FOREST AND STRfilAM. 
In the Philippines and at Guam, the orab found on land 
is not at all the land crab of Cuba. Although quite as 
noisy, it is by no means as large. as the disgusting Cuban 
animal ; in fact, it is rather amusing than otherwise. 
This is the hermit crab, which is condemned to pass its 
life in a succession of unfurnished lodgings, the shells 
of molluscs which have outlasted their original tenants 
and have been taken by the hermits. The hermit has a 
large amount of protective armor and offensive weapon 
of attack, but they are all in front. The tail is not only 
bare of all protective shell, it is, indeed, covered with the 
very thinnest sort of a soft skin. The hermit is very 
vulnerable in that part of his body and stands a very 
feeble show for his life unless he can find an empty shell 
which will fit. When one shell begins to cramp him as 
he grows, it is necessary to hunt for a larger one and to 
transfer his quarters to that. It is a critical time for 
the hermit when he is about to move. After long search 
he has found an empty shell, which seems to be about 
the right thing. He has explored its recesses with his 
smaller claws and has carefully swept out the grains of 
sand. But experiment is the only way of making sure 
that the new lodging will suit. There must come a 
moment in which the hermit is out of the old shell and 
into the new without knowing certainly that he will not 
have to go back to his old quarters. There is a chance 
that some bird may be in a position to snatch at his soft 
tail as he is making the change, against that his pro- 
tection is the rapidity of his lightning change. But 
while he is testing the new home another hermit may 
come along in search of lodgings and then there is sure 
to be a combat. 
In Luzon and the other Philippines th4y are to be 
found of all sizes up to that of a coffee cup. They run 
everywhere about the houses b3'' night and are quite 
harmless. But they make so much noise, their racket 
is so wdiolly out of proportion to their harmlessness, that 
they may well alarm a sleeper in a strange place and 
doubtful of his neighbors. To , a certain extent they are 
lieneficial, for they undoubtedly destroy multitudes of 
eggs of that pest of the Orient, the cockroach. That, in 
itself, is enough to win pardon for the hermits for all 
the noise they make in the still nights by the scratching 
of their claws on mats and woodwork and the thump of 
their heavy shells as they take sudden fright and fall 
from chairs and tables to the floor. 
Llewella Pierce Churchill. 
Red Squirrels and Raccoons. 
It is the case that red squirrels will come out in June 
into towns and cities in Maine, but usually they are in 
small numbers, and after destroying all the eggs and 
young of all birds' nests they can find, they in a short 
time return again to the woods. This year has been an 
exception. They came as usual in June, but in much 
grater numbers than I ever knew before. They literally 
. came by hundreds. I have seen three at one time in my 
garderi, and people all over town would report seeing 
them in numbers in the same day. As usual, they de- 
stroyed every egg and }'0ung bird they could find. I 
took particular pains to inquire about this, and had the 
same report from other towns. I am aware that Hermit 
says this Cape Cod squirrel does not trouble birds' eggs. 
This is the only case where I have found that his observa- 
tions differed from mine, but I am sure that our Maine 
red squirrels do destroy both eggs arid young birds, as I 
have seen them when doing it. Contrary to their usual 
custom, many of the squirrels have remained and some 
are here at this date, Nov. 15, although it is over a mile 
to the first little grove of evecgreen trees. One has been 
busy in the September days storing hundreds of horse 
chestnuts in my attic, and is seen every day or two near 
the house. Lately he has been carrying off large bimches 
of mountain ash berries. 
The raccoons were later in coming. The first known 
of them was when corn was first fit to eat. Then any one 
who had a garden or patch of corn jirst outside the thickly 
settled parts, all at once found that the raccoons were at 
Work nights. I know of over thirty killed in a space of 
not over eight miles long by two wide, and I do not think 
that J heard of two-thirds of what were taken. These 
were nearly all caught in traps set in gardens and corn 
patches. One was caught .which weighed when the en- 
trails were all removed, thirty-two pounds, and another 
also disemboweled weighed twenty-six pounds. I know 
these weights to be correct, as they were weighed on two 
different sets of scales. When the corn was all gone'they 
disappeared as suddenly as they came. 
M. Hardy. 
Brewer, Me., Nov. 15. 
The Murder of the Young Among 
Birds. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
At a recent meeting of the Institut General Psy- 
chologique, a section of which is devoted to matters of 
zoological psychology, a well-known naturalist, M. 
