forest and stream 
27ft 
when it sleeps it places its bend on the back or interscapular 
region, covering it with the feathers. W. A. C. 
Sixth Report or the Zoologioal Society of Pjiiladel- 
rniA.— Although with diminished receipts from admissions, 
‘thanks to greater thrift and economy the Philadelphia society 
is in an admirable condition. We have referred already to the 
decrease of visitors, and in studying the case of zoological so-* 
cieties in this country we are quite satisfied that they should 
be made independent of public pntronage. The report of Mr. 
Arthur E. Brown, whose contributions have been published in 
our journal, is of a most interesting character. The exceed- 
ingly mild season may have, of course, in a certain measure, 
been the reason for the present excellent condition of the ani- 
mals and the fractional loss. But a great deal may be attrib- 
uted to the excellent care of the superintendent. Mr. Brown 
writes: The estimated loss of the animals this -year is 
about four per cent, on the value of the auimals, a rate much 
lower than that of previous years, aud which is believed to 
be as small a percentage of loss as has ever occurred in a gar- 
den of its character, and at the present time — the most trying 
season of the year— the collection is in a condition of health 
and vigor which it would be difficult to surpass. The collec- 
tion, during the last season of 1877-78, has had added to it 237 
mammals, 149 birds, 109 batrachians and 192 reptiles, making 
the total number of specimens now living in the garden 1,008, 
valued at some $57,623. The following animals among many 
have been bred this year : Two Macaque monkeys, four com- 
mon leopards, two black leopards, twelve dingos, two coates, 
two capromys, one acoucby, one beaver, three deer, one zebu, 
Angora and Yemen goats, one Bactrian camel, two llamas, 
three kangaroos, etc , etc. One of the great items of expense- 
lias recently been diminished by feeding the animals on horse 
flesh. Crippled horses are purchased at a low cost, are 
flaughtcred at the garden, and the skin, bone and refuse being 
sold, the cost of meat has been reduced to the lowest figure. 
The condition of the garden is admirable, all the improve- 
ments are of the most ornamental,! lasting character, and 
Philadelphia may be truly proud of having the finest zoologi- 
cal collection in the country. 
The Birds of Connecticut.— All scientific; work is, of b 
course, praiseworthy, but that which is undertaken to fill * 
some evident void, to supply some long-felt want in any de- j 
partment of science, merits our special approval. It is true 
that this is but another way of stating that, in science, judg- 
ment and common sense are as desirable as in the ordinari- 
business of life, but -the fact is too often overlooked, and 
therefore when a case is brought before us in which these 
qualities have been specially .exercised, it is well to point it 
out and to emphasize it by a few words of notice. Such a 
case we have before us in a paper on the “ Birds of Connecti- 
cut,” by Mr. C. H. Merriam. 
It is now thirty-five years since the last enumeration of the 
birds of that State appeared in the Rev. Mr. Linsley’s “Cata- 
logue of the Birds of Connecticut," and during this interval 
the advance in our knowledge of ornithology, though perhaps 
no greater than that in other branches of science, has been 
something marvelous. It was high time, theD, that we should 
have some authoritative statement of the present ornithologi- 
cal standing of our neighboring State. Bird lists, more or 
less complete, of all her neighbors, bad been published, but 
nothing had been beard from Connecticut. Yet, an inspec- 
tion of Mr. Merriam's list 6liows us that nearly onp-half the 
birds known to the United Slates are found iu the territory, 
less than 4,700 square miles, included within her borders. 
In preparing the present paper the author has relied for his 
facts, not alone on bis own observations and on what had al- 
ready been published, but has wisely drawn on the experience 
of all the ornitholigists and collectors in the State, and has 
personally examined many of the collections. The list, not- 
withstanding its modest title, is thuB a very complete resume 
of oui knowledge of Connecticut birds up to the date of its 
publication. It contains 291 species, several of which are 
new to the State. Among the rarer birds we may mention : 
Polioptila ccerulea , Parus hudsonius , Dendroica ccenilea , D. 
dominica, Oporornis formosus, Milvulus forficatus, Empiclo- 
nax acadicus, Nauclerus forficatus, Ibis alba , Ardea ccerulea , 
Porzana jamaicencis, Tacliypetes aquilus, titercorarius bufl'oni, 
Sterna fuliginosa, and others. 
