1875 - 
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the most iateresting phenomenon connected with this 
animal. We need not repeat the fabulous stories told 
about these color-changes: the facts which can be strictly 
Terified by direct observation are wonderful enough 
without the adornments of imagination. These changes 
of color range from whity-yellow, through yeilow, 
bright and dark green, to dull black; and these diver- 
sities of coloration may affect the entire surface of the 
animal, or one or other of its sides, or may appear only 
in spots. When the chameleon is asleep, and not ex- 
posed to the direct ra 3 's of the sun, its color is whity 
3 ’ellow; when basking in the sun it is a dingy black or 
dusky brown. On being aroused from sleep, the side 
which is first awakened assumes a darker shade. There 
is reason tor believing that sunlight, apart from the 
warmth which accompanies it, is very grateful to the 
chameleon, and, in response to this stimulus, he at once 
begins his play of color. M. Paul Bert, a well known 
French savant, has for some lime been engaged in 
studying the anatomy and mechanism of these phen- 
omena. His researches are not 3 'et completed, but we 
may state some of the facts which hej has established. 
In the skin of the chameleon he finds a close net- work 
of minute ducts, connecting with pigment-vesicles .situ- 
ated on its under surface. When the coloring-liquid is 
all retained in these vesicles, the animal’s skin appears 
yellowish, that being the color of the semi-transparent 
epidermis. When the liquid is injected into the ducts 
the color of the animal changes, the tint depending on 
the degree of tension in the ducts. If a nerve be cut, 
the region of the chameleon’s body to which that nerve 
was distributed becomes at once a deep black, and no 
more color changes occur over that area. If a piece of 
the skin be placed under a microscope, it will appear 
black. Pass a current of electricity tbrougu it. and 
there will be seen white vacuoles, which coalesce into 
irregularly-shaped masses, and these in turn break up 
into minute vacuoles again, leaving the field of a 
greenish color. S' op the current, and the reverse order 
of phenomena appears. M. Bert finds that the efiect 
of curare on the chameleon is to give it a very dark 
color, while chloroform, on the contrary, lightens the 
tint; but when given in quantity suflficient to destroy 
the animal’s life, chloroform darkens the color. Bert 
is disposed to believe that the chameleon possesses a 
special set of “color-nerves” distinct from the motor 
and sensory systems, and that these nerves are under 
the control of the will. — Popular Scitnce Monthly. 
STERNA PORTLANDICA. 
BY FRANKLtS BENNER. 
I have noticed several articles in The Sportsman 
concerning Sterna Portlandica, a new species of tern 
from our coast. Mr. Brewster has given an account 
of the capture of one specimen at Muskegat Island, 
Massachusetts. 
Your correspondent F. W. S., also speaks of having 
taken it and seen it at various limes among the islands 
of Casco Bay. 
An account of the capture of the type specimen may 
not be uninteresting. While a member of the L*. 8. 
Fish commission party at Peak’s Island, Portland har- 
bor, Maine, I devoted a good deal of time to the study 
and capture of the birds of that region. 
On the 22d of July, 1873, Spence B e and myself 
went in a sail boat to White Bull Island, about fifteen 
miles distant from Peak’s. I had been told several 
times by fishermen that it was a favorite breeding place 
for tern of various kinds. 
Arriving there they rose by hundreds and flew around 
our boat giving us an easy opportunity to shoot as many 
as we wished. After shooting a few I noticed one 
among them that appeared different from the rest, but 
it did not come within reach until after, we had shot 
several more, when venturing too near while attempting 
to rescue a companion, I shot it. On taking it in hand, 
I supposed, like Mr. Brewster, that it was a specimen 
of S. Paradiswa, but still did not notice the usual rosy 
tint of that species. I did not see any more that day, 
although we went over that island and two or three 
others. On making various other expeditions since 
then, up to September of that year, I did not see anoth- 
er specimen, or even a specimen of S. Paradima. 
The only other species found were S. Idrundo and 
S. macroura which were breeding together, and it was 
impossible to satisfactorily identify the eggs of either. 
