i FOREST AND STREAM 
215 
Batumi gjistorp. 
INSEC T LIFE.— NO. 5. 
BY KEUKA. 
M UCH as we may deplore the devastations of the tim- 
ber boring insects, among which the beetle tribe figure 
conspicuously, it must be remembered that in pursuing 
their destructive operations they are but performing their 
share of the general economy of nature, which provides 
for the removal of all organic substances, whether animal 
or vegetable, as soon ns the vital principle lias ceased to 
actuate them. That all such substances shall return to the 
dirt from whence they spring, is a decree from which there 
is no appeal; and the insect tribes do but hasten its fulfil- 
ment while engaged in destroying our books, our furniture, 
the wooden framework of our houses, or the lofty tenants 
of our forests. The ease with which wood when worm- 
eaten is crumbled, even between the fingers, is well known; 
but it may not be so generally understood that the “ worms" 
which produce this effect upqn articles of furniture, formed 
of wood, are no other than the soft bodied grubs of vari- 
ous coleroptorou9 insects which are thus carrying out on a 
small scale the more extensive operations that quickly re- 
duce to a similar condition the giants of tropical forests. 
Our domestic pests of this description are chiefly small 
beetles, which pass the early part of their lives in the 
wood, and by means of their powerful jaws, mine through 
it in all directions, only emerging when they assume the 
perfect state. One of these is the “death-watch,” which 
even yet is an object of superstitious dread to the inhabit- 
ants of many an old house, of the wood-work of which it 
has taken possession. The ticking noise, so alarming to 
weak minds, and which is often considered an infallible 
presage of impending death to some member of the family, 
is merely the call-note of the perfect beetle of several spe- 
cies chiefly belonging to the genus anobriuro, and, as we 
have often observed, principally by the largest species, A. 
tessclluna. The manner of producing this noise, which 
greatly resembles the ticking of a watch, is thus very ac- 
curately described by Kirby and Spence. 
“ Raising itself upon its hiud legs, with the body some- 
what inclined, it beats its head with great force and agili- 
ty upon the plane of position; and its strokes are so power- 
ful as to make a considerable impression if they fall upon 
any substance softer than wood. The general number of 
distinct strokes in succession is from seven to nine or 
eleven. They follow each other quickly, and are repeated 
at uncertain intervals. In old houses, where these iusects 
abound, they may be heard in warm weather during the 
day. The noise exactly resembles that produced by tap- 
ping moderately with the nail upon the table; and when 
familiarized, the insects will answer very readily the tap of 
the nail. 
They also answer the ticking of a watch, if laid upon 
wood inhabited by them. By way of relieving this dry 
discussion, we may quote Dean Swift’s description of the 
death-watch, with his infallible method of breaking the 
spell. He calls it: — 
“A wood worm 
That lies in old wood like n hare in her form: 
With teeth or with claws it will bite or will scratch, 
And chambermaids christen this worm a death watch; 
Because, like n watch it always cries " click; 1 ' 
Thus woe be to thoso in the house who are sick! 
For, sure ns a gun, they will glvo up the ghost, 
If the maggot cries click when It scratches the post; 
But u kettle of scalding hot water injected, 
Infallibly cures the timber affected; 
The omen is broken, the danger is over, 
The maggot will die, and the sick will recover." 
That is really the extent to which this beetle affects the 
destinies of mortals. We might go on, page after page, 
enumerating the many important services rendered to man 
by insects which are ignorantly condemned for supposed 
injuries done by them— condemned by those who have 
never stopped to inquire into or study the habits of these 
small but faithful benefactors. Even the common house 
cricket has not been a useles “ member of society”— 
Southey relates an incident in which one of these little in- 
sects saved a vessel from shipwreck. The incident oc- 
curred in the voyage of Cabeza de Vara towards Brazil, 
and is as follows: “ When they had crossed the line, the 
state of the water was inquired into, and it was found that 
of a hundred casks there remained but three, to supply 
four hundred men and horses. Upon this discovery, the 
Adelantado gave orders to make the nearest land. Three 
days they stood towards it. A soldier who set out in ill- 
health had brought a grillo, or ground cricket with him 
from Cadiz, thinking to be amused by the insect’s voice; 
but it had been silent the whole way to his no little-disap- 
pointment. Now, on the fourth morning, the grillo began 
to sing its shrill rattle, scenting, as was immediately sup- 
posed the laud. Such was the miserable watch that had 
been ’kept, that upon looking out, at this warning, they 
perceived high rocks within bow shot, against which, if 
it had not been for this insect, they must inevitably havo 
been lost. They had just time to drop anchor. From 
thence they coasted along, the grillo singing every night as 
if it had been ou shore, till they reached the island of St. 
