FOREST AND STREAM. 
406 
C 
than an ax, and that, too, without sensible loss or cost to 
anybody. Next, let those pools and eddies which are 
usually' found at i he outlets of the smaller streams, and 
through which trout of all sizes are continually running as 
the spawning seasou approaches, be served m the same 
way, or, at least, be partly tilled or covered with brush, so 
that it shall be uo longer possible for auy unscruplous fish- 
erman to visit them from day to day with the moral cer- 
tainty of capturing the last arrival. 
Aud lastly the same small spring runs and other places 
which are known as spawning grounds, and the nurseries 
of the youug fry, should be so protected that they cannot 
at any time be reached by the hook of the fisherman. In- 
deed so much faith have we in the protective virtues of 
brush judiciously placed, from time to time, that we ven- 
ture the assertion that a single ax vigorously but wisely 
wielded for a day along the banks of any ordinary trout 
brook would do more for the protection, increase aud 
growth of trout iu that particular stream for the next three 
years than any law that might be passed, though stringent 
even to prohibition.” 
[We have before advocated this mode of improving trout 
streams, and have giveu it practical application by intro- 
ducing it at Blooming Grove Park, on Taylor’s Creek and 
other streams. — E d.] 
Lobsters. — A writer in the Boston Transcript says that 
the strange changes in the amount of yearly production of 
lobsters is very puzzling to fishermen. In Plymouth Bay 
they used to find good sized lobsters very plenty, while 
now the production both inside and upon the coast is very 
much diminished both in size and numbers. They attribute 
it partly to the raking of the rocky bottom for Irish moss, 
which is now carried on to a great extent. By this means 
the young lobsters are uncovered aud often destroyed, as 
they need the refuge of the moss both for growth and 
safety. 
Another Failure in chad Transportation.— Pro- 
fessor Baird of the United Slates Commission of Fisheries, 
has received a message by cable to the effect that the shad 
spawn shipped hence by the steamer Mosel and alluded to 
in our issue of the 22 ult, had all^died. These shad were 
intended for the stocking of the river Weser, and it was 
hoped that by hatching them while en route the mis- 
fortune of last year, when the youug fish were sent in cars, 
would be avoided. No cause is given for the failure, and 
the patent trays used do Dot appear to have produced the 
results expected from them. 
Six thousand shad have been sent to Lake Ponchartrain, 
Louisiana, and about seventy thousand to Vermont, where 
the commissioners intend to continue their experiments in 
stocking Lake Champlain. 
— The last of the shad shipments this season from the 
hatching grounds at Holyoke, some 60,000, was made to- 
day, and it went to the Rhode Island fish commissioners. 
The shad will probably be put in the Blackslone River. A 
shipment of 70,000 was made a fe w* days since to Rock 
River, Illinois, a tributary of the Mississippi. The total 
shipments Irom the Connecticut River this year to other 
wuiers tliau its own, amount to 1,370,000. This enormous 
total iucludes the 40,000 sent to Germany . — Hartford Times , 
August 2. 
SAWDUST IN TROUT STREAMS. 
Gbavenhurst, Canada, July 27th, 1875. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
On the 25lh of July W. H, Brown, of BaysvIUe, was fined for allowing 
tawdasl lo escajK? from his mill and works at Baysvllle into the South 
Mot-koku River, on the complaint of Mr. R. K. Johns, of Bmcebridge. 
Mr. Joline has since the above Due received an affidavit from Mr Fen- 
toni, of New York city, aud unotber from Dr. Cameron, of Toronto, 
elating thtti on the 15th and Hitb of July itisL they witnessed sawdust 
gome into the river irom the same mill. I am glad that a start has been 
mode to atop mill owners from putting sawdust, etc., into the rivers. 
J. S. 
LETTER FROM P1SEC O— CORRECTION. 
United States Fishery Commission. Steamer Bi.de Light, i 
Wood s Hole. Maas , August 2d, 1875. ( 
Editor Forest akd Stream:— 
When In your hsoe of the 15ib lost, yonr type setter turned my thin 
legged chains into three legged ones, thereby depriving them of their 
great resemblance to the young persons with whom they were compared, 
and wi en he followed on a few hues farther by making me heave my 
anchor into a ••creek" instead of into the crack of the split rock, I felt 
somewhat aggrieved, but it concerned no one bnt myself, and I had got 
pretty well need to type errors and conld stand them. Butin yonr last 
1-gue he deliberately knocked over the entire argument, by which I was 
trying to rhow that this place was Holl and not Hole, by turning my 
"none" into a "nine," This latter construction destroys the whole force 
of the views advanced. My object was to show that within the limits of 
the track of the Norsemen there were several cases of this name. N'oDe 
elsewhere. Yonr nine gives the precedence in that respect to the sec- 
tion they had not visited . Please make the necessary correction, and 
oblige Piseoo. 
