FOREST AND STREAM 
101 
singes of iusect life. Four years* before the May-bug 
makes its presence unpleasantly known to us by dashing 
in our faces during our rural walks on the superb evenings 
we *ometimc» have in May, it was carefully deposited in 
some field or meadow, in the form of an egg, in company, 
perhaps, with hundreds of similar eggs, by a May-bug like 
itself. The patent having performed this duty, would soon 
cease to exist; and towards Autumn, the eggs would give 
birth to numerous minute whitish grubs. Between this 
period of hntching and the third Autumn, the grubs in- 
crease greatly in size aud cast their skins three or four 
times, each liino burrowing deeper than their usual feeding 
level, as they likewise do in Winter, when they become 
torpid. Id the third Autumn after they are hatched the 
grubs prepare for assuming the pupa state, by burrowing 
to the depth of about a yard; and in a little chamber at the 
bottom of these burrows they remain inactive until the 
following January or February, when the perfect beetles 
emerge from the last covering they are to cast off; but for 
ten or twelve days they remain quite as soft as when iu 
their first stage of existence, and do not venture to leave 
their subterranean asylum until May, when they may he 
seen crawling out of the ground in great numbers and soon 
taking flight, In the perfect state the insects live upon the 
leaves of trees, but the voracious grubs devour the roots of 
grasses, sometimes destroying whole acres of the finest 
pasture, and as Kirby and Spence will observe, they “un- 
dermine the richest meadows, and so loosen the turf, that it 
will roll up, as if cut with a turfing spade.” 
Statements from sources which entitle them to cre- 
dence have from time to time nppeared of the extensive 
ravages of these grubs, which do not confine themselves to 
grass, but also eat the roots of corn. The rooks are their 
most determined enemies; for they not only follow the 
plough for the purpose of devouring the grubs of the cock- 
chafer, which, among others, are sometimes turned up in 
the furrows in great uumbers, but instinctively, us it 
were, pitch upon those meadows and portions of meadows 
where the grubs arc pursuing their subterranean work of 
destruction, root up the grasses with llieir strong beaks, 
and feast luxuriously upon the rich repast thus laid bare, 
as if to revenge themselves upou the cause of the charge 
undeservedly brought against them of doing au injury to 
the farmer by up rooting his grass, when, in reality, they 
are conferring upon him ane of the greatest benefits by 
destroying an insidious enemy. 
•After assnminz tile imago, or perfect slate, their life la extremely 
short, some being disclosed after sunset, laying llieir egg# nnd dying be- 
fore sunrise, many not living more than three hours. Jn the Summer 
evening# you may have seen in cities near river#, or marshes, myriads of 
these insect# swarming around the street gas-lamps and the following 
morning found thousands, yes, millions of them dead upon the ground 
surronnding the lamp post. Different specie# appear at different seasons 
of the ycur. Reaumur lirst discovered them in August 1738. while in 
most temperate countries they generally appear in June— heuce, miuiy 
call them June-bugs. 
HABITS OF THE WOODCOCK. 
Dams viu.i, N. Y., March 1, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
The woodcock that have been In the Southern State# since the latter 
part of November will be with ua again by the full moon of this month. 
They travel us far north as Canada, and throngh every State In our 
Union, around the great lukes, and as far northwest aa Fort Union, on 
the Missouri River. In the month of September the shooting Is splendid 
in the northern purt of Dakota, and along the Mississippi River north of 
Dubuque. At Red Lake they are also in abundance. They commence 
traveling south about the first of October, and by full moon they are iu 
this vicinity. At all the lakes they can be found, and the shooting is 
perfection, especially in Minnesota, ducks, geese, swan and crane being 
very plentiful. A few sportsmen travel in steamboats up aud down ttie 
Mississippi River, making it a business shooting woodcock, ruffed and 
pinnated grouse; geese nnd ducks for the St. Iajuis nnd Chicago mar- 
kets. About the first of April they build their nest in this sectio n 
which hi roughly formed under seme fallen tree or dead bushes, or by 
the side of a decayed stump, and luy from three to five eggs nearly as 
large as a pigeon's. They are of an olive color, with light, pale brown 
spots . They generally hatch two broods, and if not disturbed will sit iu 
the smue nest the second time. The first brood Is taken care of by the 
cock bird, and after the second is fully grown they take both broods to 
the best feeding grounds. They should be left alone until September. 
