„ Albant, N. T.. May 10th, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 3 
Having seen in your Issue of December 3d, 1871, an affirmative answer 
to the question "Do Snakes Eat Toads?" it has induced me to write a 
few incidents of my experience with snakes, and I will also say that 
snakes do cat toads, as I have seen them do it very often. Being nat- 
urally a "snake fancier," I have always had tbo habit of never letting 
one pat« me, but always to "catch 'em alive, O!" In the Spring of ’72, 
while catching painted tortoises (Kmys Picta) with a hand net In a small 
pond near Albany, I perceived a very largo ‘water snake ( Troplnonoliu 
Hlpedon) moving cautiously around on the floating moss, leaves, Ac., 
near the shore. While watching it closely to ob j crve its habits, nml if 
po*»iblo to procure it, I saw another one of the same species approaching 
cautiously from soinr 7 hbonng reeds towards the first one, evidently 
intern, both of them, on catching a frog which was sitllug on the shore 
near mo, winking and blinking its intelligent looking eyes, in mild un- 
concern of the fate that was awaiting it, when one of them, springing 
furiously towards Us prey, was met midway by my Dot and tossed high 
up on the bank, where 1 captured it without difficulty. Not having my 
snake box with mo, and being therefore compelled to carry the reptile 
on my wrist, I wns forced to one alternative— either to loso my game (?) 
or go home; but preferring the latter, I arrived at my residence, af'er 
being politely invited by a horse car conductor to ride on the rear plat- 
form, and being interrupted by curious children and timid women, ant 
I deposited my prize in a cage of compartments where 1 then had over 
I thirty others of live varieties, viz.; tho ribbon, (Lep'.ophU Snurlta) the 
grass, (Coluber Vernalu) tbo brown, ( Tropldonolu * , Du Kay) tho copper- 
head, ( Trlgonoeephalus eontorlrlx) and milk snake (Coluber anmlus). 
One morning, having caught a living mouse, I determined to experi- 
ment with the copperhead, whose bite is extremely polsortous. I dropped 
► the mouse in the cage, which did not disturb his snakeship In the least, 
and the poor frightened animal seeing its danger, immediately made 
frantic efforts to escape: but its every motion was closely watched by 
the diamond like eye of the snake, which now begun to slowly form it- 
self Into a coil, and grow excited, lashing its tail and expanding and con- 
tracting its body In a violent manuer, but not once removing its gaze 
from the mouse. At lost the crisis came. The reptile darted across the 
cage and seemed to just touch the mouse, and was back again coiled up 
in its original place as quickly as a flash of light, the mouse seeming 
none the worse and trying to effect an cscapo with equal vigor as before. 
But the venom begun to work; one minute from the lime the snake 
6truck, the mouse begau to slaggcr, in a short time it was prostrate and 
helpless, and in two and one-half minutes from the time it. was bilieu 
• the mouse wus dead. The snake then began to move slowly around its 
fallen prey, lashing its tail and darting out its red tonguo with great ra- 
pidity. At last, having approached close, it took the head of tho mouse 
within its own, and then began to swallow It whole. In just eleven and 
onc-hulf minutes from the time the mouso was struck, tho end of Its tail 
disappeared down the snake's throat. 
At one timo I witnessed a dispute between two of my ribbon snakes 
over a frog, which was at least five times greater in diameter than cither 
of the snakes. Having thrown the frog to them, they both sprang simnl- 
taneoaely after it, one seizing it by the head und the other by the leg, 
both trying hard to swallow it, and succeeding so fur that their jaws met, 
and It seemed as if one snake was to swallow the other one, frog and all; 
but this decided the contest, for when one snake felt tbo fangs of the 
other one piercing Its head it made a sudden plunge uud dragged its op- 
ponent all about the cage, who not being prepared for “this move," wjs 
compelled to let go ita hold and allow tbo conqueror to glide off in tri- 
umph and devonr its hard-earned meal at leisure. 
