Maboii'24, 1681.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



145 



start up from the water in the most wonderful fashion end at 

 every angle possible, save the right one. However, I man- 

 aged to get into the sail-boat with my traps, and off we 

 started. A nice sailing breeze ruffled the water, and the old 

 scow soon bad a bone in her teeth worth picking. Thousands 

 of ducks were Hying over the vast marshes, and my heart bound- 

 ed with joy at the sight. Long strings of geese were also flying 

 along l he horizon, and I could plainly hear the "hawnk-e- 

 hawnk" of the old ganders. A great many ducks, princi- 

 pally broad bills and butter balls, were continually getting up 

 ah ad of as, and the temptation at last became too strong for 

 me, and I had my old "howitzer" out in short order. I pre- 

 sume I demonstrated pretty clearly to the observant eyes of 

 our skipper that a "pair" was not such very hard work, to 

 say nothing of several sky scrapers and twisting drivers, and 

 before we reached the beach I had really quite a respectable 

 bag. Arriving at the queer old house, with its ship cabin 

 doors and windows, I almost fell into the arms oE an old col- 

 lege chum, the last person in the wide world I ever expected 

 to And in that wilderness. Intense joy overcame us, and it 

 was only alter the most frequent " smiles " that we arrived 

 at, any sort of rationality. My friend had also several cronies 

 in tow, and we wore a merry lot of fellows over our roast 

 duck that evening, I cau tell you. 



| i After our meal (I did itfull justice, believe me) pipes were 

 enjoyed and preparations for the morning's work completed. 

 I retired early, as the long journey from home had fairly 

 begun to show its effects, and I was, to use the familiar ex- 

 pres-iou, ''played out." Just at the first peep o' day I was 

 rudely awakened by some one twisting my nose, tha't noble 

 organ, I'll TOW, assuming a dozen shapes, and I found my- 

 self vainly striving to reach my gun, which stood in the 

 corner, with the avowed intention of killing the offender if 

 my neck paid the forfeit, while I gave vent to my feelings 

 (as B. said afterward) in the choicest French (?) he had ever 

 heard. Roars of laughter greeted my ears, as sitting up in 

 bed I strove to soothe my poor proboscis and to gain my 

 senses. 



Several white-robed figures skipping about and chattering 

 like monkeys with the cold, and casting all manner of re- 

 marks at me hi ought "light out of darkness," and 1 was 

 soon as busy as the rest. Breakfast over, guns, etc., taken 

 care of, we emerged into the open air, cool and keen, with 

 just a faint breeze, harbinger of what was to follow, bending 

 the tops of the long wild rice. 



I had secured for my own especial benefit, as guide, the 

 son of our worthy proprietor, young Beauregard, a lad whom 

 I venture to say is not unknown to many readers of the 

 Forest and Stjieam, and during my stay, which proved 

 quite a long one, we became the best of friends, in fact in- 

 separable companions. 1 never saw a better shot for his age 

 in my life, or one who more thoroughly understood his busi- 

 ness. It gave me great pleasure to loan him one of my guns, 

 and I well remember the little fellow's joy at possessing the 

 weapon , even for so short a time. 



The dawn was fast breaking, and we hurried down to the 

 boats, my friends going to a famous point at a well known 

 club for canvas backs, while " Beau" and I paddled away in 

 the opposite direction, through the wavy forests of rice 

 stalks, starting scores of ducks from their resting places, 

 with many a quack and whistle. I tried my best to cover 

 several as they rose, it seemed almost within reach of the 

 oars, but the darkness prevented. After quite a pull and 

 struggle we reached the point of land— or, tangled weeds 

 rather, that was to form our camp for the day, and Beau was 

 soon at work pitching the decoys, while I arranged things 

 comfortably in the blind. 



