of water at a long distance from the locality where they were 
deposited. Besides this, eggs may be transported by becom- 
ing attached to the legs, feet or bill of aquatic birds. 
The chief method of the dispersal of land and fresh-water 
shells is, as Mr. Darwin has so admirably shown in his Origin 
of Species, through the agency of aquatic birds which fre- 
quent ponds and marshes. He says : “ I suspended a duck’s 
feet iu an aquarium, where many ova of fresh-water shells 
were hatching; and I found that numbers of the extremely 
minute and just hatched shells crawled on the feet, and clung 
to them so firmly that, when taken out of the water they 
could not be jarred off, though at a somewhat more advanced 
age they would voluntarily drop off. These just-hatched mol- 
lusks, though aquatic in their nature, survived on the duck’s 
feet, in damp air, from twelve to twenty hours ; aud in this 
length of time a duck or heron might fly at least six or seven 
hundred miles, and, if blown across the sea to an oceanic 
island or other distant point, would be sure to alight on a pool 
or rivulet.” Mr. Darwin also gives an instance of the cap- 
ture of a water beetle with an Ancylus (a fresh-water shell 
like a limpet) adhering to it. 
Such menus as those enumerated would then seem amply 
sufficient, with time, to effect a very widespread distribution 
of fresh-water shells. Land shells present more difficult con- 
ditions, but we must for the present pass them by. 
It will interest our readers to leurn that Mr. Arthur F. Gray 
a frequent contributor to the columns of Fobest and Stream,’ 
has recently communicated to Mr. Darwin a fact of great in- 
terest bearing on the geographical distribution of mollusca. 
His letter, with the recipient’s comments on it, has been 
printed in Nature , accompanied by a sketch showing a Unio 
clinging to the extremity of the middle toe of a duck’s foot. 
Mr. Gruy’s letter was as follows : 
"Dear Sir: The following case will, I think, prove of in- 
terest to you, as it corroborates your belief that fresh-water 
shells are sometimes transplanted by the agency of aquatic 
b rds. ’ 
•* In the sketch I have endeavored to give you a correct idea 
of the way in which the shell was attached to the duck's 
foot. 
“ was g^en to me by Mr. R. L. Newcomb, who shot the 
bird, which was a blue-winged teal ( Quergucdula discors) 
while flying, near Artichoke River at West Newbury, Mass'’ 
September (5, 1877. The shell, the common mussel or clam 
( Unio eomplanatus), is a very abundant species, being found 
in nearly all the rivers and ponds of the Atlantic slope. How 
long the shell had been attached is only a matter of con- 
jecture, but it had abraded the skin ol the bird’s toe, and left 
quite an impression. It was living when the bird was shot.. 
“ It would undoubtedly have been transplanted to some 
pond or river, perhaps miles from its original home, had the 
bird not been shot, and might then have propogaied its kind. 
“ Danvcrsport, Mass., May 8. Arthur F. Guay. 
“To C. Darwin, Esq.” 
We take great pleasure in offering our congratulations to 
Mr. Gray on this extremely important observation. 
— — . 
NOTES ON FAMILIAR BIRDS. 
Editor Forest and Strbau : 
Jan. 19. — Noticed a flock of twenty or more horned larks 
(E. alpestris). The largest number I have observed at one 
time. 
Feb. 12.— Shot female purple finch ((7. purpureas). 
Feb. 14. — Saw another purple finch, but failed to secure 
her. These are the only ones I have observed about the 
the house in winter. 
Feb. 28. — Observed four robins ( T. migrator ins) flying over. 
March 1.— Blue birds (S. tialis) in flocks. Saw purple 
grackles (Q purpureas ) in flocks in the yards. We have a 
number of evergreens iu the yards and one or two puns of 
grackles nest in them every year. The robins and grackles 
often have fierce battles, chasing each other around the yard. 
March 7.— One flock of pigeons ( E . migratorius ) seen. 
March 8.— Song sparrow (M. melodia ) ; Phoebe (-S’, fuscus), 
gull supposed to be Bonaparte’s (Z. Philadelphia), as I have 
one in iny collection which was shot on the Chemung River 
near the city. 
April 2.— A friend, who is in the woods much of the time, 
reports liuviDg found two ruffed grouse nests, one with eleven 
und the other thirteen eggs. 
April 9.— Robin building her nest in a tree just in front of- 
my window. 
April 12.— Golden-winged woodpecker (£7. auratus) ob- 
served to-day. 
April 14. — Belted kingfisher (£7. alcyon). 
April 24.— Indigo bird (C. cyarua). 
May 2.— Yellow warbler {D. aestica). 
