FOREST AND STREAM. 
A WEEKLY JOURNAL, 
0BVOTKD TO FIELD AND AQUATIC SPOUTS, PRACTICAL NATURAL HISTORY, 
KISH CULTURE, TDK PROTECTION OK PKBSKRVATION OK t ORESTS, 
and tor Inculcation in Men and Worse op a Healthy interest 
in Our-Doon recreation and Study : 
PUBLISHED BY 
and £ treaty gublixhinfl ^omyaifp. 
—AT— 
HO. Ill (Old NO. 103) FULTON STREET, NEW YORK. 
[Post Ofpiob Box 2S3*.) 
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Advertlrfloi ItnleE. 
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Special rates for tlircc, six and twelve months. Notices In editorial 
columns, 60 cents per Una. 
Advertisements should bs sent In by Saturday of each week, if pos- 
sible. 
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or they will not be Inserted. 
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received on any terms. 
V Any publisher Inserting our prospectus as above one time, with 
brief editorial notice calling attention thereto, and sending marked copy 
to us, will receive the Forest and Stream for one year. 
NEW YORK, THURSDAY, MAY 30, 1878. 
To Correspondents. 
AU communications whatever, Intended for pubUcotlon, must be ac- 
companied with real name of the writer as a guuranty of good faith 
aud be addressed to the Forest and Stream Pudlibiitno company. 
Names will uot be published if objection be made. No anonymous com- 
munications wUl be regarded. 
Wo cannot promise to return rejected manuscripts. 
Secretaries of Olnbs and Associations are urged to favor ns with brief 
notes of tbelr movements and transactions. 
Nothing will be admitted to any department of the paper that may 
not bo read with propriety In the home circle. 
We caDnot be responsible for dereliction of the mall service If money 
remitted to ns Is lost. No person whatever la authorized to collect 
money for us unless he can show authentic credentials from one of the 
nnderslgned. We have no PhUadelphla agent. 
tw~ Trade suppUed by American News Company. 
CHARLR8 1IALLOCK, Editor. 
T. C. BANKS, S. H. TURRILL, Chicago, 
Business Manager. Western Manager. 
CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE COMING 
WEEK. 
Friday, May 31.— South Carolina Annual Regatta, at Charleston 
Trotting : Point liroeze Park, Philadelphia ; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Freeport, 
III.; Hudson, Mich; De'phos. O. Running meeting at Cincinnati, O. 
Base Ball : TecuioBeH vs Rochester, at Roclies er. 
Saturday, June 1— Cricket : Germantown vs Young America, at 
Nlcetown; Dorian va Philadelphia, at Haverford; Merlon (vet.) vs Old 
Haverfordlons, at Ardmore. Runrdng meetings as above ; at Jerome 
Park. Bose ball: Chicago v- Bo- ton, 1 1 Uostou; Milwaukee vs Provi- 
dence, a* Providence; IndUnupo is vs Clnclbu.tl, at Cincinnati. 
Tuesday, June 4 . -WlulamOinrgh Yacht Club Annual Regatta 
Queens County Yacht Club Regatta. M rotting: Lyons, N. Y.; Albany 
N. Y.; Gouverueur, N. Y ; Londonvllle, O.; St. IMcrstnrgh, Pa.; Du 
bnqnc. Ia.; Plalovllle, Conn ; Milwaukee, Wis ; AdrUn, Mich. Run 
nlng mcciiogs : Jerome l ark; Cincinnati, O ; Oouverneur, N. Y.; Si 
Louis, Mo. Base bah : Chicago vs Providence, et Providence; Mllwau 
kee va Boston, at lio^o ; Cincinnati vs Indianapolis, at Indianapolis 
llVdnMiiay, June 5.— Sixth Dlv. RlOe Match at Syracuse. Trotting as 
above ; a So at I)a' ton, O. Runolug meetings as above. Base bal 1 . 
ThureJay, June C —Manhattan Yacht Club Regatta ; Beverly, Ma's.. 
