284 
FOREST AND STREAM/ 
[Oct. tj. jyoi 
portion of the collection before reaching the monkey 
house. The only stop of any duration was in the car- 
nivora building, where I took the young leopard, which 
had figured in the parade on the preceding day, from its 
cage and placed it in the General's arms, who was so 
delighted with such a novel experience, that he reluctantly, 
allowed it to be returned to its anxious mother. Passing- 
along in front of the aviaries and pheasant yards, we- 
finally reached the monkey house. So soon as we entered 
the General said: 
"I am perfectly willing to acknowledge that monkeys 
always had a particular fascination for me. During niy 
juvenile days the arrival of an organ grinder and his usual 
simian attendant in my locality always caused my breath- 
less attendance on the pair imtil they left the neighbor- 
hood, and the height of my boyish desires was to possess 
one as a pet." 
The frank acknowledgement caused me to do my utmost 
to please him. After passing around in front of the 
dens, I took him into the keeper's passage behind them, 
where I took several of the tame ones out of the cages and 
allowed him to handle them as much as he wished. I also 
called his attention to many points which would escape 
the notice of a casual observer. He was particularly in- 
terested with the difficulty of determining the sexes of 
some of the capuchins from a cursory examination, but 
the animal which seemed to give him the greatest pleas- 
ure was a fine specimen of the mandrill, christened Mis»- 
chief, which came to the door and shook hands, with 
him. Our pleasant time was suddenly interrupted by the 
advent of my head keeper, with the information that the 
President and party were awaiting the General at the 
restaurant, in order to receive a marching salute from a 
volunteer regiment. These tidings immediately put an end 
to our seance, and we hurried off in order not to retard 
the military. On reaching the restaurant, we found the 
President, family and directors on the upper portico 
awaiting our arrival in order to give marching orders. 
As soon as the mihtary had passed, the President and 
party started^ for luncheon, which had. been prepared for 
them on strictly temperance principles, in deference to 
his views. I said to the General; "As the Governor of 
North Carolina said to the Governor of South Caro- 
lina " 
"You have hit the nail squarely on the head, and I sur- 
render at discretion. Let's hurry down and get back to 
this dry feed as soon as possible." 
During the day I had noticed that the General was clad 
in evening costume, with a plain, linen duster drawn over 
it, and was puzzled as to the cause, but during the collation 
I learned from the conversation that he and the President 
were going direct from the garden to Clifton, a beautiful 
suburb of Cincinnati, to attend an evening reception. 
Knowing that President Hayes had a carriage for his 
special conveyance, I said, in an undertone, to the General : 
"Have just found out that you go from here to Clifton, 
and as that locality is not reached by street cars, you must 
allow_ me the pleasure of rigging up a team for your 
especial conveyance." 
"I submit, under one condition, and that is, that I 
decline using elephants or camels for the trip." 
Slipping out of the room without attracting attention, I 
hurried to the pony stables, where, with the assistance of 
Dick, the mulatto driver, I rigged out a makeshift four- 
in-hand Shetland pony team to one of the pigmy phaetons. 
At the conclusion of the banquet, it was drawn up in 
front of the restaurant, just behind President Hayes' con- 
veyance, and as General Sherman seated himself in it, he 
said: 
"Mr. Thompson, in bidding you farewell, I have one 
\vish to make, and that is I hope your large family, par- 
ticularly the monkey branch of it, will obey the old 
Biblical law of 'increase and multiply.' " 
Lifting his hat to the assemblage, he was driven out of 
the garden by Dick, who was in high feather at handling 
the reins in front of such a distinguished passenger. 
After a lapse of some j'ears, on my return from a 
European trip, the pilot, who boarded the steamer off Fire 
Island, brought the news of General Grant's death. A 
few days subsequent I was standing on Fifth avenue 
watching the funeral procession, when there was a tem- 
porary stoppage of the parade. Awaiting its renewal, I 
fell into a revery, when I was suddenly recalled to my 
senses by the exclamation of "How are the monkeys ?" 