Catalina.” 
GREED OF THE BROOK TROUT. 
New Hamburg, May 6ib, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream: — 
One day last week as I win Ashing a mountain stream for trout I made 
a cast In a port, and was rewarded with a good strong nibble. As I drew 
my rod back to book my Ilsh the tip of the rod struck a limb of a tree, 
the honk culchlng In a hush, and, not curing to wade in the stream to 
loosen the hook for fenr of scaring the fish, I reeled in the line, break- 
ing tho sncll. I saw the hook fall into the water, and adjusting another, 
I made another cast, instantly receiving a good strike, .‘.nil fastened 
my ilsh, which I Anally landed— a Ane trout of about half a pound 
weight. Imagine my aurprlso when removing tho hook from his mouth 
I saw unother snell projecting from his mouth, which I found to be the 
identical hook I had lost but a few minutes before. F. Osprev. 
[Such instances are not uncommon. They have hap- 
pened frequently in our experience. The “ Gillmore" sal- 
mon fly takes its name from an angler who caught a sal- 
mon in the Nipissiguit River, New Brunswick, (as related 
by Charles Lanman, in his “ Adventures in the Wilds of 
America,”) which had in its mouth the fly, leader, and the 
great part of a line lost by Governor Sir Edmund Head in 
a struggle with a fish. The tackle was recognized as the 
Governor’s property, and, according to tho etiquette of the 
stream, the fish, with the fly in its mouth, was sent to him 
at Fredericton— Ed.] 
TAXIDERMY. 
Albant, N Y., May 3, 1875. 
Editor Forest anii Stream:-- 
I noticed an article in your lu-t tssno entitled "Notes on Taxidermy." 
Although I will not dispute the preservative properties of alum and sail - 
pelre, I must beg leave to wonder ut the idea of immersing birds In a 
pickle formed of the above articles, without spoiling them; and If such 
articles were brought to me for mounting, I would be compelled to con- 
fess myself a "modest taxidermist" and remark: "Your specimens arc a 
little too far goue to mount well." Picki.b. 
FLIGHT OF MIGRAT ORY BIRDS. 
Salem, Mass.. May 3, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
A question or query I should like you to prln 1 , and which I hope both 
ornithologists and sportsmen will answer, so far as they are able. Will 
those of our sportsmen and ornithologists who can throw any light upon 
tho subject, state through the "Sportemun’s Light-house," otherwise 
the Forest and Stream. Iheir ideas and opinions relative to the Alghts 
of game birds, such as woodcock, snipe, duck and shore birds— that Is, 
their courses, whether oast or west, ns they go north; whether moving, 
as some say, Uliptically, or in whatever inun nor they havo heard or ob- 
served. Having known of snipe being shot in tho Southern States aud 
in the Western Slates, and having had no shooting here in Massachu- 
setts, I am Induced to propound tills question, and that this may draw 
out eomo answers aud throw light on tho subject Is the earnest wish of 
Teal. 
TRAITS OF WOODCOCK. 
Marion, N. C., May 2, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In the ikl of April Issue of your paper you ask, “ Did any one of our 
sportsmen ever see a woodcock before ho rose?” I answer, I havo ou 
three occasions. The last was in November, 1874. I was out quail shoot- 
ing, and going through an oak clearing walked up within six yards of a 
line male. He waddled off, looking back at me aud jerking his head in 
the queerest manner. While I whs trying to point him out to my friend 
Lieut. H. ho rose, and I shot him. I otuffed and mounted him, and now 
in company with a female, which Lieut. II. shot previously, ho gases 
with a "calm and steadfast eye'' on me and my surroundings. Tho two 
were the only ones I saw last Bcason. Yours truly, Geo. U. M. 
CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 
Department op Public Parrs, I 
New York, May 9, 1870. | 
Animals received at Central Park Mcuogcrie for tho week ending 
May 8th, 1875: — 
One Himalayan Bear, UrsiM libetanus. Ihih. Asia. 
One Aoudud, OoU Iragelaphu *. llab. North Africa. 
One California Quail, Lop/Urtyz Calijornicut. 
Two lied. throated Amazons, Chrytsolls eoUaria. I lab. Jamaica. Pre- 
sented by Mrs. Cudy. W. A. Conklin, Director. 
—The following are recent arrivals at the Garden of the 
Zoological Society, Fuirmount Park, Philadelphia: — 
One Speckled Tortoise, Emys gutlala. Presented by Dr. F. A. H uss- 
ier. 
