1^4 
FOREST •AND STREAM, 
[March 7, 1903. 
The cases where protective coloring is conspicuously 
absent are no argument against its development twhere 
its existence is obvious. Such cases mean smiply that 
protective coloring in those objects was, not necessary 
to survival, or, that the colors were <Jeveloped' ages 
ago, under very different environment; when more 
essential to survival. . * 
But there are other influences besides protection that 
have exerted much force in the development of colors 
throughout the animal kingdom, all tending to the 
welfare of the various species involved. 
The predacious beasts of the feline family, as well as 
many venomous serpents, are accustomed to lie m 
Avait for their prey or creep stealthily upon it, the 
ferocious outburst, "the fatal roar and rush" noted by 
Mr. Fountain, coming only when the victim has come 
whhin easy reach. In these cases colors assimilating 
to the surroundings give an obvious advantage to the 
pursuer. Another powerful influence in the develop- 
ment of colors in the field of ornamentation is the 
principle of "sexual selection," resulting in manyiicases 
in gorgeous colors in the male, with more o\r less 
faint reflections in the female by mheritance. 
As regards the colors of eggs, as Mr. Fountam has 
pointed out, the fact that many of them are contained 
in conspicuous nests that advertise their presence, pre- 
cludes the protective function of coloration, therefore 
protective coloring has not developed in those cases, 
which is manifestly true, but does not disprove it in 
other cases where its existence is equally manifest. 
The parents themselves seem to supply such measure 
of protection as is necessary to survival 'of the species. 
In those eggs, such as fishes', as well as many kinds 
of seeds, that are especially liable to destruction, nature 
has made lavish provision in multitude, for the sur- 
vival of sufficient numbers. When we scrutinize the 
phenomena of nature and endeavor to assign reasons 
for this or that development in living forms, we can 
only hope to do so in a comparatively few cases of 
unusual plainness, or, in a general way, reasoning by 
analogy from the known to the implied; bearing in 
mind that our period of observation on nature's pro- 
cesses is a mere speck of time, so to speak, at the 
latter end of incalculable ages during which these pro- 
cesses have constantly progressed with the exceedingly 
slow movement that characterizes nature's secular 
operations of vast duration, many of these agencies 
that shaped the results we see having long ago passed 
out of existence, or -ceased to operate on these particu- 
lar objects that present to our observation apparent 
anomalies. 
Until a few decades ago mankind looked at nature 
through spectacles that distorted everything most fan- 
tastically, all views and beliefs on the subject being 
based upon the unquestioned assumption that all the 
objects in our contemplation in the entire universe 
were suddenly created out of nothing a few thousands 
of years ago; that our little planet was the "univferse/ 
with the sun, moon and stars as mere adjuncts, and 
that man was the great central figure, with reference 
to whom all things were created. 
Under these notions that have now happily become 
antiquated and are fast fading away before the light 
of modern knowledge, that were the concept of ages 
of ignorance and were perpetuated under the tyranny 
of dogmatic teaching, it was necessary that the entire 
scheme of nature should be in harmony therewith. 
Hence innumerable difficulties and perplexities, in 
reconciling palpable anomalies that arose on every 
hand; as the existence of a great many agencies that 
are inimical to man's welfare, such as venomous ser- 
pents, numerous deadly poisons, insect pests, nettles 
and thorns, and ferocious beasts; also the manifesta- 
tion of harshness, cruelty and suffering, that are all 
pervading in nature's processes— the strong every- 
where preying upon the weak and inflicting unnecessary 
pain, "vivisection" being the predominant feature 
throughout nature's vast machinery for perpetuating 
life through the means of death. Those sentimentalists 
who are waging, clamorous war against vivisection m 
the interests of science and for man's great benefit, 
probably have not reflected that none of nature's chil- 
dren are permitted to die a peaceful death, but in the 
ordinary course of nature all rnust die by natural vivi- 
section or something nearly akin to it. . 
