76 
FOREST AND STREAM . 
palm. Many will say that the color of skin, shape of head, 
horns, and the prt ]>onderance or absence of the bell or dew- 
lap, is due to age. This I know is not correct. As to color of 
skin, or the bell, it may be; it is certainly regarding 
size of antlers. As I write, I have four specimens of 
the family to judge from of my own shooting, and the points 
I give are correct. Three, the “ long legs,’’ without bell, only 
three inches, and one “short leg" (Elk), with the bell fifteen 
inches long from throat. Elk. 
[It is safe to say that the different names referred to by our 
correspondent are merely local, and that there is but one spe- 
cies of moose found in this country. We should have been 
disposed to attribute the differences which he mentions to age. 
We tfould refer “ Elk" to early files of the Forest and 
8trram for a discussion of these points. Vol. II., p. 117. — 
Ed.] 
—The Mount Holly Mirror relates that “ a citizen of Bel- 
videre, N.J., picked up a dead woodpecker in the street a few 
days since, and to its bill was fastened a small strip of wood, 
which, upon examination, was found to have caused the death. 
The bird had evidently struck the wood with considerable 
force, thereby embedding its bill to quite a depth, or in other 
words suffocated.” 
The Big Book — Warrensburgh, N. 7., Feb. 5 . — Editor 
Forest and Stream :I noticed in the Forest and Stream of 
Jan. 31 an article from “Leather Stocking” where he speaks 
of the largest red deer on record, weighing only 250 lbs. be- 
fore dressing. I killed two deer last November that were 
guessed to weigh 400 lbs. on the hoof, but actually weighed 
when dressed, and after hanging in the woods five or six 
days, 250 and 300 pounds respectively. The buck that 
weighed 300 pounds, and also the other, had splendid antlers, 
the large buck having five pikes on each horn, the distance 
across the horns between the pikes being 23$ inches. I gave 
them to a friend, who has had them mounted, and they may 
be 6een any time by calling on J. L. Russell, Troy, N. Y. 
This deer was said to be the largest ever killed in the Adiron 
dacks. One man who was with me and had hunted for forty 
yeare in the North Woods, 6aid he shot several that dressed 
250 to 260 pounds each. If “ Leather Stocking " wants to 
have sworn statements in regard to the above I can give him 
the names of several persons in this place who saw the deer 
weighed. As every one was anxious to see the “ big " deer 
and to see him weighed, I have plenty of witnesses. I have 
hunted for yeare and always called a buck that would weigh 
when dressed 180 to 200 pounds a large one, and a doe a good 
one when she would turn the scale at 115 to 125 pounds. I 
have also had deer domesticated, and have one buck at pres- 
ent. Last year had four. A. H. Thomas. 
[The weight of these two bucks far exceeds anything that 
we have ever heard of in the deer line. Can any of our corres- 
pondents match it? — E d.] 
What Anlmal Kills and Eats a Fox ?— Clinton, Conn., 
Feb. 21. — While hunting this morning with a party, one of 
our number found a dead she fox with its head and fore-leg 
eaten off, and although quite a seArch was made, no trace of 
the missing members were found. Upon skinnmg the re- 
mainder it appeared healthy and free from old wounds. 
When found we judged it had not been dead more than 
twelve hours. Now, as none of our old fox-hunters ever 
heard of the like before, any information on the subject would 
be gladly received by the Clinton Fox-Hunters. 
[Or course, we can only suggest possibilities, but under the 
circumstances we should be disposed to attribute the deed to 
a hungiy wild cat ( Lynx mfus) a species which, though not 
common at present, is sometimes killed in Connecticut. We 
can think of no other wild animal large enough to master a 
ox. — E d.] 
THE EUROPEAN STARLING. 
Quebec, Canada, Feb. 1, 1878. 
Editob Porest and Stream and Rod and Gon: 
With reference to the query of “N.A.T.," from Houston, Tex., rela- 
tive to Btarllogs, aDy person from the North of Europe can answer 
aU his questions satisfactorily. The European starling breeds In stony 
places, such aa quarries, houses, and may be considered an inhabitant 
of a city. His principal food Is wormB, and when tne grouDd la frozen 
hard, he lives in marehy places or freqnente the banks of rivers. He 
wUl not come to food such as grain or bread, thongh he will eat the 
seed of rushes. He is a digger, as you may notice from the form of 
MB bllL I Imported, a few years ago, about twenty starlings In the 
spring of the year, and turned them loose (In the month of May) 
They flew up In the atr, and I have not seen them- since. In England 
starlings are very numerous aod are always considered the friend of 
the farmer. They are easily caught with blrd-llme, but, as they gene 
rally go In dense flockB, they are difficult to approach. 
