187a. 
14=7 
KATIRAL RESEARCHES IN THE SIERRAS. 
BY JOSEPH II. BATTY. 
In the latter part of May, 1873, I pitched my little 
“ dog tent” in a cottonwood grove on Clear Creek, near 
Denver, Colorado, for the first time during the season. 
Tlie ne.xt four mouths I speiit wandering over tlie suow 
ranges of the Rocky Mountains, making many cjimps 
on their Alp'ne summits. I was acting in the capacity 
of collector and taxidermist for the United States Geo- 
logical Survey under Dr. F. V. Hayden; and during the 
long summer da}'* hundreds of miles were made in 
the saddle while inmbling over the “ ^lother of Jlcun- 
tains” in search of natural objects. 
Having driven home the last pin of my tent at Clear 
Creek, I seized my gun and started up the creek in 
search of a bird that was giving its loud, clear notes 
which were strange to me. As I was passing one of our 
packers, he said the notes I heard were made by the 
meadow lark, but so strangely did the clear liquid 
notes sound, and so entirely different from any Eastern 
meadow lark were they, that i could not believe the 
bird I heard singing was the Slumella negUetd, called a 
variety of the typical Slurnella magna by some writers. 
Having forded the creek, I soon observed the strange 
songster perched on the topmost twig of a tree. I en- 
deavored to obtain a shot at him, but found the 'bird so 
wary that I was forced to follow him from tree to tree, 
until finally he took to cover with two of his species in 
some grass, and I soon bagged the trio. The speci- 
mens taken were so difi'ereut from the faded variet}' 
found on the plains that I was happily disappointed in 
the large rich colored birds which I had taken. This 
lark of the West I should call a species much quicker 
than some acknowledged species of our thrushes and 
fly-catchers. 
When my larks were put in wrappers I scarcely 
knew which way to go in search of other birds, as 1 
heard strange notes from every thicket. The trees were 
just leafing out, and most of them were alive with birds, 
many of which I had never seen in the flesh. Com- 
mencing at the end of one thicket I beat it through, and 
so on to the next, until I had taken so many specimens 
my basl'et would hold no more. During the afternoon 
I collected fifty five males of the Louisiana Tanager 
within ah hour; also black-headed grosbeaks. Lazuli 
finches, long-tailed chats, green-tailed finches, lark 
buntings, aud finches, bullocks, orioles, red-shafted 
flickers, red-throated woodpeckers and many other 
species not found in the East. 
When I had been collecting about five days we got 
the word to “ pull out” for the mountains, and then all 
was bustle and confusion. Messes were made up, 
cooks chosen, riding animals selected and saddled, and 
at 10 o’clock A. M. the last mule had been cinched and 
packed, and we were all in the saddle following the val- 
ley of the South Platte river, bound for South Park. 
At night we camped on Bear Creek, where we were 
visited by the first wild Indians. They were a party ol 
Utes who had been to Denver to trade, and were re- 
turning to their villages in the mountains. When we 
had been out two days we passed through the hog-backs 
into^the foot hills, where we first saw deer and bear signs. 
It was at one of our camps in the foothills where I first 
heard the dulcet notes of that sweet little songster the 
rock wren. I found him perched on a pile of loose 
rocks giving forth his tinkling notes, reminding one 
forcibly of a diminutive mocking bird. As we con- 
tinued our course into the foothills, new species of 
birds were seen daily, such as Clark’s crows, long- 
crested jays, Lewis’ woodpeckers, broad-tailed hummer, 
Arctic bluebird, etc., which all came iu for their share 
of attention. We ipent about thirty days in the foot- 
hills, and then made our way to Fairplay, a mining 
town on the South Platte, to renew our rations. 
While passing through South Park many antelope 
were seen; also coyotes, badgers, prairie dogs, gophers, 
etc. At our camps in the Park I killed three muledeer, 
and a thieving panther destroyed the greater part of the 
meat of one of them. I caught a glimpse of the panther 
when trailing him up from the carcasses he had been 
feeding upon, but his long, snake-like tail disappeared 
in a clump of willows before I could draw a bead on 
him. At the time I was carrying a ten pound Ballard 
rifle, calibre 38, and I dare not fire a chnnee shot 
through the bushes at the body of the skulking cougar. 