May 3. — Male Baltimore oriole (/. baltimoi-e). 
May 8 —Black-billed cuckoo (V. erythrophthalmus). 
May 20. — Black-poll warbler (Z). striata). 
The habits of the purple fluch (£7. purpureas) are quite in- 
teresting. The male is a handsome, pugnacious bird, and one 
of much vocal power. There are some six or eight iu the 
yard every mcrniDg, and such a delightful concert as they 
give! each one giving his best efforts in song and display of 
bright plumage to win the affections of the demure ternale 
who sits on a limb viewing them with distrust, since the con- 
cert often ends in a battle. What I admire most is their 
habit of every little while rising in the air to the height of 
fifty or sixty feet, then, setting their wings, they sail down 
pouring out a perfect flood of song, and alighting on the top 
of an evergreen They are very cute in hiding their nests 
li« f ? U . r i "w UDd l r my t ° bscrvilll0n . every one is among the 
short, thick branches of an evergreen, aud cannot be seen at 
all from the ground. 'I he nests are bu.lt of twigs of the 
evergreen for the foundation, then grass and horse hair and 
iu the bottom of one was a nice bed of cow’s-hair The eeira 
are five in number, green, with blotches of brown at the 
large end, and on some eggs there are a few spots all over 
Wilson says of the birds : ” They are soon reconciled to con- 
finement, und in a day or two are quite tame ” 
Elmira, N. Y. E*. B. Gleason. 
503 
o^Tnew^nd 111 P ° ,nt Comfort - Va • writes us thus glowingly 
or a new find, under date of July 19 . 
tom. They are a Uliv? wu f er , wit j d sand at the hot- 
Thev must Lp vL,?’ u , thcsc specimens were takeu here 
spa* «j pS-KbSTSssar £ 
crosewne^and 1 bave got Lim UDdtr the mi- 
him X ^‘i 1 - “.Pinfi 10 get along nicely with 
and even tried 1 1,mseIf 0ul of \ hcd[sh on t0 Uw table, 
ZlT'Zl , t0 , ge . t d,nv ? "P° n W» e floor. If a desire to be 
Him ^ is t . a 1 c fl aract< -’ nst,c °f the Amphioxus family it is a pity 
vertebrati 00 Wfi C h, l ° S °, me f ll \ e evolved ^miUes of higluJ 
mens 3 r .n^r T , aI ?° ound <l Ulle a number of speci- 
mens of Lingula, which is also a rarity. We are fin din g a 
Derhans’ son t* ° f h ' jdrni,Li < disa J )horm and clenophora, und 
perhaps some new ones. We are pretty well satisfied with 
the ^lne k here lhu8 far ’ and are exceedingly well pleased with 
the place as a summer resort in the “ hot country.’’ 
Caught at Sea.— We acknowledge from Lieutenant Com- 
mander R. D. Evans, U. S. N., a Carolina rail, which was 
captured at sea. The bird we have put in a cage, and he 
seems not much the worse for his long journey. Like all the 
Ilalida-, however, he does not take to a perch very comfort- 
ably, crossing his legs awkwardly on the cross-piece. We have 
been feeding him on canary and rape seed. Should we think 
that the bird is pining we will set him free on the salt meadows 
near the city, so that he shall have a good chance for life. The 
following letter is from Lieutenant Commander Evans: 
U. S. S. “ Saratoga, " Newport, R. i July 88. 
Editor Forest and Stream .- I mte the liberty ol sending you u 
rail, which flew on board my ship three hundred and ofty miles from 
the Capes of Virginia during a heavy westerly blow on Tuesday last, 
lie struck the rigging and fell to the decs, and although need up, was 
still able to run. I at once made him comfortable, and now present 
him 10 you, with the hope that you will accept him, aud either care for 
him yourself or give him a fair wlud to some snug harbor. 
R. D. Evans, Lieut. Commander, Commanding 
A Curious Case of Nestinc ^-Editor Forest and Stream : 
I send you the following curious case of nesting, with the 
assurance that the facts came uuder my personal knowledge. 