Kunckel d'Herculais, quoted a fact observed by himself 
personally. A pair of canary birds, already blessed in 
previous years with a numerous progeny, gave birth to 
three young ones. Matters go very regularly and smooth- 
ly, to begin; but one day while cleaning the cage, an 
unskillful hand hits the nest, and the nest falls. It is 
immediately restored to its place, the young, which had 
rolled out, being delicately put in again. Nothing par- 
ticular occurs, or is noticed till a few days later, when it 
is discovered that the parents behave in a most extraordi- 
nary manner. The mother has expelled one of the young 
from the nest, and is dragging it toward the bathing dish, 
and she forces it under the water repeatedly, "till death 
ensues." The next day, murder number two, conducted 
by the same person, in the same manner exactly. But 
the tragedy stops here. Number three is not murdered. 
On the contrary, the parents make a great show of tender 
feeling and display great care in the nursing of their 
only heir. The latter gets on very well, but when nearly 
adult, it is remarked that some toes of one of the legs 
are in a state of marked atrophy. The heir is in fact an 
infirm, or at least an invalid; his infirmity, however, does 
not keep him from becoming- otherwise prosperous. 
Now the query is, Why did the parents murder num- 
bers one and two? Can it be that all the young were in- 
jured by the fall ; that the parents recognized the gravity 
of the injuries — hypothetical, mind; no one can tell 
whether they existed or not — received by numbers one 
and two, and recognizing the difficulty, or impossibility 
of rearing them, decided to do away with them, and not 
to lose any pains and trouble uselessly? Can they have 
considered number three as having reasonable chances of 
"pulling through" — as Adam remarked each Sunday, ac- 
cording to Mark Twain's latest revelations on the begin- 
ning — and therefore spared his life? The question is put 
to such readers of Forest and Stream as have had simi- 
lar experience; will they kindly give information as to 
the facts they have observed, and as to the interpretation 
they give thereof? Facts concerning other animals than 
birds would prove quite as interesting, of course. 
Now as to another form of infanticide. It is popularly 
believed in France, among the uncultured principally, that 
when young birds are taken, with the nest, and put in a 
cage to which the parents can easily come, without being 
able to get in, of course (.the cage is, for instance, sus- 
pended in the tree close to the place where the nest was 
made) the parents who generally do not abandon their 
young, come to the cage, and bring them food, but also, in 
many cases, bring them poisonous food, so as to kill their 
captive progeny. It sometimes happens that they kill it 
otherwise by beating it on the skull; it happens also that 
they do not kill it at all. But it is believed that the 
poisoning process is rather extensively practiced. Query : 
Does the bchef exist in the new world; can any facts be 
adduced in its favor? Henry de Varigny. 
Paris. 
A Ward fof Yellow Jotirnalism* 
Jefferson Barracks, Mo. — Editor Forest and Stream : 
Your Nov. 15 issue reminds me of the old yarn about 
the missionary who, having been sent to convert the 
Eisquimaux to Christianity, set about doing so in the 
way he had always done, viz., by telling them of the end- 
less punishment awaiting all unregenerate beings upon 
their passage from this life. He appeard to do well 
enough until he began to depict the fire and brimstone 
details, wdien, to his surprise, he found his hearers m all 
eagerness to join tlie ranks of the unbelievers, so that they 
might thus secure the boon of perpetual heat after a life- 
time in the frozen regions. Now I am something of a 
"metaphorical Esquimaux. I knew nothing of yellow 
journals until the missionary labors of the Forest and 
STitEAM taught me that they appear to be a class of news- 
paper that urge the devotees of fashion to go out and 
observe interesting and attractive little animals frisking 
about in a state of nature, rather than, by creating an ab- 
normal demand for their pelts, to stimulate the market- 
hunter to compass their entire extinction. This descrip- 
tion has made me an ardent believer in yellow journals; 
they appear to teach the doctrine I have long favored; and 
if they will enlarge their scope to include song and in- 
sectivorous birds as well, they can occupy a place at my 
elbow right next to the Forest and Stream itself. 
Wm. F. Flynn. 
'^nie §ng ^nd §mu 
Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
ihetn m Fokest and Stream. 
Massachusetts Interests. 
Boston, Nov. 15. — Editor Forest and Stream: A con- 
vention of sportsman's, farmers' and other clubs was 
held on Nov. 13. The meeting was a large and enthusi- 
astic one. Game protectors came from 'every county and 
almost every large town and city in the State, to the 
number of eighty or more. 