The special lists, which are appended to the paper of which 
we write, giving in tabular form the residents, summer and 
winter visitants, etc., add greatly to the value of Mr. Merri- 
am's list, which is, in truth, a model of its kind. We should 
add that this notice, prepared immediately after the publica- 
tion of the list, was unfortunately mjslaid, and has been over- 
looked until the present lime. 
Cardinal Grosbeak (Cardinalis virginianus ) in Nova. 
Scotia in Winter.— Observing a note in your Natural His- 
tory column, headed “A Cardinal Grosbeak iu Central Park," 
stating that the writer had seen one of these birds in that 
locality on the 17th March, and expressing hi9 surprise at the 
occurrence, I may mention that a pair of these birds were 
found in the 6pruce woods at Point Pleasant, near this city, 
on the last day of January, 1871. The male bird was pre- 
served by Mr. T. J. Egan, our local taxidermist, and its per- 
fect plumage precluded the idea of its having escaped from 
confinement. J. Matthew Jones. 
Halifax, N. 8. 
[This note is of unusual interest, as this is the northernmost 
locality on record for the species, we believe. — E d.J 
A Plague of Field Mioe. — Mr. Stab, corresponding mem- 
ber of the Society of Arts, at Smyrna, reports that the plague 
of field mice, or rai9, hus again broken loose, and tbut they 
are wasting the fields far and wide, digging up the seed-corn, 
and devouring all they can. . This is the plague from which 
Hompr records that Apollo Smynthiu9 delivered the Greeks. 
As the Smynthnian Apollo no longer has believers, Mr. Stab 
wishes lo know what remedy can be recommended, 
Arrivals at the Philadelphia Zoological Garden for wkbk 
Ending Tuesday, May 7, Ikoldsivk.— O ne plochc monkey, Midas <rdi- 
pus, presented ; one Virginia deer, C. virginianus, born lu gnnlon ; ono 
great kangaroo. Slamjni* giganfeus, born In garden; ono spoiled sand- 
piper, Tringoides maeulari tut. presented ; two chimpanzees, TrogCodiUs 
niger, purchased; two gray foxes, V". rlrpinfanuA, presented ; one Zebu 
Dos indicus, born In garden ; one lizard, Uolbrvokia macula la. presented ; 
ono lizard, Crotaphytus colltfn's, presented ; two Carolina parrakeets, 
Conurti* carolineiuis, presented. Arthur E. Bkown, Utn'l Supt, 
H^oodhind, 'Jfinnn mid garden. 
THIS DEPARTMENT IS EDITED 11Y W. J. DAVIDSON, 8RO. N. Y. 
HORTICULTURAL 800IKTY. 
THE FLOWER GARDEN. 
S UMMER is approaching, wo aro fixing up our gardens 
and wbat to plaut and how to plant it is giving us some 
concern. At present fashion decides greatly in favor of 
“foliage" plants, that is, plunts as Coleuses, Acbyruntlieses, 
Alternantbera9, Centaureas, find Hie like, whose leaves and 
not their flowers are the main attraction. Ascdgings orblher. 
wise sparingly used, such subjects are welcome on account of 
their aptness and contrast, but as the main composition of the 
flower garden we greatly prefer “flowering" plants. The 
oval, circular, diamond, square, aDd somewhat similar simply- 
shaped beds are decidedly superior for any purpose whatever 
to ciicuilously curved, acutely angled, or other intricately dis- 
posed shapes ; for not only can the mower ply around them 
easily, but they are much more readily filled to advantage, 
and when full, far prettier and more satisfactory than they 
could be in the other case. If we want a star-pattern, the 
same can be designed in a circle better than iu a 8tar-sbaped 
bed, as can also almost any other design. A multidude of 
little beds either in proximity or spread about are an annoy- 
ance, as they admit of only a few— perhaps only two— kinds 
of plants being used in each of them, and even then look 
crowded. Goodly-sized beds when practicable are always ad- 
visable, with, of course, as place and taste may demand, a few 
smaller ones. Flower beds are prettier when displayed on 
grass than when intervened by gravel paths ; but wo cannot 
deprecate too stroDgly the mutilation of a croquet green or 
handsome sweep of lawn by their presence. 
