Nov. 13, 1909.] 
771 
expectation and would have been most welcome 
visitors to some of us at least. 
They did not seem to be anywhere abundant 
in the great sierran forests, but were generally 
in evidence, no doubt because of their noisy 
,vays. Near our camp a large lone pine tree 
•eared its majestic form, tall and straight, to a 
leight of nearly 200 feet without limbs for 
learly half the distance. Early each morning 
1 jay came to this tree and alighting, always on 
he lowest branch, began to climb toward the 
op, ascending by hopping from branch to branch, 
requently uttering its loud, harsh but not un- 
ileasant call notes. Although these birds fre¬ 
quented the larger, more dense growths of pines, 
>eing most often heard in the heavily wooded 
anons, yet the only nest found was in a small 
ine on a barren hillside. 
The great solemn forests of these mountains 
0 not support the abundance of bird life that 
> found in some other portions of this State, 
nd it may be this comparative scarcity has 
imething to do with the charm which the Sierra 
levadas possess and from which no ornitholo- 
ist, it seems, can escape. There is always a 
iscination in the anticipated pleasure of meet- 
ig with some rare or little known bird. At 
mes we may unexpectedly come upon some 
'Ivan meadow through which a tiny stream 
ids its way, nearly losing itself in the soft, 
•ass-covered earth. Here, perchance, may be 
en a russet-backed thrush, or a gayly colored 
arbler may flit from some small evergreen, 
gain while walking through the gaunt stubs of 
fire swept area we may come unexpectedly 
ion that shy and rather silent bird of the 
ountains, the white-headed woodpecker. Then, 
ould the half gloom of the forest shade be- 
me oppressive, one may emerge upon a more 
en brush-covered hillside where a rustling of 
e pine needles will often attract our attention 
; time for a fleeting glimpse of a pair of 
limed quail as they scamper away. 
Resting in the shade of the trees with the cool 
ipuntain breeze fanning him gently, the orni- 
blogist feels a sort of dreamy contentment as 
I; soft sighing of the pines mingles with the 
[iceful monotonous lapping of the water upon 
jne log at the lake’s edge. A soft, white, 
tcy cloud occasionally appears in the blue sky 
.irhead, floating toward the snow-capped 
:tks beyond. Through a screen of evergreens 
sparkling waters of the lake appear, 
s it any wonder then that the memory of a 
nation spent in these mountains lingers, and 
!t through the long winter evenings that fol- 
" the bird lover longs for the time to come 
en he may again hear the chack-chack-chack 
the blue-fronted jay as it calls from its lofty 
ch in a pine, or the musical twittering of the 
illows as they skim over the lake. The lure 
the sierras seems irresistible. 
John G. Tyler. 
Possum in Oneida County. 
Jtica, N. Y., Nov. 6.— Editor Forest and 
'am: A ’possum was captured near Water- 
1: recently by sons of William T. Jones. It 
; a rare occurrence to find this animal in 
1 ida county. The boys found the animal in 
itch of woods while they were hunting. The 
"lal is fat and sleek. E. A. Spears. 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Feeding (he Animals. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
The importance of the food question is 
brought home to one forcibly at the zoo. As 
feeding time approaches the animals begin to 
grow restive. The lions get up and pace their 
cages and perhaps emit an occasional subdued 
devil’s canyon, shaver lake and the moun¬ 
tains ABOVE THE LAKE. 
roar. The tigers follow suit, but instead of a 
roar, snarl angrily. The wolves and foxes chase 
along the bars of their inclosures, stopping every 
now and then to sniff the air. Presently the 
wolves set up a howl, which echoes all over the 
park. In the cages of the birds of prey there 
is hardly less restlessness. The condor moves 
about his perch, spreading his wings and looking 
anxiously in a certain direction. The eagles put 
on their fiercest expression and occasionally 
scream. The owls begin to manifest a keener 
interest in what is going on about them, even 
the barn owls waking up and coming out of 
their corner. They have visions of white mice. 
In the big flying cage there is an air of anxious 
expectancy observable. The pelicans waddle 
about with unwonted energy and the cranes 
stretch their necks till they look at least twice 
their usual length. The small wading fowl peer 
hither and thither, while the magpie chatters and 
the raven croaks. There is no member, in short, 
of the whole happy family who does not show 
more or less interest and emotion. 
At length the keepers appear with their pails 
and the restlessness becomes a wild commotion 
all along the line. One after another the cages 
are served, and whoever has watched a table¬ 
ful of hungry boarders waiting their turn to be 
helped, can form an idea of the impatience of 
the animals. 
It is not a pleasant spectacle to watch the 
carnivora tear and devour their food, though 
there are some humorous developments. These 
are most likely to take place among the wolves 
and foxes. There is generally one among these, 
each in his inclosure, who has made himself 
master, and until he has helped himself hardly 
a wolf or fox will dare approach the meat. 
Then if the tyrant should find his piece unsatis¬ 
factory he will drop it and proceed to lay claim 
to the next nearest piece, irrespective of the fact 
that it may have found an owner. Sometimes 
he will establish a suzerainty, so to speak, over 
two or three pieces, and woe betide the teme- 
raire who attempts to dispute it. The exquisite 
selfishness of it all makes one laugh in spite of 
his disgust. 
Among the birds of prey there is not the same 
contention, as generally each one seems to be 
satisfied with the piece which falls to his share, 
and among the heterogeneous collection in the 
flying cage the scene presented is simply comic. 
The keeper stands at one side of the swimming 
pool and scatters his sprats or other small fish 
by the handful. The pelicans receive them with 
open bills and pouches, half a dozen at a time, 
while the cranes try to emulate them. The 
smaller birds dive or dart hither and thither 
after the fish, and their efforts to bolt them in 
a hurry, especially when they are too large, 
forms a truly comic spectacle. 
At length all have been fed, for there is no 
stint at the zoo, and if the weaklings or cowards 
do not come in on the first course they do so 
ultimately. The former restlessness or com¬ 
motion is succeeded by calm and satisfaction. 
The carnivora lie down and go to sleep, while 
the birds plume themselves or go to sleep, too. 
All’s well despite the iron bars. 
An interesting question suggests itself here. 
Do animals suffer in confinement? Sentiment¬ 
alists say yes, and are very much given to pity¬ 
ing them. One will often hear at the zoo such 
expressions as “Poor thing,” “Poor prisoner.” 
But I think it can be truthfully stated that with 
proper care and attention animals do not suf¬ 
fer in confinement. They readily adapt them¬ 
selves to their environment, and having no 
thought in the proper sense, they cannot per¬ 
ceive or appreciate their loss of liberty. It is 
true that they would enjoy themselves more at 
large or in a state of nature, but the question 
is as to suffering. There is only one thing can 
superinduce this and that is physical ill. Thanks 
to an enlightened and humane director, every¬ 
thing possible is done to ward off this. 
F. Moonan. 
