264 



FOREST AND STREAM. 





PUBLISHED ST 



Rarest mat Jtfrjw/f Unblisliitig <£om$ai\n t 



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Torim, Fh« Dollars a Year, Strictly in Advoi 



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Advertising limes. 

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extra. Where advertisements are inserted over 1 month, a discount of 

 10 per cent, will be made; over three months, ») per cent; over six 

 months, 30 per cent. 



NEW YORK, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1874. 



To Correspondents. 



All communications whatever, whether relating to business or literary 

 correspondence, must be addressed to Tire Fobhst and Stream Pub- 

 lishing COMPANY. Personal or private letters of course excepted. 



All communications intended for publication must be accompanied with 

 real name, as a guaranty of good faith. JJaraes will not be published ir 

 objection be made. No anonymous coutrihutions will be regarded. 



Articles relating to any topic within the scope of this paper are solicited. 



We cannot, promise to return rejected manuscripts. 



Secretaries of Clubs and Associations are urged to. favor ns with brief 

 notes of tbeir movements and transactions, as it is the aim of this paper 

 to become a medium of nsefnl and reliable information between gentle- 

 men sportsmen from one end of the country to the other ; and they will 

 find our columns a desirable medium for advertising announcements. 



The PubHsliers of Forest akti Stream aim to merit and secure the 

 patronage and countenance of that portion of the Community whose re 

 fined intelligence enables them to properly appreciate and enjoy all that 

 i s beautiful in Nature. It will pander to no depraved tastes, nor pervert 

 the legitimate sports of land and water to those base uses which always 

 tend to make them unpopular with the virtuous and good. No advertise- 

 ment or business notice of an immoral character will be received on any 

 terms ; and nothing will he admitted to any dcpartment.of the paper that 

 may not be rend with propriety in the home circle. 



We cannot be responsible for the dereliction of the mail service, if 

 money remitted to us is lost. 



Advertisements should be sent in by Saturday of each week, if possible. 

 CHARLES HALLOCK, Managing Editor. 



WILLIAM C. HARRIS, Business Malinger. 



CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR THE CUR- 

 RENT WEEK. 



Satl'ROAT, December S*.— Tiacing at New Orleans, La. 



M.ONDAT, December 7.— Racing at New Orleans, La. 



TtrEsnAT, December 8.— Billiard match between Vidian and Dion 

 for Ihe championship of the French game, at Tamn.auy Hull. 



Tiittr=da v, December 10. — Billiard match between Radolphe and Gar- 

 nier, at Tammany Pall. 



OUR SECOND FLORIDA EXPEDITION. 



THE publishers of tbe Foiiest and Stiif.am: have in- 

 augurated and successfully carried out a number of 

 expeditions for research in the geography and natural 

 history of this Continent, from which, no doubt, much val- 

 uable information lias been gathered. We have now on hand 

 no less than two additional expeditions. One of these is 

 noticed at length in another article, and is no doubt the 

 greatest effort of the kind attempted anywhere, rivaling 

 the African and Indian hunting expeditions of Gumming, 

 Grant, Speke, and other famed hunters, and even vying 

 with the gigantic efforts of the great Barnum himself in 

 the originality of its design, the composition of its per- 

 sonnel and material, the completeness of its outfit, and 

 the extent of its scene of operations. 



The other expedition to which wc have not referred 

 heretofore, is in some measure supplementary to our Florida 

 expedition of last Winter, which icsulted in a very satisfac- 

 tory survey of Lake Okeechobee, of which scarcely any- 

 thing was previously known, the discovery of a practica- 

 ble water route thereto, and the procuring of additional 

 information of special value to sportsmen and naturalists. 

 Of many portions of the west coast of Florida, bordering 

 the Gulf of Mexico, just as little is known, that region 

 hciri" a. terra incognita even to the residents themselves. 

 Steamers at certain intervals of time touch only at the few 

 chief points along their routes, so that long reaches of in- 

 termediate swamp, hammock, bay and inlet remain tin- 

 visited and entirely unknown, save to a few cow-herders 

 and the roaming Indians who visit them occasionally to 

 hunt and fish. It is our purpose to explore the whole of 

 this coast most thoroughly with a sail boat, and instru- 

 ments of our own, in charge of competent persons of high 

 scientific ability, and already familiar with much of the 

 coast. To do litis will require the whole Winter and carry 

 us far into the Spring. The expedition will start December 

 7th, aud the route thereof will be via Charleston to Cedar 



Keys, Clearwater Harbor, Tampa, Manatee, Sarasota, and 

 Charlotte Harbor, with its numerous Keys, including a 

 thorough examination of the Caloosahatchic River to the 

 farthest point, that can be reached by boat; and if possible 

 a Visit to lakes Flint, Hickpoclr.ee, and Okeechobee. It 

 was a part of the original plan to include an exploration of 

 Ihc Suwance River from Ellaville to its mouth, a distance 

 of some two hundred miles, but the time allotted to the ex- 

 pedition will be loo limited. To indicate the great import- 

 ance in which this enterprise of ours is held by the intelli- 

 gent citizens of Florida, as well as by the superintendents 

 of the various lines of communication, it is most gratifying 

 to us to slate that free passes and transportation for boat 

 and outfit have been furnished without hesitation over 

 all sea and inland reviles that cover the field of ourexplora- 

 lions, and that our representatives have been promised all 

 Ihc assistance that can lie rendered them. 