July shooting should beabolishcd in every Northern State, because the 
bird cannot fly as a game bird should fly until he has moulted and re- 
ceived his Autumnal colors. In 1870 1 bagged sixty-live woodcock in 
two days' shooting in the month of October; the birdi were fat, many of 
them weighing eight onnees. It is impossible to do this in Summer. 
Northward of Dakota their stay is short, but the snipe passes far be 
yond, being lighter and stronger on the wing. As soon as they com- 
mence migrating they make short nocturnal flights from covert to covert, 
resting iu the day lime. This valley has caution signs for miles along 
the roads, and the law will be enforced if any one is detected shooting 
woodcock during the Summer months. Woodcock, when migrating, 
feed at dusk, and are ready for their journey nt daylight. I have flushed 
them in November in tha woods, and huve seen them tower far above 
the forest irees, flying in a circle for ten or fifteen minutes, and then 
alight near the spot where they had been flushed. I have seen my dog 
rise from his charge when told to hie on, aud after walking a few steps 
point the second time on the first bird. At daylight, in the Spring, their 
flights are more rapid and longer. They generally travel iu pairs, and 
when on the move can be found in any sivampy ground inclined to be 
sandy, especially in second growth sprouts, or in low lying thickets near 
open ground, but never in the forest. Black alder, birch and willows 
are their favorite resorts, und food abounds more plentifully where there 
is alow, rich, black soil and bogs, but not grassy. During the heat of 
the day the birds lie in the thickets and close woods. At twilight 1 have 
seen them on the wing near open swamps, or along the open banks of 
rivers, und when seen at that season on moonlight Mights they feed all 
night long, and at daybreak take a long flight to some shady haunt. 
They only act in this manner when non migrating. They will return to 
the covert in which they were hatched, if not driven out before the 
moulting season; but as the luw stands to-day I think very few return. 
Nearly all of the young are but three-fourths grown by July, and the 
old ones are taken away from the second brood that arc but half fledged. 
If left alone for two weeks longer they could take cure of themselves. 
WoodcocK, at limes, are sluggish and hard to rise, and when flushed 
tbey will only fly ten or fifteen feet and drop agalu suddenly, and that, 
too, iu front of the dog. I generally found that when this was the case 
the bird was either very fat, or fatigued by a long Journey, and if so, 
was very thin and pin feathered. The woodcock, on alighting, runs oft- 
entimes as the quail, before squatting. I have seen them in October 
run round and round the dog, tlieu hide under a leaf. Their tails are erect 
mid spread when running in this manner. About the full moon In Au- 
gust they disappear. A single bird is only found here and there until 
the first of September, when they sgalu lake op their former ground# 
They very soon get In fine order and give sport which is excellent, but 
after a few heavy frosts and the ground becomes slightly frozoo, they 
,'nnnol bore, the ln»e«» disappear, and they leave for the* spufh, and do 
not appear among us until they get ready to build and alt; then they 
visit our lake# and swamps again The largest and fattest birds that I 
have ever bagged have been In this locality, and I have banted them 
for forty years. I bagged my first brace Iu Pennsylvania, iu 1835. In 
the Autumn of '7. I weighed twelve bird*, nnd they turned the scale at 
six and a half pounds. I shot several this season that weighed nine 
ounces fully, and my nephew shot one that weighed ten ounces. 
The feeding grounds hero sro small, hut are superior for woodcock and 
snipe. My nephew also shot a grouse that weighed forty-eight ounces, 
which Is of course a very rare specimen, their usual weight being from 
twenty to tblrty-flvo ounces. Woodcock generally weigh from five and 
one-half io seven ounces, nnd the English bird from nine to sixteen 
ounces. 1 had one sent to mo from England thnt weighed ono pound 
one ounce. I had It set up. and have It In my collection. The plumage 
of the two birds Is very different. Our* Is more delicate In flavor nnd 
Juiciness. The rich aud loamy soil In this locality causes the Autumn 
birds to bo so fine and fst. They are not confined to suction, for under 
the leaves nnd turf aud Iu the thickets and open bogs they find many 
worms and Insects. 
When boring, they make a dull, heavy sound, unlit they gra->p their 
pilr.o. Ru'sing their bill into the air they seem to suck the worm stead 
tty. when, with a quick motion of the bond, It disappears, nnd the work 
l« commenced for another morsel. They bore five or ten holes vory rap 
Idly and then rest for a few minutes. Their bill being tilled with many 
nerves makes It very sensitive, so that no worm can escape. If within 
two Inches of the surface. They are greedy, unsocial nnd solitary. 