On bringing this specimen home and showing it to 
Prof. Baird, he immediately recognized it as something 
uniipie, and thought at first it might be the young of 
some species; but it was rather too early' for so matured 
a specimen. 1 gave it to him, and did not hear from it 
again until reading Mr. Ilidgway’s article in the July 
number of The Naturalist, 1874, and since then his coii- 
^ firmation of the species in The Naturalist for January, 
^ 1875. F. W. S stales that he thinks he may be able to 
procure other specimens during the coming summer, 
I and I sincerely hope lie may. 
Apropos to this subject, I would slate that during the 
past summer while collecting in Minnesota, I was not 
able to observe or obtain a specimen of the white-tailed 
black tern, {Ilydrochelidon leucoptera), the capture of 
w hich ;n Wisconsin by Mr. Kumlien was noticed in The 
Naturalist for March, 1874. Although I searched dili- 
gently among the numerous flocks of II. P'ussipes that I 
met with, and they were the commonest tern found 
breeding around Minneapolis, Minn. 
More About the Florida Burrowing Owl. 
BY ROBERT EIDGWAY. 
Since the account was given in The American 
Sport.sman (July- 4lh, 1874) of the discovery of the 
Burrowing Owl {.Speotyto cunicularia) in Florida, 
aq example of the same form {par. Floridanus) 
was captured by Captain J. M. Dow, on board 
his vessel off the coast of Georgia, about two hundred 
miles from shore. The specimen was presented by 
Captain Dow’, to Professor Baird, and was kept alive at 
the National Museum for some time, but now forms a 
part of the collection of skins in that establishment. 
This specimen being in autumnal plumage, differs 
quite materially in aspect from the types (from Sarasota 
Bay, Florida), the plumage of which is much worn and 
faded by exposure to the summer sun; a description of 
this example will therefore show wherein the winter 
plumages differ from that of midsummer. 
The general color is of a darker umber brown than in 
the types; the white spots are much the same, except 
that on the wing-coverts they are only on the lower 
webs instead of upon both webs. The tail is crossed by 
five, instead of four, rows of dingy’ white spots. It is 
on the low’er parts, however, where the greatest differ- 
ence is seen, the anterior parts being dark umber, 
spotted with white, instead of about equally barred with 
the two colors. The measurements are as follows: — 
wing, (primaries to# much abraded for measurement); 
tail, 3.30; culmen, .60; tarsus, 1 70; middle toe, .75. 
Color of bill etc., from life: Bill, pale yellow, growing 
olive at the base ; cere, lilac blueish; iris, gamboge 
yellow; tarsus and toes, dark lilac — plumbeous. Female. 
In the markings of the lower paits this example 
is exactly like the type of var. guadeloupensis (see 
Hist. N. Am. Birds, vol. iii., page 90), but the 
brown is much darker. From that race it differs very 
decidedly in the markings upon the upper surface, the 
white spots being largeand veiy sharply defined, instead 
of the reverse; while in guadeloupensis there is no indi- 
cation of the spots on the outer iveb of the inner pri- 
maries which are so distinct in Floridanus. It is prob- 
able that this specimen was blown ofl the neighboring 
coast, which, if so, would extend the range of the 
species to Georgia. 