I bavo often watched a snake shed its Bkin. Fonr or flve days previous 
to this operation it has a dull, dead appearance, its skin losing its color 
and a Dim forming over the eyes; It also becomes sluggish in Us move- 
ment s, and will not touch food. But the skin around the mouth begins 
to crack In a short time, and when this occurs the snake will crawl In be- 
tween two stones or other obstructions, and literally "creep out of its 
skin," coming fonh with tho most elegant colors that can be Imagined. 
Snakes In captivity become quite tam£, although I have* never been 
able to train them further than to control their Jaws, aud not to bite mo 
while handling them, and in a few cases I have had them take a frog 
from my bund without harm to myself. II. u. Hurst. 
•This identical snake may be soen in No. 35 of Hurst's Steroscoplc 
Studies of Natural History. 
ALB1NQ1 SM IN FISHES. 
Museum op Wesleyan University, I 
Middletown, Conn., May llih, 1875. f 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
A remarkable specimen of the haddock (Melanogrammus aegUflnue) 
was shown me last Saturday by my friend Mr. Blackford, of Fulton Mar- 
ket. Your readers are mauy of them familiar with tho appearanco of 
this fish, with Us uniform hue of brownish gray, slightly darker UDon 
the back; the heavy black stripe which covers the scales of the lateral 
line, and the dark blotches behind and above the pectoral fins which 
mark the spots, we are told, pressed by the lingers of Simon Peter, the 
dleclplo flshermnn, when he took the tribute money from the fish's 
month. Mr. Blackford's haddock is on albino, the only example in this 
group of fishes which has ever been brought to my notice. The stripes 
and blotches are absent, and the fish is uniformly a very light pink, tho 
back slightly darker and approaching a very light salmon color. The 
scaleshavea pearly lustre. The Hub urc dull white tinged with rose 
color, except the veutrals, which are a light salmon color. The eyes uro 
normalin color. This fish was taken off Barnegat, N. .1., May 1st, by 
the schooner White Cloud, of New London. Mr. Blackford has bad it 
forwarded to Washington for the use of the National Museum 
Another curious case is that of an albino of the common eel (Anguilla 
boilonitnuU), sent to Professor Balril by Captain Elihu Potter, of Nounk, 
Conn. Its color is a dull yellow of a light shade, approaching white on 
tho belly. According to M. Dareste, albmoism is not uncommon in tbe 
European eels, and perhaps white eels may bo more abundant with ns 
than is usually supposed. G. Brown Goode. 
THE ‘‘NEW LIGHT." 
Midway, Ky., May 6th, 1875. 
Editor Forest and 8trbam:— 
Seeing In a late number of Forest and Stream some inquiries about 
a fl6h culled "new light," I send you one by mail to-day. The same fish 
Is found In Lake Erie; streams of Indlaoa flowing Into the Ohio. I have 
seen it taken also from the inland lakes of Florida. It made its appear- 
ance with us many years ago-about the timo of the rise of tho religious 
sect called New Lights, Campbellltes, Ac., and the populace, not know- 
ing anything about the fish, called it by tho commou name Indicated 
above. Respectfully, Nouvelle, 
We are greatly obliged to our correspondent for liis 
trouble in sending this specimen, which came to us em- 
balmed, or very perfectly preserved in a carbolic solution. 
It belongs to the 2d Class, or soft-rayed bony fishes, and 
is evidently a species of carp. 
CENTRAL PARK M ENAGERIE. 
Department or Public Parks, I 
New York, May 16, 1876, f 
Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for the week ending 
May 15th, 1875:— 
One while collared Mangabey, Cercocebus collarl*. Presented by Mr. 
Heury M. Field. 
One Macaque Monkey, Maeacw cynonrotgu*. Presented by Mr G. Kail. 
Two Snow Geese, Anter hyperbole* Received In exchange. 
Two Racooons, Procyon low. Bred In the Menagerie. 
W. A. Conklin, Dlreotor. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
W oodhtid , Jtfarm and (garden. 