Yacht Cub Regatta off Nahaut. Championship Walks, New York. 
Sixth Division, at Syracu e, as ubovc. Trotting na above. P.uuulng 
meetings as above. Base bail: Milwaukee vs Boston, at Boston ; Chi- 
cago vs Providence, at Providence ; Cincinnati vs Ind anapo U at In- 
dianapolis. 
Our Frontier Readers.— The soldiers at Spekan Falls, 
Washington Territory, preserve their numbers of the Forest 
and Stream in bindings formed of old pasteboard boxes aud 
the worn out drum beads, and when covers are scarce they 
drum all the harder. With the vaiied reading of the papers 
and the martial memories evoked by the unique covers, those 
must be interesting volumes. 
We go to press one day earlier than usual this week. 
Several events, which would otherwise upp*iir, have for that 
reason been deferred. 
Gt Forest and Stream will be sent for fractions of a year 
as follows : Six months, $2 ; three months, $1. To clubs of 
two or more, $3 per annum. 
I N our issue of August 9, 1877, may be fouud some very in- 
teresting notes from the pen of Professor D. G. Eliot, of 
Paris, upon the bower birds of Australia and New Guinea. 
Much iutcTest has been excited among naturalists by the dis- 
covery of a new bird of this species in New Guinea. This 
discovery by Prof. Beccari, a traveler and naturalist, was 
mentioned in Prof. Eliot's article, and has since attracted 
much attention, being discussed in magazines and newspapers, 
among them the Gardener's Journal. 
Amblyornls inornala, as this new species is called, belongs 
to the group known ns bower birds, a name given to them from 
their habit of building on the ground highly ornamented 
bowers; not, as might be imagined, for nesting purposes, for 
their nests are built in trees, but in which to carry on their 
courtships. Signor Beccari's narrative of the habits of the 
present species indicates that it is in many respects very pe- 
culiar, and indeed all the bower birds display an extraordinary 
high degree of aesthetic taste. Mr. Darwin says of the Aus- 
tralian species that the satin bower bird 
“Collects gaily-colored articles, such as the blue tail feathers 
of the parakeets, bleached bone9 and shells, which it slicks 
between the twigs or arranges at the entrance. Mr. Gould 
found in ODe bower a neatly worked stone tomahawk a»d a 
slip of blue cotton, evidently procured from a native encamp- 
ment. These objects are continually rearranged aud carried 
about by the birds whilst at play. The bower of the spotted 
bower bird is ‘ beautifully lined with tall grasses, so disposed 
that the heads nearly meet, and the decorations are very pro- 
fuse.’ Round stones are used to keep the grass-stems in their 
proper places, and to make divergent paths leading to the 
bower. The stones and shells are often brought from a great 
distance. The regent bird, as described by Mr. Ramsay, 
ornaments its short bower with bleached land-shells belonging 
to five or six species, and with ‘berries of various colors, blue, 
red and black, which give it, when fresh, a very pretty ap- 
pearance. Besides these, there were several newly picked 
leaves and young shoots of a pinkish color, the whole show- 
ing a decided taste for the beautiful ’ ’’ 
The species to which we now refer far excels, however, 
those just mentioned in the adornment of its pleasure grounds, 
and it has besides some peculiarities vhich its Australian rel- 
atives are not known to possess. To all outward appearance 
Amblyomis is a very ordinary bird, in size about equal to a 
turtle dove, and sober brown in plumage, unrelieved by aDy 
dash of brighter color. The habits of the birds, however, 
show conclusively that they highly appreciate and enjoy bril- 
liant color i, and that they use no little diligence in gratifying- 
their tastes in this direction. 
This species is ilso a mo3t extraordinary mimic and can im- 
itate most faithfully the cries and songs of other birds. In 
this way it is a continual thorn in the side of the ornithologi- 
cal collector, constantly deceiving him and causing him to 
lose time and patience. Bignor Boccari says : 
“ It is a clever bird, called by the inhabitants Buruk Gurea, 
Master Bird, since it imitates the soDgs and screamings of nu- 
merous birds so well, that it brought my hunters to despair, 
who were but too often misled by the bird.” 
