4B7 
"It has been long known, though occasionally doubted 
or contradicted, that poisonous snakes are proof 
against their own venom. Big doses of snake venom 
have repeatedly been inoculated into the bodies of the 
producers themselves absolutely without effect. The 
current stories of 'suicides' of rattlesnakes are easily 
explained, and in none of the many cases reported is 
there any conclusive proof that death resulted from a 
t-elf-mflicted wound. It is also well known that a num- 
ber of the so-called harmless snakes remain unaffected 
whether bitten by a venomous snake or inoculated in 
the laboratory with enormous doses." 
We have made recent inquiry of Mr. Raymond L. 
Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles in the New York Zoo- 
logical Society's Park, to learn the last work on the sub- 
ject. Mr. Ditmars very kindly writes: 
"A rattlesnake, moccasin or coppephead may bite one 
or the other named, and, though considerable venom 
be injected by the fangs, no damage is done, except the 
wounds inflicted. Any of the poisonous snakes may 
bite themselves without producing anything but a 
simple wound. Several species of harmless snakes, 
which are cannibalistic in habit, are immune to snake 
poison, and are frequently bitten while subduing ven- 
omous prey. The majority of harmless snakes, however, 
die quickly if injected with snake poison.] 
Some Southern Califofoia Mammals. 
In No. 16 of Vol. III. of the Zoological Series of the 
publication of the Field Columbian Museum, Dr. D. G. 
Elliot gives a catalogue of mammals collected by Mr. E. 
Heller in Southern California. The counties traversed 
by Mr. Heller are chiefly Kern, Inyo, San Bernardino and 
Riverside, with excursions over into Tulare and Los 
Angeles counties. The range of country covered is thus 
wide, including the Colorado and Mojave deserts. Death 
Valley, and the neighboring lofty mountain, ranges. The 
large collections made contain a number of new forms. 
An interesting observation made as to the antelope (Anti- 
locapra americaiia) found in Antelope Valley, near the 
eastern base of the Tehachapi Mountains appears to show 
a difference in the time of the rut and of the shedding of 
the horn sheath between southern antelope and those 
found further to the north. 
In Nebraska, Wyoming, the Dakotas and probably 
Montana, it is fairly well established that the rutting 
season begins toward the end of September; the bucks 
beginning to chase the does from Sept. 10 to 20. In 
these northern localities the horns are shed in November 
and December, commonly not earlier, we think, and the 
ycung are born about June i. 
Mr. Heller's notes show a different state of things in 
Southern California : "The rutting season is evidently 
ii; midsummer, as the horns are shed in the early part of 
October or late in September. A male shot in the middle 
of October had small, soft horns, and a female taken the 
same date had shed one horn but still retained the other. 
This specimen contained two embryos about two months 
old." 
Mr. Heller took his two specimens — a male and female 
— from a herd of thirty antelope, which live on the west- 
ern border of the Mojave Desert. Protected by law, they 
have become quite tame and would increase rapidly were 
it not for the destruction of the young by coyotes, which 
constantly harass the band. While this herd was being 
stalked several coyotes were observed following it, and 
old bucks were seen pursuing a coyote and striking at it 
with the forefeet. The settlement of the country has 
obliged this little herd to live in the open desert, usually 
in a compact bunch, and here they are much exposed to 
the attacks of the small wolves. A bunch of seven ante- 
lope is said to live at the head of the San Joaquin Valley, 
and one or two very small herds occupy the plains near 
Buena Vista Lake and the Carisco plains. 
Colorado Deer Hide Decision. 
Appeal from the District Ceurt of Mesa County. 
No. 2921. 
E. W. Hornbeke, Appellant, vs. C. M. White, Appellee. 
Mr. S. G. McMuUin, District Attorney, and Mr. D. C. 
Reaman for Appellant. 
Mr. S. N. Wheeler, and Mr. A. J. Hunt, for Appellee. 
Maxwell, J. 
This was an action of replevin involving 300 deer hides. 