Ditching and Drouqhts.-A contributor to one of the 
Illinois papers suggests the idea that the excessive ditching 
practiced in that State in improving the prairies, is a fruit- 
ful source of the frequent droughts which have been expe- 
rienced of late years. Of tbe 35,000 square miles of prai- 
rie lands in the State, a larger portion was originally so 
dimpled und indented that in the Spring, after heavy rains, 
the surface of the country, when viewed from some com- 
manding ridge, presented the appearance of being covered 
with ponds of water. At that time the water soaked into 
the soil, fed the springs, or by evaporation furnished ma- 
terial for a never failing rain fall. Now, the Innumerable 
ditches scattered over the country carry off the rain as 
rapidly as it falls, and it is in duo time emptied Into the 
Glut of Mexico. 
There is much that is plausible in the theory. The fact 
that opening new districts and*denuding the surface of the 
country of its timber affects the rainfall, is settled beyond 
a question; and the planting of forest trees in locations 
which before wero treeless, has had the effect of increasing 
the supply of rain. The writer to whom we have alludeil 
suggests that the sites of these original ponds, which are 
scattered all over the country, might, without much labor 
be restored. We think that were trees planted in liberal 
numbers along the banks of these ditches, and indeed 
wherever the water from them can permeate to their roots 
the same results might be arrived at. Certainly there is 
nothing more destructive or discouraging to the farmer 
than continued droughts, and any remedy which is likely 
to alleviate tho cause should be most carefully and earn 
estly pursued. 
RECLAMATIO N OF M ARSH LANDS. 
I N our further discussion of the reclamation of salt marsh 
lands, we would state that the first thing to be done is 
to set a bound to the encroachment of the tide waters upon 
such lands. The tide waters must be shut out from the 
lands we would renovate. The cheapest, easiest, and most 
effective plan to accomplish this is to build the necessary 
dykes with the salt marsh turf itseif. These dykes which 
any skillful farmer can erect, should be firmly constructed 
at from ten to one hundred yards from the edge of the 
marsh, leaving a flat of sufficient width to break the force 
of the waves and entirely protect the accumulation of both 
river and tidal currents. This, at the very beginning of 
j'our labors, is of the utmost importance, and the work 
sliou d be well done, as so much depends upon it. In mak- 
ing this dyke it should be from two to ihree feet higher 
than the level of the highest lido that usually occurs at the 
place to be reclaimed. You will be careful to give to the 
outside slope of this protective wall a full foot and a half 
to every foot rise; by so doing you plaoe a firmly construct 
ed barrier of resistance to the waves, and your future up- 
land i3 protected from all tide encroachments. In making 
your inside slope you may make it steeper, say one foot of 
Base to one foot rise. As there is no tide pressure from 
within, it will be found of sufficient strength for all pur- 
poses When your dyke is finished you will have the top 
ot it four feet wide, aud firmly compacted. In situations 
o. great exposure to the action of tide wuters it may ho 
necessary to make the dyke wider at both base aud ton. 
Ordinarily, though, the width I have here given hoi’ 
proved of sufficient strength for all practical purposes. 
We have seen some reclaimed marsh grounds where even a 
ess width has rendered good service, but they are quite 
liable to an occasional overflow of high tides, which are 
bad for the grass, and often wash the lands so reclaimed 
e recommend doing the dyking in the best manner at 
nrst, even if it does cost a little more money, or you will 
soon have to re-work your unreliable beginning. But if 
your five or ten acres can only be made at a verylarge cost 
or one beyond tbe contents of your purse, do not begin the 
work at all. It were far better always to count the cost 
before you begin than to begin and not be able to finish. 
Ordinary reclamation of lands on the sea shore is not at- 
tended with great expense. The ditch from which the 
excavations for dykes arc takeu should be about oue sev- 
enth or eighth wider than the extreme width of the dyke 
and one foot to a foot and a half deeper than the dyke 
wall is high. By this formation you have the necessary 
quantity of earth at hand to easily perfect a strong, thor- 
ough piece of work, which will immediately begin to repay 
you for your labor. If you dig your ditch with sloping 
sides, meeting in a central line, it will stand many years. 
