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FOREST AND STREAM. 


cost them less than a eent a pound for feed. Mr. Ruble 
who has ponds in Iowa and feeds liver, says that the cost 
of feed is so trifling that he does not count it in the cost of 
raising trout; this, of course, is owing to the amount of in- 
sect food fhat breeds in the water. 
The above authors being standard authorities on Trout 
Culture have a tendency to keep many from engaging in it; 
and I submit if it would not be well for you to give it alittle 
attention in Forest AnD STREAM. 
Yours, 
Blatural History. 
STRANGE DUCKS, 
A. PALMER. 


URING the past three years several strange ducks have 
appeared on the Atlantic borders. Two of them have 
been shot near ‘‘Blackbird,” on the Delaware, another near 
Syracuse, New York, and a fourth is in a case of mounted 
ducks in this city: By a singular coincidence two letters 
came to us last week calling our attention to the specimens 
first named above, and recognizing their resemblance, from 
descriptions, to the one in case, we were enabled to 
make an intelligent comparison therewith. Our asso- 
ciate, Mr. Batty, has taken the matter in hand, and we 
append herewith, both his opinion and one of the letters 
referred to. 
PHILADELPHIA, December 27, 
EDITOR Forest AND STREAM:— 
Among your many readers there may be some one who 
can name and classify an odd and possibly new duck (cer- 
tainly new to our waters), a description of which I append: 
Two of these ducks, and both drakes unfortunately, or I 
could add the description of the female, weighed twenty- 
two and a half pounds, very closely resembling a Mallard 
in marking, color, anc having the white half ring on the 
neck. 
They were shot three years ago at the close of a pro- 
longed northeast storm which proved so disastrous on our 
coast, and Iam strongly of the belief that they are a for- 
eign species, and were driven in their migrations out of 
their usual course to our shores by the gale. The bill of 
this duck is quite aslong as the head and resembling the 
Mallard in the rounding of the tip and general shape. 
Head large and oblong, higher at the crown. Feet short 
and thick. Legs well feathered to a little above the joint. 
Claws small compared with the size of the feet. Plumage 
very thick, that of the head and neck down to the white 
half ring on the neck a changeable dark green of a more 
bluish cast than on that of the Mallard. Wings short, pri- 
maries dark slate color, outer’ one white. Secondaries— 
light brown and on the inner edge lighter in color. Tail 
wide and rounded, of fourteen dark feathers without the 
recurring of central ones. Feet orange red. The white 
half ring on the neck broader than the Mallard. Upper 
part of the breast reddish brown spotted with black. | At 
the base of the lower mandible a white spot. Back brown 
black mixed with bronze colored feathers. Rump dark 
brown interspersed wi ha metalic blue lustre. Scapulars 
brown.” A beauty spot on the wing of a shining green at 
the lower end, tipped with white.=Breast proper, light 
brown, mottled with black, and gradually running into a 
grey as it approaches the vent. Sides grey, with innumer- 
able dark wavy lines of black, Belly and vent lighter grey. 
Measurement from bill to tail 82} inches, around the body 
24 inches.” Weight when shot 11+ pounds. 
As this description is given from a mounted specimen, I 
am unable'to give other measurements. Homo. 
Mr. Batty says :— 
All these ducks captured ave males, and in their general 
color and form resemble the Anas boschas, or Mallard duck. 
It isremarkable that the plumage of these ducks varies 
ereatly in color, and there has not been two individuals 
taken'that have the plumage alike in ‘its coloration. One 
specimen has pure white primaries, another has them a 
dark slafe color.” In one case the white band on the neck 
ig but little broader than is usually observed on the drake 
of the Mallard, and in another the band is three inches 
deep and voes’ citirely around the neck, and is spotted with 
rufous. * 
Having compared the descriptions of some of these 
ducks; and examined others, I think that these ‘‘strange 
ducks” are hybrids, and the progeny of the male Mallard 
andthe femalés of the’ White-fronted and Snow Geese. 
