I y :^iili|l||||ii Mil' WtiM^ Wm Wm^ liiMI^ •i >.ii;^vi', '-..1-;? mu5 HARVARD UNIVERSITY. LIBRARY MUSEUM OF COMPARATIVE ZOOLOGY Bequest of WILLIAM BREWSTER ■TJlMUM 1^, IQ^O. ^^ II 1 WILLIAM BREWSTER 1 f -1 FEB 1/ i^_ J VOL. II. 1895-6. THE MUSEU/n. A /Monthly Science Journal. Rates. SI. 00 a year in advance to all countries. PUBLISHED THE FIFTEENTH OF EACH MONTH BY THE MUSEUM PUBLISHING CO., ALBION, N. Y. INDEX. VOL. 11. Among the Rockies 7, 45, 382 A New Classitioation 109 Albinos 113, 139 Antarctic Centinent 240 Birds as Prott'ctors to Orchards 26 Birds of Bermuda 73 Bine Mound, So Dak 80 Boomeraug and its Freaks 156 Bahy Hippopotamus 229 Changes in Land and Sea 12 Oollectiug iu a Floi'ida Swamp 53 Crane Murmonism 79 Crater Lake 85 Clay Slate of Vermont 131 Chipmunk and how he Excavated his Bur- row 245 Canons of Southern France 250 Carrion Route, A 269 Do Birds Reason 11, 77, 1.S7 Don't 199 Discoveries near Mayslick, Ky 207 Exterrainaiion of the Bulfalo 84 Electricity in Modern VVarfare 160 Edward Drinker Cope 270 Few Useful Bi s of Knowledge for Students of Lepidoptera 87 Field Columbian Museum Expedition ... 225 Few Hints Upon the Markings of Eggs . . .248 Gems of Quartz Origiii .277 Handful of Weeds 21 Hair Worms 184 Instructions for Collecting. Preparing and Shipping Fresh Water bhells 187 Is This a Common Occurrence? 349 Limestone Boulders of Central Vermont. . .75 Michigan Sparrows 56 Mounting Objects for the Microscope in Canadian Balsam 90 My Solution of the Ovenbird 140 Moi-e Esjg.s Outside of Nests 152 My Buboes of '96 ; 163 Mosaic Account of Creation versus Sci- ence 177 Notes.. 16„55, 80. 113, 138, 161, 185, 209, 228,281 Notes from the Fulton Co., 111. Natural His- tory Society 78 Notes from the Mohawk's Country 81, 111, 125, 149, 174 197. 219, 239, 259 Natural History Jottings 88 Notes from Lewiston, 111 89 Notes from Ohio 140 Nesting of the Rad tail Hawk 301 Netsuke, The 223 Notes on the Nesting Habits of Some of Our Feathered Friends on Vancouver Island, B. C 247 Nassau's Phosphorescent Lake 255 Notes on the Arctic Work for 1896 376 One of Nature's Curiosities 110 Ooloiiists As.sociation 804 Peabody Museum 153 Porcelains and Ceramics 267 Palm Houses at Washington 15 Queries and Suggestions 175, 304 Quartz Rock in Clay Slate 203 Rare Birds iu Ontario 128 Rook with a History • • 155 Science Gleanings 1, 101, 180, 261 Showy Sea Shells 17, 37, 70, 211 Summer Cruise of the Albatross 41 Science of Geology and Bible Account of Creation 104, 133 Set of Owl's Eggs 115 Some Crystalized Micas of N. C 206 Some Notes on the Collections of Shells in the Museums of Paris, Berlin and Am- sterdam 280 The Pearl 89 Tanning 40 The Ostrich 114 Tiger Swallow-Tail 308 UnionidsB or Fresh Water Mussels 107 Useful Weed. A 353 Visions of the Past 186, 330, 353 Village Bird StufTer 189 Visit to Some Maine Heroneries 221 Will Hunt in Central Africa 139 West Coast Species of Haliotis 158 VOL. II. NO. I. NOVEMBER, 1895. THE MUSEUM. A Journal Devoted to Research in Natural Science. RA TES : — $1. 00 per year to all countries, in advance. Single numbers, 10 cts. Berlin Agency, R. FRrEDLANDER & Sohn, Berlin, N. W, Carlstrasse 11. London Agency, Swann & Co., 1 and 2 Bouverie St., Fleet St., Loudon, England. Published the Fifteenth of Each Month by AXr ALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. THE MUSEUM. A New Departure. A Permanent Branch of Webb's Natural History Establishment at KEOKUK, IOWA. Under the Management of Mr. Geo. M. Crofts. For years collectors in the West and South have been obliged to send for Taxidermy Material, Supplies of all kinds, Specimens, etc., to far Eastern houses, as Albion, Boston, New York and the like, and yet with but one excep- tion, no place has been opened in the far West where a general line of Supplies and Specimens could be had. Our store which is now open and ready for business, is conveniently locat- ed on the ground floor of a brick block on Main Street in the hustling city of Keokuk, famous the world over as being the place where "Geodes" were liter- ally to be collected in any quantity. Street cars pass from the Union Depot by our store all day, and we herewith extend an invitation to all Collectors in the West or South to visit our store and see the "treasures" therein. Our specialty at the Western Office will be Minerals, Rocks, Fossils, Shells and Marine Specimens. WALTER F. WEBB, Keokuk, la.; or, Albion, N. Y. TINY Arrow Heads ot semi-]irpcious stone from Oregun, New Mexico, ArizonM, etc.. are elegant ami becom- ing scarce. 10,000 dint Arrow.s and Spears from all ovev the Uuiti-fl States, from $.U5 to $2.00 each — common forms to choice and rare. A variety will be sent on application to any one giving good references. I pay postage one way. A few cents will return the pack- age. The Noble Fossils of the Cheyenne River Bad Lands. Three tons of fine Minerals; most all the species in Dana furnished. Sliells, Alumiautn Goods, Agate and Pyrites Jewelry, Sioux Indian Uelics. Catalogue with prices, for stamp. Natural History Establishment OF- L. W. STILWELL, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, DEADWOOD, S. D. SEND 15c. STAMPS ^°/ ^fw """ '"''''^*' NORMAL CATALOGUE of all European-paltearctlc bird eggs, in over tiOrt iiuinber.s, with prices and niimber ol' sets for each species. HERmANN ROLLE. INSTITUTION FOR NATURAL HISTORY, BERLIN N. W., EMDENER-STR. 4, GERMANY Free to Sportsmen! CUT (.)iNE-HALF SI/K If you are interested in Hunting, Fishing. Canoeing, Camping, Natural Historv, Fish Culture, Rilie and Trap Shooting, or if .von own a Uog, drop us a postal and we will tell you how you can get a $l.. 50 Knife free; and also hand you a specimen cop f of The Am- ateur Sportsman, a monthly magazine devoti'd to the interest of all lovers ot the Gun, Rod and Dog. Address, The Amateur Sportsman, 27 Park Place, New-York. THE MUSEUM. WANTS, EXCHANGES AND FOE SALES. All notices that come under above will be inserted in this department until further notice at one-half (*) cent a word. No notice less than 25c. Terms Cash with order. No charge for address. I shall at all times endeavor to keep parties, whose reputation is of a doubtful char- acter from using these columns. TO EXCHANGE.— Sets of 390, 477, 498, .563, 593, 597, 610, 703, and 761; also have some singles, for sets of other localities. C. R. STOCKARD, Columbus, Miss. WANTED.— A small bore Winchester Re- peater; also a high grade double barrel gun. Will trade specimens or supplies for same. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N, Y. WILL EXCHANGE both Manton's taxider- my and Manton's insects, for a copy of Man- ton's beginners with the microscope. Both books are in good condition. H. J. TWIGGS, Summerville, Augusta, Ga. WANTED.— 10 or 1'3 guage Repeating Shot- gun, Damascus' barrel full choke;also Dr. Fish- er's "Hawks and Owls" of U. S. Offer finely mounted birds, fresh skins, or eggs in sets from this locality. R. H. BECK, Berryessa, Cal. CRINOIDS! FUCOIDS:— Fossils of all kinds in quantity that belong to the Medina group for other fossils or minerals. Rare slabs cheap for cash or good exchange. T. H. DERRICK, West Kendall, N. Y. I HAVE a Scott's International Postage Stamp Album, in good condition, covered with leather, which I will exchange for U, S. or foreign stamps. WILLARD DOBBINS, Lock Box 22, Barnesville, Ohio. ■' WANTED.— Copies of Cones' Key, Ridge- way's Manual or any other book that we list, new or second hand, for which we offer other books, specimens, supplies or possibly cash if a bargain. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. I HAVE a good assortment of Florida Sea Shells, etc, to exchange for a good 32 caliber Rifle; rim fire is preferred. Give particulars. H. T. ALLEN, Seven Oaks, Fla. JUST THINK, twenty varieties of tickets from the World's Fair, for only 12c. Curios- ities in exchange for a pair of 11i ice skates or stamps. CLINTON A FOX, 525 West 61st St., Station O, Chicago. 111. WANTED— A good gun, a 5 x 7 folding camera, high grade wheel. Will exchange fine Mt. Sheep Heads, Deer Heads or any- thing in our line of mounted specimens. Have also an extra fine Cow Moose Skin, and female Mt. Sheep Skin in pickle; fine for mounting; to exchange for anything we can use. WM. HOWLING & SON' Taxidermists, Minneapolis, Minn. TO EXCHANGE.— Chautauqua Shell Col- lection as advertised by Webb, 33 shells; als^ Birds' Eye Marble. Want Indian Relics, Cry" stals, Agates or Minei'als. C. E. BRIGGSi Lisbon, Iowa. COLLECTORS, buy your trays in fiat. Note prices, 1+ x 2 per hundred, 35c; 3x3 per hundred, 40c; 3x4 per hundred, 45c; 4 x 6 per hundred, 50c. Green, black, red or white paper. Add one-fourth of order for postage, or we will send by express. Any child of 10 years can make up these trays. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. WANTED.— Strips of three stamps of the present issue— Ic. 2c, 3c and 4c. showing im- print "Bureau, Engraving & Printing " and plate number on margin. Will pay cash 25 per cent, above face for all numbers below number 100. W. L. DUNBAR, Box 531, Bridgeport, Conn. INDIAN STONE and Flint Relics for sale cheap. Five fine arrows mounted on card, 30c postpaid. Axes, celts, clubheads, etc, 25c up. Send for outlines. A. D. GRUTZ- MACHER, Mukwonago, Wis. 2 WANTED.— Deer, Elk, Moose, Bear and Mt. Sheep heads. Any size but Al condition. Also Rugs nicely lined. State what you have and what vou want to get. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.— I will exchange 50 good stamps for every good Arrow Point or 100 stamps for each good Spearhead that is sent me; also have fine sets of A. O. U., No. 613, to exchange for Arrow and Spear Heads. WALTER E. MCLAIN, New Vineyard, Me. PRINTING OUTFIT FOR EXCHANGE.— I have on hand two printing presses, 6+ x 9, 3 x 5, and type enough to set 16 pages with out change. Cost between $125 and $175 com- plete. The outfit has not been used over one month and is new. I will trade for bird skins, eggs or game heads mounted or un- mounted, or I will sell cheap for cash. I would be pleased to correspond with parties wishing the above. Enclose stamp for re- plies. JAMES P. BABBITT, Hodges Ave., Taunton, Mass. WANTED.— Correspondents interested in diurnal lepidoptera or addresses of persons who can procure the same in the N. W. W. and S. Western states. LEVI W. MENGEL, Reading, Fa. THE MUSEUM. FERNS. — If you are interested in studying the curious and interesting things about them you should subscribe for the "Linnaeau Fern Bulletin," Binghamton, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE.— Eggs, stamps, minerals, curios, etc, for genuine Indian impliments. Address, L. C. GKANT, 24 Brown St., Spring- field, Mass. COLUMNS. Try our exchange columns. If you have anything you want to sell or ex- change liere is the place for it. We will accept first-class specimens at one-half rates in pay- ment of space in these columns BOUND VOLUMES of the Museum. Any of our subscribers who wish to return us the first 13 numbers of the Museu.m prepaid we will send them twelve numbers of like date neatlj' bound in cloth, for 50c and 10c addi- tional for postage. Or bound in full leather, law book style for 90'- prepaid to you. We will send Vol. I, 12 numbers, being a book of nearly 400 pages, handsomely illustrated pre- paid for 1.50. W, F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. THE NATURALIST AND SPORTSMAN, a monthly magazine, devoted to Natural His- tory and field sports. No. 1 will be ready Jan. 1, 181)6. Advance subscriptions will be taken at 25 cents (silver) per year if seat be- fore Dec. 10. Free exchange columns. Cor- respondence solicited. LEROY NASON, Berwick, Me. NOTICE.— If you want a good method for Embalming birds, send me a set of eggs worth 30 cents, or more with stamp, for one. R. P. SMITHWICK, Merry Hill, Bertie Co., N. C. WANTED. — Fine complete sets of Hawks, Owls. Grouse, Ducks &3., for cash. Prefer to take in large lots. Send full list and I will advise what I will pay. W. F. WEBB, Al- bion. N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.— I have a good type- writer, pair of boxing gloves and a ritie to ex- change. Make me an offer; best offer gets them. M. W. HUGHES, Wanconda, Illinois. STAMP COLLECTORS.— Send us a trial order, you'll never regret it; 100 rare Stamps, 10c; 30 var. unused, including Columbian and Depts., only 25c. Set of Japan Silver Wed- ding, unused, 15e. War Dept., unused, com- plete set, $4.50. He Blue Paper, War Dept. env., entire, 6c. Approval Sheets at 40perct. discount. MEEKER-TOWE STAMP CO., Box 296, Bridgeport, Conn. . FO.SSILS, FOSSILS, FOSSILS.-Have you any fine fossils, large or small, all sizes, in any quantity v If .so, .send me full list, giving number, condition and price, and what you wish. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N'. Y. WANTED.— Birds in the meat from the At- lantic shore, and other localities not too far from Albion. Rare species particularly de- sired. I will pay charges and give good ex- change or cash for such as can be used. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. WANTED. — New or second hand copies of Coues' Key, Ridge way's Manual or other books on Natural Science for which I offer specimens, instruments, supplies, other books or part cash. Send list of what you want in return. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. FOR SALE. — Large Whip Snake, in spirits, $1. Snake Skins, (shed) 3 to 5 tt., 35 to 75 cts. Snake Photos, 10c. Old Navy Cutlass, $3. Old Powder Horn, 5iic. Pepper Box Revolver, used in late war, $1.50. All sizes. Glass cover shades for Taxidermists and lilower Makers. J. H. TEEL, Binghamton, N. Y. WANTED. — At once, for cash or exchange, the following fossils: Fossil Leaves and Ferns, Calamine Plants, Archamides Worth- enii, Belemitcs, Grypheas, Chain Coral, var- ious Fossil Corals, "Ammonites, Orthis, Spiri- fers, etc. Parties having any of above or other good fossils, please write, stating quant- ity you have, size and price for lot. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y., or Keokuk, Iowa. FOR EXCHANGE.— A good Inter-collegiie Spalding foot ball, cost $5.00 last year, to ex- change for a pair of steel lever skate Nn 3 , Baruev & Berry, preferred. L \\r>LiAM- SON, 'Rochester, Ind. FOR SALE. — A few small birds on showy stands, suitable for Christmas preset t Prices, 75c, $1.00, $1.50 and $2.00. Send In which ever priced one you wish and we w i I guarantee you will be pleased. W. F. WEBU. Albion, N."Y. I HAVE a large fine pair of Elk Antlers o i Skull; also a tine Bison's head nicely mounti d to exchange for a good grade of Doulile Bai • rel Shot Gun and Mounted Birds, and Skin.^. Eggs and most any thing the collector wants. Address, with stamp, C. F. KITE, Denver, Ind. W. F. Webb. Dear Sir: — Find$l enclosed for subscription to Museum for commg year. Have been very well pleased with past numbers. Your.^ very truly, F. P. DROWNE, 20 Benefit St , Provi' dence, R. I. Good Christmas Presents. All are in stock and guaranteed to suit. Price Prepaid Johnson's Natural History, 2 vol., leath- er bound $10 00 Hornaday 's Taxidermy 3 50 Davie's Taxidermy 4 90 Davie's Nests and Eggs 1 25 Moorehead's Fort Ancient 2 00 Eastern Persia, covering Zoology, Geol- ogy and Biography, 2 volumes 4 00 Pennant's British Zoology, 4 vols., illus- trated 6 00 Coues' Key to N. A. Birds 7 50 Ridgeway's Manual to N. A. Birds 7 50 Goss' Birds of Kansas 6 00 W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y THE MUSEUM. Thanksgiving Offer of birds eggs The following list of line eggs are all in stock, but as one carrying so many kinds must necessarily lie out of some, we wouki be obliged if customevs would name a few substitutes. All are strictly first class specimens. Each egg will be numljered to correspond with a printed lis.. All specimens will be sent prepaid by mail or express. As an iuducem ut for several to order together and make orders as large as possible I make the following discounts. Send $ 1 00 and select eggs to value of $ 1 2.5. 3 00 " •' •' " 3 00 '■ " " " 4 00 5 00 •' " " " 7 .-jO " •' ■' " " 10 UO " .< 25 00 " " " " These discounts will not apply to the specimens listed as Miscellaneous unless at least .$10 worth are ordered. Smaller than this amount our best discount on them is 50 per cent. With a $5 order, in addilion to above discounts, we will give a free subscription to the The Museum for 1896, providing you mention this offer. ' 2 50 ' 4 25 ' 6 00 • 10 00 ' 17 50 ' 30 00 ' 83 00 Western Grebe $ 50 American Eared Grebe is Pied-blUed Grebe 10 Loon 1 .TO Puffin eo Cassin's Auklet.. 1 60 Mim-e -20 California Murre '.'J Razor-billed Auk 'l'^ Parasitic Ja3ger 50 Kittiwake 40 Great Black-backeU Gull 60 Western Uull. 30 Herring Gull 20 American Herring Gull SO California Gull 30 Ring-billed Gull 30 Laughing Gull 30 Royal Tern 40 CabofsTern 40 Forster's Tern 10 Sooty Tern L'.f) Bridied Teru 1 10 Black Tern " 10 Noddy .'lO Fulmar 75 Leach's Petrel 20 Gannet 35 Faral lone Cormorant .W Brandt's Cormorant 2') American White Pelican 35 Brown Pelican 20 Mau-o'war Bird 1 00 Red-breasted Merganser 50 Mallard 20 Gadwell 7.t Baldpate 75 European Teal .20 Blue- winged Teal .. 20 Shoveller .. 50 Redhead .. 35 Canvass-back... 1 25 American Scoter 2 00 Canada Goose 1 00 Hlack-bellied Tree Duck.. . 2 00 Woi.,1 Ibis 1 00 White Ibis 35 American Hittern 75 Least Bittern 20 Great Blue Heron 25 Louisana Heron 12 Little Blue Heron 12 Green Heron 12 Black-crowned Night Heron 12 Limpkin 75 King Rail 80 Clapper Rail 12 Virginia Rail 80 Spotted Crake 30 Sora 10 Corncrake 20 Florida Galliuule 10 European Coot l.i American Coot 08 Red PhalaroDe ...1 SO Wilson's Phalarope ... . 76 American Avocet 50 American WnM,lc(.ck 1 00 European Snipe • 21 Wilsons Snipe .1 50 Piu'ple Sandpiper 2 00 Dunlin 35 Willet .40 Hartramian Sandpiper 35 Spotti'il Sandpiper 1.0 Long-billed Curlew 1 00 Lapwing 15 Killdeer 20 King Plover 20 Turnstone 2 00 Bow-white Id Florida Bob-white 15 Texan Bob- white 10 California Partridge 10 Sooty Grouse .85 Ruffed Grouse 15 Gray Ruffed Grouse 75 Willow Ptarmigan 1 00 Rock Ptarmigan 1 00 Prairie Hen 30 Sage Grouse 50 Chachalaca 75 Red-billed Pigeon 1 00 White-crowned Pigeon 1 00 Mourning Dove 03 White-winged Dove 20 Ground Dove „ 30 Mexican Ground Dove 60 Inea Dove '75 Mississippi Kite 4 00 Marsh Hawk 35 Cooiier's Hawk _ 30 Harris's Hawk 60 Red-tailed Hawk _ 50 Western Red-tail 60 Red-shouldered -Hawk a5 Fla. Red-shouldered Hawk 65 Red-Bellied Hawk 1 00 Sw^ainson's Hawk 50 Broad-winged Hawk 1 00 Bald Eagle 3 50 Kestrel 20 American Sparrow Hawk 20 Desert Sparrow Hawk 25 Audtibon's Caracara 1 00 American Osprey 50 American Barn Owl 3o American Long-eared Owl 35 Short-eared Owl 1 50 Barred Owl 1 00 Florida Barred Owl 1 25 Screech Owl 50 Florida Screech Owl 50 Texan Screech Owl .50 California Screech Owl 50 Great Horned Owl 1 00 Western Horned Owl 1 00 Hawk Owl.. 1 00 Bitrrowing Owl 15 Florida Burrowing Owl 1 50 Road-runner 25 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 10 Black-billed Cuckoo 15 Belted Kingfisher 20 Hairy Woodpecker , 50 Southern Haii-y Woodpecker 1 00 Downy Woodpecker 20 Gairduers Woodpecker 50 Baird's Woodpecker _ 1 OO Red-headed Woodpecker 08 Californian Woodjiecker 40 Lewis's Woodpecker 35 Red-bellied Woodpecker 25 Golden-tr'ted Woodpecker 50 Flicker 03 Red-shafted Flicker 10 Northwestern Flicker 25 Chuck will's -widow 1 50 Whip-poor-will _ 1 50 Merrill's Parauqtie 2 50 NightHawk 40 Western Nighthawk 60 Florida Nighthawk 1 00 Texan Nightha-svk 40 Chimney Swift 12 Euby-th'roated Hummingbird 50 Anna's Hummingbird 50 Scissor-talled Flycatcher 10 Kingbird 03 Arkansas Kingbird 06 Cassin's Kingbird _ 25 Crested Flycatcher 12 Mexican Crested Flycatcher. 40 Ash-throated Flycatcher 25 Pha>be... 04 Says's Phoebe 15 Bl.ack Phoebe 15 Wood Pewee 12 Western Wood Pewee 20 Western Flycatcher _ 20 Acadian Flycatcher 15 Little Flycatcher 25 Traill's Flycatcher 15 Least Flycatcher 15 Skylark 15 Prairie Horned Lark 15 American Magpie 15 ■Vellow-billed Magpie 35 Blue Jay 05 Florida Blue Jay 35 Blue-fronted Jay 75 California Jay 25 Green Jay 1 25 American Crow 05 Florida Crow 35 Northwest Crow 35 Fish Crow 35 Stiirling 10 Cowbird 03 Dwarf Cowbird 10 Red-eved Cowbird 40 Yellow-headed Blackbird 03 Red-winged Blackbird 02 Bicolored Blackbird 10 Tricolored Blackbird 15 Meadowlark 10 Western Meadowlark 10 Hooded Oriole 50 THE MUSEUM. Arizona Hoodea Oriole 35 Orchard Oriole 06 Baltimore Oriole 06 Bullock's Oriole jo Brewster's Blackbird 03 Purple Grackle 05 FlorldauGrackle ]0 Bronzed Grackle 05 Great-tailed Grackle 15 Boat-tailed Grackle 15 House Finch (15 American Goldfinch " 05 Arkansas Goldfinch lo Lawrence's Goldfinch 80 Blue-winged 'Warbler i 50 Golden-winsed Warbler. 75 Parula Warbler 20 Yellow Warbler 05 Myrtle Warbler 75 Magnolia Warbler 50 Chestnut-sided Warbler 15 Prairie Warbler ' 30 Oven-bii'd ..._ 20 Louisiana Water-thrush 50 Maryland Y. ll<.w-tliroat 13 Western Yellow thniat... 25 Yellow-breasted Chat " 08 Long-tailed Chat ]5 Lapland Longspur .".';.■.;: 75 Hooded Warbler w V;„??, ,'?."';™L'.'*L'^'^ Longspur 35 American Bediita.n"////S.Z'.'.'.\''.'.' 15 'Vesper Sparrow 05 Savanna Sparrow 10 Grasshopper Sparrow 20 Sharp-tailed Sparrow 35 Seaside Sparrow 20 Lark Sparrow 05 Western Lark Sparrow "" 05 Gambel's Sparrow 15 White-throated Sparrow . . 35 Chipiiiui,' Sp.irrow 02 WesiiTu ciiipping Sparrow ' 10 Field Sparrow 03 Slate-colored Junco .". 20 Black-throated Sparrow " 35 Song Sparrow '" 02 Desert Song Spari-ow . " 35 Mountain Song Sparrow 25 Heermann's Song Sparrow Samuel's Song Sparrow Rusty Song Sparrow Swamp Sparrow Texas SpaiTow... . Towhee Spurred Towhee Oregon Towhee... Califoruia T.iwhee .- Abert's Towhee. - Cardinal Arizona Towhee.. 1 00 Gray-tailed Cardinal "1 50 Texan Cardinal 35 j,^^^^^,^^ Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10 Chickadee Black-headed Grosbeak 15 Blue (irosbeak '" 20 We.st.-rn Hhi<- Grosbeak!!; 25 ludigc) Bunting.. 08 Lazuli Bunting.... 00 Painted Bunting 10 Sharpe's Seed-eater 1 00 Gras.squit ' "1 qo Dickcissel 05 Scarlet Tanager .. . "5 Summer Tanager "5 Purple Martin j'o Cliff Swallow. 00 Barn Swallow ni Tree Swallow .? Bank Swallow 03 Eough^LWinged Swalio-prr. 25 Cedar Waxiviug.. 10 Phainopepla. . 35 White-rumped Shrike- 08 California Shrike na Red-eyed Vireo iS Warbling Vireo... " ,5 White-eyed Vireo.. 15 Bell's Vireo... !? x»ln.^i ^1 iiT, -.■""^ — : : I-' White Wagtail !!......-" 10 Meadow Pipit 10 Amerii-an Dipper V."".."^^/.! 00 Saiii' Thrasher ,50 Moikiiii;bird ."..." 05 Catbird '~ 02 Bro-wn Thrasher ..'..... ' 03 Sennett's Thrasher 15 Curve-billed Thrasher.- 15 California Thrasher " 20 Bendlre's Thrasher " 75 Cactus Wren .*" 12 Kock Wren 50 Carolina Wren -—.-...... 10 Florida Wren 50 Lomita Wren 75 Bewick's'Wren 25 Vigor's Wren 25 Baird's Wren 25 House Wren _ 05 Parkman's Wren 15 Western House Wren 08 Short-billed Marsh Wren " 75 Long-billed Marsh Wren 05 Tule Wren 12 Brown Creeper 75 White-breasted Nuthatch " 35 Brown-headed Nuthatch- 25 Pygmy Nuthatch 50 Tufted Titmouse '" 35 Plain Titmouse " 50 12 Carolina Chickadee 15 Mountain Chickadee- 50 Wren-tit 50 Bush-tit 25 Californian Busii-tit...... 15 Verdin '" 31; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ......_ 20 Western Gnatcatcher 50 Black-tail. -d Gnatcatcher 50 Wood Thrush 06 Wilson's Thrush 12 Russet-backed Thrush.. " 15 Olive-backed Thrush ' 35 Hermit Thrush 30 Red-winged Thrush 25 American Robin 03 Red-spotted Blue-throat 75 Wheatear ]o Bluebird 02 Western Bluebird 13 Mountain Bluebird 13 INTRODUCED SBECIES. English Pheasant 25 European Goldfinch 20 FOREIGN EGGS. Montague's Harrier Swallow Nuthatch Wren Sedge Warbler— ......! White-throat Golden crested Kinglet.... Whinchat White-spoi ted Biue-throat" Brainhliiig Missel Thrush. Song Thrush Blackbird Dipper Pied Flycatcher Red-backed Shrike Jay Magpie Jackdaw Greenfinch House Sparrow Bullfinch Lesser RedpoU .'....'. \' Gt. Black Woodpecker Cuckoo Cirl Bunting Yellow Bunting Black-headed Bunting Willow Warbler Robin Common Sandpiper.. Common Snipe .... Water Rail '/' Moorhen Sociable Plover ...-...-"!!-!- Sand Martin Tree Creeper Capercaille Ring Dove Turtle Dove Black Cap Great Tit.. Blue Tit Marsh Tit Barbary Partridge Red-leg Partridge Carrion Crow ChiflChatt Rook ;v. Quail Long-eared Owl.... Tawny Owl... Little Owl Redshanks Stock Dove ". Great-crested Grebe Chuckar Partridge . 50 . 05 . 20 . U5 . 05 . 05 15 10 75 25 05 03 03 15 18 10 13 08 08 05 03 10 20 75 BO 25 05 12 05 05 15 15 30 03 05 50 10 05 05 20 15 20 10 15 20 05 10 10 35 50 40 25 15 50 20 Black and White ■warbler:;;;;.;.:: .0 £ng¥£h Sparrow O" Prothonotary Warbler 25 European Ti-ee Sparrow K Address WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y MISCELLANEOUS. Gopher Skate... . Shark .'.-.V ~ Devil Fish " Hammerhead Shark Nurse Shark.. . Egg case of Periwinkle '" Eossil Fish Eggs, per 12 Alligator Mud Turtle.. Musk Turtle Snapping Turtle Emu (Hole in end) "2 Rhea (Hole in end) 2 Let us do your Printing. ou^mv'^^f ';r ''°" money and perhaps improve the Headl^Cr/s eL'T'^-.n ^^ P""' Envelopes. Note Snrt «J!;h ■ ^"^" '"'' ■'°'' Pe"" 100; -W for «!•»- post- paid- Send us a sample order. A. M. EDDY, Albion, N. Y SOMETHING NEWl 75 varieties of Minerals, lO pounds $1 .00 LIST FREE. N.L.WILSON, 170 Tremont St., BOSTON, MASS. GILBERT BROS. & GRIFFIN, TAXIDERMISTS & NATURALISTS. Dealers in Curios and Mu.seum Supplies. Large Spanish Steer Horns, Buffalo Horns. Polished or Rough, Elk Tushes, from 60c toS.5. Fine Elk Heads always on hand. Fur Rugs of all kinds in stock, bend for our catalogue. 709 South 16th St., OMAHA, NEB. When answering ads. mention Museum. THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine Devoted to Research in Natural Science. Vol. II. ALBION, N. Y., NOV. 15. 1895. No. I Science Gleanings- Standing upon the shore of some majestic river, we may trace its waters ilowing away, possibly to the South, until its course is lost to our vision; while, as far as the eye can reach, from the opposite direction, we see the same onward flow that has brought them to our feet. But nothing pass- ing before us reveals either the source or destination of the river. Whether beyond this limited view it has been flowing from some hidden fount in an undeviating course and will so continue to flow on till lost in the ocean deep; or whether it may have turned, now to the right, or again to the left, in a deviating channel, it would be hazard- ous from what we can see to predict. And yet from this single page of its history, seen by us, we might rightly index much in the full volume of that history. Has the small part of it we see, assumed a slow and steady course, enclosed by wide bottom lands of made soil, and has it in the part we see become a great navigable stream; the certainty is we aie viewing that part of its course in pro.ximity to the ocean. Standing upon the shore of Time — the material world, that which is known as Nature, in the countless phenomena we see — fed from an in- visible fount, is flowing by us, on and on, down the channel of Time, reveal- ing to us nothing more of its origin and destination than does the river mentioned. Does the shortness of natural life shut in our vision to a mere glimpse of the secret workings in nature, that have been so constant and never set aside during the ages of the past, nor will be during the ages to come.'' Or will this fleeting present yield up the key to unlock Nature's records of the past, and lisp some prophecy to us of what Nature is to be in the ages to come.' There are axioms in mathematics, upon which we can implicitly rely in solving a problem and there are truths which are foundation principles in natural science upon which we can se- curely build. To illustrate some of these principles, take that branch of science called Geology. We know of certain agencies, as frost, fire, water, and electricity, by the effects we see them produce. We have no reason to believe that these effects have ever been any different in kind, though they may have been in degree, since time began. For while they retain the properties that make them to be what they are, they could not have done otherwise. And if they ever had prop- erties other than what they now have, they would not then be the agents they now are. Hence the record they are writing in the geological annals of to- day, is the record they have always and everywhere written. Is fire melting the rocky strata be- neath to feed volcanic eruption.'' So it always has done. And are these vol- canoes mainly arranged along ocean shore lines.' So they always have THE MUSEUM. been in their days of activity, though they may now be far inland as seen in extinct volcanoes. Is water incessant- ly wearing down the land, and trans- porting its material from higher alti- tudes to lower, and into lakes and the ocean bed.^ So it always has done since land first peered from the briny deep. Yet, if it be true, that in the infancy of our earth life, its surface was one almost universal shallow ocean (and such accords well with the script- ural account as well as present scien- tific belief), who cannot see that as to relative power to effect a work in world changes, fire must have been constantly on the wane, while water must have been constantly gaining ad- vantage to effect geological changes; for radiation of heat into cold inter- stellar space caused fire to become continually more deep seated in the strata of our globe, and less and less effective, while elevation of the land, as one effect of this deeply imprisoned heat, caused a constant increasing area for running water to act upon, and as a result larger rivers and streams with corresponding increase of power and more material to transport. What was not possible, but certain- ly to happen with the growing age of our planet, was contraction in bulk, caused by radiation of heat, breaking and displacement of the rocky strata by this contraction, and the produc- tion and liberation of great heat, by this mechanical motion among the strata. It does not seem possible that any part of the earth's interior should be a perfect vacuum, and if not we may easily believe that the dykes and veins formed in the strata as a result of displacement, would serve as exits to water, steam or melted lava as to which would be more available at that particular place. And such displace- ment, if considerable, made known by the earthquake shock and volcanic eruption would go hand in hand as we find it in our age. The crystallization of this melted matter, in these rocky fissures, by the sorting power of crystallization, would give rise to many determinate mineral species. And the arrangement of these, in the early ages of our world, would be in some measure according to their weight and the temperature at which dissociction of their elements would take place. As to weight, the lighter elements, the gases above to form the atmosphere, next gases com- bined in liquid and heavier form as water, and beneath, the still heavier earths and metals to form the solid crust of earth. As to temperature — those compounds most infusible, and so capable of existing at a higher tem- perature first and lowest, then the more fusible and varied compounds later on. An increasing reduction in the temperature of the primeval ocean would lessen its power of solution and aid in chemical precipitation and crys- tallization in any part of its waters shut off (but not'in the ocean deep it- self) as a natural result. These are some of the consequences that must as surely flow from such causes, in the earliest geological ages, as they do in our own time. When- ever dry land began to appear on our globe a new factor entered the scene, with a controlling and modifying power, which we experience every day of our lives. An almost universal ocean supposes an almost uniform heat. The appearance of land, owing to the different absorbing and radiat - THE MUSEUM. ng power between land and water, would set up atmospheric currents, and create much of what we call weather; and these winds in conjunc- tion with the growing shore lines of land, would result in helping to form, and give direction to ocean currents. It is a well ascertained fact, made known by deep borings into the earth, and confirmed by volcanic, and hot spring eruptions on the one hand, and by deep sea soundings, in many parts of the ocean, in recent years, that as we descend in depth into the earth, the temperature rises; while as we de- scend into the ocean, the temperature falls. Now the result of this natural enough law, is the induction and set- ting up of magnetic currents through the earth, (or for some distance be- neath its surface) and an effect on the deposit of ores in veins, lodes and dykes, over the whole earth; in many cases even to the iridescent hues of coloring they often show; as anyone may witness by exposing a specimen of chalcopyrite (copper Pyrites) to the electric current. If anyone should ask why, in the very earliest geological ages, the plan of the continents was outlined, and this plan was ever after adhered to without deviatian; why, according to this plan, the main bulk of the dry land was to be in northern latitudes, with a tapering form to the south, in continents and peninsulas as well; and why, in arctic altitudes, the elevation of the land is small but grad- ually increasing in altitude to the re- gion of the tropics; the correct answer no doubt is, there were unseen natural laws by which this was accomplished, but it was law working in obedience to a Divine Purpose; and that Purpose seems to have been prospective organ- ic life upon the planet. For, imagine a reverse order of things to have been — a vast mass of land in high arctic altitudes, having a great altitude and a small amount of low land in equatorial regions, and we would have such intense cold over the globe as would utterly preclude life upon its surface. In a future number some of the laws that have regulated, and are still mod- ifying life at the present time, may be noticed. Geo. M. Crofts, Keokuk, Iowa. Among the Rockies. BY M. J. ELROD. IV. The writer has been twice over the road along the Snake river from Poca- tello to the Yellowstone National Park, and twice around the park. The first time was in the summer of 1894, when a party of students, from the Illinois Wesleyan University were taken on a scientific expedition in search of speci- mens, as mentioned in preceding ar- ticles. The second was during the past summer, when a second party, including four ladies and the writer's little six-year-old girl, made practi- cally the same trip, though taking in many things not observed on the first expedition. As the Snake river basin is a vast volcanic field full of geologi- cal interest, it is best to devote a paper to it before beginning on the wonders of the park. Pocatello is styled "The Gate City of the West," because the Black- foot River here cuts the mountains in two, making a passage-way for the railroad. The city is thus in the en- trance to the great Snake river basin, THE MUSEUM. which is destined in time to play an important part in the history of the state of Idaho. The city is located in the midst of the Bannock Indian reser- vation, which is about as desolate and useless a tract of land as could be chosen. The government has permit- ted the people to locate because of the railroad shops and railroad interests. The "city" has no imposing buildings, and is considered one of the most wicked places in the world, and the greatest gambling place in the region. We did not pry into the matter too closely, and so let the statement go unrefuted. -The party in 1894 drove from Poca- tello to Idaho Falls, a distance of sixty miles, but this was avoided ir. 1895. The boys wished to travel over the great lava desert of Idaho, and we got our fill of it, and yet no one regretted the trip. The road traverses a region that is mostly sand. Rain does not fall in the summer. The sand is deep and hot, and it rolls over the felloes of the wheels, slips from under the horses' feet, works into the shoes, blows into the eyes and nostrils, and is obnoxious in every way. Progress is slow, and life of any form scarce. The only things growing were a sage bush (Ar- tcmisia ti identata,) grasswood {Sar- cobatus 7'cn)iiculatus), and a rabbit bush, with an occasional composite al- most dried up by the heat, and now and then a prickly pear with a few spines above the sand. Horned toads {Phrynosonia doiiglasii) and lizards [Sccloporus graciosHS) were numer- ous, but it takes a master hand and a well trained muscle to land many of the latter in the alcohol jar. A large black beetle with red thorax {Cantliar- is coopcri) was very abundant on the blossoms of the rabbit bush, accom- panied by almost as many beautiful longicoeus [Crossidiiis allgcivalirii). The ride of two days was made fairly pleasant by taking these beetles with nets while riding along. A few files were seen, and a dragon fly was seen sporting in the air above the hot sand. A sijigle butterfly, {Papilio oregonid), a beautiful specimen, was lazily sailing over the sandy waste, a single speck of gorgeous splendor in the desert waste. All hands turned out to bring it in. After a desperate chase it was captured, and now adorns the writer's collection of lepidoptera. Mr. W. H. Edwards says that PapiSo oregonia, which is a yellow form somewhat like P. turnus, is almost invariably accom- panied by a black and smaller form P. bairdii. It is of interest