It desirous of making a finished piece of substantial work! 
you will cut the sods from the surface of a foot square and 
place them upon tbe outside of the dyke embankment 
adding to its finish and strength. You have now only one 
other obstacle to remove, which will be found in a brook 
or stream of fresh water running into your meadow or re- 
claimed ground. This you must get rid of; the water must 
be conducted in a straight course either under ground or 
through the ground in a compact form; in most cases a 
simple gutter emptying outside i9 all that is necessary, or a 
new channel may be made for the water. Much very valu- 
able but now useless land can thus be reclaimed, and the 
ability to make it more or less valuable has already beeu 
tested, and is still being tested, with profit by many of our 
New England farmery Ollipod Quili, 
—The Spring meeting of the Louisville Jockey Club 
opened most auspiciously on Monday last; upwards of 12 - 
000 spectators were present, and the weather all that could 
be desired. The great event of the day was the Kentucky 
Derby, which was won by Aristides, making the fast- 
est time ever made by a three-year-old, and only second to 
the time made by Tom Bowling as a four-year old. The 
fifteen horses started at the first tap of the drum, and got 
away in beautiful style. 
Tho mile heat race won by Fairplay was also made in al- 
most unprecedented time; the three heats being run in 
1 :44J, 1 :44| and 1 :44j. Bonaventure won the Associa- 
tion Purse and Aaron Pennington the purse for all ages. 
—At the meeting of the Kentucky Association on the 
13th instant, in the sweepstukos for three-year-olds, Mr. 
Rodes’ Searcher distanced his two competitors in the re- 
markable time of 1:415, being the fastest mile time on 
record, aud beating Grey Planet’s 1 :42i by 5 of a second. 
The latter time it will be remembered was made in a match 
against time with a running start. 
lietmel. 
AMERICAN KENNELS— No. 2. 
Mil. TUEO. MORFORD’B. 
'T'HERE are some few gentlemen In this country who, 
them wi n f n Und / e r 8incc ,l 8lrain of d °g* that suited 
otWhr^H f n ed ‘ n exft,u pta Of Mr. Lav, Tack and 
other breeders in Great Britain, and confined themselves to 
one family and to perfecting sm h good qualities as seemed 
SrfleH 0lIUnent ,v WhuleVer ,n,iy be the effect of color In 
the field or as affecting the value of dogs in which, as with 
the Gordons or the Irish, this distinction has not become a 
peculiarity of tho strain, there is perhaps more prejudice 
regarding it than applies to any other characteristic. Mr 
Morford has made color a specialty, and the orange and 
white to which ho has confined his labors is now recognized 
as a distinctive mark of the “Morford” strain. 
Newton, the location of tbe kennel under discussion, lg 
situated among ,he lulls of Sussex county, surrounded by 
rich grass lands and dairy farms. A picturesque ride on 
ho Delaware Lackawana and Western Railroad takes the 
traveler to Waterloo, whence the Sussex road carries him 
to Newton. The valley i„ which Newton is situated is 
contiguous to that of Hamburgh, Vernon, and so on to 
Warwick, across the State line, a region that has been ren- 
dered almost immortal by the pen of Henry William Her- 
bert (Frank Forester) As the scene of most of his shooting 
experiences. An advantage which Mr. Morford has is in 
this fact, that he Is in a country which, while not abound- 
ing in game, ns in years past, still possesses sufficient for 
him to try his dogs on and keep them up to work without 
having to resort to the distant plains of tho Western States. 
