FOREST AND STREAM 
59 
what wo wanted chiefly to ascertain was how it wonld act at twenty-five 
and thirty yards when loaded in the ordinary way. Of the six shots only 
two were within thirty yards, and at this distance it certainly enn up the 
birds very much, hut not so as to spoil them for Lhe table—nor, indeed, 
more than a good gun of tho ordinary kind. The 17th was devoted to a 
trial with in at snipe; but here it certainly failed, and undoubtedly its 
limited killing circle is too small for this twitting bird. If the “bog- 
trotter, 11 therefore, has no other gun to use, he should adopt the plan 
recommended in the report of Lhe trial committee, by which Ilia circle 
will be increased sufficiently to embrace “Master Jack.” 
The 18th saw us on the moors again, with the weather as If mttde on 
purpose for both dogs and guns. Old Drake and his sou Beau (from the 
celeorated Belle) were put together, and we had such a treat as we fear we 
are ecarcely likely to see again. The old dog is not quite such a flyer as in 
his Shrewsbury days, but still a long way above the average pace even of 
trial dogs, while his nose and cleverness were demonstrated to be A 1. 
The two dogs quartered their ground in splendid stylo, and neither of 
them made a mistake up to luncheon, when they were taken up, though 
without showing the slightest signs of tiring. After luncheon Mallard 
and Eos (brothers to Beau, hut the latter only twelve months old) took 
their places, and the puppy pleased us nearly as much as his father, his 
nose being marvelously good. So much for this digression on dogs. 
As to guns, we had only the “Greener* 1 and “Purdey” out. Some mar 
velloutiy long shots were made by the “Greener,” and one or two 
nearly equally long by the “Puvdey.” But as to this point it would take 
a whole season to settle their pretentions in the field, and we are not 
anxious on that score, as we before remarked, the target test being so 
much more simple. The killing power at short ranges of the “Greener” 
was, however, demonstrated to be quite up to the average, and the 
“blowing to pieces” predicted by so many of our readers did not come 
off. The choke-bore certainly is not suited to a bad shot; but in Lhe 
hands of an average shot (which Mr. Price's modesty only allows him to 
be) it seems to be quite open enough to command anything between 25 
and 35 yards, while beyond that distance it.has a great advantage. 
On the whole, therefore, our report of the new gun is highly favorable 
fornse with grouse and partridge after the first week of their respective 
seasons; and in that opinion we are confirmed by Mr. Price and by the 
gentleman who shot with him on the 18th, whose opinion was so strong 
as to cause him to order a “Greener” for himself, though an old customer 
of Mr. Purdey. Those who have only one barrel “choke-bored,” es_ 
pecially if they are not first-class shots, Mr. Prise is of opinion that 
the “choke-bore” heats more rapidly than the old plan, and thinks in a 
“hot corner” this will be a drawback; but, as far as our experience goes, 
we have found no difference in this respect.— Field. 
Halifax, N. S., February 15, 1876. 
Editor Forbst and Stream : — 
I have read with much interest the various correspondence that has 
for some time past appeircd in your columns in reforei.ee to the ne\£ 
principle of boring, aud I find that the goneral opinion is against choke- 
bores, on account of their shooting Loo closely at short ranges, and 
therefore rendering them useless for stopping a bird in thick cover, that 
may be Hushed by your spaniel within a few yurdB of you, aud where 
you have no chance of letting It get at some distance from you before 
firing. The belief is, I take it, that,-in Buch cases, you have either lo 
let the bird escape altogether, to blow It in pieces, or render it unfit to 
put in your bag, through being terribly mangled. Now I have in my 
possession a (modified, not an extreme) choke-bore by Messrs. J. & W. 
Tolley, Pioneer Works, Birmingham, a most excellent weapon, No. 12- 
bore. weighing 7i pounds; its certificate from the makers showing at 1U 
yards $ pattern of 180, penetration 33, with 3 drs. of Curtis & Ilamy’s 
No. 6 powder, and 1£ oz. of chilled shot, No. 6. X found it a most 
powerful gnu at long ranges, throwing ..the shot evenly and well. 
