The RURAL. NEW-YORKER 
203 
Nature Notes 
Rats Climbing Iron Pipe 
That i.s very interesting about rats 
climbing an iron pipe on page 248. I 
can readily see how a rat or mouse could 
climb a metallic pipe, provided the pi pi* 
were small enough for him to get his fore 
paws and legs around it sufficiently to 
get a good grip. Mo then could push 
against the pipe with the bare soles of 
his hind feet and “hunch" up as easily 
as a boy skimming up a small tree or a 
not too large iron pipe. When it comes 
to a mouse or rat going up a large smooth 
metallic pipe—well. I’m from Missouri 
Gilbertowu, Ala. it. c. s. 
R. N.-Y.—We have seen rats climb the 
iron pipe in our kitchen many a time. 
They go lip with speed—haste, in fact, 
with the boys, armed with clubs, on their 
trail. These pipes are 1 in. in diameter. 
We have seen them climb a 1%-in. pipe 
in the same manner. 
Fish Nets and Robber Robins 
From time to time T have noticed in 
The It. N.-Y. complaints against the 
thieving propensities of Mr. Ttobin Red¬ 
breast, especially in cherry time. I have 
a nice cherry tree not far from the 
kitchen window. For two years there 
was a race between me and the robins 
to see who would get the most red cher¬ 
ries from that tree. I rigged a bell in 
the tree and carried a cord from it to the 
kitchen window, where wo used to pull 
it to give the signal for the marauders to 
move on. At first this device worked 
well, but they soon became accustomed 
to it ami remained in the tree to listen 
to the music of the bell with an air of 
independence, ns much ns to say “The 
laws of tin* Slate of Maine arc back of 
me. so what are you going to do about 
it?” Last year I thought of another de¬ 
vice that has proved quite effective. It 
may have been tried before, but I have 
never heard of it. 
Before the cherries got ripe T went 
down to a fish house on the wharf and 
bought a large piece of old herring net. 
for which I paid 50 cents. I covered 
the Iree all over with it. reaching down 
to the ground in places ami in other 
places to within a foot of the ground. 
When the cherries were ripe the thieves 
came as usual. They alighted on the net, 
but could go no further. I watched 
them, and as they looked I suppose they 
said “What a mean fellow!" One day 
I noticed one on the ground under the 
tree, and as T chased him he flew up into 
the net. and 1 followed with a handful 
of earth and small stones. For a little 
while thpre was a terrible panic under 
Mr. Robin’s red vest, and ir delighted 
my cruel heart to hear him squawk. The 
handful of earth thrown at him brought 
him to the ground and he made his escape, 
flying from under the net. Do you know 
of this net protection being nspd before? 
Maine. Lives seei.y. 
Several years ago another Maine man 
told of using a second-hand fish net for 
protecting his smaller trees. It worked 
well and kept the thieves at bay. The 
trouble is that comparatively few of us 
live where we can buy these cheap nets. 
The plan will work well with a few 
trees, but of course would not be prac¬ 
tical in commercial cherry growing. 
English gardeners use the nets exten¬ 
sively for this purpose, and English hor¬ 
ticultural papers carry regular adver¬ 
tisements of netting. 
Catching Snapping Turtles 
There is a stream in the neighborhood 
containing quite a few snapping turtles 
of good size. What way can 1 catch 
them? I have heard of people catching 
them on a hook and line, but I do not 
know what kind of bait to use. T want a 
method which will not cause much ex¬ 
pense. E. w. w. 
My own experience has been confined 
almost entirely to getting these creatures 
by the simple process of reaching out and 
picking them up. This has caused more 
or less damage to my clothing at limes, 
and has often caused me to come to 
somewhat the same position as that of 
the Adirondack lumberman who said he 
did not think he got his feet wet unless 
he left his hat to cover up the hole as he 
went down. 
Turtles can be caught on hook and 
line. It is not uncommon to have them 
take the worm intended for the catfish or 
“sunny.” Fish is a favorite bait. I have 
had turtles try to bite my hands while 
washing them after cleaning fish. In 
one <iise it seemed that the turtle was 
able to taste or smell the slight fish odor 
in the water at a distance of not less 
than 10 ft The final result in that case 
was that I ate turtle, for the big snap¬ 
per was so confused by not finding my 
hands where expected that it swam to 
the surface within easy reach and was 
caught. 