Your correspondent, however, need not be afraid of the English 
sparrow. Tne reputation of driving away other birds Is not his char 
acter In Europe. In Canada the northern shrike or butcher bird des- 
troys the poor sparrow mercilessly. The sparrow-hawk also does so 
in Europe. I Imagine a sparrow fights a sparrow, and that he will get 
the worn of it if he attacks a bigger bird At any rate, an English spar 
rpw will keep a garden clear of all butterflies and their worms. The 
mocking bird Is a thrush, and so strongly resembles the Northern 
shrike that any cute, well edneated New York sparrow would give him 
a wide berth. The honse sparrow, however, Is now an American bird 
migrating rapidly from town to town, and probably receiving more 
hospitality and better treatment at the hands of man tban any other 
bird on this continent; and as he Is sure to visit Houston, ‘‘N. A. T. 
may as well have his services at once as wait a few years and then see 
the sparrow immigrant come uninvited. 
The starling breeds twice a year, and had better be imported In the 
spring. 1 would order two or three hundred birds, to be shipped In 
lots of twenty-five birds per package, and have them turned out on ar 
rival. A starling fights, bites, screams, and Is a very pugnacious bird 
when handled. H>- is also tough and hard to shoot, and can carry a 
deal of shot. As the meat Is bitter he le not considered good eating— 
about as good as crow. Yours. w. Rhodbs, 
Dominion Connell of Agrlcultnre. 
- — •«■ 
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There is also a little baby kaDgaroo which is Occasionally seen 
peeping from its cradle— the marsupial sac in which it lieB— 
and where it will remain until old enough to care for itself. 
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about the same, as near as his surroundings will admit. As his Held Is 
limited, he mounts any object that Is raised from the ground, and other- 
wise suitably located— most frequently a fallen tree— then he lets Ills 
customers know that he is ready, by beating his drum. This 
manuor of letting the hens know where to find them each kind of grouse 
keeps np all through the breeding season. 
1 have seen tho hen prairie fowl fly quite a tulle, and drop down in 
tho nildtt of half a dozen cocks who were walling, when each cock 
would turn himself Into a “king” prairie chicken. 1 have seen Hie 
female ruffed grouse come to the drumming of tho cock us sly as a fox, 
and only advance during the noise, then stop as still as a stamp. 
Between the drammings tho cock would stretch up his neck and wonder 
If ehe was ever coming, though he did not yet know she was there. As 
goon aa the cock aaw her he would alrnoat tumble off tho log, and in- 
stantly turn himself Into a “king” partridge, Just as “Penobscot" 
described. The cook would strut around the hen with his wings down, 
exactly like the pinnated grouse, make dives at her, run against her; 
and, If sho didn’t care so awful much about him Just at that time, he 
would dram once or twice for her, and, between the drununlnge, he 
would ask lier what she thought about It. 
The cock pheasant your correspondent “Zadoc" saw through tho 
roots of the fallen tree, undoubtedly was looking ns much for some of 
bis kina as for an enemy. Tho sac your other correspondent epeaka of 
under tho wing, I think he must be mistaken about. 
The ruffed grouse do not pair. The very nature of the nolao thoy 
make during the breeding time explains their domestic relations. Pin- 
nated and ruffed grouse are alike in their habits of cholco and number 
of wives, all the works on ornithology to the contrary notwithstanding. 
If there is any difference between thorn I think the latter denizen of tho 
woods has uot as good morals os he of the prairie. Banana does not 
have command enough of himself, and would like to begin Ms love- 
making at wrong seasons, which drives the Iteus off to themselves 
during tho warm days of our Indian summer, as I have often found 
them. 
Several persons through your columns say that they have shot female 
birds in the act of drumming, which Is the most remarkable thing I ever 
heard about this much misunderstood bird. It is possible that they 
killed a hen who had come to the trystlng place while the cock had 
jnBt Btepped down to visit some other hen who was there, but I doubt 
If a hen grouse ever attempted to drum. Monon. 
HABITS OF THE RUFFED GROUSE. 
White Codntt, -J an, 1878 
r T'HE prairie chicken {Cuptdonia cuptdo), when he has concluded 
commence bosIneeB In the spring, opens Ms shop on a prairie 
knoll, and advertises It by blowlrg his horn that those who wish Ms 
wares may know where to And him. When he has a customer he does 
ins bert to please, sets every feathei on end, droops tils wings, Ituiutes 
Ills pouch, spreads Ills tall, draws down his head, and slruls around, us 
much as to say, “ ThlB Is Just the place, aud I am the fellow yon are 
looking for." 
When Banana wmbtUut has made up hie mind lor business, he does 
Suakopee, Minnesota, Jan. 24, 1878. 
