FOREST AND STREAM. 



^.^■■Fd»;..r,t i*„ 



. xill bounced by us, and sparkled like ginger ale. 

 .a. pure gurgling stream looked inviting, I felt fatigued, 

 and Snobby and I each took to himself a nip of whiskey 

 and water. Then my English friend went in search of a 

 native to obtain a conveyance of some kind. When he 

 was gone I mused on the monotony of a country life, and 

 after a whiff or so of a fair cigar gently passed into a sleep, 

 with my head resting on some new mown hay. I had a 

 vision, thought I saw away down into the cerulean ocean, 

 dreamed I was up in a balloon, shooting down at ducks, 

 and scanning the little world beneath me; thought I was 

 killing trout by moonlight with three miller flies and a fire 

 on the bank; imagined I was winging ring-necked snipe at 

 Courtney Bay mud flats. In this blissful mood I awoke, 

 and away before me over a western forest was setting old 

 Sol, casting his scarlet reflections through the thousand 

 clouds that rested in a world of glory above him. I sprang 

 to my feet, grasped my revolver belt and cast it from my 

 limbs, unwhipped my cap, and thrust my head into the 

 icy brook and came out refreshed. I then beheld Snobby 

 on an ox cart, coming at a snail's pace. Our stuff was put 

 on board, and we were hauled to an inn, or rather to a red 

 house built over some tan vats. Here we learned that the 

 host's good wife was crazy with the toothache. She asked 

 my companion if he was aware of anything that would 

 give her relief. He told the sufferer to make a huge plate 

 of buckwheat pancakes, and rub her cheek with plenty of 

 ttad way's Beady Relief, but not to put any on the pan- 

 cakes. The poor woman made us comfortable, and I ran 

 up to a store and purchased for her the article recommend- 

 ed, and it cured her almost immediately. Her husband 

 thanked us with tears in his eves, and declared he would 

 get some sleep that night. We retired early, having made 

 previous preparations for the next morning's shooting. 

 Snobby snored loudly, after a while, and kept the lamp 

 chimney on the dance continually. 1 elbowed him in the 

 ribs, and brought him to a sense of quietude. Grey day- 

 light broke, and the stars were still glittering in the heav- 

 ens. We were soon up and dressed and away. Our dogs 

 were particularly delighted, and showed their villainous 

 training by running after every bird or grasshopper that 

 happened along. They also barked handsomely, so that 

 if any ducks were about they would have known that we 

 wanted them. Snobby considered his dog very valuable, 

 had refused one hundred dollars for her, and he always 

 allowed her to sleep on the foot of his bed. One night I 

 awoke and felt a great pressure on my legs, and I foui d 

 that it was this valuable pup. Notwithstanding this, I 

 gave the beautiful canine creature a rise that caused her to 

 tumble awkwardly into a barrel of wool that formed part 

 of the furniture of our room. 



We found a canoe, and away we Hew past marshes and 

 dykelands. The morning was charming, and the luxuriant 

 grass liowed submissively before a refreshing breeze. We 

 landed a mile or so from the starting point, and crept cau- 

 tiously up to a long sheet of water, on the surface of which 

 we discovered a large flock of black ducks, with their 

 heads nicely tucked under their wings. Our dogs acted 

 quietly enough, for I had made mine fast to my boot, and 

 Snobby's Avas under the [influence of so sound a kicking 

 that she was calm and motionless. We both rose at a sig- 

 nal and fired. At this Snobby's dog rushed pell mell into 

 the water, kiyi-ing grandly. My pure breed followed with 

 a fierce spring, pulling off my boot, and away went ducks, 

 dogs, boot, and all. I was filled with rage, and if I had 

 been within a fair range of my brother sportsman's dog I 

 would have been much tempted to shoot it; but the reader 

 will say the dog would not have risked much, seeing that I 

 killed no ducks. Neither of us stopped a bird. How ad- 

 mirably our dogs hunted the marshes that morning. They 

 must have beat over miles away. They hunted 'all the 

 ducks off. I put some shot in my dog, which hit him near 

 the tail, but he was not the style of dog to stop at trifles. 