The breeze became stronger, and I felt a little snow upon 

 my face, but Beau laughed merrily at my somewhat forcble 

 remarks upon the weather. Never mind it, sir ! It won't 

 last long; and neither it did. The morning broke gloriously 

 for the duck shooter 1 Cloudy and cold, a stout breeze, and 

 the birds "all on the move." I could see great bunches of 

 them flying in every direction over the vast fields that 

 stretched away into the dim distance, and obeying the in- 

 stincts taught me on Long Island's sea-girt shore, I kept my- 

 self well concealed. A single bird suddenly came shooting 

 by. With a graceful sheer he turned toward the stool, and 

 a moment more lay dead upon the shore. My first spoon 

 bill, a, truly handsome bird. 



Single and double shots became frequent, with an occa- 

 sional flock to rake ; and my cup of happiness (to say nothing 

 of the "blind") was almost full. I had a little experience 

 with an eagle during the afternoon which will bear record- 

 ing. A black duck— hard hit— fell on the ice about eighty 

 yards from us and I walked toward it for the purpose of 

 gathering when, with a mighty swoop and piercing scream, a 

 large bird darted down upon it. The duck, badly wounded, 

 fluttered out of his grasp along the ice, during which time I 

 was running my best to get within genshot. I gave the 

 tyrant both barrels, but he seemed my duck after" all and 

 sailed away as totally indifferent to my three ounces of chilled 

 4's as though he fed upon them. They are a great nuisance 

 at Currituck and destroy any quantity of birds — so Beau in- 

 formed me. 



My glorious day at last was over; and the bag— but, stop ! 

 I know full well the danger of enumerating l<=ast I also be 

 numbered among the great — "ahem.", Sufflce.it to say there 

 was more than ever I expected to kill, which is'sayiug a great 

 deal, gentle reader; and as to the variety, it was simply sub- 

 lime. I could boast of but few canvas backs, however, and 

 those few speedily found their way to my friends at home. 



I remained at White's for several weeks and enjoyed good 

 shooting most of the time, but the first day was the creme de 

 la creme of my experience. Blue Bill. 



Bioyoling.— The annual meeting of the Bicycle Club was 

 held on Monday evening last, and the following officers were 

 elected : W. J. Knight, President ; E, H. Snyder, Vice- 

 President ; E. H. Bellman, Secretary and Treasurer; L. H. 

 JohusoD, Capt. ; A. C. Bedell, Senior Sub. Capt. ; H. W. 

 Knight, Junior Sub. Capt. and Counsel; Chas. A. Knight, 

 Bugler; E. H. Bellman, Guide. Club Committee: L. H. 

 Johnson. Chairman ; H. W. Knight, W. Smith, H. C. Doug- 

 lass, J. Taylor. After the business of the evening was com- 

 pleted the club sat down to a fine collation at the invitation 

 of the President, and after a very pleasant series of toasts, 

 speeches and songs, the club adjourned' at a late hour. 



The reports show the club to be in a very flourishing con- 

 dition, and having a membership of forty-two with more to 

 come, the prospects for a brilliant season seem assured. 

 They hold the championship honors of America and Cauada, 

 and propose to hold them another year,, J. Lafon. 



lee water is rendered harmless and more refreshing with Hop Bit- 

 ters in each draught, 



Batumi Wirhtorn 



ABOUT DEER. 



EESPECTING weights of black-tailed deer asked Tor by 

 you in a late paper in connection with the alleged weight 

 of one of 500 lbs., it will perhaps be best to ask," Wliot is 

 a black-tailed deer? The true One, Genus columbttiwos, 

 which is often confounded with the mule deer (Vermis ma- 

 croiis) is not by any means a large animal, and if any individ- 

 ual of this species has been killed weighing 500, -tot) or even 

 300 lftg., he must have been a veritable "Daniel Lambert" of 

 his kind, tvery BluCjl doubt if any black-tailed deer has 

 ever weighed so much, estimating his weight with the en- 

 trails out, but with head, skin and legs intact, which is the 

 ordinary and accepted method of weighing deer. I would 

 prefer believing that the deer spoken of as weighing 000 

 lbs. had been confounded with some other species. 