— The sea serpents seem to be moving around this side 
of Cape Cod; one has been seen on the ocean side of Cut- 
tybunk Island, at tbc entrance of Buzzard’s Bay. The 
New Bedford Standard says:— 
“The sea serpent was 6een from the top of the hill at 
Cuttyhunk, Thursday, by a number of persons, who 
judged that he was about sixty feet long. They saw him 
very plainly and distinctly.” 
The 8t. John Globe says:— 
“The steamer City of Portland, on a trip last week from 
St. John for Portland, when off Segulu, passed the sea 
serpent within 30 feet. The monger was lazily floating 
along on the water, occasionally lifting his head to look 
around." 
— Parties visiting California will find most pleasant and 
desirable quarters at Tubbs’ Hotel, Oakland, at the termi- 
nus of the Pacific Railroad, forty minutes from ban Fran- 
cisco, with which steamers communicate every half hour. 
This hotel is kept by Win. M. Lawlor and 8. I. Kellogg, 
Jr,, well known in this city and Albany, and U a favorite 
resort tor tourot* and sportsmen. 
Natural Jfistarg. 
For Forest and Stream. 
A FEW REMARKS ON SNAKES. 
W ERE it generally known how harmless most of our 
snakes are, instead of a feeling of dread for them, 
we should admire their graceful motions and fine coloring; 
and the instinct to destroy them the moment they are seen 
would be changed to a desire to examine them more 
closely, to observe their habits, and the objects of Interest 
about them. Although wo have about a dozen species in 
this part, of the country, there are only two which may not 
be handled with impunity— the rattlesnake and copperhead 
adder. The latter variety, however, is known by the name 
of chunkhead and red adder in different localities, and in 
some places is thought to be the female of the rattlesnake, 
although it belongs to an entirely different genus from the 
rattlesnake. The bite of both is usually fatal, unless 
means of procuring a remedy is near at baud. The poison 
acts very rapidly, its effect being to coagulate the blood, 
consequently means should be taken to cause the blood to 
circulate rapidly as soon as possible on being bitten. None 
of our other species possess poison fangs. Although both of 
the black snakes will bite rather readily, the effect is of no 
more account than that of a mouse. I do not think that 
auy of the remaining species arc capable of making any 
wound whatever. The milk snake is so named on account 
of its extreme fondness for milk. Although all snakes are 
very fond of it, none are so frequently found in the coun- 
tryman’s dairy. The belief that it sometimes sucks cows 
is, 1 think, incorrect. Our most beautiful snake is the 
little green snake. It is usually found in thick grass in 
damp localities. Its color so corresponds with that of the 
grass that it is not easily distinguished while lying con- 
cealed in it. The ring racer is also a pretty little fellow, 
but is rather rare. The most formidable appearing of our 
snakes is the hissing adder, although it is perfectly harm- 
less and cannot be induced to make any pretension of 
bitiug- On being disturbed, it fluttens out the loose skin 
on the neck and sides of the bead, and at the same time 
fills the lungs witli air. If further disturbed, it expels the 
air through the nose with a dull but rather loud hissing 
sound, and frequently runs out its long, forked tongues, 
as do all snakes when disturbed, or in any way excited. It, 
motions are rather slow but very graceful. The most com- 
mon 6nakes are the spotted water snake and striped snake. 
There has from time to time been considerable discussion 
as to whether snakes produce young by birth or hv eggs. 
It depends entirely on the species of snuke. Most species 
lay eggs; a few give birth to the young, while others are 
ovaviparous — that is, the young are produced in the 
form of an egg, but break the shell almost im- 
mediately on exposure to the air. Young snakes 
accompany the mother for a certain length of 
time. Iu case of danger the motlicr opens her mouth, 
when the young soon disappear down her throat, and cau 
remain tiiere for some time if necessary. As the gastric 
juice cannot affect any living animal mutter iu the stomach 
they of course suffer no danger of being digested. 