Long Island boasts of several trout ponds and streams belonging 
to private gentlemen. William H. Furman’s breeding and fishing 
ponds at Maspetb, near Williamsburg, where trout breeding is suc- 
cessfuily carried out by means of a patented process known as a 
“ shanty.” As many as 500,1X10 young trout have been seen at one 
time in Mr. Furman’s race. At the Dougias Fond, Little Neck, 
near Flushing, which is private properly, very large trout are to be 
had in abundance, as well as the Milbum Pond. South Oyster Bay, a 
short distance beyond Matsepequa Lake, at South Oyster Bay, the 
property of William Floyd Jones, is next reached. The lake, which 
is said by those who ought to know, to be the finest trout preserve 
lu the world, teems with large fish of choice fiavor. Next in order 
comes the beautifui residence and trout pond of Mr. Royal Phelps, 
President of the New York Association for the protection of Game, 
which is known as Cedar Swamp Pond, situated near Babylon, where 
excellent fishing is offered by .Mr. Phelps to his numerous visitors, 
the pond being k,pt well stocked and carefully maintained. In the 
vicinity of .Mr. Phelps’ grounds at Babylon are situated the paper 
mill and other ponds, as w ell as Cedar Creek and Newbridge Creek, 
the fishing in which is principally private. At Bay Shore excellent 
fishing eau be enjoyed in the three ponds known as Smith’s Ponds, 
which are now private property. The next station— Islip— contains 
a number of good trouting grounds, the principal of which are the 
line creek owned by the Sonthside Club, and the fruitful ponds of 
Messrs, Lonllard, Belmont, and Johnston. At Sayvilie, which is 
next reached, Mr. Robert R. Roosevelt has built one of the best 
ponds on the Island, wliich he maintuina at eonsiderable expense. 
Ot'K Forks rs . — Tltc Mussucbusett.s l.egislal tve t’oinmitlce on Ag- 
ricnlture, at a recent meeting, discussed the question w illi a view to 
ascertaining what measures can he adopted to encourage the growth 
and preservation of forests. .Mr. Flint favored the exemption from 
taxation of a ecrtiUii number of acres on which trees should be al- 
lowed to grow. In his opinion there are thousands of acres in Mas- 
sachnsetts which would be more productive, pecuniarily, if they 
were allowed to grow trees. The necessity of checking the waste 
of forests, and of planting trees to take the place of those which 
have been ruthlessly cut down, is getting to be so clearly under- 
slood among our farmers that there ough't to be no occasion lor ex- 
tra stimulus 10 impel them lo ad> pi measures whit h are sUObMOUsly 
for their own interest. The importance of forests, not only fur 
— — 
building and fuel, but for their influence upon the climate and the 
water courses, is more keenly appreciated of late than ever before. 
K St. Paul paper of recent date gives some interesting facte con- 
cerning tree-planting in Minnesota. Under the Congressional tree- 
planting acts of 1873 and 1874, which grant a title to a quarter sec- 
tion of the public lands to any citizen who shall plant and maintain 
for eight years forty acres of timber, there have been entered, in 
five of the six districts in Minnesota, a total of 170,307 acres, by 
1110 persons. Under a Legislative act of 1667, appropriating $300 
annually to the State society for the encouragement of forest tree 
culture, 14,908,048 trees have been set ont on an area of 6569 acres. 
Railroad corporations and private persons have engaged in similar 
work, and the total number of trees growing by artificial means in 
Minnesota, without reckoning those planted under the Congres- 
sional acts is estimated at twenty millions. The cost of planting 
and maintaining the trees for eight years is said not to average more 
than five cents each. 
Brook Trout.— The fish which affords the most delight, both to 
the epicure aud sportsman, of any which are found in the waters of 
our State, is the brook trout. Their value consists in the fact that 
they haunt the shallow mountain brooks, which could not be made 
to yield any other variety of fish. Their gamey qualities, and the 
picturesqueness of the scenery generally surrounding the waters in 
which they are found, has made them eagerly sought after by those 
in search of either health or pleasure, to such a degree, that in wa- 
ters which once abounded with them, they are now found with great 
difficulty. 'The trout is not a fruitfnl fish, they neither multiply nor 
grow rapidly. This species, while they do not exercise near the care 
for their spawn or their young, do not yield near the quantity of eggs 
that the bass do. .-k mature or full grown pair of trout will yield 
from eight hundred to three thousand eggs, while a like pair of bass 
will yield from twenty-five to forty thousand eggs. 