Thoroughly satisfied with this, I next determined to try It at nftort 
ones, but with different ammunilion, so I filled my cartridge cases with 
Curtis & Harvey’s finest gram, 4i firms., and | oz. of No, 8 shot, using 
an ordinary wad between, and placing in a row, against a fence* 4 sheets 
of paper 12 inches square, l fired at 15,20, 25, aud fin yards distance, and 
in each case made a splendid pattern, the pellets being well distributed 
all over the paper, and on removing each target, 1 found the shot embed¬ 
ded out of sight in the hemlock boards behind. I have had ns yet no op¬ 
portunity here jn Nova Scotia of trying a close shot at gamp, mygnn not 
having arrived from England until the woodcock and snipe had left us; 
but I am satisfied that I could kill woodcock, «!fcc., dead without mang¬ 
ling at all, at close distances, by using a reduced charge of fine powder 
Will any of my sporting brethren who have modified choke-bores try 
the experiment and see if I am not right. At present I am convinced 
that not only is it an error to suppose that these guns are useless, ex¬ 
cept for trap shooting; but that it only requires a properly regulated 
charge according to the kind of work they may be called upon to do, to 
establish the fact that they are the most useful guns of any at presen: 
made, and next season I am more than, sanguine, that I shall be able to 
prove my gun as capable of killing a cock clean without mangling at 15 
or 20 yards, as it is now’ of blowing over a duck at 80. F. H. D. y. 
THE DISMAL- SWAMP. 
WAppingers Falls. Dutchess Co., N. Y.. Jan, i8tli, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream i— 
Seeing an article in your valuable paper entitled The Dismal Swamp, 
which 1 did not think very explicit or general, although very good as far 
as the writer of it goes, please allow your humble servant to give his 
own experience in the Dismal, 
In 1854 the writer was a member of the Third N. Y. V. Cavalry, 
stationed in the Swamp at a place called “Bunch of Walnuts,” for seven 
months—from December until the following June, la that time he saw 
a great part - of tbatland of shadows and mystery, stories of which would 
look like tough camp yarns to a person outside of the limits of the 
great swamp. First, let me say that yoor correspondent is quite 
out of his hearings in some places. The distance from Portsmouth 
is fourteen miles to the Little Lake Drummond Cana), and only six miles 
from Suffolk. The lake is nine by' seven miles, and one and one-half 
miles from the great canal. The most direct and cheapoat route for a 
party of hunters or sportsmen to take is to Norfolk direct; thence up 
the Elizabeth liver to Deep Creek, until you strike the canal at its en¬ 
trance into the creek, through the canal, fourteen miles to Balakack; or 
go to old mau Duke’s on the Lake Drummond Canal, and then, if any 
man can come home and say be is sorry for the time spent, he de¬ 
serves to be chewed up by those yellow flies—the swamp angels. 
Game Of all kinds are there, wailing for some one to come aud take a 
shot; and there are some that do not wait for you to begin the play, us I 
found out by a rough experience, for on turning out one nasty night I 
saw a pair of ugly balls of lire in the swamp, and heard the peculiar 
•waii of a woman in distress, that made the cold chilis creep over me. 
But the ball from a Sharp’s breech-loader put out the fire and stopped 
the crying, and in the morning we measured 6 feet 9 inches of panther. 
I would advise all going there for sport to look first and shoot where 
they look, for 9 bears, 46 coons, 13 otlcr, 1 panther, and 5 deer are 
scored on my record, by following the advice given by Mr. Prentiss 
Duke, Of the lake. 
The great canal will float any 9mall propeller; but woe to him who 
tries to get up to the lake with anything larger than a canoe or dug out. 
But you may run down the'North River Canal out into the river; thence 
to Albemarle Sound, or down the great canal to South Mills aud Eliza¬ 
beth City, with six feet of water, and, by-lhe-way, this same sound is a 
sportsman’s paradise for ducks, geese, swans, and fish of all kinds. I 
have caught catfish in Lake Drummond that weighed thirty-two pounds. 
_______________ Ranger . 
—The parlor skating rinks, now so fashionable in Lon¬ 
don, were introduced there by Mr. Plymptoh, of this city. 
The skates ami the rinks are American institutions, as also 
lhe sport itself. 
The Four Ball Championship.— The “diamond cue," 
emblematic or the four-ball championship, and which hud 
nearly passed out of recollection, is now the subject of 
much speculation and gossip. The history, iu brief, of this 
emblem is as follows:— 
It was originally won by Johu Deere, in the tournament 
of 186'J, at Irving Hall, this city, against Rhinos, Snyder, 
Eudolphe, Daniels, Goldihwait, and Foster. The present 
holder of the cue is Oyrille Dion, who won it from Frank 
Parker April SOtli, 1871, at Chicago, and he last defended 
it May lOtli, 1873, when Maui iee Duly beat him. Gamier 
subsequently wou it, and forfeited to Cyrille Dion on Oct. 