here to note that one of the latter was also taken in this region. Ross' Fork is a railroad station about fifteen miles from Pocatello. An irrigation ditch runs through the plain, on the banks of which a few Bannock Indians had pitched their wickieups and were drying pounded cherries in the sun. Camp for dinner on the banks of this small stream gave us a number qf dragon flies and sever- al frogs, which are yet to work up. Idaho Falls, formerly called Eagle Rock, is built upon the banks of the Snake river, which narrows here to a few rods in width. It has cut a chan- nel out of the solid lava. Lewis and Clark, in their expediton, were alarm- ed when they came to this part of the river, and their boats were let through by ropes, while the men took to the banks. The water here is very treach- erous, and no man has yet dared to swim through the passage-way, or THE MUSEUM. if he has dared has not come out aHve Great blocks of lava are here piled up, unmistakeable evidence of volcanic action. One can scarcely be- lieve that the bed of this mighty river, the banks, and even the surface of the whole region, consists of lava of un- known thickness. It is mixed like rock, and is used for building purpos- es, making very solid and substantial structures. We spent a day at the "lava beds," some fifteen miles west of Idaho Falls. It was a day well spent. No one who has ever seen this lava region can from any idea of what it is like, even from photographs. The whole state is vol- canic. Here and there are high vol- canic cones, from 500ft. to 1 000ft. above the surrounding country out of which molten lava at one time must have poured over the level plain. At the "lava beds" the lava begins with an abrupt bluff above the surface, from 15 ft. to 30 ft. high. North-west of the city there is a large crater or cone, out of which the lava now forming these beds must have poured. The lava has run down the river plain in great rivers, leaving valleys between ridges, and a plain of such rough sur- face that nothing can cross it. The lava is as hard as flint, with sharp cor- ners and edges everywhere that cut shoe leather at every step. Here and there are great folds that have cooled and parted in the middle, leaving huge crevices with masses of lava on either side. These crevices are of various sizes and depths. In places they may be stepped over, in other places they are eight or ten feet wide. Several species of ferns find a lodgement in these crevices, and an occasional bush finds enough nourishment to keep alive. In the winter, when the beds are covered with snow, these cracks are filled up, and a straggling buffalo in early days or a wandering deer in latter times, falling through would break a leg on the sharp functions, and there would have its misery finally ended by the viscious wolves or prowl- ing bobtail cats. In one crevice we counted two buffalo and two deer skel- etons, not far apart. In the summer the crevices are the home of wildcats and rattlesnakes. Here and there are depressions or holes in the general lava mass, that appear to have been formed by the collapse of monster bubbles during the process of cooling. These holes are from 50 to 100 feet deep, and perhaps 500 feet across the top. The sides are full of caverns and hiding places, but food for snakes and cats must be scarce. Several pictures were taken of points of special Interest, but they do not bring out the main features, such as the hardness of the rock, color, and depth of crevices and caverns. It was a day in the infernal regions, lack- ing the brimstone and other attendant features. On the bare masses of lava rock, with scarcely a foothold in the crevi- ces, grow stunted, gnarled, weather beaten cedar trees. These grow from ten to 20 feet in height, and often sev- eral feet in diameter. How they gain subsistence is a difficult problem. The people of Idaho Falls go out among these great lava beds with axes, cut these stumpy trees for firewood, drag them to places accessible to trains, and haul them fifteen or twenty miles. People living along the level roads of the Mississippi valley would declare it lO THE MUSEUM. impossibe for a team and wagon to traverse some uf these roads. From Idaho Falls we traveled due north some 25 miles, crossing the riv- er at the big butte ferry. Camp over Sunday was pitched at the river here, and the ascent of one of the buttes was made by the entire party the past summer, even the little girl, as all were anxious to study a volcano. Camp was pitched at an altitude of 48 50 feet, and the summit of the vol- canic cone was just 5500, as measured by our averoid barometer. The in- terior is a great crater, possibly a quarter of a mile in diameter, and about 200 feet deep. Both the crater and the outside of the cone were of solid lava, worn by the weather into all sorts of fantastic forms. In some places the lava had crumbled, and was ground up into fine dust, in which various desert plants were gaining a foothold. (These plants will be given later). As usual on such occasions our insect nets were left behind, being con- sidered a useless weight. While standing on the summit, photograph- ing the party and scenery, and enjoy- ing the grand panorama to the fullest a gaudy butterfly, a Papilio, the first and only one seen on the trip, flaunted its bright colors in our faces, and even sported around my hat. In vain a chase was given. It was a lost chance. Two other unknown butterflies, and a beautiful dragonfly, were added to the list of lost. Another loss more grievous than all, was met with on the descent. In turning over the lava chunks a brilliant blue lizard was dis- covered, about nine inches long, and as quick to dodge and hide as lizards usually are. It kept under a stunted weed with sharp dead spines. My hands were badly lacerated in an at- tempt to pick it up. In despair a stone was held on the weed to squeeze the specimen so it could be captured. Careful work later brought out a few short pieces of a very brittle tail, but the treasure was gone. Our way next day led between these two large buttes, across a lava region that is awful in expanse and desolate- ness. Until we entered the park we were not destined to lose sight of lava for an hour, and vast lava plains, with a thin crust of soil, were traversed, ex- tending on either side of the river, de- void of life save an occasional jack rabbit and flock of sage hens. When lava is finally left behind it merely gives way to rock of geyser formation, lighter and softer, but still igneous, and still being formed in regions of the park. This lava region is of great interest geologically. Ages ago a vast river of fire poured down the center of the state of Idaho. This river consisted of molten lava, was 400 miles long, 100 miles widg, and from 300 to 900 feet thick. Across the corpse of this mighty river of fire a river of water has slowly cut a channel in several places. Born in the melting snow of the majestic Tetons, this river has cut its way for hundreds of miles through lava beds, in its course tumbling over numerous precipices until the great climax is reached at Shoshone falls, where this mighty river makes an aw- ful leap of 210 feet, a magnificent spectacle, in marked contrast to the desolate country on either side. The animal life on these lava regions is not very abundant. Before coming to the pines three kinds of rabbits were encountered. The white-tailed THK MUSEUM. II and black-tailed jack rabbits {Lcpus caiiipcstris and L. tcxianus), and the pigm\' rabbit [Lcpus ida/iocnsis),ionnA here and there among the rocks. None of these were encountered after enter- ing the pines. Badgers are numerous on the plain at lower altitude, but they are wary and hard to get. In the sandy soil they can dig faster than a man with a shovel. Marmots {Arc- to luys), are not uncommon among the rocks that form the river banks, and the woods were made lively by the chattering of the pine squirrels {Scitir- II s.) Little striped squirrels (Tamias quadrivittatus), are frequently seen on the lava rocks, and continue even to the highest limits of timber, having a wide range of altitude. On the mountains there is plenty of large game, if one does not care for ame laws. We were out for other purpos- es, however, and did not bother them. The Canada porcupine is fairly abundant among the pines, and it was no uncommon thing for our boys to drag one of the sticky things into camp. From one of these I secured a tape worm. In the mesenteru of the intestines they were quite abundant and some 50 were taken from a single individual. Dr. C. W. Stiles, of the Smithsonian, pronounced it a new species, and gave it a name, Andrya aniericarta. Specimens have been sent to most of the important museums of the world so that our e.xpedition re- sulted in some benefit to science. The following table of altitudes may be of assistance to the reader gaining a proper conception of the re- gion traversed. Idaho Falls 4750 Big Butte Ferry . . 48 50 Summit of Butte 5 500 Sarilda, 105 miles north of Idaho Falls 5000 Island Park, 25 miles north of Sarilda 6300 Madison River, Park line 6S00 Timber begins at Sarilda. This is a ranch in the desert waste, i 5 miles north of St. Anthony, which is the county seat of Fremont County. Di- rectly east of Sarilda the bold, rocky, precipitous, and ever majestic Teton, with its three summits, lifts its lofty head above the plains. Though 70 miles away, it is yet plainly visible, and on occasions of e.xceptionahy clear atmosphere the great crags and preci- pices are plainly visible near its sum- mit. This is one of the most beautiful mountains in the West, and its sum- mit has never yet been pressed by mortal foot. From Sarilda the road lies through canons and over mountains for some 20 miles. The road is through beauti- ful gorges with high walls of lava, broken into huge blocks, between and among which tall and stately pines are growing. In the canons there is a great profusion of flowers, an abund- ance of which were collected, but are not yet worked up. After following the road for 20 miles we reach Island Park, which needs a chapter itself. Do Birds Reason? In the Spring of 1S94 I put up two high poles in my yard; at the top of these I placed two boxes, each con- taining two compartments; one of these poles was intended for my old associates the Purple Martins, (/^ Purpurea) who generally arrived be- tween the middle and last week of April; to sojourn with us, until the 12 THE MUSEUM. Fall reminds them of their Autumn migration southwards. The other pole was for the occupa- tion of my little friends the Wrens, {T. Acdoii) who arrived a little earlier than their above neighbors. The Wrens (two pairs) duly arrived, and after closely inspecting every knot hole and crevice to be found, in or about the out houses and barn, finally selected the box appointed for them; which although a new one to them, occupied the place of an old one, which had been taken down the previous winter; and in which they had nested for some years. They rapidly com- menced work, and soon numerous sticks adorned their respective com- partments; when suddenly a pair of English Sparrows {P. Domcsticus) put in an appearance, and driving away its occupauts, took forcible possession of both compartments. The Wrens re- treated and disappeared, but in the short time of ten minutes returned with reinforcements, consisting of about seven or eight other Wrens, who after a sharp conflict, drove the in- truders from the field. The Sparrows, in about fifteen min- utes, also returned, they in their turn having picked up about ten recruits and vigorously attacked and put to flight the whole army of Wrens. Whilst attentively watching the battle, and considering it about time for my interference; I noticed a Wren slip over my bird house, and enter one of the compartments of the Martin box which was upon a much higher pole; and distant about ten yards from their pole, upon whose box the victorious Sparrows were chippering and show- ing every sign of victory. The Wren soon stole away and dis- appeared, and one of the female Mar- tins came out of its compartments, and was soon joined by the other fe- male; in a few minutes the male Mar- tins arrived very closely together; and uttering a few notes all four charged the Sparrows, and in a minute or two had completely routed the aggressors, who never returned again; the Martins returned to their box and soon the the four Wrens came back, and settled down happily. I thought this was a clear case of bird sense, and bird language on the Wren's part; for finding they could not hold their own, appealed to their neighboring Wrens first, but where they found them so quickly, I couLI not say, for I only knew of one nest, about 200 yards distant, also their shrewd policy when the enemy was reinforced, in applying for help to their powerful neighbors. The Martins attacked the Sparrows^ in a similar way that Bee Martins im- ploy in fighting Hawks, or other birds who approach their nests. I would remark that the first En- glish Sparrows ever seen in Hallock, 20 miles from the Canadian Line; was in the fall of 1892, when about 40 suddenly appeared, having evidently arrived within an empty freight car, for they were first discovered by my- self close to the station. E. Kroy, Kittson Co., Minn. Changes in Land and Sea. (CONTINUED FROM AUGUST NUMBER.) At Kilnsea, Owthorne and else- where the sea has played the part of body-snatcher, breaking open the churchyards and scattering the splint- THE MUSEUM. 13 ered coffins and dismembered remains in all directions. Travellers, ignorant of the cause, have been shocked and startled at the sight of the human re- mains which strewed their path, and have experienced somewhat of the same sensation as our African explor- ers did on observing the piles of skulls and bones in the villages of Dahomey. There is a little church at a place called Hornsea, on the East Coast, which is said to have been built about 600 years. There is a tablet in that church which states that when it was built it was seven miles from the sea. I do not think that at present the dis- tance exceeds a quarter of a mile. The history of the three Sister Churches is to this day familiar to the inhabi- tants of the same coast. The first of them was taken by the sea so many years ago that there is little known concerning it, but there is a very fine description of the fall of the second church, published in Poulson's History of Holdcrness.. I do not remember the church, but many years ago I used often to visit the village of Owthorne, and at that time, say twenty years ago, a triangular piece of the church- yard, with its rude mud wall, was then in existence, and the beach was strewn with the fragments of the churchyard. It then extended abput forty yards from the cliff. About eight years ago, I visited Owthorne, and not a vestige of the churchyard was left. Most of you will have heard' of the Goodwin Sands, so dangerous to mariners. This place, now travelled over by our Mer- cantile Marine, was six or seven cen- turies ago an immense estate of 12, • 000 acres, the property of the Earl of Godwin. On the coast of Norfolk and Suffolk the towns are being driven back by the extensive encroachments of the sea. At Cromer the last Gov- ernment Survey showed that the cliff had been taken at the rate of fourteen feet per annum. Dunwich, on the Suffolk Coast, according to Doomsday Book, was once a flourishing seaport, and the record shows that at this point the sea must have encroached several miles. There is an old document ex- tant at Jersey, which is about six hun- dred years old, which purports to be an agreement entered into by the au- thorities of that place to keep a plank bridge in repair from the island to the coast of France. I am unable to say what engineering feats could be ac- complished at that day in the shape of a plank bridge, but the distance now is fourteen miles. Thus you will readily see what a tremendous waste of coast is continually going on even in our own island, which must, in a large space of time, materially alter the con- ditions of its surface; and you will at once say then where does this im- mense amount of lost land go to.'' It goes to form land in other places. It compensates for che land lost on one shore by throwing it up on another. The proce ss in doingit would take too long to describe. It depends so much on different conditions, for instance the strength of currents, depth of wat- er, and impediments such as deltas and headlands, but anyone who has watched the operations of water in a tidal river, on a small scale, will read- ily understand the process on a large one. For instance, at Grimsby, the op- posite coast to the one I have been de- scribing, the accumulation of soil is so great that a dredging machine has to be continually kept at work to keep 14 THE MUSEUM. the entrance to the dock from warping up, and at Cleethorpes on the same coast, you may walk for hours upon the beach, at low water, upon an im- mense accumulation of matter thrown up by the sea. The Dogger bank on the coast of Northumberland, which is now used as the northern fishing ground, is an immense bank of sand extending for upwards of three hun- dred miles, and the charts of our Mer- cantile Marines will show scores of similar accumulations in different parts of the sea. The water which is now in the ocean and in the river has been many times in the sky. The history of a single drop taken out of a glass of water on your table is really a romantic one. No traveller has ever accomplished such distances in his life. That par- ticle may have reflected the palm trees of coral islands, and has caught the sun-ray in the arch that spans a cloud clearing away from the valleys of Cumberland or California. It may have been carried by the Gulf Stream from the shores of Florida and Cuba, to be turned into a crystal of ice be- side the precipices of Spitzbergen. It may have hovered over the streets of London, and have formed part of a murky fog, and have glistened on the young grass-blade ot April in Irish fields. It has been lifted up to heaven and sailed in great wool-pack clouds across the sky, forming part of a cloud- mountain echoing with thunder. It has hung in a fleecy veil many miles above the earth at the close of long seasons of still weather. It has de- scended many times over its showers to refresh the earth and has sparkled and bubbled in mossy fountains in every country in Europe. And it has returned to its native skies, having ac- complished its purpose, to be stored once again with electricity to give it new life-producing qualities and equip it as heaven's messenger to earth once more. A writer in Longman s Magazine says: The Mississippi has in the course of ages transported from the mountains and high land within its drainage area sufficient material to make 4oo,tioo square miles of new land by filling up an estuary which ex- tended from its original outfall to the Gulf of Mexico for a length of 500 miles and in width from 30 to 40 miles. This jiver is still pouring solid matter into the Gulf, where it is spread out in a fanlike shape over a coast line of 362,000,000 tons a year, or six times as much soil as was removed in the construction of the Manchester ship canal, and sufficient to make a square mile of new land, allowing for its having to fill up the Gulf to a depth of eighty yards. Some idea of the vastness of this operation may be con- ceived when the fact is considered that some of this soil has to be transported more than 300O miles; and that if the whole of it had to be carried in boats at the lowest rate at which heavy ma- terial is carried on the inland waters of America, or, say for one-tenlli of a penny per ton per mile over an aver- age of half the total distance, the cost would be no less a sum than £"238,- 000,000 a year. Through ihe vast delta thus formed the river winds its way, twisting and turning byQinnumer- able bends until it extends its length to nearly 1200 miles, or more than double the point-to-point length of the delta, continually eroding the banks in one place and building up THE MUSEUM. IS land in another, occasionally breaking ing its way across a narrow neck which lies between the two extremities, and filling up the old channel. Ch.\s. S. Whiting, Montreal, Canada. The Palm-houses at Washington. The low roofs of the Palm-houses in the Botanic Gardens and Agricultural Department at Washington have made it necessary to sacrifice many rare and beautiful specimens for lack of space. In nearly every case the plants were in the best of health and could only be duplicated by long patient years of cultivation. A few years ago a speci- men of Livistonia Chinensis, at that time the largest in this country, had to be thrown out for lack of head-room. A fine specimen of Cocos butyracea was thrown out of the Palm-house of the Department of Agriculture for a similar reason. In the Botanic Gar- dens there are now three monarchs of the jungle awaiting their sentence. The first of these is a Phoenix sylves- tris, a perfectly developed specimen fifty feet high, with a trunk six feet in circumference. It was sunk in the ground a few years ago, but has grown since until its leaves are now pressing against the roof of the house. It is considered the handsomest specimen of the species in cultivation. A noble specimen of the rare Sugar Palm, Ar- cnga saccliarifcra, is the second plant which has outgrown the largest house, and has been kept within bounds by cutting off the ends of the leaves, in 'the hope that it would flower and ripen seed; but the plant is in too robust a condition, for this species begins to flower only when enfeebled by age or other trying conditions. It then be- gins to flower at the top and keeps on producing a bunch in the axil of each leaf one after another downward; until the plant is exhausted. This season one of the immense leaves has broken through the glass and ;]now towers twenty feet above the roof outside. The third tree, which will soon have to be removed, is Acrocoinia sclcro- carpa. It is impossible to do any- thing more with this one, as several years ago it was sunk about six feet in the ground to give it increased head- room, and it has now filled all the space above. — G. \V. O., in Garden and Forest. November Literary Note. A complete and immediate revolu- tion of transportation methods, involv- ing a reduction of freight charges on grain from the West to New York of from 50 to 60 per cent, is what is pre- dicted in the November Cosmopolitan. The plan proposes using light and in- expensive corrugated iron cylinders, hung on a slight rail supported on poles from a cross-arm — the whole system involving an expense of not more than fifteen hundred dollars a rKiile for construction. The rolling stock is equally simple and compara- tively inexpensive. Continuous lines of cylinders, moving with no interval to speak of, would carry more grain in a day than a quadruple track railway. This would constitute a sort of grain- pipe line. The Cosmopolitan also points out the probable abolition of street-cars, before the coming horse- less carriage, which can be operated by a boy on asphalt pavements at a total expense for labor, oil, and inter- est, of not more than one dollar a day. i6 THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine devoted to Ornithology, Oology, MoUusca, Echinodermata, Mineralogy and Allied Sciences. Walter F. Webb, Editor and Pub'r, Albion, N. Y. Correspondence and items of Interest on above top- ics, as well as notes on the various Museums of the World— views from same, discoveries relative to the handling and keeping of Natural History material, descriptive habits of various species, are solicited from all. Make articles as brief as possible and as free from technical tenns as the subjects will allow. All letters will be promptly answered. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Single Subscription Sl.OO per annum Sample Copies 10c each ADVERTISING RATES. ,5 cents per Nonpareil line each insertion, i Twelve lines to the inch. No discounts. Cash must accompany all orders. Remittances should be made by Draft, Express or Post Ofllce Order or Registered Letter, Unused U, S. Postage Stamps of any denonlnation accepted for small amounts. The Sl.OO Columbian stamps, unused, will be accepted at rate of $1.7.5 each. WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, ORLEANS CO., N, Y. Entered at Albion post-office as second-class mail matter NOTES. With this number we commence Volume II, and herewith desire to ex- tend thanks for the large number of renewals sent in, as well as new sub- scriptions. Surely The Museum is appreciated. This number we give over to illustrating some fine species of shells. Have a number of equally interesting illustrations for the De- cember number. We regret the illus- trations for Prof. Elrod's article came too late for insertion this month. We call attention to the ad. of Mr. Mcllhenny of Louisiana. He has a fine lot of Southern eggs, and offers them at very reasonble figures. He's "all right" and will do as he agrees every time. Collectors wishing to get a notice in the December number must mail same on receipt of this paper, to insure in- sertion. We shall publish a large Christmas edition, and it will probably be mailed by the 5th or 7th of the month, at the latest. On another page will be seen an ad. relative to the new Western office we have opened at Keokuk, Iowa. We cordially invite all our patrons who live nearer to this office than the home office to write us at that point for any- thing they need. Our stock is so large and varied we cannot attempt to list everything for some weeks to come, but promise a large and complete illus- trated catalogue in the near future, rivaling anything that has heretofore been issued in the Natural Science line. Mr. P. A. Tavernier of Guelph, Ont., under date of Oct. loth writes: "I beg to announce the taking of a fe- male Wheatear at Beaumaris, Muskoka Lake, Ont. I believe this is the first record of this bird being found in On- tario. I took it Sept. 25, 1894, and sent it to Mr. R. Ridgway of Washington, D. C, who identified it as above. The bird was in company of a large flock of Titlarks, and when I shot it, took it to be an albino of that species. It was not at all shy. The only note I heard it utter was a loud -'kuck" like the Crow Blackbird gives as it flies over." Mr. E. Kroy of Hallock, Minn., writes as follows:- — "I saw in a recent number of The Museum, your cut of Albino Muskrat from Michigan. Also in the last issue of The American Field is an account of an albino Red- wing Starling, killed near S. Paul, Minn. Now Minnesota comes again THE MUSEUM. 17 with an albino Pocket Gopher, killed near Warren, in Marshall County, about 50 miles from the Canadian line, which is now in my possession." Showy Sea Shells. Interesting Notes About Shells that are Eagerly Sought for by Collectors. To anyone interested in sea forms of life, it is a pleasure to note the great increase yearly in the number of col- lectors who are making a study of shells. Conchology furnishes a field that it is practically impossible for any one man to cover in a lifetime, hence we see the specialist in that branch as much as in any other. Peopling the high seas or lining the shore, the marine Mollusca, branch- ing out into more than ten thousand species, extend their reign af far as the waves of ocean roll. Though distin guished from all other sea animals byi the common character of a soft unar ticulated body, possessing a compli cated digestive apparatus, and covered by a flexible skin or mantle, under or over which a calcareous shell is gener- ally formed by secretion, yet their habits are as various as their forms. Some dart rapidly through the waters, others creep slowly along, or are firm- ly bound to the rock; in some the senses are highly developed as in the fishes, in others they are confined to the narrow perceptions of the polyp. Many are individually so small as to escape the naked eye, others of a size so formidable as to rank among the giants of the sea; some are harmless and unarmed, others fully equipped for actual warfare. It is not our design to go into the anatomy of the various species, but to show by illustrations, from month to month, some of the more interesting Fig. I. forms of Mollusca, the locality where found, and some interesting points about each kind. We will first notice two of the Mit- ra family. They are so-called from their resemblance to the bishop's mitre. The entire family are chiefly natives of the warm climates, such as the Indian Ocean, the Australian Seas Fig. 2. and the Moluccas. The shells are usually long, slender and spiral, the spire ending in a point at the summit; the opening is small, narrow and tri- angular and notched in front. The animal has a very long proboscis; it emits a purple liquid, having a nause- ous odor when irritated. The eyes are placed on the tentacles or at their Fig. 3- i8 THE MUSEUM. Fig. 4. without channel; the columellar edge is lightly excavated and arranged in oblique folds. The right edge is arch- ed, thick or cutting, according to the species. The animal has a large head, provided with two tentacles. The mouth terminates in a thick trunk, furnished with hooked teeth. The foot is very large, furrowed in front. base. Mitra cpiscopalis (Fig. i) from the Indian Ocean, is more com- monly known as the mitre shell. It is white, ornamented with square spots of fine red and capable of high polish. Mitra papalis (Fig. 2) has dentiform folds round the opening, which also crown each turn of the spiral; the spots are smaller and much more nu- merous and varied in form from those of Mitra cpiscopalis. Fig- 5- In the genus I'oluta, the shell is oval, more or less tunbellied, the spire is short, slightly mammillate, the opening large, the edges notched. Fig. 7. and projecting from all parts of the shell, but without operculum. The Volutes live on the sands near the shore; sometimes they are found high and dry left by the retreating tide. The shells of various forms, are orna- mented with the most lively colors, the surface covered with irregular lines, the tint of which is generally in Fig. 8. Fig. 6. strong contrast with that of the ground. Among the many handsome THE MUSEUM. 19 Fig. g. species illustrated in this number are Valuta itudulata (Fig. l) from Aus- tralia; ]'oliita cybinui (Fig. 4) from Pacific; I'oluta Dclcsscrtii (Fig. 5), ]'oIiita iiiusica (Fig. 6) from West Indies; Valuta iinpcralis (Fig. 7) from Philippines; ]'aluta scapha (Fig. 8) froiij Singapore, commonly called Fox- Fig. 10. head; and Valuta vex ilium (Fig. 9) from East Indies. The genus Caniis, is especially rich in species, as well as numerous in in- dividuals. The shells are much sought after by collectors, many bting rare and so command high prices. Those belonging to this group present a very remarkable uniformity of shape, at the same time that the colors are very fine, and much varied in design. The shell is thick, solid, inversely conical, wreathing spirally from the base to the ape.x, the spii-e bein s generally Fig. iia. short, the last turn constituting alone the greater part of the surface of the shell. The opening extends nearly along its entire length, occupying all the height of the last whorl. It is al- ways narrow, its edges quite parallel; the right edge is plain, sharp and thin, detached from the front of the last spiral by a sloping hollow, more or less Fig- 15- Fig. II. deep. The animal creeps upon a foot, elongated, narrow, furnished behind with a horny rudimentary operculum, altogether insufficient to cover the opening. The head, which is large, is elongated into a little snout or muz- zle, at the base of which rises on either side a conical tentacle, having 20 THE MUSEUM. Fig. 12. Fig. 13- Fig. 14. an exterior eye upon an anterior ex- tremity. At the extremity of tlie muz- zle is the mouth, which is armed with- in with numerous horny teeth in pairs, elongate or hastate. The- shells in- habit the seas of the warmer countries, especially those lying between the tropics, where they occupy sandy coasts, with a depth of ten or twelve fathoms of water. We have repre- sented a number of fine species in this number. Conns imperalis (Fig. 10) is a fine species of white color with bands of greenish yellow or tawny color, ornamented with transverse, cord-like articulated lines of white and brown. Inhabits Philippines and Algoa Bay. One of the largest species is Conus geographus (Fig. n) which sometimes attains the length of six or seven inches. It is shaded with white and brown and found in Ceylon. Among the non-crowned species we have Conns tcsscllatus, (Fig. i la) com- mon in the Indian Ocean, Ceylon, etc., its anterior part is violet in the interior. The spots with which it is surrounded are of a fine red or scarlet or a red ejad color upon a white ground. We figure three varieties of Conns auuniralis (Figs. 12, 13, 14). They are natives of seas that wash the shores of the Molucces; are beautifully marked varieties, of a brownish citron color, marked with white spots nearly triangular, with tawny bands painted in a very fine tracery. This is a very handsome species, and presents many varieties not here figured. Among the species which seem al- most ready to become cylindrical, may be noticed Conus nobilis (Fig. 15) a rare shell of yellowish color approach- ing citron, ornamented with white spots. The golden drop Conns textile (Fig. 16) is yellow in color, ornament- ed with waving longitudinal lines of brown and white corded spots edged with tawny color. The glory of the sea, Conns gloria maris (Fig. 17) is white in color, banded with orange, and reticulated with numerous triang- ular white spots edged with brown. This is a native of the East Indies, and one of the most beautiful shells of the whole group. The genus Oliva is so named from its resemblance in form to the olive. Its nearly cylindrical shell is slightly spiral, polished and brilliant as in the THE MUSEUM. 21 Fig. i6. cowries; its opening is long and nar- row, slightly notched in front, its edge columellar, swollen anteriorly into a cushion, and striped obliquely in all its length. These mollusces belong to the seas of warm countries mainly, where they frequent the sandy bot- toms and clear waters. They creep Fig. 17. about with much agility, reversing themselves quickly when they have been overturned; they live upon other animals and are flesh eaters. They are in fact taken in some localities by using flesh as bait. The colors of the shell are' very varied, and sometimes fantastically streaked. Oliva ertlios- toma (Fig. i8) is ornamented extern- ally with flexual lines of a yellowish brown, with two brown bands, com- bined with fine yellowish tint of gold color within. Oliva porphyria (Fig. 19), commonly called Tent Olive, from the Brazil coast, presents lines of a reddish brown, regularly interlaced with spotted large brown marks upon a flesh-colored ground. The shell has a fine natural polish and is highly prized by all collectors. Ranges from 3 to 4i inches long. 0/ii'a irisans (Fig. 20) is painted in zigzag lines, close and brown, edged with orange yellow and with two zones of darker brown, and reticulated. Found at Mauritius. Oliva Pcrmnania (Fig. 21) is a handsome species and furrow- ed with regularly spaced bands. A large number of other handsome species will be figured in the December number. A Handful of Weeds. FACTS ABOUT SOME ROADSIDE ACQUAIN- TANCES—FOLK-LORE REMINISCENCES. "All the idle weeds that grow In our sustaining corn." — [King's Lear. Old Noah Webster defines a "weed" as "a useless and troublesome plant," i. c. , a vegetable vagabond, not only idle, but mischievous. However worth- less a plant may be from a utilitarian point of view, it is hence not a "weed" till it becomes so thoroughly at home in the land as to harass the gardener and the farmer; so it is merely a ques- tion of locality whether a plant is a weed or not. It may be quite with- out honor in its own country, where even beauty is no excuse for its being, Fig. 18. yet under alien skies it may find itself the pet of the horticulturist. The lit- 22 THE MUSEUM. tie pink-tipped English daisy, so ten- derly reared in New England gardens, is in its own country a troublesome lawn weed, while our homely mullein, that vagabond of the pastures, is — or used to be — cherished in English green- houses under the name of "American flannel-plant. " I have even heard that there are places west of the Mississippi where wild carrot, despised intruder on Eastern lawns, is cosseted and extolled under the appropriate alias of "lace- flower." It is a pity that we, in the Eastern states, have become blind to the beauty of its feathery leaves, and its wheels of delicate bloom, which in later August fill every field and road- side with unloved loveliness. Fig. ig. Indeed, all weeds are much in evi- dence in late summer and autumn. The flowers of most sorts are incon- spicuous, but the seeds which follow compel attention by sheer force of numbers and ubiquity. They are here today to fight the farmers because they practiced ages ago what the farmers have learned only within the present century. Nature has taken extraordinary care that the seeds do not drop, at the roots of the parent plant, into an exhausted soil. The weeds sow themselves broadcast each autumn. Some are provided with feathery plumes, and thus made so bouyant that the lightest breeze will bear them fast and far. Every autumn gust is freighted with a mixed com- pany of these little flyaways. Thistle, sow-thistle, dandelion, milkweed, and Fig. 20. goldenrod seeds all lly on feathery wings, and thus the respective families are kept up, and are spread over the country. Some weeds lay hold on the passer- by, quadreped or biped, and force him, will he, nill he, to sow their seeds abroad. To bring this result about, the seeds are' barbed, and they claw the unwary traveller and cli i^' to him with v^sperating constancy. When the "stickers" are at last picked or rubbed off, they fall to the ground, probably many rods from the spot where they grew, and thus Nature's purpose with regard to them is achiev- ed. This is the way the ragweed tra- vels. The thorny seed-vessels of the cockle-bur and the burdock also ob- tain free transportation in return for their close attachment to some way- farer, quadraped or biped. So success- Fig. 21. THE MUSEUM. 