FOREST AND STREAM 
footsteps. Usually by the railing of the main 
green some one is to be seen feasting his eyes. 
.-\s tor his ears these he would fain feast, too, 
but it is not permitted him, as the birds never 
break into song. 1 heir stop apparently is 
merely for a day to search for food; as soon as 
night comes they are off again. I confess I do 
not quite understand why they should stop in 
the midst of a great city in a mere spot of 
greenery when the wide country all around is 
free to them. Is it extravagant to suppose that 
they are the decendants of birds which built 
their nests in and about what is now the City 
Hall Park: We know that birds have a marked 
partiality, or fondness for the place of their 
nativity, and this may endure in their progeny 
as a sort of an instinct. It is worthy of note 
in this connection that the birds which visit us 
are always of the same species, so far as I have 
been able to observe. 
1 he public indifference referred to has the ad¬ 
vantage that it leaves the birds in peace. But 
this is rudely broken now and then by some 
prowling cat. I have seen a thrush stalked in 
broad daylight. On another occasion I was 
witness of an attempt to stalk one, which had 
rather dramatic accompaniments. In the center 
of the green was the beautiful innocent, quite 
unconscious of danger, while emerging from 
the shadow of the City Hall was a big gray 
disreputable-looking Tom with evident felonious 
intent. A crowd, attracted by the excited cries 
of some newsboys, quickly gathered all around 
the railings. It reminded me in a measure of 
the old Colosseum in Rome. Whether the 
big oak trees. I knew the swamp was narrow 
with open cover on either side. I felt quite sure 
of flushing him again further up where I might 
have a chance for a clean kill without damage 
to the bird. I worked the dogs carefully ahead 
for about ioo yards, when both pointed. I knew 
this must be the same bird and decided to take 
time and kill him cleanly. I moved into an open 
spot and flushed him. Up he went and at about 
forty yards down he went with not a feather 
ruffled. 
He was mounted for me by John Bell, who 
said this was the only white woodcock he had 
seen. The bird on the wing looked absolutely 
white, but he had a slightly coffee-colored tinge 
down his back. Otherwise he was perfectly 
white. 
Old Pete and Pan have long since passed over 
to the happy hunting grounds of the dog, where 
they may find, I trust, white woodcock galore. 
C. D. B. W. 
A White Woodcock 
[ was Migrants in New York City. 
:o my New York City, May 19.— Editor Forest and 
view Stream: For several years I have noticed the 
-, and appearance of certain migrants in the City Hall 
o tell Park during the spring. About the middle of 
long, April robins appear. These are followed a 
, or I couple of weeks later by brown thrashers, ac- 
place companied, perhaps, by one or two catbirds, or down th 
> still redtails. These in turn are followed by thrushes case the 
hance and ovenbirds. Occasionally a fox or vesper tain it is 
rough sparrow appears, but not often. I think these bird. H 
o kill are about all the migrants I have observed, and in tl 
licked The warblers seem to steer clear of us. Prob- 
loca- ably the skyscrapers scare them. Once a wood¬ 
pecker, as if by accident, lit on a tree at the 
if the rear of the City Hall and remained there for a 
acked couple of days. Great was the excitement 
word among the newsboys, and even sedate men of 
1 fine business would stand to gaze with more or less 
stood wonder at the little red-headed stranger, which, 
d an- regardless of the crowd, kept up an industrious 
with- hunt for insects. 
ete to As to the birds on the green, striking though 
it the they are—especially the brown thrashers with 
o re- their resplendent chestnut coats and aristocratic 
acked air-—it must be confessed that they do not ex¬ 
dogs cite much attention. The fact seems to be that 
tilled, the average New Yorker thinks such things as 
shot, birds beneath his notice. In the case of the 
"te to woodpecker just referred to it was doubtless 
again the acrobatic feats of the little stranger which 
id as attracted attention. However, if the arrivals 
trees in the City Hall Park were of a sufficient size 
rowth to hold forth promise of something for the pot, 
ushes. I am inclined to think that the indifference of 
bird, the average passerby would quickly vanish, 
wenty Suppose, for instance, a plump wild turkey or 
vhite. goose were to be seen upon the green some 
:arted morning. I am sure that the woodpecker 
nder- demonstration would fade into insignificance 
when before what would follow. 
ir me But though there are not many bird lovers 
1 and downtown in New York, yet there are some, The Forest and Stream may he obtained from 
throb and to these the appearance of the beautiful any newsdealer on order. Ask your dealer to 
f the spring visitors is always a signal to arrest their supply you regularly. 
Chinese Pheasants and Bustards. 
Consul General Samuel S. Knabenshue, 
Tientsin, writes to the Department of Commerce 
and Labor, saying: 
“An inquiry comes from California for 
Chinese pheasants for breeding. This trade is 
carried on in Hankow and Shanghai. 
"It might also prove worth while to try do¬ 
mesticating the bustard. This bird is very plen¬ 
tiful in the game markets here during the win¬ 
ter months. Those that I have seen on sale 
would weigh fourteen to eighteen pounds. The 
flesh is very well flavored, and when the bird 
comes to the table roasted, it cannot be distin¬ 
guished from a turkey, except that it is dark 
meat. The bustard seems abundant in this part 
of China, and a good business mieht be done 
