FOREST AND STREAM 
67 
THE HOY WILDERNESS AGAIN. 
Winchester, Va., Pel), 39lti, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
In I lie last, number of your interesting paper sayo one, inquiry is made 
conenrning Hoy's Wilderness, and the easiest channel of access there¬ 
to. Now, If by “Hoy’s Wilderness” la meaut the scope Of country on 
the Back-Bone Mountain, one of the ridges of the Alleghauies, cousti- 
tnting the water shed of the Ohio and Potomac Rivers, I think I have It 
in my power to furnish the required information. This region is (or 
was) commonly called “Canaan," and is mainly situated in Tncker 
county, West Virginia. Some years since, the late Mr. Ned Towers, a 
brother of a former Mayor of Washington City, kept a summer resort 
on the verge of this wilderness, where I was accustomed to pass many 
delightful summer vacations, and inasmuch as a gentlemun named Hoy 
(with whom, by-the-bye, I have frequently hnnted) was a near neighbor 
of Mr. T.’e, I think it probable that he has given his name to (lie locality 
Inqnestlou. The Towers House is now, as I am informed, kept by a 
gentleman named Deakius, and is the objective point I would recom¬ 
mend tourists to seek whilst en route to the wilderness. It is abont fif¬ 
teen miles from Oakland Station, an the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, 
where suitable conveyances oan at all times he procured. About nine¬ 
teen miles southwest of the Deaton's place is the Dobbins llonse, kept 
by a Mr. Kitzmlller, where, lam told, good accommodations may be 
had during the summer. This latter place is bat a few miles from the 
celebrated falls of the Blackwater, (a branch of Cheat River), rendered 
famous by the pen and pencil of “Porte Crayon." From tills point the 
tourist who thinks himself “equal to the occasion" may penetrnto the 
great Canaan Wilderness, a region of conntry many thousands of acres 
in extent, comprising both hill and dale, anti overgrown with primeval 
forests which yet remain in their pristine savagery. As regards the falls 
of the Blackwater, I would beg leave to refer your readers for a descrip- 
ti m thereof to a far abler pen than mine—that of “Porte Crayon,” who 
has given an admirably graphic account of this locality In his “Black- 
water Chronicle.” Vast areas of low-lying, moist grounds in this region 
are overgrown by dense thickets of bnck laurel, which have probably 
never been penetrated by the foot of man—whether autocthonons or ex¬ 
otic. These impenetrable fastnesses constitute the lairs and breeding- 
places of great numbers of the /me natural, which here find an unmo¬ 
lested abode. There is probably no scope of country of the same area 
on this side of the Mississippi or perhaps of the Rocky Mountains, which 
contains a greater nnmber or variety of game than the one under disens- 
siod. Bear, deer, panthers, catamounts, wolves, etc., yet roam these 
wilds In primitive freedom, and bat a few years have elapsed since the 
last elk was Blain, and this, perhaps, was the last or its species dwelling 
east of the Mississippi. Here also may be found an abundance of feath¬ 
ered game, such as turkeys, ruffed grouse, and woodcock as will give Full 
employment to him who handles deftly the “choke-bore." The streams 
also—of which there are many—are literally crammed with the fish that 
constitute the “gentle angler's" chief delight—the spotted beauty, the 
far-famed Salmofovtinalis. 
Some years have elapsed since I last visited this locality, daring which 
interval I have traversed some of the wildest and most unfrequented 
sections of the United States, having wandered from the snow-clad land 
of the Assinnlhoin to the emerald homo of the Seminole, lint for wild 
and picturesque scenery, and those other attributes which attract the 
sportsman and naturalist, I know of no country that surpasses In those 
respects the land of “Canaan.” 
