an acknowledged fact that where these 
plants grow few mosquitoes will be found. 
My personal experience bears this out. My residence 
is surrounded by plaintain and banana trees, and I have 
been much troubled in the past by the great number of 
mosquitoes which gathered between the leaves. Follow- 
ing the example of old settlers in the country, I planted 
the castor seeds, which grew up in profusion, and there 
are now no mosquitoes to be found among the plaintain 
and banana trees, although I keep the ground well irri- 
gated. By keeping branches and the seeds of the plant in 
rooms, the mosquitoes are driven ayay from the latter. 
Experience with Wild Animals. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
In your issue of March 30 Mr. Wm. Wells discussed an 
article oi mme m Forest and Stream of Feb. 23, and an- 
^r'' , '-i^ '^^^■Pi^tely to his own satisfaction that he 
closed with a challenge to '"hear from the other side" 
Unly a series of circumstances beyond my control have 
l^r'"'' w ^" ^^P^y- Material was not wanting. 
bn/3 11 ^"4^^ *° ^ S/eat deal about the panther, 
but not all The experience of others counts, because just 
as real as his. The experiences recorded by me, thoueh 
not my own, were, nevertheless, just as real and well 
authenticated as those of Mr. Wells. Yet forsooth be- 
cause not m line with his own, he refuses to believe them 
—a clear instance of the too broad generalization referred 
""^ so, but he makes statements 
tn ii L« ^^1^-'^^" V°^her writers just as well qualified 
to judge. He says "North and South. East and West, 
Fehs concolor is the same," and that his people, though 
for a century and a half fighters of wild beasts, have Eo 
tiadition showing that a panther is ever to be feared, 
nn fif • ^i-l"' ^i>°fevelt is pretty good authority both 
on the scientific and the practical side of this question of 
Experience with Wild Animals." He says: "It is fool- 
ish to deny that m exceptional instances attacks may 
wonderfuly in size, and no less in 
^fl u. C 1 ^hen all wild beasts 
were less shy than at present, there was more danger 
from the cougar." ("The Wilderness Hunter." pp. 344-5.) 
Speaking of size, Mr. Wells does not tell us wh^theV 
the several he killed by one blow over the head with a 
six-shooter were full grown adults or only kittens. It 
would be interesting to know. It would help to an under- 
standing. 
Mr. Wells does not helieve in "attacks," and says there is 
not a case on record of a man being killed by a panther. Let 
me enlighten him. In the "Big Game of North America" 
(pp. 414 if.) are several instances: "In Washington, Jo- 
seph Jorgenson, a young and powerful man, at work with a 
spade received an unprovoked attack from a cougar. On 
his defending himself, the cougar returned again and again 
to the attack, until finally killed by a blow from the 
spade, splitting his skull. The man was so badly injured 
m this fight for life that it was many weeks before he 
recovered. Another: "Mr. Cathcart, of Snohomish, 
Wash., was also attacked by a cougar in daylight. He 
was returning from a visit to a neighbor, and was a short 
distance from his own residence when a cougar sprang 
^ out of the place where he had been concealed in a dense 
thicket and attempted to strike him down, but luckily 
missed him and landed in the path at his feet. With a 
large cane that he held in his hand he made such a de- 
termined fight for his life that he held the cougar at bay, at 
the same time calling lustily for help. His faithful dog 
heard him and came to the rescue, and none too soon, for 
Cathcart was almost exhausted with his battle with the 
animal. On the appearance of the dog, the cougar took 
to a tree and was afterward shot" 
Several other instances are given, one ^y Hon. Orange 
Jacobs, ex-delegate to Congress from Washington. The 
incident took place in 1864. Jacobs had just killed a 
large male panther and was about to measure him. A 
slight noise attracted his attention, and he saw not 20 
feet away the female getting ready to attack him. Her 
spring and the crack of the rifle were practically simul- 
taneous, and though he jumped aside, she brushed his 
shoulder. Fortunately the one shot finished her. 
, ^ .''Jhe Wilderness Hunter" Mr. Roosevelt records 
the killing of an Indian by a cougar in 1886 near Flathead 
Lake. Also an experience of Prof. John Bache McMaster 
- i?r ^^^^ camped near the head of Green River, 
VVyoming. One afternoon he found a couple of cougar 
kittens, and took them into camp. * * * Happening to 
look up he suddenly spied the mother cougar running 
noiselessly down on them, her eyes glaring and tail twitch- 
ing. Snatching up his rifle he killed her when she was 
barely 20 yards distant." Mr. Roosevelt also records 
that Gen. Hampton had told him of the killing of a negro 
on his Mississippi plantation years ago. Now then, it is 
not claimed that these instances prove that all panthers are 
dangerous, nor that Mr. Wells' experience is not both 
interesting and valuable so far as it goes, but these 
recorded facts do puncture his balloon in several places, 
and if he keeps his promise, as of course he will, he must 
come down— 1. e., believe. He said: "Whenever any one 
brings forward an undoubted case of a man in America 
being killed by either wolf or panther, I will believe that 
they will make an unprovoked attack on man, not before." 
io say nothing of the other cases cited. Gen. Hampton 
and Col. Roosevelt do not need any indorsement of their 
statements. 
Pardon my taking so much space on this much-written- 
Of theme. I only wanted to show that while experience 
IS good life is so short that no man's experience can 
cover all known facts nor the sum of human knowledge 
on any subject. Juvenal. 
May 29. 
A Black Chipmunk* 
Phcenicia, N. Y., June 27.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
After having seen thousands of chipmunks in my Hfe- 
time, It was my good fortune yesterday to discover a 
black one. The little fellow lives within 200 yards of 
this station. I have made it my business to call on him 
several times already, and nearly every time find him at 
home. He is quite tame— so much so that I have been 
able to approach within 6 or 8 feet of him. He seems 
just a shade smaller (or is he a young one?) than his 
common brother; does not show the least sign of the 
familiar stripes, but has the same little chick ! chick ! of his 
fellows. Are they not rare? J. G. Leipold. 
[Black or melanotic chipmunks are rare; but as witH 
albino specimens, they may be looked for one in the 
thousands seen in a lifetime.] 
LJfce Picking Up Money. 
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IS shootmgr or fishing or yachting we want agents to canvass for 
snbscnptions for Forest and Stream. Every sportsman is deeply 
interested in tts subjects, and every sportsman is glad to discuss 
his doings_ afield and to hear of the adventures of other sportsmen 
Money is to be made by canvassers for Forest anb Stream' 
and those who wish to take advantage of the opportunity we off«" 
should send for premium list and circular.— Forest and Stream 
Pubhshing Company, 146 Browlway, Nw York 
