ADDITIONAL HINTS. 565 



ish cedar, with a good sized nail driven half through it ; draw a 

 piece of slate across the head of the nail. 



To operate either of these calls, hold the slate between the 

 thumb and middle finger of the right hand, while the call is held 

 by the thumb and middle finger of the left. Above all things, do 

 not make over five strokes for a single call — oftener four. If you 

 exceed this number you will get no turkey, for a turkey can count. 



Still another call is made in this wise : Take a piece of dry 

 cedar two inches long and one and a half inches wide and a quarter 

 inch thick, and with a narrow chisel hollow this out so that the 

 sides are about as thin as a piece of tin or it may be a little thicker, 

 so that it is not too delicate. It should be hollowed out within a 

 quarter of an inch of the bottom and end, and your call is complete. 

 Take both ends between your thumb and fingers and rub it cross-. 

 wise against the but plate of your gun, or rub it on your gun bar- 

 rels. You require no rosin or anything else ; simply the naked 

 wood as made. In one hour's practice you can perfectly imitate a 

 gobbler or a hen at your pleasure. One beauty about this is, you 

 never make a mis-call or screech ; it is perfect every time. Many 

 hunters, however, prefer the old-time hollow bone of the turkey's 

 wing. 



Whistle for callmg Bay Snipe. — Carefully dry the leg of a 

 curlew, push out the marrow with a red hot knitting needle, plug 

 up one end and then practice. 



A Plover Whistle. — ^Take a round miniature tin box three- 

 quarters of an inch in diameter and a quarter of an inch thick, or 

 less, and a small hole exactly through the centre. If it does not 

 answer fully on trial, ream out the hole a trifle. We have seen 

 these whistles on sale at toy stores. A little practice will enable 

 you to call any whistling bird. 



ADDITIONAL HINTS, RECIPES, TABLES AND 

 MEASURES. 



Gunpowder. — The following table shows the composition of 

 the different gunpowders : 



Mills. Nitre. Charcoal. Sulphur. 



Royal Waltham Abbey 75.00 15.00 10.00 



France, National Mills 75.00 12.50 12.50 



French Sporting 78.00 12.00 10.00 