 Snobby anathematized everything. A farmer in the next 

 township found my boot the next day. By very hard work 

 one morning we bagged some fine snipe and a marsh hen 

 or two. From this out the hundred dollar dog acted well 

 enough, because its owner had to keep it tied up at the inn. 

 Mine would beat the hunting grounds thoughtfully, and 

 would good naturedly scratch shot out of his back and wag 

 his tail knowingly. 



One afternoon we concluded to make a grand circuit, and 

 do the whole marsh. We went. Our intention was to 

 take the ducks as they flew over us, bound for their feed- 

 ing grounds. Evening finally arrived, and threw her 

 sombre shadows over hay cocks, barns, and us. Many 

 flocks whizzed over our heads, and numerous were the 

 times we pulled trigger on them. We got one. Snobby 

 declared he killed it, and I thought I did. It lay before us 

 a case for equity. I resigned it to Snobby London — he had 

 earned it. After this slim sport among the dykelands, wo 1 

 concluded to take the steamer and go down the river and 



have a day or two at the Nerepis with our friend B J 



We landed from the Rothesay quite near his cozy home, 

 which nestled in a green valley, enclosed by an amphithe, 

 atre of hills, from the summits of which a cheering view 

 of our noble river was afforded. It was among these hills 

 the blue-jay flew. The familiar voice of the crow sounded 

 from many a tree, and the partridge's loud whirr caused 

 the anxious gunner to grasp firm his piece. It was the 

 partridge we wanted. We were up before the sun next 

 morning. We must make the best of it, for we were on 

 our last day ; and so we climbed the rugged hills with a 

 will, feeling confident that we would bring honorably to 

 bag fully a dozen brace of partridges before noon. We 

 had become disgusted with duck-shooting. We preferred 



partridger. Many a weary mile we travelled. Our friend 

 and guide, B , had often told us, in town, of his gen- 

 uine partridge dog ; so, of course, Ave mast have a fine day's 

 sport with such an animal. We now most firmly selected 

 the partridge in preference to any other bird. "If the par- 

 tridge had the woodcock's thigh it would be the finest bird 

 that ever did fly," says the poet. We concluded it was the 

 finest anyhow. We imagined this fowl roasted on a spit 

 and served up with sauce, a la Rime. Alas! our hopes 



were in vain. B 's dog had been caught in a bear trap, 



and consequently had a lame paw. He would strike the 

 scent of a rabbit or porcupine, and off he would dart, with 

 tail erect and nose low, and finally give tongue encourag- 

 ingly. Forward we would press with our guns at half cock 



and we breathless. "He's got a covey," B« would say, 



and when we found him, instead of barking at game he 

 would be sitting on his haunches, growling at his dilapi- 

 dated paw and gnawing it. 



A partridge was treed at last— one of the Audubon type, 

 said Snobby, who scrambled towards it and fired at about 

 ten yards distant. The bird looked at him for a few sec- 

 onds, and just as he was about to give it the other barrel, 

 after taking aim for that length of time, with a loud whirr 

 off went the beautiful gallinaceous biped through birch 

 trees and mossy glens. Close in pursuit sprang my dog, 

 gallantly serenading the woods for a league or more. Noon 

 was now upon us, and "the merry, merry 811118111110" made 

 joyous the day, which had so far been dull and misty. We 

 turned homeward, for a keen hankering for "prog" came 

 over us. 



At our friend B 's a savory dinner awaited us. An 



immense dish of lamb chops formed a centre on the ample 

 table, the corners of which were graced with green peas, 

 new potatoes, tomatoes, and numerous other dainties that 

 tend to make life pleasant. Before partaking of this sump- 

 tuous board, Snobby invited us to come outside to "take 

 something." Fatal moment! While praising the mellow- 

 ness of the whiskey I perceived my dog making his way 

 out of the back door. Pie was licking his ponderous jaws, 

 and appeared languid. Alter him flew the cook with a 

 mop handle, which she laid on his broad back with a giant 

 stroke. "Oh, heavens," she screamed, "your horrible cm- 

 has devoured all the dinuer!" It was too true; he had 

 gathered it all to himself, leaving only the dishes, knives, 

 forks, and other indigestible articles. I felt anything but 

 pleasant, and broke forth to the hostess as follows:— "Mad- 

 am, this act of my clog I most sincerely condemn, and I 

 most solemly assure you he has received well-merited pun- 

 ishment, for his back is rendered so much out of shape 

 that his only use hereafter will be to run around corners." 

