Unless the State lawmaking body intervenes with protective legislation, there will be a great slaughter of beavers in Upper Michigan less than a year hence. The law which prohibits killing the little fur-bearing animals expires with the close of January, 1910.
For more than eight years beavers have been protected, and that they have thrived is shown by the fact that large colonies are to be found on many streams in different portions of the peninsula.
Whether the animals are worthy of continued protection is a question concerning which divergent views are held. From a humanitarian standpoint most persons doubtless would be sorry to see the closed season abolished. It is the opinion of lumbermen, however, that beavers are a nuisance. This is because of the work of the animals in building dams. The streams obstructed in this manner, the water is often backed up and extensive areas are flooded, interfering with the log drives and frequently resulting in considerable property loss.
The dams in most cases are amazingly well constructed. Marvelous ingenuity is shown by the builders, and so systematically are the operations carried on that the work accomplished is almost beyond belief.
Last fall when the water in Dead River fell to such a low stage that it was hardly possible to keep Marquette's municipal electric plant in commission, investigation resulted in the discovery that the stream was dammed at more than a score of places. Large reservoirs had thus been created. The obstructions were the work of beavers, good-sized colonies of which were domiciled at every point where the river was found to be blocked.
So stanchly constructed were the dams that the use of dynamite was necessary to destroy them. It was found that trees as large as ten inches in diameter had been utilized, and in almost every instance the timber had been cut into four-foot lengths. Firmly set into place and plastered with mud, the logs formed a substantial barrier, and, augmented with small sticks and brush, they were successful in backing up the river until at one point the stream was more than a mile in width.
However, although the beavers occasion material havoc of this sort, they do not want for friends who would resent such action as would leave the animals open to wholesale slaughter. It is pointed out that, while the beavers have multiplied greatly the last few years and are now very plentiful, as the result of the imposition of the closed season, it would require only a few months' work to exterminate the animals entirely.
Choice beaver skins, such as are procurable in upper Michigan, are in demand from furriers, and it is unquestioned that with the expiration of the present statutory protection, waters frequented by the little animals would witness a swift and sanguinary onslaught by scores of trappers.
Lovers of cage birds have hitherto confined their attention chiefly to the canary, the parrot, and the mocking bird. Now, however, there is a tendency to acquire rare varieties and dealers are preparing to meet this novel demand.
The bulbul is among the feathered pets now in demand in this country. "A few bulbuls have been hitherto brought from India," said a bird dealer. "These have not included, however, the bulbul of Persia, the Oriental counterpart of the European nightingale, but gifted with a richer, sweeter, and more plaintive song."
The hill minas of India sometimes eclipse parrots in their lingual abilities, yet very few have been imported into the United States. They now retail at $17 apiece. Japanese robins, sometimes called Pekin nightingales by English aviculturists, are peculiarly colored—dark and greenish, with distinctive yellow and orange on breast, bill, and wings. They are easy to keep, possess a sweet and musical song, and have a song period lasting ten months.
The skill of Japanese breeders is also shown in several varieties of cage birds that are coming into notice in this country. A pure white variety and a buff-and-white variety of one species—the Japanese nun, also known as bengelee or mannikin—bear testimony to the assiduity of the Japanese fanciers. Nuns are small birds of different species, such as the black-headed and tri-colored nuns, the spice bird or chestnut finch, and others. Most of them have more or less dark brown in the coloring.
Cage birds from Africa are notable for beauty of plumage rather than song. The African weaver, in addition to attractive coloring, offers a striking exhibition of his skill in the art that has given him his name. At nesting time, if furnished with worsted or other suitable material, the birds will weave this in and out of the wires of their cage, making neat and compact examples of their handiwork. Bishops and Madagascar weavers are brilliant red and black in coloring, cutthroats have a band of red across the throat from which is derived the name, and whidah birds (sometimes but incorrectly called widow birds) have extremely long tails.
Waxbills form a family of African cage birds which are just beginning to attract fashionable notice. These include the dainty little cordon bleu, or crimson-eared waxbill, various species of silverbills, and several other kinds. The violet-eared waxbill, a bird of radiant prismatic beauty, though for some years past popular in Europe, has just been brought to this country. Edelsingers, or African gray singers, are an African species with a pleasing song.
Lady goldfinches from Australia have hitherto been extremely rare in this country, although they are said to reach the highest point of beauty and elegance attained by any of the smaller cage birds of the world. These birds tame readily, are not pugnacious with cage mates, and exhibit many individualities of disposition. Among their accomplishments is an interesting and graceful little dance.
The most original stories of Western adventure. The only weekly containing the adventures of the famous Buffalo Bill. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
415—Buffalo Bill's Cumbres Scouts; or, The Wild Pigs Corralled.
416—Buffalo Bill and the Man-wolf; or, The Mystery of the Adobe Castle.
417—Buffalo Bill and His Winged Pard; or, Indian Against Indian.
418—Buffalo Bill at Babylon Bar; or, The Mountain Pirates.
419—Buffalo Bill's Long Arm; or, The Game-cock of Shasta.
420—Buffalo Bill and Old Weasel-top; or, The Man From Nowhar.
421—Buffalo Bill's Steel Arm Pard; or, Old Weasel-top's Mission.
422—Buffalo Bill's Aztec Guide; or, The White Indian.
423—Buffalo Bill and Little Firefly; or, Playing with Death.
424—Buffalo Bill in the Aztec City; or, Little Firefly's Friendship.
