
































































































FOREST AND STREAM. 

[Sepr. 28, 190% 




























QUIET LAKE IN 
Launching a raft or 
enemies. In the course of a week or more they 
exchange this first retreat for one affording 
security and prefer generally the shallow weed- 
covered ponds and edges of creeks and lakes. 
Their food for the first two or three weeks con- 
sists largely of the aquatic larve of insects or 
their developed imagoes, and this diet is shortly 
after abandoned in favor of the young and tender 
shoots of water weeds. When fully grown they 
feed in autumn upon beech nuts, acorns, etc., 
which they digest readily. The old birds mate 
here already about the first part of March, and 
commence to breed in captivity when they are 
one year old. During the earlier part of that 
period, until the female commences to hatch, 
they manifest many peculiarities by odd motions 
and curious calls, in which they do not indulge 
at any other time. It is then a common oc- 
currence to see the drake swimming about rest- 
lessly in open water followed by the female, 
uttering all along a cackling noise resembling 
that of a turkey-cock when strutting about the 
barnyard The neck of the male is then 
stretched at its fullest length and the crest of 
his head is well raised, while his wings make a 
grating noise, which can be heard distinctly for 
several rods. All of these connubial antics can, 
however, only be satisfactorily observed, when 
the birds are without any suspicion of being 
watched. When domesticated no change of 
these habits is noticed. 
Thus far Mr. Irwin details his own observa- 
tions, taken in the woods and in his breeding 
pen, and unbiased by any coloring from ac- 
counts of any other writers. His experience in 
regard to the wood-duck in particular is of 
value he succeeded to raise successive 
broods of that species for many years, amount- 
ing frequently to thirty or more full-fledged 
young in one season. 
All of the various ducks he experimented 
with migrated southward, if not maimed. each 
autumn, and returned infallibly with a male 
mate, which remained until the female com- 
menced to hatch, after which he departed for 
parts unknown, never to return. The crosses 
obtained with tame birds retained more or less 
their original plumage, but excelled them in 
point of size and proclivity. 
It is to be regretted that the completion of a 
branch railroad f the main trunk of the 
since 
irom 
Cross-Cut Railroad invaded this secluded spot 
and ended these experiments, which had been 
conducted so successfully for such a great length 
of time. They indicate, in this instance, that the 
majority.of our wild ducks are not prone to 
change easily their former wild condition for 
that of perfected domestication, but also that 
they manifest no aversion to breed freely. even 
when they are placed under artificial restraints. 
THE 
YUKON 
logs pinned together. 
COUNTRY. 
The birds here generally returned to their 
haunts each successive’ spring in preference to 
any other; and moreover in the case of the 
females, induced a mate to come along with 
them. It is also evident that the dusky-duck is 
fully as domesticable as the mallard, which has 
been thus far generally supposed to be the 
originator of our common tamed ducks. This 
species readily crossed with the wild mallard 
and produced hybrids without any need of re- 
sorting to special inducements to accomplish 
this result. CHARLES LINDEN, 

Missouri Game Birds. 

The Turkey. 
[From the last report to the Governor of Missouri by 
Game Warden Rhodes.] 
Tue wild turkey, the largest and choicest of 
the gallinaceous birds, is indigenous to the 
North American continent. The earlier natur- 
alists, however, supposed the bird to have been 
first found in Africa and the East Indies, and 
the common name “turkey” was given the bird 
upon the belief that it was originally found in 
Turkey. It is the parent of the domestic turkey, 
and was introduced into England in the early 
part of the sixteenth century by a lieutenant of 
Sebastian Cabot, and since that time it has been 
scattered over the civilized world. The bird is 
not found, however, west of the Rocky Moun- 
tains, but was very widely distributed through- 
out the Western and Southern States. 
Turkeys, like many other kinds of game. were 
found more abundantly, perhaps, in Missouri 
than any other State in the Union. They are 
both gramnivorous and jinsectivorous in their 
feeding habits, living upon acorns, berries, grain, 
grasshoppers and even young frogs. Their meat 
is far more toothsome and has a gamey wild 
flavor unknown to the domestic stock. 
While they are practically exterminated in 
many surrounding States, these birds are 
found in considerable numbers in this State, in 
many counties south of the Missouri River, and 
scattering flocks are still present in many of the 
older settled counties, and show a tendency to 
rapidly multiply when under the influence of 
reasonable protection. 
The principal destruction to these birds oc- 
curs by hunters pursuing them in the latter 
part of the summer and the early part of the 
fall season, while the old bird is rearing her 
brood. An experienced hunter, by putting the 
flock to flight and secreting himself and imi- 
tat‘ng the call of the mother bird, may practi- 
cally exterminate a whole flock of turkeys in 
one or two days’ hunting. They are less easily 
taken when the birds are fully grown and have 