The plumage of the ducks is heavy and compact, resem- 
bling that of ‘the geese mentioned, in'texture.’ One which 
was ‘killed on the “Delaware river has the white markings at 
the base of the bill, which ‘are peculiar to the Anse?” Gam, 
beh” Another Has white’primariés, which is a characteris- 
‘tic mark of the Anser hyperborcus. In fact specific features 
of the Mallard ‘and White-fronted and Snow Geese appear 
in the’plumagé ahd structure of these large ducks, and I 
think it probable that tliat they will hereafter be found to 
‘be hybrids, as before stated. Hy brids. of the Mallard and 
‘Black Duck have been taken, and I have known the Biack 
Ducks (Anas obsca7va) and domesticated Mallards to breed 
on several occasions, on Ashley Lake, near Holyoke, Mass. 
The small bantam rooster’ has been ‘known to breed with 
the larger variety of fowl, and why should not the Mallard, 
and ‘our smaller speciés of geese produce hybrids, w hen 
‘they inhabit the sdimé districts, and frequent the same wa- 
ters, und associate.” Tt'is to’ De regrétted that one of these 
“strange ducks” could not bé had in the flesh, by some or- 
‘nithologist, so that its organic structure might be success- 
fully studied. 
’ “Should another specimen of these ducks be taken by any 
1873. 




of the readers of the Forrest anp Stream, I should be 
happy to mount it gratuitously, and give an opinion as to 
its specific character. J. EL. BATT; 
Bath, Kings County, N. Y. 
EEE Sy 
AMERICAN MusEuM or NATURAL History, 
CENTRAL PArk, New York, Dec. 23, 187: 
Eprror Forrest AND STREAM :— 
It is patent on the face of your handsome paper that a 
very considerable gulf—which has been all but persistent— 
between science and credulity, is being bridged ‘over in 
yeur columns. Your sportsmen are the very men to keenly 
enjoy the more solid truths when they are established and 
understood, and there is unquestionably an added Zest 
to their favorite pastime when a view of the game recalls 
in the certain relations, or exhibits characters or functions 
which he has fondly and systematically learned through the 
eye of science. 
With a view to add an item in this direction, and more 
particularly in this case to meet the constantly recurring 
question, ‘‘How does the porcupine throw its quills?” I 
send you an account of an occurrence in the Central Park 
Zoélogical collection. The Director, Mr. Conklin, who 
has kindly furnished me these facts, had occasion to enter 
the large aviary, where, as a matter of present convenience, 
he had placed some specimens of the white haired porcu- 
pine, (erethizon dorsatus.) Here he also placed a young bare. 
The latter immediately sought cover in the corner of an 
open box. Mr. Conklin and his faithful “Mike” became 
at once solicitous, as a porcupine lay curled within the 
same enclosure. It is well known that the latter animal is 
as timid as a hare, and in this instance, true to its nature, 
the creature Hueped the floor, presenting his back and, tail 
but securely concealing his here and feet. Both animals 
in a box of less than three feet length were ensconsed closely 
each in its own manner, at Ge ages corners. Mike, who 
swears he “‘had’nt his eye off ’em,” says that “Porky shot 
off a complete shower of quills at the hare; for,” says he, 
‘We picked out over a hundred from him.” “True,” says 
Mr. Conklin; “but the most singular circumstance is that 
the hare was literally covered by the quills; that is, 
they were plunged into the nose, ears, feet, body, and, too, 
on both sides alike.” Nothing will convince Mike that 
these quills were not shot off like so many barbed jayeling 
by some inherent propelling power. 
The porcupine, whose spines are not very conspicuous 
ordinarily, when aroused.for defense, throws up the mask 
which conceals his battery, and lo, the long hairs of his 
back have been lifted from a shield-like patch, which is 
closely beset with short quills. The short tail also bears a 
large share of the weapons. These quills are very finely 
pointed and barbed; they are also set so loosely in the skin 
that the slighest plunge into the enemy suffices to fix them, 
where they remain not only to tease the victim, but to cre- 
ate a dapgerous irritation. 