A hole large enough to admit a man’s band had been knocked 
’ n ‘ he suJlD S of a passenger car, which leaves this town at 
7:30 am and returns nt 4 p. m. six days of the week, aud 
in this hole, back against the foot of a hruce, a bluebird start- 
ed to build her nest, working in the early morning aud even- 
ing after the train was side-tracked. The men were much 
interested in the performance, and all hands were on the look- 
out when the car came in for their little lodger, who was 
usually on a near tree or on the telegraph wire, ready to go 
on with the work. When nearly finished, this was tom out 
by some precious coward ; but tbe bird was not discouraged 
and in a little while a uew one was under way. Finally, one 
e PS appeared, but the number wus not increased, so 'that 
when the poor youngster broke his shell yesterday morning, 
he was an only child and a temporary orphan, exposed to the 
tender mercies of three or four vigorous wet nurses, under 
whose ministrations he swallowed sundry grasshoppers ; but 
either the quantity or quality of this first meal disagreed with 
him, for when his mother flew up us the car stopped, the lit- 
tle one was dead. From all that I can learn, I am convinced 
that tbe bird has never followed the car, so that the egg may 
be said to have been artificially hatched, the mother protect- 
ing it from the night air only, excepting on Sundays, when 
she was constant in her attentions. \\. 
Grand Tower, III., July 18, 1878. 
Tub Amphioxus Lanobolatus off Old Point Comfort. 
—Mr. H. J. Rice, of the Hopkins University, now engaged 
m research at the Chesapeake Zoological Laboratory, Fort 
Tile Hibernation of Swallows.— There is an interesting 
communication in the Omit/wlogisches Centralblalt of May, 
from HerrJ. Rohweder, under the head of “ Ornilhologicai 
Notes from Schleswig-Holstein.” Herr ltohweder certifies to 
the competency aud trustworthiness of the observer who com- 
municated the facts to him. After the house swallows (Hi- 
rundo urbica) in the autumn of 1870, from the beginning to 
the middle of September, had held their usual assemblies by 
hundreds on the sunny side of the roofs, stormy and rainy 
cold weather suddenly supervened. As suddenly did most of 
the swallows take their departure for the south. The few 
that remained behind flew about restlessly aud anxiously, 
unable iu the cold north wind to obtain sufficient insects to 
appease their hunger. Within a day after the others these 
also disappeared. Three days after, during which time no 
swallow was observed, Herr Rohweder's informant saw peep- 
ing out of the entrance of some nests, UDder ihe projecting 
roof of the east side of his house, here a wing, there a tail or 
a few feathers. A ladder was obtained and the nests tapped, 
but no motion. On pulling at one of the overhanging wings 
a swallow was dragged out. It was alive, but seemed para- 
lyzed. After the swallow was held in the hand u while it 
fluttered about a short space and then fell to tbe earth. A 
second bird behaved in the same way, and a third showed few 
signs of life. A fourth appeared quite lifeless. Iu other 
nests six and ten, and even fourteen swallows were found 
huddled together. Their condition was similar to those first 
found. Tue birds near the entrance of the nest appeared in a 
state of sound sleep, while those further in showed no signs 
of life. The former soon were able to fly, with difficulty, a 
larger or shorter round, only one flying to a considerable dis- 
tance ; the latter were thrown on a neighboring heap of straw- 
On the following day, when the observer returned, no birds 
were found. The exact locality of these observations is not 
given.— Nature. 
TSw>i B | 3T ^ K ? D01NO Expedition of Tng Sprkdwkit On 
%L oodhtti(l, gffiiirm Hind 0 nrdttu 
THIS DEPARTMENT is KDITEiTdY W. J. DAVIDSON, BEO. N. V. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
For Forest ami Stream and Rod and Gun. 
hardy flowers. 
HTHE emblazonry of “b^ddhTg” plants as Pelargoniums, 
Coleuses and tho like aro now the main decoration of 
most gardens, and though such gaudy paraphernalia, when 
moderately used and properly disposed, uro becoming enough 
alone, they are poor furniture for a garden. Wo want a 
variety of flowers at all seasons— something hardy, profuse 
and showy, and that will yield us abundance of blossoms for 
vase and other bouquets. Though May and June are tho hey- 
day of hardy plants in blossom, we have also a multitudinous 
assortment from that time till October. 