From the time the first egg Is laid until the brood is hatched, Is goner- 
ally four weeks. I have seen the mule bird ut this time rise almost Iu n 
line, probably three hundred feet, then commeuco clrclirg, making a 
very singular note, something like the snipe, but much louder and 
deeper, then rapidly descending to the place whence he started he com- 
mence* giving an entirely different note, sounding like quack, quack, 
nnd Is answered by tho female Instantly. 
The ordinary number of the young brood Is four birds. I have seen 
five, but seldom. When the moulting season commences I lie woodcock 
separate, and do not come together ngnin until they get ready to migrate. 
I have seen the male bird with the first brood tumble and flutter along 
the ground and over :ho dead leaves for a short distance, and then take 
wing, fly In a circle, and return to the lien, and In n few moments niter a 
few clucks, and the young would como out of llieir hiding places anil be 
onder his protection again. He would squat and allow mo to pass with- 
in a few feet of him. Wherever there is good boring a side hill is 
his choice for home. If the weather has been dry, you will nlwnya And 
them in briar patches, or deep thickets, where the ground never loses 
moisture; and on tho contrary you will And them on the hill# or elevated 
grounds, especially if there Is u certain degree of moisture. And when 
the weather gets cool you will And them among the chestnuts nnd birch 
clearings, receiving the warmth of the November sun. And as tlie sen- 
son approaches Its end you will And them In tho more sheltered swamps, 
where the worms aud insects lire protected. Tho cedar swamps they 
delight in, and 1 have shot many of them In November aud In the early 
P“ r t of December. But they oro very uncertain In their movements, 
being governed by tho soil aud woatbor. In tho southern part of Dela- 
ware they collect In large number#, for the marshes und cripple# Is their 
homo. Last season birds wore vory scarce In tho Eastern and Middle 
Stales. Summer shooting kills off nil tho old birds nnd spoils the Au- 
liiniu sport. 
This game bird Is harrassed mom than liny other; after being hunted 
all Summer and Autumn, when he returns south they are not content 
with hunting durlug tho day, but at night take the negro and torch, nnd 
whilst he is feeding “shoot him on the spot," and call that sport. The 
Winter here ha# been very severe, many snows, but light; but If the 
Spring opens early, aud not too wot, there wifi be plenty nf game next 
Autnnn. Joun DkBanks. 
SAND HILL CRANES. 
Four Wayne, Ind., (March, 1875, 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
It may not be out of place to give through tho columns of the Forest 
and Stream n little hit of natural history which him frequently fallen 
under my notice, und perhaps of almost every Western man, respecting 
the hublts of the sand hill crane. Like every bird of that species, they 
are fond of the water, hut not wholly confined to It. They frequent 
the banks of rivers and marshes and make predatory flight# und excur- 
sions luto cultivated fields of grain, greatly to the annoyance of farmer*, 
who contrive nil sorts ol ways to kill or trap them. They are us 
canning as ciows, and It is seldom you can get a shot nt them. Thou- 
sands are often seen on the prairie# of Illinois, or were some years ugo, 
and it was amusing to witness with a field glass their funny antic# und 
sportive proclivities. School boys let loose from school could hardly 
go through a greater variety of gymnastics than a flock of young sand 
hill cranes. Hopping on one leg, then ou both, and nil lit It, in one 
grand jubilee. Now and then one may be seen squatting down, aud 
others playing loap frog.tuklug turns jumping over nnd frolicking some 
times for an hour, ull joining In tho dance. I have felt like taking a 
bond with them many limes, hut ou tho Ic i at approach of duiger the 
signal is given and the sky Is darkened with their flight. Their social 
habits are otherwise peculiar. After having iiiated. the birds proceed to 
build up In the marshy ground partially covered with water, a t.uncnted 
cone of brush, sticks, grats and mud, to the height of tholrleg#, on the 
top of which the female deposits only two eggs. Here they sit, nltornn 
ting ns convenient, with their legs projecting straight out behind, oj 
sometimes down by the side of their nest to the ground. After liicuhn 
tion, and when the young get u little strength, they pitch Into each 
other with great fury, and can only be made to desist by the parent bird 
separating them, each taking one under Its fosterfug care nnd holding 
them at a respectable distance until they reach ernnehood, when, as I 
described before, they seem to make up In joyous hilarity the querulous 
proclivities of youth. B. 