By-the-bye, permit me to remark (inasmuch as I am not a land specu¬ 
lator) that there are some fltteen or twenty thousand acres of land situ¬ 
ated in the region in qnestion, and lying in one body, which belong to 
parlies residing in this vicinity, and wbicit can, I am told, now bo bought 
foi a “mere song," owing to tile great depreciation of land values at 
present. What a chance for some of your wealthy Nimrods to secure a 
park that wonld throw far-famed Blooming Grove in the shade, and 
would doubtless surpass anything of the kind on this continent. Be¬ 
sides IIs suitability for a hunting park, this land is of inestimable in¬ 
trinsic value, lying as it does within the coniines of the great Appalach¬ 
ian coal basin. Near the Dobbins House above referred to the coal 
may he seen cropping ont in seams many feet in thickness. I hnve 
merely mentioned this circumstance to give assurance to any parties 
that aright purchase this land their present outlay would probably one 
day be returned many hundred fold. Daring the coming summer I in¬ 
tend revisiting the locality in question, accompanied by one friend, and 
wonld have no objection to accept the companionship or one or two gen¬ 
tlemen of yonr Bection, provided they be of that sort who prefer a bed 
of hemlock boughs in the pure untainted air of onr mountains, to one 
of eider down amid the noise, envy, and frivolity of our fashionable re¬ 
sorts. A. W. 
RED FOXES AND GRAY. 
Columbia Co., GO., Feb. Ilth, 1876. 
Editor Forest and Stream:— 
Yonr correspondent “Lex" is correct in his statement as to red foxes 
and grays not crossing. As far as my experience goes—and I do not 
thiuk it limited, as I have caught numbers of each since the cessation 
of hostilities; in fact, as my neighbors assert, I make a business of fox 
hunting and sport of cotton planting—I certainly find cotton planting 
the more costly, although keeping a pack of dogs is no small expense. 
With “Lex," the old fox huuters in my vicinity assert that only a few 
years previous to the war, the first red fox was caught a couple of miles 
from where I live, and it, was shown as a curiosity, until a planter, an 
old Virginian, assured them he had caught many such red foxes in the 
Old Dominion. There is a legend amongst us of the first red foxes— 
five in nnmber—having been brought in a wagon by Borne fox hunters 
from an upper eonntj, all the way from Virginia, in order to get some oF 
that celebrated brand to improve onr gray stock. We have plenty of 
both at “these presents,” bnt none of the mixture. “What I know 
about cotton planting" is not worth imparting; but as the subject of 
fox hnnling is becoming of some slight interest, I think I am cm fait on 
that subject. AstoredfoxeB driving ont the gray—as the Norwegian 
Tat baa the native— only laBt night I had proof positive of the contrary, 
as I was running, as I thought, a red, but after a six hoars and fifteen 
minutes’ race caught a gray, over nearly the same ground that four days 
betore I had run a red. An old fox hunter wonld naturally ask if I did 
not know from the way he ran, his doubles, etc,, that it was a gray? To 
bun I Bhonld say, the length of the race deceived me, aa we nsnally catch 
a gray inside of an hour. I have more than once canght red foxes and 
gray m the same fields and on the same day. I have been arter a gray, 
seen the fox Beveral times, and, the fox having crossed a red fox’s trail, 
which smells mnch stronger, have known my dog to quit a run after a 
gray to trail a red. One eliase I shall mention; Having canght a gray 
fox after a thirty-minute race, and starting for home, another jumped up 
almost among the dogs. Expecting to catch every moment, we followed 
our dogs Into the upper portion of the county. My friend and self con¬ 
cluded, as our horses were “gone up,” to quit the drive, and when we 
fsunda hOBBe ascertained that we were only twenty-two miles from 
where we had jumped the fox. A few days afterward I heard that the 
fox, (a large red), had gone by where another fox hunter was plowing, 
who, like old Pntnarn, left his plow in the furrow, mounted hlB mule, 
crowded the dogs, and sent me the tail. The rods certainly have not ran 
ont the grays with ub, for I often go for grays and get after reds, or vice 
versa. I hunt foxes at any time of year that the weather is suitable, 
both for amusement, and to get rid of a very destructive pest to our 
poultry, pigs, and lambs. To show the estimate that fox hounds are 
held in, a couple of weeks ago, being in the city, a neighbor came twen¬ 
ty-two miles through the ralu to borrow my pack, as a family, so be 
termed it, of gray foxes had settled on him, ami ate Beven lambs in one 
night. Rather strange that a sheep raiser shonld offer to feed a pack of 
fox hounds to protect his sheep, is it not? I hunt either night or day. 
At night we don't have to ride so much, as the “sweet melody ofthe 
hounds" can he heard for miles; butftis harder on dogs, as the fox is 
then fresh and nsnally empty. A description or “Old Gronse” in one of 
yom papers is very nearty identified with a fine young double-nosed pop 
of mine—Dam, a black tan and white Gordon, and sire, a New York, 
(said to ho imported stock), black and white Better, the pup larger limn 
either by two inches; sixteen months old, liver and tan spots on white 
ground; both of hie parents single nose. He wss afraid or agtm, bnt 
after killing a couple of quail so that they fell nearly in his mouth, he 
became as fond of the gnu aa his old mother, who has retrieved her 
hundreds.__ Join; it. 