The habit of the creature when aroused will show how 
he discharges the quills. He crouches closely to conceal 
the vulnerable parts, and then, presenting the quills toward 
the enemy, unmasked, strikes them in by quickly moneaed 
sidelong blows from the tail. So rapidly does he thrust 
and recover his weapon, the action is not readily noticed ; 
the effects are, however, most palpable. 
I think that nhtualigts have usually regarded this as the 
true explanation of the habit. We may add this as a fresh 
instance which may meet the eye of some one who yet is 
inclined to ask: ‘Does the porcupine shoot its quills?” | 
J. B. Hoxper. 
a eee, 
ARLINGTON, MaAss., 
Eprror Forrest AND STREAM :— 
In the No 20, of Forest AnD SrrREAM, I notice a few re- 
marks upon the peculiar resorts of certain kinds of game. 
It may not prove uninteresting to “some of your readers 
to know of my own experience and observations in réla- 
tion to the bird spoken of as the ‘‘Upland Plover.” This 
bird I have always supposed ‘to belong to the class 
of shore birds named the “‘tattler” or in the words of the 
Marblehead, sportsmen, the ‘‘talkers,” from the peculiar 
notes uttered by them when high in the air, or about to 
alight upon the shore, or the hillsides of old Salem and 
Danvers. I have always classed this bird as the Aetimus 
bartramius. If itis a plover strictly speaking, it has acquired 
the name, through common consent, or perhaps from its 
sometimes being found in close companionship with real 
simon pure Charadriida which is very unlike? I have for 
years past traversed the beach shores of Massachusetts, 
from east Boston to Ipswich, with gun in hand, and am 
quite familiar with all the hannts of the many birds of dif- 
ferent kinds that frequent these shores. I have found my 
experience in relation to the peculiar haunts and habits of 
the alighting and feeding grounds of this bird is somewhat 
different from the experience of other sportsmen, in some 
few general respects. You will find at some seasons, and 
under some peculiar aspects of the weather this bird will 
be found feeding along the beaches, and near the second 
line of sea weed, upon the shores of Marblehead, the ‘‘Little 
Neck” as it is called, being an often sought feeding 
ground. When thus eng aged, you ‘will be able to ap- 
proach within quite short gun range. You will also notice 
on such occasions the change usrally is after a dense fog, 
which is at the time slowly lifting itself to the morning 
sun. Now is the time for the sportsman to bag hi§ birds if 
he would do so at all, before the fog lifts entirely and exposes 
a sun-shiny beach. If you await until this moment, 
there is little question as to the term you will apply to your 
birds. They are now ‘‘upland plover,” indeed, and you will 
Dec. 27. 1873. 


have to climb the sides of ‘Leg’s Hill,” in Salem, to get 
even a squint across your barrel. Ihave found them in 
quite a number of different feeding places, in places quite 
the reverse of those stated in Fin, Pr, and Feather. 1 do 
not think it generally seeks from natural choice, the galt 
-marshes, particularly wheu there is much water covering 
their surface, but I have filled my game bag with those 
same fine fellows i in two hours after the tide had left these 
marshes. Ihave had good sport on Newburyport snipe 
grounds, some days. AndI have had on thesame grounds 
one week later, splendid hunting, and waiting, but have 
not bagged a single bird. On one occasion I spent-nearly 
a forenoon on Marblehead beach, and no birds were wait- 
ing to be shot. I heard their peculiar call, and in response 
to my-whistle, an answering note came fulland clear, from 
the high bills between Salem and Marblehead. Upon 
reaching this high pasture ground in a little over two hours 
timé I bagged twenty-seven of what I called the Actimus 
bartramius, and some half dozen of the Numenus arquatu:, 
or curlew. In my experience of the habitsfof this bird, 
which are quite amusing, I have found these birds accom- 
modate themselves more to the place where they find good 
baiting, or feeding grounds, than to the particular localities 
themselves. Some of my best shooting ‘has been on “what 
arc known as the long Ipswich Neck grounds; here from 
the fifteenth day of August until the fifteenth of Septem- 
ber, or until the first-smart frost, I have bagged many 
fine birds with an occasional friend of another speciés, who 
like Tray was found in just such company as ill fate would 
have it, and consequently went to ‘‘bag.” 