While we are guided only by the desire to bring the hid- 

 den secrets of that country to light, to reveal its beauties 

 and make known its treasures of natural history, wc feel 

 that wc arc at the same time aiding in developing not only 

 that region, but the whole of Florida, as we attract atten- 

 tion to the excellence of the country for invalids, sports- 

 men, aud even those interested in fruit culture. 



Km' the prompt alacrity which the citizens of Florida 

 have seconded onr efforts to make their country known, 

 and for Ihc courtesies so freely presented to us by the of- 

 ficers of railroad and steamer companies, we beg to return 

 our thanks, and to hope that our expeditions will prove of 

 even greater advantage to them than they anticipate. 



CHANGES IN ANIMAL LIFE. 



THE success which has attended the researches of the 

 Government scientific surveys amidst the fossil 

 cemeteries of our distant territories, proves how abundant 

 animal life was on this continent in the misty past; long 

 ere the immense fields of ice planed the earth and rendered 

 it tit for man. The variety of the species is also something 

 startling, for where one or two now exist, there were 

 hundreds then, and each was apparently more distinct from 

 its kindred than those known to the world of science at 

 present. 



The abundance of fossil life, and the numbers of species, 

 proves Unit this continent is really the oldest portion of the 

 globe; that it is above all others Ihe laud most adapted to 

 variety aud profusion of life, owing to its luxuriance of 

 vegetation and different types of climate, and that it is the 

 largest burial ground of animals in the world. 



From the profusion or animal life in the past it would 

 seem that Nature is now wot king towards a smaller range 

 of species, and that these are the most useful to man; 

 in fact that such only will live as are best adapted to his 

 purposes. Those which were of no comparative utility to 

 him have passed away since his advent, and now that he is 

 monarch of creation, ho is aiding Nature in the work of 

 extermination and leaving only those creatures that please 

 his fancy, aid him in subduing the earth, or possess 

 economic value. The preservation of the latter classes is 

 now a duly the civilized nian has to perform if he would 

 leave those that follow him. some representatives of those 

 that furnished him pleasure. Another general deduction 

 one might make from the lessening of the numbers of 

 species is that Nature is working for conciseness and unity, 

 and that her aim is to make families as compact as 

 possible, that harmony might reign throughout ail her 

 works, and that order might assume the place of apparently 

 erratic fancies. If this deduction is correct we may ex- 

 pect a decrease in our present number of species as soon as 

 they have performed the duly allotted them in life, and 

 their total extinction, or else a transformation, .or rather a 

 superseding by oilier types of creation better adapted to 

 Ihe changes and progress of the globe. We have learnt 

 from the researches and investigations of scientists that one 

 form of life dies and is superseded by another, and, that 

 this also becomes extinct for good, or else merges into an- 

 other, according to the exigencies of the occasion. As this 

 new type increases it holds sway over all others of its class 

 for a lime, until that is also deposed by another species; 

 and thus the changes of life occur, first one species aud 

 then another occupying the throne of power, until each has 

 accomplished its mission, when it disappears. 



Now if this rule holds good in the lower forms of life, 

 why should it not in tbe higher; and why should it not. 

 continue until the various races of mankind at present in 

 existence disappear, and are superseded by those possessing 

 more homogenity, and moro inlimalo relation in physique 

 and mental characteristics? If this idea is followed out 

 we will find the Caucasian race the dominant power of the 

 world; the others being only its servants. We find that in 

 most countries where the pale face plants his standard that 

 the aborigines disappear before him, and Unit he becomes 

 monarch of the new lands. This would prove the correct- 

 ness of the assumption "that the fittest lives," and that it 

 is only those persons and races who are able to conquer by 

 mental and physical prowess the difficulties which surround 

 them, that are of use to Nature, and, like certain species of 

 animals, that it is these she retains to carry out her work 

 and biing to light her concealed laws. If so, it behooves 

 every one who would desire to be considered among those 

 lit to live, to so improve their mind and body that they 

 may be able to meet all exigencies, and thus occupy a place 

 in the onward march of progress and be among those who 

 are crowned by Nature with the chaplets of victory. 



As the law of life seems to be to struggle and grow 

 Btroflg, it behooves us to obey it, if we would not Sink 



early in Ihe contest for future supremacy, and be reckoned 

 among those unworthy to live. 



The decrees of Nature seem to point to a condensation 

 of creation into closely-allied and powerful families or 

 orders, so that in all future contests between Uiese it will 

 lie a war of giants and only lite fittest will survive. If the 

 changes of the past continue, we may expect, the future to 

 be entirely different from the present, not only in its fauna 

 but in its mode of thought, and that these transformations 

 Will continue until we have reached that acme of perfec- 

 tion when Tyudall's ideal man will rule the world, aud 

 there can be no quarrel, because it would be a war between 

 kindred people or races. 