One King Snake, Ophibolue getulus. Purchased. 
One Calico Snake, Abcutor erythroyrammui. Parchnsed. 
One Spreading Adders, IhUrodon almodes. Purchased. 
One Chicken Snake, Coluber guttalus . Purchased. 
One Ground Rattlesnake. Crotolaphorus mlliarls . Pnrcbnjtd. 
One Rattlesnake's Pilot. PUyophiS melanolenCUS. Purchased. 
Three Florida Chameleons, Anollut CaroHneiwU . Presented by Mr. 
Bingham. 
One European Jay, Qarrahu glandMlm. Presented by Master Ellis. 
Six Llamas, Lama Peruana. Purchased. 
Six Vicunas, Lawa vicugna. Purchased. 
One Himnaco, Lamo huanacof. Purchased. 
One Condor, Sarcorhamphue gryplau. Purchased. 
ALBINO LINNET. 
Saleh, Mass., May 9, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
While gunning in Swarapscott Woods on April 3 I took a red-headed 
linnet (albi io ) Having made inquiry of C. J. Maynard and others, 
taxidermists in my vicinity, as to the rareness of the bird, they never 
heard of one being taken before, although the albino occurs with the 
linnet as in other birds, but perhaps not us often If a bird of this kind 
has been taken before I should be happy to learn througli the columns of 
the FonssT and Stream. G. B. S. 
Woodland, Jf.inn mid garden. 
RECLAMATION OF MARSH LANDS. 
W E PROMISED some time ago to give our readers 
some hints on this subject. The reclamation of 
marsh lands is becoming every year of more importance in 
an agricultural point of view, especially in locations near 
our seaboards and at the outlets of our larger rivers which 
empty their waters into the ocean. As the higher sur- 
roundings and more elevated portions of land in the near 
vicinity, aud more especially ucar the fast increasing water- 
ing places and seaside resorts used for Summer residences, 
these long neglected salt marshes immediately acquire a 
value not heretofore known. These lauds for the greater 
part are alluvial in their natural constituents, and as such 
are especially adapted to the production of several different 
kinds of crops; yet the real salt marsh ground always re- 
quires considerable preparation before it can be cultivated 
with profit. To produce crops of the highest excellence 
requires labor, rather thau a great expense in cash. Among 
the many acres of salt marsh lying all along the shores of 
our own coast, and to a large extent also along the I acinc, 
a great portion are not worth a thought as an investment. 
We should not. recommend an expenditure of money upon 
such lands, more especially when located at any great dis- 
tance from a good market. Where good tillage lands are 
abundant we should recommend letting salt marsh renova- 
tion or reclamation alone. But there is much land of the 
salt marsh order that will richly repay the expense of 
bringing it to a better state. Among the cheap and abund- 
ant lands of this kind, we name quite a strip upon the bor- 
ders of the Hackensack River. The drainage atld reclam- 
ation of much of this land from salt marsh to a good 
friable state, fit for cultivation of English grasses, or in 
fuct almost any kind of crops, would be made to pay a 
large percentage over present products. The example of 
English reclamation of tho feus, and in Holland of the Har- 
lem lake drainage, show what skillful enterprise will read- 
'y accomplish. There these heretofore worthless locations 
yteld a steadily remunerative percentage, and are grad- 
ually becoming more atul more valuable. Salt marshes 
are formed by deposits of various kinds— vegetable, mould, 
rati, mingled with shells filled with innumerable unimalcu- 
Itc. 1 * rom this animal and vegetable compound we gain a 
large percentage of stimulant fertilizer. The greater quan- 
tity brought up by tho higher tides, distributed, and left 
upon these shore belts of sand constitute the future of tho 
border or marsh lands which lie along so lnrge a portion of 
our shore lands. Much of this floating sea and shell life 
need only to touch the fresh water of our inland rivers, and 
they die at. once — sink to tho bottom and continence their 
future fert ilizing life upon another Olid higher plane. Thus, 
by the regular rise and flow of the tide waters, their care- 
ful spreading of this almost imperceptible fertilizer, tiro 
formed the marsh land basis of which we now speak. One 
has only to carefully uotico for a few years this natural 
marsh making or land elevation, as seen upon tho shores of 
ohl Marblehead, Salem, and Dunvorse, and other places, to 
understand that our marsh is now well formed, and that its 
future productiveness lies iu our hands. Just as soon as 
natural vegetation appears from year to year upon these lo- 
cations, their improvement is made much easier by the de- 
cay of this vegetable matter. I have often, guu iu hand 
und a well filled game hag at my side, traveled over these 
very grounds I now describe to yon; when first formed only 
sand, and poor sand at that, was to be seen. As time 
passed on these sands become covered with a green moss 
or a struggling gray sea poly-pod— a sort of monstrous 
abortion which when Irouden upon gave forth quite a 
quantity of very acrid water. From year to year in 
pursuit of the “grey-backs," the “tattlers," and the “yel- 
low legs," 1 tramped these same old familiar marshes; they 
were densely covered with a better grass, hud become 
higher at high tides, and a visible change had come over 
them for the better. As the treatment and reclamation of 
these lands at the prcscut day makes a very important item 
in the agricultural calendar of work to he done, the question 
is, “Cau it be done? Will it prove remunerative? Will it be 
profitable, and at a reasonable expenditure in rush? Will it 
return a reliable permanent percentage upon tho money 
thus expended?” In our answer to these qneslions we can 
say from observations carefully made, througli a series of 
many years, combined with experimental examinations 
into the nature of these soils nnd formations, with a view 
to the future value and improvements of the same, wo be- 
lieve they can be made very valuable. The first step to ho 
taken in the reclamation of these shore lands in the entire 
exclusion of the sea water, or the tide, except in caaea 
hereafter noted. The modus opemndi of reclaiming those 
grounds will he completed in our second paper, which wo 
hope to make instructive and valuable to all our readers. 