ADIRONDACK NOTES. 
Tee Atoeondaoks, March 1st, 1878. 
SorroR Forest and Stream 
The Adirondacka are not Dozen ont, though perhaps chilled. The 
winter lias not been severe, but wo are satisfied, and as March has ar¬ 
rived we can see onr way through to the welcome and genial breezes of 
spring, which will gladden our hearts, and the grasp of the hand be ex¬ 
tended to all with leal pleasure. I write yon about the Sarauac and St. 
Regis regions. Here we have had winter visitors, who, coming forthoir 
health, have, I understand, derived much benefit from their winter so¬ 
journ—and why not as healthy here as at St. Paul, Minn.? The cold Is 
intense, and a dry atmosphere extending throughout the entire cold term. 
Woods items from these parts may not be very interesting to all, but to 
some they are, The Forest and Stream we always rejoice to see and 
read, for we know we can depend on It. The utterances of a true sports¬ 
man never deceive. The game laws are commanding attention. We 
ask only fair play. The present laws are good ones; enforce them by 
authority and we are satisfied. At present they are a dead letter. Too 
much tinkering will spoil them entirely. 
Paul Smith has been adding ninoty rooms to his well-known house, 
and every room will of course be taken. The Prospect House, at the 
head of the Upper Saranac, report says, has changed proprietors, but 1 
cannot vouch for the truth or it. We hope it will he as well kept as last 
year. The Sweeny Carry has been purchased by the Hon. JameR Pierce, 
and we hope will he kept np In an honorable way, which will be highly 
creditable. It would be a prize place for meals on ihe Saranac end to 
the weary sportsman coming from Tapper Lake, while waiting for ihe 
boats. Bartlett’s well-known and never-forgotten Sportsman’s Home 
cannot be overlooked or passed by—a borne truly in every sense of the 
word. Martin's needs no recommendation either. The hotels of the 
North Woods ail, are ail that can be wished fot by the sportsman. 
Rnquette River at present afforde pleasure to those who delight in 
taking pickerel— and forever extermination of them—never. I under¬ 
stand that Mr, Arnold and Dr, Romeyn, of Keesville, N. Y.; Dr. Ayers, 
of Brooklyn; Messrs, Hart and Currier, of Newark, N. J., have al¬ 
ready engaged guides for their spring trip. To all we extend a true 
sportsman’s welcome and cordial greeting. The opening of the new 
railroad on the west side or Lake Champlain is of great interest to 
sportsmen. At present you can leave New York at six P. M. and reach 
Plattsburgh at six A. M., and Martin’s at five P. M. I will send you a 
spring time-table as soon aa published. D. L. 
ogtituml H/jistorg. 
[Ihls Department is now under the charge of a competent Naturalist , 
inameed b>j the Smithsonian Institution, and will henceforth, be made a 
special feature of this paper. All communications, notes, queries, re¬ 
marks, and seasonal observations udU receive careful attention. ] 
BIRDS OF SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA, 
The following extracts from my note boolt may be of 
interest as showing some peculiarities of the bird fauna of 
Chester county, Pennsylvania, particularly about Kennet 
Square, where most of the notes were made. The fact 
that they are four or five years old, will not, I hope, de¬ 
tract from their value. 
January 1st, 1873.—A goshawk (Aslur atricapillus), which is Very rare 
inlhis vicinity, was shot at Kennet. It was in its second year’s 
pill mage. 
February 1st, 1873.— Saw two short-eared owls ( Brachyotae palustris). 
Were seen at Kennet, where they are rare. 
April 20th, 1808.—Nest of a hairy woodpecker (Ptcus vlllcmis) 111 an; 
apple tree. Eggs, White; in size, between those of the downy and ihe 
red headed woodpecker, 
April 24tll, I860,—Two eggs of the sparrow hawk (Tinnunculus spai*- 
rerlus) about the size of a pigeon’s; ground color, reddish-white, thickly 
speckled with reddish-brown. April 36th, 1870, another nest and four 
eggs was found in the same old chestnut tree. These Uawlcs are very 
plenty. 
