54 
FOREST AND STREAM 
<J hittnil gji'itortj. 
THE PINE GROSBEAK — (Pinicola Canouhnsu \). 
Weniiam, Mans.. February 80, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The correspondents of Forest and Stream, “I,. W. L." and"E. I).," 
who m ike mention of this bird in tho uumhcrof February 4th, h ive 
chronicled pretty much all we know of the species— ita habits, gciioml 
color, mid It* unsuspicious nut.tre. It* general color Is carmine rctl, 
mingled urlthnriiy aud white in the male; the female a pleasing blending 
of ashy, brown and olive. The young birds of the first year— those most 
nsiiully Men In New England-rcscmble the female In appearance. It I* 
an Irregular visitor, of not frequent appearance, ns sometimes years 
ellipse between Its visits. This year they nro unusually plentiful In 
Massachusetts, ns are It* associates and congeners from the polar regions, 
the pine finches, snow bunting, red and white wing crossbill- and red poll 
llnni'to. Mr. J. A. Allen, well known for his studies In ornithology, as- 
cribe- their appoarnneo here to a scarcity of food In their boreal homes; 
hut It eel-ms I" me that Ills reasoning* arc not soundly based, that they 
Sometime* arrived before severe weuther, and that they were generally 
very lean upon their appearance. 
Now. I notice that they nly visit us when the weather north of n* Is 
reported us very severe. Their poor condition may bo accounted for by 
thcl long Journey from breeding grounds to on.- regions. They are 
plentiful with us now. A most pica -log feature of the Winter landscape 
Isa well set cedar or hemlock thickly covered with tho bright colored 
male* aii-l the olive green females. They remind one of the Flori la par- 
oquets. which cluster like the grosbeaks, upon tho pendant boughs, and 
liko mem feed up ■» the bud* of the trees, Doubtless w. L.' d* 
n >t to Re reminded of those bountiful, garrulous, chattering birds of the 
sunny South. Like them they arc unsuspicious, and manifest an at- 
tiicli nunt for one ouothor that leads many a one to It* death. From a 
flock of paroquets I Itavo -eon nearly everyone killed, one by one, called 
ba« It ns lln-y flew at the discharge of the gun by their wounded comrade* 
We have the testimony of "K. D." us to tho confiding nature of these 
flnene*. and have on record other similar accounts. In tho ' Birds of 
New England," Mr. Maynard stales that he has caught them in hl- 
hundt. Ih.-y arc easily domesticated. Mr. Samuels says: "A pair that 
I have In my pos-eo-lun am- eo Limn that they Like food from my hand, 
and even perch upon my Anger. Their song is a soft, pleasing warble, 
not unlike ibat of the canary. Both sexes have a number of call notes, 
anti they keep up o continuous twiner through the day; they are uhvays 
Jl'ely and good tempered, and nrc reidly entertaining pets." 
I fear that these delightful Winter pets are open to the accusation that 
they are de-troy, rs of the lender buds of some trees, os these constitute 
their principal food. Thu cross bill* feed upon the seeds of the pine 
and ot her cones, but the pine grosbeaks much prefer the buds to the 
stud*. Lot them eat the buds; let them destroy what few they desire, If 
only they will gladden us by their bright presence this cold Winter, 
when the Lhcrmomct r indicates a minus temperature, and our lovely 
birds of Spring, the bluebirds and sparrows, have yet a mouth to spend 
iu warmer climes, ere we hear their love notes. Fred Beverly. 
EAGLES. 
Portland, Me., February 18. 1875. 
EntTon FonEST and Stream:— 
The Interesting Incident narrated by "Nimrod.” of an eagle capturlnga 
fish with all the skill and dash of nn osprey. Is, I think, not one of very 
common occurrence I do not believe the eagle to be "devoid of skill, 
during, or activity," hut do believe, as expressed In a former article, 
that It will not "make an effort to capture living game, if dead can be 
found." Very probably, If a dead cat be put Into o cage of eagles, and a 
live cat also, the living animal will be first attacked; but I believe that, 
should nn eagle In its natural buunis discover a dead eat and allying one 
at (lie same moment, the dead animal would first become the prey of tho 
angle. In contrant to the charming narrative of the capture or a wild 
swan by a pair of cngltfs, written by Moyne Held lu "The Young Yoy- 
ageure," may be narrated very many incidents that give evidence of the 
eagle's possessing bad qnulilios that other individuals of "power and 
daring" do not possess. 
