232 
tT-aly lO 
KILLI\G nSECTIVOROrS BIRDS. 
Wilbur F. Parker, - - Editor and Proprietor. 
THE ONLY JOUBHAL PUBLISHED IN THE UXITED STATES 
Devoted Exclusively to 
SHOOTIXG, FISHING, NATURAL HISTORY, FISH CULTURE, 
AND THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME. 
lenM of Subscription; Four Bollars a year in advance. 
Tb« Rod axd th* Gtni can be obtained from all News Dealers, 
Tan PosTASE on this paper is pre-paid to subscribers in the 
United States. 
Persons sending money to this office, by means of Money Orders 
ihouid invariably make the same pat able to The Rod axd 
The Qtrx, at the West Meriden P. O. 
AU eommunicatiom must be accompanied by the fuH name of Vu 
wrtlar and addrteted to 
THE ROD AND THE GUN. 
W est Meriden. Conn. 
pgr- w e earnestly request all onr contributors to adopt the plan in 
regard to the nse of scientific names which some of them have 
already adopted, vin; to PRINT all such names legibly in the mann- 
acript. as this will prevent error by giving the compositor plain copy 
te follow. Above all things we say, do” not venture upon the nse 
of ecientlfic names at all nidess certain of their accuracy. 
SATURDAY JULY 10, 1875. 
CONTENTS OP THIS NUMBER. 
Page. Page 
II ead Waters and Lakes of The Salmon 
the Androscoggin 22.5 The Ostrich 230 
Polar Explorations mu} To Oar Sabscribers 2:^2 
The 31oas in Central Park Killing Insectivorous Birds.. 232 
Museum 226 Library Table 23:J 
Hnmor and Bcason in Ani- Bird Wisdom 2:14 
mals 2y7 Cotton Gunpowder 2:^4 
The Riile 22S-220 Salmon Fishing 234 
The Migration of Inland Letters from Sportsmen.... 2:1.5 
Birds 230 A^ueries and*Answers 2S5 
TO OUR Sl BStRlBERS. 
After this issue, the name of Wilbur F. Parker, as 
Editor and Proprietor, will no longer appear at the 
head of this paper. Continuous ill health has for some 
time prevented me from giving that full attention to 
the duties of managing editor which I desired; and un- 
der the advice of the familj- ph 3 ’.«ician I most reluc- 
tantly retire for a while from active business. 
I need scarcely do more than sa) that my enforced 
withdrawal has cost me much ansious thought and not 
a few regrets. But I have the satisfaction of knowing 
that the two esteemed friends with whose assistance I 
have been able to bring the p.aper to its present stand- 
point will still be attached to it, so that, although a 
name be taken away, the spirit of the old management 
will survive. 
The old American Sportsm.xn, now the Rod and 
THE Gun, had its origin in my conviction that there was 
a place for such a paper, and that it would he useful. 
Time has tested my first conviction and it is justified. 
It has been my effort to make a paper that should be 
alike beneficial to the .«portsman and the community as 
well as honorable to its proprietor and eilitor, and I ven- 
ture to assert that I have succeeded. I shall continue 
to take the interest 1 have alwaj’s felt in the true and 
fair use of the Rod and the Gan, and though retiring 
from the management, I shall always be found identi- 
fied with the cause. 
I am as much impressed this day as I was four years 
ago, with the importance of co-operation among sports- 
men, and the strength that arises from union. I am 
certain that the National Sportsmen’s A.ssociation is a 
great power for good and may achieve advantages for 
the community, of which, at present, we have only a 
faint foreshadowing. 
I owe a debt cf thanks to mj' friends, both corres- 
pondents and subscribers, for their hearty appreciation 
of the piper, and I have only to bespeak a continuance 
of their kind and liberal support for mj- successors. 
WriuBUB F. Parker. 
There is one practice which should be utterly dis- 
continued by sportsmen, both because of its unmanlj' 
character and because of the evil Rhicli results from it. 
