FOREST AND STREAM. 
262 ; FN ine le ara he 



The small dise-shaped fish louve (Ouligus prscinus), with its 
jointed body, is familiar to all sportsmen. It is commonly 
found on the Cod and any of the deep water fishes. I have 
frequently taken it from the tongue, where it had grown 
so large as to almost prevent the passage of food, and in 
one case, on the Florida reef, I found six in the mouth of a 
small fish, completely filling it. Considerable force had to 
be used in removing them, and when it was effected they 
were extremely lively and would grasp my finger and en- 
deavor to fasten their claws in any crack or crevice. The 
Penella filosa, along, worm-like creature, with a veritable 
horny head and bushy tail,is found frequently cutting its way 
through the sides of the above mentioned sun-fish,and on one 
specimen figured by Farrel, a large number of the Parinella 
sagulta were found imbedded with their hairy tails, waving 
to and fro like tentacule, and on them were found num- 
bers of the Cineras vitatta, while in the liver of the fish 
were found immense numbers of Cystwerei. Truly he la- 
bored under a disadvantage. 
Hordes of parasites, crustaceans of the geaus Vebalia, 
are frequently found in the stomach of a single fish. Only 
one species, however, is well known. They are exceedingly 
minute, and are protected by a cuirass-like shield. The 
tail is long and finally terminates in two sharp-pointed 
Blatural History. 
AHINT TO ENTOMOLOGISTS. 
















OW is the time to collect the chrysalides of the large 
moths. The leaves are off from the trees and bushes, 
and they may be easily seen. Those of the Attacus ceropia 
alunaand Arpromethia are very numerous this fall. Any 
one who wishes to secure some of those large and beautiful 
moths, should collect them at once. Jt is customary to 
collect them early in the spring, but it is much better to do 
it in the autumn. During deep snows in the winter, thou- 
sands are eaten by the mice. 
The Cecropia chrysalides are most abundant in the elder 
thickets near the margins of swamps. They are generally 
attached to the bushes about eighteen inches from the 
ground. Those of the Promethia are found hanging to 
the twigs of the wild cherry and spice bush curled up ina 
leaf. The Lunas may be found under the walnut and oak 
trees on the ground among the fallen leaves. The Luna 
moth is the most beautiful of its genus, and its chrysalides 
are much more difficult to find than those of other species. 
When collected, they should be put in a box, and kept in 
a cool part of the house (out of the way of mice) until the : 
bristles. 
first of May, they should then be fastened on strings and 
stretched across a room in rows until the moths come out, 
which will be about the middle of the month. Whena 
moths wings are fully stretched and dried, they should be 
caught before leaving the chrysales frem which they sus- 
pend. If allowed to fly about a room they soon spoil their 
wings and are worthless as ornaments or specimens. When 
taken from the chrysalides they are in a perfect condition, 
and may at once be prepared for the case or cabinet with 
all their natural beauty. A dozen or twenty chrysalides 
may be found in a proper locality in an hours searching. 
Ladies as well as gentlemen can easily collect them and pre- 
pare the moths as they come out in spring, and arrange 
them in cases with rustic frames, made of bark or covered 
with moss, thus making a beatiful ornament. 
hee 
CURIOUS FORMS IN PARASITIC LIFE. 


“Big fleas and little fleas 
Have lesser fleas to bite ‘em; 
The lesser fleas have smaller fleas, 
And so ad infinitum. 
pe ee 
VERY WHERE the great earth teems with life. The 
very ground almost moves with its suppressed vitality, 
and even the air we breathe leaves on its invisibie globules 
myriads of forms active with life, and bent on the one 
great work of reproduction. Upon examination it will be 
found that the minute forms have a great work laid out for 
them—that of holding in check certain divisions of animal 
life, and in their turn their numbers are reduced by some 
‘Jesser flea.” So we find in every case that the elimination 
is in exact proportion to the production, and every animal, 
from the highest form to the lowest mass of Algw has its in- 
dividual exterminator. Thus the lower forms of life are 
kept within bounds, and the parasite, although a repulsive 
object, is shown to be necessary to our well being, and 
even life, and forms one of the greatest powers wielded by 
Nature. 