In planting the flower beds, no mailer what design bo used 
it should be cleurly defined and as vivid in outline when seen 
from a distance as when close by. Complicated patterns 
should be avoided unless the ability to execute them bo mas- 
terly, and the material used in their composition be choice 
and suitable, and at no time will they be neglected os regards 
pinching into shape. In choice beds 6uch irausient material 
us Lobelias, or stragglers as Petunias had better not be used. 
Heliotropes aud Verbenas too are such wide wanderers that 
they had better fill beds by themselves, being bordered with 
while or yellow. We like a border to every flower bed, but 
we cannot recommend ribboned flower beds, we prefer masses 
and panels. 
It would be difficult to recommend wbat to plant in the 
flower garden, as the plants at our disposal may vary so much, 
and each of us will want to utilize our nurslings of the win- 
dow, cellar, frame or greenhouse, but we append a few ex- 
amples that existed last year, and which looked pleasing 
enough: 1st. Circular bed— Verbena venosa, violet- purple, 
and Plumbago larpentte, deep blue, mixed, bunded with 
variegated sweet Alyssum, white, and studded over with 
Vallota purpurea, scarlet ; 2d. An oval bed of Heliotrope, 
banded with scarlet Pelargonium, and studded through with 
Gludioli and Tigridias ; 3d. An oval, banded with Ceutaurea 
gymnocarpa, while, then a line of Coleus verschafTelti, crim- 
son; and massed in the centre with scarlet Pelargonium ; 4th. 
A six-angled star, banded around with variegated Mesem- 
bryanthemum (cream color), centred with a large specimen 
of Centaurea gymnocarpa (white), from which belts of Alter- 
uanthera paronychioides (reddish) radiate to the six inner 
angle corners, like the spokes of a wheel, thus dividing the 
bed into six diamond panels. Nos. 1 and 4 (the opposite 
ones) of these panels contain Centaurea candidissima ( white); 
2 and 5, Kleinia repens (blue), nnd 3 and 6, Golden Feverfew; 
5th. A corresponding bed with the last wus banded with 
Alteruanthera aimena (red), divided with Acbyrauthus Lin- 
deni (crimson), centred with Coleus Verschaffeltii (crimson), 
and the panels filled, 1 and 4 with Black Douglas broDZe 
Pcdargonium, 2 and 5 with variegated Stevia (white), kept 
dipt, and 3 and 6 with Abutilon vexillarium variegatum, peg- 
ged aud pinched. 
Flower-beds, centred with Palms, green leaved Dracfenas, 
Boucarnins, and the like, we consider more preferable than 
the flat representations first referred to. 
Neither do we like ribbon borders, because we cannot see 
beauty of arrangement in long belts of plants of one kind, 
and to mix up several kinds would be confusion. But the 
effect can be brightened and the monotony destroyed by con- 
verting the ribbon into a chain pattern, making every link a 
panel of some different kind of plant or plants. If one bright 
edging stretches from end to end, it will add richness and 
finish to the design. The following are a few ribbon borders 
that existed last year : 
1. A wide border with grass verge in front and evergreen 
hedge at back : First line, Alternanthera arnoena, red ; sec- 
ond, Kleinia repeus, blueisk ; third, variegated Stevia, white ; 
fourth, General Grant Pelargonium ; fifth, Coleus Verschaf- 
feltii, with alternate plants of Gladioli; and sixth, a row of 
Dahlius alternated with Hollyhocks. 
2. A long, wide bed on grass-lawn, and forming side 
boundary to garden of flower-beds : First, or middle line, 
double floweriug scarlet Pelargonium, interplanted with 
Gladioli ; second, a line on either side of Centaurea gymno- 
carpa ; third, a row on either side of the last, of AcbyruutheB 
Liudeni ; fourth, the outside or border on either side of 
Golden Feverfew. 
3. A long, nurrow bed on grass : First (central row), Cen- 
taurea gymnocarpa ; second (on either side), Master Christine 
Pelargonium ; third (outside line on both sides), Alternan- 
thera paronyebioides. 