We refer to the killing of insectivorous birds, either for 
the sake of acquit ing practice, or idly to dischargee 
loaded barrel. This may seem a small matter and un- 
worthy of mention, but it is really not so, and if each 
of our readers will recall for a moment the number of 
birds unfit for use upon the table, which he knows of 
being killed each season, and multiply these in fair pro- 
portion, by the number of sportsmen who occasionallj- 
indulge in this manner, he will be at once impressed 
with the truth of our assertion that the sum total of 
slaughtered innocents is an 3 'thing but insignificant. 
Upon general principles everj-thi’ng which lives has as 
much right to enjo 3 ’ its life as man himself, and though 
undoubtedl}' every bird and beast were made subser- 
vient to man, and he has a right to kiil it, whenever by 
its death some want of his can be supplied, he is not 
thereby justified in wanton slaughter, or waste of Na- 
ture’s resources. Ever 3 ' created thing has its appointed 
mission, and no individual of even the most populous 
race perishes without its worK devolving upon its fel- 
lows, and if by an v means the race is so reduced that it 
cannot fulfil its desliu 3 ', man and the universe suffer in 
consequence. No true sportsman feels an 3 ' pleasure in 
recognizing the pain he inflicts No man whose breist 
harbors a spark # divine piti'can gaze into the ei'e of a 
dying bird without regret for the innocent life cut short, 
the brief span of enjoyment ended just when strength 
and health most conduced to happiness. This is a 
recognized fact, and everi’ good shot is known by the 
skill with which he cuts his bird down dead, not man- 
gled and fluttering. The sportsman is justified in his 
sport because it affords him healthful extreise and 
pleasure, while the game supplies his ow^ or his friend's 
table. The quail, the grouse, the woode^ck, the legions 
of wild fowl, all the hosts of accepted game are his law- 
ful prizes. But the birds of song, the bright feathered 
beauties which adorn our groves, the swift winged 
swallows, and the harmless night birds of prey are not 
his, and onl 3 - cruelt 3 ’ or almost criminal thoughtlessness 
can prompt him to point his gun and shed the blood of 
the happ 3 ' creatures whose death can do him no good. 
Vie need not pause to show again the oft repeated 
proof of loss accruing to the farmer or fruit grower by 
the destruction of the birds which formerl 3 ' kept down 
the myriads of insects that preyed upon the crops. AVe 
all know that it is an open question whether the suffer- 
ings of our grasshopper < ursed regions are not due to 
the wholesale slaughter of the pinnated grouse and 
quail. AVe know, too, that many birds formerly com- 
mon, are now but seldom seen; while in their place we 
have the army worm and the potato bug. These things 
prompt the question, “who is to blame for all this?’’ 
First, unquestionably, the host of boys, negroe.s, and 
the riff raft of the commiinit 3 ’ who wander about with 
all kinds of deadly weapons from a horse pistol to an 
old army musket, and kill anything from a hedge soar- 
row to a robin; b 3 ' such is the greater part of this 
slaughter perpetrated. But sportsmen are also tar from 
blameless, since, though they do not go out in quest of 
such birds, the\- too often find a luckle.ss swallow,- a 
good thing to get their hand in with at the opening of 
the season, or when returning at night with one barrel 
still charged after a tramp, thei'cut d iwn some passing 
robin, and add to this cruelt}' by leaving the poor thing 
to flutte.'' out its life in the tortures of a broken wing, 
or wounds slowl 3 ’ if not surely fatal. 
AVe are not drawing upon fancy for these statements. 
Take them home to yourselves, friends, and see how- 
many can lay their bands upon their hearts and sa 3 ' “we 
are not guilt 3 -.'’ AVe neter h.ave killed birds that were 
not game. AVe do not speak in harshness, and all our 
purpose is to point out an error which when recog- 
nized none will be more pronqit to put down than the 
readers of the Rod and Gen. To better hands this 
reform can not be trusted. Sportsmen should be the 
best friends of insectivorous birds, as well as those 
which furnish their sport. Sportsmen are lovers of 
nature; the beautiful in all its varied forms appeals to 
their sympathies through the medium of their admir- 
ation. Each flower, each wild animal, each bird holds 
its place in their esteem and is appropriately cherished. 
Through the efforts of such men the wisest laws for the 
protection of the feathered tribes hive been passed, and 
all that is wanted now is for sportsmen to be true to 
their own principles, true to the laws they have recog 
nized as jnst and needful, and thoughtful not thought 
less in the case of insectivorous birds. 