The amended complaint upon which this case was tried 
averred that, prior to January 28, 1901, plaintiff was the 
owner and entitled to the possession of, and is now the 
owner and entitled to the immediate possession of 300 
deer hides of the value of $300; that about December 10, 
iQOi, the defendant, representing himself to be a deputy 
game warden, wrongfully, unlawfully and forcibly, took 
said deer hides from plaintiff's possession; that on said 
date "the defendant as such deputy game warden, in con- 
sideration of the sum of $30 to him in hand paid by this 
plaintiff, re-transferred and delivered the said deer hides 
A Florida Pelican. 
The photograph of Little Billee, the government peli- 
can at Key West, was taken by me on the Fish Market 
wharf. Key West, January, 1904. 
It was a snap-shot, the camera being held not two 
feet away and the bulb pressed just as Billee was in 
the act of swallowing a snapper thrown him by one of 
the market men. 
Little Billee has quite a history. He was rifled from 
the parent nest on Woman Key (about seven miles 
south of Key West) on September 11, 1903, by En- 
gineer James Haskins of 'Ae marine service. 
"There were four of them," said Engineer Haskins, 
in telling the story, "and the ugliest little creatures you 
ever saw, with nothing on but a few pin feathers just 
pricking through the skin. The nest was little more 
than a big bundle of sticks in a fork of a mangrove 
three or four feet above the ground. I took three and 
started in to bring them up by hand. Two the boys 
stoned to death, but Billee I brought through all right. 
I.ITTLE BILLEE. 
Photo copyright, 1904, by Charles ,B. Todd. 
"He's a fisherman, sure enough, but it isn't neces- 
sary for him to work, because the marketmen around 
at the fish market throw him a snapper every morning 
and afternoon besides what he gets at home. Billee 
calls around them for his rations pretty regularly, I 
guess. 
"He's a spoiled bird, all right. He had a battle 
royal with a couple of Cubans yesterday. They were 
fishing and had thrown a snapper on to the wharf, 
which Billee seized and had in his pouch in no time. 
They rushed oh him, but the bird stood them off with 
his sharp beak and outspread wings. But the fish was 
still attached to the hook, and they tautened the line 
and vanked Billee on board, when he disgorged the 
fish."" . _ 
Billee is the mascot of the Jackies of the United States 
Naval Station at Key West. 
Charles Burr Todd. 
to this plaintiff, stating to said plaintiff at such time that 
as such deputy State game warden he had the right to 
transfer the same to this plaintiff and receive the consider- 
ation therefor;" that thereafter, aiid before the commence- 
ment of this suit, the defendant again took possession of 
said hides, and, upon demand, refused to deliver the same 
to plaintiff, to his damage in the sum of $300. 
An answer and replication presented the issues, upon 
which the case was tried. 
A determination of the questions involved in this case 
involves a consideration of several sections of Chapter 
98 of the Session Laws of 1899, entitled, "An act to pro- 
tect game and fish," Session Laws of 1899, page 184, as 
follows : 
Sec. 16, Div. A, page 188. "All game and fish now or 
hereafter within this State not held by private ownership, 
legally acquired, and which for the purposes of this act 
shall include all the quadrupeds, birds and fish mentioned 
in this act, are hereby declared to be the property of the 
State, and no right, title, interest or property therein can 
be acquired or transferred or possession thereof had or 
maintained except as herein expressly provided." 
Sec. 18, Div. A, page 189. "As used in this act, unless 
City Bred Sparrows. 
Many changes of habits, and some of plumage, have 
been noticed and commented upon in Forest and 
Stream in respect to forest birds raised in cities. These 
have been especially remarked of the sapsuckers bred in 
the suburbs of St, Louis, many of which build in old 
shade trees near the houses, and do visible- damage by 
peckmg at roofs and telegraph poles. They seem to have 
abandoned their primitive forest habits as entirely as 
caged canaries born in captivity forget the woodland en- 
vironment of the Hartz Mountains. 
A notable instance of domiciliation is shown in the 
imported English sparrows which have become so intru- 
sive and bold in their usurpation of our household be- 
longmgs as to be a decided nuisance, and very dirty 
withal. Since their introduction here some forty years 
ago, their plumage has unquestionably brightened and 
assumed richer and various hues, especially in the males. 