The old school of cosmogonists had nothing better 
to offer by way of explanation of the all prevalent evils 
that pervade the whole of nature's domain, than that 
it was "all for the best if we only had eyes to see it 
rightly," and that everything was designed for the good 
of man, etc., in spite of the dictates of our reason; 
thus appealing, as the court of last resort, to— Ignor- 
ance. Coahoma. 
Ducks Killed in a Storm* 
Currituck, N. C, ¥eh. 24.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
On Monday night of last week, Feb. 16, the north end of 
Currituck Sound and Back Bay, Virginia, was visited by 
s genuine western tornado, destroying some human lives 
and much property at Mundens Point, Virginia. 
The storm did not stop at the destruction of men and 
houses, but killed over five hundred redhead ducks. How 
such a thing could be possible seems very strange to rne. 
They were first found floating on the flat beach by Lite 
Saving Crew No. 5, between No. S station and the 
Princess Anne Club. On the sand beach about half way 
from the bay to the ocean, something over five hundred 
were found, but there were probably many more killed, 
as some have been found since washed ashore from the 
ocean. This is a hard story to believe, but any ' doubting 
Thomas" may be convinced by asking any man within 20 
miles of that place, as they were gathered up and sold or 
eaten by many different people. I should like to hear 
through Forest and Stream if any such things ever 
happen in the West during the severe storms that visit 
that country. . -i j 
Ducks of all kind are still abundant at Currituck and 
we will no doubt have good shooting up to the last day, 
March 31. , , 
Our gunning season opens next year on November i 
instead of November 10, as formerly. There is another 
change in our new laws which I think will help to keep 
our ducks with us longer. The battery shooters are not 
allowed to sail after or disturb the ducks after the bat- 
teries are located, but are compelled to anchor and "pick 
up" in rowboats. This will give the game a chance to 
remain in the Sound instead of being compelled to go 
over into the ocean as now. There are no other changes 
of importance. More Anon. _ 
[The destruction of the redhead ducks by the storm is 
interesting, and would seem to require explanation. We 
have never heard of anything precisely similar in the case 
of ducks, but a few years ago something quite like this 
is reported to have taken place in almost the same locality 
with swans. In other words, a considerable number of 
swans — twenty or twenty-five, if we recollect aright — • 
were picked up apparently drowned on the outer beach, 
at no great distance from Currituck light house. 
The^destruction of these swans seemed to be explain- 
able in this way:_ They had gone out to rest on the 
ocean, and a sudden wind raised a high and breaking sea 
before they attempted to take wing. It is a familiar fact 
that swans rise from the water against the wind and at a 
very acute angle, running along the surface and striking 
the" water with their feet and the tips of the wing for a 
considerable distance. It is perfectly conceivable that, 
in a high sea, swans attempting to rise would, before 
getting far above the water, be met by a coaming wave 
and crushed down under it to the water again. This 
might do them no especial harm the first, second or fifth 
time it took place; but if continued long enough would 
undoubtedly drown the birds. 
Something of this sort may have taken place with these 
ducks. A sea made up of short waves would perhaps 
knock them down again and again before they had risen 
much above the water; or, again, it is conceivable that 
the wind was too .strong to permit them to rise at all, and 
that they drowned by being overwhelmed in a choppy sea. 
A fresh water duck which rises from the water by a sud- 
den spring would not be exposed to such a danger. It is 
v/ell known that most ducks do not like exposure to the 
wind and to a heavy sea, and that rough weather causes 
them to seek a lee if possible. 
We should be glad to hear the views of correspondents 
on this matter.] 
Ungracious Didymus. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Let me express the opinion that friend Didymus is 
slightly ungracious in his acceptance of that squirrel 
story. Now, as I very well know, that story is a direct 
importation from Sander's Third Reader of forty years 
ago. Already the story begins to show the inroads made 
by such doubting Thomases as Didymus. In those old 
days, when the migrating army came to any considerable 
stream, they scattered in the wood and each returned with 
a piece of bark which they cast into the water and jump- 
ing upon it hoisted their tails and sailed across. What a 
pity it is that the squirrels should have abandoned this 
very pretty part of the performance and in so short a 
time, and all because of the tendency of rude doubters. If 
we are to continue to oppose our own experiences and 
observations to written history, we shall soon have no 
v/ritten history left. 