Instantly recognizing the voice, I hastily bowed in 
acknowledgement of the recognition, and in a fast reced- 
ing carriage caught my last glimpse of the rugged, smiling 
features of General William T. Sherman. 
Frank J. Thompson, 
The Eskimo and the Auks. 
Robert Stein, of the Geologic Survey, writing in the 
New York Tribune, gives this account of Eskimo bird 
netting at Cape York, Ellesmere Land : 
The scarcity of life on the plateau is in marked con- 
trast with the exuberance of life on the slopes below. 
Near my tent was a patch of fat, green grass, a. foot and 
more in height, which could readily have been cut witb the 
scythe. Such patches dot the entire southern face of the 
cape as well as the western. A herd of, say, ten to fifteen 
goats could easily find food there from the beginning 
of June to the middle of September. Reindeer used to 
exist there, but the natives have killed them off. Within 
five minutes' walk were four snow buntings' nests, and 
their merry twitter could be heard all day. The raven's 
metallic note (his love call) rang from the rocks above; 
the magnificent white burgomaster gulls kept sailing over- 
head, now and then alighting on a ridge just west of us, 
and eyeing the fat morsels lying about the tents. On 
the day the Eskimos moved away some twenty or thirty of 
these birds swooped down, and gorged themselves on 
the offal. All these, however, were insignificant in num- 
ber compared to the little auks, the akpadiliahsus of the 
natives, a bird a little larger than the robin. 
Though Cape York is by no means their favorite breed- 
ing ground, yet their number even there must be reckoned 
by hundreds of thousands. From the end of May to 
the end of August their ceaseless cries give one the im- 
pression of a vast poultry farm. Such, in fact, it is to the 
Eskimos. The method by' which they obtain the birds 
has often been described, but when seen for the first 
time it fails not to strike one as an extraordinary spec- 
tacle. The birds would be practically secure from cap- 
ture were it not for a foolish habit they have of flying 
m large flocks, close to the grounds, past the talus slopes, 
in whose recesses their nests are hidden ; then out to 
sea and back again to where they started, keeping tip 
this circular movement all day long, under certain condi- 
tions of weather. This exercise, probably a mere sport, 
IS to many of them the broad road that leadeth to de- 
struction. 
vSeated at a point where the birds are apt to pass most 
frequently and closest to the ground is a man with a net 
of sealskin thongs fastened to a circular hoop about i8 
inches in diameter, which is fixed obliquely on a thin, light, 
wooden handle some lo feet long. On each .side of him 
he has built a wall about 2 feet high, called taluten. A 
little further away he has set up a stone or two on edge, 
to invite the birds to settle on them. This is called 
nuyahsaun. Between the two walls he crouches as low 
as possible, the net thrust forward, and resting on the 
ground. A flock of birds approaches; at the opportune 
moment up goes the net, directly in the path of the victim 
selected ; it is entangled in the meshes ; before it has time 
to escape the man has drawn in the net ; he twists the 
poor creature's wings one above the other, presses its 
heart for a few seconds between his fingers, and with a 
piteous little chirp its life is ended; it is now only so 
much meat and skin — a commodity. In this way I have 
repeatedly seen a man or even a boy catch about loo 
birds an hour. 1 tried it at Cape York, and caught one 
in the course of an hour. Two weeks ago I tried it on 
Hakluyt Island, and caught four in half an hour, and 
let them go. The proper name for the net is kaglun, 
though the Eskimos often talk of catching the birds with 
the ipu (handle). The word for "dimple" sounds so 
closely alike to kaglun that I am not certain whether 
there is a real difference. Supposing them to be identical, 
I invite the reader's admiration for the deep philosophy 
which defines a dimple as "a net to catch unwary birds." 
Natural History from the fJorth- 
west Coast. 