Females we know are doomed to wear some positively 
dingy colors always, whether wild or house-bred. Even 
these occasionally show a variation from the uniform 
brown color. But no change whatever has come under 
the notice of observers to compare with the motley worn 
bv the sparrows of London, as stated in a recent letter 
of a correspondent of the Boston Globe, who declares that 
one "will scarcely ever see two birds alike. Some are 
of a smoky blackness, others a severe gray, others bright 
v/ith orange brown feathers, others of a delicate green, 
others have the wing bars so pronounced as to make you 
tliink you see a chaffinch, others are streaked like mal- 
lards, and others are spotted like thrushes. Quite i per 
cent, of the central London sparrows are blessed with 
white feathers on parts of the body where they are not 
expected to appear on sparrows." 
We notice here occasional white markings in our spar- 
rows, with combinations of black and rufous with brown 
and gray and rich mahogany. Some of the males have 
become really pretty. 
But there is something more interesting than coloration 
involved in these operations of nature, which touch the 
matters of evolution and reversion, seeming to corrobo- 
rate the theory that civilization and culture, as a rule, 
produce varieties of color in birds, animals, and plants ; 
v/hile degeneration through neglect harks back to the dull 
grays and browns of feral types. At any rate, we see 
proofs and demonstrations in our graded cattle as con- 
trasted with range cattle; in our thoroughbred horses 
as compared with the marsh tackles of the coast and 
prairie mustangs; in our barnyard fowls and barnyard 
swine as contrasted with the Mexican javalinas and pine 
root hogs and razor-backs of our Southern States. The 
testimony of the Sable Island rabbits, off the coast of 
Nova Scotia, and the "banker" ponies there and else- 
v/here along the Atlantic Coast, which are known to be 
degenerates since three hundred years ago, is most inter- 
esting to science. As to plants, we know what skillful 
gardeners and florists can do in multiplying their hues. 
In. chrysanthemums alone there are one hundred and 
fifty named varieties. It is to be hoped that the changing 
sparrows will wear their new liveries as modestly as do ■ 
the lilies of the field their own. Charles Hallock. 
Mountain climbing is taught systematically at Moedling, 
near Vienna, where the low but abrupt mountains present 
many of the most difficult Alpine problems. 
Horses, Guns and Dogs. By J. Otho Paget, Geo. A. B. Duwar, 
A. B. Portmand and A. Innes Shand. Illustrated. 254 pages. 
Longmans, Green & Co. 
This is a book for boys, full of instruction and intended to help 
the youthful sportsman to take his pleasure afield in a sportsinan- 
like way. It treats of the care of the horse, riding lessons, choice 
and handling, and gives various hints in riding and driving. It 
instructs as to how to shoot and handle a gun, and tells of 
rabbit, partridge and pigeon shooting, and finally of advanced 
shooting. Dogs are treated by Mr. Shand. There are four full- 
page plates in colors. Price, $2.00. 
Otherwise specifically restricted or enlarged, the words 
herein and hereof refer to the whole act ; * * * and 
whenever the possession, use, importation, transportation, 
storage, taxidermy, sale, offering or exposing for sale of 
game or fish is prohibited or restricted, the prohibition 
and restriction shall, where not specifically otherwise 
provided, extend to and include every part of such game 
or fish, and a violation as to each individual animal or 
part thereof shall be a separate offense." 
Sec. 19, Div. A, page 189. "The possession at any 
time of game or fish unaccompanied by a proper and valid 
license, certificate, permit or invoice, as herein provided, 
shall be prima facie evidence that such game or fish was 
unlawfully taken, and is unlawfully held in possession." 
_ Sec. I, Div. B, page 191. "No person shall at any 
time of the year, or in any manner, pusue, take, wound or 
kill any bison, buffalo, elk, deer, antelope * * * or 
have the same in possession, except as permitted by this 
act." 
Sub. Div. I, Sec. 7, Div. B.- "The open season for deer 
having horns and antelope having horns, shall begin 
August IS and end November 5 next ensuing." 
Sub. Div. 7, Div. B., Sec. 7, page 192. "The right given by 