A. B. F. Kmuey. chairman of the Central Committee 
and vice-president of the Massachusetts F. and G. P. 
A., presided. George W. Emery, ex-governor of Utah, 
and Col. E. M. Stoddard from Marshfield, represented 
the South Shore. Gen. Francis H. Appleton, of Hamil- 
ton, Senator-elect from Essex, representing his section 
and the Society for Promotion of Agriculture; Leander 
Herrick, of the New England Agricultural Society and 
the Worcester Fur Club; Dr. W. G. Kendall, vice-presi- 
dent of the Megantic Fish and Game Club; Heman S. 
Fay the League of American Sportsmen and the Marl- 
borough Gun Club; I. O. Converse, the Fitchburg Rifie 
and Gun Club ; several new clubs, the Grovel and, George- 
town, Northampton, Greenfield and others, beside farm- 
ers' clubs and several deputy fish and game commis- 
sioners. After two or three speakers had been called 
upon, a general invitation was extended to all present, 
and the opportunity was very generally avaded of. Ihe 
majority of those in attendance had something to say. 
Resolutions were adopted in favor of the re-enactment 
of the anti-sale law; the deer law and the giving of 
further right of search to deputies. 
A committee, of which Mr. Fay was chairman, re- 
ported in favor of continuance of the Central Commit- 
tee and reported as its executive committee the follow- 
mo-'- Chairman, If. A. Estabrook, of Fitchburg; Secre- 
tary, H. H. Kimball, Boston; A. B. F. Kinney, Worces- 
ter -'a C Sylvester, North Attleboro ; Salem D. Charles, 
Boston ; H. S. Fav, Marlboro ; Chas. H. Sawyer, 
Northampton; Wra. BT Phinney, Lynn; J. B. Bridges, 
Deerfield; H. P. Brvant, New Bedford; Joseph H. 
Wood, Pittsfield; J. Russell Reed, Boston; H. C. Tuck, 
Haverhill. . , nr tt- 
A vote of thanks was unanimously tendered Mr. Kin- 
ney for his efficient and untiring efforts in the cause of 
protection during the past three years as chairman of the 
Executive Committee. , 
After an hour's intermission the association was called 
to order by Vice-President Wm. S. Hinman. Several 
propositions for membership were presented, and six 
candidates were duly elected. , . , -c «r 
A nominating committee of seven, of which Dr. E. W. 
Branigan is chairman, was named by President Hm- 
man, when the meeting was adjourned and the conven- 
tion again opened. ^ , t. 
The name of Congressman W. S. McNary, of Boston, 
\y?is one of those proposed for membership. 
Several State senators and representatives were in at- 
tendance, several of whom spoke and expressed their 
pleasure in attending and their purpose to favor all rea- 
sonable requests from, the sportsmen. 
Speaker Myers, who will doubtless be re-elected to 
that position, was among the speakers. Several of the 
guests from different sections of the State also spoke. 
This meeting, if not equal to the convention of 1899, 
was a very close second, and has put the anti-sale law 
and other measures distinctly before the people of the 
State, the press having given quite full reports of it. 
Henry H. Kimball, Secretary. 
Boston, Mass., Nov. 18.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
If there have been those in the Old Bay State who have 
thought it safe to violate the game laws recentlv, because 
several of the most active game wardens were occupied in 
the distribution of fish, and were literally working night 
and day to stock the ponds and streams with trotit, land- 
locked salmon and white perch, some of them at least 
have had a rude awakening within the past three days. It 
is only just to say that this recent work of the wardens, 
although remarkable for notable cases, is only a continua- 
tion of the liveliest campaign this old State has ever wit- 
nessed for the repression of illegal hunting and fishing. 
Last Saturday and Monday three convictions were ob- 
tained, which not only cause immense satisfaction to 
sportsmen throughout the Commonwealth, but in each 
case the conviction was due to detective skill that would 
do credit to Scotland Yard, and which must impress 
those disposed to transgress the fish and game laws with 
the idea that it is decidedly unsafe to continue in illegal 
practices. 
One of the cases referred to is specially interesting be- 
cause it is the first occasion, since the enactment of the 
non-sale law for partridge and woodcock was enacted 
two years ago last July, that any one has been caught red- 
handed in the act of trying to sell either of these. species. 