The most wonderful thing about Amblyornis, however, is 
its skill and ta9te in architecture and land=CHpe gardening, and 
we are told that one of the native names of “ the bird is Tu- 
kan Robon , which means a gardener.” The bowers of these 
birds are like those of the Australian bower birds, built on the 
ground. A flat spot is selected at the foot of a small tree 
whose stem is no thicker than a walking stick, and on which 
the branches do not grow near the ground, and |here, around 
the foot of the tree, a cone of raoBS is built up about four 
inches in height. The immediate object of this structure is 
not known, but it is suggested that it may serve as a cushion 
to protect the plumage of the bird from wear against the tree 
trunk. Their next proceeding is to collect the twigs of an 
epiphytic orchid and attach them to the stem of the tree about 
two feel from the ground, weaving ihctn together and fasten- 
ing them to the ground at a distance of about eighteen inches 
from the foot of the tree. The leaves and stalks of this plant 
remain fresh and green for a long time, rendering the arbor 
very attractive in nppearance. Thus we see that the birds have 
a shelter, shaped something like a Sibley tent and furnished in 
a most chorming manner. But this is not all. Signor Beccari 
tells us that— 
“ Before the cottage there is a meadow of mosj. This is 
brought to the spot, and kept free from grass, stone?, or any- 
thing which would offend the eye. On this green turf, flowers 
and fruits of pretty color are placed, so as to form an elegant 
little garden. The greater part of the decoration is collected 
round the entrance to the nest, and it would appear that the 
husband offers there his daily gitts to his wife. The objects 
are very various, but always of vivid color. There were some 
fruits of a Qarciuia like a small sized apple. Others were the 
fruits of Gardenias of a deep yellow color in the interior. I 
saw also small rosy fruits, probably of a Scitaminaceous plant, 
and beautiful rosy flowers of a splendid new Vaccinium 
( AgapcUx amblyornidin). There were also fungi and mottled 
insects placed on the turf. As soon as the objects are faded 
they are moved to the back of the hut." 
Our author grimly compares the human inhabitants of the 
island with Amblyowis, sayiug, “I discovered that the in- 
habitants of Arfax did Dot follow the example of Amblyomis. 
Their houses are quite inaccessible from dirt ” 
All this is certainly very wonderful, but what should most 
excite our surprise and admiration is the fact that these elab- 
orate structures are built, as has been said, n->t for the more 
practical uses of domestic life, but as pleasure grounds in 
which the birds can carry on their wooings, aud in the con • 
struction of which the amorous male can exercise all his taste 
and ingeuuity to please the fair one of his choice. Docs not 
the exhibition of such mental qualities as are indicated by 
these actions of Amblyomis warrant us in assuming for this 
THE BAROMETER 
The cruising season being near at hand, the folowing c ob- 
servations on the barometer will not bo out of place : It is al- 
most needless to say that a yacht pretending to anything h e 
a proper outfit should not break anchor without a reliable in- 
strument of the kind in her cabin. The most appropriate 
place to hang the barometer is in the companion or some- 
where readily accessible at all times to the hand in charge of 
The barometers in general use consist of two kinds— the 
mercurial and the aneroid. The former depends for its action 
upon the difference in pressure of the atmosphere on a column 
of mercury; ihe second upon the vibrations of metal dia- 
phragms or springs, giving motion to an indicator arounc a 
face-plate divided into inches and decimals. Iu the nrst 
strument, the level of the top of the mercury column referred 
to a scale and vernier at its 9ide, give3 the reading , w n c n 
the second, the position of the pointer on the graduated arc 
shows a similar condition of the atmosphere. The mcdiod of 
reading a barometer can best be learned by actual practice ; ex- 
planations in print would he of little avail. A few minutes 
spent with an old hand will suffice to master the “vernier, 
and it then only remains to comprehend the interpretations to 