23 ful have been these schemes that the weeds which put them finto practice have travelled half around the globe. Like an invading army they push fur- ther on despite all the resistance of the owners of the soil. Some weeds have timed themselves, with wonderful accuracy, to the oper- ations of the farmer. That bugbear of English wheat-growers, the scarlet poppy, has acquired the habit of ripen- ing its seed-vessels at the precise time when the wheat is ready for the sickle. Then when wheat is reaped, the fields are taken possession of by weeds which regulate their affairs with such nicety that they grow, blow, mature their seed-vessels and scatter their seeds, all between the in-gathering of the har- vest and the coming of the frost. ■'They blow," we say, for all weeds bear flowers. Most sorts belong to that immense and successful botanical family, the Coitipositie, which produce a very great number of very minute flowers, often so grouped as to resem- ble single larger flowers. To the un- botanical public the most familiar com- posite flower is the daisy. Its yellow centre or disk is an assemblage of little trumpet-shaped blossoms, set as close together as possible. In a ring around this disk we see what botanists call the "ray flowers," and what non-bot- anists call the "white leaves" of the daisy. On closer examination, these will be found to be tiny flowrets with a pistil apiece, but with no stamens, and with their white corollas split open all down one side. So the daisy, which looks like one flower, is really a close mass of very tiny blossoms. The chrysanthemum, that recent favorite of fashion, is another composite flower, and it counts among its poor relations a numerous company of weeds. The cockle-bur, ragweed, snee2;eweed, bur- dock and sow-thistle are all Covipos- itiv. So are the groundsel, the dan- delion, and the bur-marigold. So is that enemy to the Western farmer and darling of the patriotic Scot, the thistle. About all these "dooryard weeds," which have followed mankind for ages, there has gathered a wealth of legend, folk-lore, and literary association. Amaranth, "the flower of death, " for instance, is almost as common as death itself. It grows in waste places near towns, and is a coarse weed; topped with a feathery greenish or purplish plume. Some species of amaranth are cultivated in old-fash- ioned gardens, and called "cock's- comb," "love-lies-bleeding," and "prince's-feather. " The gardener knows and hates another variety under the name of "pigweed." All varieties bear blossoms no bigger around than a hair, and these minute flowers grow in compact clusters, each cluster sur- rounded by a close circle of chaffy leaves, very slow to wither. The fa- miliar "immortelles" are on the same botanical plan, and with their chaffy leaves (a botanist would call them the involucre) being pretty as well as dur- able, have brought the little blossoms in- to general favor. The unwithering ama- ranth was looked upon by the ancients as the flower of immortality. The phrase in the First Epistle of St. Petnr, "a crown of glory that fadeth not away," is in the original, "the, amaranthine crown of glory." The purple flowers of the amaranth retain their color always, and regain their shape when wetted, and were used by the ancients for winter chaplets. As 24 THE MUSEUM. the flower of immortality amaranth was strewed over the graves of old Greece, and Homer relates that the Thessalonians wore crowns of it at the burial of Achilles. Wreaths of it are still worn, and are hung over doors and windows by Swiss peasants on As- cension Day. Milton speaks of "Immortal amaranth, a flower which once In Paradise, fast by the Tree of Life, Began to bloom; but soon for man's offense, To heaven removed, where first it grew, there grows And flowers aloft shading the Fount of Life." And his anglels are "Crowned with amaranth and gold." From being the flower of immortal- ity, amaranth became, by a natural association of ideas, the flower of death. In a beautiful poem by Long- fellow, "The Two Angels," it crowns the brows of Azrael, the Death Angel, while the Angel of Life wears a wreath of asphodels or daffodils, the flowers of life. Because perhaps death is as strong as love, amaranth is an anti- dote for the love-philtre. Yet who would expect to find the flower hymn- ed of many poets on the coarse crouch- ing weed which invades the bean- patch, or disfigures the gravel paths, once our pride.'' The plantain, or rib grass, that per- sistent intruder upon our lawns, was once highly esteemed as a healer of wounds, and hence in some parts of England it was known as "wonder- weed." Moreover, whoever will search beneath its leaves at high noon on midsummer's day may find a rare coal there. And with this coal under the pillow, on midsummer's night, the fortunate finder will surely see in a dream the face of his or her future sweetheart. Thence it came about, perhaps, that in the north of England the spikes of the rib-wort plantain were used as love charms. In English folk-medicine thistles play a creditable part. The blessed thistle is so called because it was an antidote to vemon. The melancholy thistle, a recently arrived immigrant from the Old World, was a sure cure for that vague but distressful malady, "the blues." In rural England the thistle is, or was, used in love divina- tion. "When anxious to ascertain who loved her most," says a Thistle- ton Dyer, "a young woman would take three or four heads of thistles, cut off their points, and assign to each thistle the name of an admirer, laying them under her pillow. On the fol- lowing morning the thistle which had put forth a fresh sprout will denote the man who loves her most." The pretty little Canada thistle, now rapidly re- solving itself into a nuisance, is, as its name shows, an immigrant from the North. It has probably travelled, with its forbears, from northern France, as it abounds in Normandy. The nettle, like the thistle, is con. nected with much wonder lore, folk- lore and tradition. Moreover, the family in times gone by has been not only famous but useful. Its name is derived from the passive partciple of a verb common to most Indo-European languages which means "to sew." Closely allied words are "needle,"' "net," and "knit." Nettle would seem to mean "that with which we sew;" and indicates that this plant sup- plied the thread used in former times by the German and Scandanavian na- tions. "We know this to have been a fact," says Moncure D. Conway, "in the Scotland of the last century. Scotch cloth is only the housewifery of THE MUSEUM. 25 the nettle ; and a fabric made from the fibres of the plant was also used till a recent period in Friesland." Flax and hemp bear Southern names, and when they were brought into the north of Europe, the nettles career of use- fullness was ended. Like handicrafts- men on the introduction of machinery, it was thrown out of honorable em- ployment. Then it became a vaga- bond and took to roadsides and wastes. Nettles are said to have been intro- duced into England by Roman soldiers who sowed the seed in Kent for their own use "to rubbe and chafe their limbs when through e.xtreme cold they should be stiffe and benumbed," hav- ing been told that the climate of Brit- ain was so cold that it was not to be endured without some friction to warm their blood. We are all familiar with the oft- quoted lines: "Tender-handed stroke a nettle and it stings you for your pains," etc. They were written by Aaron Hill on a window in Scotland. Their thought is more tersely express- ed in the old Devonshire saying: "He that handles a nettle tenderly is soon- est stung," meaning that politeness is wasted on some people. For the physical sting of the vegetable nettle the dock leaf is a remedy, whence the old adage, "Nettle out, dock in, dock remove the nettle sting. " In old old- folk medicine nettle-tea was a remedy for nettle-rash, a kind of foreshadow- ing of the coming doctrine that"similia similibus curantur. " Carried about on the person, the nettle was supposed to drive away fear and on this account it was frequently worn in time of danger. "In the Tyrol, during a thunder-storm, " says Thistleton Dyer, ' 'the mountain- eers throw nettles on the fire to pro- tect themselves from lightning, and the same safeguard is practiced in Italy." Well might this be a potent weed, for it is own cousin to the famous and fatal upas tree of Eastern story. If the nettle has been thrown out of work by modern industries, other weeds have been superseded by mod- ern science. When the signal service was still far in the unknown future, country people used to forecast the weather by the doings of some common and familiar plants. "Chickweed, for instance," says Thistleton Dyer, "ex- pands its leaves fully when fine weath- er is to follow, but if they are half clos- ed, then the traveller is to put on his great- coat;" and according to the "Shepherd's Calendar," thistle-down or dandelelion-down "whisking about and turning around foreshows tempest- uous winds." "If the down flieth off dandelion and thistles when there is no wind," says another old collection of flower-lore, it is a sign of rain. In many parts of rural England the dan- delion is known as "blow-ball," be- cause children blow away the winged seeds to tell the time of day, and an- other quaint name for this plant is "priests' crowns," because the smooth round white receptacles after the seeds have departed are suggestive of dimin- utive shaven heads. This flower and a few other weeds have so accommo- dated themselves to the chances and changes of our climate that a few days of mildness and sunshine in the heart of winter will coax them into bloom. There is no month in the year in which one may not see the flowers of chickweed and sow-thistle and the dandelions' hearts of gold. But the superstitious soul had better leave them to the mercies of Jack Frost, for 26 THE MUSEUM. it is higlily unlucky, according to an old saying, to pluck flowers out of sea- son. E. M. Hardinge. Birds as Protectors to Orchards. By E. H. Forbush, Ornithologist, OF THE Massachusetts Board of Agriculture. Part Second. The woodpeckers and nuthatches which frequented the orchards, were not seen to eat the eggs of the canker- worm moth. As they were not num- erous, none were killed. Mr. Bailey observed, however, that the nuthatch- es were eating scales which they found on the limbs of the apple-trees in a neighboring orchard. In relation to these scales the following note from Mr. Kirkland is of interest: — "March 20, 1895. Mr. Bailey brought in specimens of apple twigs infested with the bark scale louse, Mytilaspis pomorum. He reported that the nuthatch was feeding on them. These twigs were infested in a worse rhanner than I have ever seen before. They were literally covered with the scales. On one small twig» one-half inch in diameter, I counted 367 scales on one inch of the twig. The eggs contained in a number of scales varied from 62 to 82, with an average of 70." These scales, when numerous, are very injurious to the apple-tree. Each scale covered a dead female of the pre- ceding year and the hibernating eggs, many of which must have been dis- posed of by the Nuthatches. I was shown, both by observation and dis- section, that birds feeding in the same neighborhood and upon the same trees showed considerable variance in the character of their food. Kinglets tak- en, had no canker-worm eggs, but had eaten largely of bark borers. Woodpeckers seemed to confine them- selves to the larvEe of borers and to wood- ants and other insects which bore into the wood of the tree. Chick- adees and Nuthatches ate the pupae and eggs of insects found upon the bark or in the crevices of the trunks. No birds were seen to eat the eggs of the tent caterpillar, nor were any found in the stomachs of any of the birds examined. It seems probable that these eggs are so protected by a hard covering that they are not eaten by most birds. It is impossible, in the limited space at our command, to give results of all observations and dissections in detail. We can merely give the apparent results of the presence of the birds in the orchard. It was found that these birds were not only destroying the eggs of the canker-worm in this orchard, but were feeding on the eggs of the same insect in the woods where bait had been sus- pended. As the frost left the ground on the first warm days of spring the wingless females of the spring canker-worm moth appeared in the orchard and be- gan ascending the trees in great num- bers. The Chickadees commenced catching and eating the females and their eggs. Mr. Bailey placed twen- ty-two of the females on one tree, and in a few minutes twenty of them were captured and eaten by Chickadees. It was noticed as spring approached and insects became more numerous that the Chickadees came very seldom to the meat. They were not as assid- uous in their attention to the orchard, and a small portion of their food con- THE MUSEUM. 27 sisted of the early gnats which were flying on bright sunny days. In early April they had nearly deserted the meat, although they still frequented the orchard in search of the female canker-worm moths. They seemed to prefer animal food to all other, and even in cold weather would hardly notice grain or seeds of any kind, though one individual ate a few oat kernals which were placed near his ac- customed feed of meat. Towards the last of April the En- glish or House Sparrow {Passer do- incsticns) began to make its appear- ance in the vicinity and apparently drove the Chickadees to the woods, as they disappeared and did not nest in the orchard, but remained in the woods, where they paired and nested. I believe that the English Sparrow is largely responsible for the fact that Chickadees are not now found nesting in our orchards. Though they still nest in the orchards on the remoter farms and in the villages where the English Sparrow is not numerous, they seem to have disappeared in summer from orchards near cities. At the time of the advent of the Sparrow in this locality, twenty-five years ago, Chickadees were often found nesting in old apple-trees in the orchards in this region where now scarcely any are to be seen in orchards during the summer. In the latter part of April and in early May the tent caterpillars made appearance on the apple and cherry trees in the neighborhood. Canker- worms were also numerous on the ap- ples and elms and appeared in some of the other trees. It was noticed, however, that while trees in neighbor- ing orchards were seriously infested with canker-worms and to a less de- gree with tent caterpillars, those in the orchard which had been frequent- ed by the Chickadees during the win- ter and spring were not seriously in- fested and that comparatively few of the worms and caterpillars were to be found there. With the warm south winds of May, many summer birds came and settled in the neighborhood, and prepared to build their nests, among which the following were seen: Chickadee {Par- its atricapilhis). Tree Sparrow {Spi- :~clla inonticola). Crow {Corvus anicr- icaniis), Purple Crackle {Qidscalus qiiisciila), Flicker {Colaptes auratus), Red-winged Blackbird {Agelaius phcc- iiicci/s), Robin (JVPerula migratoria), Chipping Sparrow {Spizclla socialis), Ovenbird {Schm-us aitrocapillus),^ ooA. Thrush {Tnrdus vtustciimts), Catbird {Galcoscoptes cnrolincnsis). Brown Thrasher {Harporliynchus r?ifiis), Black-billed Cuckoo {Coccyzus cry- tliroptltalmus). Yellow-billed Cuckoo, {Cuccy::us aincricaniis .'BlackandWhite Warbler {Mniotilta varia). Yellow ^'ax\i\&x{Dendroica wstiva), Chestnut- sided Wax\)\ex{Dcudroica pciinsylvani- c«),Black-throatedGreenWarbler(Z?£'«- droica vireiis), Pine Warbler {Dciidro- ica z'igorsii), House Wren {Troglo- dytes ivdon), American Redstart {Seto- phaga niticilld), Nashville Warbler {Hclminthophila riificapilld). Golden- winged Warbler {Helniinthophila cJirysoptcrd), Scarlet Tanager {Piran- ga erythromelas), Rose-breasted Gros- beak {Hixbia liidoviciand), Baltimore Oriole {Icterus galbuld), Blue Jay {Cyanocitta cristata), Least Flycatch- er {Empidonax viiniimis). Wood Pe- wee {Cant opus virens), Phcebe {Savor- nis p/uvbc). Kingbird ( Tyr annus tyran- THE MUSEUM. mis), and Downy Woodpecker {Diyo- bati's piibcsccns). It was noticeble that early in the season, when the webs of the tent cat- erpillar first appeared on the apple and cherry trees, the orioles attacked them and devoured a considerable number of the hairy young larvte. A little later, when the canker-worms became more numerous, it seemed as if all the birds in the neighborhood were intent on eating canker-worms, neglecting to a certain extent the hairy caterpillars. The Cuckoos, however, seemed to feed impartially on both the canker- worm and the tent caterpillar. Birds from all quarters in the wood and swamp, orchard and field, flocked into the trees infested by canker-worms, and there spent a considerable portion of their time. In a short time the few canker-worms remaining in the old or- chard were apparently eaten by birds, and the birds then directed their atten- tion to the neighboring orchards, which were swarming with the worms. It soon became evident that these or- chards would be. entirely stripped of their leaves, while the old orchard re- tained its full foliage. Thus it was seen that the trees to which the Chick- adees had been^'lured during the winter had been so well protected that the summer birds were able to destroy the few remaining larvae, while the trees at a distance from these contained so many larvte that the birds were not numerous enough to dispose of them or to make any effective reduction in their numbers. This apparently de- monstrated the usefulness of the egg- destroying winter birds, and showed the wisdom of attracting them to the orchard during the winter months. Not only did nearly all species of birds in the neighborhood flock to the trees infested by the canker-worms, but the chickadees living in their retirement in the woods came out to the orchards, flying some distance to procure canker- worms with which to feed their young, and making regular trips to the infest- ed trees day after day. On May i8 Mr. Bailey saw a female chickadee carry twenty larvae to its nest. They were apparently all can- ker-worms but two, which were tent caterpillars. Of this he is certain, for he was within three yards of the nest to which the larva; were taken. Later, on May 31, he noticed the chickadees feeding their young. It was evident that a large portion of the food con- sisted of canker-worms. The birds each made a 3trip to the nest about once in twelve minutes. The male and female came at nearly the same time and went away together. They went in the direction of an orchard in- fested by canker-worms. A few of the larvae were dropped on the ground at the nest and proved, on examina- tion, to be canker-worms. The crow was also observed feeding on the canker-worms. On May 22 the birds had nearly all stopped feeding in the neighboring woods and were in the orchards feed- ing on canker-worms. Early in June, when the remaining canker-worms had finished their trans- formations and retired to the ground, several species of bnds were again noticed feeding their young on the tent and other hairy caterpillars. Of these, three species (both cuckoos and the Baltimore oriole) seemed to be the most useful. On May 17 a cuckoo was seen to take eleven caterpillars out of one nest. Mr. Bailey writes: THE MUSEUM. 29 "On May 10 a black-billed cuckoo came into a tree near me at 3 p. m. and sat there until 4:40 p. m., then he went straight to a tent caterpillars' nest. He looked it over for a short time and then commenced eating the caterpillars. He picked twenty-seven caterpillars out of the nest before he stopped. The bird ate them all and did not drop one. Then he went to the tree in which I believe he remain- ed during the night, for on Saturday, the I ith, I found the bird in the same tree and in almost the same place at 5 a. m." The orioles, chickadees and vireos often pecked the caterpillars to pieces and ate portions of them, seemingly feeding to a considerable extent on the internal organs. This being the case, it is quite evident that the stom- ach contents cannot be depended up- entirely to determine the character of the food of these birds, as no one is expert enough to identify the internal organs of caterpillars with such cer- tainty as to determine the species to which they belong. The following is a list of the birds seen feeding on the tent caterpilla Crow {Corviis anicricanus), chicka- dee (yPants atricapillus), oriole {Icter- us galbuld), red-eyed vireo (J'ireo olivaceus), yellow-billed cuckoo {Coc- cyzus anicricanus), black-billed cuckoo {Coccy^us c ryt hrop Ii t ha I ni n s) , chipping sparrow {Spizclla socialis), yellow warbler {Dendroica cestiva). During the month of May an at- tempt was made to render the place as attractive to birds as possible. The undergrowth, which previous to 1 894 had been trimmed out, was afterward allowed to grow and in 1895 several low thickets had been thus formed; the mulberry-trees were stimulated by judicious trimming, and bore a con- siderable crop of early fruit which ripened in advance of the cherries, thus drawing the attention of the fruit- eating birds away from the cherries, and serving to attract them to the vic- inity of the orchard. Ten nesting boxes were put up for the wrens and bluebirds; but as the bluebirds were very rare this season none came to the orchard. Two families of wrens, how- ever, were reared in the boxes in place of one family last year. Nesting mat- erials— strings, hair and straw — were hung in the trees and scattered about. Several marauding cats were killed, and an attempt was made to keep nest-hunting boys away from the neighborhood as much as possible. Thirty-six nests of birds were dis- covered in the neighborhood, as fol- lows: Three red-eyed vireos, ten robins, four Baltimore orioles, three cuckoos, five chipping sparrows, three least flycatchers, two redstarts, two yellow warblers, two chickadees, two house wrens. Of these all but three were destroy- ed probably by boys, the nests being torn down and the eggs missing. The three which escaped destruction were two wren's nests which had been built in boxes upon buildings, and a robin's nest in a maple tree within ten feet of a chamber window. This wholesale destruction of nests discouraged sever- al pairs of birds, and they disappeared from the neighborhood. Those re- maining built new nests, and after a second or third attempt a few suc- ceeded in rearing young. One nest of orioles escaped the general destruction, and the birds were busy for a long 30 THE MUSEUM. time carrying canker-worms to their young. One of them was noticed to take eleven canker-worms in its beak at one time, and fly with them to the nest. The vireos, warblers, chicka- dees, cuckoos, orioles and chipping sparrows were particularly active in catching canker-worms, and the En- glish sparrow killed them in consider- able numbers. If the thirty-si.x pairs of birds whose nests were found had succeeded in raising their young, it is probable that they would have disposed of most of the canker-worms in the neighborhood. Five thousand of these larvae are suffi- cient to strip a large apple-tree. One hundred and eight young would have been reared, had each pair of birds raised three. According to Professor Augley's experience, sixty insects per day as food for each bird, both young and old, would be a very low esti- mate.* Suppose each of these one hundred and eight birds had received its sixty insects per day, there would have been 6,480 caterpillars destroyed daily. The destruction of this num ber of caterpillars would be enough to save the foliage and fruitage of one apple-tree. In thirty days the foliage of thirty apple-trees could have been saved, or 194,400 canker-worms des- troyed. This does not include what the old birds themselves would have eaten. In these observations the influence of insect parasites and predaceous in- sects has not been entirely ignored. Hymenopterous parasites were not seen to be numerous, and as it was a year when canker-worms were on the increase, it is not probable that these parasites would have been a prime * )st Eep. U. S. Ent. Com. 1877, p. 342. force in reducing the numbei^s of the canker-worms had the birds not been present. Even had they been numer- ous they would have had little effect in checking the ravages of the canker- worm during the present year, as their interest is identical with that of the canker-worm, and they remain in its body until it has finished feeding, al- lowing it to defoliate the trees before completing their deadly work upon it. We do not know to what extent such parasites are devoured by birds. This we could not ascertain without shooting the birds, which would have defeated our main object. No paras- ites of the tent caterpillar or canker- worm were found in the stomachs of the fewnbirds which were examined. It is hardly safe to draw conclusions from observations so limited in their scope, but we may infer from what was observed that the egg-eating birds are of the greatest value to the farmer, as they feed almost entirely on injur- ious insects and their eggs, and are present all winter when other birds are absent. The summer birds which at- tack the larvae are valuable also if they can be so protected and fostered as to become sufficiently numerous to do the work required. It is evident also that a diversity of plants which encourages diversified insect life, and assures an abundance of fruits and seeds, as an attraction to birds will insure their presence. In this connection I wish particularly to note the fact that the mulberry-trees, which ripen their berries in June, prov- ed to be a protection to the cultivated cherries, as the fruit-eating birds seemed to prefer them to the cherries, perhaps because they ripen somewhat earlier. THE MUSEUM. 31 I believe it would be wise for the farmer to plant rows of these trees near his orchard, and it is possible that the early June berry or shad ber- ry {Aiiiclanclticr canadensis) might also be useful in this respect. It is a handsome shrub or tree, flowering early in the season, and would be at- tractive at a time when other trees and shrubs are not in bloom. At the present time, July 23, 1895, the trees in the orchard appear to be in good condition. They have not suffered from the slight pruning of their foliage which was effected by the few caterpillars and canker-worms which survived. The fruit is well set, and it now remains to be seen whether the birds will have any considerable effect in preventing the ravages of the codling moth. No other orchard in the neighborhood will produce any fruit this season, with one exception. The nearest orchard, situated directly opposite on the estate across the way, has not been ravaged by the canker- worms. This exemption is due prin- cipally to the efforts of the owner, who has banded his trees with tarred paper and has used tree ink faithfully and well upon the paper. He has also taken pains to clear the nests of the tent caterpillar from the trees. This orchard, being nearest to the one visit- ed by the chickadees, was also an ob- ject of their attention, and this may account somewhat for the reduction of the pests in this place. The record of these observation, in- complete as it is, is given for what it is worth as a contribution to the liter- ature on this most interesting and im- portant subject. Relief Maps FOR SCHOOLS OF ALL GRADES. Systematic CollGctiins. MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY, ZOOLOGY, LANTERN SLIDES, ETC. Washington School Collections. Minerals, Rocks and Invertebrate Animals. It is safe to say that no collections ot equal excel- lence have ever before been offered in this country at so low a price ($2 each). Send for circular. EDWm E. HOWELL, 612 17th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. SOMETHING NEW! 75 varieties of Minerals, lO poundsSI.OO. LIST FREE. N. L. WILSON, 170 Tremont St., BOSTON, MASS. Collection for Teachers and Students of Natural Science. Shells, 33 species $ 2 50 " 100 " 6 00 Corals 13 " small 60 25 •• medium 3 00 Minerals 53 ' ' small 75 " 100 •' " 3 00 " 100 " High School 25 00 12 •' showy 2 00 Fo.ssils 25 " 3 00 Curios, Land and Marine 30 varieties. . 3 50 .50 " .. 5 00 Starfish 12 " . . 1 50 The above 12 collections will be sent to any address for only $50. A splendid chance for any .school to obtain a tine working collection. W. F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. The Reliquary and Illustrated Archsologist. EDITED BY J. ROHriLLY ALLEN, F.S.A., SCOT. Price, 2s 6d Quarterly. Subscriptions, post free, S2.50 yer annum. Devoted to the Study of Antiquities, the De- velopment of the Arts and Industries of Man in Past Ages; and the Survivals of Ancient Usages and Appliances in the Present. BEMROSE & SONS, Limited, 23 Old Bailey, London, England. THE NUMISMATIST. $1.00 per anuum. 10 cents per copy. Official organ of the American Numismatic Association. An elegant illustrated m^onthly. devoted to the col- lector and student of Coin^. Now in its eighth volume. No live collector can afford to be without it. A sam- ple copy will be sent you gratis on receipt of stamp, if you are interested in this science. Addiess, THE NUMISMATIST, Monroe, Mich. 32 THE MUSEUM. Birds Eggs! Are you a Collector? Have you a Collection? Do you Exchange? If so, why not lay iu a stock of eggs, at such prices that will make exchanging profitablev I have on hand as tine a lot of Southern eggs, as were ever brought together and will put them to you at prices that defy competition. Now is your chance to lay in a stock for exchanging, and till out your series. Don't miss it. All sets original and with fall data. Your satisfaction my pleasure. Address, E. A. McILHENNY, AVERY'S ISLAND, IBERIA PARISH, LA. ■ WE ARE IfHrER DUlZr , S~.00 a Year. u Will Like It. At News-stands 20 Cts. Sample copy sent on receii^t of eigbt 2-ct. stamps "Sports Atield," 358 Dearborn St., Chicaga California Curiosities. Mounted Tarantulas, Horned Toads, Scorpions. Trap-door Spiders, 5 Specimen Collections, Yucca Pincushions, etc., etc. Just the goods for Curio and Shell Dealers to handle. Best work and lowest prices. Send for wholesale illustrated price list. G. W. Tuttle, Pasadena. Calif. GAMELAND The Sportsmau-Naturalisf s Illustrated uiagaziue, reveals virgin woods aud waters, and treats exhaustively of birds, fishes and quadrupeds, camp ^ life, wood-craft and general natural history and natural science. It is not a vulgar "sporting'" sheet; the household reads it. Twelve numbers make a book of 400 pages. Subscription $1 yearly, postage free, any address. With The Museum $1.50; three trial numbers. 2o cents. No free copies. Address: Gameland, 13 Aster Place, New York, N.Y. BIRDS Skin.s, Eggs, Mounted Birds, Stamps, Curios at lowest rates. 13 varieties Birds' Skins. $1.00 Mounted Birds. 50 cents each. Approval sheets of Stamps at .'iO per cent discount. Fresh Bird's Skins. in season, same price as others. Lists free. 6-yr F. T. CORLESS. LOS GATOS, CALIF. CLEARANCE SALE. 26 Pages Written Quotations Lists now ready. Eggs in Sets, Stuffed Birds, Marine Curios, Land Curios, Foreign Birds and Skins, Mounted Animals and Heads, Odd Stock Live Birds. Over 100,000 specimens at prices that will surprise you. Every one who has purchased from us a catalogue, during the past year is entitled to a full copy of above. TO NEW PARTIES. Send 10 cents for Our Complete Catalogue of Supplies, Eyes, &c. FRANK B. 'WEBSTER CO., HYDE PARK, MASS. Herkimer Co Crystals. FINEST IN THE WOELD ! No Cabinet complete without them. Medal and Diploma at the World's Fair. The advantage of living at the locatity where these marvels of beauty are found, coupled with an experience of 18 years in collecting them, enables me to offer fine spec- imens at the lowest living prices. I will send 35 of these Famous Gems, postpaid, for only 70 cents. t^PREE: Every purchaser of this popular collec- tion will be presented with a handsome glass tube, containing ten microscopic crystals, absolutely perfect, and so very ;small that it takes 11,000 to weigh one ounce. ORDER TO-DAY. 3t A. B. CRim. Herkimer Co., IVIiddleville, N. 'Y. The Naturalist. An illustrated 20-page monthly devoted to th e study of Nature. Circulation rapidly increasing, now being 3000 Only 50 cents per Year. KREE B.XCHANGE COUUMN. Send in your subscription and commence with vol. 2, No. 1. Vol. 2 commences with the January, 1895. number, and will contain over 100 illustrations during the year. Address, G. B. CHENEY, OREGON CITY, OREGON . THE MUSEUM. A Western Branch at Keokuk, Iowa. u-> X -M o\ T -1 00 « ^ ■M () u U M ^ W ■M u OJ rt u u _ ^ (fl u o v XI rfl u Q •a c OJ 3 6 n > >, ■4-' o *-* •n +-• bJD Ul o >> G o .Q (U W) rt ■"] •a c 1 CO > o x; C (1) 'S, ^ >, x: en 2 C XI u o X s o 1) Xi +-< 6 4^ c m X OJ '^ ^H uxi rn a OJ 0^ o ^ >.3 o ^ November 1st I opened a branch store at Keokuk, Iowa, where Collectors may order aQvlhing lisied in my v-arions circu- Uirs, except Esrgs and Skins. All Western patrons should send orders here and save delay. Here are some bargains at that office which are good until December loth only. All are sent prepaid. Davie's Taxidermy $ 4 90 Birds of Michigan 50 Apgar's Key to Birds 48 Birds of Labi'ador 50 Natural History of Labrador 50 Davie's Nests and Eggs, paper 1 15 Ornithologists' and Oologists' Manual 25 50 Checking Lists 50 Collection 53 kinds of Minerals, all labeled, with locality and Chemical Composition 75 Collection 100 kinds of Minerals, Locality, etc 2 50 Collection 3(i varieties Shells, ordinarily list $6 3 25 Marvelous collection, a tine thing for Students or Young People 65 Collection 50 varieties very small Shells 50 15 large, tine Shells for Mantle ornament, mostly polished 5 00 (We guarantee this lot to please the most fastidious.) Collection 34 kinds Shells fr.Tin 1 to 50 of a kind, retail at $20 to $-^7, F. O B., Keokuk 10 00 Branch Co7'al, fine piece 50 Organ pipe Coral, tine piece 50 Oiilogist's Outtit 25 Oologist's Outfit, better one 35 Water Blower, complete 1 50 Fine Taxidermist Outtit in case 3 00 Fine Botanist (Outfit in case 3 Oo Fine Entomologist Outtit in case 3 00 These Outhts are all new and w« can recommend them as equal to any $5 Outfits on the market. Taxidermists Labels, hundred 15 Taxidermist Pins, hundred 25 3 o' C C n -' D. rt fD O •a •-t o W2 o W (0 c/i i_< n •-^ & °^^3 o 6» m w 3" a O- c:op , o 2 3 o B n n o 3r+ C r* 3 fv - c en" ft We recommend any Collectors of Minerals to write for lists Our oflice is in charge of Mr. Geo. M. Crofts, of Keokuk, and any orders entrusted to his care will have prompt and faithful attention. Address plainly and in full, WALTER F. WEBB, 917 MAIN ST., KEOKUK, lA. THL MUSEUM. $3.50 for $I.OO. Read " The Nidiolog:ist's " Offers. We will send you the best and only Illustrated Monthly Mag- azine of Bird Life a whole year, $1.50 worth of handsome Birds' Eggs in "sets," a coupon good for 50 words in exchange or sale column, and Two Elegant Proof Plates for framing; all worth, at lowest, $3.50, FOX^ Ol^X-.-g" ^3..00. SHOWY, DESIRABLE "SETS" OF EGGS Collected by Capt. D. P. INGRAHAM, first-class in every respect, and with full data. Audubon's Shearwater \ $1.50 Sent for one subscription. Man-o'-War Bird j, $i oo ) . -/-> Noddy Tern ^ 50 f '■•^^ Sent for one subscription. Sooty Tern \, \ Royal Tern \. { . ^0 Noddy Tern {, f '■•^^ Cabot's Tern \, j Sent for one subscription. Bridled Tern |, ) Noddy Tern \, f Sent for one subscription. 1.50 Man-o'-War Bird ■}, Louisiana Heron i, 2.86 'THEN THE PLATES. WATER OUZEL'S NEST.— A charm- ing picture for framing. Everyone delighted with it. '' It is a beauty.'' — J. H. Bowles. WOOD PEWEES AND NEST.