If a set-line that has been fishing oyer 
night is not raised early in the morning 
it is likely that turtles will eat many or 
all the fish on it. They can often be 
caught if the line is raised and the turtle 
taken before it can let loose of the fish it 
has swallowed. It is said they can be 
caught by baiting a strong hook with 
fish. The hook should have a wire leader 
or else be tied lo a “soft laid" line, which 
the turile will have trouble in biting 
through. 
It is said that turtles can he easily 
caught in a trap made by putting swing¬ 
ing wire doors in the ends of strong boxes 
and sinking them under logs where the 
animals suu them serves. At. any alarm 
the turtles go into the water and look for 
a dark place to hide. They will go into 
tin* boxes by pushing up the doors, which 
are fixed so that they open only one way. 
Such traps must be tended often, because 
the turtles will drown in a short time. 
Many turtles are caught in seines 
hauled for catching fish. They are also 
caught in fykes or hoop nets of large 
mesh. These are especially good if 
baited. 
In Winter the turtles are found in 
“spring holes” in marshy places, and mar¬ 
ket hunters make a. business of finding 
these places and pulling them out with 
long iron hooks. 
In early Summer the turtles come out 
of the water to lay their eggs and can be 
picked up if found. 
In parts of South and Central America 
the Indians shoot turtles with arrows 
which have the head set loosely in the 
shaft, but tied to a long strong cord 
which is also tied to tin* shaft of the ar¬ 
row. When the head is fast In the shell 
of a turtle the shaft serves as a float to 
show where the game is. A similar meth¬ 
od is used in spearing the great sea tur¬ 
tles. ALFRED C. WEED. 
The Bull Dog and the Rabbit 
Some months ago I saw that C. O. 
Ormsbec, John Gormly and T. S. Gerrard 
claim the rabbit able to whip the weasel, 
the cat. and what I u I ways thought was 
the greatest fighting thing on earth, the 
bull terrier. Now. while these things 
may happen once m a thousand times, 
they are a little misleading, for a good 
game fighting dog can whip anything its 
weight, as has often been proven. To 
prove that I'am right, and to show The 
R. N.-Y. and its thousands of readers 
what a game fighting dog can do. I will 
bring my 20-1 b. .log to The R. N.-Y. of¬ 
fice, or any place you name. Will Mr. 
Ormsbee and Mr. Gorrnlv furnish the rab¬ 
bits? LEWIS II. LAKE. 
New Jersey. 
We do not. care to stage this battle, but 
we will take Mr. Lake’s word for the 
ability of Iris dog. We have not heard 
from Mr. Ormsbee, but Mr. Gormly comes 
forward with the f< flowing: 
In the matter of Mr. Lake’s challenge 
on (he rabbit question, I have to fall 
down. It was 12 years avo thar the buck 
rabbit punched the purebred bull terrier. 
I was called in from next door to the 
harness shop to see the fun. I did not 
then know the half-grown boy of the 
neighborhood who owned the rabbit. TYr- 
haps 1 should say. I think the rabbit was 
a Belgian hare: at least, it was half as big 
as the dog. had cars at least six inches 
long. It was an old fellow, and looked 
old, but evidently lie was well known in 
his neighborhood as a scrapper with dogs. 
All who saw the scrap are so scattered 
that I could not get them, I would not 
believe such a thing unless I saw it. but 
it occurred. The rabbit did not kick, so 
far as I saw. He made a dive and struck 
with his front feet held like sticks out 
in front of bis fare. He had no doubt of 
bis ability to put the dog out of business. 
The dog was not slow to go for the rabbit. 
He made a brave attack, but rabbit strat¬ 
egy was too much for him. Me made no 
second attempt. The fight did not last 
over a second. It was like a lightning 
flash. JOHN GORMLY. 
I am more than pleased at the infor¬ 
mation given in answer to my queries as 
to how a rabbit fights, page (i<!5. The 
world has looked on this creature as 
a classic example of timidity long 
enough. Really, World Champion Demp¬ 
sey whipped Jess Willard by rushing him 
in much the way that a rabbit went at 
the bulldog described by Mr. Gormly, or 
rushed Ola Tom. as ably described by 
T. S. Gerrard. Many thanks are due to 
('. O. Ormsbee for his further discussion. 