Some of the most interesting forms of this class are 
found on the marine animals, where their numbers and 
great size make it a study of care as well as interest. The 
fishes particularly are the victims of this necessary perse 
cution, and probably the most common are the little crus- 
taceans known as Fish Louse. Around the gills and on 
the tongue is a favorite point of attack. Here they attach 
themselves with their long knife-like claws, and either 
gorge themselves with the life blood of the victim or live 
on food that comes from an outside source. In the pouch 
of the Medusa, or sun-fish quantities of little crustaceans 
of the genus Hyporie are found, some clinging to the sides 
and others moving around as if newly arrived and not yet 
well acquainted with their future habits. In the division 
Isopadd, we find the cymothoade. They are found on the 
gills of many of our fishes, and form’a no mean enemy, as 
frequently the continual drain of their ‘‘little moustes” 
causes the death of the fish, and not until then do they de- 
sert the fortunes of their victim. They are very curiously 
formed; the gills have the general appearance of large 
round membranous plates, placed at the extremity of six 
pairs of members attached to the abdominal segments, and 
called false feet. The exact number of feet, however, 
are seven pairs, which are armed with along, sharp, and 
generally prehensile claw, admirably adapted for the work 
they have todo. The female isa miniature marsupial, as 
beneath the thorax and attached to the base of the feet is a 
pouch for the purpose of carrying eggs. Here they are 
held until they have arrived at perfection, and that im- 
portant time baving arrived, the mother opens the pouch 
and the brood swim offin search of some unfortunate fish, 
with whom they can form an attachment. The Argulus 
alosae, a stronger, hard shelled parasite, about half an inch 
long, is found on the gills of the Alewife (Alosa vulgaris). 
It is protected by a large obovate or obcordate shield, which 
covers the first two pair of legs; from this extends the 
long abdomen,supported by three pairs of legs,all of which 
are fringed with a remarkable substance, resembling hair. 
The extremity of this strange parasite is ornamented with 
two short folia, covered by two others, and each as long 
and as broad as the exposed portion of the abdomen. In 
other species, however, nothing is seen but the shield, 
which gives it the appearance of a small shell clinging to 
the fish. 
Another singularly beautiful parasite, the P. ar- 
mult cornis, has never been found out of the fish. It is 
about four inches long, the elongated and beautifully va- 
riegated red and white attenne, however, making it ap- 
pear longer still. It forms one of the most striking and 
elegant of all the crustaceans} having the parasite charac- 
teristics. : 
The whale louve is a common and well known member 
of the Laemodipods. They have no special spot of attack, 
but cover the whale on any available part, and at some 
portions of the year so changing its color that the great 
white mass of parasites can be seen at a great distance. In 
appearance it is long and thin and resembles a number of 
hooks hanging at intervals from a stick. The first claw is 
prehensile, and is attached to the head; the other legs are 
armed with along hook, flexible and more or less prehen- 
sile. 
The Hermiteral has a slight claim as a parasite. Very 
fierce and brave, they do not. hesitate to attack the inmates 
of the largest shells or any that suit their purpose, and as 
they grow rapidly, a constant warfare on the poor Peri- 
winkles is the result. They are easily tamed, and at Tor- 
tugas, Fla., we had one that had taken possession of an old 
pipe bowl. We named him‘: Diogenes,” and for some 
months shared bed and board with him. But one day, in 
attempting to climb on the table by a very smooth cloth, 
he fell to the floor amid the ruins of the old pipe. His 
nervous system received so severe a shock that the best 
medical skill the reef afforded was unavailing, and a few 
days after, it being extreme high tide, he passed away. 
He is still mourned by a large circle of acquaintances. 