The variety is also excellent, consisting of ruffed grnuso' 
woodcock. quail, and English snipe. Tho inhabitants of Mr’ 
Morford’s kennel are as follows:— 
1. Nelly, orange and white, eleven venrs old. From this 
bitch are descended, with one or two exceptions, all the 
present inmates of the kennel. AH that is known of Nel- 
18 li hat 8b ° e by nn orttn P° »nd white dog 
owned by a gentleman on Staten Island, out of a red bitch 
from Virginia.* Sho was first bred to Mr F. M Ward's 
Rob ^t"of m’- 6 d ° e . B ;V r ' bc by Mr. Scott Rodman’s 
Bob out of his imported Quail. The most celebrated of 
K y3 &T ny who was sol,] to Mr. Shipman for 
f50fl. We lmd the pleasnrcof seeiug Mr Shipman at New- 
ton and learned from him that lie was more than satisfied 
« . m?* bftv,n K worked him all the past Winter in Florida, 
and killing a large quantity of game over him. .Toe has 
i. I ^ any ( ? n , C8 \ and possesses tho quality of 
character- 
. . n puo’i fitM n i iiu mmiliv Ol 
stamping his progeny with his own marks nnd character- 
lslics. 
2. May, orange and white, by Joe nut of Ncllv May 
is a remarkably handsome bitch, possibly ns handsome as 
any that could be shown on bench or in field; perfect in 
coat nnd feather. 
3. Duke, omnge and white, own brother to May. Duke 
only wants filling out to make a very grand dog. Roth he 
and May are but fifteen months old, yet Mr. Morford ear- 
ned them West with him last Fall and shot over thorn to 
his entire satisfaction. 
4. Don, orange and white, two years, by Joo out of Gyp- 
scy. Gypscy is by Corson’s Dun out of Babbitt’s Dell 
Dan is comparatively untried in the field, hut is very hand- 
some nnd intelligent. 7 
no Ji uri ! p9 ; 0r iV? ?e „ at l? one year, by Joe oufof 
Dell 2d; she by Ward s Bob, Jr., out of Dell. 
6. Queen, orange and white, by Joe out of Gypsey as 
B rftndair e of Dell (Gypsey’s darn) was Horace 
Smith s Gildersleeve dog Bruce. 
7. Fanny, orange and white, by Joe out of Frank (a aln- 
gular name for a bitch), own brother and sister. 
8. Beauty , lemon and white, an imported bitch one and 
a half years old. Beauty's breeding is unknown, but from 
her form and markings we should consider her admirably 
adapted to cross with the Morford dogs and continue tho 
strain. 
9. Puss, a puppy three months old, from whom groat 
things are expected. She is by Cole’s (Georgia) Bang out 
of Gibbon s Sukcy, she by Morford’s Joe. Bang was by 
Coles Thud out of his Pixie. The second dam of Puss 
was Foote’s Nell by his Shot, third dam, Cavendish’s im- 
ported Belle. 
»r 10 '- D ‘ ck ’ re( i P urcl >ascd by Mr. Morford of L. R. 
Morris, Camel Station, Ohio, after seeing his excellent per- 
formance in the field. Mr. M. docs not iulimd to breed to 
Dick. 
Here we have another Instance of closo inbreeding with- 
out deterioration. Joe haa been repeatedly bred to bis own 
mother, Nellie, and oucc to bis sister, Frank, and has al- 
ways produced offspring at once healthy and on an im- 
proving plane. We were much struck with the extreme 
docility of Mr. Morford’s dogs nnd their intelligence. These 
characteristics are cither developed to a remarkable extent, 
or else Mr. M. possesses marvelous ability os a breaker und 
trainer; and it is indeed rare to find a gentleman able to 
break liis owu dogs without the assistance of a profes- 
sional. These dogs are all broken to retrieve, not in play, 
but as a duty, obedience to which is strictly enforced. Wo 
do not remember having seen a more interesting instance 
of thorough control and obedience thun when four or five 
of these dogs were admitted to a room at once, all charg- 
ing together at the word, and each answering to his name 
and retrieving or obeying any order given him. Such 
strict obedience in the field, if the dogs possess the noses 
their appearance indicates, together with the natural intelli- 
gence they certainly have, must make shooting over them 
the perfection of sport. We should have remarked that 
another peculiarity of these dogs, and one to which Mr. 
Morford Iias given great attention, is their black points— 
eyes and nosea. 
We shall give a description next week of the breeding and 
sales kennel of Mr. A. C. Waddell, located al*o at Newton. 