7lh, 1803. From that lime until Feb. 5tk, this year, no 
challenger has come forward. This knight is no other 
than the irrepressible Rudolphe, whose rfc/?wa.s sent in, ac¬ 
companied by $250 as forfeit, to H. W. Colleuder, the pre¬ 
liminary stakeholder. On Feb. 18lh Cyrille covered the 
money, and the game will probably be playeJ April 6th or 
7tli. If Cyrille should win the coutcsl, the “diamoud cue" 
is then his personal property, he having held it the required 
lime of two years anti a half. 
Academy op Music, Chicago, 111., Feb. 10/A, 187G. Match 
for lhe championship of the North west and Southwest and 
$1,000; 500 points up, three-bull caroms, on a 5x10 J. M. 
Brunswick & Balke Co.'s table, with H. IV. Collcnder’s 
cushions, between William Burleigh and Louis Shaw. 
Score—Snaw, 600; Burleigh, 485. Averages—Shaw, 8 36- 
58; Burleigh, 8 21-58. Highest runs—Shaw, 38, 03, 47, 07, 
57, 35; Burleigh, 58, 87, 37, 75, Referee, Henry Rhines. 
Marker, Charles Matthews. 
At Sea. —After hearty hand shakings and wishes of 
successs, William Sexton bid good bye on Saturday to the 
many friends and admirers who lmd gathered together to 
give him bon voyage. It had been expected that tour or 
five press representatives would accompany him, hut the 
number dwindled down to one, Mr. JobnD. O'Connor, ofthe 
Union Square Rooms, this city. Should the passage over 
be favorable, they will reach Paris on or about March 10th, 
and us Suxlou will require at least a week to shake oil his 
sea legs, and two weeks for practice, the contest will not 
take place until April 1st. There is considerable stir in 
billiard circles in regard to the match. Vignanl being the 
favorite, but little guessing will ho done until after Sexton’s 
arrival in France. We trust Sexton may return not only 
benefited in health, but the possessor of the “ Colleuder 
Cup," which is emblematic of the three-ball championship 
of the world. 
dtionnl 
—The ercclion of lhe extensive club building and racket 
courls on Twenty-sixth street and Sixth avenue, for the 
New York Racket Club, seems to have given quile an im¬ 
petus lo this recreative in-door exercise, and we now hear 
of more Tackel matches ia the metropolis than have oc¬ 
curred for Home years past. For the information of those 
of our readers not familiar with the game of rncltel we 
give below the English rules of the game:— 
20. A double match always to take precedence over a 
single match. 
21. The marker’s decision must lie final and without fur¬ 
ther appeal, in all cases, when judgment is asked. 
22. The out-player alone can call for a new ball, except 
it be lorn. 
23. Any person striking the hall unnecessarily on or after 
the second hop, shall be liable to a fine. 
24. No one will be allowed to playiu the court with nails 
in his shoes. The racket shoe should have an extra sole 
of bull leather. 
One Thousand Miles m One Thousand Hours.—P eler 
Goulding and John DeWitt started od January 15th, at 7 
o’clock P. M., to walk 1,000 miles in 1,000 consecutive 
hours, in Brooklyn. The time expired at 1.0 o'clock on 
Saturday morning, hut they continued walking until after¬ 
noon, when neither being inclined to give up, they agreed 
to divide the purse of $500 It is claimed that the feat 
was fairly performed by both men. 
—The Athletics will have a reserve corps of seven pro¬ 
fessionals this season, which team will have the use ol the 
Athletic’3 ground at Twenty-fifth and Jefferson streets; 
will ho provided also, free of cost, wilh a handsome uni¬ 
form, and have a certain slime of the gate money, subject, 
however, in all respects to the rules and regulations adopt¬ 
ed by the Athletics for the government of their profession¬ 
al players. All of our first-class amateurs wishing lo en¬ 
roll themselves as members of this nine should send im¬ 
mediately written applications, wilh references and ad¬ 
dresses, to Alfred II. Wright, Sunday Mercury office, so 
that an organization can he speedily perfected. 