Some ten days or so ago information reached the Fish 
and Game Commission that there was reason to suspect 
one William Ellis, of Monterey, in the -southern section 
of Berkshire county, was selling, or willing to sell, par- 
tridges. Deputy A. M. Nichols, of North Adams, was 
ordered to make a preliminary investigation, which he 
did. Upon his request for help. Deputy A. D. Putnam, of 
Spencer, was wired to join him. The information which 
the Commission has received shows that the case was 
worked up as follows: 
Where Ellis lives is eight or ten miles away from a 
railroad, and in a notably wild bit of country, especially 
for Massachusetts. Last Friday night Nichols, posing 
as a person interested in a match factory, called at the 
home of Ellis and made inquiries about a piece of pine 
timber land in the vicinity. Nichols then returned to 
Great Barrington, where plans were laid to entrap Ellis, 
and where the co-operation of Police Officer Smith was 
secured. It was determined to go to Monterey Sunday, 
and as Officer Smith was unknown to Ellis, and was in- 
terested in the work, it was thought best that he should 
play the part of a hunter from Lenox, who was anxious 
to get a good lot of game, whether he shot it or not. It 
is evident that there might have been cause for suspicion 
on Ellis' part if Nichols, the supposed match factory 
agent, had indicated a desire to purchase partridges, and 
for this reason he decided it was best for him and Mr. 
Putnam to keep in the background, while Smith carried 
on negotiations. 
These details having been arranged, the three — Nichols, 
Putnam and Smith — drove out of Great Barrington early 
Sunday morning, and away over the hilly country roads 
for MontereJ^ It matters little that the morning slumber 
of' some late sleeper in Great Barrington may have been 
disturbed by the whirr of wheels, "rattling o'er the stony 
street," as the trio headed away for the wooded country. 
However that may be, the officers in due time reached 
the vicinity of Ellis' house. But instead of going directly 
to it, they droA'e into a back road near the house, hitched 
the team and then disguised Smith, who was rigged up 
in a hunting suit, equipped with a gun and bird, and fitted 
out with a lunch. He was then shown Ellis' house and 
instructed to go there and ask for a drink of water. Also 
he was told to go into the house, put his gun down, lay 
the bird beside it, produce his lunch on the pretext of be- 
ing hungry, and improve any opportunity to get into con- 
versation with Ellis. 
The '-.cheme worked like a charm. In a few minutes 
Smith was telling Ellis how anxious he was to find some 
good shooting in order that he might return to Lenox 
with a large bag of .game, and intimated, of course, that 
he had rather give an3'thing than fail. The bait was at- 
tractive and was swallowed af once. Ellis said he had 
five partridges he would sell for fifty cents each, although 
he had been getting $1,50 apiece for birds owing to the 
risk, for it would cost him $100 if he should be caught 
seliing live birds. This ofiier was made, however, with 
the understanding, Ellis said, that the hunter from Len- 
ox would do "the right thing." How rnuch Ellis might 
have been influenced by visions of Lenox gold and a new 
customer from the hill town of palaces, can only be con- 
jectured. The fact known is that he offered the birds for 
sale. 
Smith made some excuse to get out for a few minutes, 
telling Ellis he would return immediately for the birds, 
He went dowTi the road to where Nichols and Putnam 
were waiting, told them how the land lay and then re- 
turned to the house. They followed almost immediately 
and arrested Ivllis. The latter was taken to Great Bar- 
rington, vvhere he was tried and convicted 3'^esterday. 
The penaltv fixed by the court was $100. Ellis could not 
pay this and was sent to jail. For a first conviction un- 
der the non-sale law, this result must be a lesson to be 
heeded by others who are disposed to monkey with the 
buzz saw. There is occasion also for all sportsmen to 
bless their stars that the judge who had this case to 
deal with knov/s the law and realizes the importance of 
its proper enforcement. 
Out in Gilbertville village, in the town of Hardwick, 
Deputies Lennan and Shea secured the conviction last 
Saturday of two ferreters, who were fined $20 each. This 
also required a bit of detective work. Lennan, who was 
busy distributing fish, got a hint that parties in Gilbert- 
ville Avere hnntmg with ferrets. He and Shea took a 
day off, went over" to the village, worked up the evidence, 
had the two fellows in court Saturday, and they pleaded 
gtiilty and were sentenced as above stated. 
Game Warden J. I. Mills, of Ayer, with the assistance 