Audubon, describing tho habits of the while-headed eagle, says: "It 
frequently gives chaae to Lie vultures, ana forces them to disgorge tho 
contents of their stomachs, when it alights and devours the filthy mass ’ 
and gives an illustrative Incident that occurred In Natchez iu December 
183); aud this occurs "frequently" where fish, flesh and fowl are very 
abundant. J 
In allusion to ••Roomer," "Nimrod" says: "I think your correspond- 
ent wrong In Ills statement that the eagle will not capture live food, if ho 
can find dead; for it i* only when driven to the Inst stage* of hunger that 
he will satiate himself with carrion." In support of my views I will 
quote the opinion of Audubon, nod a famous letter of BonJ. Franklin 
Audubon says, in his description of the white-headed eagle- "In r„n. 
eluding Him account of tho white-headed eagle, suffer me. kind reader 
to say bow much I grieve that it should have been -elected as the emblem 
or my country. The opinion of ourgroat Franklin on this subject as 
It perfectly coincides with my own, I shall here present to vou." Then 
follows the quotation from one of Franklin's letters: "For my part I 
"ish the bald coglo had not beon chosen as the representative of oar 
country. He i* a bird of bud moral character; lie does not get hi* living 
honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead tree, where 
too limy to fish for himself, he watches tho labors of the fishing hawk! 
and wheu that diligent bird has at length taken a fish, and is bearing it 
to hi* nest for the support of his mate aud young ones, the bald eagle 
pursue* him and takes it from him. With all ibis Injustice he is noverin 
good case, but like those among men who live by sharping and robbing 
he is generally poor, aud often very lousy. Besides, he is a rank coward;’ 
the little king bird, not bigger than a sparrow, attacks him boldly and 
drives him out of the district. Ho is. therefore, by no means a proper 
emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America, who have driven 
knMu.^lXh h! p 01 ” ? rC r*! ry ' MW* 1 ** for that ottler of 
Knight* which the French cull C/ttrvallr. t tl'/iitlutlt U " 
i'K 1 * "" d 
- . 1 !o A SIKH 
PcTERBono, Canada, February 28, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
As there have been several article* In Forest and Stream with refer- 
ence to suspended animation In fish by freezing, I will briefly relate my 
experience: Having had a small fish In a glass globe, containing about 
fix qnarts of water, in the dining-room, 1 found it frozen solid after one 
of those eovore nights wc had in .January. It remained so nearly all the 
next day, when the Ice having melted, the fish was as lively as ever. I 
have also heard of parlies here who purchased bass, Ac., that had been 
caught In our hack lakes, that had been frozen for several days. When, 
put into water to thaw (preparatory to cooking them) they have swum 
about as If in Ihclr native waters. Yours truly, A Header. 
THE FOSSIL REPTILES OF NEW ZEA- 
LAND. 
BY ANGLO-NEWZEALANDEB. 
O 
NE of the most interesting discoveries, from a scien- 
■w tific point of view, made in Ne>v Zealand during 
line years, is that which has brought to light the fossil re- 
mains of a Reptilian fauna belonging to the Mesozoic 
epoch. The remains have all been obtained within a lim- 
bed area, some fifty miles in extent, at the northern ex- 
i remit y of the Canterbury plains. They comprise portions 
of forly-thrce individual reptiles, mosllyof gigantic size, 
ami all of aquatic linbils, and belonging to at least thirteen 
distinct species. These species resolve themselves iulo 
i wo distinct groups, the first embracing the genera Plesio- 
saurus, Manimurm (so called by Dr. Hector after Maui, 
Hie traditional discoverer of New Zealand), aud Poiycolylus, 
all of these being iruc Ennliosaurians; and the Olliers corn- 
pricing the huge crocodilian forms provided with swim- 
ming paddles, Leiodon (of Prof. Owen), and Taniwhnmurus 
(Hector), a new genus so named in allusion to Taniwha, 
the fabled sea monster of the Maori. In addition to the 
above, a single vertebras was collected by Dr. Ilaest in the 
lower Mesozoic strata of Mount Potts in Canterbury 
which appears lo he referable to the genus Ichthyosaurus, 
A single vertebral centrum, in a matrix of dark colored 
micaceous sandstone, from the Rungitata district, is re- 
ferred by I)r. Hector to Ichthyosaurus australis; and iu 
summarizing the results lie refers to <he extraordinary va- 
riety and interest of these fossil remains, which prove that 
the ocean during the upper Mesozoic period was, in the 
(southern as in the Northern Hemisphere, tenanted by huge 
Silurians, performing the functions in the animal economy 
that are now fulfilled by the predaceous Cetacea aud ma- 
rine Carnivora. 