Now, estimated, judged, reckoned or supposed weights are 

 of no use as a matter of record. Not one man in a hundred 

 is cupable of judging anything near the correct weight of a 

 deer, and he is often far from the mark. The only weights 

 worthy of being considered are those established by actual 

 weighing, and if this mode were practiced to a greater ex- 

 tent it woidd be soon apparent to the hunting freteruity and 

 the world at large that the big bucks, so often spoken of as 

 weighing over 300 lbs. would be, like "angels' visits, few 

 and far between." Does, as far as I am aware, never attain 

 this weight, and I feel safe in saying that not more than one 

 per cent, of the bucks do so. Two thousand deer carcasses 

 would not be an outside estimate for those seen by me 

 since living in this country, and when seeing large deer I 

 have made it a practice, when possible, to obtain their weight, 

 and the greatest weight I have any record of is 230 lbs. , although 

 I am as-ured one was killed in this vicinity, and not in good 

 condition either, that tipped the beam at 210 lbs., and this is 

 the only one I ever heard of as attaining such a weight. 



Now, in reference to deer burying theirhorns, nothing that 

 1 have seen, nor nothing that I have read so far, induces rue 

 to believe that such a practice exists, and, when viewed in 

 the proper light, the fact that so few horns being found does 

 not at all warrant such a conclusion. ] f we remember that 

 deer inhabit dense woods aud thickets it is to me more sur- 

 prising that so many rather than that, so few are found. The 

 shed horns being often the same color as their surroundings 

 of dead leaves, branches and underbrush do not catch the 

 eye quickly, and in consequence arc not often discovered. 

 But the chief reasonis that they arc more often shed in dense 

 growth than in the open. My experience is that they are 

 more frequently detached from the head by coming in con- 

 tact with limbs of trees, etc., than in any other manner, and 

 this has been manifest to me on many occasions when deer 

 driving late in the winter. I have often seen deer shot with 

 both horns recently torn from the head, the burr still bleed- 

 ing, showing that contact with trees had caused their detach- 

 ment, many days, probably, before they would other wise have 

 been shed. In "some cases I have found one horn olf and the 

 other on, and not infrequently seen a buck started with a 

 full head, but without horns when killed afterward within a 

 period of an hoar or so. All of which goes to prove that the 

 bucks lose their horns under varied cireumstiuces, more es- 

 pecially in unsettled countries where the deer are constantly 

 harassed by wolves. But the greatest reason for my believ- 

 ing as I do is this : By far the largest proportion of horns 

 are cast at so late a time, in the season as to preclude the pos- 

 sibility of their being buried, owing to the frozen condition of 

 the ground, which would in most" cases necessitate the use 

 of a pick and crow bar. Few deer shed their horns till late 

 in December, aud man)' not tiil January. This season in 

 northern climates U generally associated with frost aud snow, 

 and were the deer ever so anxious to render homage to their 

 departed horns by giving them a. burial, how impossible it 

 would be in the majority of cases to carry out their desires 

 in this respect. 



I killed a buck on the 22 1 of January last, with a splendid 

 head of horns at a time when the ground was frozen as hard 

 as a rock, and with about two feet of snow on the level, aDd 

 I fancy he would have had a hard time to bury them had he 

 lived till he shed them, were it at a time when the ground 

 was in the same condition. One thing more about the few 

 horns found : Even a large single horn docs not often cover 

 a greater space than a fool square, aud as there are 27,878,- 

 400 square feet in a square mile does it look at all reasonable 

 to suppose that it would be an easy task' to find the horns an- 

 nually shed within such an area were the deer ever so plenty 

 and special search was made for them. Horns are more per- 

 ishable than bones, and owing to the gnawing of rodents and 

 the effects of weather do not last long. Elk and moose horns, 

 owing to their superior size and more lasting nature, are more 

 frequently found than deer horns. Our close season in Brit- 

 ish Columbia is from February 1 to August 1 in each year. 



Nun WtUmiiiiitei; B, 0., Feb. 21. Mowrron. 

 —>«i — . 



Habits op the Fox— Kittanuing, Pa. , Mar. 1.— I see inyour 

 issue of Feb. 24 an article in regard to foxes relieving oue an- 

 other when hard pressed by the hounds. My experience has 

 been the same as your correspondent from Bridgeport, W. 