ENGLISH SPARROWS ON.L, ISLAND. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
I have seen papers on the Pmutr dometllciu lately In several scientific 
periodicals, also In the Forest and Stream. I wish to add u few ob- 
servations iu addition to what has already appeared. In New Haven, 
Conn., and Newark and ndjoInlDg towns in New Jersey, the EnglUli 
sparrows have nearly exterminated the calurpilUrs, which were huh 
pended over every (road .Jid sidewulk. In some localities on Long 
Island they have performed a like service, yet In many places they are 
fast becoming a nuisance. They figlft and conquer our nntlve birds, 
which are driven away from gardens and lire cuntlnuully rc-uttacked by 
the sparrows when they appear where the /*. d»nu»t\cu* abound#, Near 
my residence there are several small houses erected on poles, which 
were formerly occupied during the breeding season by bluebirds, house 
wrens, great crested flycatchers, Ac. Last Spring the sparrows allocked 
the Inmates of several houses, pushed llieir egg# from the nests to the 
ground, or else built their own n-iet ou top of the egg* of the more 
peaceful native birds. A pair of the great crested flycatchers, M'Jlar 
chut erinilus, fought the foreign Intruders for nearly three days, lint 
they were finally compelled to retreat sod give up their house when their 
nest had been partially built. While the bird* were pressing forward 
during their migration new comers would dally arrive and Inspect the 
house, but were soon surpiised nud beaten away by the pugnacious 
sparrows. There are small peach trees In my garden which have bird 
bouses on them, which were taken possession of by the sparrows When 
the trees were In blossom they were continually visited by birds, and 
many species of warbler* hod uo sooner gained a footing than 
they were driven away by the male sparrow# that sit near their houre* 
during the period of Incahatiou and guard the immediate locality Jeal- 
ously. if tire sparrows could h» confined in the cl*/ Ilmlre «hny WOTld 
prove a benefit to the public; but when they advance to the country ami 
collect tn hundreds, n# Is the c*ao In localltlca on Long Island, they be- 
come a nuisance. Jos. H. Batty. 
l'etmi Amboy, N. J . Match 0, 1875. 
Editor Kmir*r and Stream:— 
It would soom thnt tho pccuHftrltle* of tho past Winter have not boon 
confined to tho weather. I am a pretty general observer. If not a vory 
close ono. of the “trick* and inannora" of our bird* and tlie few antmnla 
that are left In this part of tho country, and have nfiiaj « been greatly In- 
terested thereby. I would like to know whether tho f«ct« which I hnvo 
noticed are merely local or whether tho »uu- condition exists more 
widely. For Instance, seats or sin doc* #• they nre called, have been 
quite numerous In llnritun Bay. although n few ore smm nearly every 
Winter, but I have not lo itrd that any huve been killed I hnvo several 
limes fired at thorn with a heavy gun and large shot, but failed to secure 
ono, generally finding a down shot or so lying on tho cake of Ico where 
tlie oral had been. 
The gulls w hich usually frequent our liaihor have been represented by 
a few stragglers only, and the ice drove the ducks aw ay long ago. stuco 
the Introduction hero of tho Kngll»h sparrow, small bird*, snob os tho 
chlppoc, have boon growing more and more scarce, nud I don't think l 
have seen a down snow birds the whole Winter. Tlioy used 10 he plen- 
tiful about tho houso and very sociable. Imt I believe the sparrow* hnvo 
driven them away to tho field*, I'odnr birds have also heroine very 
scarce, In fact have almost disappeared Immense flock* used to con - 
gregate every Autumn and remain Uiroiighrii tlie Winter, but since last 
August I have not uotlcod more than two or ilm-e little huueUcs. 
Some few migratory blnls have come on from the Month already l 
saw a flock of crow -blackbirds ten days ago. but they hnvo, doubtless, 
gone back in disgust. For the past week several robins have been about 
my house and burn, and seem utterly dumornll/od by ihu stale of things 
they find. They sit about on the apple trees, looking disconsolately at 
tho snow and Ice, and can't understand It, nt nil They nvo il each other 
ns much ns possible, a* If ashamed to he seen here, and bury llieir limuls 
In their ruffed feathers In sheer despair. 
By a calculation based upon the depth to which the fm-t ha* pene- 
trated the ground, wo expect English *ulpc along about the last of June 
If they should como sooner, we hope you will Inform us through tho 
columns of your paper K. 
CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 
Dei-artmknt or I'tinuo Parks, I 
New York. Mur. 21, 1875 f 
Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 
March noth, 1875:— 
Two Silver l’lumsunts, Kujdocarniui nycihemtrua, presented by Mr. J. 
Brice . 
Ono Crow, dervus AmerUanu*. Presented by Mr#. It, Koysur. 
One pair Southern Fox Squirrels, Hci mm i>n/pfii u*. Presented by Mr. 
ThomusC. Hall. 
One Jaguar, AWU oiuxi. 
One Toque Monkey, Jfaeocw plltidtu. W. A CONKLIN, 
$$ooili<md t Jfunn and (garden. 
GERMINA TION O F SEEDS. 
W ITH tliu greatest core taken of garden needs some 
will fail to germinate front variotiH cumin*. Many 
and very slight tire tlie accidental contingencies that pre- 
vent the germination of our churished Heeds To guard 
against lltene trilling accident* constitutes our greatest rare. 
When we enumerate tho many entrees lliat prevent tho 
growth and perfection of seed plan!*, we may enumerate a 
cold dry atmosphere, loo much moisture, too hIiuIIow cov- 
ering of Heed, or loo deep covering, rain, and continuity of 
cold, and wo coinc naturally to the IiimI conclusion, which I*, 
“ they won’t come up and we don’t know the reason why." 
Many gardeners who grow seeds for market crop*, generally 
plant many more Heeds than they want for their crops pro- 
vided every seod germinated, but they do not, lienee (his 
wise provision of tho market gardener. You will recollect 
that (lie first wants of seed when plueod in (lie earth is 
water and air. Too much water will exclude air, so you 
must have a haluncing power as a regulator. Nome seeds 
we Dud, such as peas, will germinate at quite a low atmos- 
phere ; while the melon li the require an almost Summer 
heat lo develope and bring litem forward. Being coated 
and well wrapped up in a Iciiuccouh coaling they often iiiIns 
vegetating from a too shallow, rather than loo deep plant- 
ing. I'lnutcd too deep or too shallow, is equally futul to 
germination. You will find it an Invariable rule that seeds 
when too near I he surface die in an attempt to live before 
their roots ucquire u sufficient depth of earth lo sustain tho 
two first leaflets they pul forth; tlioy die before they have 
fairly taken hold upon tho moisture necessary for futuro 
life. If planted too deep, they will germinate, eagerly 
striving to obey the great law of nature which bids iliem 
conic forth, hut they fail to reach the surface, for I lie rea- 
son the seed cannot furnish sufficient nutriment to enable 
il lo do so. Thus you see how apparently slight cutises 
despoil ull your efforts nt plant raising. Two things you 
must have in seed raising, In the flower or garden crop, the 
stem of llie plant aiming for light and air, rootlet seeking a 
moisture necessary to its future existence nnd perfection. 
Very little tilings are they nol S' more trifles, a little more 
earth, more or less, failing of which your plant dies, uud 
this is the end of it for ibis time. 
Never plant your line garden or flower seed in ground 
that has on affinity to “hake or crust;” clayey ground* 
have that tendency, in such soils your seeds quite olten full 
of quick germination. A light soil favors a quick germin- 
ation for the reason that tlie seeds have lesselTort lo pene- 
trate this kind of soil. Small seeds of all kinds suffer 
sometimes from Ihu formation of a slight crust over them; 
“sun-baked" is a term used to define this slight burdening 
of the ground from the e fleets of rain. A remedy is found 
lo relieve delicate seeds iu a careful removal of llie earth 
directly over these seeds with a small tooth instrument liko 
a fine pronged hoe, or a line steel rake. 
We have found that seeds when planted In good situa- 
tions und soil, require to be slightly pressed down with 
the hoe, ju.it sufficient to make them retain moisture I 
have often planted very minute seeds without a covering 
of earth ut nil, giving them after pluming a slight watering 
from a fine rose Jet watering pot. Tho hot-bed plan of seed 
planting, when it can he carried out in the field or garden 
will alwuys prove successful. Something Is frequently 
wanted to prevent a too sudden evaporation of moisture 
from the surface of the soil, ns it is a well known fact that 
many valuable garden nnd flower seeds fail from too deep 
planting and too heavy soils. As a rule we always pre- 
pare our flower beds, plant our seeds; and with u very flue 
sieve sift fine sandy soil over the same. Tills is a good 
plan to adopt with all kinds of seed that we transplant. 
We have followed this to some extent in field culture and 
found our*elve* » gainer by the same. Oi.uroD Quill. 