Didymus has admitted that squirrels migrate. If they 
migrate they must cross streams, and having dropped the 
bark part of the tales, they must swim, and all the rest 
lollows as a matter of course. Anyone who has ever 
gathered a live animal or bird out of the water from a 
boat will wonder how so many bags and baskets could be 
filled in that way. How a squirrel would dodge and 
twist and how the boatman would grab and miss and 
grab and miss again. By the time he had picked up one 
squirrel the rest would be several miles up stream. Of 
course the exhaustion of the squirrels will be pleaded, 
but a squirrel that can't give one kick just as you reach 
for it is very far gone, indeed, and would soon drown, 
in which event they would sink in most cases. A dead 
squirrel does not float like a dead duck. But this only 
shows the fallacy of reasoning as opposed to history. 
Didymus puts me in mind of the prompter of a certain 
clergyman who, knowing his weakness for drawing the 
long bow, had appointed one of the deacons to cough 
when he got to putting it too strong. One day he was tell- 
ing the story of the foxes and stopped to remark that "in 
those days foxes had tails forty feet long." The deacon 
coughed and he promptly took off ten feet. The deacon 
coughed again and another ten feet was dropped; another 
cough and another ten feet followed, but still the deacon 
coughed. The clergyman looked perplexed and said : "T 
can't do more. It would never do to have foxes without 
tails." Does Didymus expect the squirrel to give up his 
whole beautiful tale in the short space of forty years? If 
he coughs again, give him a broadside of Sander's Third 
Reader. 
This squirrel story seems more suited to the pages of 
the Youth's Companion than to those of stately old 
Forest and Stream, but it enables us to "touch hands," 
which is the main thing. E. P. Jaques. 
DuvHAM, Kansas. 
Bird Destftiction in Egypt* 
In a recent number of the Journal of the Khedivial 
Agricultural Society, Dr. W. Innes calls attention to the 
continuous diminution in numbers of some of the useful 
birds occurring in the neighborhood of Cairo, Egypt. 
Certain species are being wantonly killed off in such num- 
bers that serious injury to agriculture is likely soon to be 
felt. Many species of birds, and especially the birds of 
prey, are highly beneficial. Yet these last, particularly, 
are growing scarce. Another species which has been 
totally exterminated is the so-called cattle-egret. A few 
years ago this species was abundant in marshy territory, 
and was often seen following the plow of the husband- 
man in search of the insects which he turned up. Dr. 
Innes says "This bird was so common in the past and did 
so much good that many travelers confounded it with the 
sacred ibis of ancient times. Although its flesh is poor 
this bird has not escaped so-called sportsmen who kill 
it simply for the sake of killing." Dr. Innes urges the 
authorities to take immediate steps for bird protection, 
declaring that if something of this sort is not done, and 
efforts made to renew the supply of these insect eaters, 
other and expensive methods of destroying noxious in- 
sects must be taken, 
Death on the Telegraph* 
Bournemouth, England, Feb. g.— Editor Forest and 
Siream: I am no electrician, and I write under correction 
with reference to your interesting notes that have lately 
appeared in your most attractive paper— how singular 
that there should be no sporting weekly on the same 
chatty lines in this country! — on birds being killed by 
joining two telegraph wires. But, seriously, would either 
ihe current be powerful enough to kill them, or, even 
if it were, would their bodies short-circuit so as to divert 
the current from its easier course along its own wire? 
I doubt, but I am ready to be convinced. 
F. G. Aflalo. 
[We are as much in the dark as our correspondent on 
the point about which he inquires. Birds are commonly 
killed by flying against telegraph wire, but we should 
shardly suppose they could short-circuit them.] 
Cats Eat Mushrooms. 