Molluscus parasites are quite rare, although the common 
Barnacles are frequently found imbedded in the flesh of 
The Salant or sea acorns 
whales and deep water fishes. 
are immovable in all their parts, and Attach themselves to 
sluggish fishes, where they sometimes so cover the head 
that the fish becomes blind, and eventually dies. We have 
several wonderful cases of parasitic ‘‘fish,”but before speak- 
ing of them it would be well to mention the Acheneidans or 
ship-stayers. The members of the family are included in 
the single genus Heheneis, which was translated to Remora 
by Pliny. They are noted for the remarkable disc-like 
head, covered with an organ capable of attaching itself to 
anything. Anyone who has seen a shark has certainly had 
a view of this beautiful creature; generally they are dark 
blue, and when clinging to the white sides of the shark, 
With their tails waving back and forth, they present a very 
They show great affection for their 
striking appearance. 
huge consort, as I have frequently, in catching sharks, 
pulled them far up on the beach before the Remora would 
relinquish its hold. To show the power of the suction, it 
is said that in Mozambique they capture Twitles with them 
by fastening a ring to the tail of the Remora and holding it 
by astring. On the approach of a Twitle the string is let 
out and the fish fastens itself on tothe shell and the animal 
is drawn in. The old writers had a great respeet for its 
powers, as they thoroughly believed that it could stop ves- 
sels of the largest size, and it is stated in all good faith that 
a Remora retarded Anthony’s galley in the fights of Actium, 
thus allowing Cxsar to obtain the advantage, and Pliny 
thus moralizes ‘‘that such magnificent ships and men should 
have to bend the knee, as it were, to a fish two feet long. 
Still another finny parasite is found in close company with the 
beautiful, as well as dangerous Physalia or Portuguese Man 
‘o War. This little fish I have never seen figured or de- 
scribed, although they are quite common on the Florida 
reef. At first sight you can hardly distinguish them from 
the deadly tentacles of the Physalia. So alike are they in 
color, being a deep sea blue. 
Here is a wonderful phase in the economy of nature. 
We.find a fish living, as it were, it the midst of death, 
making its home in the snaky mass of tentacles, the mere 
touch of which is instant death to fish of twice its size, 
and sometimes fatal to man. How this mere bubble, far 
down in the scale of being, can discriminate between its 
little companions and foreign fish, is a question that is still 
to be solved. Instinct it cannot be. But still, these little 
parasites make their home there, while other fish are en- 
tangled in the slimy folds and drawn up to be devoured by 
this mass of life. I have often watched them in the harbor 
ot Tortugas, where, after a storm, they are found in im- 
mense quantities: When hungry, the tentacles ate ex- 

tended to a distance of four feet behind them. The little 
sail or membrane is lifted to the breeze, and away they go, 
ike the culprit Fay. 
“Spring to this craft with a lightsome leap, 
And launch afar on the calm blue deep, 
The imps of the sea may yell and rave, 
And summon ail forces beneath the wave.” 
Soon the tentacles assume a horizontal position, and soon 
the bits of red and blue shooting through the water attract 
the attention of an unfortunate sardine. , He dashes at the 
“worm,” and is dead! The shock of the thousand stings 
is fatal. 
fish has disappeared in the mass of red blue and white ten- 
tacles that form the greater part o: the body of this fairy 
fisherman. I have seen a Hawksbill Twitle, weighing five 
pounds, completely conquered by one of them, and indeed 
I nearly lost my own life by accidentally swimming over 
one. The most serious symptom was dyspnoea, and almost 
entire prostration of the nervous system,and the red and blue 
marks or welts I carried to New York seven months after, 
The tentacle is rapidly drawn in, and soon the 
showing the immense power wielded by one of the lowest 
forms in animal life. Many other parasitic forms, espe- 
cially among the Annellide or worms, might be mentioned 
to show the great system of Nature, and the perfect adapt- 
ation and fitness of the smallest mite to its peculiar work. 
C.F. -H, 

+ 
8. H. Waxes, Hsg., President Department Public Parks: 
Str: The following are the donations to the Central 
Park Menagerie since November, 1873: 
* Red-shouldered hawk. Presented by Mr. Henry 
Steinway and James Halpin. 
1 Horned Toad. Presented by Miss Nina Worth. 
1 Burrowing Owl from Brazil. Presented by Captain 
A. W. Lavender, ship Clarendon. This bird alighted on 
deck of vessel when 100 miles off the coast of Uruguay. 