He has given me much-appreciated assist¬ 
ance in proving my point about the anat¬ 
omy of the rabbit and its relation to his 
fighting. 
It was my contention that the com¬ 
paratively weak front feet of the rabbit 
Were mainly used as a pivot, or fulcrum, 
in supporting the body on its forward 
swing, during the last, part of the jump, 
during which time (ho powerful hind legs 
were coming forward and ahead to give 
another spring, and thus throw the body 
forward again. Mr. Ormsbee states: 
“When fighting with a weasel, the jack- 
rabbit extends its front feet just a trifle 
beyond the point of its nose, und, using 
its hind legs as a motive power, jumps 
at a distance of several feet, directly at 
the weasel. The front feet, although 
they carry no original force of their own, 
convey the full momentum of the rabbit’s 
body as imparted b.v its hind legs. . . .” 
It i.s not quile .dear us to whether he 
means that a rabbit coos not use his hind 
legs to give the v.c.sel a farewell solar 
plexus kick, or whether the only punch 
the rabbit can give a weasel is with his 
front feet, and. bnvi rg done this, he gets 
in high gear, leaving a vanquished weasel 
behind. In a by event, my thanks are 
due him for showing that the rabbit when 
he strikes with his front feet uses them 
as a fulcrum to hit and give a swinging 
support to his body, without which he 
would land in a heap. 
ith regard to a rabbit having one 
style of defense against a cat and another 
for weasels, I am from Missouri, for I 
never have seen any weasel-rabbit bouts 
in sufficient amount to act as an author¬ 
itative referee, nor ln.ve I seen any, for 
that matter. Hence, I rna.v expect him 
to speak from fir-t-band information, or 
do as the other ahove-qnoted writers fa¬ 
vored us—give the sources of his informa¬ 
tion. 
According fo Mr. Gormley the rabbit 
rammed the dog with his front feet, 
struck for the eyes, presumably with his 
hind legs, and the dog went down for the 
count- Evidently the front legs are used 
as a fulcrum or pivot to give a quick 
stop in order to get the more powerful 
hind legs in action, also to give what¬ 
ever punch his weight affords. 
According to T. 8. Gerrard, the rabbit 
jumped up to a point where his hind legs 
could come into [day and “gave Tom a 
terrible punch with those strong liiud legs 
of bis." and retreated the John I„ per¬ 
formance. Evidently again the forelegs 
were a pivot on which to turn, a fulcrum 
on which to balance. 
To answer the questions, I will state 
that 1 have seen jack rabbit burrows in 
the Western States. ;,nd have seen rabbits 
chased and enter them. The rabbit is a 
burrowing animal. I have never seen 
any sort of a rabbit burrow that was 
big enough t<i allow the builder to jump 
about in; at least, judging from the ex¬ 
ternal orifice. It may be, of course, that 
the rabbit uses his front feet within his 
burrow for lighting. My experience with 
semi-tame weasels * Arrets ) is that the 
rabbit comes out of 'lis burrow as fust as 
possible, or remains inside because the 
ferret, may not have been muzzled and 
was hungry, in which case he may have 
teen inside the ferret. Of course, his 
speed in eomiug out or his failure may 
have been due to his attacking with his 
front feet. 
Yes, I am from Missouri, as far as be¬ 
ing shown is concerned, and would ask 
Mr. Ormsbee if he can show that a rabbit 
has one style of defense for a cat and 
another for a weasel, or other animals. 
Also, can he show that he is instinctively 
endowed with these different methods of 
attack and can select any needed on an 
instant’s notice, when be may never have 
seen his enemy before? Furthermore, 
does be always vary his attack according 
to the animal involved? My statements 
are from multiple personal observation. 
Alabama. H. c. a. 
About Breeding Canary Birds 
Will some reader of The R. N.-Y. who 
has been successful in raising canary birds 
state their method? I have the' cage, 
etc., but have almost forgotten as to cure 
and feeding. c. c. 
