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.
[RARE CAGE BIRDS.]
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.