April 26th, 1869,—Nest, and two eggs of the red-tailed hawk (BUteh bo¬ 
realis) near Avondale, Penn. Eggs nearly hatched. Ground color of 
nno, dirty white, with light chocolate blotches; the other with a few 
dnvk brown Bpots thinly 'sprinkled over tho whole egg. 
May lst-Sth,—Great blue heron’s (Ardea herodias) eggs are all hatched 
the first week of May. There used to be a roost near Chester, which is 
now broken np. 
June Dth, 1871 .—Four yonng, just hatched, of bine-winged yellow 
warbler (HelmlMkophaga pinus). 
June 10th, I860.—Nest and seven eggs of the hiack-eapped litmonse 
(Parus ulHcapUlus)-, probably the second brood. Eggs, white, thickly 
covered with reddish spots. The bird rarely breeds here. 
- ,j anc 18 th, 1871 .—Four fresh cogs of the redstart ( Setophaga ruticilla 
round near Wilmington, Dei. Eggs, white, thinly covered with reddish 
8P Jiin'e 1868 .—Two nests of the yellow-winged Bparrow, ( Ooturniadus 
passeelnus), one containing four eggs nearly hatched, and another three 
fresh eggs were found daring the month; also two nests ofthe scarlet 
Unmoor, (Pyranpa rubra), a third nest being found with fresh eggB in 
the middle of July. , , , „ 
July 4 th, 1871.—Found a nest in a hedge near Avondale, Penn., or 
the black-throated bunting (Buspisa Americana). The eggs were nearly 
batched. 
Oct. 6l.li, 1871Tlie warblers have nearly all passed south. I noticed 
the following during their slay;— 
Maryland yellow-throat ( Qeothytpis lidchas.) 
Black-throated bine-warbler ( Bendrceca catnilescens). Numerous, 
Yallow.rnmped warbler (Bendrceca coronalu). Numerous, 
Black-throated green warbler (Bendrceca virens). 
Canada warbler (Myiodioctes canadensis). 
Golden-crested kinglet (Regulus satrapa). Oct. 3d. 
Red-bellied woodpecker ( Venturas carolinus). The first I have seen. 
Spotted sandpiper (TriugOides macatarlm). . 
Bertram's sandpiper (Aclitums liartramius)- 
Kilideer plover (Jiglalitis tociferus). 
Night heron (Nl/cliardea grlsea. var. naivia). Occasional. 
Great blue heron (Avdea herodias). Occasional. C. F. P. 
ANew Local List.— We shall begin next week, the 
publication of a series of articles by H. B. Covert, an 
assistant at the Museum of the University of Michigan, at 
Ann Harbor, constituting an annotated list of tbe birds of 
Southern Michigan. This is one of tbe good fruits of our 
“ Invitation." 
Summer Schools of Natural History. —Prof. N. S. 
Shalcr will continue the coming summer his Harvard 
School of Geology at Cumberland Gap, Kentucky, This 
locality is among Ihe mountains, and oilers peculiar advan¬ 
tages for tbe study of field geology, and the modifications 
of the surface that may result from changes in the crust of 
the earth. Messrs, i). B. Jordan, H. E. Copeland, and 
Ernest Copeland, of Indianapolis, propose holding a field 
and collecting meeting for six weeks between the Mam¬ 
moth Cave and Lookout Mountain. A party tramping 
through those mountains ought to bring out valuable col¬ 
lections. California also proposes to have a school of 
science during the warm weather, but we are not informed 
as to tire particulars. At Cornell University, Ithaca, N. 
Y., Prof. Burt Wilder and his assistants will hold a sum¬ 
mer session for labratory work in zoology, Tt is announc¬ 
ed that Dr. Elliott Cones will lecture on ornithology. The 
students who live on the Western Reserve will liave an op¬ 
portunity of pursuing similar vacation studies at Cleve¬ 
land, Ohio, under the supervision of Mr. W. K. Brooks, 
of the Cambridge Museum, who last year began such a 
school ot Cleveland. The United States Fish. Commission 
will assemble again at Wood’s Hole, and pursue their usual 
valuable scientific and ecomomicwork. ThelaBt announc¬ 
ed summer school of biology will be located in Salem, 
Mass., in connection with the Peabody Academy of Science 
to begin July Cth, and continue six weeks. Its special ad¬ 
vantages are its close proximity to the sea, and the abun¬ 
dant dry and alcoholic specimens contained in the museum, 
illustrating Marine Zoology. The numbev of students will 
be limited to fifteen, Tbe teachers will be Dr. A. S. 
