Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-10
FAUNA OF AMERICA
There Will Be Wonderful Display at the
Exhibition in Boston.

Mechanics BIiidiEg will have /. numer
Gus fauna when the doors Of that great
place of recreation are thrown open for
the third biennial exhibition of the Mas
SaChuSctts SportsmenS Association on
Washingtons Birthday. Boxes of birds
ana crates of animals are arriving dali !
AZ the temporary preserve of the aSSo-
citation outside the city. one of the recen:
additions being a flock OF canvas-back
ducks, every one in prime condition, ana
looking good enough TO make all who Sc"
them wonder that these should he n
first of their kind to appear at such an
exhibition. 1t is, however a fact. Here
tofure black, or duSky. dlckS. and the :
are extremely wild and vigiiant; nallardS.
blue-winged teal. widyeon and several
| other kinds Of wild ducks have been
! shown. but somehow. 'it1 seemed ute I'M
! possible to round up the war: canvas.
back. whose scientific name ''Vallisneria
! is derived from an aquatic plant know !:
| rs the wild celery, upon which 1T feeds,
! and which is supposed to impart to it
| flesh tina: delicate flavor which has elt'
waited the bird so high in the estimation
of the epcure
These canvaa-backs Were not secured
without considerable trouble and expense,
hut as they rouna out an almost com
plete exhibit Of our American WaterfoW.
the directors of the association feel tina,
yunners and naturaHsts ana students II
nature will appreciate. their efforts to try
to make the coming show not only at
tractive and instructive. but complete il,
every detail.
Many attempts have heretofore been
| made to take captive the Always a'ert
canvas-back to break him in for decoy
purposes, or to exhibit him at sportsInen :.
shows; bat he is Il bird of the wide open
waters. like the elder duck. and even
when sound asleep with head Snuggicd
under his wing he seems poised in the at
titude OF a thing seeing or seeming dan
ger. Many of them are shot in the waters
OF Chesap eake andHDelawarc bays each
year, but few of them ever so far relax
in vigilance as to allow themselves To be
trapped.
An interesting observation which the
exhibition will afford will be the effect
strange things on the flock of ruffed
grouse. commonly called birch partridge.
which scurry to and hubble in one corner
of their aviary at the temporary game
preserve whenever q keeper puts in an
appearance. The birch partridge. Ike
Deer. moose elk, antelope, mountain
sheep like "krag. the kootenay RAM
whose set-up head in the shanty of Scot
!, ~ McDougall quite haunted that oil.
hunter out of his mind: caribou bear,
all kinds of small game and fllr-bearins
animals. wild cats. bison and deer from
several of the countries overseas will
combine TO make the miniature forest in
the Mechanics Building abundant VITA
game.
before occupied will be required for the
fish exhibit. which will enlmerate in it's
waters every known specimen of game
fishes in America. The process of arti-
fetal propagation. without which the
sport Of angling would be barren of much
of its pleasures, will he demonstrated by
exhibits from some Of the New England
hatcheries and in addition several sDeci-
mems of game fishes from the tropical
waters of the West Indies will be shown.