still 

learned the danger of being lured by call 
imitation of their cries. hey become ° 
wily and very shy, and it requires a man 
perienced in woodcraft to successfully pu 
these birds after the first of November, at w 
time they are fully grown. 
They can be easily taken, however, by shh 
ing them from trees at night upon their ro 
ing grounds. At this season of the year 
favorite means of capturing the turkeys i:! 
hunt them during the night and put the bird 
flight from their roosts, getting them | 
scattered over a large territory, and then to } 
them about daybreak, when they are endea‘| 
ing to get together for their morning feed. | 
favorite time for taking these birds is du} 
the months of March and April, when the | 
can be located by the gobble of the male t} 
which can be heard for a great distance. 
this season of the year, however, the birif{ 
very poor and scarcely fit for table use; 
notwithstanding this fact, many hunters, 
have been unsuccessful in killing the birds « 
ing the open season, cannot resist the tem 
tion which this opportunity affords. 
The law now protects these birds until 
first day of December, the open season bd 
during the months of December and Janu 
The law also prohibits their being hunted} 
night, or from being shot before sunrise, |. 
after sunset. Under the influence of protect). 
afforded by the recent law, these birds hi, 
shown a tendency to increase very rapidly, | 
they are reported in larger numbers this sea| 
than they have been known to exist for a ni) 
ber of years. 
Except in a few instances in the south| 
part of the State where the country is spar} 
settled, the law has been reasonably well 
served, so far as killing the birds out of seaj 
is concerned. It is very difficult, however, |, 
prevent their being killed at night and bef 
sunrise in the morning, and no doubt many bi 
were unlawfully taken in this manner. Anot) 
favorite time for hunting these birds is a} 
a snowfall, when they can be tracked in | 
snow and overtaken upon their feeding grout? 
I am of the opinion that the shooting of th} 
birds ought to be prohibited until Noy. 15, :* 
the season ought to end on Dec. 31. With s/ 
a law for their protection, reasonably well 
forced, it would result in the preservation " 
the species in this State for many years. 




Rattlesnake Query Answered. 
, 
In a recent issue of your paper a c, 
tributor asks: “Does a_ rattlesnake carry , 
rattles flat or edgewise?”’ It all depends |, 
circumstances. If the snake is stalking a ii} 
rabbit or bullfrog, and is gliding along ea:|; 
in a natural position, the rattles lie flat, | 
light-colored side underneath. If it is stalk | 
a barefoot granger’s great toe the rattles ste{ 
nearly perpendicular, little end up and are s\ 
ject to excessive vibration, while that part }, 
the snake immediately next the rattles is Uy 
to propel the head straight at the innocent ¢} 
unoffending toe. 
If the snake were lying on its side with ba 
arm for a pillew, it might carry the rattles ed)|\ 
wise, or rather hold them in that position. r 
By Pe eos | 
Se Pee. fi 
Lynx and Wildcat. i 
_ Airktn, Minn., Sept. 21.—Editor Forest ¢ 
Stream: 
Pontotoc, Miss., Sept. 17.—Editor Forest ¢| 
Stream: I have taken great interest in } 
articles in Forest AND STREAM on the lynx aly 
wildcat. As to the lynx I know nothing, hi; 
ing never seen one; but I am sure that SO} 
that have furnished articles on the subject hé}, 
never seen a Mississippi wildcat. It is true tlh 
a wildcat is very wild and shy and you vy. 
hardly ever see one where they are plentit, 
but when they are cornered they can and yj, 
give a good account of themselves. | 
E. N. BicHAM} 
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