— Nest and living wild birds, life-size. "One of the best pictures of bird life I have ever seen." — Olive Thorne Miller. These elegant hand proofs are on heavy plate paper, qi x 13 inches, and will make valuable and rich additions to the wall of your museum or "den." The plates are worth 50 cents each. They are objects of art. We simply priced them at 25 cents and stick to it. The Illustrated London News asks ft each for fine " proof " plates of its pictures. We can't give you a $3 paper for 25 cents, but we can, and will, give you all of these premiums FREE. It's a business proposi- tion. You profit (just now) by our great and unprecedented offers in order to at once ex- tend our circulation. By and by you will simply have to have the magazine and will pay the regular price, without any premium. Delay means a loss to you. Sent for two subscriptions. Yellow-billed Tropic Bird |, ) q 0/3 Louisiana Heron i, f /i.CSO .Sent for two subscriptions. Audubon's Shearwater -[, I c: nn Bojjby insula suh) \, f OX>^ Sent for three subscriptions. IMPORTANT. Remember, every subscriber is entitled to the fifty words in the exchange column, and the two (2) beautiful plates go with each offer. Present subcribers may renew ahead to take advantage of these great ofl'ers. We have a good supply, but it won't last forever — " A word to the wise." N. B.— Inclose six two-cent stamps for postage and packing on eggs, and four tw> cent stamps for same on the plates. Remit just now, to THE NIDIOLOQIST, H. R. TAYLOR, Publisher 150 Fifth Avenue, New York. Samnle Copy sent for 10c. None free. VOL.11. NO. 2. DECEMBER. 1895. A Journal Devoted to Research in Natural Science. RA TES: — $1.00 per year to all countries, in advance. Single numbers, 10 cts. Berliu Agency, R. Fbiedlander & Sohn, Bei-lin, N. W, Carlstrasse 11. Loudou Agency, Swann & Co., 1 and 2 Bouverie St., Fleet St., London, England. Published the Fifteenth of Each Month by WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. THE MUSEUM. A New Departure. A Permanent Branch of Webb's Natural History Establishment at KEOKUK, IOWA. Under the Management of Mr. Geo. M. Crofts. For years collectors in the West and South have been obliged to send for Taxidtrmy Material, Supplies of all kinds. Specimens, etc., to far Eastern houses, as Albion, Boston, New York and the like, and yet with but one excep- tion, no place has been opened in the far West where a general line of Supplies and Specimens could be had. Our stoie wh'ch is no>v r)pen and reatiy for business, is conveniently locat- td iin the ground floor of a biick block on Main Street in the hustling city of Keokuk, famous the world over as being the place where 'Geodes" were liter- ally to be collected in any qnantity. Street cars pass from the Union lOepot by our store all day, and we herewith extend an invitation to all Collectors in the West or South to visit our store and see the "treasures" therein. Our specialty at the Western Office will be Minerals, Rocks, P'ossils, Shells iiiid Marine Specimens. WALTER F. WEBB, Keokuk, la.; or, Albion, N. Y. TINY SEND 15c. STAMPS ;i°?n''°„""'"' ■••"'«'^'' NORMAL CATALOGUE I Arrow Heads ot semi-precious stone from Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, etc.. are elegant anil becom- ing scarce. 10,000 Hint Arrows and Spears from all over the United States, from $.05 to $3.00 each — common forms to choice and rare. A variety will be sent on application Id any one giving good references. I pay postage one way. A few cents will return the pack- age. The Noble Fossils of the Cheyenne River Bad Laml.s. Three tons of fine Minerals; most all the species iu Uana furnished. Sliells, Aluminum Goods, Agate and Pyrites Je^velry, Sioux Indian Kelics. Catalogue with prices, for stamp. Natural History Establishment L. W. STILWELL, WHOLESALE AND RETAIL, DEADWOOD, S. D. of all European-palaearctic bird eggs, In over 601) numbers, with prices and number of sets for each species. HERCDANN ROLLE. INSTITUTION FOR NATURAL HI.STORV, BERLIN N. W., EMDENER-STR. A. GERMANY The Naturalist. An illustrated 20-page monthly devoted to the study of Nature. Circulation rapidlyincreasing, now being 3000 Only 50 cents per Year. I^REK EXCHANGE, COLiUMN. Send in your sub.scription and commence with vol. 2, No. 1. Vol. 2 commences with the January, \S9^, number, and will contain over 100 lUii!>trnlions during the year. Address, C. B. CHENEY, OREGON CITY, OREGON THE MUSEUM. WANTS, EXCHANGES AND FOR SALES. All notices that come nncier above will be inserted in this departmeut until further notice at one-half (I) cent a word. No notice less than 35c. Terms Cash with crder. No charge for address. I shall at all times endeavor to keep parties, whose reputation is of a doubtful char- acter from using these columns. WANTED.— A° X. L. Shot Gun or some other make of this calibre. Will give cash or bird skins. W. E. PRAEGER, Keokuk, Iowa. I HAVE Indian Stone Axes, Celts, Pestles, Mortars, Uiscoidals, Mallets. Hammer Stones, Sinkers, t'lint Clubheads, Hatchets, Spears, Arrows, Drills, Scrapers, Pendants, Gorgets, on hand at lowest prices. Outlines sent on request. Have for sale one Rocky Mountain mineral cabinet containing 40 different label- ed specimens, some polished; price $1.00. A. D. GRUTZMASHER, Mukwonago, Wis. WANTED.— Lepidoptera from the western and southern states. Offer lepidoptera from New York. Send lists and receive mine. W. J. FOX, 93 Genesee St., Utica, N. Y. FOR SALU — Pretty goods, fossils, crinoid stems, minerals, .sycamore balls, sarpindus berries, Buffalo horns, (rough) lovely cave spec, rattle snake rattles and curios, for sale; also red and common crinoidal limestone, fos- sils on limestone and petrided moss, last 4 (11d. pieces) tor postage if you will return the cancelled stamps. CORA JEWELL, Shan- nondale, Mont. Co., Indiana. TO EXCHANGE.— A first class Crypto- gamic Herbaruim of fifty specimens for eggs or skins. All Cryptogamio specimens will be accompanied by ink drawings of the micro- scopic structure. I also have a few skins and eggs for exchange. WILMON NEWELL, Hull, Iowa. TO EXc;HANGE.— Plymouth Rock Chick- ens for Shells, Minerals, Curios, etc. J. I. HEISLER, Dallas City, Illinois. BEHOLD!- Beautiful Butterfly picture, glass 18x24, 3 inch oak frame, contains 100 different, large, brilliant Butterflies, all per- fect, from every land. A tine ornament for parlor, or office of Natviralists; a whole col- lection in itself. Offer it for $10 cash, or $15 in exchange for fine bird skins, the rarer eggs in sets. Cocoons and rare Lepidoptera, and supplies. Now is your chance to procure a fine article. Send 10c for my lists, and see what I offer in insects, etc. PROF. CARL BRAUN, Naturalist, Bangor, Me. FOR SALE. — 16 guage hammer shot gun; weighs 74 lbs., 30 iu. barrels and finely en- graved; cost $65.00; price $25.00; also 22 cal. rifle, with globe and elevating sight, pistol grip; price $6.00. PERRY MARKS, Corn Exchange Bank, New York City. WANTED.— U S. venues, Columbian. Stamps, old issues, re- Will give in exchange Indian relics and marine curiosities. Write what vou have and what you want. S. M. MARTSOLF, Beaver, Beaver Co., Penna. HUNTERS and trappers of U. States and North-west territory, send your address to G. STAINSKY. 124 No. Wahsatch Ave., Colorado Springs, Colo. CRINOID stems, red and common crinoidal limestone, petrified moss, fossils on limestone to exchange with dealers for nice shells, In- dian relics, curios, etc. Above and geodes, curios, sarpindus berries, (amber color) paper bound books, flower seeds, roots and shrubs, for wash fiosa silk, white bedspread, celluloid and other useful articles. CORA JEWELL, Shannondale, Mont. Co., Indiana. ANYONE wanting birds in the meat from this locality will please enclose stamp for prices to E. L. HALEY, Rangeley, Maine. TO EXCHANGE.— Shells to exchange for shells or minerals. J. I. HEISLER, Dallas City, Illinois, WANTED. — Entire postal cards and copper coins of all nations, in exchange, or for cash. States issue of each specimen and price post- paid. J. W. MILLER, Ste. Luce, Rimouski Co., Que., Cauda. I WILL GIVE good exchange in shells or curios, for cancelled Columbian stamps. W. H. HILLER, 147 W. 23d St., Los Angeles, Calif. TO EXCHANGE.— A 38-cal. X. L. shot gun for first class sets, with full data, or will sell cheap for cash. Address, H. W. BEERS, Bridgeport, Conn. 2t WANTED— Live black or grey squirrel. Scotch or Belgian Hare, fancy pet stock of all kinds. Will exchange shark's jaw, porpus' head, sea shells, Indian relics or cash. Have ten thousand sea shells and twenty-three thousand Indian relics for sale or exchange cheap. W. E. CLARKE, Lake Ridge Pleasure Resort, Huntsville, Ohio. FOR SALE.— I have a small lot of mounted birds, good specimens, which I will close out at only 40c each or three for a $1. Also offer the following strictly first class sets: Chest- nut-sided Warbler, 1-3, 1-4, 10c; Prairie War bier 14 14c; Oven-bird, 1-3. 9c; Towhee, 1-4, 6c. GEO. D. FRENCH, Ivoryton, Ct. 34 THE MUSEUM. 600 rarities stamps in international album. ■Good condition; also about 900 duplicates; catalogue value $13 to $14, foi' best offer in sets or relics. RUSSEI.L T. CONGDON, Ripon, Wis. FOR EXCHANGE.— A complete set of oologists and a tiue oieolo, for eggs, skins or iirst class mounted birds. E. L. HALEY, Rangeley, Maine. FOR EXCHANGE.— Sets of Cal. eggs, with ■data, including 373c, 474e, 637, 733. 743, and many others. First class sets with data wante.l. WM. L. ATKINSON, Box 147, San- ta Clara, Cal. HYPNOTISM for the next 60 days; I will send secret and full and complete method of hypnotising; by mail for $1.00. PROF.CHAS. B. LYMAN, Rockford, 111. A COLLECTION of 30 different arrow, spear lance heads and scrapers, sent by mail to any address, postpaid, for 55c. These are from the famous Scioto Valley mound region; all tine. F. I. BROWN, Hajden Block, Col- umbus, O. EX-PRESIDENT Harrison receives a larger sum lor his articles on ''This Country of Ours," which he is writing for Tlie Ladies' Home Journal, than has been paid to any public man iu America for magazine work of a simi- lar nature. His first article, in the Christmas aumber of the Journal, sold over 100,000 ex- tra copies of the magazine, of which 735,000 copies were printed as a first edition. GREAT SOUVENIRS.— Twenty varieties of tickets from the World's Columbian Expo- sition, for twelve cents. Curiosities in ex- TO EXCHANGE.— Slack's Marvels of Pond Life, Sea Shells from Vancover Island or a novelty picture frame for SeaShells or Agates. F. A. BICKFORD, Champlin, Hennepin Co., Minn. WANTED. — American and foreign birds' eggs, sets and singles and books on birds and eggs. I can offer a new $5.00 bicycle lamp, stamps and stamp journal, birds' eggs, sets and singles and No.'s 344, 345, 346 of Ameri- can Naturalist, No.'s 3 and 4 of Science Guide by Hyatt, North American Bows, Arrows and Quivers by Otts T. Mason, $1.50 Cook's Birds of Michigan, etc. Send me your lists and receive mine in return. WM. J. WIRT, Box 137, Gaines, Orleans Co., N. Y. FOR SALE.— Revolvers, Smith & Wessen 33, $7 .50; Remington 38, $4.00; Colt 45, belt and hostler, $10.00. Nests and eggs, Davie's paper, $1.00; cloth, $1.40; Naturalist's Man- uel, COc; Our Birds in their Haunts, $1.75; silver hunting case, Swiss movement, watch, $10.00; 1883 nickles, no cents, 10c. Many other articles list for stamp. C. BYRON VANDERCOOK, Odin, Illinois. COCOAWOOD FIFE, Crosby model, for $4 worth of eggs in sets; 1895 volume of Scien- tific American for $3 worth of eggs. LOW- ELL P. LETTIS, Albion, N. Y. change for stamps. CLINTON A. FOX, .535 West 61st St., Station O, Chicago. 111. FOR SALE. — Good second hand copies Cones' Field Ornithology, $3; Coues' Key to N. A. Bird, 1873 edition, $5; Cones' Birds of the Norlhwest, $3.60; Coues' Birds of Colo- rado Valley, $3.(50; Capen's Oology of New England, (rare out of print) $15. These are all in good shape and will be sent on receipt of price. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. FOR EXCHANGE.— I have a few good stamps to exchange for tiue showy shells or will pay part cash. Send your shells on ap- proval and if they are good size and hand- some I will give good exchange or cash, and have also a few fine sets to exchange for same; write quick, please. Mention Museum. WALTER E. MCLAIN, New Vineyard, Me. CASH or good exchange given for natural history magazines wanted to complete files. Send list. A new autoharp for exchange. F. R. STEARNS, Sac City, Iowa. WANTED. — Fossil fish, crinoids, baculites and trilobites, and eggs of raptores, in sets, with full data. Can give in exchange fossil broachioi)oda, gasteropoda and corals. HAR- OLD M. MCLAUGHLIN, 117 W. 11th St., Mason City, Iowa. EXCHANGE.— 11x14 Anthony's Universal Camera; also a Globe burnisher, for Elk, Moose, Deer, Antler or Mammal specimens, unmounted. PROF. G. STAINSKY, Colo. Springs, Col. POTTERS' CLAY, just what all taxider- mists need for mounting Deer Heads, Fish Mammals, etc; iu bricks of 6 and 13 lbs. each; 30c for a 6 lb. brick or 5()c for a large size; must go by express or freight, $3.00 per hun- dred lbs. W, F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. or Keokuk, Iowa. I HAVE a large fine pair of Elk Antlers on Skull; also a tine Bison's head nicely mounted to exchange for a good grade of Double Bar- rel Shot Gun and Mounted Birds, and Skins. Eggs and most any thing the collector wants. Address, with stamp, C. F. FITE, Denver, Ind. INDIAN STONE and Flint Relics for sale cheap. Five tiue arrows mounted on card, 30c postpaid. Axes, celts, clubheads, etc, 35c up. Send for outlines. A. D. GRUTZ- MACHER, Mukwonago, Wis. 2 WANTED.— Deer, Elk. Moose, Bear and Mt. Sheep heads. Any size but Al condition. Also Rugs nicely lined. State what you have and what vou want to get. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. COLLECTORS, buy your trays in flat. Note prices, li x 2 per hundred, 35c; 2x3 per hundred, 40c; 3x4 per hundred, 45c; 4 x 6 per hundred, 50c. Green, black, red or white paper. Add one-fourth of order for postage, or we will send by express. Any child of 10 years can make up these trays. W.F.WEBB, Albion, N.Y. THE MUSEUM. 35 Are you a Collector? ave you a Collection? Do you Exchange? Birds Eggs! s If so, wb_v not laj- in a stock of eggs, at such prices tliat will make exchanging profitable? I have on hand as fine a lot of Southern eggs, as were ever brought together and will put them to you at prices that defy competition. Now is your chance to lay in a stock for exchanging, and fill out your series. Don't miss it. All sets original and with fall data. Your satisfaction my pleasure. Address, E. A. McILHENNY, AVERY'S ISLAND, IBERIA PARISH, LA. A Scientist's Directory. Messrs R. Freidlander & Sohn of Berlin, Germany, the compilers of the above Directory, and the Foreign Agents of The MnsEUM have placed on sale with us a few copies. It is a very deserving work of 750 pages, giving addresses of Zoologists in every country in the World. No better Directory can be secured. It is gotten up in nice shaue, tine paper, alphabetically arranged, etc. Price, $3.7,5 prepaid. WALTER F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. Light, Strong. Speedy, Handsome. Finest flaterial. FOUR MODELS- $SS and = $ioo. SCIENTIFIC ' WORKMANSHIP. EVERY MACHINE FULLY GUARANTEED. SEND 2 CENT STAMP FOR CATALOGUE. Monarch Cycle Mfg. Co. Lake, Halsted and Fulton Streets, CHICAGO. ILL. FACTORY AND MAIN office: BRANCHES :— New York, Portland, SanFrancisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, De*«oU Toronto- 36 THE MUSEUM. Ptarmigan wanted. (Willow) freshly skinned, postpaid, $1.50, Hawk Owls, $2.25. OLIVER SPANNER & CO., 3.58 Yonge St., Toronto, Canada. GqJ. \m/|.»«+*3 One of Wilson's famous $l C L W na L . Mineral Collections. 10 lbs. All the specimens ;ire of good quality and will And a place in your caliinet. TRY ONE! I can sell you minerals cheaper than any other dealer. N. L. Wilson, 170Tremont St., Boston, Mass. W. Reed Curtis' Agency. Newspapers and Magazines at Lowest Net Rates To Postmasters and Agents. Wholesale rates for single copies. Agent wanted in every town in U. S. and Canada. Drop us a line for contidential rates and 20 page Catalogue, Free . W. REED CURTIS, Mgr., KENT, N. Y. Meslian's Monthly has twenty pages of condensed reading mat- ter, on all Horticultural subjects, of use and interest to both the amateur and professional. Wild Flowers and Nature and Practical Gardening in general are given chief attention. Each issue contains a magnificent colored lithograph of some Native Wild Flower or Fern, which is both botanically correct and artistic. They are engraved and printed by Prang it Co., expressly for this magazine. Numerous copper and half-tone plates further illustrate this work. Edited by Thomas Meehan, formerly edi- tor of The Gardernars Monthly, and of the Native Flowers and Ferns of the U. S., State Botanist to the Pennsylvania Board of Agricul- ture. An examination of a copy will prove that the Editor has succeeded in his endeavors to get as much matter in as few words as possi- ble, and yet in an interesting manner— a course highly appreciated by the reader. Terms, $3.00 a year. Sample copy free. Responsible and intelligent Canvassers want- ed. THOMAS MEEHAN SONS, Germantown, Pa. Crinoid Heads For Sale. E. M. SAUNDERS, Lebanon, Ind. The addresses of all reliable collectors iu' the state of Texas. Please write me on a pos- tal as I have a pioposition to make. I also wish to buy publications treating on Oiiiogy and Ornithology from that state. Address all letters to NATHAN L. DAVIS, Box 224, BROCKPORT, N. Y. WANTED. — At once, for cash or exchange, the following fossils: Fossil Leaves and Ferns, Calamine Plants, Archamides Worth- enii, Belemites, Grypheas, Chain Coral, var- ious Fossil Corals, Ammonites, Oi this, Spiri- fers. etc. I^arties having any of above or other good fo.ssils, please write, statingquant- ity you have, size and price for lot. W. F. WE:BB, Albion, N. Y., or Keokuk, Iowa. WANTED.— Copies of Cones' Key, Ridge- way's Manual or any other book that we list, new or second hand, for which we olTer other books, specimens, supplies or possibly cash if a bargain. W. F. WEBB, Albion. N. Y. WANTED. — New or second hand copies of Cones' Key, Ridgeway's Manual or other books on Natural Science for which I offer specimens, instruments, supplies, other books or part cash. Send list of what youi want in return. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. FOSSILS, FOSSILS, FOSSILS.— Have you any fine fossils, large or small, all sizes, in any quantity? If so, send me full list, giving number, condition and price, and what you, wish. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. WANTED. — Fine complete sets of Hawks,. Owls, Grouse, Ducks &3., for cash. Prefer to take in large lots. Send full list and I will advise what I will pay. W. F. WEBB, Al- bion. N. Y. — That prince of young people's pub- lications, the Youth's Companion, has secured a famous list of contributors for 1896, and the articles and stories to be published will be unsurpassed bril- liancy and interest. Among the' more prominent names we notice Lord Chief Justice Russell of England, ex-Speaker Reed, Justin McCarthy, Secretary Her- bert, Hoke Smith, Bishops Doane and Coxe, Admiral Stevens, Mrs. Burton Harrison, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Harriet Prescott Spott'ord. the Princess I.,ouise and the Marquis of Lome, Max O'Rell, Hiram Maxim, Andrew Carnegie, Sir Edwin Arnold, Thomas Nast, Gen. Miles, Frank R. Stockton, Archibald Forbes, Frederic Villiers, Prof. Holden and Barnard, Bebecca Harding Davis, Hezekiah Butterworth and a host of others famous the world over. The Youth's Compatiion is published by Per- ry Mason & Co., Boston, Mass.. at $1.75 per year. THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine Devoted to Research' in Natural Science. Vol. II. ALBION, N. Y., DEC. 15, 1895. No. 2 SHOWY SEA SHELLS. Interesting Notes About Shells That are Easerly Sought for by Collectors. {Continued froiii last number. \ In this paper we will review some of the Cassis and Purpura. In the genus Cassis the shell is oval, convex and the spire is not of consid- erable height. The longitudinal open- ing is narrow, terminating in front in a short channel, which becomes sud- denly erect toward the back of the shell as in cassio g/aiica [Fig. 22] a fine shell from the Moluccas, The columella is folded or toothed trans- versely, as in Cassis rufa [Fig 23], the right edge thick, furnished with a sort of pad externally, and dentate within. This shell is from the Indian ocean, and is of a fine purple color, varied with black above, the edges of the opening being of a coral red color, the teeth alone being white. The head of the animal is large and thick, furnished with two conical elon- gated tentacles, at the base of which are eyes. The mantle is ranged out- side the shell, falling back upon the edges of the opening and terminating at its anterior extremity in a long cylin- drical channel, cloven in front, and passing by a hollow at the base into the branchial cavity. The foot is large and furnished with a horny oper- culum. The animals keep near the shore, in shallow water. They walk slowly and often sink themselves into the sar)d. where they prey upon small bivalves. There are not very many species, but specimens from the Indian Ocean are often large and beautifully marked. The shells of the less marked spe- cies are frequenly used in India as lime for making mortar, under the name of Chunam. Our space only permits us to men- tion, among the more curious species, Cassis canaliculata (Fig. 24] and the curious Casis Zebra (Lam), or Zebra- marked Casque [Fig. 25]. The Purpuras have a classical name and history, having furnished the Greeks and Romans with the brilliant purple coloring matter which was reserved for the mantles of patricians and princes. The genus Purpura is characterized as possessing an oval shell, thick pointed with short conical spiral, as in Purpura lapellus [Fig. 26]. In some it is tu- bercular or angular, the last turn of the spiral being larger than all the others put together. The opening is dilated, terminating at its lower ex- tremety in an oblique notch. The columellar edge is smooth, often ter- minating in a point; the right edge of- ten digitate, thick internally, and fold- ed or rippled. The animal presents a large head, with two swollen conical tentacles, close together and bearing an eye to- wards the middle of their external side. Its foot is large, bilobate in front, with a semicircular horny operculum. The species of Purpura inhabit the clefts of rocks in marine regions cov- 38 THE MUSEUM. Ffg. 22. Fig. 23. Fig. 24. Fig. 25. Fig. 27. ered with algae. On occasions they bury themselves in the sand. They creep about by the help of their foot in pursuit of bivalves. They are found in all seas, but the larger spe- cies and greatest numbers come from warm regions, more especially from the West Indian and Australian seas. The Purpura of the ancients was not, as is generally thought, a vermilion red, but rather a very deep violet, which at a later period came to have various shades of red. The secret of its preparation was only known to the Phoenicians, that being most esteem- ed which came from Tyre. Sir Wil- liam Wilde has discovered on the east- ern shore of the Mediterranean, near the ruins of Tyre, a certain number of circular excavations in the solid rock. In these excavations he found a great number of broken shells of Murex trun- culus. He thinks it probable that they had been bruised in great masses by the Tyrian workmen, for the manu- facture of the purple die. Many shells of the same species are found actually living on the same coast at the pres- ent time. Aristotle, in his writings, dwells up- on their purple dye. He says that this dye is taken from two flesh-eating molluscs inhabiting the sea which washes the Phoenician coast. Accord- ing to the description given by the cel- ebrated Greek philosopher, one of these animals had a very large shell, consisting of seven turns of the spire, studded with spines, and terminating in a strong beak; the other had a shell much smaller. Aristotle named the last animal Buccinum. It is thought . that the last species is to be recogniz- ed in the Purpura lapillus, [Fig. 27] J which abounds in the Channel; Reau- ■ THE MUSEUM. 39 merr and Duhamel obtained, in fact, a purple color from this species, which they applied to some stuffs, and found that it resisted the strongest lye. The f;enus Murex is supposed by some to have contained the species indicated by Aristotle. Up to the present time, the produc- tion of the Tyrian purple remains a mystery. It was long thought this fine dye was furnished by the stomach and liver, but M. Lacaze-Duthiers has demonstrated that the organ which se- cretes it is found on the lower surface of the mantle, between the intestines and the respiratory organs, where it forms a sort of fascia, or small band. The coloring matter, as it is extracted from the animals, is yellowish; expos- ed to the light, it becomes golden yel- low, then green, taking finally a fine violet tint. While these transforma- tions are in progress a peculiarly pun- gent odor is disengaged, which strong- ly reminds one of that of assafoetida. That portion of the mantle which has not passed into the violet tint is solu- ble in water; when it has taken that tint it becomes insoluble. The ap- pearance of the color seems provoked rather by the influence of the sun's rays than by the action of the air. The matter attains its final color, in short in proportion to the power of the sun's rays. It is a question how far the color evolved under the solor rays remains indelible. It is known that the con- trary is the case with the coloring matter of the cochineal insect, which changes very quickly when exposed to the sun. It is probable that it was the remarkable resistance which this pur- ple opposed to the rays of the sun which recommended it to the ancients. The patricians of Rome, and the rich citi/rens of Greece and Asia minor, lov- ed to watch the magical reflections of the sun on the glorious color which or- namented their mantles. But to return to our humble shells. Purpura lapillus [Fig. 27] is a thick shell, oval, acute, with conical spire, generally of a faded or yellowish white, zoned with brown, and more or less spotted. Purpura patula [Fig. 28] is very common in the Phillipines, and is one of the handsomest species; its geograph- ical distribution has been a subject of much inquiry. Purpura consul [Fig. 29] is one of the large shells of this genus, and of a fine salmon color, with brown brands and a corona of spines. In the Jan- uary number we will review some of Harpa, Marex, Triton and Stromba. The Pearl. Pearls are not only highly prized as objects of personal ornament, but form the subject of an intensely interesting and highly profitable study. The formation or growth of the pearl has given rise to innumerable and conflicting statements from those who have given the matter careful study. The growth of the pearl is not yet fullv explained. It is definitely known that pearls are formed by the deposition of nacreous matter in con- centric layers around foreign substances which have happened between the mantle and shell of the mollusc and which had become a source of irrita- tation. It is commonly believed that the disturbing object is a grain of sand, although this popular no- tion seems untenable. Many emi- nent conchologists, including Dr. 40 THE MUSEUM. Gwyn Jeffreys, tell us that in most cases the irritation is caused by the presence of a minute parasite in the muscles cf the mollusc. Dr. Kelaart says that the frustule of a diatom or even one of the ova of the mollusc may be the source of irritation. That the disturbing object is a minute parasite seems the more probable. Experienc- ed pearl fishers say that pearls • are more often found in oysters of stunted growth, irregular shape and honey- combed by boring parasites. It seems improbable that a grain of sand, or ova, or other than a parasite would effect the growth or shape of a mollusc. The substance of the pearl is essen- tially the same as that which lines the interior of many shells and known as mother-of-pearl. The iridescence of this substance is an optical phenome- non, as first shown by Sir. D. Brewster, due to the interference of rays of light reflected from corrugations of the sur- face. Only a few molluscs yield true pearls although a large number secrete mother-of-pearl. The finest pearls are found in the so-called "pearl-oyster," Avicula {Me- leagi ina) niargaritifcra. Fresh-wat- er pearls are produced by the "pearl- mussel," Unio (^Margariiana) niargar- etifcriis. Fresh water pearls are greatly inferior to those of marine ori- gin, possessing a dull leaden hue. The shape of the pearl depends largely upon its manner of attachment in the mollusc. It is readily seen that a perfectly spherical pearl must have remained loose in the soft tissues of the mollusc. Frequently the pearl be- comes attached to the interior of the shell, the point of attachment interfer- ing with its symmetry. The nacreous deposits which it receives in this posi- tion, will in time, form a pearl of hem- ispherical shape, flat on one side and convex on the other. During its growth the pearl may become involv- ed in the general deposit of mother-of- pearl, and be buried in the substance of the shell. Very fine pearls are oc- casionally found by cutting up the moth- er-of-pearl. A perfect pearl must be of delicate te.xture, free from specks or flaws, of a clear or translucent white color with subdued iridescent sheen. It should be perfectly spherical or symmetrical pear-shaped. The most perfect pearl in existence is in the museum of Zos- mia in Moscow, it being perfectly glob- ular and of singular beauty, weighing 28 carats. The largest pearl in exis- tence is in the South Kensington mu- seum. It is irregular in shape, weighs three ounces and has a circumference of four and one-half inches. Clarence W. Miller, Frankfort, Ind. Tanning. To tan Mink, Muskrat, Martin, etc.: Before tanning, all skins should be thoroughly cleansed in warm — not hot — water and all flesh andfat removed; then stretched on a board and smear- ed with a mi-xture of 2 oz. each of salt and alum, 3 gills of water and i drachm of sulphuric acid. This should be thickened with wheat bran or flour and allowed to dry on the skin, after which scrape off with a spoon. Next take off the board, roll with fur inside and draw it quickly through an iron ring, unfold and roll again the opposite way. Repeat until the skin is soft and flexible. THE MUSEUM. 41 The Summer Cruise of the Alba- tross. Among the interesting features of the stories which all explorers of the bottom of the sea have to tell, are the references made at frequent intervals to the acci- dents happening to the implements used in measuring the depth, bringing up parts of the bottom, recording the temperatures in the depths and gather- ing specimens of the fauna and flora to be found in this unseen land. And in connection with these ac- cidents will be found descriptions of the various machines and appliances used that are only less interesting than the stories of the haps and mishaps of the voyagers. When the first attempts at explora- tion were made, a little over forty years ago, the explorers found them- selves, for a time, entirely unable to accomplish even the task of measuring the depth of the water. "The diffi- culty lies in the friction upon the sound- ing line, which prevents the lead going to the bottom where the depth is great," said Prof. W. P. Trowbridge in 1859. It was found, he says, that a 32-pound connon ball, dropping free- ly through the water, fell sixteen feet per second. But when the ball had to drag down a sounding line, even the smallest one that could be trusted to sustain the weight of the ball in the air, the velocity of descent decreased to eight feet per second before 100 fathoms of the line had run out, while at 500 fathoms the speed was but four feet per secona. Eventually it was found by actual trial that, although it was a day's work to reach the bottom and haul in the line again, the depth could be measured with sufficient ac- curacy in water where no current was encountered. But wherever a current, either at or below the surface, existed, the depth could not be more than guessed, after allowing for the bend in the line caused by the current. To overcome the difficulty caused by the friction of the water on the line, it was proposed by one authority to coil the line in a hollow in the sinker, leav- ing one end secured on the exploring ship. To measure the depth, a pro- peller wheel register, on the principle of the speed measurers now used on ships, was to be secured to the sinker and detached and hauled up by the line. This machine did not work in practice. It was proposed also to use insulated wires so arranged that when the sinker rtached the bottom a cir- cuit would be closed and the fact an- nounced on board ship; but this, too, failed, for two reasons, if no more. One important one was that an insul- ated wire would suffer more from fric- tion in going down and from the effect of cross currents than the old-fashioned lines. Eventually a machine was made which was to record the pressure that had been exerted on it when sunk in the water. If this could be accur- ately done, the depth of water reached would be recorded as well, because the pressure increases regularly with the depth. Distilled water was used in the apparatus as the material to be compressed, but experiments showed that the amount of compression varied at different tests at a known depth, from .000,882 per 100 fathoms of depth up to .000,915, and that was too great a variation for accurate measurements. Last of all, the makers of pianos came to the aid of the deep-sea explor- ers, and then the problem of measure- 42 THE MUSEUM. THE SINKER. ments was solved. That is to say, the explorers found that piano wire of 2 i American guage (.028 of an inch in diameter) had a uniform tensile strength sufficient to bear 200 pounds without breaking. Moreover, it was very flex- ible, was highly polished and was not easily rusted. Further than that, it was a very light weight cord for its strength, 100 fathoms weighing a trifle less than one pound and a third; the weight of the length to reach the deep- est valley yet found in the sea — more then five and a half miles from the surface — was but sixty-three pounds. Having discovered a line that was practically perfect for the purpose, a machine for handling the line and sink- er had to be devised. A Yankee naval officer. Commander C. D. Sigsbee, has the honor of having invented the best thing of the kind. It is a very simple affair. There is a reel that is 22. 89 inches in diameter, so that one turn gives exactly a fathom of wire. The wire runs from the reel to a guide pul- ley that is suspended on long springs, and thence into the sea. The guide pulley is suspended on sprjngs because the vessel is sure to jump and roll a- bout, and so jerk the wire about when the crew are sounding. The springs are at once powerful and easy enough to take up the strain on the wire. An- other important purpose served by these springs is to indicate when the sinker reaches the bottom. The mom- ent they are relieved of the weight of the sinker they jump the guide pulley up in a way not to be misunderstood. For the rest, there are a brake to stop the paying out of the wire when bot- tom is reached, an engine to reel in the wire, and a dynamometer to show the strain on the wire. The whole stands on a platform rigged outboard, where the sinker and wire can run clear of all. For a sinker merely to measure the depth any old-style cannon ball would do, but since a specimen of the soil encountered is wanted, and the tem- perature of the water down at the bot- tom as well, a somewhat more elabor- ate sinker has been invented, the one in common use being the product of the experiences of Commander Sigsbee and Admiral Belknap, whose work in the Pacific. There is first of all a big iron ball or shot with a two-inch steel pipe running loosely down through its center and projecting .some distance below. The pipe is securely fastened to a knuckle-jointed hook on the end of the sounding wire, but the big hollow shot hangs on the hook by a bail. The shot drops down until it THE MUSEUM. 