1 Merlin. Presented by Mr. John Sutherland. This 
bird was captured on board steamship Cuba, 250 miles 
from Queenstown, Ireland.. 
1 Red-shouldered Hawk. Presented by Mr. James Halpin. 
Fourteen Box Turtles, 1 Eagle, 1 Agave, 1 Yucca, 1 
Bald Eagle, 1 Flying Squirrel. 
Very respectfully, W. A. Conxkuin, 
Director, 
Che Fennel. 
—Philip Meyers, of Brookiyn, died last week in terrible 
agony from hydrophobia. He was bitten through the 
thumb by asmall spitz dog in September last. The dog 
was killed the same day, but was not thought to be rabid. 
The wound healed, and no ill effects followed until the 
afternoon of Thanksgiving Day. Then Meyers was taken 
sick and died soon after n.idnight. 
ri 
THE FOOD OF SPORTING DOGS. 


CaP a 
N feeding dogs, as well as horses, an antomical and phys- 
iological view cannot fail to be asafe index to the system 
to be pursued. By these aids we are led to conclude that 
dogs are neither wholly herbivorous nor wholly carnivorous, 
but are so formed as to be capable of deriving nutriment 
from either vegetable or atimal matter. The dog is by 
nature predacious, and inteded to live on the flesh of other 
animals, but at the same time it is clear that his organs fit 
him for receiving nourishment from vegetable substances 
also, and occasionally we see them voluntarily seek it, most 
likely as a necessary mixture to prevent the frequent tend- 
ency to putridity which a diet confined to animal food alone 
begets. It seems pretty plain, therefore, that a mixture of 
animal and vegetable matter is the proper food for dogs, 
On this point I believe most persons are agreed. Not so, 
however, as to the proportion and nature and quality of 
each to be administered. In many of the old works on the 
chase, this system of giving raw animal food to hounds is 
strongly recommended, and in some cases the steaming 
entrails of a newly-killed horse were advocated as being the 
best possible restorative for hounds after returning from an 
arduous day’s work. Bonesare good food for poor hounds, 
as there is great proof in them. Sheep’s trotters are very 
weet food, and will be of service when horse flesh is not to 
be had. Bullocks’’ bellies may be also of some use if you 
can get nothing else. Some sportsmen are unfavorable to 
the use of flesh as food for dogs, on the ground that it is in- 
jurious to their olfactory powers, but this I cannot but 
think is an erroneous notion, if only on the ground of what 
actually occurs in a state of nature. All the memb-rs of 
the canine race, dog, wolves, and foxes, are carnivorous 
and, as such, live by means of their exquisite scenting facul- 
ties, which enable them to hunt down the animals they prey 
on, and it would be altogether out of reason to imagine 
that the pursuit of these natural instincts should frustrate 
the end for which they were ordained. Flesh, therefore 
if not given out of all proportion to the amount of exertion 
undergone, is never likely to impair the scenting powers. 
It is only where a superabundant supply of animal food is 
given to animals out of work, or not taking a proper 
amount of exercise, that the olfactory powers become im- 
paired, as then the secretions of the body become vitiated 
and those of the nose suffer equally with the rest; in fact, 
by sportsmen, any defects in these latter organs are more 
readily detected than in any others, except those which are 
palpable to an ordinary observer. Animal food, therefore, 
when given in a judicious manner, forms the most nutri- 
tious food, and is better adapted for sustaining the sporting 
powers of dogs, more particularly foxhoigdd than any 
other. The raw flesh of animals appears particularly to in- 
crease the courage and ferocity of the participators; and 
where these qnalities are requisite, this mode of feeding 
will undoubtedly tend thereto, and therefore we consider 
that it is the best possible food for hounds. Of the varieties 
of animal matter none answer the purpose so well as horse- 
flesh. When animal substances are becoming putrid, by 
burying them two or three feet under ground, the putrefac- 
tive process is arrested and the earth tends to sweeten the -- 
meat. It is doubtful, however, whether putrid meat is so 
Tos 