Just now (the middle of July) the Japanese white lilies 
(Lilium longiflorum) and its beautiful variety Takeaima ara iu 
perfection. Pentstemon barbntus has long, wand-like stems 
luden with orange-scarlet flowers. Many kinds of Speedwell 
aro neatly clad in blue, and of Bell flowers there is quite an 
assortment, from the tiny Campanula c.espitosa to the 
cushior.-hkc 0. carpal lea ami tho European harebell. Their 
prevailing color is blue, hut there are also white varieties of 
most of the species Allied to the bell flowers are Platyco- 
don grandiflorum, blue and white, and one of the finest 
perennials of its season ; also the Siberian Adcnophoni, with 
Ilow^fl nn l bC | 8 ’ D K eI P^° l . uul grandiflorum has intense blue 
flowers and a branchy habit, and is invaluable for cutting 
If perennial Larkspurs are cutover just assoon ns their llowera 
are shed, a second crop may be expected in fall. Acouilum 
variegatum, blue and white vanegated, is coming into bloom 
and is the best of its class. Clematis Davidiaua, u “new” 
herbaceous species from N. China, has crowded blue flowers 
somewhat like those of single hyacinths, and very fragrant.- 
-R evening primroses, (Enotheru Missouriensis, large und 
yellow, fruticosa var linearis, small yellow, and spcciosa, 
white, are among the finest ; but they have also u host of kin- 
auxiliaries that are brilliant and beautiful, and they are gayer 
from late afternoon till corty forenoon than during the dav- 
time,- hence their name. Phloxes are blossoming out In 
great variety, presenting all shades ol color from while to 
pink and purple, and lovely flowers they are. < >ur bee balm, 
Monarda didyma, bos very showy heads of scarlet and trim’ 
son, and is a very desirable plaut. To keen 
l L • ranS ? lQnt 11 e , vei Y second year. Holy hocks 
f. r0 , m ... tlj c |r glory, and wlmt can be finer than 
tbe brilliantly-colored full double sorts ? Transplant them 
every second year, and keep up a young stock from slips and 
seed. I erenuial mallows (Calliohee) of our western aud 
southwestern prairies have brightly colored rosc-purplo 
flowers, and are very profuse aud pretty. Blue day-lilies 
(I* uukiu) are bursting into blossom in the open border, ami 
better still in shudy places, where, too, the saffron day-lily 
( Hemerocaljis) is in perfection, and most at home. The pink- 
root (bpigeha munlundica) is a neat little herb with red 
blooms, and 8lokesia cyuuea of the Southern States is 
copiously beset in blue. It is not usually considered lmrdy, but 
it is hardy enough with us, and that on a clay soil too Aud 
nothing is gnyer at present lliun the musk mallow 
(Malope moschuta), rose and white. And when we enter tho 
composite fumly, almost an endless variety of yellow 
flowers present themselves. They include perennial kinds of 
Coreopsis Itudbeckias and Guillard ins brighter and better if 
possible, than the animals of the same genera. And there is a 
great variety, too, of Pyrcthrums, Acbilleus, Anthemises, etc.; 
indeed, Anthemis tmetoria, bright yellow, is one the finest of 
hardy herbaceous plunts. Ainoug stonecropa we have Sodurn 
album, white, spurium, and pulcliellum pink, and ull 
neat, little and copious kill-not plants that will grow in ground 
so dry that most other plants would perish in it. Verheua 
uubletia, aud its variety montana, are perfectly hurdy, com- 
pact, and profuse in purple blossoms. The everlasting peas 
(than the white variety of Luthyrus Iatifolius, few tropical 
flowers are prettier) are in perfection, either sprawling aloog 
the ground or supported on trellises or stakes. 
In addition to these we have also a great variety of season- 
able, hardy flowers, such os Lysimucbiu cletliroidcs, yellow 
Columbines, Bctonicas, Sages ol maiiy kinds, Scubious, Pinks, 
Meadow-rue, and several others. With auuuuls, too, our 
gardeos may be abaze; but though excellent for mixed 
borders, only a very few of them are worthy a place in choice 
flower-beds. This is not because they are not pretty enough, 
but on account of the brevity of their existence. The late 
storm knocked Nemophilas and Colliosics all to pieces, so now 
they are past. AmoDg the finest annuals, also perennials 
treated as annuals, at present in perfection, are Eschscholtzia, 
Mignonneite, Coreopsis of sorts, Peteunius, Sulpiglossis, Scbiz- 
uuthus, Drummond's phlox, Convolvulus tricolor, und Morning 
glories, Cilia densiflora, capiluta and uchillemfoliu, Phuccliu 
congcsta, Cochrauea heleotropioides, Guuru Limlheimeri, 
Candytuft, Balsams, Browallins, Australian everlusiings (ex- 
cept Helipterum MungleBi, which is past), Tugelis siguatu 
pumila, Codetiagranditioru, Marigolds, dwarf Lupins, Clarki- 
as,WahleDbergiagracilis, Campunula Loreyi, Malope mali c «i- 
oides, Didiscus oeruleus, Nasturtiums, Bruchycome ibiridi- 
folia, Dimorphothecupluviuli8 (tassel flower), Catch-ily, Sweet 
peas and many more. It is worthy of note that unuuuls sown 
where they are to rernaio, aud thiunedwell aft'-r germination, 
and those sown in boxes or frames and “pricked out ” once 
before transplanting permanently, grow better, live longer, 
and blossom more copiously than those nursed in pots. Again, 
our ‘ ‘ tender ” annuals, if sown in May or as soon as the ground 