G. C. has the breeding cage, so one need 
not take up space to describe that. Secure 
a young, vigorous male, lie sure he is a 
good singer and free from any asthmatic 
tendency. Some tell me that a male at 
five years makes the finest father. Ap¬ 
parently any female will answer for ordi¬ 
nary breeding purposes. At. least, the 
people about here who breed arc not near¬ 
ly so particular about females as males 
for breeding purposes. The season begins 
in March. You can tell by vigorous songs 
among the males and loud call notes from 
the females. Mate your birds, because 
they arc best kept apart until then. It 
is best to use only one male and one fe¬ 
male in a cage; then the male can help in 
the care of the young after hatching. 
Earthenware nest pons are best, fas¬ 
tened to the side or back of the cage mid¬ 
way between two perches. It, should have 
a lining of felt. Soon the female will be 
seen carrying feathers in her beak; then 
give her a little nesting material Later, 
give enough for actual nest building. No 
long strings nor long hairs that may en¬ 
tangle their feet and legs, though. The 
first egg will be laid in from a week to a 
month after birds are paired. Remove the 
eggs as soon as laid. Keep in a cool place 
and replnce in nest, when the Inst one is 
laid. This makes the hatching time more 
even. The usual period of incubation is 
14 days. 
If the male annoys the female take him 
out. No matter how tame your canary 
give her shade and quiet now, but care 
for her need*?. The man who had raised 
birds longest had to give it up when his 
five lively lads made the house too noisy. 
Except for the necessary cave, daily clean¬ 
ing of cage, giving of food and water and 
bathing facilities, don't, bother the birds. 
The female should not be allowed to bathe 
from the time the eggs hatch until the 
yung arc three or four days old. Young 
birds leave the nest from 20 to 30 days 
old. They should stay with the parents 
unril they can crack seeds for themselves. 
During the breeding season egg-food 
must be given daily as soon as the birds 
are paired. The yolk only of the hard- 
boiled egg may be given the first day after 
hatching: add bread crumbs gradually un¬ 
til the third day, when the ordinary egg- 
food can be used. Give no more than will 
be eaten up clean. Green food may bn 
used after the young are four or five days 
old. but continue the egg food until the 
young can crack their own seed. 
Canaries ordinarily should have a sup¬ 
ply of canary seed with some rape and a 
little hemp, not too much of the latter. 
Lettuce, chickweed. or a bit of apple may 
be given occasionally. The birds are little 
gluttons for green food, and will eat anv 
amount they can get, but small bits are 
best for them. 
Some birds like to bathe daily, but three 
tunes in Summer and twice a week in 
Winter does very well. Some birds, espe¬ 
cially young ones, are troublesome and 
notional about bathing, though. A verv 
gentle sprinkling will help cure them. 
With regular daily cleaning of the cages, 
gentle care and uot too much green food, 
and keeping the birds out of drafts, ali 
should go well. Most of the losses among 
young birds come at the time they are 
taken from their parents. Thev should be 
very carefully watched at this time to see 
that they can and do feed themselves and 
are not put with larger birds who mal¬ 
treat them. EDNA S. KN'ArP. 
Smoking Bees 
If M R. D.. page 144)0, will soak a 
piece of absorbent cotton with two or 
three tablespoons of carbon bisulphide 
and place in the hollow of the tree, then 
stop all holes, he will kill all bees. Or 
take a five-gallon kerosene can. remove 
the screw fop and the bottom, place the 
stem of an automobile or bicycle tube in 
the side, near the bottom, get piece of 
rain water leader or other large pipe 
(plenty of these around city dumps) of 
the length necessary. Then bore hole in 
tree below the bees as near the size of 
pipe as possible. Soak piece of cotton in 
the melted brimstone, place the kerosene 
cun on ground, put inside the cloth soaked 
with brimstone and light. Place pipe over 
hole in top of can, other end in hole in 
tree, connect bicycle pump to stem and 
pump. T se wet burlap sacks at each end 
of pipe to close joints. I have used the 
brimstone plan on side of house by flat¬ 
tening the end of the pipe and raising a 
clapboard, flushing the pipe under the 
clapboard, but look out for fire. Don't 
use any lights around carbon bisulphide; 
it is very explosive. F. A. s. 
New Haven, Conn. 
Agent : “But, my dear madam, it’s a 
shame to let your husband’s life insurance 
lapse.” “I'll not pay another cent. I’ve 
paid reg'lar for eight years, an’ I’ve had 
no luck yet.”—Life. 
One More Chore Before Fishing Time 