Contemporaneous with these discoveries in New Zealand, 
wo find that similar skeletons of these Saurian monsters of 
(lie ancient seas are being found in the cretaceous strata of 
Kansas, in Nortli America. A full account of these will 
he found in Professor Cope's published reports ou the 
subject. 0 
abound, convinces me that there is not the equal of this 
breed from which to produce just such dogs as the sports, 
men of this country desire for duck shooting. The pure- 
bred ones arc acknowledged not excelled in beauty or 
intelligence by any breed. I might enumerate many i n . 
stances where they have seemed to evince almost the intel- 
lect of the human race, but I have already taken much of 
the valuable space in your paper. I cannot close, how- 
ever, without suggesting that in all bench shows a class 
should be opened for this particular breed, that sportsmeu 
may become better acquainted with them. Shamrock. 
-••*■ 
HYDROPHOBIA AND DISTEMPER 
MADNESS. 
D ISTEMPER madness is often mistaken for hydropho- 
bia, nnd a comparison of the symptoms of each 
disease as given by no less an authority than Dr. E. P. 
Philpots, of the British Medical Association, will lie lend 
with interest nnd advantage by owners of dogs. Genuine 
hydrophobia is extremely rare. We quote: — 
A person bitten by a hydrophobic dog is more or less cer- 
tain of contagion, and qs sure as the disease is contracted 
either by man or dog so sure must death ensue from it 
With regard to distemper madness the case is quite differ- 
ent. A person bitten by a dog that has this disease suffers 
merely from the local effects of the bite, which effects ate 
of course, in proportion to the severity of the bite, or 
simple lacerated wound, as it may be termed; the dog also 
as a rule, recovers. To facilitate the differential recogni- 
tion of these two diseases, the following table is given; , 
hydrophobia. 
Definition— A filial form of mad 
ness communicable from the lower 
animal* to man; characterized (as 
the name denotes) by an intense 
dread of water. 
Si nonyincs— None. 
Premonitory Symptoms— B eg I n 
two days before hand, loss of spirits, 
lo** of appetite, general depression 
General Appearance during tin 
Attack— When let alone the dog lie* 
sullenly as if "oat of sort*" and de 
pressed, notices little, but recognize.- 
itis master by wagging his tail 
Violently insane only on the approx- 
imation of water. 
Fits— Absent. 
Foam at the Lips— Absent. 
he iiemiel. 
WATER SPANIELS. 
FLUKES IN DEERS’ LIVERS. 