If my trusty old Sharps rifle. Which I now use, had 
been in my baud, I would not have Hesitated to “ plug” 
the lank looking brute through the shoulders. When I 
had lost sight of the thief I returned to the mangled 
deer, and asce: ded a Ithick* spruce tree near it, aud 
awaited the return of the feline animal. When two 
hours had passed, and my limbs were badly cramped, 
aud it had got so dark I could scarcely see the sights of 
my rifle, I returned to camp in the darkness, guided by 
the flickering light of the camp fire, distant about two 
miles. In endeavoring to take a beeline, I encountered 
a series of beaver dams, and after trying to avoid them 
for an hour I struck across them, aud finally reached 
camp wet and covered with mud, with a good appetite 
for supper. As usual “ The .Judge”--’Our cook — had 
supper waiting for me; and having done justice to it, 
and changed my wet clothes, we all gathered around 
the camp fire to have our evening chat. While we 
were conversing the panther saluted us with several 
of his best cries from a grove near camp In frontier 
parlance, there is nothing that “ rattles” the hunter like 
the cry of a panther, though they are harmless in the 
summer, if not wounded or their young molested. 
When at our depot camp at Fairplay, we were de- 
layed a few days in getting provisions, and shoeing our 
mules and “kyuses.” 
One day a hunter came into camp and reported ante- 
lope signs. The following day the writer and two of 
our party set out to get some fresh meat. Taking a 
straight line by compass through some quaking ash 
groves and spruce woods, we finally reached the desired 
locality and commenced ti cking up the steep mountain 
side to make the ascent easier for our riding animals. 
On this occasion I rode a little, long-haired, mealy-faced 
vicious mule, notorious for her mean tricks aud lazi- 
ness. During the ride from camp I had necessarily 
brought up the rear, and to keep my companions in 
sight I had worked my passage with my heels, and the 
struggle had cost me one spur which slipped from my 
foot somewhere on the trail. When we reached the 
foot of the mountain, Mexico — my mule — stopped a 
moment and carefully surveyed the mountain side, then 
humped her back and started up the hill with ease, se- 
leeting the best way, aud plainly showing she had served 
her time as a prospector’s mule, or had been used to 
pack quartz from the mines. When we had reached 
the mountain top we separated to still-hunt. We found 
a few antelope, and I succeeded in killing one in fine 
condition, and my companions sec ired another, putting 
two bullets into it almost ac the same time. I dressed 
my meat, dragged it over the rocks to an elevated place 
to facilitate lifting it on my mule’s back, and then 
started off for Mexico so as to have my game lashed to 
my saddle when my companioBs returned. ^Mexico 
was oecured and brought to the dead antelope, but sud- 
denly observing it, she gave a snort and commenced 
bucking and kicking to all parts of the compass. In 
vain I tried to coax and approach her; but the moment 
my bloody hands touched her, she would commence a 
series of bucks that were so comical that I laughed at 
the mule’s meanness. 
Finally I picketed Iffexico, washed my hands in snow 
broth from a drift near by, and after several tri.tis suc- 
ceeded in reaching the mule’s side. I took a half-hitch 
with the lariat on the mule’s under-jaw, which gave me 
the advantage when pulling against her. My next 
job was to tie my soldier’s overcoat over the antelope 
and lift it on to the unsuspecting mule’s baek. 1 had 
got it about half-fastened to the saddle and was con- 
gratulating myself on my good luck, when a puff of 
wind carried the scent of blood to Mexico’s nose, caus- 
ing her to jumi) away from me with the antelope hang- 
ing to the side of the saddle. I jumped to catch the 
running lariat, but finding I would get my fingers 
burnt if I tried to check the mule, I let her have her 
buck out, and the thong which held the carcass finally 
parted, and after a short run I captured the runaway, 
and patiently awaited the arrival of my friends to a.s- 
sist me. They soon arrived, and with their help Mexi- 
co was blindfolded, packed, and rode seven iniles into 
camp carrying her rider and the antelope, although she 
tried several times to lighten her load iu the usually 
successful way mules have of doing such things. 
Mexico was a good pack animal though a mean one 
to ride, and when returning to camp I left my last spur 
on the home trail, and for six weeks after I was forced 
to drum my “bronce” up with my heels, Indian fashion. 