The tongue of the snake is popularly believed umong ig- 
norant folk to be used as a sling; but any person who will 
examine one will see the absurdity of such a notion, as the 
longue is very soft, and no more capable of making a 
wound than that of a bird. The process of motion iu a 
snake is very simple. Every time the body is bent the 
scales of the belly at the lower part of the bend are raised 
slightly. The sharp edges of the iaised scales pressing 
against the ground hold that part of the body firmly while 
the forward purt of the body is pushed forward by slraight- 
ening the bend; then the scales of the forward part are 
raised in the same manner and the lower part is brought up 
into another bend. These bends are sometimes so slight 
that the snake seems to move while the body is almost 
straight, and they can be made very rapidly ; more rapidly 
of course in the long, slender snake than in the thicker 
ones. Thus, an upland black snuke six or seven feet long 
can equal a horse iu speed, under favorable circumstances^ 
while an adder caunot move as fast as a person can walk. 
All snakes are enemies of the farmer and sportsman, on ac- 
count of their fondness for eggs and young birds. 
New Haven, Conn., July, 1875. SPECULATOR. 
THE BREEDING HABITS .OF PIGEONS. 
Editor Forestand Stream:— 
The male pigeon first select* his mute, paying conrt to her by strutting 
around her with his feathers spread, and cooing. When they wish to 
begin breeding the mule finds a place for the nest and culls his mate to 
it. It takes them a nnraber of days to make u selection. At this time 
the male Is very attentive to his mate, following her everywhere, and 
allowing no other male to come near her. When they have selected a 
place for the nest they commence to build, the mnle bringing the straw, 
while the female arranges it. They work only In the forenoon. The 
nest is made entirely of straw, the inside being finer than the outside. 
When the nest Is finished the female goes on at night and in the morn- 
ing there Is an egg in the nest, though I do not know at what time it Is 
laid. The other egg Is laid lu the afternoon of the following day. Tho 
female ells on the eggs doriug the night aud until about II o'clock In the 
morning, when the male takes her place until about 4 o'clock in the nf 
ternoon. The period of incnbatiou is eighteen days. When the young 
are hatched they are thinly covered with a yellowish down. The old 
birds feed them on a milky substance, which they eject from tholr crops, 
and us they grow older they give them coarser food, hut there is always 
considerable moisture In it. When the young are nearly fledged I have 
noticed that the male bird, after being fed nt night, always drinks and 
then feeds the young, evidently giving them the grain lie has Just eutt-n. 
The female usually lays again before the young are weaned. For a short 
time before the young are weaned only the male feeds them. A female 
pigeon cannot raise a jonng bird without a male to help her. I have had 
odd females, when there was a male In the Hock, lay eggs and hatch 
their yonng, They wonld raise them until they began to feather out 
when they would die, evidently front starvation 1 think that the ar- 
langemenis by which the male performs so important u j )ar { In feeding 
the young Is for the purpose of giving the female u rest, during which 
she can recruit her strength before laying again; for It must be wearing 
to her to feed the young. John f. Carlkton, 
[The ubovc remarks on the breeding habits of pigeons 
are from the pen of a young lad who has given the subject 
much attention. We mention this in hopes that some of 
our young readers may turn their attention to Natural 
History. Take some particular bird or animal, observe 
closely its habits, and let us have tho result. The study 
will prove, ultimately, a great pleasure : — E d.] 
Collection for tub Centennial.— A number of natur- 
alists in this State, the most prominent of whom is Judge 
Bell, of Montieello, are now engaged in making a collec- 
tion of birds and reptiles of this State for exhibition at the 
Centennial. About 400 specimens have already been col- 
lected, and it is expected that about 2,000 will be ready by 
tho time of the opening of the National Exhibition, — 
[Florida Agriculturist. 
— In Winnsboro, S. C., is a goose with four wings. 
CENTRAL PARK MENAGERIE. 
Department op Public Parks, i 
New York, August 1, IH76. f 
Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for tho week ending July 
3lsl. 1876:— 
One common Paradoxure. Paradtmirus tg/nis . f/ab. Java, Presented 
by Mr. Gnus Ignaa. 
One Robin, Turdus mtgratorius . Presented by Mr. Denis Shane. 
One Brown Thrush, HarporhynchusrufUs. Presented by Dr. L. Da- 
mniuvllle. 
One Bulerlc Crown Crane, Baiearica pavonlna . Hub, West Africa. 
One Gray Squirrel, Sclurus Cnrotinenrls. Presented by Mr. Bernard 
Looram W. A. Conklin, Director. 
Woodland, $ arm and (garden. 
THE DEVIL TREE. 