_ _ New Yonx, February 20 1875 
Editor Forest and Stream.— 3 0 °’ 
During t'.e past month 1 have expected that every succeeding number 
of Forest ami stream would contain letters from some of it* numerous 
correspondents, giving full information relative to the presence of pa, a- 
st e. n the n-er of our common doer. My omerv-llons, extending over 
a period of seven years, aud the cx.-minailun of certain, y one hundred 
Nor h-ro *'r CjlUella ' ll, ‘ 8 tl,e following resuit relu’ive to tho deer of 
Nv r,heru \V 1 -cousin and Michigan; From January to April, four nut of 
b SdJn“ d r r , kJ ' 1 ‘ d Wl,ul,,td from out- to half a dozen parasites Im- 
tt * ' ,e ,VM 1 \ wblla ,rolu J "‘* 10 November none visible 
m, rol "v! r ' ': aVC d,e «> VM ‘*i lo ••• early stage of develop- 
L. th 'm ' a " 0,dd have escupvd observation not specially directed 
i O • JtXfi T "7 T ld 8C " rtel * ™ 10 “'tract Ita iSES 
rnmmmm 
Hi 
^ ”v 4 , ^rr u “ ,Dd trr 
U NDER the head of “Spaniels, their Varieties and 
Peculiarities,” in the Turf, Field and Farm of Feb- 
ruary 12th, the writer states that “ the Irish water spaniel is 
not a desirable breed for this country, as they will not 
stand a cross with any other breed; nnd famed as they are 
at homo as retrievers from the water, the best of them 
would make but a sorry figure retrieving a dead duck from 
the Gunpowder River when roughened by a northwest 
gale.” The first statement was probably made on the 
authority of Mr. McCarthy, a noted breeder of this 
strain of dogs. Still, there is a difference of opinion 
on this subject. Idslouc, in his work on dogs, says- 
“ I should lu-sitate very much to say anything on 
report in opposition to such an authority but goes on to 
stale that “he was looking for some liver-colored retriev- 
ers for American sportsmen, and when nearly discouraged 
with looking in expectation of finding what was required, 
there was brought to him for sale three dogs and one bitch! 
One was black, only about twenty-three inches high, with 
a good long head, of the right substance and power, a 
‘whip’ stern, with short curls, a bare or short-coated fore- 
head, a lid the remainder of his body was coated with curls 
also; his ears were a trifle heavy, and he had no while. 
The other two were of the same form, with similar coats, 
only one was darker than his brother, and that neither was 
of that dark purple or puce-liver so conspicuous in the 
genuine breed of Irish water spaniels." He says: “ These 
dogs were by an Irish water spaniel of Mr. McCarthy’s 
genuine breed, answering all the points insisted on as being 
those of his class: His appearance was an exact index of 
his character. He learned anything directly. In water he 
was of course proficient, and it seemed more his element 
Ilian land. He would work among water rushes and sedge 
for “flappers” with a resolution and daring that could uot 
he surpassed. In partridge shooting there were very few 
equal to him. All the qualities I found in the half-bred 
lush water spaniels I bought and forwarded to America 
and so well pleased were the parties that received them’ 
they ordered the dog and bitch— which at the time I re’- 
jected— purchased and forwarded to them. An attempt 
has been made to resuscitate the breed, (Irish water span- 
iels,) but although Mr. Bullock’s Rover is a good, useful 
spaniel, he has no pretension to rank with the Irish brigade 
led by Mr. Lindoe's Rake and Blarney, and Mr. Skidmore’s 
no less beautiful and justly celebrated Doctor anil Duck ” 
By tins it appears there is a difference of opinion on the 
the subject of crossing the pure breed Irish water spaniel 
to secure really good retrieving dogs Tor this country Tie 
perseverance and intelligence used by those in my posses- 
sion in the retrieving of ducks from the soft and mirv 
marsh the heaviest billows on Lake Koshkonong, or the 
tall and heavy rice with which many of our Western lakes 
Water — Sprinkled over or near 
him causes violent convulsions. 
Thirst — Absent. 
Howling and Barking— Absent. 
Muscular Affection of the Throat 
Causing Inability to Swallow Any- 
thing— Absent or not observable. 
Causes— None. [A specific zym- 
otic poison] 
Prognosis— Very bad, always fatal, 
no cbance of recovery’. 
Terminations — The symptoms do 
not vury to any great extent toward 
the terminutkn. 
Pathology— Intense inflammation 
of the brain, extending to the throat 
and lungs. 
Prophylactic Treatment— None. 
DISTEMPER MADNESS. 
Definition — A form of rabid mad- 
ness non-coinmumcablfi to man- 
hnrnctcrized bv foaming at tho 
mouth, impairment of deglutition 
id a desire to vomit, 
Synonymes— Hallies. 
Premonitory Symptoms— Loss of 
appetite uud slight husking in the 
General Appearance During tho 
Attack— The dog bite* at any of hi* 
fellows, gnaws at his bed or the 
wall, eats struw, snaps at his at- 
tendant. 
Fits— Present in a marked degree 
In most cases. 