My object iu setting out with the hy'brid was to give 
my pony a rest as he had faithfully carried me up hill 
and down dale, over fallen timber, and loose rocks un- 
til his looks plainly showed his hard usage. While wo 
remained at our depot camp antelope were brought in 
daily, and although we had plenty of good food, the al- 
kaline water we were forced to use made several of our 
parly sick, myself being one of the number. Finally 
we left our camp at Fairplay and took a southwest 
course for the higher mountains. For several days af- 
ter our departure from Fairplay I sulTend from an at- 
tack of mountain fever, caused by exposure and alka- 
line water. One day we made about thirty miles over 
a hard country for a pack train, and camped about four 
o’clock on the side of a grassy knoll in one of the beau- 
tiful parks which are so numerous in the mountains of 
Colorado. I had uncinched my horse, and was lying 
on my back on the gras.s, waiting for our doctor to un- 
pack h’s medicine chest and come to my relief. While 
gazing in the top of a tree near by, I observed a small 
bird feeding quietly and hop|)ing from limb to limb, 
until suddenly It flew down to within a few yards of 
me and alighted near a nest; and I then recognized it as 
the licgulus cafendufKj, or Ruby-crowned Wren. The 
following morning I secured the ne.st with the young 
and a single egg, which I believe is the first one of the 
species that has been authentically taken. In a few 
days after I regained my lost strength, and enjoyed the 
best of health during the rest of the season. 
THE FRESH WATER FISHERIES OF 
VIRGINIA. 
BY FRED. MATHER. 
The shad and herring fisheries of Virginia this season 
have not more than paid the wages of the men employed , 
leaving the owners of them nothing for interest on capi- 
tal, wear and tear of nets, etc. 
No fish of the two kinds named have been shipped to 
Tsorthern markets as usual, so far as I can learn, and 
prices have ruled higher this season in Richmond and 
Washington than ever before. Shad usually wholesale 
in those cities at $G to $8 per hundred, and herring at 
$4 to $.5 per thousand. This season prices have ruled 
at $14 to $!;■) for the former and $10 to $12 for the lat- 
ter. Each fisherman has his own theory which ac- 
counts for this state of affairs to his satisfaction; but all 
seem to take the late cold spring into their calculations 
more or less. Some think that contrary winds have 
driven off the fish, and others attribute it to excessive 
fishing in previous years cutting off the spawners. 
On the Pamunkey river the fish are mostly taken by 
drifting gill nets. There are but two seines on the river, 
and the catch has not been over a third of what it usually 
is. They take many sturgeon here. This is a favorite fish, 
but annoys the light drift nets much by tearing them 
They take them by drifting a net made with seine twine 
instead of gilling thread. Eels are taken in the seines 
in good quantity, bnt they are thrown away. There is 
a prejudice against them. A fair quantity of Rock 
Fish (Striped Bass) have been taken. They run in the 
Pamunkey from half a pound to twenty pounds, and 
occasionally upwards. One of 108 pounds is reported 
to have been caught years ago. They are held in great 
esteem. Two varieties of Catfish are taken. They are 
hauled ashore, and what are not eaten by the negroes 
are left for the buzzards. Southern waters are greatly 
infested by gars wuo devour millions of young shad and 
other fish. 1 have seen these beasts full four feet long, 
aiid the Pamunkey Indians tell me that they formerly 
used their hides to cover the wooden mould boards of 
their ploughs. I wish that there was a good demand 
for their hides yet. They are infinitely w’orse than my 
old enemy the pickerel. It might be well for the State 
to offer a bounty on them. 
I understand that Virgdiia has a law against fishing 
on Sunday. Whether upon the statute book or not 
it is well observed; at least on the Pamunkey and Mat- 
tapony rivers. This gives the fish a chance to get 
through to the spawning grounds of the upper river, 
and might well be followed by other States, particularly 
by New York. By “fishing,” I would only include 
nets and such devices as catch fish by wholesale for 
market. The New York game law prohibits shooting 
on Sunday, but does not interfere with the quiet angler. 
Shad have been caught freely in tne Susquehanna this 
season according to all repor's, and are said to have been 
cheaper in Baltimore and Philadelphia ti an in more 
Southern cities. What fish is there whose price is 
watched with greater interest, or has such influence on 
the cost of living? A luxury to the rich when scarce 
and the main stay of the poor when plenty. 
The Forester Club of Yates County, N. Y.,'send 
delegates to Watertown; Messrs. Wm. B. Sheldon, H. 
D. Pratt, Jeffrey Smith, Oscar Conklin, Geo. T. Wyck- 
off. 