A GREAT HUNTING PARTY. 



THIS groat land of ours has witnessed more gigantic 

 schemes than any other of modern times; hut it 

 seems that we are not content with past efforts, aud the 

 glory they have brought to us, but desire to keep enlarging 

 upon their magnitude, besides making them as novel as 

 possible. The most towering schemes are entered upon 

 here with as much assurance of success as if they were 

 trifles. Hesitation is looked upon as cowardice, and cau- 

 tion as a want of pluck and determination. This faculty 

 of deciding every scheme undertaken a fait accompli, is a 

 marked characteristic of our people, and comes from their 

 enormous energy and self reliance; and these combined are 

 apt to lead to success, even when the probabilities point the, 

 other way. Every great economic enterprise undertaken, 

 so far throughout the country has been carried to a pros- 

 perous issue, and we have no reason to suppose that any 

 scheme combining the aesthetic qualities in one grand 

 whole, should not also prove successful. 



These remarks arc preliminary to our announcement M 

 a grand hunting expedition that is now in process of organ- 

 isation in the AVest, that land of limitless prairies, and the 

 birth place of schemes as broad as its rolling plains. "The 

 projector and organizer of this expedition is Col. W. 0. 

 McCarty, a gentleman whose experience as a soldier anil 

 huntsman extends over three continents; for wc learn that 

 lie commanded a regiment of Texas cavalry during the 

 late rebellion, and at its close joined Maximillian's forces in 

 Mexico. When lhat ill-fated prince met bis death, Col. 

 McCarty went to Europe and followed the standards of 

 France in the Franco-Prussian war, until they were lowered 

 at Sedan. After lhat contest he went lo Egypt and entered 

 the Khedive's service as Adjutant General, but desiring to 

 return 1o his own land, he rtsighed his position, and on 

 reaching home was appointed to a position in Ihe western 

 department of the Bureau of'AfitiOS and Mining by the 

 Government. This he retained until recently, when he was 

 compelled to resign in order to complete the organization 

 of his great hunting expedition. 



According to whal we can learn he has been importuned 

 at various times during the last Ihree years by some Eng- 

 lish gentlemen to undertake an expedition that should be 

 complete in all its appointments, for ihc purpose of chasing 

 the wild animals so numerous in Ihc AVest aud Southwest, 

 and dallying among the game fishes so abundant in many 

 portions of the country. These importunities at length 

 prevailed; so he went abroad to finish the necessary ar- 

 rangements. The programme as now prepared is, that a 

 hunting party consisting of one hundred gentlemen, and 

 their servants, horses and dogs, is to leave England the first 

 week in May, and afler visiting New York and vicinity go 

 to Chicago, the headquarters of the organization, where 

 they will be joined by several American sportsmen. From 

 this place they will go to Dallas, Texas, the general rendez- 

 vous, and here they will be reinforced by one hundred 

 Texas Rangers, who have been engaged for the entire trip, 

 and by sixty Tonkawa Comanche Indians, whose duly will 

 be to herd the large game while the others pursue it, and 

 to give exhibitions of the dances and customs prevalent 

 among the children of the boundless prairies. 



AVhcn the organization is completed the expedition will 

 move to Northern Texas, and there engage in the pursuit 

 of the deer and antelope with hounds, so that, it may re- 

 vive memories of the stag hunts so popular in England and 

 Ireland, and give all an opportunity of testing the difference 

 between a "cross country" canter aud a wild gallop on the 

 prairies. The visitors will also be taught the different 

 styles of hunting employed by our Western Nimrods, es- 

 pecially that known as "corraling." AVhcn this species of 

 hunting is exhausted Ihe chasseurs will take dashes after 

 the shaggy buffalo for a certain time, aud after that they 

 will either engage bruin, beard the cougar in his leafy 

 retreat, pursue tho gaunt wolf over hill aud dale, or take a 

 run after rcynard to the wild music of a pack of hounds. 

 The jack rabbit (lepits cattotix), will also afford them sport, 

 as it will be chased with greyhounds, and this must cer- 

 tainly prove interesting to those who are attached to cours- 

 ing. In order to give them an opportunity of using the 

 shot gun as well as the rifle, all the game birds of the 

 region, which include the wild turkey, the quail, the 

 prairie chicken, pinnated and ruffed grouse, and other 

 species, will be sought in their covets. This will afford 

 them an opportunity to enjoy every variety of wing shooting, 

 and should therefore please the most fastidious follower of 

 Diana. Those who desire to show their horsemanship, or 

 learn to handle a lariat with dexterity, can engage in the 

 inspiriting exercise of catching the wild mustangs of Texas, 

 and if necessary breaking them, so that, they can have 

 circus exhibitions of their own. 



The parly w 11 next engage in angling, and us they have 

 many species to i elect from in the waters of that region, 

 they will have syort indeed, 