The last number (21) of "North American Fauna," 
which is issued by the United States Biological Survey, 
under the charge of Dr. C. Hart Merriam, contains some 
interesting natural history notes on two localities on the 
Northwest coast. The papers treat of the natural historv 
of Queen Charlotte Islands, B. C, and the natural history 
oi the Cook Inlet region, Alaska, and are by Mr. Wil- 
fred H. Osgood, who conducted biological investiga- 
tions for the Survey on the Northwest coast during the 
field season of 1900. The results of his work form an 
important contribution to the natural history of the 
Northwest coast. 
The first paper has to do with the natural history of 
Queen Charlotte Islands, which it describes as to physi- 
ograph}^ flora, fauna, and life zones. This is followed by 
a. bibliography of the region and an annotated list of the 
mammals and one of the birds. It appears that the life 
zones of Queen Charlotte Islands are the Canadian and 
the Hudsonian; the former including all the area below 
an altitude of 2,500 feet, while points higher than that arc 
Hudsonian. Tliis definition of the zones is determined 
almost entirely by plant life. Except for the black bear, 
which is described as a new species (LTrsus [Euarctos] 
carlottje). there appear to be no large mammals native 
to the island. The Sitka deer has been introduced, but 
has not yet thoroughly established itself, though individ- 
uals have been seen recently. A caribou (Rangifer 
dawsoni) has been described, but Mr. Osgood is inclined 
to doubt its existence on the island. At the same time 
there appears to be some evidence of the animal's oc- 
rence, though, as Mr. Osgood says, it is as yet very un- 
satisfactory. The sea otter, sea lion and fur seal occur 
now, or used to do so. Four bats are found on the 
island. Birds are numerous, and one new species and 
two subspecies are described. 
To the average reader much more is known about the 
Cook Inlet country in Alaska, which region is quite 
fully described by Mr. Osgood in the same orderly 
method. 
The life zones found here are the Hudsonian and the 
Arctic-Alpine. .\11 the low country about the inlet and 
up the mountain sides as far as timber line is Hud- 
sonian, while the higher peaks are Arctic-Alpine. These 
zones are established by both plant and animal life, and 
Mr. Osgood says that, "taken as a whole the plant and 
animal life of Cook Inlet is very closely similar to that 
of the Yukon Valley, or in more general terms to that 
of the interior of Alaska. This condition is more note- 
worthy, since the fauna and flora of the same coast south 
of Cook Inlet are in marked contrast to those of the 
interior in the same latitude." 
The giant moose, according to report made to Mr. 
Osgood, has but recently appeared in the Cook Inlet 
region. The older Indians declare that when they were 
boys no moose were found there, and even within the 
memory of white men it is said that the moose has moved 
westward, now being known as far out on .Alaska Pen- 
insula as Katmai. In the Knik district, and on the north 
shore of the Kenai Peninsula from Kussilof and Fort 
Kenai to Point Possession, near the mouth of Turnagain, 
moose are fairly abundant, and here a few Indians hunt 
them all the year around, selling~the meat in the mining 
camps of Hope and Sunrise. 
Caribou (Rangifer sfoiiei) are said not to be common on 
the Kenai Peninsula, but are more abundant on the 
Stishitna River. 
The mountain goat (Oreamnos keniicdyi) occurs in the 
district between the headwaters of the Knik and Ma- 
tanuska River. This, so far as Mr. Osgood is able to 
learn, is the northernmost point of occurrence of the 
white goat. 
Dall's sheep, formerly common in the mountains on 
both sides of Tiu-nagamarm, has been driven back by the 
mining to the interior of the peninsula, where it is abun- 
dant. 
There are wolves in the Cook Inlet region, some of. 
them black. 
Black bears are moderately common, while the Kadiak 
bear, reported ten years ago to be very abundant, have 
been greatly reduced in numbers. They vary greatly in 
color from "white" to verv dark brawn. They are said 
to go into hibernation early in October, but "the tracks 
of one are reported to have been seen as late as the 
middle of November. 