Garret Bedding has become quite popular of late years ; a 
style introduced from Europe, and rather inapt 'or this coun- 
try. It consists of sowll or checkered pattern wora, the rep- 
resentation of crowns, monograms, or any other conceivable 
tlcvice, painted or woven, as it were, Into flower beds, using 
lor the purpose very dwarf-growing plants of different leaf 
colors. \\ e have not mauy kinds of plants suitable for this 
purpose, and such as we have ore so determined of growth 
beyond bounds, that the amount of labor expended in rigid 
sliearmg and pinching is f„r too cheaply wasted. And the 
K “ C A. Ct ,Pl ur ‘*^‘ r s the desired end, for if the limbs or 
h7mii r 1C n' '? W “ l P 1 ""? ‘ntermiugle, they will obliterate 
the putte rn, aud nonsensical confusion will reign. Besides 
SSL? , bc *“ ly lbul «« be presented in the closely! 
of sorts fKh.v D r’ tb,a pur l K> '° are " sul Altcrnnntheras 
x ! ® ° rl i 8 ’ .k onfts> Sem Pt-'rvivum8, Kleinias, variegated 
Mesembryanthcmum, Swent Alyssum, Solatium Stevia and 
iuwMinI' g i 10 Lobe,m P>a.v an important part in carpet 
fnr . d |i g ’ i Ut , t ‘ l cy , ® u ^nmb before our summer’s sun • there- 
fore, the best reliable blue we have is the Kleinia repeus 
aSKEE BbU ? r more or less P atr °nized in all pronten- 
tious gardens, and they aro often so compiled bv interlace 
ment of Alteruanthcras, Feverfew, etc., .scrolled and nan 
ftf’ a8 ','!° aim al 11 ^Pound purpose- St-^cciflSt 
I*. 1 ' 8 ; „ ll i cyarc usuaHy banked, ternced, towered and tur- 
reted, and contorted beyond any conceivable Idea of urt or 
of . o ,u .'‘ r . 0 ' Tllc amount of Koltcverina and House- 
S£nff5 ne tW *. '^'osynemsy requires is immense. But •• aw- 
tulents arc admirably adapted for summer gardening L 
SSffiEJSS? l00k ” ,tc "' 
But the most ludicrous nolion wo over saw portrayed in a 
garden we saw in the garden of a wealthy Maaihu^tts 
fv U nnrT C t! His “ Echeveria garden ” was a special, 
eommonlr FH 1 2 U1 - eXte,,sive > little else than the 
90 nrmn »f ed as lo represent scroll-beds, 
whose flut-dcadness Was brllliautizcd by inlor-panels and 
scrolls of chopped brickbats for red, minced blue glass for 
k£ofC f f« crockery for white! In m.cculeulbcds all 
kinds of Echevcnns, Sempervivum*, Opunlius, Agaves Cac- 
tuses and similar fleshy aud lleshy-leaved plunts are used. 
diRirSon«f D , B | ,{8 - ftrC 80 8tylcd 0n W-Count of the nature nnd 
distribution of their contents, and withal, they arc perhaps 
the most satisfactory. Into them we plant all odds 
and ends, flowering and foliage plants, ami though ns autumn 
'"unites may clb iw one another for room, a littlo 
forethought at planting tune may prevent all that For in 
stance near rank-growing plants, like Gannas, Caator-beans 
nlnnili n«^>| T ° b * CCU i* and Eucalyptus, we should place such 
plnnts a9 bloom early and aro soon past, so that they may bo 
erased as their mighty neighbors advance ; and Pelargoniums 
Vincas, Lau tunas aud other continuous bloomers should occu- 
py tic central and opener places. This is the place whero 
plants cun grow unchecked. Fuchsias can bloom to their ut- 
termost ; so can Abutilons, and we cun afford to wait for the 
ri i • Les P L ‘ di8 “ Mcolor, Lemon-scented Verbena, 
and other subjects wo winter, tl in the cellar. And, too, it is 
often a permanent border, with a selection of hardy shrubs, 
XPnt r 9 ’ Fo 4? ytb,aa > t V i,UC8 - gplnuas, Japan Quince* 
Bladder-Senna, fsmanx, Fringe Tree, Altlwas and Roses 
that yield a succession of blossoms all the summer through. 