43 EXAMINING THE CONTENTS OF A TRAWL. STEAMER ALBATROSS SOUNDING. strikes the bottom, when the steel tube is jabbed into the mud and the bail of the big ball is thrown out of the hook, a spring that is released as the weight is removed helping to throw out the weight's bail. But that is not all. There is a valve in the bottom of the steel pipe that shuts in whatever mud or sedi- ment may be inclosed. There is also a registering thermometer fastened on the sounding wire. It need not be de- scribed in detail, but it is worth say- ing that it has to be inclosed in a glass tube that will resist a pressure of a col- umn of water six miles high — a pres- sure measured by the ton. Moreover, the registering of the temperature is effected by reversing the thermometer. This is done by releasing a catch at the top of it, and this catch is released by a propeller wheel that revolves as soon as the men begin to haul in on the sounding wire. Measuring the depth and taking the temperature of the water and bringing up specimens of the mud are, however. only a small part of the work of ex- ploring the bottom of the sea. Collec- tions of the plants and animals found there are wanted. \\'hen this work of collection was first begun a weighted bag with a scoop-shaped mouth was towed slowly along on the bottom of the sea at the end of a long rope. It was as if a leather mail pouch were tied at the end of a rope and dragged across the fields in order to collect specimens of the fauna and flora. And after thirty years of work nothing better in principle has been invented. They have an im- proved bag and net trawls; they have an improved shape to the scoop, and a flexible steel rope a quarter-inch in di- ameter takes the place of the hemp rope five times as large. But if there be any deep-water whales or any be ings as large as a man haunting the depths the appliances in use are not adapted to capture them. However inefficient as the scoop appears to be, the results attained are marvellous, for more than 100,000 different forms of 44 THE MUSEUM. living beings have been gathered in. And in connection with the scoop it is worth noting that one of the most ef- ficient gatherers of the animals of the deep sea is a common swab used for cleaning the decks of ships — a hairy- hke bundle of rope yarns dangled at the side of the leather scoop. The variety of tiny beings that have been tangled in this device and brought up for man's inspection is very great. Simple, and, on the whole, effective as the modern sounding apparatus is, the crews who have used it report some queer accidents. For instance, when the Enterprise was driving across that region of booming storms and pro- digious waves that lies between New Zealand and the Strait of Magellan, the sounding-wire, after a cast in 3, 182 fathoms, parted with a jerk, just be- fore the specimen cup that was hooked at the end of the wire reached the sur- face. At this Captain Barker ordered a large shark-hook baited with salt pork and trailed overboard, fn a few minutes a large shark took the hook and was hauled almost on board, when it released itself and disappeared. This, says the captain, was "much to our disappointment, as we had hoped to recover the lost specimen-cup." The captain was confident from the jerk the line had received that the shark had taken the specimen-cup as a bass takes a spoon. During the same passage the wire parted twice from a cause that will seem remarkable to every mechanic. An examination of the broken end revealed on these two occasions that, in spite of the care of drawing the wire, and in spite of the tendency of wire-drawing to eliminate defects in the original billet of steel, a bubble had existed wholly within the wire that reduced the cross-section nearly one-half. On the other hand, when a cast was made one day in 2,711 fathoms of water — a little over three miles — the heavy cast-iron sinker could not be detached. So they reeled in the wire, sinker and all, and the wire brought the whole safely on board ship. It is worth noting that the time of making even a three-mile cast is in the neighborhood of one hour, instead of being an all-day job, as in old times. Thus, in a cast of 2,789 fathoms the wire ran out for forty-six minutes, but it was hauled up in thirty-six minutes. In the cast where the sinker was hauled up the time of getting it on board was two hours and fifty-eight minutes. Among the interesting things the ex- plorers have learned definitely is that there are no plants in the greatest depths, and that the plants found any- where in deep water derive no nourish- ment from the soil on which they stand. They are wholly dependent on the water. Another thing learned is that some sea animals live in insepar- able and fixed communities, as man- grove trees live in the salt swamps of the torrid zone. The scientists believe that no ray of light reaches the lowest deep, even though fish with eyes be found there. They think the eyes are for detecting phosphorescent glows in other individuals of the same race, or enemies of other races. And as to the mental calibre of the deep-sea animals, "there seems to be no sufficient ner- vous energy to spare from the cease- less turmoil of the combat which goes on among the creatures of the sea to afford the basis for intellectual devel- opment. All the small share of force THE MUSEUM. 4S which these animals, with their scanty supply of oxygen, can engender goes to the labor of fight and chase, the ceaseless struggle to obtain food, or to avoid falling a prey to their enemies." However, there are other beings in the world besides fish whose "ceaseless struggle to obtain food" prevents the intellectual development that they would like to reach. The life of the explorer of the bot- tom of the sea is not on the whole ex- citing. It is slow work sounding and hauling the drag, but there are few- more interesting occupations at sea in these days and occasionally the condi- tions attending the work make it seem at least adventurous. Soundings have been made in a seaway where the ship rolled 3 5 degrees to port and 33 to starbord, and in a gale that was "the worst one ever experienced by any of the officers on board." The ship has gone short of fuel, and had to depend wholly on sails; worse yet, it has gone short of food, so that the last bread was served while the ship wallowed in a gale hundreds of miles from port. Part of the work is necessarily disagree- able, for the dredges bring up no end of mud, and there is a mess on deck every time the dredge is examined. But in spite of the weather and all other drawbacks, the men as well as the officers become as interested in the finds as a prospector in a new lead. The records of every voyage of the kind show that where vacancies occur in the crew from any cause, there is found an eager host of volunteers ready to step on board. W. F. Webb, Esq., Dear Sir: I am very well satL«fieil with the magazine; it is one of the Ijest I hav9 seeu. Wishing you great suc- cess ill business. I remain Resp. yours, W. J. Fo.\, Utica, N. Y. Among the Rockies. BY .M. J. ELKOD. V. From Island Park to Yellowstone Park. Island Park extends along the Snake river for about 25 miles. It is an ideal place, for the sportsman or nat- uralist, and many interesting speci- mens were found there. The altitude of this park is about 6000 ft. As a consequence the season is short and not suitable for crops, though a large irrigation ditch has already been dug, leading the water out over the river bottom. The river in this park makes innumerable windings and turnings, the short channels and cut offs making many islands, which give the name to the park. Pen cannot protray the beauties of the place and a photograph does not do it justice. The sky is cloudless, of the beautiful azure tint ' haracteristic of mountain regions. The olear water, glistening in the rays of' the sun, looks like streams of silver as it flows along, and the slope of the bed gives such a current as to make a continuous hum as of a distant water- fall. Grass grows to the very edge of the water, lending a beautiful contrast, while the ever beautiful pines give a background for it all that would make an artist d&nce for joy. And beyond these on either side, with all their beauty and majesty, the mountains lift their green summits toward the heav- ens, with here and there a bald peak above the line of verdure. A day's camp was made here in 1894, two days in 1895, though the camps were several miles apart. Off toward the southeast the beautiful Tetons may be seen, their bald sum- mits here and there showing patches 46 THE MUSEUxM. View of Snake River, Jackson's Hole, Wyoming. of snow, a maf,mificent sight. Here a golden opportunity was missed. At noon we prepared to make a trial for ducks. As we started out for camp, it was observed how clearly the Tetons showed up in the distance, every canon being visible. At first I turned back to take a picture, but fearing if would cause the others to delay also, con- cluded to wait until our return to camp. Alas! we did not return until the sun had long since sunk behind the mountains, and the next morning the photographer was so busy that nothing could be done. The park is the home of water fowl of all kinds. Ducks there are by the thousands. They rear their young in the grass and swamps, and the yonng may be stumbled upon almost any place where the grass is tall. Geese fly overhead at all hours of the day. Cranes and hawks are in sight most of the time. Marmots live in the cracks of the lava rocks. Brine squirrels sit in the branches and chatter at the passersby. Sage hens, in flocks of fifty or more may be flushed frequent- ly. Grouse, beautiful blue grouse, may be had by a little tramp in the mountains. Upon the summits of the mountain ridges elk in abundance may be found. And at one's very tent door the river is full of fish. They are the beautiful and sweet-tasting mountain trout, and lo see them is enough to pay for days of toil, but to eat them is an experience one can never forget and loves to dwell on, if only in memory. After our return we would frequently say to each other, "Ah, those days and nights upon the Snake." Just as we come out of the woods into the level river basin we pass a swamp or lake, a half-mile in diam THE MUSEUM. 47 «ter, and waist deep in the middle. It was full of rushes, lotus plants, etc, , and the air was full of large and fine dragon flies of the genus Acschiia. This was the home of the ducks. l->ut it was more. In 1894 we founil a place on the margin of the ^\\■amp where the western garter snake (/■-n- tana vagratis) was abundant. Six were captured, put alive in the inject net, swung over the shoulder, to carr\ to camp. After going a mile or so we beheld the last one half out, the others having one at a time gone thiough a hole they had made. The following year I made for the same spot. They were there, thick as I care to see snakes, and of all sizes. At first I tried clubbing with my guu barrel. That was too slow. So I took them by their tails cracked them as one would a whip, and piled them up. I could see them running in every di- rrciion As long as I could see snakes I captured them, and in less than a half hour had a dozen, large and small, more than has often been collected on an entire expedition. They show a Big-Horn or Rocky Mountain Sheep. From Life. wonderful^ variation. Some had just shed their coats, and were very pretty — for snakes. This snake is from far- ther up the river, and even into Na- tional Park, as I observed one between Midway; and Upper Geyser Basins, andjtried hard to catch it, but it es- caped in the water. The altitude, 7,500 feet, is the highest I have ever been-, where snakes were captured. They are a rare thing in the National Park. In Island Park several Idaho Devils were captured. There is a Mole Cricket {^Stcuopahnatiis fasciatiis) mentioned by Merriam (N. A. Fauna, Fo 5) and described by Comstock in his manua.l. Merriam says (See Op. cit.): "It is a large wingless insect, with a large yellow head, powerful jaws, and a banded abdomen. " '■' '•■ It lives in burrows in the sage plains, and its holes resemble those of the small Pocket Mice {Pcrogiiathus oli- 48 THE MUSEUM. ■.-a>-M Lava Formation, on the South Side of the South Cone, Big Buttes, Idaho. vaceus) in being clean cut. soiiig straight down at first, atid hHs'ini,' no mound at the opening. In crossing the plains during cold stormy weatlier the heads of these curious animals wqre often seen at the mouths cf their burrows and many were met w.ilking about among the sagebrush. They walk much, with seeming digriiiy and deliberation; and their tracks m.iv be seen in every direction. If tuo arc held together they immediately bite off one another's legs and inflict other se- rious wounds. Thi-y bite a larg.- ^iraw in two at a single nip." We also found here, and fmi' d theni in great abundance for 60 miles, 'hi; large black cricket common in this le- gion, Anahrns simplex. This cricket has at times been very instructive in the Great Basin. On the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains Ana- hrns simplex disappear and Anabrns pnrpnrasccm fouti'!. is The anat- omy and haliits of these two species are discussed in full in the Second Re- port of the U. S Entomological Com- mission, to which the reader is refer- red if he desires full information about thee clumsy and interesting insects. They are lars^e, stout, thick-bodied, dark insects, nocturnal in habits, wing- less, hiding under stones, grass, leaves or riaf,'e brush in the dnytime, coming out in the evening In 1894 there weie tens of thousands visible from the wayon in the daytime, and the great ancient bed of Henry Lake was alive with them. Our horses mashed them uiidtr foot, the wagon wheels crushed them. \et the number seemed not to dtcreasc. W'e filled several bo.xes to bring home. The females all along the road were busily engaged thrusting their ovipositors in the hard road, and paid little attention to objects passing by. In 1895, in the same month, Au- gust, not a single cricket was seen along the road. THE MUSEUM. 49 Butterflies and Beetles in Island Park were not numereus. A carcass of a buzzard, Ihitco sicaiiisoni, con- tained a couple of species of sylpha; an occasional Biipnstis is found in the dead pines; and fn the dusty road it was no trouble to catch Cicindelas, or tiger beetles. A carcass of an owl brought a species of Dermestis. Ground Beetles were quite common in most places along the river. Diligent search was made for beetles all along the road, and a fair list was taken. In view of the fact that much ol the road i« through a desert region the catch is not bad. The following is a list of beetles including those caught from Pocatello to the National Park, without regard to the order in which the genera are placed. Elcocics hirsii/a, Lcc, Rexburg. opaca, Island Park. cxtricata Srtj', Island Park. liispilabriSy Srtj', Island Park. pimclioidcs. Island Park. obsolctiis. Say, Rexburg. " obsciira. Say, Island Park. Coelocncniis dicaticollis. Island Park, Henry Lake. Coelocncniis Punctata, Pocaeilo. Cicindcla uiontana Lcc, U. S. Nat. Park. Cicindcla 'culgaris Say, Island Park, U. S. Nat. Park. Camp near Kenry Lake. Cicindcla \o notata Say, U. S. Nat. Dcrnicstcs niarginatus. Say, Ross' Park. F> rk. Dernicstcs niarutaratus Say, Ross' Silpha lapponica Hbst., Island Park. Fork. " sp.. Island Park. 50 THE MUSEUM. Necrophorits inarginatus, Island Park. Iplitliinms scrratus, Mann., Island Park. Ptcrosticliiis candicalis Say, Island Park. Ptcrosticlius validcns Dcj., Island Park. Coryuibitcs acrcipcunis Kby. , Island Park. Epicaiita pnncticollis ina)in. , Island Park. Trirliabda attciiiiata Say., U. S. Nat. Park. TrirJiabda hirticollis Lcc, St. An- thony. Coccinclla y notata Hbst., U. S. Crossidius allgezvahrii. Island Park. Anclastis latrcillci Lcc, Island Park. Harpalns ampiitattisSay, Island Park. Carabus orcgonensis Lee, Island Park. Biiprcstis lang, Mann., Island Park. CantJiaris cooperi Lcc, Ross" Fork. Hydrophilits triangjilaris Say, U. S. Nat. Park. Chrysoclius cobaltinus Lcc, Island Park. Silpha lapponica- Hbst. seems to have a wide distribution. I have spe- cies collected in Bloomington, 111., at Des Moines, la., at Missoula, Mont., and' in Island Park, Idaho. It is found all over America. Swartz says this species is not found in the mountains in Europe, but is found in the plains there in the far north, being one of the exceptional insects that are thus distributed. The genus Elcodcs are distinctly desert insects. I have some from Kansas, from Colorado, from Idaho and from Algeria, Africa. They are frequently called stink beetles in the west, and a single specimen was taken among the lava beds at Idaho Falls. Island Park is rich in material for the sportsman, but a poor place for the mineralogist. The valley through which the Snake River here flows is entirely crossed with the stratified bas- altic lava, in many places exposed, a very bad surface to pass over either with team, on horseback, or on foot. Our collection consisted of rounded pebbles of various colors and sizes, and of chunks of lava from points of interest. The adjacent mountains probably offer a good field for collect- ing, but as we were intent on other things, minerals were not sought afler very extensively Our stay in Island Park was too short. It was enjoyed, however, to its utmost. We crossed the Snake for the last time at a clear ford, with a level sandy bottom, with water hub deep. The river is wide and cold, but our dog Buster plunged boldly in and beat us across. A ride of a dozen miles and we came to the beautiful Buffalo River, with lava banks 75 to 100 feet high. In a beautiful and ro- mantic spot we pitched our tents be- neath the branches of a majestic fir tree, and spent a day. What with photographing the beautiful scenery, gathering plants, skinning birds, ar- ranging material, etc., the day was en- tirely taken up. The contrast be- tween this bit of scenery and that we have just left is remarkable. From that which is quiet, level, peaceful, beautiful in its contrast of level green plain and winding streams we changed to bold, rock}' rugged banks, with an- gry waters dashing restlessly against the solid walls. To fetch up a bucket of water is to earn supper, and as we drift away into unconsciousness the last sound we note is the roar of the water as it rushes on, day and night, THE MUSEUM. 51 or the tinkle of the bell on the picket horse, denoting all well there. This camp brings to mind more beauties of nature than any I have had. The waters of Buffalo River are more beau- tiful than any stream I have ever seen, not excepting the beautiful and pictur- esque Lou Lou river in Montana, on whose banks I once spent a fortnight. Up and down we wandered, looking at it from every point of view, now look- ing up the stream from the top of the basaltic bluffs, now looking down from a different point ef view. Again we climb down to the water's edge, and try to tempt the speckled beauties with a patent fly. Everyone enjoyed the camp to the fullest extent. No fewer than six pictures were taken. All were good save one. Alas! Our cozy camp, which we so much desired, failed to "take." Early the following morning we struck camp. An hour's drive and we crossed the Buffalo River at a clear ford, with a moderate current. On the road we flushed a flock of young pheasants (Boiiasa) and captured sev- eral. A fine marmot was also taken. The day was good for shooting, and numerous birds were killed. These consisted of sage hens, a blue heron, an Indian hen, a hell diver, several ducks, and a Jwainson's buzzard. Early in the afternoon we reached the level plain bordering Henry Lake on the east, and the first thing our mess wagon stuck fast in the mud, up to the hubs. Our drivers were true mouintaineers, aud soon had us out. This level plain extends some 15 miles from Henry Lake eastward and is full of geological interest. It would be useless to attempt to describe fully every place of interest, for every mountain and valley would take a couple of articles. SufSce it for the present to say that we traveled slowly along this level plateau, whose altitude is about 6500 feet, passed several ter- races, no doubt the remains of ancient glacial action, crossed numerous streams that are invisible until one comes to the very bank, and early in the evening pitched camp in the canon on the road leading to the Park. This camp was an ideal spot, but unfortunately the wind was very high, so that little could be done, either in collecting or photography. Ascending the butte on the west of the road, we had a beautiful view of the level plain over which we had come, the lake and the mountains on every side. The sun was just slipping behind the crags in the west. Great banks of cumulus clouds lay above the peaks, and were set aglow by the departing sun's rays with such fire as to eclipse any previous view anywhere. After photographing the clouds, the lake, the plain, and camp, we descended and were prepared to devour the plate of hot biscuits the cooks had prepared. A half day was spent at R. W. Rock's Elk farm, where may be seen a herd of 100 or more Elk, of all ages, a tame Moose, a Lynx, a pair of young Buffalo, a Rocky Mountain Sheep or Bighorn, a flock of Swan, etc. It was a regular menagerie, and well worth a visit. The Bighorn was a beautiful specimen, clean and trim in appear- ance, with a proud step and a haughty bearing. His horns were large and massive. He held his head erect and walked straight toward the door when it was opened. He had no respect for individuals, and would have tramped right over the crowd to escape, if giv- 52 THE MUSEUM. en an opportunity. The enclosure in which he was kept was about 25 feet square and i 5 feet high. In the early morning he put in his time trying to butt down the wall, and the deep scars and dents showed how hard he had hit. He had jumped to within ■ a few feet of the top, and if given space for a run could in all probability clear it. It seems a pit}' to keep the poor ani- mal housed up in such a close pen, yet if this had not been done we could not have seen this beautiful creature, nor have had the fine picture from life which is here presented. The animal was captured in winter when the snow was deep. Mr. Rock can pet him a little, but no one else dares lay a hand on him. The Elk were captured in the same way, and are kept in a large pasture, where they have become quite tame. It was a fine chance for study, and we took advantage of it. Several peculiar features were noticed in Elks, one being the way the neck is carried. Instead of holding the head erect, as does the Mountain Sheep, the neck has a dis- tinct bend, something like that of a camel, giving the animal an awkward appearance. Ordinarily the bulls and cows hold the head alike, yet when the bull is alarmed and rears his head the appearance changes materially, and he is indeed a proud and stately specimen. Near this farms lives an old squaw who had a pair ot fine Prong-horn An- telopes. When we were there she possessed but one, wearing a bell whose tinkle could be heard but a few hundred feet. The other was shot by an Englishman out for game. Spying the pair out on the level flat and see- ing no houses he drew a bead On one of the pretty pets and pulled the trig- ger. How he settled it with the squaw we did not learn. But from the fabulous prices she asked for her little trophies it probably was to her advantage. From Henry Lake it is little more than half day's drive to Riverside, where we give up our guns. It is a lovely ride. We cross the mountain range by a pass with an almost imper- ceptible incline. The tall pines all along the road, silent, beautiful, even majes- tic, lend a charm that is always the same. We have become interested in the blazes on the trees, which mark the road when the snow is deep. We turn into lovely glens, cross crystal streams, jump out occasionally to land a fine insect, pluck fine flowers for later study, and the time passes swift- ly enough. "Put Out Your Fires " in a conspicuous place by the roadside warns the traveler that he is near the Park. Next "Rules," at the top of a large placard, greets the eye, and we have crossed the line. Fire Hole Basin, which we long so much to reach, is not far off, and we prepare to house our guns. Riverside, at this entrance to the Park is a queer place. A little log hut, with a log stable, comprise the village. The inhabitants are a ser- gant and a private. We left them a mess of stuff that filled up much of their available space, but they were jolly good fellows, and said little. The sergant, Frank A. Burns, of Little Falls,. New York, had been there eight seasons' and had a keen eye for every- one entering the Park by that road. The second time I came to his cabin he walked right out, called me by name and grasped my hand. Through THE MUSEUM. 53 - . ■'- ■* ■ Tf'. 3 '- - 7-.': ■-..,' ■-* Carolina or Sora Rail (Rarzana Carolina) in their natural haunts. his kindness we were able to go through intelligently and without trouble. If the reader consults a map he will find our entrance. The Madison River, coming out of the Park, makes a passage way in. This is on the west side, near the southern line. It is one of the three places of entrance. The Beaver Canon road joins the one over which we came at Henry Lake, and enters at Riverside. Another entrance is on the south via the Tetons, and the third is on the north via Mammoth Hot Springs. In entering we may take the canon and ford the river seven or eight times, or climb the mountain, which they call a hill, for 12 miles an up hill pull, and an abominable road. We chose the latter in '94, the former in '95. It was about half-past four when we reached the summit. What a sight! Lower Geyser Basin, Firehole River, the soldiers' quarters and grounds, the Fountain Hotel, a grand panorama, at once burst upon the view. The geyser steam spreads in a white cloud against the dark background of pines. We see a great white-floored basin with a silvery thread running through i:. Our goal is all but reached. On the mor- row we will mvestigate. Collecting in a Florida Swamp. Newmans Lake, a beautiful sheet of water, ten miles long by six wide, lies in all its quietude, surrounded by groves of orange and cypress trees, a distance of six miles from Gainesville, and the road leading to it is one of beauty and loneliness. About a mile inland from the lake are several small cypress ponds, not more than two feet deep, and it is here that the heron finds its home. Accordingly, i^about dawn on April 20th last, a friend whom I will call Mac, and I started out to this place on a collecting tour. The morning was clear and pleasant, and everything was fresh and beautiful. Leaving the. city, we enter an immense hammock of oak and hickory, with the picturesque Spanish moss hanging from their branches in long silken trains, and from which now and then may be seen a squirrel's head peeping at us and ap- 54 THE MUSEUM. parently saying: "What right have 3'ou to come on wr land?" It is sur- prising the number of squirrels that are in these places and you have only to keep quiet a fe\V minutes and they will come forth making the woods alive with their chatter. But we must not stop, as it is getting late for it be- comes quite hot here in the middle of the day even at this date. Passing in succession great ham- mocks and open pine land, the latter the home of the Go'pYier {Gopherits polypliemiis) we come to a road turn- ing to the left and down this we drive. We must be near our destination. Hush! what was that noise.' Did you hear it.-" There it is again. Ah! there he goes, a beautiful Egret — his long plumes fluttering in the breeze. A few hundred yards further on finds us at a good hitching place and we alight with our egg bo.xes. Ten minutes afterward we are down at the edge of the pond. What a sight! White Herons, Blue Herons, Little Herons, BigG Herons all fly up together in one mass, croak- ing and scolding at our intrusion. They fly around several times but fin- ally alight in the tops of nearby pine and cypress trees, all the while keep- ing up an incessant racket. Mac and I boldly wade in and scramble up to a nest, from which we saw a Little Blue Heron fly a few minutes before, and take the four beautiful eggs found therein. Mac is greatly excited, for there arc nests to the right of us, nests to the left of us and nests in front of us. Now and then he steps in a 'gait- or's' hole, but with much splashing gets on his feet again. We take sev- eral sets of eggs of the Snowy and Little Blue Herons. These are of three and four eggs each, although I found a set of the latter species con- taining Si-ccn eggs, but two birds must have nested together. The difference between the eggs and nests of the Snowy Heron and those of the Little Blue Heron is as follows: the former builds its nest — a mere platform of sticks with a slight depression for the eggs — in the tops or higher branches of the bushes. The eggs, generally four in number, 9re slightly pointed and of a light bluish-green color. The latter builds its nest in the lower branches and lays from three to five round, bluish-green eggs. A short distance from the pond we found a small colony of Reddish Eg- rets nesting by themselves. Their nests are similar to those of other herons. The eggs are easily identified elliptical in shape and of a light bluish- green color. Wishing to obtain a farewell glance at the pond, I climbed a cypress tree and looked out. A beautiful sight met my gaze. The contents of some of the nests were like little balls of cotton (the young of the Little Blue Heron are always white) and otheis contained beautiful bluish-green eggs so precious to a collector. The old birds getting bolder come and sit close to their nests. What a contrast. White and blue all intermingled. After wishing many, many times for a camera I came down to find Mac vigor- ously fighting the "cussed things" (mosquitoes) as he calls them. At 4:30, after eating luncheon and resting awhile, we start for home, leaving behind many pleasant thoughts of a delightful trip. Frederick Davis, Gainesville, Fla. THE MUSEUM. 55 THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine devoted to Ornithology, Oology, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Mineralogy and Allied Sciences. Walter F. Webb, Editor and Pub'r, Albion. N. Y. Correspondence and items iif interest ou above top- ics, as well as notes on the various Museums of ttie World— views from same, discoveries relative to tlie handling; and keeping of Natural Histor,Y material, descriptive habits of various species, are solicited from all. Make articles as brief as possible and as free from technical terms as the subjecl>s will allow. AH letters will be promptly answered. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION, Single Subscription $1.00 per annum Sample Copies 10c each ADVERTISING RATES. 5 cents per Nonpareil line each insertion. Twelve lines to the inch. No discounts. Cash must accompany all orders. Remittances should lie made by Draft, Express or Post Office Order or Kegisternd Letter. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denonination accepted for small amounts. The ll. 00 Columbian stamps, unused, will be accepted at rate cf $1.75 each. WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION. ORLEANS CO., N.Y. Entered at Albion post-office as second-class mail matter NOTES. The Museum wishes its many friends and subscribers a Merry Christ- mas and Happy New Year. We are pleased to note that our western patrons are quick to recognize the value that our western office is going to be to them. A saving of time and in many cases a great saving of actual cost of specimens and trans- portation. Already our manager writes he has doubled the daily mail anticipated. Remember we have the finest stock of minerals and shells in the west on sale, also a very complete line of Naturalists Supplies, Curios, Corals, Fossils, &c. , iS;c. ty souvenir from the Tacoma Academy of Science through the courtesy of Mr. M. S. Hill, the Recording Secretary. Hon. Frank Allyn is President, and Mr. A. N. t'itch is Treasurer. They have established d museum and library which are constantly receiving valuable accessions. Mr. Ixobert Moore of Genoa Junc- tian, Wis. writes: "I saw in the last number of The Museum an account of an albino pocket gopher found in Min- nesota. I want to add to the list of albinos, that I mounted a fine speci- men of albino striped gopher in Wis- consin. This gopher was all white excepc a very faint sign of stripes on the head and neck. The gentleman that I mounted it for found his cat playing with it." One of our Iowa subscribers sends the following clipping: "While hunt- ing rabbits yesterday a citizen of Mas- on City named C. Gaines discovered a mound of the Indians' or mound build- ers' construction a short distance east of Eldora, near the Iowa river. Upon digging into the pile of earth he found a large number of flint knives, axes and pottery. There are several such mounds in the same locality, and furth- er examination will be made. A great deal of interest is created through this discovery, and many curions are ex- pected to be found." We beg to acknowledge a very pret- Judging from the flaming advertise- ment of "A Christvias Present'' in one of our exchanges it would seem that our brother takes the great horde of Collectors and Naturalists as either blind, or ignorant. We would feel 56 THE MUSEUM. that we were not doing our duty should we allow the remarkable (?) advertise- ment to go unnoticed, .^ur brother is going to send all his friends and pat- rons a Christmas present absolutely free, not to cost a cent "except lo cents for pastage. " Goes on and de- tails scores of pretty things that can be \\-a.A. absolutely free, "to all who will send $i.oo for his paper for 'q6."What a 7-eviarkable offer. Have any of our patrons seen anything richer.' If so clip and mail to us for review. But after all it is really pardonable, and nothing different could be expected, from the l^'ioneer in the Natiwal His- tory Business. We now await the fi- nal result of running the business un- der two different ''heads." Michigan Sparrows As a rule, it is generally conceded that it is better to describe a single species or at most a genus at one time. However, there are many birds which would never appear, in print if they did not simply show themselves in a local or state list. There are many common species of birds, which are well known as migrants, which are never mentioned in your columns be- cause observers have had no oppor- tunity to study their nidification. This is not fair to these birds, and as a par- tial evidence of appreciation of the merits of rare or little observed Spar- rows, I am gomg to give a list of them in our state; making it a point to dwell on the rarer and little studied ones and neglecting those which are well known. Evening Grosbeak, Coeeothraustes vespertina. Coop. This rare straggler from the far north has been recorded in Lower Michigan but a few times. It is pre- eminentl)- a rare winter visitant from the north; coming generally when weather is severe, but not always. I have seen it in mild weather in Nov- ember, and have known it to remain into the month of May. On one oc- casion I had the rare experience of ob- serving this bird and the Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the same time in the woods in the spring. Truly an un- usual sight, as the southern winter so- journer, and the northern straggler are separated in their limits of migration by at least three thousand miles, if not more. This Grosbeak was first taken near Lake Superior by Henry R. Schoolcraft in 1823. It was known to the natives zs paush kaii di ;//c',and was even considered a rare bird by them so far south, about forty-seven degrees. It was submitted to the New York and Philadelphia scientific societies and was pronounced a newly discovered species. Pine Grosbeak, Pinieola euucleator, Linn. Another irregular visitor from the far north. It was seen in southern Michigan during parts of six years in last twenty years or so. Feeds like the last on buds and seeds. An inter- esting bird, unsuspicious, and easily observed. Of those recorded by me there was only about one bright car- mine specimen to every thirty or more somber hued birds. Specimens which were captured alive in the gray or drab plumage, assumed a yellowish coat in summer. This bird has a low and agreeable series of notes during spring. Purple Finch, Carpodaeiis purpurcus, Gmel. Arrives from the south in late March THE MUSEUM. 