]\J.VY 10 , 1913 
FOREST AND STREAM 
Gll 
not heard of any of the birds staying liere. this 
winter, and it is safe to say that the few that 
have come in will again be hurrying southward 
at the first intimation of blast from the polar 
regions. As I intimated above, I think the birds 
left the neighborhood completely the past fall, 
for on my frequent trips up into the woods they 
usually haunt, I have failed to see a sign of a 
single bird. 
But he is a noble little fellow under any 
circumstances and in the dark days of early 
spring comes to us like a beacon of hope. See 
him throw out his chest and rear back. How 
proud he is! Possessed of such a well knit 
figure, fine head and erect carriage, who can 
blame him if he exhibits a trifling conceit? 
What a familiar figure he is in April, May and 
June days on our lawns, now hopping quickly 
along, now running swiftly, pausing after each 
dash, and rearing up to look around. See him 
9s he makes another swift run of a few feet, 
then bends eagerly forward, appearing to listen 
intently. Suddenly he darts his bill down, and 
we see him drag a long worm from out the 
roots of the grasses. I have never been able 
to determine with any satisfaction to myself 
whether it is his sense of hearing or sight which 
guides him to his food. His attitude of intense 
attention for a moment before darting on his 
prey would seem to indicate that the former 
was the case, but again, he may be only watch¬ 
ing intentbq as it is possible that the squirming 
of the worm as he pushes his way to the sur¬ 
face may cause a tremor among the blades of 
grass, not visible to our coarser vision, but 
easily perceptible to our little keen-eyed friend. 
At all events, there is a moment’s pause each 
time before the final lunge, which almost invari¬ 
ably results in capture. This is always in May. 
If the tender morsel happens to be an extra 
large one, it is amusing to see him freshen his 
grip, as it were, and back off, until stretched to 
its utmost, out comes the worm, and its wiggling 
length appears but a second only, as redbreast 
unceremoniously grips him down. 
A good songster, he is at his best during 
the breeding season, and it is a surprise to many 
who, familiar with only his monotonous short- 
noted chirp, to hear him launch into such an 
ecstasy of delight, but later, along in the late 
fall, his whole nature changes, congregating in 
large flocks, he becomes exceedingly shy and 
wary, and is really a hard bird to approach. 
At this season he is indeed a rare morsel for 
the table, but here with us it is considered a 
crime to kill him. The robin, well, I guess he 
is the most beloved bird of all the feathered 
family. 
Quail for Rhode Island. 
The Chief Deputy Bird Commissioner of 
Rhode Island. Frank W. Hennessy, and Deputy 
Bird Commissioner. William Murray, liberated 
500 quail in the northern part of Rhode Island. 
This section has been practically depleted of 
this species of bird for some years past. 
The majority of the quail are young birds, 
although there are a plentiful number of older 
ones included in the shipment. They are all 
properly mated. The quail will be put in coveys 
by the commissioners and plenty of food, con¬ 
sisting of barley, oats, rj’e and buckwheat, has 
been scattered in such a way that the birds will 
become accustomed to the vicinity and remain 
there. 
Plant of Many Uses. 
For Sale. 
In 1830 the Congress of Mexico issued an 
order that none of the State documents should 
be indited upon any material other than the 
paper made from maguey. This is the national 
plant, and some have insisted that the very 
word Mexico was derived from the word mex- 
til, which means maguey. 
The stalk of the blossoms grows twenty- 
five feet high and looks like a giant candlestick. 
It often carries several thousand blossoms. 
There are fields or maguey miles in length in 
Mexico, and scarcely a bit of the plant cannot 
be utilized. 
It makes splendid fodder for cows; por¬ 
tions of it are baked and prove very palatable. 
It is used to thatch roofs, burn as fuel, and out 
of it arc manufactured thread and paper. The 
sharp spike at the tip of the stalk often is made 
into a needle, its tall pole used for the ridge¬ 
pole of a peasant cottage, and the favorite 
Mexican drink, pulque, is manufactured from 
the honey water by cutting a hollow in the stem 
and fermenting the juice. 
Quinine Factories in Java. 
Jav.a. produces about two-thirds of the 
world’s supply of cinchona, and it has for years 
been regularly shipped to Holland. The large 
quinine manufactories, mostly situated in Ger¬ 
many, supply themselves with the raw material 
in the Dutch market, and of late years the man¬ 
ufacturers have combined to keep the prices 
at such low level as to render the cinchona cul¬ 
tivation unprofitable, although the manufac¬ 
turers of quinine have been earning large divi¬ 
dends. 
To meet this combination, says the New 
York Sun, it was resolved to establish a quinine 
factory in Java, says the British Consul at 
Batavia, and this has been done at Bandong, 
where the first Java quinine has been produced. 