The work of re-stocking the large number of streams throughout 
this Commonwealth, which were or have been the natural bauuts of 
the trout, is a work of such great magnitude, that we do not deem 
it advisable at this early period of our labors to undertake it. We 
would recommend, however, the enactment of such laws as will 
give them a greater amount of protection than those now upon our 
statute books. It is well known among those who have given the 
subject any attention, that in early spring the fish are almost raven- 
ous from hunger, and take with avidity any bait which may be 
thrown to them, so that by persistently fishing the narrow moun- 
tain streams, it is possible to utterly exterminate them; at this sea- 
son of the year, too, they are hardly fit for food; they are weak and 
thin on account of their winter starvation. We would urge, conse- 
quently, the adoption of such legislation as will confine the fishing 
for them to a later aud a shorter period. 
Another cause cf their decrease besides that of their being so 
much sought after is the establishment of tanneries and saw mills 
upop the banka of the streams which are inhabited by them. Tan- 
neries utilize the mountain streams by converting them into sewers 
to carry off their refuse. Lime and ammonia, which are largely 
used in the process of tanning, are both virulent poison to the fish. 
The result is that wherever upon our trout streams a tannery is once 
established the fish very rapidly disappear. This destruction is 
wanton and unnecessary as by making surface pools or sinking 
wells in a manner similar to that which our iron miners adopt in 
order to get rid of the sulphurous mine water, it is possible for 
these tanneries to so conduct their operations as to leave the water 
of the stream upon whose banks they are erected unpolluted by 
their refuse, and to thus enjoy their rights without infringing upon 
those of others. We consequently recommend the enactment of a 
statute that will make it illegal for proprietors of tanneries to pol- 
lute with their refuse not only trout streams but any of the watersof 
the Commonwealth . — Report ofttue Penn. Fisk Cominisswntrs. 
The Triangle Spider.— Strolling through the woods near Ithaca, 
New Y’ork, one October afternoon. 1 saw, upon a lealless hemlock- 
branch, what looked like a piece of the net of some geometrical 
spider. Still, there was a regularity in this triangular net which 
did not accord with the idea of its being a fragment. A closer ex- 
amination showed that its form and structure were perfect and un- 
broken; and moreover that, instead of hanging loosely from the 
twigs, it was ui>on the stretch, as if constantly drawn by a power at 
one or the other end. 
On touching the net to determine its degree of tension, what was 
my amazement to see it suddenly loosened with a snap, as if let go 
at one end! Nor was my wonder diminished when, a moment af- 
terward, the net slowly regained its original condition, by a steady 
pulling upon a short line connected with the apex. And now I saw 
the puller — a little dull-colored spider, about one-eighth of an inch 
long— hanging from the under side of the apex-line, and hauling it 
in, not “ band over band,” as at first appeared, and as one would 
suppose by analogy with sailors’ operations, but " foot over foot;” 
in short, with its hinder legs moved alternately so as to gradually 
take in that part of the line which intervened between its body and 
the twig to which it was attached. 
When this line was all taken in, the spider was close against the 
twig, and its legs were drawn together, so that the whole formed a 
conijiact brown mass about the size and shape of a raisin-sced, and 
differed so little in appearance from the prujecUons of the dried 
hemlock-twigs among w hich the net was built, that I felt in part ex- 
cused for not having noticed the 1 ttle creature before. 
So much for an iiitriHlnction to a spider which was llien new to 
me, and probiflily is still unknown to most of inv readers. In some 
respects its hnbils are unlike those of all onr other spiders: anil 1 
w ill here relate w hat I have learned during five seasons, in the hope 
that others may have the fortmie to clear up the points in its econ- 
omy as yet undiscovered. — Frof. Wilder, in Popular Science. 
(jiiite an excitement was created at Euston Square station, Lon- 
don, by the escape of a Leopard, which had arrived in a crate, to be 
forwarded by rail to Liverpool. The animal was discovered at large 
in the office, and a number of persons and porters endeavored in 
vain fur upwards of an hour to secure it. At last It was driven into 
II euriier, and all means to capture it proving unsiici essfUI. it was 
found necessary to have it shot, lu the attempt to take it alive one 
of the employees had bis band severely bitten. 