Mr. Editor: Slow at first, but faster and faster did ihose little wings 
strike the air— not the old rotten log he was sitting on— until the noiso 
Bounded exactly the same as that of a bird of the Bame species Just 
taking wing. Has It ever oconred to yon that a drumming pheasant 
keeps a Arm hold of the log he Is dramming on-have never seen a 
pheasant drum on a rock— anti that tho sound produced by a bird 
taking wing,” and the last evolution of a “ drumming one " arc one 
and the same? In the one Instance he clings to the log, thereby pre- 
venting an upward raot'on of the body ; In the other he springs in tho 
air, and the same motion of his wings gives the Arst velocity tohlBbody, 
after which an occasional flap of the wmg keeps him lu the air, and 
the whirring sound so deafening In a deep lavlne or heavy timber 
ceases. 
I’ll wager, that upon recalling your pheasant hunt at Blakely on the 
line of the St. and P. and S. C. R. R. last fall, only a couple of miles from 
my first domicile In this State, you will coincide with my view as to 
what produces the sound of a drumming pheasant. Many a- night 
when happening to be awake I have heard the pheasants drum near 
my cabin, and presently the rooster wonld crow, heralding the coming 
of the morn ; also on rainy days I have noticed the drumming and crow- 
ing, or crowing and drumming. Now, Is there any one prepared to 
dispute that the motive for drumming or crowing are alike in the two 
birds 7 
Has any one ever listened to one drumming pheasant challenging 
another drummer? Closer and closer they come, louder and louder 
seems thd noise, and finally tho leaves and feathers alike fly In profu- 
sion and give evidence of the mortal combat ; and In this state they are 
entirely oblivious to all surroundings, and will not lake wing udIcss a 
dog becomes the third party t* tho combat. When not Interfered with 
until the battle waxes hot, tho observer can pick them up, the same 
as a pair of fighting cocks on a dunghill. This Is an actual fact, and I 
have done it 1 1 Dave been a close observer of the habits at this bird 
since my settlement in the Dig Woods, then ns now the very paradlso 
and home of the bird In question ; have watched them In all seasons 
and Btages of their age, have tried In vain to domesticate them, when 
with the prairie chicken I was entirely successful, aud am therefore 
entirely confident in giving my views. 
Neither the pheasant nor wild duck will thrive or live long In con- 
finement, no matter whether hatched from the egg by domestic fowl 
or caught while young ; and on the other hand, the prairie chicken and 
wild goose will live and thrive in the Darnyard any way you raise 
them. B. 
New York, January 81, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Your correspondent, “ R, T. M,” says that Connecticut ruffed grouso 
seldom alight on a tree at the end of their flight. This Is entirely con- 
trary to my observation of the habit of the bird In this respect. I have 
never huuted them except In Connecticut, and have found Hint, lit 
heavily timbered localities where hemlock trees abound, the bird wlieu 
flushed la almost certain to take to the hemlocks for refuge; and It cer- 
tainly could not adopt a surer means of securing Itself from further 
disturbance by hunter or dog, though occasionally a deg will “wind" 
a treed bird and show by his actions a comprehension of tho situation. 
I have never, however, been able to discover the bird under these clr- 
cumBlauces until It took Itself off with the usual load advertisement 
of departure. 
Have seen raffed grouse when flushed by tho dog only, and apparent- 
ly unaware of the sportsman's presence, bounce up Into the trees direct- 
ly overhead ; and when hunting with a companion have on a number of 
occasions observed birds flushed by him come over my way aud settle 
among hemlock branches within killing range of my position. Being 
one of the number who believes In " killing ’em when you can,” 1 gen- 
erally shoot at the spot where I siw them go In, or if standing at an 
angle with their line of flight, make a guess at their probable posi- 
tion near the stem of the tree, and blaze away. In the section where I 
do my shooting we have beon congratulating ourselves on tho largo 
quantity of hen birds left over to raise chickens for next foil's sport. 
But If It Is a fact that plumage really goes for nothing In determining 
sex among ruffed grouse we shall bo obliged to modify our aullclpa- 
tious In that respect, aud look deoper for the “ true Inwardness ” of the 
specimens which the next season offers ns. Yankee. 
Olean, N. Y„ Jan., 187S. 
Editor Forest and Stream and bod and Gun : 
In regard to Its drumming, I have seen the performance many times, 
and It appears to mo that the bird strikes nothing with its wings, ex 
cept that they may strike together on the backs. But 1 do not think It 
absolutely necessary for them to strike a lything to prodnoe the sound , 
uuless II Ib to suddenly arrest the motion, for the noise is uot much, if 
any, Ruder r.bau lie makes when ho Is flushed, aud t.bo wings strike 
nothing but air; and is very similar, except In its gradual inoreartDf 
rapidity in the case of drumming. 