Packard, Jr., assisted by Messrs. J. S. Kingley, and S. E- 
Cassino, in zoology; Mr. John Robinson, and Mr. Chas. H. 
Higbee, in botany; the Rev. E. C. Bolles, in microscopy; 
and Mr. C. Cooke in charge of the dredging parties. Oc¬ 
casional lectures will he given by Prof. E. S. Morse and 
others. All of these gentlemen are peculiarly well-fitted 
for their parts, and this little station will no doubt prove 
itself a true and worthy, though small, reproduction of 
Penikese. 
A QoF-sTroN Answered. —A query which was received 
three weeks ago, hut by mischance has escaped notice until 
now, is as follows: ‘‘Would a man already intoxioaled, if 
bitten by a rattlesnake, be affected by the bite?" The 
writer refers to the fact that whisky is a remedy for the 
bite; be also mentions the ease of a man in the habit of 
handling live rattlesnakes without harm, who ws3 always 
under the influence of liquor, and suggests that the alco¬ 
hol in the charmer’s body was sufficient to counteract the 
effects of the bite. This seems to ns a wrong impression. 
The effect of the poison of a snake’s bite is to make the 
blood thin and watery, which soou causes stoppage of the 
heart, when death ensues. The utility of the whisky or 
brandy is, that it stimulates the blood and organs to such 
increased and energetic action as to overcome that fatal 
decomposition of the blood. If a man were habituated to 
liquor, additional drinks would not quickly and highly 
stimulate him, and there is every probability that he would 
die. If a man is going among rattlesnakes, it is best for 
him to keep saber, in order to be able to get drunk "with 
neatness and dispatch.” 
Recent Pamphlets. —Dr. Elliott Couos, U. 8. A., has 
just published as a part of the Bulletin of the United 
States Geological Snrvey, (Dr. Hayden’s) an account of 
the various publications relating to tbe travels of Captains 
Lewis and Clarke, with a commentary on the zoological 
results of their expedition. These explorers traveled to 
the sources of the Missouri, thence across the Rocky Moun¬ 
tains, and down the Columbia River to the Pacific, and re¬ 
turned, during the years 1804-f)-<5. After carefully tracing 
the origin and history of every one of the many spurious 
and authentic narratives of their “Travels," the author pro¬ 
ceeds to ihe zoological results of the expedition, as far as 
concerns mammals and birds. Lewis and Clarke were the 
real discoverers, aud actually The original dcscribers of 
many animals with which their names are seldom associated 
now, in our acquired familiarity with the same species un¬ 
der names subsequently bestowed by others. The writer 
who imposed most of the names based on tbe descriptions 
of Lewis aud Clarke, was George Ord, in tbe zoological 
portion of Guthrie’s Geography, published i a 1815. They 
enumerated thirty-six species of mammals, aud forty-four 
species of birds, most of which stand the test of experi¬ 
ence as to their validity. Dr. Coucs, however, found it 
necessary to exercise considerable ingenuity as well as 
study to get at the true identification of many of them, 
under the queer names used, and in not. a few cases, no 
surmise as to Hie animal meant was possible. 
Dr. Coucs lias lately published two other papers in the 
Bulletin’s of Hayden’s Survey, one giving an exhaustive 
history, of great interest, of the breeding, habits, nests, 
and eggs of the white-tailed ptarmigan (Lvjoyms leucv.rus): 
and the other an account, “critical, descriptive and histori¬ 
cal, of La pus hudmnius," which is the common jumping, 
or kangaroo mouse of our fields, usually known in the 
books as Zaptts hudmims. Dr. Coues finds that noue of 
tlie generic names this mouse has hitherto received are ac¬ 
cording to the rules of nomenclature, and quotes a page 
and a half of solid synonomy including forty-four names 
and twice as many references from Zimmermann in 1780 
to Allen in 1871, against all of whioh he brings valid ob¬ 
jections. He therefore erects tho new genus of Zapus 
(family Zapodidm) for this form, aud minutely indicates the 
generic characters which ally it Ip tbe bouse mice rather 
tbau to the arvicoline field mice.- 