These very interesting papers, in which some new 
species of birds and mammals are described, are illus- 
trated by a map of Queen Charlotte Islands, and by a 
number of fine half-tone photographs of characteristic 
Alaskan scenery, of plants and of skulls of bears and 
weasels. 
In the preparation of the papers Mr. Osgood was 
assisted by Rev. J. H. Keen, of Queen Charlotte 
Islands, and by many experts conected with the purvey. 
A Photogftaph of Flyingf Gttlls. 
Hudson, N. Y., Aug. 26. — Editor Forest and Stream i 
I inclose snapshot of gulls, by Kerly Jones, Grand Mau- 
rice. Minnesota, li appeared to me to be a good sub- 
ject, and fair pictu'e. G. Hills. 
A Gfouse in Town, 
Sayre, Pa., Oct. 2. — One day kst w6ek a ruffed grouse 
was caught by Clarence Daly in the Lehigh Valley Rail- 
road's freight car repair shop at this point. The bird had 
flown into the shop and taken refuge on the steam pipes, 
located near the ceiling of the building, and these being 
hot on this particular day, the perch became unendurable, 
and at the moment young Daly entered the shop the 
grouse, confused by the noise and activity of the place, 
plunged into a mass of debris directly at his feet, and was 
caught. The bird was fully matured, and aside from 
scorched feet uninjured. It may be interesting to note 
in this connection that to reach its point of capture the 
grouse must have covered a flight of fully a mile across 
a thickly settled part of town. M. Chill. 
Albino Cfows. 
At Hurricane. W. Va.. last spring, the Wellman boys, 
of that place, climbed a tree for young crows, and found 
one as pure and white as a swan. They threw it from the 
nest, and, in striking the ground, it was killed. 
In the same neighborhood another crow, as pure white 
as the first, made its appearance. It was surrounded by 
perhaps three hundred other crows in the most intense 
excitement and making a din which, with their motions 
in the air, made the scene one of very great interest. It 
could hardly be decided whether it was a lynching bee or 
a grand ovation to the wonderful pro'digy. While this 
aerial exhibition was in progress, a man named John 
Bartram shot at and wounded thb albino, which was 
taken to Col. Wellman's. CatleMsburg, Ky. E. 
The Linnaean Society of New York. 
A REGULAR meeting of the Society will be held in the 
American Museum of Natural History, Seventy-seventh 
street and Eighth avenue, on Tuesday evening, Oct. 22, at 
8 o'clock, when William Dutcher .will give a lecture on 
"Some Bird Studies in Maine," illustrated with lantern 
slides. Walter W. Granger, 
Secretary American Museum of Natural History. 
Its Allimng Charm* 
It may be a matter of interest to you that I have been a 
reader of Forest and Stre.AlM for over ten years. With 
the exception of a few copies, which I lost in some way, I 
have complete files dating from October, 1894, up to June, 
igoo. After the latter date I conceived the foolish idea 
that I could get along without it, but on each recurring 
Friday I instinctively wandered to the book store, where 
copies were on sale, and glanced over the contents, just 
for the sake of old times and the delights it once gave 
me. Leaving, I was aware of a void that I could hardly 
comprehend. As soon as the next copy arrived I was 
found at the news stand again, and the first article that 
caught my eye was "Reminiscences," by Rowland E. 
Robinson. That settled it, I then and there purchased 
that copy, and now can hardly wait for each recurring 
number. I'll never do without it again. "Chained to 
business,'" I can't visit the woods and waters as often as 
I would like to. In this I am not unlike many another- 
unfortunate mortal. Forest and Stream comes in here 
as a consoler. I can at least read what others do, and 
experience. It also helps one to appreciate and observe 
more the little things in ature that pass before one from 
season to season. T. M. S. 
The 'man who will sit patiently at the butt end of a fish- 
ing pole for six hours without a bite is liable to fly right 
off the handle if his collar button doesn't happen to go 
through the hole the fti i-i time. — Chicago Recnrrl-TTcrald. 