57 usually. I rec:-ill one' season, 1885, when the snow was ven' deep and stayed late. On April first of that year, when snow b inks were three feet high at sides of highway. I found a flock ol sweet .singing males in the woods Often appears by March 15, and visits the t-vergreens of our city. Passing north it is occasionally found summering at fort) -three degrees but does not appear common during breed- ing season, till the forty-fifth parallel is reached. Abundant in Upper Pen- insula and on Macinac Island. South- ern migration-begins in October and lasts even into December. A beauti- ful singer and very interesting species. Builds a Sparrow-like nest which may be found with eg^'s in Maw June and July- White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptcra, Gmel. Another rare species. I have seen but one flock and that one of but a few birds. More often seen as a straggler in flocks of the next species. Once observed a specimen at forty-second degree as late as May third. Like the following this bird is very partial to pine cone seeds, and seems to prefer the evergreen trees, where it feeds on the cones, when in the city. It is a handsome species and may be readily distinguished by the white spots on the wings. Red or Common Crossbill, Loxia cnrvii'ostra minor. This bird undoubtedly breeds throughout Michigan in the pine belt north of 43 degrees but there are no reports of the finds of nests. I have taken it at all seasons at the north. It is readily distinguished by its pecul- iar undulating flights and its notes clt-cp deep deep. It feeds on seeds preferring coniferous trees. Lesser Red-poll, Aeantliis liiiaria, Linn Not rare in Michigan from late Nov- ember to well into April, but of very uncertain appearance. Appears on our southern boundary about one sea- son out of three. Do not think that it remains during the summer in the state. When these birds appear in our southern counties there is about one brilliantly colored male to every twenty dull colored birds. Holbell's Red-poll, Aeantliis linaria Iiolballii. A well marked specimen from Kal- amazoo county, was submitted to Robert Ridgeway, Esq. of the Smith- sonian Institute, for identification. It is remarkably similar to the Lesser Red-poll, except that it is larger in its dimensions. It was secured in the early winter of 1878. Pine Linnet or Siskin. Spiniis piniis, Wils. Very abundant north of the forty- fourth parallel as late as the last of May. Still I have been unable to prove that they nested, although I am sure they were in breeding plumage, and they sung sweetly and very vivac- iously. Not rare in winter in our southern counties. Have seen great flocks- in January, particularly were, they abundant in t888. I have seen them here again in May, apparently in migration north. Have never found the birds far removed from pineries. \\'hen in the cities the pleasing but plain colored birds flock to our thick evergreens. The distinguishing note is sqiie aek or sqiia ivee. 58 THE MUSEUM. Yellow-bird; Thistle-bird; Gold- finch, Sfiniis tristis, I,. A very abundant species. Breeds in both peninsulas. Assumes somber plumage in winter. This bird in com- mon with the last has a note, szucci, but the notes can be distinguished by an expert ear. The thistle-bird lays five or six blue-tinged eggs in June, July and August in a most artistic nest, placed generally from eight to fifteen feet up. Snow Bunting; Snow-flake, Plcctropliciiax nivalis. A very abundant but irregular vis- itor from the far north. Sometimes appears as early as November and frequently remains well into April, but more commonly observed in December and January. Often appears in mighty flocks and the birds fly so closeily, that a well directed shot will sometimes drop a score or more. A very pleas- ing species and also very beautiful and I know of no bird which makes a bet- ter appearance as an ornament when well mounted. The snowflake is never to be relied upon, and generally makes its appearance when least expected. Lapland Longspuk, Calcarins lappoiiicus, Linn. Another northern species. I have sometimes thought that this bird was a regular migrant, owing to records of 'its capture in the fall and again as late as April 2i. However, if it is so, it must select various routes for migra- tion, as it is not regularly captured anywhere in southern Michigan. It does not always pass us, however, in its exodus from the north, as it is oc- casionally taken here in winter. Smith's Longspur; Painted Long- spur, Calcarius pictiis. This species is quite common on the southern shore of Lake Michigan ac- cording to Butler's "Birds of Indiana," and it is quite reasonable to suppose that it may be yet found in Michigan. A recent list in our state, with the characteristic tendency adopted by amateur compilers of adding possibili- ties, embraces this species, though it has not yet been recorded within our boundaries. Bay-winged Bunting; Grass Finch; Vesper Sparrow. Pooccctcs gj'aviincits, Gmel. Appears from the middle to the last of March and remains till late October or later. Found in the upper penin- sula. Breeds abundantly, laying four eggs in a shiftless nest, always on the ground. A sweet singer and well known but not appreciated because it is ubiquitous from March to October. Yellow-winged Sparrow, Ainiiiodrauins savannai'tan passerinuSy Wils. Not rare in certain prairie sections; in fact we may call it common in some quarters. However, it was not com- mon in Michigan twenty years ago. This is one of those species, and we have many of thtm, which has in- creased in number and enlarged its- terriiory within the last few years. I feel safe in saying that this bird is not to be found commonly in the Upper Peninsula, but it will reach that quar- ter after a time, and when suitable grounds have been cleared. The song of the Yellow-wing is faint and some- what resembles the notes of an insect- THE MUSEUM. 59 It is very deceiving, and it is uncer- tain in location. When hunting for it the bird was often flushed near at hand, when judging from its song it was many rods away; and again the bird proved out of reach while I was searching all about the neighborhood for it. Nelson's Sh.-\ri'-t,\iled Finch, Aiiuiiodravins caiidacutus iwlsoni, Allen. This species was not known to Mich- igan collectors previous to the year 1878. On October 5 of that year two specimens were secured in Kalamazoo county. I believe this the only record. Henslow's Sparrow; Henslow's BUNTING, A mviodrainus lienslozvii . This bird has been known for a few years past in Washtenaw county and a nest and eggs were found by L. W. Watkins near Manchester, Mich, in the season of 1S94. We have in the Henslow's Sparrow another bird which was formerly unknown to our state and which, like many others, espec- ially sparrows and other smaller birds, are brought to our notice through the progress of civilization, and the in- fluences resulting from the changed condition of the land. Undoubtedly this species will in time become com- paratively common, as many other birds, once unknown have done within my days of observation. The advan- cement of civilization, while it crowds out a few species, is generally a pro- motor of an influx of birds previously unknown. This has been fairly de- monstrated in the cases of at least twenty-three species of birds. Savanna Sparrow, A )innod ramus sandi^aid and are only given with the Museum one jear. Address WALTER F.WEBB, Albion, N. Y. or Keokuk. Iowa. Relief Maps FOK SCHOOLS OF ALL GRADES. Systematic Collpctims. MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY, ZOOLOGY, LANTERN SLIDES, ETC. Washington School Collections. Minerals, Rocks and Invertebrate A imals. It is aafe to say that no collections of equal excel- lence have ever before been offered in this country at so low a price ($y each). Send for circular. EDWIN E. HOWELL, 612 17th St.. N. W.. Washington, D. C. GILBERT BROS. & GRIFFIN, TAXIDERMISTS & NATURALISTS. Dealers in Curios and Museum Supplies. Large Spanish Steer Horns, Buffalo Horns. Polished or Rough, Elk Tushes, from SOc toj.'i. Fine Elk Heads always on hand. Pur Rugs of all kinds in stock. Send for our catalogue. 709 South 16th St., OMAHA, NEB. When answering ads. mention Museum. \ / / / / I % > / / / / / / / y /, / / / / i / / / < / / / '/ '/ / / / / % • Babbitt's Glove Kid Tan After two years' trial by Professional Taxidermists and furriers, has been found superior to all other so called tans. IT IS THE BEST. DlKECriONS. Dissolve contents of this bottle in 4 gallons cf water, and add 2 poundi each of salt and alum, \ ])ound salt petre. Stir it well and allow it to stand several hours and it is ready for use. A Fox skin should l)e allowed to stand in this liquo r5 days. Deer skins 10 days; others in proportion Aftei the skin lias stood the required length of time, remove aud stretch on a boaid flesh side out, and allow it to diy Then sandpaper and the skin will be found suitable for a rug. If a tine tin ish is desired, give the skin a goo / / / / / / / / < > / / / / / / / > / / / / / / / / / / / VOL. >I. NO 3. JANUARY. 1896 A Journal Devoted to Research in Natural Science. RA TES: — $1 00 per year to all eountries, in advance. Single numbers, 10 cts. Berlin Agency, R. Friedlander & Sohn, Berlin, N. W, Carlstrasse 11. L<)Ufiou Agency, Swann & Co., 1 anil 3 Bouverie St., Fleet St., London, England. Published the Fifteenth of Bach Month by WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. ^"REVffiW-'REVIEWS Edited by ALBERT SHAW (♦^ Trial Subscription five months Subscription per year ALL THE MAGAZINES IN ONE There are more good magazines in America alone than any one person can read, even if he can buy them, THE REVIKW OF RE- VIEWS, in addition to its own original features — which constitute a separate maga/ine of most unique and valuable quality — gives the best articles selected from One Hundred and Fifty ~~ of the chief maj^azines of the world, readably reviewed, quoted and summarized; this is done, in many instances, on the very date of the publication of the same articles in the original journals. The greatest and busiest men and women of our times keep well informed of the progress of the world through THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS, If its readers got no other peri-, odical they would be thoroughly and authentically acquainted" with such current events as interest intelligent people. Brilliant Character Sketches of notable men and women nnd timely articles on the latest economic, i>olitical and literary movements arc in cac^i number. CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, DESIGN PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, etc. For Information and free Handbook write to MUNN & CO.. 361 Broadway, New YoRff, Oldest bureau for securing patents in America. Every patent taken out by us is broupht before the public by a notice given free of charge ia the Largest circiilatinn of anv srlontiflc paper In the world. Splendidly Illustrated. No intelligent man should be without it. Weekly, ftS.OO a year; $1.50 sl.x months. Address, MUNN & CO., FUBLisHESs, .S61 Broadway, New York City. Are You a Sportsman? If so, you cannot afford to be without "GAME AND SHOOTING." 16-page monthly, brimful of interesting reading. ONLY FIFTY CENTS PER ANNUM. Published by Ed F. Haberlein & Son. McPherson, Kan. Scores of Really Valuable Portraits and Pictures THE NUMISMATIST. THE REVIEW OF REVIEWS $1.00 per annum. 10 cents per copy. Official organ of the American Numismatic Association. An elegant illustrated monthly, devoted to the coi- 13 Astor Place, New York CitT lector and student of Coin*'. Now in its eighth volume. No live collector can afford to be without it. A sam- ple copy will be sent you gratis on receipt of stamp, if you are interested in this science. Addi ess, THE NUMISMATIST, Monroe, Mich. CAVEATS, TRADE MARKS, DESIGN PATENTS, COPYRIGHTS, etc. For infonnati<'a and free Handbook write to MUNN & CO., 361 Broadw.w, New York. Oldest bureau for securing patents in America. Every patent taken out by us is brouLdit before the public by a notice given free ot charge in the Largest circulation of anv spientiflc paper in the world. Splendidly illustrated. No uitelllrent man should be without it. Weekly, A.t.oOa 5»ear; $1.50si.vmniitiis. Address, MU-W & CO,, POBLISBEBS, .161 Broadway, New Yort City. The Iowa Ornitliologist. A Quarterly Magazine, devoted to Ornitholo- gy and Oology. Forty cents per year. Sample copies lOc. Published forThe Iowa Ornithological Ass'n. David L. Savage, Editor, Salem, la. La Naturaliste Canadian. An illustrated monthly magazine printed in French. The only general Natural Science Journal published in Canada. Directions for amateur Photographers a special department of the Magazine. Subscription $1 a year. Edited by L' ABBE V. A., Huard, Chlcoutim i P. Q. Can. THE MUSEUM. WANTS, EXCHANGES AND FOR SALES. All notices that come under above will be inserted in this department until further notice at one-half (i) cent a word. No notice less than 25c. Terms Cash with order. No charge, Jor address. I shall at all times endeavor to keep parties, whose reputation is of a doubtful char- acter from using these columns. TO EXCHANGE.— Ohio eggs in sets or sin- gles, for first class sets with full data of other localities. Send list and receive ours. R. C. RUSH, Hudson, Ohio. WANTED. — Grey's Anatomy, Organ of the Art of Healing, by Samuel Hahneman; Essen- tials of Chemistry, Whittan's: Keep's West Coast Shells, books and papers on natural science; also want shells, fossils and curios in hundred lots Will give good exchange in specimens of all kinds. FREU H. ANDKUS, Elkton, Oregon. FOR SALE. — One large catamount skin from Cascade Mts., $1.50; 2 large centipedes and 1 large Tarantula, in alcohol, 1 heart of a large lonu and 2 curious, small snakes in al- cohol, all for $2; 6 fine specimens, several good grooved stone axes and celts, and 200 arrowheads at low uriees; send stamp for de- scription. C. E. TRIBBETT, Thorn town, In- diana. WANTED.— Fossil Fish, Crinoids, baculites and trilobites, also eggs of Raptores, in sets, with full data. Caa give in exchange fossil brachiopoda, gasteropoda and corals. HAR- OLD M. MCLAUGHLIN. 817 W. 11th St., Mason City, Iowa. WANTED. — A sombrerero or cowboy's hat. Good exchange in eggs, skins or mounted birds. Address, CURIO COLLECTOR, Box A. Albion, N. Y. WANTED. — Entire postal cards and copper coins of all nations, in exchange or for cash. State issue of each specimen and price, post- paid. aJ. W. MILLER, Ste Luce, Rimouski Co., Que., Can. TO EXCHANGE.— 1 pr- moose-hide strung snow-shoes, in good condition, and 85 Nos. of Ornithologist and Oologisls' magazines, for best offers of birds' eggs, in sets, with com- plete data. C. G. SARGEAJSTT, Winnebago City, Minnesota. FRESH WATER or land shells, for same. Fossils, marine curios. Philatelic papers to exchange; send lists; stamps wanted. D. H. EATON, Woburn, Mass. TO EXCHANGE— A fife in first-class con- dition, will exchange for a 32 or 38 caliber re- volver. HERVEY L. SMITH, Smith's Ferry. Mass. CHOICE Pacihc Coast bird skins fir ex- change. Can use light shot gun, large ride, 38cal. S. & W., reloading tool or anything in that line, photographic apparatus. 5 x 8, or larger. No specimens wanted in exchange at present. GEO. G. CANTWELL, Puyallup, Wash. WANTED. — A pair of climbers, strapped preferred; will give good exchange or cash. HERVEY L. SMITH. Smith's Ferry, Mass. SIOUX INDIAN relics, of all kind.s, to ex- change for good black point eagle feathers. E. C. SWIGERT, Gordon, Neb. 100 specimens, illustrating the manufacture of arrowheads and spearheads, and including perfect specimens of each, also knives and scrapers, cores and discs, sent by express for one dollar. F. I. BROWN, Hayden Bldg., Columbus, Ohio. WANTED TO EXCHANGE.— First - class Indian relics and part cash for No. 5 or 6 Remington typewriter. E. C. SWIGERT, Gordon, Neb. EXCHANGE. — Two cameras, holding dozen 2i X 2* plates, snap shot; also new No. 5 autoharp; what can you offer? C. H. DICK- INSON. Grand Rapids. Minn. WANTED. — I desire to form a collection of curios, such as Indian relics, ancient firearms, swords, etc. Send me a list of what you have, giving description and lowest prices. A SCHAUF, 108 Vernon Ave., Brooklyn. N. Y. WANTED. — A snapshot camera, also an electric motor; a good banjo and a jointed Hsh pole for exchange; answers to all. L. C. PENDELL, No. 2 HollisSt., Worcester Mass. I WANT the Museum, No. 4, and No. 12, vol. 0, "The Oologist," also many other papers. Can exchange books, papers, stamps, birds, mammals, etc. R. H. ROCKWOOD, Water- viUe, Maine. MAINE BIRDS and mammals in the meat. Will exchange for good offers or for cash. Send your list of wants in these lines immed- iately to R. H. ROCKWOOD. Waterville. Me. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE —A lot of old numbers of the American Naturalist; pages mostly uncut. P. O. Box 2123, Philadelphia, Pa. '66 THE MUSEUM. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.— 1 Dailet wide angle leus, 5 x 7; also 1 view lens. P. O. Box 2122, Philadelphia, Pa. ' ABOUT 2000 stamps, envelopes, with busi- ness advertisements, postmarks, Columbians and wartime, three year's Great Divides and fossil corals, for best offer in cash, minerals, shells or fossils. MRS. F. A. BAILEY, Bol- tonville, Washington Co., Wisconsin. FOR SALE OR EXCHANGE.— A work published li.y Selmar Hess, called Animate Creation. It treats on birds, etc. Will sell or exchaup:e for uest offer of stamps or eggs; cost $15. Description for stamp; also an A ordinary kodak and outlit. for $5 cash; good as new. JESSE C. A. MEEKER, Box 296, Bridgeport, Ct. THE OREGO>J Naturalist, one year and fifty assorted shells, catalogued at over $4, all for"a $1 money order. Address, FRED H. ANDRUS, Elkton, Oregon. I HAVE volume one of the "Natural Science News." Will exchai.ge for volume one of the MusLUJi or (Oological instruments); also have volume (12) of the "Oologist." Will exchange for eggs, in sets or singles; also have a 22cal. Remioglon ritle, nearly new, will exchange for best offer in birds'"^ eggs. FRED JOHN- SON, P. O. Box 189, Portage, Wis. 30 specimens tor 2.5c. selected from upwards of 100 varieties, consisting of minerals, fossils, Indian relics, curiosities, etc., from all parts of the world; size | to 3 inches in length. En- close stamp if you wish to correspond. W. S. ROOT, Albion, N. Y. . FUCOID SLABS, rock sections and all of the characteristic fossils of the Medina and Niagara groups, including the rarer species, for cash or good exchange. T. H. DERRICK, West Kendall, N. Y. Wanted. — Exchanges in fossils, recent shells and eggs. All specimens scientifically named and with full data. Shells and fossils named free. Correspondence .solicited espec- ially from the South. Address, BURDETTE N. WRIGHT, Penn Yan, N. Y. NO ONE ever thought of introducing so ex- pensive a feature as lithographic color work in the days when the leading magazines sold for $4 a year and 3.5 cents a copy. But times change, and the magazines change with them. It has remained for The Cosmopolitan, sold at one dollar a year, to put in an extensive lithographic plant capable of printing 320,000 pages per day (one color). The January is- sue presents as a frontispiece a water-color drawing by Eric Pape, illustrating the last story by Robert Louis Stevenson, which has probably never been excelled even in the pages of the finest dollar French periodicals. The cover of the Cosmopolitan is also changed, a drawing of i»ge length by the famous Paris artist Rossi, in lithographic colors on white paper takes the place of the manilla back with its red stripe. Hereafter the cover is to be a fresh surprise each month. FOR EXCHANGE.— Sand dollars and cal- careous tufa for eggs or curios. Send list of Spec, you have for exchange. W.E DEWEY, 148 W. Jefferson St., Los Angeles, Calif. "BABBITT," whose Adv. appears in another column, has invented a new egg drill, better and cheaper than anything else on the market. He will send illustrations and testimonials free. PETRIFIED moss, fossils on limestone, to ex. with dealers or will send specimens if you will pay the postage and retui'u me the can- celled stamps. CORA JEWELL, Shannon- dale, Indiana. LOOK HERE !— Fine sets of Shrike, Red- winged Blackbird, Crow, Jay. Wren and Thrasher to exchange at one-third off of cata- logue prices. Write for my complete list. RALPH W. CLAYTON, Box 454, Galesburg, Ills. WANTED.— A small launch (suitable for use on Mississippi River) and a canvas boat; also ii cabin boat, of parties on Illinois River. W. A. JOHNSON, Galesburg, 111. FOR SALE.— Cheap, for cash, a nice lot of mounted birds or would sell for part cash and balance in any specimens I can use. Please send for list. I also want papers and bulle- tins treating on the birds of Texas; all answer- ed. NATHAN L.DAVIS.Taxidermist, Brock- port, N. Y. FOR .SALE. — Cheap or exchange for some- thing useful: One mounted alligator, one mounted porcupine fish, one fine mounted horned toad, one large saw tish saw, one bot- anical collection of SG specimens, all labeled and mounted, also Indian relics, alligator teeth, whale and elk; also all kinds of souven- irs. Write for prices and what you have to exchange. CLARENCE BRETSCH, 1000 Is- land Park, N. Y. GEODES, petrified moss, many varieties of fossils, minerals and curios to exchange for Indian relics, sea curios, large sea shells, dry goods and useful articles. CORA JEWELL, Shannondale, Indiana. WANTED.— Bennett and Murray's Crypto- gamic Botany. Will give good exchange in eggs, skins or botanical specimens. Reply wanted at once. WILMON NEWELL, Hull, Iowa. EXCHANGE.— Turkey 1-10. Wanted re- liable knapsack sprayor, (5 gallons) "Planet, Jr. ," combined drill, hoe and plow or Win- chester Repeater, 32-cal., allAl. Write first. C. E. PLEAS, Clinton, Ark. TO EXCHANGE.— 3 scrap albums, about 4,000 pictures and photographs, colored plates and one elegant bound magazine of art, (new) 500 illustrations, albums and book worth $18. Wanted Columbian stamps, U. S., showy shells, printing press or anything interesting or useful, for best offer. H. L. HANSEN, Griswold, N. Dak. THE MUSEUM. 67 POTTERS' CLAY, just what all taxider- mists need for niountiug Deer Heads, Fish Mammals, etc; in bricks of G and 12 lbs. each; "30c for a 0 lb. brick or 5(ic for a large size; must go by express or freight, $3.00 per hun- dred lbs. "W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. or Keokuk, Iowa. GEODES to sell or exchange. Price 50 cts. to_ $3. Crmoids also to exchange. Shells, minerals, ores, petrifications, corals, coins, books and Indian relics wanted. No stamps or eggs wanted. Send fine specimens and get fine ones. Good oargains in large lots, by the K)0 or barrel. Write now. Z. T. SNIVE- LY. Box oj, VVayland, Clark Co.. Mo. EXCHANGE.— Sets Coots' F. Gallinuies, Black Terns, Thick B. Grebes, Night Herons, Yellowheads, Marsh Wrens, Swamp Spar- rows, for specimens and curiosities, etc. DKI.OS HATCH, Oakfield. Wis. 40 Fossils for 40 cts., representing 2.5 species of shell, corals, crinoids, plant and fish re- mains, from coal measures. All good speci- mens correctly labeled; prepaid. E. E. HAD- LEY, Stuart, Iowa. EXCHANGE —Sets of Bryant's Cactus Wren and San Pedro Partridge from lower California. Black-chinueil Sparrow, Costa's Hummer, etc. Fine skins of Townsend's Junco. Lecontes' Thrasher, Hermit and Town- send's Warblers, Mt. (iiiail. White headed Woodpecker, etc., to exchange for stamps, U. S. Revenue, and Dept. stamps especially de- sired. E. C. THURBER, Alhambra, Los An- geles Co., Calif. FOR SALE.— Indian relics. I can sgU 100 good arrows at $2; have many more relics just as cheap. Let me hear from those wish- ing to buy. All letters answered. A. T. DUNLAP. Box 300, Norwood, N. C. WANTED.— Cop es (■' Coues' Key, Ridge- way's Manual or any other book that we list, new or second hand, for which we offer other books, specimens, supplies or possibly cash if a bargi^in. W. F. WEBB, Alliion, N. Y. TO EXCHANGE— A 88-cal. X. L. shot gun for first class sets, with full data, or will sell cheap for cash. Address, H. W. BEERS. Bridgeport. Conn. 2t Collection for Teachers and Students of Natural Science. Shells, 33 species $ 2 50 " 100 " 6 00 Corals 12 " small 60 " 25 " medium 3 00 Minerals 52 " small 75 " 100 " " 3 00 " 100 " High School 25 00 12 " showy 2 00 Fossils 25 " 3 00 Curios, Land and Marine 30 varieties. . 2 .50 .50 " .. 5 00 Starfish 12 " . . 1 50 The above 12 collections will be sent to any address for only $50, A splendid chance for any school to obtain a fine working collection. W. F. 'WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. ALL FOR ^1.00 BILL. One years subscription to this Journal beginning with Vohime II and your choice of any of the folloiving premiums. I. O. and O. Manual, Ueather bound, 50c. 3. Fine Oiilogists' Outfit, 3 instruments in case, 50c. 3. Cheap Taxidermists' Outfit, 3 instruments in case, 50c. 4. Package Botanists' Labels and Magnifier, 50c. 5. Entomologists' Outfit in Case, 50c. 6. Package Mineralogists Labels, various kinds, 50c. 7. Copy, "Birds of Michigan," 50c. 8. " "Birds of Labrador. " 50c. 9. " "Natural History of Labrador. " hOo, 10. A Mineral Collection of 52 Specimens, urepajd, list 75c. II. G fine varieties Fossils, 50c. 12. One fine Polished Shell for mantle decor- ation, 50. 13. 6 kinds Arrow Heads, 5Gc. 14. 1 fine "Skinner." 50' 15. 15 kinds of Birds Eggs, all labeled, 50. Above premiums are sent prepaid and are only given with the Museum one year. Address WALTER F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. or Keokuk, Iowa. ■riNTE (work in NATURALISTS'^ SUPPLIES ^^^BOOKS^ UST CLASS, WHOLESALES: RETAIL , MINERALS BIRDS EGOS ^f^fSE€TS<- vBIRDS^*> ANIMALS illustrated CaIaIogae\ 4 cents \n. stamps, j ,2t2MAINST. j Worcester! Mass. j Crinoid Heads For SalCo E. M. SAUNDERS, Lebanon, Ind. 68 THE MUSEUM. Inciisfi r\dics! Are you a Collector? Do you want to secure some fine Pipes, Bird Anulets, Ceremonial Objects, Pottery, Slate Ornaments, Pestles, Axes, Spear Points, etc. We are breaking up a collection of 500 pieces, all perfect, at the Lowest Prices these Relics can be sold for. We will also buy for Cash any fine Relics as above. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine Devoted to Research in Natural Science. Vol. II. ALBION, N. Y., JANUARY 15, 1896. No. 3 SHOWY SEA SHELLS. Interesting Notes About Shells that are Eagerly Sought for by Collectors. {Continued from last nmnber.) The genus Buccinum resembles that of Purpura in many respects. Its shell is oval or conical, much notched in front. The species inhabit every sea, especially those of Europe. The an- imal has a small flat head, furnished with lateral tentacles or horns, bear- ing the eyes upon an external swelling, situated near their central length. We need only refer to [Fig. 30] Buccinum senticosum, and Baccinum undatum, the well known welk of our markets [Fig. 31] for their general form. ^ The genus Harpa contains shells from the Indian Ocean, richly enamel- ed within, and ornamented externally with slightly oblique longitudinal stripes in gay colors, with finely-sculp- tured forms in the intervals; spire very small, and opening large. Among the more attractive species are Harpa Ven- tricosa [Fig. 32], and Harpa inoperi- alis [Fig. 33] and Harpa articularis Fig. 31. The fifth family, Muricidas, contains Fusus, Pyrula, Triton and Murex. The genus Murex, or Rock Shell, in- clude a large number of species, all re- markable for their bright colors and somewhat fantastical and varied forms. They are found in all seas, but become larger and more branching into the seas of warm regions. The shell is oval, or rather oblong, the spire more or less elevateu, its surface genenerally Fig. 32. [Fig. 34]. covered with rows of spines, or tuber- cular ramifications. The opening which is oval, is prolonged in a straight canal, often of very considerable length, as in Murex haustellum [Fig. 35; the ^o THE MUSEUM. external edge is often smooth or rip- pled, the columellat edge sometimes callous. Fig. 33. The head of the animal is furnished with two horns or tentacles, with ocelli upon the external side, the mouth elon- gated in the form of a proboscis. The foot is large, round, and furnished with horny operculum. Among the species with long slender tube, covered with spines, one of the most notable is Murex tenuispina [Fig. 3 5] which is a native of the Indian Ocean and the Moluccas. Fi^. 34 Among the strong-tubed species with long canal and no spines, from the same regions is Mure.x haustellum [Fig. 36], Among the short-tubed species, fur- nished with foliaceous and jagged fringes, is Murex Scorpio [Fig. 37]- One more typical species may be noted namely Murex erinaceus [Fig 38] which is found on all the coasts of Eu- Fig. 3.5. rope, and especially in the British Channel. Other species worthy of notice are found in the Mediterranean and Adriatic, some of them, according to Cuvier and de Blainville, species which furnished the true Tyiian purple of the ancients; but our space prevents us from dwelling on them. Fig. The genus triton is ranged beside the ^enus Murex in this system. The shell irregularly covered with scattered swelling excrescences, not as in Murex, in longitudinal rows, but scattered all over the surface. About 100 species of Triton are known. They inhabit many seas but more especially those of warm countries. Triton tritornis. THE MUSEUM. 7r rig. 38. commonly called the Marine Trumpet [Fig. 39] is a very large shell, which even attains the length of 16 mches; it is enameled with great elegance in white, red and tawny brown. It comes from the Indian Ocean, where the shells are very common. Triton lo- torium [Fig. 40] is of a reddish-brown externally and white within. The tri- ton anus [Fig. 41] is of a whitesh col- or, spotted with red. Fiff. 8i). The sixth family is Strombidas, of which we give typical genera Rostel- laria, Pteroceras, and Strombus. Strombus is a marine genus, belong- ing to the equatorial seas, of whose habits and manners very little is known. It is probably that the species are very long lived, for their shells, when found perfect, have acquired a very consider- able thickness and weight. They are even found encrusted in the interior «f,.^!;'^f,V ^=a-:a^ with numerous layers of soft earthy sediment, and covered externally with small corals and other marine produc- tions. Strombus gigas is represented in [Fig. 42]. Some species of Strom- bus attain great size, and are placed as ornaments in halls and dining-rooms. In some of them the opening is brill- iantly shaded, and those are chiefly sought after to decorate grottoes in gardens, or for collections of shells, where, from their size, they necessarily occupy a prominent place. Fig 41. Fig. 40. These shells are rather ventricose,. terminating at their base by a short c^ lal, notched or truncated; the right ed^-e gets dialated with age; simple on one wing, loped cuneated in the upper part, and presenting in its lower part a grove or cavity separated from the canal or from the notch at the base. But these shells are not merely orna- mental, for some of the streets of Vera Cruz are said to be paved with Strom- bus gigas. The animal which inhabits these shells presents a distinct head, provid- ed with a trunk or snout, and with two- tentacles or horns, each bearing a large and vividly colored eye. The foot is compressed and divided into two portions, the posterior one. which IS the longest, bearing a horny opercu- lum. In the eagle-winged Strombus or Common Cauch represented in [Fig. 43] these several peculiarities are well developed. This shell i& large turbi- 72 THE MUSEUM. nate, distended in the middle, with an acutely pointed spire studded with con- ical tubercles, the right edge very broad, rounded off below. The opening is of a vivid rose purple fading into white. It is a native of the antilles. Fig. 43. Strombus gallus, or the angel-wing- ed [Fig. 44] is veined with stripes of white and red, and comes from the coast of Asia and America. Strombus euhuanus [Fig. ] is fawn-colored, marked with white, externally the right edge is red and striped, inside the columella is shaded purple and black. The Museum of the Cincinnatti Society of Natural History. When visiting the city of Cincinnati the naturalist would do well to visit the Natural History Museum, located near the corner of Sycamore and Fourth streets. To be admitted the visitor has to ring the door bell, state his wish to the attendant and sign his name on the register. The principal part of the museum is contained in four large rooms or halls. The ground floor is occupied with study rooms, office, etc. On the first floor is the first room for the inspection of the visitor. The center of this room, for its entire length is occupied by a good collection of shells, special attention being paid to Unio. At one end of the room is a poor collection of bird's eggs and mis- erably prepared nests. This is the on- ly thing in the building which does not deserve approval unless it be the col- lection of fishes and other animals pre- served in alcohol, spoken of later. The walls are occupied by cases of well mounted birds, forming a large col- lection. There are also several large cases of massive and beautiful corals, for the most part pure white. In the immediate center of the room on the ne.xt floor are two large glass cases, containing a good collection of prehistoric and Indian relics. The space on either side of these cases is fill- ed with ten cases of showy minerals some polished and all good typical spec- imens. About the walls are cases of minerals, curios, etc. The third room, on the third floor, is occupied by a geological collection. This is truly a fine exhibit and delights the heart of the geological student. One wall of the hall about sixty feet long is decorated by a long glass case filled with stuffed mammals. The top of the case is ornamented with mount- ings of large fish, reptiles, etc. One end of the hall is occupied by a collection of fishes, snakes, etc. pre- served in alcohol. Many of the bot- tles and jars are not full of the fluid and some of the specimens are not completely covered. The fourth roomuis filled with re- mains of mastodons and other ancient animals. There is also a collection of skeletons and some large stuffed mam- mals and birds. The above will give an idea of the museum, but to realize what is in it the reader must pay it a visit. Otto Grady, Ludlow, Ky. THE MUSEUM. 73 The Birds of Bermuda. Hamilton, Bermuda, January, 1896. While Bermuda offers many attrac- tions to the tourist, one of its greatest charms is its birds. Although the na- tive family is not large, the Bermudas afford an excellent position from whence to observe the annual migration of many species of the feathered tribes of America. Equidistant, or nearly so, from the shores of Nova Scotia, the United States and the West Indian Archipelago (but nearest to the Caro- linas), they present, as it were, a cas- ual resting place to many birds, while traversing the broad e.xpanse of' ocean which forms the eastern limit of their great line of flight. Some species, as the American golden plover, the Amer- ican snipe, sora rail, nighthawk and yellowshank, seldom fail to appear every autumn, and may be set down as regular visitors, probably from the fact that their line of migration is di- rect from the northeastern coasts of the continent to the West Indies and tropical South America; but the great bulk of the recorded species are irreg- ular or accidental visitors, whose mi- gratory journeys are less ambitious, and who are blown off the mainland by unfavorable winds. An American gentleman who has made a study of the subject says that all of the birds recorded in the Ber- muda list are included in that of North America, and no species has as yet been discovered peculiar to the islands. But an officer of the Royal Berkshires now stationed here, thinks there are one or two e.xceptions. The catbird, here locally termed blackbird, is one of the most abundant. It is said that its harsh, mewing cry may be heard all the year round, re- lieved in spring by a weak but com- mendable roundelay. After a shower of rain in May or June, says my in- formant, the marshes appear literally alive with these sprightly birds, and a most agreeable concert takes place among the males, prolonged till dusk should the weather continue fine. On ordinary occasions they sing a good deal, but rain seems to delight them beyond measure. They are at most times remarkably bold birds, and fol- low an intruder through the swamp or cedar grove, perching close to him and scolding most unmusically; but when a pair have a nest they are far more suspicious, and silently leave the neigh- borhood of their home. The hen bird sits very closely on her eggs, but when disturbed darts rapidly away, return- ing as quickly and noiselessly when danger is past. The eastern bluebird is a resident, and very common. It is also migra- tory, arriving in small flocks after heavy gales in the fall and early winter months. It is truely one of the most delightful of birds, and certainly the flower of the limited flock of the Ber- muda residents. Its brilliant plumage, vivacious manners and pleasant warble make it a welcome returner to the States, and render it an object of in- terest to all; while its confiding and fearless nature in the building season, and the number of no.xious insects it destroys, cause it to be strictly protect- ed here throughout the islands. The male bird is perfectly lovely. The other day I saw the dazzling blue plumage of one illumined by the sun's rays as it flashed across the road like a ray of vivid azure light, and seemed actually 74 THE MUSEUM. to blaze with intense color from the depth of the sombre foliage of the cedars. His spouse is far more sober in her attire; but they say here that she, too, puts on nuptial attire and looks uncommonly smart in April and May, when she acquires on unusually vivid blue and much suffusion of red- dish brown about the head. The water thrush is one of the com- monest, yet most interesting, of autum- nal visitors. It appears regularly early in'^October, and a few remain all win- ter. Throughout the early winter there is hardly a mangrove swamp, great or small, whence its sharp but musical "chip" may not be heard at any time during the day. Early in the morning, especially when the ebbing tide has left bare the strange, tangled roots of the mangroves and their mud- dy surroundings, it is comparatively easy to approach this wary little bird; but latter in the day it requires great caution and a certain amount of activ- ity to acquire a specimen. These birds wag their tails as they feed on the edges of the tidal pools and flit from root to root, uttering at times their loud, monotonous cry. The white-eyed vireo is one of the smallest and one of the commonest resident Bermuda birds, familiar to all through its sprightly ways, loud song and astounding impudence. The other day while I was walking in the road, one ht on my shoulder and fell to my feet. I picked it up and thought it was hurt, but the saucy little thing bit my finger and flew out of my hand at a lively rate. A passing colored man told me that it was locally called the "chick-of-the-village," or "chick-choo- willi," from its note. This variety- asks for "ginger-beer-quick," a call very much adapted to the climate of Bermuda. Of the American crossbill. Major Wedderburn says: "A specimen of this bird was captured in the dockyard at Ireland Island, and grew quite tame and lived for several days in my room, but poisoned itself by eating part of a composite candle, which it had cut nearly in half with its strong bill dur- ing the night." Some few years ago a number of European sparrows were imported into tlie islands from New York, and they have rapidly increased in numbers. About a dozen of them have taken up their abode in an outhouse near the Princess Hotel, but I give them credit for locating in a very pretty spot. However, many natives have question- ed the propriety of introducing these quarrelsome birds into the aristocratic society of the brilliant blue and red birds. The cardinal red-bird is a well-known and abundant resident of Bermuda, everywhere conspicuous by its brilliant plumage and loud but not unmusical song. This bird is a general favorite with all classes, and is in great esteem as a cage bird. Red birds breed twice a year in Bermuda. Their nest is bulky, built of twigs and roots, and lined with dry grasses. The sight of the red-bird is a great treat, and will ever be associated in my memory with the bright sun, white houses, dark cedars and fragrant sage-bushes of Ber- muda. The red-bird is said to change its notes with the season, in winter the call being "way-too," and in the spring "too-too." In spite of his strength the red-bird allows himself to be igno- miniously driven from his nest by the smaller blue-bird. THE MUSEUM. 