Although this bird would be called generally shy, we 
think much more depends upon the manner of approach 
to the game, than shyness of the game itself. I have found 
these birds feeding near shallow ponds of water, and walk- 
ed up and knocked over a dozen at atime. I never await 
for my birds to get ready to fly before I shoot. Any well 
versed sportsman knows, or should know all about this. 
In conclusion I am of the i impression that this bird quite 
frequently visits salt marshes, water, and the borders of 
meadows, and shallow ponds of water for the purpose of 
procuring food. Truly, L. Wyman. 
ESI Ey ST 
Tre Instincr or Cuipmunks.—A writer mentions 
some curious characteristics of the striped squirrel or chip- 
munk. ‘This little animal, so obnoxious to farmers, digs 
his subterranean abode during the month of June, carrying 
off all the dirt in his mouth to a considerable distance from 
his burrow and scattering it about among piles of rocks or 
bushes; seeming to understand that if left piled up at the 
entrance, it would readily attract the attention of his 
enemies to his domicile. For the like reason, to baffle 
pursuit, chipmunks dig their burrows about two feet per- 
pendicularly and then continue them in a horizontal line 
for some distance; from this base of construction numerous 
irregular passages radiate in all directions, having the nest 
and storehouse of the occupant as a common centre and 
objective point. Such a labyrinth not only makes it diffi- 
cult for aa intruder to find the nest, but enables the inmates 
to make their escape with ease. The striped squirrel com- 
mences to hoard his store in July. He carries in cherry- 
stones, apple seeds, and beech-nuts in large quantities, 
sometimes to the amount of half a bushel. The writer re- 
marks that he has seen this little creature drive off the red 
and grey squirrels when they happened to come near his 
castle, and asks if he be the champion fighter of the two. 
He also wants to know if any person ever saw more than 
one chipmunk inhabiting the same burrow. 
—> 
—The octopus caught off the coast of Newfoundland, or 
what portions of him were obtainable, is exciting a great 
deal of interest. Such fragments of the huge cuttle as 
were photographed amaze one as to their size. The crea- 
ture must have belonged to gigantic species of cuttle-fish. 
Its body must have been eight feet in length, and. was 
probably five feet in circumference. The arms were ten in 
number, radiating from the head, and in the middle there 
was a powerful beak. Two of the arms were 24 fect in 
length. That specimens have been seen off the coast of 
Newfoundland with arms of 80 feet in length, admits of no 
question. Ofcourse this is huge enough, though we are 
pleased to notice that in accordance with our own ideas as 
published in our columns, the gigantic cuttlefish caught by 
the French corvette ‘‘Alectron,” as shown in Figueir’s 
book, on no less an authority that than of Professor Morse, 
is an impossible picture. The capture of even the disjecta 
membrn of this cuttlefish, and the photograph taken, will 
allow us to-day to study and epptediate one of nature's s 
greatest marvels. 
——4——. 
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC PARKs, 
Ciry or New York, 
DECEMBER 30th, 1873. 
Eprror Forest AND STREAM:— 
The following donations were made to Central Park 
during the present month :— 
One South American hawk, from Ernest F. Hofmann. 
One South American squirrel, from McLefferts. 
One turkey buzzard, from Cyrus J. Van Gorden. 
Two Canada porcupine, from Jas. Blood. 
One monkey, from Mrs. Fred Lewis. 
One pair imported Kerry cattle, from Thos. P. Ransdell. 
One Irish hare, from Thos. Hamilton. 
One pair wild turkeys, Mr. Underhill. 
Respectfully, S. H. Watzs, 
Jan. 8.—Animals received at Central Park Menagerie for 
the week ending January 2, 1874: 
One red and blue Macaw, Ara macao. Hab. Central 
America. 
One Rhesus Monkey, Macacus er bea te India. 
A. CONKLIN. 
far 