Dr. Coues writes us again as follows; 
More Sparrows. — I regret to have once more to dis- 
turb the sack-cloth of those who will not be comforted, 
but it is my solemn duty to inform you, and through you 
the ornithological public, that another species of these 
“pesky foreigqers,” has in all probability become douii- 
ciled among us. Dr. .James C. Alerritt, informs rae 
that the Passer montanus of Europe, has been intro- 
duced into St. Louis, probably in company with the 
House Sparrow, and is now breeding in large numbers, 
in that city. The Tree Sparrow of Europe is a very in- 
tcreriing species, though by no means of so pronounced 
a character as its cousin the House Sparrow. In a let- 
ter dated .June 23d, Dr. AI. writes me: “I feel very sure 
that I am not mistaken in regard to Passer montanus. 
The sexes are much alike, and they have the regular 
chestnut crown that I have so often seen abroad. Their 
young are now nearly fledged, and as soon as possible I 
will send a pair of skins to Prof. Baird. Ed. Coues. 
Hunting, Fishing and Ple.vsure Excursions to 
C oLOR.ADO. — The St. Louis, Kansas City & Northern 
Railway has just published a new and illu.strated Guide 
to Colorado, (season of 1875), giving a brief description 
of the famous Resorts in the Roclcy Mountain Betjwns, 
also rates of fare. This Guide contains valuable infor- 
mation for Sportsmen and Inralids. Free. Send for 
copy. Address C. K. Lord, General Passenger Agent 
St. Louis, AIo. This is a magnificent sporting region, 
unsurpassed in the Union. The ofilcials are accommo- 
dating, the cars are clean, comfortable and punctual. 
AA’e speak b 3 ' experience. 
An Athletic Club has been organized at AA^ilmington, 
N. C., bv the St. George and St. Andrew Seciety. Boat 
racing will he one of the leading features. 
A Sportsmen’s Club will be organized in the same 
cit 3 ’ during the present summer. This club will take 
immediate steps for the enactment of game laws. 
I AIessrs. G. a. Strong and L. J. Gaines, of Aleriden, 
Conn., made a heavy hag of woodcock on the 5th inst., 
and presented us with the first of the season. They 
were all old birds and beauties. 
The rifle storv from our own correspondent is a faith- 
ful and accurate picture of the doings of the Rifle Team 
in the Irish metropolis. 
Those who desire to help the paper will do well by 
sending forward the name of a subscriber. Remember 
that the Rod and Gun is the cheapest and best paper of 
its size and kind. 
Blue fish is plentiful all along the coast from Alon 
tauk to Delaware. 
Head Waters and Lakes of the Androsco?£(in. 
[Continued from the first page.] 
aboard without charge, and landed us about a mile and 
a hiilf below Brown’s farm, a most desirihle place for 
sportsmen to tie up to, the house on the farm being 
kept as a hotel b 3 - one Fickett, who knows how to keep 
an hotel, at the moderate rate of $2 per day. The dis- 
tance to the outlet of Umbagog Lake is about three 
miies, and to Brown’s farm from Errol Dam about 11 1-3 
miles. Finding ourselves in comfortable quarters we 
determined to hold fast for the night, so after a good 
square dinner, which we surrounded with sharp appe- 
tites, we bent our steps for the bridge at the outlet of 
Sturdevant Pond, a distance of about a mile. Here 
Johnny had left his boat, and embarking we were 
rowed about a quarter of a mile to the foot of the pond 
where we tried our lines again, catching a few small 
trout. AVe spent the afternoon at different points of the 
lake and caught a fair mess of trout, but the water being 
high we did not meet with that success that sometimes 
attends anglers here, for its bosom is filled with these 
beauties, and trout weighing three and four pounds are 
occasionally taken. At nightfall we repaired to the 
farm and did ample justice to an inviting meal, after 
which we listened to the experiences of anglers, 
as we placidly smoked our pipes before a glaring fire 
which shed a cheerful glow about the room from its 
ample hearth, and here ended the first day. 
Friday, Jitoe 4, 1875. — AVe were up betimes, and, 