75 The boblink or rice bird is said to be found here in small flocks during Sep- tember and October. They frequent the marshes, where the ripe seed from the reeds and sedge offer an ample abundance of their favorite food. They are always found in winter plum- age. One Baltimore oriole was shot here several years ago. The bill and feet of this bird were said to be a bright livid blue. There were three crows sat on a tree, And Ihey were black as crows could be; Says one old crow unto his mate, "What shall we do for grub to eaf' "Just over there, on yonder plain. There's an old boss, just lately slain; We'll pounce upon his sharp backbone, And pick his eyes out, one by one." The early history of the American crow, so far as the Bermudas are con- cerned, is somewhat obscure. If you will turn to Smith's History of Virginia, to which colony Bermuda at one time belonged, you will find crows mention- ed as being numerous in the islands. But at present only a few are seen, and these are occasionally noticed hovering over the rough, steel-pointed cliffs on the south shore. At one time a price was set on their devoted heads by a colonial enactment — half a crown a bird, and sixpence an egg. This was considered a wise and necessary measure, because they did much dam- age in the breeding season, by destroy- ing young poultry and the eggs and young of the other resident birds. The night-hawk visits the Bermudas in the fall and spring in its migrations from North to South and return. Several years ago a Mr. John Uar- rell saw a ruby-throated humming- bird under the windows of his father's house, were it was busily employed entering some large, white, bell-shap- ed flowers, its tail only at times being visible. The bird seen by Mr. Darrell was described as greenish in color, with its tail — the only part visible at times — tipped with white. How such a little bird ever got to Bermuda is a marvel. They have powerful wings for their size, but one would think that such a long flight across the sea would induce weariness in so small a frame, and leave them at the mercy of the wind and waves. There are many other birds which stop here on their annual flights, but the blue-bird and red- bird are the pets of the islands. T. B. D. The Limestone Boulders of Cen- tral Vermont. In the central part of Vermont is to be found the largest deposit of clay slate that is to be found in the state, and probably in New England. Beginning in the town of Royalton, it stretches northerly, in a slightly ser- pentine course, for a distance of near- ly eighty miles, and enters Canada at Lake Memphremagog. It passes through about twenty different towns, forming a narrow strip, nowhere e.x- ceeding seven miles in width, and, in places, it diminishes to less than one mile. It is bounded, easterly, by cal- ciferous mica schist, and westerly by talcose schist. Throughout its entire course it is interspersed by beds of blue limestone, granite and milky quartz. These formations will be carefully studied in a future article, but for the present it will be sufficient to study the characteristics of some of the loose 76 THE MUSEUM "W^ \^: ■ ''-■^' Prairie Hens — Tympanuchus americanus. boulders that are found within the borders of this strip. Scattered over its entire area are to be found immense numbers of loose stones, varying in size from minute pebbles to huge boulders of many tons weight. Although there are many varieties which have been brought from beyond the limits of the strip, yet, by far, the greatest number of boulders consist of the same material as the underlying rock, viz: clay, slate, blue limestone, granite and milky quartz. Of these, perhaps the blue limestone boulders are the most inter- esting to study. They certainly pre- sent the most difficult problems to solve. In shape these boulders are nearly always thin, flat and more or less cir- cular. Ordinarily they are not over eight feet in diameter and six or eight inches in thickness, but it is not un- common to tind them much larger. The largest one that I have ever seen measures a little over twenty-six feet in its longest diameter. The thickness bears some proportion to the diameter, and this stone is not far from fifteen inches thick. When ex- posed to the action of the elements, the stone disintegrates and forms a soft, porous, gritty substance, of a dark brown or black color, commonly known as "rotten stone." Hence, it is that small stones of this variety are seldom found unless they have been recently broken. A stone with a diameter of less than ten inches or a thickness of less than one inch is rare. The stone is easily broken in the line of its longest dia- meter; it breaks less rapidly in the line of its shortest diameter; with THE MUSEUM. n •great difficulty, diagonaly; and not at all, in a line paralel with its flat sur- face. In nine cases out of ten, these bould- ers will be found lying upon one of their flat sides with its long diameter in a nearly north and south line, and the south end of the stone slightly ele- vated. I have e.xamined more than two thousand boulders of this class and know of but one instance where the north end is elevated, and but four or five where the long diameter extend- ed m any other direction than that just described. Sometimes these boulders will be found in an upright position, resting upon a thin edge which is im- bedded 111 the earth. In such cases the 11. it surfaces are almost invariably towards the east and west, respective ly. I know of but two exceptions to this rule. Now, if we accept the theory, th tt, at one time the continent was covered with a vast sheet of ice, the formation of which had broken these stones from their original resting places; and that they had become firmly frozen into the solid mass; and that the continent then sank below the level of the ocean, the waters of which penetrated be- neath the ice, raising it, and bearing it towards the south; and that the warmer water gradually softened the under side of the ice, until the stones were released and dropped to. the ground, then the similarity of position is readily explained. In fact it forms a substantial corroboration to that theory, for a little reasoning will show that the position in which the stones are generally found is the one in which they would most naturally fall when loosened and dropped. But there is another feature, which. though in no way disputing the theory, is not so easily explained. In a large proportion — probably one-third — of all the instances, the stones are found in nests of three, five, seven, or nine, and sometimes more. An even num- ber of stones, is seldom, if ever found. The stones are always lying with their flat surface together, with a thin layer of "rotten stone" between, and the central stone is always much the larg- est, while they decrease regularly and rapidly both above and below. This disposition of the stones pre- sents two interesting problems, which, at present, I make no attempt to solve. The first is, why do the nests always contain an odd number of stones.' The second is, why are they always in the same relative positions as to size.' I shall be glad to receive, through the c 'lumns of the Museum, any hint as to their solution. C. O. Ormsbee, Montpelier, Vt. ''Do Birds Reason?" Under the above caption in your November number Mr. E.Kroy of Kitt- son Co., Minn., gives a very interest- ing article, which would seem to prove that birds do reason, at least so far as to the protection of their nests and young, and in other respects they seem to be void of reason I have similar experiences as Mr. Kroy with the Spar- rows and Wrens. A few years ago we had Bluebirds, Wrens and Swallows breeding in the yard, the Bluebirds and Swallows have disappeared while the Wrens hold their ground with the English Sparrows but I imagine it is on account of the boxes I put up for the Wrens — I now make the entrance 78 THE MUSEUM. hole only one inch in diameter — which enables the Wrens to enter but ex- cludes the Sparrows, although they will try a long time to evict the Wrens after they have their nests nearly com- pleted. Two years ago an old male Sparrow after trying a long time to get into the box occupied by a pair of Wrens stationed himself on the wire clothes line about two feet from the box and when the Wrens came he would drive them away. I watched the operation for some time, and then took the little collecting gun and put- ting in a number 12 shot shell, and getting him in line of the end of my neighbor's barn, I soon put an end to that dispute, and the Wrens lived in peace the rest of the season. Last year I put up two new boxes for the Wrens on top of the giape trellis, leaving an old one on one end and placing a new one on the other end, the other in the middle. When the Wrens came they examined them all and decided on occupying the mid- dle one. As usual the Sparrows tried to drive them away, and right here I want to say that it is not because the Sparrows want to use the box them- selves for I have never known them to occupy a box after driving the Wrens out. I think it is merely P. (ure) do- mesticus(sedness). When the first brood was three days old, the female turned them over to the care of the male, and commenced building another nest in the other new box. This box had a partition through the center, and a hole in each end. The second day after the female com- menced building I noticed that she carried material in both holes, and I thought that I would investigate, when I found that she was building two nests, and the condition of them were about the same. Thinking it was on- ly a waste of time and labor for her I took the material out of one side and laid it on top ot the box and closed the entrance — this was done during the ab- sence of the bird — on her first return she went to the hole that was closed and being unable to get in, she went to the other entrance with the mater- ial she had and immediatel carried in all that I had put on top of the box. Afterward I regretted that I did not let her go on with both nests, and see if she would deposit eggs in each, and the usual number six, which would have answered my querry of a few years ago in Forest atid Stream, ' 'Can Birds Count .''" which was suggested by finding an Ovenbird nest containing three young of the Ovenbird and one young Cowbird, and on the ground near the nest an egg of the Ovenbird. The building of the two nests by the Wren goes to show that it did not rea- son in the matter, but was instinct. Will the readers of The Museum give views on the Ovenbird, nest of young and egg outside.' I would like to know how they correspond with mine, which I will enclose with this, but will not be published until answers are re- ceived from others. J. L. Davison, Lockport, N. Y. , Notes from the Fulton County Natural History Society. Not long since a lad brought us a a female Saw Whet Owl. {Nyctala acadica.) He found it perched in an old shed on Big Creek a tributary of Spoon River, three miles from Lewis- town. He had stunned it with a stone THE MUSEUM. 79 and it was yet alive when brought to us. Its skin is now in the writer's cab- inet. If this species has ever before been found in this county we have not heard of it. In the nothern tier of counties, and in Chicago and vicinity it is not uncommon, but its presence this far south has heretofore been in dispute. We received our first Short-eared Owl this year about October 20th. Another was killed near this place the last of November. Two Snowy Owls were taken within the county about November 25th. Three Great Horned Owls, killed by boys, have been brought to us within the last ten days. This winter our club is studying the ducks. We meet every Monday night. The first Friday night in each month we have an open meeting at which pa- pers are read, and the meetings are well attended. W. S. Strode, M. D. , Lewistown 111. Crane Mormonism. While collecting among the alkai lakes and sandhills of Cherry County, Neb., and Lugerbeel County, So. Dak. last spring, I saw what I took to be a case of mormonism among birds, which beats everything I ever heard in the line of peculiar breeding. In the afternoon of June 24th, while wading among the tules and rushes near the shore of a lake, (locality known as North Lake) located about 200 yards north of the Nebraska line, in Lugenbeel County So. Dak., I flush- ed a female Sandhill Crane from a small clump of tules. I went quickly to where the bird arose from, expecting to find a set of eggs, and found the nest, and to my sorrow and joy saw upon the nest five young cranes. These young birds ap- parently about four to si.x days old, were about the size of adult Meadow- larks and were partly covered with down of a grayish yellow colof. Upon my picking up one to examine it, it let out a squak that started the old birds calling in their low gutteral notes and one of them flew around me in a very threatening manner. The nest was a large platform com- posed of dry tule stalks and top of nest was twelve inches above the water which was ten inches deep. Nest was ten inches wide by sixteen long, slight- ly hollowed on top, and resembled the nest of American Bittern but was much larger. I stayed near this nest for some time, watching the birds and observed thpt there were tlircc Craiu's who ap- paiently had an interest in it (two fe- 11, ales and one fine majestic plumed male). When I returned to the cattle ranch where I was stopping I remarked that I had found a Crane's nest; and was told that three Cranes h&d been around the North Lake every summer for the past five years and after thinking the matter over, I have come to the con- clusion that it is a case of Crane mor- monism and that the five young are the product of polygamous breeding. I would like to hear from other nat- uralists who have observed anything in this line and am sure that the edi- tor of The Museum will give space for you to relate your experience or voice your opinions regarding the above observations. ISADOR S. TrOSTLER, Omaha, Neb. 8o THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM. A Monthly Magazine devoted to Ornithology, Oology, MoUusca, Echinodermata, Mineralogy and Allied Sciences. Walter F. Webb, Editor and Pub'r, Albion, N. Y. Correspondence and items of interest on above top- ics, as well as notes on the various Museums of the World— views from same, discoveries relative to the handling and keeping of Natural History material, descriptive habits of various species, are solicited from all. Make articles as brief as possible and as free from technical terms as the subjects will allow. All letters will be promptly answered. TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION. Single Subscription $1.00 per annum Sample Copies 10c each ADVERTISING RATES. 5 cents per Nonpareil line each insertion. Twelve lines.to the inch. No discounts. Cash must accompany all orders. Remittances should be made by Draft. Express or Post OfHce Order or Registered Letter. Unused U. S. Postage Stamps of any denonination accepted for small amounts. The ll.OO Columbian stamps, unused, will be accepted at rate of SI. 75 each. WALTER F. WEBB, ALBION. ORLEANS CO., N. Y. Entered at Albion post-office as second-class mail matter NOTES. We are pleased to note that our Western friends appreciate our office located in their midst. Schools will find they can save from \ to \ by buy- ing from us at that point. We are making up very complete collections of minerals, shells, fossils, etc., and carry a fine line of naturalist's supplies. Write us when in need. We are indebted to Mr. Richard Mausill of Rock Island, 111., for a copy of his Almanac of Planetary Me- teorology and Weather Forecaster's Guide, being a new system of science. Some of our older subscribers will here find food for deep thought. The price is 25cts. prepaid. The Ontario Archaeological Museum of Toronto will please accept thanks for a copy of "Notes on Primitive Man in Ontario." It is a very neatly gotten up pamphlet, highly illustrated and cannot fail to be of great interest to all archaeologists throughout North America. A "Naturalist in Mexico" is the title of a neat little book by Frank Collins Baker of the Chicgo Academy of Sci- ence. The tour which Mr. Baker de- scribes was unkertaken by the Acad- emy of Natural Science of Philadel- phia, he acting as zoologist. The ex- pedition was under the charge of Prof. Angelo Heilprin, the object being to collect data and specimens illustrating the fauna, flora and geology of Yuca- tan and Mexico. Mr. Baker gives minute descriptions of the cities and people visited as well as a general idea of specimens collected. An in- valuable help to anyone intending to visit that country. Blue Mound, South Dakota. In the valley of the James River in South Dakota about two miles north of Forestburg aud rising abruptly from the bed of the river is a small hill lo- cally known as "Blue Mound." The hill is composed almost wholly of clay, and is overlaid with a stratum of sand which varies in thickness from two or three inches to about four feet. In- termixed with the sand is a sufficient amount of loam to support a scanty vegetation. In slope this hill bears some resemblance to a large loaf of bread; and, by a survey made in 1883 in which the writer assisted, it was ascertained that the highest point was ninety-eight feet above the river. THE MUSEUM. 8i In the summit of the hill' lis a huge depression or hollow, nearly fifteen feet deep and forty or fifty feet wide. It extends transversly about two-thirds of the^way across the hill in a slightly diagonal direction. It is evident from its appearance that some force has scooped the dirt from this channel and transported it from the immediate vi- cinity. Yet the hill gives no hint as to the means by which this was accom- plished, or the agent which was em- ployed. About three miles south-west of the hill, on the opposite side of Silver Creek and nearly in a direct line with the channel is a small circular hum- mock about ten feet high and not far from six rods in diameter. It is form- ed of clay, identical in its composition with that of Blue Mound. Beneath it is the black loamy soil of the sur- rounding prairie. It is evident that at no very distant period some agency has taken this little hummock from the channel in Blue Mound and trans- ported it bodily to its present position. We are accustomed to read of the tremendous hurricanes which frequent that section of the country but it would be a bold hypothesis to assume that this is the result of a hurricane or a wind-storm of any kind. Yet when examining these hills and the surround- ing country the convictions irresistibly forced upon the mind of the observer that wind was the agent employed; although so far as I know there is no record of a wind-storm even approach- ing in severity what this must have been. Still when we reflect upon the description of water-spouts often seen in the Indian Ocean and which are caused by winds, it is easy to conceive of a wind sufficiently violent to pro- duce the results described. It should be remembered that this article has been written from observa- tions made in the spring of 1883, when the country was practically unsettled. Since then nearly the whole country has been brought under the plow and no doubt these features would be less easily distinguished. Notes from the Mohawk's Country. p. M. VAN EPPS. During October past I made, in company with Mr. V. Hallenbeck, a visit to that most interesting preco- lonial village site of the ancient Mo- hawks, Camp Cayadotta in Fulton County, N. Y. Well ransacked as this place has been, it still yields much of interest. At the occasion of this visit I made the fortunate find of a handle fashioned from antler, prob- ably for a knife, though possibly for a perforator. This curious and interesting speci- men is precisely 2j inches in length and has been made from a prong of antler having the smaller end cut off to an obtuse point with many facets much as a small boy sharpens a lead- pencil. The whole surface has been scraped and polished until all original roughness has been removed and the example has certainly been a neat and very efficient handle. The oblong perforation for the in- sertion of the stone (.') blade is in the larger end, and has a depth of i] inch or nearly half the entire length of the handle. The surface of the specimen conforms nearly to the original taper of the prong whence made and dts greatest diameter is 11- 16 of an inch. In outline it is slightly curved and is not exactly round. 82 THE MUSEUM. By forcing in the tang of the blade or by rough usage of the completed tool, the handle has been split at the perforation in four places, exactly as an unferruled file or chisel- handle of wood would check with similar usage. A few such handles fashioned from sections of antler have been reported by Dr. Metz and Protessor Putnam from mounds in the Miami Valley, Ohio, but I have yet to learn of any example from this vicinity or State. As to ffint knives, a few fine examples have been received from Camp Caya- dutta, an exceptionally fine example of very rare form having been procur- ed at this site by Mr. William Fisher on May 30, 1895, and on the occasion of my last visit I had the good fortune to find a larger example of a very unique form with a tang, but far too large to fit the above descibed handle. These two flint knives will be describ- ed and figured in a later paper. Many other pieces and fragments of antler have been found at Camp Caya- dutta, nearly all showing some traces of cutting or abrasion. I have from this site a large basal section of antler having a channel or groove over 4 inches in length which has been cut or scraped to a depth of | of an inch with the apparent idea of dividing the section longitudinally. The stria- made by the flint (.■') tool in cutting are very plainly to be seen in the sides of the groove. On one side of this same specimen can be seen where a prong or point has been separated by cutting with a stone axe. In these days and in this vicinity the sight of a flight of wild geese is such a novelty that it is always noticed and is sure to bring out many comments. Maintaining their V-shaped lines in- tact in mid-air in spite of high winds such a sight is well worth pausing to observe. Just dusk on a Sunday eve in No- vember past, an unusually large flock or aggregation of flocks passed over this vicinity flying very low and to- wards the southwest. This flight numbered from 150 to 200 and was made up of a number of V-shaped alignments (five or six) flying in irreg- ular order as to each other and with a few scattering geese in lonely flight but still keeping abreast of the proces- sion; perhaps marshals. A very noticeable peculiarity of this flight was that some of the V-shaped alignments were made up of a double row of geese on either side as though one flock had come up from the rear into the angle of a preceeding V and had retained this position while in continuous flight. Has this been not- iced before.' During the last week in November many small flocks were noticed flying southward. On a bright day in the early part of the month my attention was called to a flock in the character- istic V-shaped form, passing to the east. Though flying quite high their honking could be plainly heard and far above them at a tremendous elevation, in fact just discernable, was a second and much larger flock passing in the same direction. Dr. J. D. Hooker F. R. S., travel- ing in the Snowy Himalayas on the frontier of Thibet, speaks of viewing from the summit of Mount Bhomteo that vast, desolate and nearly un- known region toward the valley of the Varu, where the kite and the raven wheel through the air; and still higher THE MUSEUM. 83 .«K A Typical Scene in South Dakota. in the pale transparent sky. "Long black V-shaped trains of wild geese cleave the air, shooting over the gla- cier-crowned top of Kinchinjhow, and winging their flight in one day, per- haps from the Vrau to the Ganges, over five hundred miles of space and through twenty-two thousand feet of elevation. " -- -;f- -.'r -Jf -^ Now that we have geese on the table, it might be well to repeat the somewhat ancient story of how Bar- num bought the Honk, which may be new to some of the readers of The Museum. Barnum, the irrepressible, figured in a story at which nobody laughed more heartily than himself. He was riding on a Long Island rail- road, and overheard two passengers talking in a way that caused him to prick up his ears: "Yes," said one of them, "Ed. Smith has the best honk on Long Island." "Never knew any- thing to equal it. When I was down on the Chesapeake there was nothing there to beat it," rejoined his compan- ion. "Yes, I guess Ed. has the fine.st honk in the United States." All this was caviare to Barnum. When the men got off at Patchogue he asked the conductor if he could tell him who they were. Yes, one of them was Si Hawkins and the other was his cousin, but he didn't know his name. Down went the names of the men and of the railroad station inBarnum's note-book. He was going to have that honk for his "greatest show on earth;" if money could buy it. On his return to New York he sent for his agent, told him what had occurred, and sent him with carte blanche to Patchogue to secure the curiosity. The agent was as ignorant as his employer of what the "animal" was. But he faithfully hunted down Si Hawkins and inquired in turn for Ed. Smith's whereabouts. 84 THE MUSEUM. "He has a splendid honk, hasn't he?" inquired the agent. "There is no doubt about the matter," said Haw- kins. "Do you think Mr. Smith would sell it.^" "W-h-a-a-t.-"" exclaim- ed the Long Islander who began to think his questioner either demented or a singularly sober jester. "Why I should like to buy it if Mr. Smith would sell it reasonably," was the agent's serious reply. Hawkins, who was a quick-witted fellow, saw that the agent had been imposed upon in some way. "See here, if this was the 1st of April I would understand you. But even if it is the middle of Decem- ber you have been senc on a fool's errand by somebody. A 'honk' isn't an animal, it's the cry with which the gunners call wild geese to the stools, " Glenville, N. Y. Extermination of the Buffalo. The game of the West has rapidly disappeared before the hunter's rifle. It is a fair estimate that four mil- lion buffaloes were killed within the five years between 1874 and 1879, from what was known as the Southern herd, which roamed through northern Texas, the Indian Territory, Kansas and Nebraska. Be- tween 1878 and 18S3, the great North- ern herd — quite as numerous — roam- ing through the Dakotas, Wyoming and Montana, were destroyed in like manner. The hunters received on an average from $2.50 to $3.50 per hide, to be shipped out of the country and sold for leather making, belting, har- ness, and kindred purposes. Many thousands of men were engaged in this enterprise. The most successful hunt- ing parties consisted of a hunter and about six men known as strippers. The time usually selected for taking the buf- faloes was just after they had been graz- ing'in the morning, had gone to the wat- er and then returned to the high ground, lying down to rest in bunches of from twenty to a hundred. The hunter, with the longest range rifle of the heaviest caliber he could obtain, would fire from the leeward side, so far away that the crack of the rifle could not be heard by the buffalo, and being be- hind a bush or bunch of grass, could not be seen. In that way he would kill from a dozen to a hundred a day, without disturbing the herd to any great extent. The buffalo receiving a mortal wound would bleed to death, while the others about him, smelling the blood, would soiiiet mts come near him and paw the ground, and so stand until they too would receive their death wounds. The strippers would then come on with ox teams, take off the hides, place them in the wagons, and transport them to the nearest rail- road station whence they were shipped to market. At one station alone on the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad as many as 750,000 hides were shipped in one year. After the hides were removed, the carcass would be poisoned in many cases, some yearling buffalo being gen- erally selected, and next morning there might be found forty or fifty dead wolves lying scattered around, victims of strychinne. In this way large game was rapidly destroyed, to- gether with countless numbers of wolves that had thrived only by prey- ing upon them. This might seem like cruelty and wasteful extravagance, but the buffalo, like the Indian, stood in the way of civilization and the path of progress, and the decree had gone THE MUSEUM. 85 forth that they must give way. It was impossible to herd domestic stock in a countr}' where they were con- stantly liable to be stampeded by the moving herds of wild animals. The same territory which a quarter of a century ago was supporting those vast herds of wild game is now sustaining millions of domestic animals which af- ford the food supply to hundreds of millions of people in civilized coun- tries.— North American Rei'icTC. CRATER LAKE. One of the Worlds Greatest Nat- ural Wonders. A trip to Crater Lake, to the lover of the grand and beautiful in nature is important event, around which will an ever cluster memories of unalloyed happiness, thoughts of little adventures and weired experiences that go to make life worth living. It is situated in the northwest portion of Klamath County, Oregon, twenty-two miles west of north of Ft. Klamath, and about eighty miles northeast of Medford, which is the best point to leave the Oregon and California railroad. The Jacksonville and Ft. Klamath military road passes the lake within three miles, and the road to the very walls of it is an exceptionally good one for a moun- tainous country, while in near prox- imity may be found remarkably fine camping grounds. The Indians of southern Oregon have known of it for ages, but until lately none have seen it, for the reason that a tradation, handed down from generation to gen- eration, described it as the home of myrids of sea-devils, or as they were called Slaos, and it was considered certain death for any brave even to look upon it. The superstition still haunts the Klamaths. While a few of the tribe have visited it they do so with a sort of mysterious dread of the consequences. It was discovered by a party of twelve prospectors on June 12, 1853. These had left the main party and were not looking for gold, but, having run short of provisions, were after wherewithal to stay the gnawing sensation that seized upon their stomachs. For a time hunger forsook them, as they stood upon the cliffs and gazed in awe at the scene stretched before them. After partak- ing of the inspiration fostered by such a wierd granduer they decided to call it mysterious or deep Blue Lake. It was subsequently called Lake Ma- jesty, and, being constantly referred to as a Crater Lake, it gradually assumed that name, which is in itself so de- scriptive. At times when gazing from the surrounding wall, the skies and cliffs are seen perfectly mirrored in the smooth and glassy surface over which the mountain breeze creates scarce a ripple, and it is with great difficulty the eye can distinguish the line divid- ing the cliffs from their reflected coun- terfeits. The lake is almost egg-shap- ed, ranging northeast by southwest, and is seven miles long to six in width. The water's surface is 6,251 ft. above the sea level, and is completely sur- rounded by cliffs, or walls from 1,000 to 2,000 ft. high, which are scantly covered with coniferous trees. To the southwest is Wizard Island, 845 feet high, circular in shape and slightly cov- ered with timber. In the top is a de- pression or crater, the "Witches Caul- dron," 100 feet deep and 475 feet in diameter. This was evidently the last smoking chimney of a once mighty vol- cano. The base of the island is cover- 86 THE MUSEUM. ed with very heavy and hard rocks, with sharp and unworn edges, over which scarcely a score of human feet have trod. Farther up are deep beds of ashes and Hght spongy rocks and cinders, giving evidence of intense heat. Within the crater, as without, the sur- face is entirely covered with volcanic rocks, but here it forms one of the hot- test places on a clear day in August, one could scarcely imagine. Not a breath of air seems to enter, and the hot sun pours down upon thousands of rocksand stones that reflect the rays with an intensity that seems to multi- ply beyond conception. Directly north of the island is Floe rock, a grand old sentinel, standing boldy out on the west side of the lake and reaching over 2,000 ft. perpendic- ular. From the top of it you can drop a stone and it will pass down and grow smaller, until your head begins to swim and you see the stone become a mere speck and fade entirely from view, and at last, nearly half a mile below, it strikes the unruffled surface of the water, and sinks forever from sight in the depth of a bottomless lake. Soundings of the lake are as follows: The greatest dpeth recorded was 1,996 ft. of the whole number made eighteen were over 1,900 ft., thirteen over 1,800 ft., eleven over 1,600 ft., and nineteen over 1,500 ft. It was found at the bottom of the northeastern end lies a plain of several square miles perfect- ly level, while south of the center is a cliff about 900 feet high, and west of the center seems to be a cinder cone, nearly 1200 ft. in height, with a crater in the top 250 ft. deep. Its summit is 600 feet below the surface of the wat- er. Crater Lake is but a striking mo- mento of a dead past. Imagine a vast mountain six by sev- en miles through, at an elevation of 8,000 feet, with the top removed and the inside hollowed out, and filled with the clearest water in the world to with- in 2,000 feet of the top. ' Then place a round island in one end 845 feet high, then dig a circular hole tapering to the center like a funnel 100 feet deep and 475 feet in diameter, and you have a perfect representation of Crater Lake. What an immense affair it must have been ages upon ages ago, when long the hot breath of a volcano soiled its hoary head, standing as a proud monarch with its feet upon the earth and its head in the heavens it towered far, far above the mountaian ranges, aye, looked down upon the snowy peaks of Hood and Shasta and sniffed the air beyond the reach of Everest. Then streams of fire began to shoot forth. Great seas of lava were hurled upon the earth beneath. The elements seemed bent upon es- tablishing hell upon earth and fi.xing its throne upon the great mountain . At last its foundation gave away and it sank forever from sight. Down, down, down deep into the bowels of the earth, leaving a great black, smoking chasm, which succeeding ages filled with pure, fresh water, giving to our day and generation one of the most beautiful lakes within the vision of man. In conclusion I will say, Crater Lake is one of the grandest points of interest on the earth. Here all the in;,^enuity of nature seem to have been e: rted to the fullest capacity to build 01 grand, aue inspiring temple within whch to live and from which to gaze upon ihe surrounding world and say, here would I dwell and live forever; here would I make my home from THE MUSEUM. 