—The following clubs will be represented at the Nation¬ 
al Association’s convention at New Haven, next Wednes¬ 
day afternoon-. Philadelphia and Centennial, of Philadel¬ 
phia; New Haven aud Star, of New Haven; Red Sox, of 
8t. Louis; Atlantic, of Brooklyn; Baltimore, of Baltimore; 
Covington, of Covington, Ky.; Alleghany, of Pittsburgh; 
Expert, of Harrisburg; Active, of Reading; Quickstep, of 
Wilmington, aud llie Active aud Cregur, of Camden, N. 
J. It is also probable that representatives will be present 
from Die Ncshannocks, of New Casllc; Chelseas and Fly 
Aways, of New York; Live Oak, Taunton, mid Lowell 
clubs, of Massachusetts; Trenton club, together with some 
others who have uot yet made knowu their intention of so 
dolbg, 
—The National Amateur Association, says the Secretary, 
in the appended circulai, will meet iu Philadelphia tm 
Murch Stli 
Tub National Absolution Amateur ft. B. Players, I 
New York, Udanary 34th, lSVti. f 
Dear Sir:—You are hereby ro-pcijiriiily noil lied Oku lie utiimal meet- 
tng of this association will beheld at. (.lie null of lliu Assembly BuiUl- 
ingfi, comer or Tenth amt Chestnut, streets, Piiiladclpiibi, Perm., on 
Wednesday, Aturclr Sib, 1STU at tea o'clock A III., precisely. 
This being the most imporlant meeting since the inriioitir.n ofthe 
Association, it is earnesi ly Imped that your cltlb wilt be represented. 
Very respectfully yours, 
C. W. Blodobt, Secretary, 
No. 318 Fourth Avenue. 
N. It.—To avoid any question ua lo eligibility, delegates nniH tm pro¬ 
vided with credentials signed Oy the President end Secretary ol the club 
they represent. 
—The Frontier club, of Brooklyn, will open play at 
Prospect Park on Saturday, March 4tli. 
backet iujles. 
&cw $ublic;ifi0its. 
1. Gentlemen wishing to play will enter their names on 
the slate (bona fide) in their own handwriting, and shall 
be entitled to the court, according to their numbers, d tour 
de rule. 
2. Exchanging members will be allowed ODly to equalize 
a match, and with the approbation of those next entiUed to 
the court. 
8. The regular game will consist of a rubber of fifteen 
aces, for a single or double match. 
4. On commencing a game in n 'n .15 • r, itch, wl c'her 
Odds are given or not, the side winning me toss shall have 
but-one-hand; but in a single match, the party receiving 
the odds, shall be entitled to them from the beginning. 
5. Ruled out. 
6. The out-hand shall have lhe privilege of asking the 
sendee for the last ace of each game in either court; and 
in a double match, of placing either partner iu that court, 
but. must remain there until the end of the game. 
7. The server must stand with at least one foot in the 
ring, and serve the ball first over the line on the front wall 
ana within the right ef the lett court, otherwise the ball 
will be foul. Serving two foul balls, missing the ball or 
failing to strike the front wall, puts the hand out. No 
line ball is fair. 
8. All balls served or played in the galleries or out of 
the court, although they may return to the floor, will count 
against the striker. 
ft. In serving or returning a ball, if it strikes the tell-tale, 
it is a hand out, or an ace. 
10. When the ball is served fair, the player alone in that 
court is entitled lo return it; if the ball he foul, either part¬ 
ner may return it. 
It. A bull stopped by the striker or his partner, before 
either of the adversaries, loses him either a hand or an ace. 
12. If a ball going from the racket strikes one of the op¬ 
posite party above the knee, it is a let, and must be play ed 
over unless the hall reached the front wall before touching 
the floor; if below, or on the knee, the striker Joses, unless 
the ball reaches the front wall as before. Should the ball 
strike his partner, it counts against the striker, though the 
ball should go up. 
13. A hall must be taken either before or on the first 
bound, and not touch tho floor before reaching the front 
wall. 
14. No ball will he dead until on or after its second hop. 
Using two hands to the racket, “foul." 
15. A hall returning from the fruul wall aud striking a 
beam or any part of the roof, or above Lhe lower gallery-, 
is foul. 
16. As players must sometime involuntarily be in each 
other’s way, the maker will decide (when a “hinder" is 
claimed) if they are entitled to it (there eau be no hinder 
allowed when a ball has been struck at), 
17. Cue rubber only can be played by the same party; 
but, should any of those going out be wanted to make up 
the next batch, they must draw lots. 