This is described as of excellent quality and 
equal in all respects to the best European 
brands. Last year the total production of cin¬ 
chona in the islands was over eight and one- 
half million pounds avoirdupois. 
Lured Dogs to Death. 
V.'.N Nelson, of East Pittsfield. Me., lost a 
valuable Texas foxhound in a peculiar manner. 
The dog was giving a fox a hot chase when 
Reynard took to the railroad track and led him 
close up to an approaching train. Just as the 
train was about to strike the fox. writes a 
Waterville correspondent of the Portland Press, 
it jumped to safety; but the hound, intent on 
following the trail, was run over and killed. 
Subsequently it has been learned that the 
mangled remains of several other dogs with 
sporting blood in their veins have been found 
on or beside the tracks on the same stretch of 
railroad. 
Tracks found in the snow and other indica¬ 
tions all go to show that they met their fate in 
a similar manner. It is the current opinion 
here that the same cunning old fox deliberately 
led them all to their doom. Nelson’s dog was 
valued at $500. 
Cleaning Gun Barrels. 
I h.ave been told by an expert who has been 
doing nothing for years but plating guns for a 
firm that turns out thousands of guns and rifles 
that you cannot have a better all-round oil than 
pure neatsfoot oil, allowed to stand and clear 
in the sun, and then poured off; and another, the 
most fashionable in London, I am told puts noth¬ 
ing else in the barrels but pure vaseline. I may 
say I have up to now used chiefly the latter for 
years, but of course if there is a better, I am 
only too glad -to hear of it. My gun is a ham- 
merless ejector, and the oil we want is one you 
can get into the parts freely and not corrode.— 
. 4 . T. C. in Shooting Times. 
GAME BIRDS 
Hungarian Partridges, Quail, Ring-neck Pheasants, WU4 
Turkeys, Capercailzie, Black Game, Wild Ducks, Decoy*, 
Beautiful Swans, Fancy Pheasants, Peafowl, Crane*. 
Storks, Ornamental Ducks and Geese. 
“Everything in the bird line 
from a Canary to an Ostrich. " 
I am the oldest established and largest exclusive dealer 
in land and water birds in America, and have on hand 
the most extensive .stock in the United States. 
G. D. TILLEY, Naturalist 
“F” Danen, Conn. 
RAINBOW TROUT 
are well adapted to Eastern waters. Try stocking with 
some of the nice yearlings or fry from our hatchery, and 
you will be pleased with the results. 
PLYMOUTH ROCK TROUT COMPANY. 
Colburn C. Wood, Supt., Plymouth, Mass. 
Small-Nouth Black Basa 
\Ve have the only establishment dealing in young small. 
mouth black bass commercially in the United States. Vig* 
orous young bass in various sizes, ranging from advanc^ 
fry to 3 and 4 inch fingerlings for stocking purposes. 
Waramaug Small-Mouth Black Bass Hatchery. 
Correspondence invited. Send for Circulars. Address 
HEINRY W. BGEIMAN - - New Preaton, Cons. 
BROOK TROUT 
of all ages for stocking brook* 
and lakes. Brook trout egg* 
in any quantity. Warranted delivered anywhere in 6ne 
condition. Correspondence solicited. 
THE PLYMOUTH ROCK TROUT CO., 
Plymouth, Mass. 
GREAT BARGAIN IN STAMPS 
Send 12 c. for packet of stamps valued at over 
50 cents. This packet contains no duplicates. 
IMPERIAL STAMP CO. 
538 West 114tb Street New York City 
Wants and Exchanges. 
WANTED: A Daly Trap Gun, 32-inch barrels. Must 
be a good shooter. Address A. J. BREWSTER, 
400 W. Onondaga St., Syracuse, N. Y, 
WANTED.—Tame raccoon. State age, weight, with full 
particulars. IRA W. MOE, Mue, New Jersey. 
WANTED — Daly 32-inch barrel Trap Gun. Must be good 
shooter. 
A. J. BREWSTER, Syracuse, New York. 
DECK SAILING CANOE—I'ull equipment. Made by 
Iverson. Perfect condition. Sails new; should be seen 
to be appreciated. Bargain. W. A. COLEY, 
1 Liberty St., Xew York City. 
Taxidermist*. 
J. KANNOFSKY, 
PRACTICAL GLASS BLOWER 
and manufacturer of artificial eyes for birds, animals and manu. 
factoring purposes a specialty. Send for prices. All kinds of 
heads and skulls for furriers and taxidermists. 369 Canal 
Street, New York. 
Please mention "Forest and Stream.” 
ARTHUR BINNEY 
(Formerly Stewart & Binney) 
Naval Architect and Yacht Broker 
Mason Bldo^ Kilby St.. BOSTON. MASS. 
Cable Address "Designer,” Boston 