87 choice; the universe is my kingdom and this is my throne. J. A. Cottle, Fort Klamath, Oregon. A Few Useful Bits of Knowledge for Collectors of Lepidoptera. Collectors of butterflies and moths have doubtless noticed that many spec- imens become very oily after they have been mounted and put away in a collection. In some specimens the body only is thus affected, while in others the wings also become saturated with oil. This renders an otherwise perfect insect very unslightly, and it becomes an eyesore to a well kept col- lection. The fact that insects become oily is probably due to the separating out of the fatty matter in their bodies on dry- ing. An insect collection is usually kept in a warm dry room, and the fat- ty matter in the insects bodies becomes melted by the warmth penetrates the body walls and appears on the cover- ing of hairy scales outside, thus making them very unslightly appearing. Formerly, when such an insect was noticed in my collection it was prompt- ly removed, and a new one put in its place, unless the insect was very rare and no duplicate was obtainable, in which case it was suffered to remain. Some species, of which I will cite Sarn- ia ceanotlii as an example, will be- come oily before they have been in ones collection a year. As it costs too much time and money to be obliged to replace such specimens with fresh ones every year, I determined to find some cheap and sure method for removing the oil from these insects. As a re- sult I have lately discovered the fol- lowing remedy: When an insect is noticed to be get- ting oily, go to the nearest paint or hardware store and buy a quart of ben- zine which will cost about ten cents. Next take a bowl large enough to ad- mit the insect to be treated, and half till it with benzine. Put the insect into the liquid, and see that it is entire- ly immersed, cover the bowl with a plate and allow to remain for about an hour. As the vapor of benezine is imflammable, the above operations must be done in a room where there is no fire or flame of any kind. When the insect has remained for the time stated, take it out of the liquid and al- low it to dry. In about five minutes it will be dry, and ready to go back into the cabinet, while all traces of the oil will have disappeared. Ben- zine does not relax the muscles, so mounted insects may be treated by this method without their wings droop- ing any. If anyone has the misfortune to break a wing or antenina off of an in- sect, take an insect pin or a needle and dip it into a little liquid glue. Some of this will adhere to the pin, so that by rubbing it across the fractured end of the wing or antenna and replacing the member in its proper place on the insect, it will readily adhere. Insects can thus be mended so neatly that it will be impossible to discover that they were ever broken. All imperfect rare insects caught should be saved, as it is often possible to make a good cabinet specimen from two ones. A nick in the wing of one can be concealed by rubbing a little liquid glue on the under surface of the defective wing near the nick, and then cutting a slight piece from the oorres- ponding part of another poor speci- 88 THE MUSEUM. men and applying it to the nicked wing so as to cover the defect, when the glue will speedily cause it to adhere in place. Such a job neatly done will often make a poor specimen nearly lirst class. Many of the rarest insects in large collections have been patched in the above manner. I always use an insect pin to apply the glue with, as I can thus get enough to do the work and avoid getting too rhuch. If one wishes to catch plenty of cer- tain species of moths in his own gar- den, he has only to set out a bed of sweet rocket plants, another of evening primrose, and in addition have two or three honeysuckle vines. By watching the flowers through the summer even- ings, one can be sure of catching with a hand net many rare insects which come to the sweet scented flowers. By watching the electric lights, many species which do not visit flowers can be caught. If one smears a little molasses on the trunks of various trees, and then visits them with a light after dark, many moths will be seen feasting on the sugared spots, and can be readily induced to drop into a cyanide bottle suddenly clapped over them. While visiting these sugar spots, I usually use a bulls eye lantern, as it throws the light anywhere desired, and enables one to see much better. O. W. Knight, Bangor, Me. Natural History Jottings. COMPILED BY CHAS. T. WHITING. Camphor is obtained by distillation from the wood of Cinnauiovinm cavi- pliora, a tree from Japan and China. It grows freely, however, in many parts of Southern Europe, and is suit- able for planting in any warm temper- ate climate. The Chinese strawberry bird, so called because of the resemblance of its plumage to a strawberry, is very small, and sings a little piping tune. Its bill and breast feathers are blood red, and the entire plumage is flecked with white spots, like the seeds of a strawberry. A specimen of the entomological rarity known as the Lunar May Moth iOphiodcs liinaris), which was cap- tured in Stratton Strawless Wood in 1878, has just been sold in London for £6. This insect, which fell to the net of Dr. F. D. Wheeler, the well-known collector in the Pen district, is only the fifth taken in England. Its home is in Hungary and Dalmatia. A telegram from Berne says that a plague of field 'mice is reported fronj Trikthal, in the canton of Argovia, and poison, traps, and hunting seem powerless to check it. In certain communes, such as Zemingem, Moch- lin and Wallbach, thousands and thousands a day having been killed without any appreciable results. It is reckoned that in Wallbach 100,000 have been killed since the beginning of the month. All the fields and meadows are mined with the winter quarters of these rodents, and there is fear for the spring crops. The oyster at the commencement of its career is so small that two millions THE MUSEUM. 89 would only occupy a cubic inch. In six months each separate oyster^; is large enough to cover half a crown, and in 12 months a crown piece, n It bears its age upon its back, and it is easy to tell the age of an oyster by looking at its shell as it is that of horses by looking at their teeth. One to two million oysters are produced .from a single parent. Belgium has over 50,000 draught dogs, drawing milk-carts, and vege- table-carts. In Brussels there is a dog market, where a large number of common dogs are for sale cheap. The pure dogs of the breed of St. Bernard and Newfoundland, Great Danes or English mastiff are worth too much money to work in a market cart. They rear Belgian horses almost exclusively, and have no small cheap horses; hence they use dogs where we use horses, and where France uses cheap donkeys in the town and horses on the farms, Germany uses dogs and cheap horses, and is now rapidly increasing her im- portation of American cheap horses, that the\- can make into sausage when done working, while the dogs are not so popular for eating purposes, espec- ially with tourists. A good story illustrating the ingenu- ity and intelligence of elephants is con- tributed to the Spectator by Mr. Mos- sop, of Newport, Salop. He says that a child at the Zoological Gardens, in throwing a biscuit to the elephant, dropped it between the cage and the barrier, and out of reach of the child or the elephant. When the latter blew the biscuit with its trunk till the child could reach it, and^again attempt to throw it into the elephant's~mouth" This happened not once, but several times. Not that elephants have per- fect reasoning powers, as the sequel to this story will show. After the small child had made many vain attempts to throw the biscuit far enough, a good- natured lad thought he would help, and took the biscuit from the child. This displeased the elephant, who thereupon dealt the lad a severe blow on the arm. Notes from Lewiston, Illinois- For a week before Christmas time rain had fallen almost continually in this state. The creeks and rivers everywhere were bank full and the Ill- inois river was overflowing the bottoms doing great damage to fields of corn that were not yet gathered. Previous to this big rain the rivers and lakes had been frozen up solid and the wat- er fowl had taken their departure for the South. Warm weather and open water however brought a few flocks of geese back again. The night of Dec. 23d was extremely dark and rainy. Several flocks passed over the city fly- ing quite low and at Nubbin Ridge out in the country a large flock became confused and flew about for an hour or two passing quite low over houses where lights were burning. Several farmers got out with clubs and poles and tried to knock some of them down but were unsuccessful except in one in- stance when one was secured by its flying into a cherry tree and falling to the ground and being secured before it had time to rise again. It was quite fat and used for a Christmas dinner. Bird life in this vicinity has been un- usually quiet for the last few weeks, the winter residents seeming to have hidden themselves away somewhere. Dec. 30th I took a ten mile tramp out 90 THE MUSEUM. across the Big creek country and the only birds observed were two or three each of the Downy, Hairy and Red- belKed Woodpecker, a half dozen Black-capped Chickadees, two pairs of Cardinals, a few Tree Sparrows, five or six Crows and about a dozen Horned Larks. Another trip of seven or eight miles on New Year's day was almost a blank. A few Chickadees and Sparrows, two Cardinals, a Hairy Woodpecker, a Flicker, a Rough-leg- ged Hawk and a Barred Owl. How- ever on each [of these trips a good many specimens of the smaller mol- lusks were obtained under old logs, such as the zonites, polygyraes and hirsutas. W. S. Strode. Mounting Objects for the Micros- cope in Canada Balsam. Every one after having prepared his objects or sections, is desirous of pre- serving them in a permanent form in as neat a manner as possible and that with the least trouble. The following manner of proceeding will assist in ob- taining good results. Turn a circle on the back of the slide in ink with a pen, being careful that the circle is rather smaller than the thin glass it is intended to employ, so that the refraction of the balsam at the edges of the glass do not interfere with placing it true in the center; the best turn-tabl° to employ is the concentric turn-table, made by Alyward, of Man- chester, Eng. The slides must al- ways return absolutely to the same center. When the ink is dry, wipe the front of the slide well with a clean cloth, and press or drop two or three drops of balsam or balsam dissolved in ben- zole in the center of the glass slide. take your object out of the turpentine it is soaked in, with a small pair of pliers, and place it in the balsam with the hollow curved side of the prepara- tion down if it is not quite flat. Then turn it over on the other side to re- lease any air bubbles that may be enclosed underneath, then adjust it well in the center with a needle point, put a drop of balsam on the top, and place the slide on one side protected from the dust for 24 hours. Clean a cover-glass the size you wish to use, see that the preparation is well centered. If it is not right it can be moved by the needle point, the balsam not being hard enough to pre- vent it, but if the preparation is very delicate, it will be necessary to warni the slide on the hot table to soften the balsam before attempting to disturb it; when everything is right, place a drop of balsam on the top. This is to fill up any hollow that may form in the center of the balsam, which would hold the air when the cover is put on it. Place the cover gently in the mid- dle of the slide, letting it sink down by its own weight at first, press gently with the needle, being careful to have the cover properly in the center. If not quite centered, shift it with the needle point till it is quite true. The preparation will not move in the bal- sam for some time till the fresh balsam has penetrated through the dried bal- sam put on the day before. If jou find that the object has moved out of the center then comes the difficulty of getting it back again without begin- ning the whole process over again. Have two needles by 30U, as one is sure to get messed with balsam which will get on the front of the cover-glass and bother you in centering the object. THE MUSEUM. 91 Notice to which edge of the cover-glass the object is nearest, and with the needle point draw the cover-glass by pressing on the top towards the edge of the slide. In this way the cover will slip over the object without dis- playing it. Then push the cover back by the edge when it will take the prep- aration with it. In this way, by a lit- tle patience the object can be shifted to any part of the slide. If you try to get it in the center by pushing the cov- er first from the edge, you will soon find that the object will work right out of the field. Having got everything right and true, put a light brass clip on to hold the cover in its place to dry. If you put too strong a spring on the preparation it may force the cover up when the spring is released. It is better to remove the surplus balsam with a knife, at once, while it is soft, wiping the balsam off of the knife with a piece of pap^r. Place the slide away for a few days to allow the bal- sam to harden, when you can clean off the slide with methybted spirit, or benzole. When the slide is nice and clean, put it on the turn-table and run a ring of gum water round the edge of the cover-glass. \\'hen dry, give it another coat. This is to prevent the white zinc or othtr cement being dis- solved by the benzole and running in under the cover-glass. If pure balsam is used, there is much less risk of this occuring. A very neat finish is given with white zinc cement. It is easy to work and gives a good, hard, brilliant surface, on which can be put a ring of black or any other colored varnish. When you have finished, clean the brush well by means of benzole; wipe the brush on a piece of paper between the fingers first, when the brush can be cleaned with a very small quantity of benzole and very quickly. — The Mi- croscope. >0| B IIN OFFERING ABBIT'S Auxiliary Barrel To collectors I am uot iiiiuiiudfiil of present competition, and having made improvements that are marked and val- ualjle, I am assured they vpill at once liud favor in the hands of every pro- gressive Held collector. I I ^1^3 The Simple Construction and improved machinery enables me to furnish a better article for a given amount of money than is possible of any other construction. The Small Cost of Shooting a 32 or 38 shell instead of a 10, 13, 16 or 20 guage shell will save you the cost of a "tube" in a season's collecting. 14 and 28 guage made to order. When you figure up at the end of the year's shooting you will find you have obtain- ed more specimens, as the small "tubes" make but little noise and do not scare the birds from the woods. You will have finer specimens, for the "tubes" do not throw a handful of shot like a large gun. You cannot notice a ruft' on a bird shot at 10 feet, but a gun would mutilate the specimen in such a manner it would be untit for a cabinet. The Price of a "tube" or outfit i.s very reasonable. I can furnish a "tube" witliout extract- or f'U- $l..')fl or with extractor for $3. .50. Complete nuttits can be furnished for $3 2.5 to $5.00. Our large illustrated catalogue will give you complete prices besides many testimonials from leading collectors who have used them. X Note: — These "tubes" are carried in O stock bv W. F. Webb and E. H. Short. V Order through them if you do not care ^ to send the order direct to me. O O JAMES P. BABBITT, Wholesale and Retail Dealer in Taxid- O o ermist's .Supplies, Skins, Eggs, etc., O 10 and 12 Hodges Ave., Taunton, Mass. O §6 gLarge Illustrated Catalogue for Stamp. O .,.000000000000000000000014 92 THE MUSEUM. War on high prices at ruy place- Call and see. Rotary, bevel- edge, leaf-shaped arrow heads, 5 to l.'ic. each; Stem Base. Round Base, Level Base, Notched Base, 3 to 15c. each. Scrapers, 3 to 10c Suades. 15 to 70c. Axes, 25c to $2.00. Celts, 15 to 35c. Spear heads, 8c to $1.00. Tin. Spear Heads, C5c ea. Discoidial stones, 50c each. Fine Gorgets, 35 to 75c. Slate ornaments, 35 to 80c. Game stones, 25c. Large pestles, 25c to $1.00. Special Packets. No. 1. 10 varieties of Selected Relics, perfect guaranteed, 00 cents. No. 2. 6 varieties of rare perfect relics from Rhode Island and Connecticut, 60c. No. 3. 12 varieties relics, beauties showing rare types, black, pink and yellow Uint $1.10. No. 13. 7 varieties of relics, beads, money, heads and spears, perfect, 25c. No. 17. 25 varieties relics including spades, axes, game stones, etc. Picked specimens and perfect, $2.75. Packet No. 27. 15 varieties of rare curios- ities, minerals, relics, etc. ; worth 75c. I sell it at present for only 20c. Drawings of rare relics, special otTer, "etc., for 2c. stamp Price list free. Remit by money order. Postage on above extra. Take advantage of these low prices as they may not occur again this season. My coin list of purchasing prices costs you 5c. The best in the market and most accurate. Yours for business. W. Perry Arnold, StoningtOD, Conn. Special New Year's present for onlv 5c. postpaid. ^1 give a Good deal for the money. 12 fine i3^{'X2 inch Minerals, 5i.oo; 25 fine 2x2 inch Minerals for $2.00; 50 fine 2x2 inch Minerals for S3.75. Above are fine for study for school or private Collector's Cabinet. 100 2x3 academy size Minerals, Rocks and Ores, including many fine clusters of Crystals and 15 Fossils for ;j;25.oo. All sytematic and correctly labeled and sent by freight or express. Freight Si. 30 for 100 lbs. to Illinois. Express, 2 lbs. 30c., 7 lbs. $1.00 to an}' eastern point. A RARE and beautiful series of 7 white Chalcedony Geodes, all differing inter- nall}', of local character from Cheyenne River marl beds, Black Hills, for ^1.75, postpaid for the seven. Single Geodes, any one a gem, for 25 to 35c. by mail. Large catalogue of Minerals, Fossils Indian Stone and Buckskin Relics for stamp. L. W. STILWELL, Deadwood, S. D. Bargains in Sioux Indian Relics. White quartz stone head war clubs, raw- l.ide covered handles with steer tail penants, $2.25 each. Native stone head war clubs, rawhidn covered handles with steer tail pen- nant, $1.25 each. Steel point, 3 feathered arrows, 8 lor $100. Pappoose carriers, fid 1 beaded on fancy support sticks (large size), $7.00 each. Red pipestone pipes, stems ele- gantly decorated with porcupine (juill work, $2.5(1 each. Plain red pipestone pipes, 75c to $1.25 each. Heavily beaded, long tobacco bags $2 50 to $3,00 each. Squaw necklaces, containing 24 to 40 — 3 inch long bone beads, with medicine bag, $2.00 to $4 00 each. Large full beaded moceassins, !-inew sewed with rawhide soles, $1.25 per pair, Pappoose moccasins, 50c to 75c per pair. Fancy paint- ed pappoose bows with good sinew strings, 75c each. Sent by express prepaid at above prices. E. C. SWIGERT, Interpreter and Indian Trader, GORDON, NEB. Schools! Schools! Schools! I offer anything in ilc lire of School Collections. Tlie siiiullcr Mammals mounted. Stuffed liird-i and Skins, Kggs with nests in ■ci^ and singles. Corals, Minerals and Sliells, All orders of Insects with Biological Collections of the same, as ova, larvae cocoons and imagines. Silkworm Moths.ditferent species with worms, cocoons anil eggs for silk culture Beautiful Bntterllies from every lanfl Being a teacher of Natinal History myself I know from ex- perience what i-i needed. Collections made up to suit any Schocd, Cabinet anil Instrum- ents. Send io cents in stamps for my new lists. PROF. CARL BROWN, Natdralist, Baugor, Me, U. S. A Do you want fine Minerals from all over the world? Rare, choice, cheap. Perfectiou, quality, beauty and Color. Very flue crystals, brilliant colors. Wonder- ful combination. Hundreds of rare and beautiful things to enrich and adora your Cabinet. Very low prices. Write to me. It will pay you, ARTHUR N. FULLER, Lawrence, Kansas. ATURALIST and Museum Supply Depot. All goods requiied by Nalur- uralists. Send 10 cents for complete catalogue. FRANK B. WEBSTER CO., Hyde Park, Mass. SOMETHING NEWl 75 varieties of Minerals, lO pounds $1 -OO LIST FREE. N.L.WILSON, 170 Tremont St., BOSTON, MASS. THE MUSEUM. 93 Birds Eggs! 5 re you a Collector? ave you a Collection? o you Exchange? If so, why not laj' hi a stock of eggs, at t.iich prices that will make exchanging profitable? I have on hand as tine a lot of Southern eggs, as were ever brought together and will put them to .\ou at prices that dtfy competition. Now is your chance to lay in a stock for exchanging, and fill out your series. Don't miss it. All sets original and with fall data. Your satisfaction my pleasure. Address, E. A. McILHENNY, AVERY'S ISLAND, IBERIA PARISH, LA. A Scientist's Directory. Messrs R. Freidlaniler & Snhn of Berlin, Germany, the compilers of the above Directory, and the Foreign Agents of The Mu.sEUjr have placed ou sale with us a few copies. It is a very deserving work of 7.50 pages, giving addresses of Zoologists in every country in the World. No better Directory can be .secured. It is n up in nice shane, tine paper, alphabetically arranged, etc. Price, $i.75 prepaid. WALTER F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. A New Departure. A Permanent Branch of Webb's Natural History Establishment at KEOKUK, IOWA. Under the Management of Mr. Geo. M. Crofts. For years collectors in the West and South have been obliged to send for Taxidermy Material, Supplies of all kinds. Specimens, etc., to far Eastern houses, as Albion, Boston, New York and the like, and yet with but one excep- tion, no place has been opened in the far West where a general line of Supplies and Specimens could be had. Our store which is now open and ready for business, is conveniently locat- ed on the ground floor of a biick block on Main Street in the hustling city of Keokuk, famous the world over as being the place where "Geodes" were liter- ally to be collected in any quantity. Street cars pass from the Union Depot by our store all day, and we herewith extend an invitation to all Collectors in the West or South to visit our store and see the "treasures" therein. Our specialty at the Western Office will be Minerals, Rocks, Fossils, Shells and Marine Specimens. WALTER F. WEBB, Keokuk, la.; or, Albion, N. Y. 94 THE MUSEUM. WE ARE AEVEK DTTLh.- . S3.00 a Year ou Will Like It. At News-standg SO Cts. A WESTERN ;^V -i '■'■■;>''' MAGAZINE. Sample copy sent on receit'* of eight 2ct. stamps " Sports Afield," 358 Doaruorn St., Cliicasft Relief Maps FOR SCHOOLS ' OF ALL GRADES. Sysleinatic Collections. MINERALOGY, GEOLOGY, ZOOLOGY, LANTERN SLIDES, ETC. Washington School Collections. Minerals, Rocks and Inverteljrate Animals. It is safe to say that no collections of equal excel- lence have ever before been offered in this country at so low a price (St; each). .Send for circular. EDWIN E. HOWELL, 612 17th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. G_.j. \«/L,„j-0 One of Wilson's famous *1 Cl W Uat i Mineral Collections, 10 lbs. All the specimens are of good quality and will tind a place in your cabinet. • TRY ONE! I can sell you minerals cheaper than any other dealer. N. L.Wilson, 1 70 Tremont St., Boston, Mass. Herkimer Co Crystals. FINEST IN THE WORLD ! NoCabiuet complete without them. Medal and Dij^loma at the World's Fair. The advantage of living at the locality where these marvels of beauty are foimd, coupled with an experience of 18 years "in collecting them, enables me to offer fine spec- imens at the lowest living prices. I will send 35 of these Famous Gems, postpaid, for only 70 cents. IVpREE: Every purchaser of this popular collec- tion will be presented with a handsome glass tube, containing ten microscopic crystals. absolutely perfect, and so verj' ;small that it takes 11.000 to weigh one ounce. ORDER TO-DAY. 3t A. B. CRIM. Herkimer Co., Middleville, N . 'V . Stuffing Tow for Taxidermists. Having made arrangements with a large dealer in Heiup, we can offer to Taxidermists the best stiitiing tow thev ever used. We can heartily recommend it and can guarantee sat- isfaction. Send two 2 cent stamps for sample package. 25 lb. bale, $1.50; 50 lb. bale, $2.50; less quantities 8c per lb. F O. B here. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. SEND 15c. STAMPS .^i.fyew''"' '■'''''"' NORMAL CATALOGUE of all Europcan-puloearctic bird eggs, in over 600 number.s, with prices and number of sets for each species. HERCDANN ROLLE. INSTITUTION FOR NATURAL HISTORY, BERLIN N. W.. EMDENER-STR. 4, GERMANY BOUND VOLUMES of the Museum. Any of our subscribers who wish to return us the first 13 numbers of the Museu.m prepaid we will send them twelve numbers of like date neatly bound in cloth, for 50c and 10c addi- tional for postage. Or bound in full leather, law book style for 90c prepaid to you. We will send Vol. I. 13 numbers, being a book of nearly 400 pages, handsomely illustrated pre- paid for 1.50. W. F. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. GILBERT BROS. & GRIFFIN, TAXIDERMISTS & NATURALISTS. Dealers in Curios and Museum Supplies. Large Spanish Steer Horns. Buffalo Horns, Polished or Rough, Elk Tushes, from SOc to $.=>. Fine Ell< Heads always on hand. Fur Rugs of all kinds in stock. Send for our catalogue. 709 South 16th St., OMAHA, NEB. COLLECTORS, buy your trays in flat. Note prices, lA x 3 per hundi-ed, 35c; 3 .x 3 per hundred, 40c; 3x4 per hundred, 45c; 4 x G per hundred, 50c. Green, black, red or white paper. Add one-fourth of order for postage, or we will send by express. Any child of 10 years can make up these trays. W. F.WEBB, Albion, N. Y. The Reiquary and Ilinstrated Archaeologist, EDITED P.T J. UO.'MILLY AI.I.EN, F.S.A.. SCOT. Pi ce, 2s6d Quarterly. Subscriptions, post free, 52 50 yer annum. 1 voted tu the Sudy of Antiquities, the De- vcii..fiment of the Arts and Industries of Man in Past Ages; and the Survivals of Ancient Usages and Appliances in the Present. BEMROSE & SONS, Limited, 23 Old Bailey, London, England. THE MUSEUM. 95 Light, Strong FOUR MODELS- and .SCIENTIFIC ^^^^ WORKMANSHIP. EVERY MACHINE FULLY GUARANTEED. SEND 2-CENT STAMP FOR CATALOGUE. Monarch Cycle Mfg. Co. Lake, Halsted and Fulloo Streets, CHICAGO, ILL. FACTORY AND MAIN office: BRANCHES:— New York, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, Det'-oit - Toronto" MesMn's Monthly has twenty pages of eoudenscd readiug mat- ter, ou all Horticultural subjects, of use aud interest to both the amateur aud professional. Wild Flowers and Nature and Practical Gardening iu general are given chief attention . Each issue contains a raagniticent colored lithograph of some Native Wild Flower or Fern, which is both botanically correct and artistic. They are engraved and printed by Prang & Co., expressly for this magazine. Numerous copper and half-tone plates further illustrate this work. Edited by Thomas Meehan, formerly edi- tor of Tlie Garderncrs Monllily, and of the Native Floweis and Ferns of liie U. S., State Botanist to the Pennsyluania Board of Agricul- ture. An examination of a copy will prove that the Editor has succeeded in his endeavors to get as much matter iu as few words as possi- ble, and yet iu au interesting manner — a course highly appreciated by the reader. Terms. $3.00 a year. Sample copy free. Responsible and intelligent Canvassers want- ed. THOMAS MEEHAN SONS, Germantown, Pa. California Curiosities. Mounted Tarantulas, Horned Toads, Scorpions. Trap-door Spiders, 5 Specimen Collections, Yucca Pincushions, etc., etc. Just the goods for Curio and Shell De.alers to handle. Best work and lowest prices. Send for wholesale illustrated price list. G. W. Tuttle, Pasadena. Calif. GAMELAND The Sportsman-Naturalist's illustrated magazine, reveals virgin woods and waters, and treats exhaustively of birds, fishes and quadrupeds, camp ^ life, wood-craft and general natural history and natural science. It is not a vulgar "sporting" sheet; the household reads it. Twelve numbers make a book of 400 pages. Subscription $1 yearly, postage free, any address. With THE Museum 11.50; three trial numbers. 25 cents. No free copies. Address: Gameland, 13 Astor Place, New York, N.Y. When ans^vering ads. mention Museunn. 96 THE MUSEUM. Natural Science. London A Monthly Review of Advance in Biology and Geology. Price Thirty Cents each copy, Post-free. All the leading Scientists of the day contribute to NATURAL SCIENCE. Here are a few contributors: F. E. Beddard, F. R. S. G. A. Boulenger (Brit. Mus.) J. Britten (Editor Jouru. Bot.) Dr. W. T. Blauford, F. R. S. Prof. V. Ball, C. B., F. R. S. C. B. Clarke, F.R.S.,Pres.L.S. Prof. Grenville Cole (Uubliu). Prof. Boyd Dawkin.s, F. R. S. SirJ.W.Dawsou.C iM.G.F.R.S. Rev. W. H. Dalliuger, F. R. S. Prof. A. Giard (of Paris). Prof. A. C. Haddoii (of Dublin) Prof. Eru.st Haeckel (of Jena). Prof. W. T. Herdnian. V. R. S. Prof. S, J. Hicksou, F. R. S. Capt. F. W. Hutton, F. R. S. Dr. P. P. C.Hoek (of Holland). Sir H. Howorth, F. R. S. Prof. T. Rupert Jone.s. F. R. S. Prof. J. W. Jiidd, C. B.,F.R.S. Prof. E. Ray Laukester, F.R.S. R. Lydekker, F. Z. S. Frederick A Lncas(U.S.N.Mus) .I.E. Marr, F R. S., Sec. G. S. A. D. Michael, Pres. Micr.Soe. Prof. W. IVlcIntosh, F. R. S. Prof. C. Llovd Morg-an. St. (ieorge Mivart, F. R. S. Prof. H. A. Miers (of O.xford). G. Murrav, F. L.S. (Brit. Mus.) Prof. H. F. Nachtrier (Minn.) Canon A. M. Norman, F. R. S. Prof. P. Pelseneer (of Liege). Dr. P. L. Sclater, F. R. S. Prof. E. Siies.s (..f Vienna) Dr.R.BovvdlerSharpe (Brit M.) .1. J. H Teall.F RS .Sec.G.S. Prof. W. J. Sollas. F. R. S. Prof. H. Theel (of Stockholm). Prof. Sir W. Turner, F. R S. Dr H. de Varigny (of Paris). Prof. F. Vejdovsky(of Prague). Prof. W. C. Williamson, F.R.S. Dr. A. Russel Wallace. Dr.H. Woodward, F.R.S.(BriM) Prof K. A. von ZitteKof Munich) NATURAL SCIENCE is not a dry technical journal, but aims at being bright, lively, in- teresting and intelligible. It is full of (7?'i7, and 30. Its motto is '•Li/e and iMcidity." It is always up-to-date. It has promoted many useful reforms. If you doubt this, just buy a copy. We'll send you a specimen for 15 cts. postage stamps. NATURAL SCIENCE gives moi-e to the dollar than any oilier Science Journal. See here what it has done in 189.5. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has published contributions from 105 well-known scientists, representing all nationalities. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has published fi3 specially contributed Articles in all branches of Zoology. Botany, and Geology, besides, the large July number condensing the Re- sults of the "Challenger" Expedition. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has published 24 full-page Plates, illustrating the above- mentioned articles. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has reviewed 100 Books, and noticed 340 Papers, Pam- phlets and periodicals. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has contained 45 Text-tigures. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has given Obituary Notices of 53 men of science, and rec- orded more briefly the deaths of 77 more. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has announced 310 Appointments. NATURAL SCIENCE for 1895 has given the news of 67 Museums, and of all the leading .Societies and Universities. These statements can be verified by anyone who will buy the Volumes for 1895, which contain 885 large 8vo pages, and are sold for $3 50. Apart from the high character of the contents, as shown by the eminence of the contribu- tors, and as testified to by the Scientific and Public Press of all Countries, the above facts show that NATURAL SCIENCE is the Cheapest as well as the Best Scientific Monthly. What the World thinks of NATURAL SCIENCE. "Rai^idly winuing its way into tlie confidence of the .scientific men in this country by the excellent work it is doing. There is a inasler at the helm." — Boston Advertiser. "Excellent standard."'— .AV/^(o/^ jV. }'. "One of the most interesting magazines of scientific progress at present published. The contents are always varied, well written and well edited. A mine of popular information on scientific subjects. — (Jape Argus. "Ably writ- ten.^'— Melbourne Argus. "Always much to interest tii' ^'- iident of natural history. — I^od tt Gun (London). "Cetteeseellente publication continue a rendrede gran li , ' ■ t ce^.^'—JRevue Scientifique (Paris). Prof. G. A. Lebour writes. '-The most wonderful scientific shiUingsworth of the age.". Mr. Chas. Schu- chert of the tJ. S. Naliimal .Museum writes, "What a grand success you are making of NATURAL SCIENCE!" Prof. W. B. Clark, of . I oh u Hi ipkins University writes, "We think vary highly of it here." Rt. Hon. W. E. Gladstone writes, "Singularly interesting." Send us 3 dollar bills and 50c SCIENCE, post free, for one year. in postage stamps and we will mail you NATURAL RAIT, HENDERSON & CO., LTD., 22 St. Andrew Street, Holborn Circus, London, E. C, England. THE MUSEUM THE MUSEUM SUBSCRIPTION LIST BOOMING. All on account of our receiving subscriptions at the low rate of 50 cents Stamps, Postoffice or Express Order, for 1896. Or send $i.oo bill and take as premium any- one of following: O. and O. Manual, leather bound; copy Birds of Michigan, copy Birds of Labrador, 6 fine Fossils, Collection 52 varie- ties Minerals, Collection 15 kinds Birds Eggs, one fine Indian Relic, 6 kinds Arrow Heads. WALTER P. WEBB, Albion, N. Y. V^OL. II NO. 4. FEBRUARY, 1896. U^EUTH^ A Journal Devoted to Research in Natural Science. RA TES: — $1.00 per year to all countries, in advance. Single numbers, 10 cts. Berlin Agency, R. Feiedlander & Sohn, Berlin, N. W, Carlstrasse 11. London Agency, Swann & Co., 1 and 3 Bouverie St., Fleet St., London, England. Published the Fifteenth of Bach IVlonth by ^V ALTER F. WEBB, ALBION, N. Y. THE MUSEUM. Light, Strong. FOUR MODELS- $85 and = $100. SCIENTIFIC WORKMANSHIP. EVERY MACHINE FULLY GUARANTEED. SEND 2-CENT STAMP FOR CATALOGUE. Monarch Cycle Mfg. Co. : Lake. Halsted and Fulton Streets. CHICAGO. III. DRANCHBS :— New York, Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, Denver, DttroU ToroDt)' FACTORY AMD MAIN office: ■« f on high prices at my plane- »y^ ^k V* Call and see. Rotary, bevel- W W dl edge, leaf- shaped arrow heads, 5 to 15c. each; Stem Base, Round Base, Level Base, Notched Base, 3 to 1.5u. each. Scrapers, 3 to lOo Shades. 1.5 to 75c. Axes, 35c to $2.00. Celts, 15 to 35c. Spear heads, 8c to $1.00. 7in. Spear Heads, 65c ea. Discoidial stones, 50c each. Fine Gorgets, 35 to 75c. Slate ornaments, 35 to 80c. Game stones, 25c. Large pestles, 25c to $1.00. Special Packets No. 1. 10 varieties of Selected Relics, perfect guaranteed, 90 cents. No. 2. 6 varieties of rare perfect relics from Rhode Island and Connecticut, 60c. No. 3. 12 varieties relics, beauties showing rare types, black, pink and yellow flint $1.10. No. 13. 7 varieties of relics, beads, money, heads and spears, perfect, 25c. No. 17. 25 varieties relics including spades, axes, game stones, etc. Picked specimens and perfect, $2.75. Packet No. 27. 15 varieties of tare curios- ities, minerals, relics, etc.; worth 75c. I sell it at present for only 20c. Drawings of rare relics, special offer, etc., for 2c. stamp. Price list free. Remit by money order. Postage on above extra. Take advantage of these low prices as they may not occur again this season. My coin list of purchasing prices costs you 5c. The best in the market and most accurate. Yours for business. W. Perky Arnold, Stonington, Conn. I GIVE A Good deal for the money. 12 tine Ux2 inch Minerals, $1 00; 25 fine 2x2 inch Minerals for $2.00; 50 tine 2x2 inch Min- erals fur $3.75. Above are tine for study for schools or pri- vate Collector's Cabinet. 100 2\3 academy size Minerals, Rocks and Ores, including many tine clusters of Crystals and 15 Fo.-sils for $25.00 All systematic and correctly Im belled and sent by freight or ex- press. Freight $1.30 for 100 lbs. to Illinois. Express, 2 lbs. 30c., 7 lbs. $1.00 to any eastern point. A rareand beautiful series of 7 white Chal- cedony Ge(}des, all differing internally, of local character from Cheyenne River marl beds. Black Hills, for $1.75, postpaid for the seven. Single Geodes, any one a gem, for 25 to 35c by mail. Large catalogue of Min- erals, Fossils, Indian Stone and Buckskin Relics for stamp. L. W. STILVVELL, Dead wood, S. D. THE MUSEUM. WANTS, EXCHANGES AND EOE SALES. All notices that come under above will be inserted in this department nntil fm-ther notice at one half (+) cent a word. No notice less than 3,-,c. Terms Cash with crder. No o argefor address I shall at all limes endeavor to keep parties, whose reputation is ot a doubtful char- acter from using these columns. TO EXCHANGE.— A pair of climbers lor good pair of roller skates. Also want good pair of ice skates. No. U, and rubber pistol pocket. W. G. STUTZMAN. Kent, O. TO EXCHANGE. — KemiDgton double-bar- relled shot gun, LiMrly new, a tine shooter, for articles valued at SJO. Want field or opera glasses, climbing irons, datas, colored cotton, egg cabinet, books on natural history, eggs or ptrtcasli. First two wanted in particular. Make offers. No postals C. G. SARGEANT, Winnebago City, Minnesota. EXCHANGE —Southern bird and mam- mal skins for others. Medical book.s, manu- als ou all sul>JBCts. for skius or museum spec- imens J. J. WIRZ, Taxidermist, Augusta, Ga. 2m FOR SAl.E —One tine golden eagle and other birds, and mammals, captured and mounted in Pennsylvania. Send best oti'er for eagle soon; aWo for vouug grey foxes. MISS LEAH BERKHEIMER, Qsterburg, Penna. COLLECTORS make your own cement, for 20c silver or stamps 1 will send receipt. Just the thing for mounting specimens on card board; will exchange. C. F. ALKH^E, Box 228, Mt. Sterling. Ohio. WILL take desirable sets of nicely prepared eggs in exchange for extra fine White Ply- mouth Rock fowls or eggs for hatching. W. J. B. WH.LI\MS, Holland Patent, N. Y. BIRDS, Mammals and Reptiles mounted true to nature. 'J'hose wishing to buy or to have tirstclass work of this kind done cheap will do well to gnt my prices before sending elsewhere HARRY A. WEISS, Taxidermist, Owcgo, N. Y. FOR SALE.— Kombi and printing frame, price $3.25. prepaid; co