oUliTHoi’iOAL Gardening is the massing of strong-growing 
handsome leaved plunts, so as to give a tropical, rather than a 
painted effect ; nnd where tastefully done in a roomy and 
sheltered situation, the result is highly pleasing. There is no 
formality m the way of rigid lines, clipped leaves, or monoto- 
nous masses, but the Banana, Bamboo, Egyptian Paper Reed, 
,nduwubb fr tree, ancLsimllar material are blended Imp- 
pdy together, each having room to revel in luxuriance. This 
exuberance of leaves requires some enlivening brightness, and 
™?M a i rg ° mUm8 ’ X orbo | JU8 ""«! the like, in their commonness 
would be more prejudicial than beneficial, we prefer the in- 
o C h^ 0f of different kinds near the outer edge, 
of , P1 , umb “go Earpenlrc, deep blue, studded at 
intervals of two feel with Vulluta purpurea, scarlet-red, or any 
other conspicuously bnliant blossomed plants, Unit aro somo- 
what uncommon, may be used. We of. en see tall Opuntios 
i LaC ' USIJH ’ ,uul othor succulents employed in 
K d of gardening, particularly as edgings, and diversified 
along tha margin of the beds, but they aro woefully out of 
pmeC; The idea of a Cactus and a Bamboo growing side by 
side is like hunting deer in the Atlantic Ocean or catching 
salmon on the Illinois prairies I ® 
Besides those mentioned, among the plants suitable for sub- 
tropical gardening are Caunas, plain-leaved Caladiums, Yuccas, 
Acacia luphaullia, Castor Beuua, Abutilons, Drucamas, Eu- 
calyplus, Nicotiana glauca, some of the most ornamental 8olo- 
nums as robusta and marginals, Acalyphn tricolor, Erythrina 
of aorta, Monstera deliciosu, Arundo, Ferrula in variety Ari- 
tia Japonica and pupyrifera. Acanthus lalifolius. etc ' 
llArnv n unto arn ill L-t ,w, . . i ' 
hardy plants are just as serviceable us tender ones— yot 
Kentucky coffee tree, Spikenard, Hercules^ cl 
lucimata. Bneenniii i<nnloi.. i: . . 
plunts of the ,„ v . v wulB oyiiicuuru. uercuies- ci 
Khus glabra lucimata, Boeconia cordata, Statico lutlfolia i 
others. An interesting part of this kind of gardening is 
isolation of specimen plants on the lawns, in sheltered nob* 
or m groves under the trees. If it lie not desirable to tur 
Bananas Rulms Cycuds, Strelilzias and the like out of the 
pots, holes may he dug in the grass, deep enough in which t 
sink the pots out of sight, replacing the turf again, and the 
they will appear us in reality they were growiug permanent! 
there. In sheltered slmdy places, Ferns and the shade-livin 
plunts may be introduced. I'umpua gross, und the variegate 
and zebra Eulalias we prefer us isolated specimens ralher tha 
clumped together with other plants, W. Falconer. 
Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, Mass. 
Bees Afloat. — The New Orleans Picayune has an accouc 
of a bee keeper who means to take the oreme de la creme ol th 
sweets of the spring, summer and autumn flowers: 
At the foot of Burdett street, Carrollton, Mr. C. O. Perrine 
of Chicago, has fitted up two barges as a floating apiary 
Each barge hus a capacity and convenience for 1,000 hives o 
bees, riiese will be towed up to Kennerville n.-xt week 
1 hey will start up the river with about 1,000 colonies on tin 
two boats. Mr. Perrine has been iri Louisiana eigbteci 
m mtbs studying up the bee busiDcas nnd preparing for tb. 
grand onward movement for which he will bo ready in a fev 
days. 1 1 is plan is to start with Ids bee palaces and liis 1 00. 
colonies from Southern Louisiana when the honey flowers’ ar 
in full bloom, to remain but a day or two ut a lauding urn 
move up each time to another landing aud a fresh field” 11 
thinks the bees of from 1,000 to 2,000 colonies will take th. 
cream from the country ar.mud the landing from one to tw< 
miles distant in one or two days. In this manner he exp. cb 
to move up the Mississippi to St. Paul, a distance of nearb 
two thousand miles where be will arrive about the last o 
y- “ eturn,n £> be Will hult about two months somewher. 
bws ia^Cc^ober’ ^ WlB reacb LoiilJiiatiU with his palaces tvot 