Oi.Liroo Quill. 
THE CLIMBING FERN — Lygadium palmatiim . 
T HIS most beautiful of our native ferns is so very pe- 
culiar in its form and general npperunce, that not 
one person in ten would class it with the other ferns of our 
woods. To the botanist it has its appropriate place as ono 
of the most beautiful of the ferns. It being comparatively 
a rare fern adds to its value, and may be recorded as one of 
its peculiarities. I have found this lovely fern in various 
localities; iu Maine, in Massachusetts, in Connecticut, and 
many other pluces. It lives in Florida, aud is scattered in 
small patches over several of the States. It was held in 
such great esteem in Connecticut that complete raids were 
made upon the locations in which it grew, and it was re- 
moved in such quantities os to become a source of disgust 
to many persons who loved and would cherish this lovely 
green fern. Such were the quantities carried away that it 
became necessary to protect it from entire extinction, by 
causing a law to be passed by the State for its future pro- 
tection from the vandalism of outsiders. We were among 
the most earnest of the friends for tho protcetlon of our 
woodlands and forests, anil are equally in earnest also for 
the protection of the beautiful and valuable in nature from 
unnecessary and wanton violation of herb, fruit, or flower. 
The Lygadium palmaluni has a very slender light brown 
stalk, which in the wilder cultivation of its native haunts 
turns for support lovingly around small shrubs, running to 
a height of from two to four feet. From tho. main stem 
the small branches alternate, and iu their turn also throw 
off branches and bear leaves, or fronds at each and every 
division. These frond leaves arc again divided into several 
lobes. By turning up the under sides of the leaves the 
small lobes will he seen, the sponc cases or seed weasels, 
which are arranged with much grace and beauty. Iu 
short this grace and beauty of the plant not only place it 
ut the head of our beautiful ferns, hut render it a great and 
deserved favorite as a decorative or festive plant. W ith 
great care ibis plant can he safely aud successfully trans- 
planted and cultivated, although its great delicacy and im- 
patience of rough handling has thus far prevented its culti- 
vation to much extent. In a future paper we may give our 
mode of culture of the Lygadium pal. nudum, and the best 
means to be used to insure success with the same. 
Ollipod Quill. 
Tule Roots as Food.— T he San Francisco Chronicle 
says: “A new California edible has been discovered by 
the patient gastronomic researches and fearless experiments 
of some of onr Chinese population. Tho Colusa Bun says 
that two tons of tule roots wore shipped from that place to 
Sait Francisco last week, the consignors and consignees be- 
ing Chinamen. The Mongolians declare them excellent 
and nutritious as an urticle of food, and that a good mar- 
ket can be found for them at six cents per pound. If this 
statement is reliable, a tule swamp will be a more valuable 
possession than a wheat field of similar dimensions, and the 
business of reclaiming swamp lands may as well bo 
given up.” 
—A fishing match for white perch took place laid Satur- 
day at the Little Falls of the Potomac, where those fish are 
plenty. There were nine contestants and three prizes. 
Joseph Paul took first prize with tweuty-scvcu pounds of 
fish; Thomas Naylor second, with twenty-four pounds, 
and Mr. Barrows third, with -twenty-one pounds. Tho 
number of fish caught was 1,223. 
