Correspondents and Critics. 299 



is but one side of the question ; for the native, 

 if of ordinary wit, can upset the professional's 

 preconceptions of geographical distribution and 

 asserted mathematical regularity of habit. It is 

 not wise to tell the native that this or that crea- 

 ture is not to be found, or that it is here now 

 but not then, and all such rubbish. When I 

 heard, years ago, that mighty hunter, Tin-cup 

 Tommy, told that there was not an otter in all 

 Crosswicks Creek, I happened to catch a strange 

 glitter in his eye and overheard the scarcely 

 breathed oath that accompanied his comments. 

 Well, Tin-cup Tommy sold two otter-skins that 

 winter, and he trapped both animals in Cross- 

 wicks Creek. When a learned naturalist, some 

 years later, said in his hearing that English 

 snipe never nested here, he pinched my arm 

 in a very meaningful manner, and brought nest, 

 eggs, and old birds to town to prove that they 

 did, and he was not again contradicted in that 

 quarter. When asked if barn-owls were com- 

 mon, he said he could bring, if wanted, a basket- 

 full of " monkey faces," and did. I wish I dare 

 put upon the printed page his own words, 

 good round oaths and all, when he asked me, 