 Va. One week ago myself and two friends went out to have 

 a chase. The dogs started a gray, and put him to earth in a 

 fe t minutes. Then we started a red about eleven o'clock, and 

 ranhim until about three, when he ran into some spruce where 

 we struck two tracks together. The one we had been run- 

 ning was a small one as he made quite a small track, and the 

 one he ran into made a huge track. The cunning little fel- 

 low dropped out somewhere, aud the houuds went straight 

 on after the fresh one. There was snow on the ground, aud 

 we soon discovered that we were on .the track of a large fox 

 instead of a small one. We ran the large one until dark, but 

 never got within shooting distance of him. Wehadfivegood 

 hounds in the chase. In regard to a pregnant fox not throw- 

 ing out any scent, if your correspondent had been with my- 

 self and party on the hill about three miles north of town 

 one day last March he would not. believe any such sayirn:. 

 We had an old she going about five hours. She made three 

 or four circles on a point where myself aud two other parties 

 were stationed, when we got a shot at her and killed her. The 

 air was so full of scent that it smelled almost as strong as a 

 skuuk's, and we found in her six pups about, half as large as 

 little kittens. She had been very hardpres»ed and was very 

 warm, which would account for her giving out so much scent, 

 but that a pregnant fox will throw out. scent is a fact beyond 

 doubt. — Luther. 



Moukibtown, N. J., March 10.— Ducks are begiuning to 

 come in.— E. M, Q, 



along 



kept 



were 



this, and kept 



INTRODUCTION OF ENGLISH RABBITS. 



IN Foeest axd Steb.vm of March 10 the importation of 

 some English rabbits is recorded, and some suggestion t, 

 in relation to these animals may fie of interest to those nos 

 familiar with them and (heir habits. Should their introduc- 

 tion to America prove a success, we are likely to bo ;i lll-ct nl 

 with an irreparable nuisance that may not have, been antici- 

 pated by those whose enthusiasm may serve to effect much 

 harm iuslead of the desired benefits. The rabbits may bene- 

 fit poor people who are expert in the use of snares, and are 

 not farmers. But they will prove more of a curse than a 

 blessine to those who raise vegetables or practice horticul- 

 ture. 



The rabbits increase so rapidly in favorable localities as to 

 fairly swarm in the fields, aud 1 have known of the destruc- 

 tion of plants to the value of many pounds sterling in a single 

 night. All the vegetable or (lower gardens were Inclosed by 

 a tight fence, of wire netting, high enough to prevent over- 

 leaping, and set below the surface of the ground to prevent 

 digging under. Yet the latter mishap Would sometimes 

 occur and disaster result. As for the sport to be afforded by 

 these rabbits, it may be better than nolhing, yet a surfeit of 

 anything soon takes away one's desire for mote of the same, 

 soil. A single brief occasion devoted to rabbi.; shooting was 

 enough to surfeit me. Equipped with a breech-load big gun 

 and accompanied by two dogs and the game-keeper, who 

 carried a big bag strapped to his shoulders, I sallied forth one 

 afternoon. Our dogs for this occasion were -.-Scotch terrier 

 aud an English retriever. 



The terrier started the rabbits and kept them at their best 

 speed, while the only part taken in the sport by the retriever 

 was to fetch the dead rabbits to the game bag. In a walk 

 igb some birches, between two fields. I 

 .hot with quick shooting as the rabbits 

 in front of me. For a while I enjoyed 

 until so surfeited as never aflcrwaid to 

 desire a repetition. When I congratulated my host upon his 

 abundance of material for "curried rabbit," which was often 

 served, he replied, "It is no cause for congratulation, I as- 

 sure you 1 would gladly give a guinea apiece for rabbits 

 could I have none but dead ones here." 



The so-called '.'rabbits "'of the United Slates are hares, 

 and do not burrow. But. the true rabbits, such as abound in. 

 Great Br tain, burrow in the ground, and I have known a 

 clover field so spoiled by their burrows aud beaten paths as to 

 cause the attempt, at cultivation to be abandoned. The wild 

 lauds are comparatively uninhabited, as the higher I he culti- 

 vation the more food to aUract the rabbits. Although a bird 

 dog may be trained to give no attention to rabbits, yet if very 

 abundant in fields or cov rts, their presence is ft nuisance to 

 the sportsman, while, to farmers their abundance often proves 

 a serious injury. 