18. Only one set allowed. 
19. On commencing the game, parties must toss for the 
first service, in making which they- must cry “Play,’’ ot 
time must be called iu other cases. “Time,"’ can oulv he 
called before the server has struck. 
MAGAZINES. 
The Galaxy for March opens with an installment of Mr. 
Wni. Black’s story, "Madcap Violet," wliic'j increases in interest as it 
progresses. WenoLiee iu the table of contouts lhe names of ninny 6F 
the regular contributors to Lhis mazazino. Mr. Joaquin Miller is repre¬ 
sented, as is also Mr. Justin McCurifiy, who furnishes m avticle on the 
British Premier, under the title of “Vivian Gray Grown Oid• General 
C'uster again comes to the front with “War Memories,” aud Mr. Albert 
Rhodes discourses of “A Pugilist of Lite Press.” On the wh ile the con¬ 
tents of Lhe Galaxy are well selected and readable, and we consider tho 
issue for the current month even beyond the average. 
We are inclined to give tlie place of honor in Scfib tier's 
this month to Mr. Eggleston’s very able article descriptive of thfc kin¬ 
dergarten, which is contributed under the title qf “Child-Garden,’ 1 
There is something remarkably sensible und attractive iu this mode of 
instructing young children by objects, forms, and colors, iu preference 
to (he old mode of “book learning” and tiresome rules and exercises, 
that, popular as it has become, we only wonder that it is not. more gen¬ 
erally adopted. If Mr. Eggleston is correct, there are but few qualified 
instructors of the system, and but four schools whereat diplomas are 
issued. The contribution Lo the series of articles tm American Colleges 
is from lhe pen of Win Claiborne Brocklyaby, who describes Trinity 
College, Hartford. Mr. Bret Haile's alory, “Gabriel Conroy,” is of 
course continued, and we have 31101,her iustnllmeuL-tba last hut one— 
of Jules Verne’s “Mysterious Island. 1 ’ The majority of the articles iu 
•St: riltner’s are illustrated. 
St Nicholas for March does credit to its deservedly high 
reputation. Miss Alcott commences a t-mios entiLled “Talks with Oiris,” 
aud, as usual, write! sensibly and attractively. Mr. Noah Brooks’ “Boy 
Emigrants” are still plodding their weary way across lhe plains, their 
journey varied with “sitilling” in and buffalo hunls, aud their 
characters appearing us they do only when at sea or on the trail Bay¬ 
ard Taylor's story or the Icelandic boy is very interesting. The illustra¬ 
tions in this number are very good, notably Mr, Alfred Fredericks dainty 
sketch of “The Rare Old Kiug and His Daughters Three,” which illus¬ 
trates the poem with that litlu. Soul.: of our greatest literary lu:lny, 
such aB John Greenleaf Whittier, Mary N. Prescott, and Marion nor¬ 
land, in addition to those before named, contribute to Si. JYicAohu aud 
provide of their best thoughts for the delectation of its readers. 
Lipjnncott'z Magazine for March contains for its illustra¬ 
ted articles one entitled “The Century—Us Fruits and its Festival,” in 
which are given engravings of the various exposition buildings that have 
done service in the past, froui that of London, in 1831, down to tho re¬ 
cent one in Vienna; the other# “Sketches of India,” which, iu the 
present number, is descriptive of Bavoda and the nantch dancers. Mr. 
Robert Wilson contributes a very pleasant sketch of the “Eutasv Flag,” 
and some stirring Revolutionary incident s, and Mrs. Davis an article mi 
“Life-Saving Scatious,” wherein the system, as practiced on our coast, is 
fully explained. The table of ‘contouts is unnsQaily varied and inler- 
estiug. 
The Eclectic, edited by Mr. W. H. -©dwell, has, in the 
current number, for a frontispiece, a likeness el President Barnard, of 
Columbia College, The table of Conlenta comprises the usual capital 
selection of the best articles from contemporary magaalnos. 
The Aquatic Monthly. Mv. Pevervlly keeps up tlteliifrli 
lone of hie luugneioo, uuU the animated diacuesious iu its columns be¬ 
tween members of the yachting fraternity me instructive ns well 
as interesting. Wu cah commend the Aqvatis to our nit'iiiciU readers, 