It is not generally known, we believe, that the domestic 
cat will eat and is fond of mushrooms. A correspondent 
v/ho observed a cat eating raw mushrooms last summer, 
afterward tried the experiment of offering the fungi to 
seven or eight cats, and tells us that all of them seemed 
verv fond of them. 
Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Forest and Stream. 
Massachusetts Game. 
From the Report of the Commissioners of Fisheries and Game. 
Status of Game, 
The information that comes to this comrnission from 
many sources is substantially unanimous in proclaim- 
ing that game of nearly all kinds has been more abun- 
dant this year than for a long time. With almost no 
exception this is the testimony given by the deputies 
throughout the State, who not only have the opportun- 
ity to become familiar with local conditions but some 
of them travel extensively, visiting all parts of the 
State, and by observation and conversation with sports- 
men gain a comprehensive general knowledge of game 
conditions throughout the Commonwealth. 
The increase of game birds and animals hereafter 
to be noticed in some detail is attributed in large part 
to the vigorous enforcement of law in recent years; 
for it goes without saying that the best laws ever en- 
acted are of little or no efficacy unless they are en- 
forced in a manner that will compel respect for them. 
While the increase in the partridge and quail is re- 
markable, and really without parallel in the history of 
the State, it is also true that there has been a .gratify- 
ing addition to the numbers of other species which are 
protected to a less degree than the partridge and the 
woodcock. 
Sea and Shore Birds. 
Taking the State and the season as a whole, there 
has been at least an average abundance of sea and 
shore birds. The flights live not always been satisfac- 
tory in certain sections, and possibly this condition 
may have continued in exceptional instances for the 
season or thereabouts. On the other hand, birds have 
been reported unusually abundant in some localities, 
notably so in Quincy Bay and contiguous waters, and 
the chances for good shooting were said to have never 
been better. 
Partridge, Woodcock and Quail. 
Such a vast amount of material relating_ to the in- 
creased abundance of partridge and quail is available 
that much of it must be excluded from consideration 
here for the sake of brevity. In the multitude of tes- 
timony under this head, condensed though it may be 
here, there is incontrovertible evidence of the effect 
of the non-sale 'law on partridge and woodcock, even 
to the extent of probably causing an increase in quail, 
which has been one of the most remarkable incidents in 
the recent history of game in this State. When the 
non-sale low was enacted the pot-hunter's vocation was 
largely circumscribed if not abolished. As a conse- 
quence, the quail, or Bob White as this species is 
familiarly called, shared in the good fortune more spe- 
cifically intended for his bigger congeners, the par- 
tridge and woodcock. For, while the quail could still 
be sold seven months of the year, the hunting of this 
species alone was scarcely sufficient to prove a pay- 
ing attraction to the market-hunter, debarred by law 
from selling partridges. As a result the hunter for 
revenue only has, as a rule, found it necessary to seek 
other employment that keeps him out of the covers, 
and Bob White has undoubtedly benefited from com- 
parative freedom from the persistent attacks of the 
market purveyor, who, while formerly chiefly intent on 
bagging partridge, was not averse to adding to his 
game bag every one of the smaller birds that he could 
gather in. Comparative immunity from the attacks of 
those who did not hunt for sport but for the market, 
and took the last bird in a covey if possible, together 
with the rather favorable weather conditions of the past 
two winters, have combined to bring such an abund- 
ance and wide distribution of quail in this State as has 
not been known before for many years, if ever. In enum- 
erating the causes of this desirable condition mention 
should not be omitted of the public spirited work of 
many clubs or citizens, who have liberally contributed 
for the nurpose of having quail imported into this 
State from other sections of the country. But, while 
freely conceding the value and importance of what has 
thus been done, it may justly be said that this is only 
a continuation of the effort along the same line that 
has been carried on for a number of years, without 
ever producing the conditions that happily have existed 
this year, and, to a slighter degree, in 1901. _ This 
seems to suggest that other causes have contributed 
chiefly to the increase noted, as well as to the fact that 