The sport to be had coursing hares cannot be had with 

 rabbits, because they immediately seek their burrows. Our 

 native hares would afford winter sport with harriers or 

 beagles, and in Maine the northern bares are sometimes 

 hunted with fox hounds. "Molly Cotton " is also a fair ob- 

 ject for running harriers, and if any surplus of game be 

 killed, " a ole ha-a" is always welcomed at the nearest dar- 

 key's cabin. 



I am impe led to make this mention of rabbits as a timely 

 hint to sportsmen who, with the best of motives and generous 

 public spirit, in their eagerness sometimes misdirect their 

 efforts and look forward only to possible benefits, without 

 giving due consideration to results of a different nature, 

 cither possible or ptob ble, and which once brought about 

 cannot be abolished. Kvkuett Smith. 



Portland, J/>. 



Pine Geosueaks — Domestication of Qi ail- Bowmans- 

 ville. Out — My attention has been drawn to several little. 

 items in your issue of Jan. 27, and perhaps you will allow me 

 a trifle of space to put in a few words. The pine grosbeak 

 seems to be a bird of a very extensive range of country. I 

 have heard of them being seen in Manitoba, Minnesntfl, nctt* 

 Dnluth, P. nnsylvaniii, Vermont and Maine. 1 have myself 

 seen them On two occasions during my bosh rumblings around 

 Quebec. They ae by no means plentiful, but an occasional 

 flock comes along. I doubt not they have also been seen by 

 my esteemed friend Juo. Neilson, of Cap Rouge, who is one 

 of the most ardent lovers of ornithology I know! lie keeps 

 a standing record of all birds seen, their first and last appear- 

 ance in the season aud any other i'ems of interest concerning 

 them. His record, if published, would make a valuable, 

 work of reference cf the birds inhabiting or visiting northern 

 Cauada. Another item 1 saw was on the domestication of 

 quail. Some years ago I knew a man in ( Inlario who captured 

 a bevy of quail in a trap. These he took home and put into a 

 small room well lighted, with the windows protected by 

 screens of muslin to prevent the birds injuring themselves 

 against the glass. The floor was well sanded and boxes filled 

 with earih and young spruce trees planted in them were 

 placed in different parts of t he room as a cover for the birds. 

 Here they lived and did well. At first they were very wild, 

 but they soon got accustomed to persons going in and out, and 

 at last took no notice of them, but wou'd dust in the sand 

 like chickens without seeming to be in any way disturbed at. 

 the presence of man. They were fed on grain of different 

 kinds, but principally small wheat, and they had fresh water 

 every day; at night, they roosted on the floor in the most ap- 

 proved quail r asiiion— heads out. tails in. He had Ihem for 

 over a year when some mortality seemed to come over them 

 and they all died in two or three days. They never bred or 

 showed "the least desire to; but the males, early in (he morn- 

 ing, would whistle their Bob White during the. spring 

 months iu as lively a manner as if they were out in the fields. 

 They were a most interesting lot of pots and made themselves 

 thoroughly at homo. — An Sable. 



Co-opekation, Amoxg the Bians. — Edilur Forest arid 

 Xlrmm: The speculation on the migration of cranes and 

 grebes induces me to send you this note. When Sir Samuel 

 Baker was in Abyssinia looking after the sources of the Nile 

 in that country, with an ore sional hunt for erub in the in- 

 terim, he one day stirred up a rival hunting party. A platoon 

 — more correctly, a squadron—of long-legged cranes were 

 stalking solemnly through Ike grass, every one of them saddled 

 by a small fly-catcher. As the long billed beaters tramped 

 stolidly on, at every stop a huge gMSShopp r would pniirrg 

 up, to be instantly speared by awieked javelin. If the crane 

 by accident missed, down came the fly-catcher with a swoop 

 like a falcon and gathered the stranger in, returning each to 

 his own particular steed, between whom and bs rider existed 

 the most amicable terms. Leastwise, so "Sam" said. — John 

 Pkkston Tkie. 