Foam at the Lips- Very much; 
the dog leaves it on the surface of 
the water he vainly tries to drink 
(the foam Is caused by futile efforts 
to drink or swallow.) 
Water— Has no effect upon him. 
Thirst— Intense, insatiable. 
Howling nnd Barking— Present. 
Mu-cular Affection of the Thront 
Causing Inability to Swallow Any- 
thing— Well marked. 
Causes— Inflammatory action In- 
ternally pervading the system, 
Prognosis— Good or bad, accord- 
ing to the severity of the fits. 
Termination— A fit. 
Pathology— Inflammation of the 
brain, often extending to the throat, 
the lungs and the intestines. 
Propyhlactic Treatment—' Vacci- 
nation is a cortain preventive. 
The hydrophobic dog is a sullen animal, merely appears 
a little “out of humor, and is only actually mail on the 
approach of water; but in distemper madness the animal 
really is mad in every sense of the term. He biles and 
gnaws and snaps, and chews anything that he thinks will 
cause him to vomit. The hydrophobic dog lias no fits, (ex- 
cept on the approach of water,) and he does not foain at 
the mouth; but with the dog mad with distemper there is a 
succession of fits, one of which may ond his life; his saliva 
some of it of a frothy nature (foam) dribbles and exudes 
lrom Ins mouth, and water sprinkled over him hns no effect 
upon him Ihe hydrophobic dog hates the sound, the 
sight, the thought of water; he will fly from it madly; but 
the dog mad of distemper rushes to it to assauge his thirst, 
but this he cannot do, as spasm of the oesophagus will not 
allow his swallowing. The hydrophobic dog's eyes are 
"shy, dull and sullen looking; the dog ill of distemper 
madness has bright green and savage looking eyes, and lie 
howls and barks. Dogs never recover from hydrophobia, 
but they do from distemper madness, if the fits be not 
severe. Vaccinal ion does not prevent hydrophobia, but it 
does distemper madness. 
LAVERACK’S SYSTEM. 
„ „ Morristown, N. J., February 23, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The interesting and well considered communication under head of 
1 he Kennel, in your issue of February 18tb, over the signature of "Doc- 
tor, fairly merits attention at the funds of one who has practically ex- 
» r T. < ! d hli collfldencc ln Mr - Laverock's system of breeding tne setter. 
And the writer may be excused for Here saying that the thoughtful argu- 
raent and courteously expressed conclusions which elmracterize 
Doctor s reflections upon this subject, have presented Ihe first l. mpta- 
tion to publicly comment upon any of tho criticism* of the im- 
ported Laverocks, and ihe geiitlemanwlu.se name tliev boar, that have 
appeared in the field sportsman's press. Were the distinguished aud 
successful breeder of those dogs conveniently near to review your Boston 
correspondent's remarks upon their pedigree*, an abler pen, guided by 
fur greater experience, had rendered this reference to "Doctor’s" ani- 
madversions unnecessary, and perhaps presumptuous. 
In a perfectly fair and unprejudiced manner "Doctor" submits the in 
quiry whether, judging from the pedigree of tho imported nhcli Fairy, 
J r :A mr y k ! P l“ n ° f brued,n « haa “O' been carried about as fur as ad- 
visable and whether a new strain would not improve tho stock. From 
a merely theoretical point of view this question would appear to demand 
roller ,T Ver - But how oflen we Bee lhe most logical theories 
compelled to yield to unreasonable and stubborn fucts. 
Mr. Edward Laverock is admitted to be high auihority upon the setter. 
He has devoted more time, more careful attention, and more judicious 
nro-enTof tot brCl f "’. g ° f ‘ h,s do ‘- r tban 11 "y other living man. The 
progeny of h.s kennels, inbred and interbred, l ave i een carefully and 
exhaustively tested for generation after generation. In late years, since 
he introduction of field trials and bench shows, the direct offspring to 
the sixth generation of Ponto and Old Moll, have competed with repeat- 
llZ * ,h T IZl9 awnrded in England to the best dogs of setter 
n«i v rl. , reC °wm «‘ nning 6et,trs bears no prouder names than 
Daisy, Countess, Nellie, Priocc, Dash, Sam, and Victress-all inbred do. 