be put upon the fluctuations observed and to use a little judg- 
ment in the connection of consecutive readings 
The usual range of the barometer in our latitudes is between 
29 and 30.5 inches, though in exceptional weather it may fall 
as low as 28 inches or less, and as high a9 30.8. These figures 
apply to observations at about the 8ea level. In general the 
rising of the mercury presages fair weather, and its falling, on 
the contrary, indicates coming rain, snow, high winds and 
storms. Tliis rule, however, is subject to the following limi- 
tations: tell 
When foul weather happens soon after the fall of the bar- 
ometer, it may be expected to be of short duration, and simi- 
larly fair weather setting in rapidly after a rise of the mer- 
cury will lust but a short time. If during foul weather the 
mercury rises much and maintains its height before the foul 
weather has disappeared, a long continuation of fine weather 
may be expected. Likewise if during fair weather it falls and 
remains low before the fair weather has ceased, look out for u 
long spell of nasty weather accompanied with wei. The un- 
settled motions of the instrument, frequent rising and falling, 
indie ite variable weather with no special prominence to either 
good or bad. D > not be guided by the wording on the scale 
or plate, but rather by the manner of the fluctuations. By 
observing the surface of the mercury it can be determined 
whether the barometer is in a rising or fallmg condition, thus 
detecting the impending changes. If the mercury shows 
rouud on the surface, it is in a rising condition ; if it shows 
concave or hollow ia the middle, it is falling ; if level across, 
it is stationary. When about to take a reading, gently tap the 
instrument with the hand so ns to liven it up, as sometimes 
the mercury will cling to the glass or tbc needle refuse to 
move on account of friction, if the changes are delicate. 
■ » «»■ 
Mr. Lort.— M r. Wm. Lort returned to England last Satur- 
day in the Adriatic. The gentlemen of the kennel club have 
contributed to make his visit pleasant, notwithstanding the 
disagreeable and to a degree thankless duties of judging 
dogs at a bench show, which he came to America expressly 
to perform. We regret that we had not the pleasure of seeing 
Mr. Lort, or even receiving a call from him at our office. 
Twice we endeavored to present ourselves to him, but vent- 
uring without a previous notification, were disappointed. 
While we unfortunately missed an interview with Mr. Lort, 
it is something of a coincidence that Capt. John M. Taylor, 
our kennel editor as long us five years ago, who first intro- 
duced field trials into America, should have been receiving 
substantial honors and courtesies from leading patrons ic 
England for the services rendered here and in behalf of dog 
fanciers everywhere during and through his editorial connec 
lion with the Fobhst and Stream. 
Temples Not Made with Hands.— The Methodists of 
Michigan, having selected Bay View as their camping ground 
for summer praying, bathing, praising, fishing, exhorting, 
boatiDg and all the kindred camp-meeting occupations and 
pleasures, aDd being mo9t satisfied with their annual conven- 
tions at that place, have been joined by the Presbyterians and 
Methodists, who have camped over against them on the other 
side of the bay, and this summer Michigan woods and waters 
will resound with the praises of the multitude. All these 
good people will be carried via the Grand Rapids and Indi- 
ana Railroad, and according to its new summer schedule. 
As this line is already famous for its fishing and shooting 
resorts, we see now no new attraction which it can offer to 
the pleasure-seeking tourists. 

Miss Cobson Comes to the Spop.tsman’s Aid— The New 
Cuisine of the Wood9. — Miss Corson has kindly volunteered 
to shed her brilliant culinary light on benighted sportsmen. 
Say what you may, though men have all kinds of wood- 
craft at their fingers’ ends, when it conns to preparing tho 
food for camp most of them turn out to be miserable fail- 
ures. Just read what Mr. Charles Dudley Warner says in the 
last Atlantic Monthly about the 6lap-jacks which were a solid 
piece of work, and did not go to pieces in a person’s stomach 