T HE South Australian liegiatet' contains the following 
account of this remarkable plant.: — 
"Imagine a pine apple, eight feet high ami thick in pro- 
portion, resting upon its base, anti denuded of leaves, and 
you will have a good idea of the trunk of the tree winch, 
however, was not the color of an anann, but was a dark, 
dingy brown, and apparently as hard as iron. From the 
apex of this rusticated cone (ut. least two feet in diameter) 
eight huge leaves sheer to the ground, like doors swinging 
back on their hinges. These leaves, which are joined at 
the top of tho tree at regulnr intervals, were about eleven 
or twelve feet long, and shaped very much like the leaves 
of an American agave or century plant. They are two 
feet through their thickest part, and three feet wide, taper- 
ing to a sharp point that looked very much like a cow’s 
horn, very convex on the outer (hut not under) surface, 
and on the under (not upper) surface slightly concave. 
This concave surface was thickly set with strong, horny 
hooks, like those upon the head of a teazle. These leaves, 
hanging thus limp and lifeless, dead green in color, had in 
appearance the massive strength of oak filter. The apex of 
the cone was a round concave figure like a smaller plate 
set within a larger one This was not a flower, but a re- 
ceptacle, and there exudes into it a clear, treacly liquid 
honey, sweet, aud possessed of violent intoxicating soporific 
properties. From underneath the rim (so to speak) of the 
undermost plate, a series of long, hairy, green tendrils 
stretched out iu every direction towards the horizon. 
These were 6evcn or eight feet long, and tapered from four 
inches to half an inch in diameter; yet they stretched out 
as stiffly as iron rods. Above these (from between tho up- 
per and under cups) six white almost transparent palpi 
reared themselves towards the sky, twirling and twisting 
with marvelous incessant motion, yet constantly reaching 
upward. Thin as reeds and frail as quills, apparently, 
they were yet five or six feet tall, and were so constantly 
and vigorously in motion, with such a subtle, sinuous, si- 
lent throbbing against the air, with their suggestions of 
serpents flayed, yet dancing on their tails. 
My observations on this occasion were stiddeniy inter- 
rupted by the natives, who had been shrieking around the 
tree with their shrill voices, and chanting what Hendrick 
told me were propitiatory hymns to the great tree devil. 
With still wilder shrieks and chants they now surrounded 
oue of the women, aud urged her with the points of their 
javeliDS, until slowly, and with despairing face, she 
climbed up the stalk of the tree and stood on the summit 
of the cone, the palpi swirlingall about her. ‘Tsikl Tsikl’ 
(Drink! drink!) cried the men. Stooping site drank of the 
viscid fluid in the cup, rising instantly again, with wild 
frenzy in her face, and convulsive cords in her limbs. But 
she did not jump down, as site seemed to intend to. Oh, 
no! The atrocious canuibal tree, that had been so inert 
and dead, came to sudden savage life. The delicate palpi, 
with the fury of starved serpents, quivered a moment over 
her head, then us if instinct with demoniac intelligence, 
fastened upon her in sudden coils round and round her 
neck aud arms, and while her awful screams and yet more 
awful laughter rose wildly, to be instantly strangled down 
ugttin into a gurgling moun, the tendrils one after another, 
like great, green serpents, with brutal energy and infernal 
rapidity, rose, contracted themselves, and wrapped Iter 
about in fold after fold, ever tightening with cruel swift- 
ness and savage tenacity of anacondas fastening upon their 
prey. 
It was the barbarity of the Laocoon without its beauty — 
this strange, Itorriblo murder. And now the great leaves 
rose slowly uml stiffly, like arms of a derrick, erected 
themselves In the uir, urproached one another, and closed 
about the dead and hampered victim with the silent force 
of a hydraulic press and the ruthless purpose of a thumb 
screw. A moment more, and while 1 could see the basis 
of these great levers pressing more tightly toward each 
other from their interstices, there trickled down the stalk 
of the tree great streams of viscid, honey-like fluid, min- 
gled horribly with the blood and Oozing of thu victim. At 
sight of this the hordes around me, yelling madly, bound- 
ed forward, crowded to the tree, clasped it, and with cups, 
leaves, hands and tongues, each one obtained enough of 
the fluid to set him mad and frantic." 
Spare the Blackbirds.— Now that the army worm ia 
creating such havoc with crops, tho following letter 
from a farmer of Woods Hole to thu Boston Advertiser may 
contain u timely hint: — 
"A few days ago, as the barley in my fields wits ripening, 
the blackbirds began to gather about it, and my farmer be- 
gan to anathematize them as the thieves and robbers, feed- 
ing upon what they did not bow. ‘Why, they come,’ eulu 