425—Buffalo Bill's Balloon Escape; or, Out of the Grip of the Great Swamp.
426—Buffalo Bill and the Guerrillas; or, The Flower Girl of San Felipe.
All kinds of stories that boys like. The biggest and best nickel's worth ever offered. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
331—Two Chums Afloat; or, The Cruise of the "Arrow." By Cornelius Shea.
332—In the Path of Duty; or, The Fortunes of Officer Dan Deering. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
333—A Bid for Fortune; or, True as Steel. By Fred Thorpe.
334—A Battle with Fate; or, The Baseball Mascot. By Weldon J. Cobb.
335—Three Brave Boys; or, Adventures in the Balloon World. By Frank Sheridan.
336—Archie Atwood, Champion; or, An All-around Athlete's Career. By Cornelius Shea.
337—Dick Stanhope Afloat; or, The Eventful Cruise of the Elsinore. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
338—Working His Way Upward; or, From Footlights to Riches. By Fred Thorpe.
339—The Fourteenth Boy; or, How Vin Lovell Won Out. By Weldon J. Cobb.
340—Among the Nomads; or, Life in the Open. By the author of "Through Air to Fame."
341—Bob, the Acrobat; or, Hustle and Win Out. By Harrie Irving Hancock.
342—Through the Earth; or, Jack Nelson's Invention. By Fred Thorpe.
343—The Boy Chief; or, Comrades of Camp and Trail. By John De Morgan.
The latest and best five-cent weekly. We won't say how interesting it is. See for yourself. High art colored covers. Thirty-two big pages. Price, 5 cents.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On The High Gear.
7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.
8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.
9—Motor Matt's Air-Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.
10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Castaway in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the Hawk.
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the Grampus.
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
For sale by all newsdealers, or will be sent to any address on receipt of price, 5 cents per copy, in money or postage stamps, by
STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York
IF YOU WANT ANY BACK NUMBERS of our Weeklies and cannot procure them from your newsdealer, they can be obtained from this office direct. Fill out the following Order Blank and send it to us with the price of the Weeklies you want and we will send them to you by return mail. POSTAGE STAMPS TAKEN THE SAME AS MONEY.
| ________________________ 190 | |||||
| STREET & SMITH, 79-89 Seventh Avenue, New York City. Dear Sirs: Enclosed please find ___________________________ cents for which send me: | |||||
| TIP TOP WEEKLY, | Nos. | ______________________ | BUFFALO BILL STORIES, | Nos. | ______________________ |
| NICK CARTER WEEKLY, | " | ______________________ | BRAVE AND BOLD WEEKLY, | " | ______________________ |
| DIAMOND DICK WEEKLY, | " | ______________________ | MOTOR STORIES, | " | ______________________ |
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Name ________________ Street ________________ City ________________ State ________________ | |||||
MOTOR STORIES
Every boy who reads one of the splendid adventures of Motor Matt, which are making their appearance in this weekly, is at once surprised and delighted. Surprised at the generous quantity of reading matter that we are giving for five cents; delighted with the fascinating interest of the stories, second only to those published in the Tip Top Weekly.
Matt has positive mechanical genius, and while his adventures are unusual, they are, however, drawn so true to life that the reader can clearly see how it is possible for the ordinary boy to experience them.
HERE ARE THE TITLES NOW READY AND THOSE TO BE PUBLISHED:
1—Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel.
2—Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends.
3—Motor Matt's Century Run; or, The Governor's Courier.
4—Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the "Comet."
5—Motor Matt's Mystery; or, Foiling a Secret Plot.
6—Motor Matt's Red Flier; or, On the High Gear.
7—Motor Matt's Clue; or, The Phantom Auto.
8—Motor Matt's Triumph; or, Three Speeds Forward.
9—Motor Matt's Air Ship; or, The Rival Inventors.
10—Motor Matt's Hard Luck; or, The Balloon House Plot.
11—Motor Matt's Daring Rescue; or, The Strange Case of Helen Brady.
12—Motor Matt's Peril; or, Cast Away in the Bahamas.
13—Motor Matt's Queer Find; or, The Secret of the Iron Chest.
14—Motor Matt's Promise; or, The Wreck of the "Hawk."
15—Motor Matt's Submarine; or, The Strange Cruise of the "Grampus."
16—Motor Matt's Quest; or, Three Chums in Strange Waters.
To be Published on June 14th.
17—Motor Matt's Close Call; or, The Snare of Don Carlos.
To be Published on June 21st.
18—Motor Matt in Brazil; or, Under the Amazon.
To be Published on June 28th.
19—Motor Matt's Defiance; or, Around the Horn.
To be Published on July 5th.
20—Motor Matt Makes Good; or, Another Victory for the Motor Boys.
PRICE, FIVE CENTS
At all newsdealers, or sent, postpaid, by the publishers upon receipt of the price.
| STREET & SMITH, | Publishers, | NEW YORK |
Added table of contents.
Images may be clicked to view larger versions.
Retained inconsistent spelling of Gallego vs. Gallegos.
Page 12, corrected typo "atempt" in "Any further attempt to chase."
Page 15, corrected typo "glitering" in "stern face and glittering eyes." Changed "Hs" to "He" in "He iss arrest."
Page 17, corrected typo "arested" in "Why had Matt been arrested?"
Page 23, changed "secondhand" to "second-hand" for consistency ("our second-hand machine").
Page 31, corrected "volet-eared" to "violet-eared."