 The fact is, the animal was rendered useless, and his body 

 was sadly bent; but at all events his stomach was all right 

 for that <lay. Our dinner passed off without the aid of 

 meat. I however thanked my stars it was no worse, and 

 did ample justice to hot potatoes and new butter. 



But little more is to be told. That afternoon we lauded 



at Indiantown, and the loud strains of the fog horn on 



Partridge Island reminded us that we were home again. 



We hired a whole coach to avoid questioning. On the road 



home my dog got lost, and I was glad of it. Snobby gave 



his away and sold his gun, and forever retired from the 



field. Your humble servant, however, purchased a water 



spaniel pup and a breech-loading gun, and as some years 



have passed since this narrative he is now a fair shot, and 



often makes a bag that many a good sportsman would lie 



proud of. 



-+•+» 



* HARES AND RABBITS. 



Editor Forest and Stream: — 



Why can not sporting men in writing for a sporting paper 

 call things by their right names? Call grouse grouse, not 

 partridge or pheasant. We have no pheasant in this country, 

 and I think no partridge proper either, the quail coming 

 the nearest to it, though it differs in size and in other re- 

 spects from its European cousin. Neither have we a rabbit 

 of any kind running wild in all our woods. 



To be sure I can see the advantage of sometimes using 

 the above terms in conversation with a country boy when 

 in a strange part of the country in pursuit of a bag. Should 

 you on meeting him ask if there were any ruffed grouse to 

 be found in those parts, it would be a box of caps to a bil- 

 liard ball that he would not know what you meant. But 

 if he should say "Ineverheerd of scch, but I knows where 

 up in the old man's back brier lot there be lots and slathers 

 of patridges," you might get the information you wanted, 

 and it in the end prove very gratifying. But again in enquir- 

 ing for woodcock should your rustic assume to be thorough- 

 ly posted, "knows where there be a heap of them ere," and 

 you go with him with visions of a big bag of these choicest 

 of birds in your mind's eye, and he takes you to "dad's 

 sugar bush," and points you out a red-headed "wood-pecker 

 tapping on the hollow beech tree, "your information 

 would not be as satisfactory and yoR would want to say — 

 a bad word— and retire in disgust. Had you asked him 

 about "blind-snipe," he might have taken you down to the 

 lower "pastur" among those willows on that brook, or to 

 that damp place on the road in the woods the way he 

 "druv the keows hum o' nights," and you might have 

 found a brood, perhaps more, plump and well grown, and 

 never having been shot at, easy to bag. 



All this may be pardonable and even necessary on the 

 principle I suppose of "when you are among the Romans, 

 do as the Romans do," or talk their language at least if 

 you want to find out anything, but in writing for our pa- 

 pers—that is in our social talks— intelligent sportsmen one 



with another (for a sporting] paper is that or should be and 

 nothing else) let us call things by their right names. 



I was glad to see that S. L. P. in one of your recent 

 numbers in his very graphic article on "Hare Hunting," 

 uses the right word for the right animal, but many sports- 

 men use these wrong terms in their sketches, when they 

 know better. If I can aid you any in settling this matter 

 or convey any acceptable information I shall be abund- 

 antly satisfied. I shall at least feel better after relieving my 

 mind on the subject. 



"I arise to explain" that we have no rabbits in this 

 countiy. The little grey fellows so plentiful around our 

 hedges and thickets, more especially in the south and west 

 are hares. 



It is most preposterous nonsense to talk of coursing or 

 running a rabbit with dogs for any sport in the thing. You 

 might with- equal propriety speak of coursing a cat. While 

 the latter with a spit and a phizz, with an arched back and 

 an enormously enlarged narrative Avould be in a jiffy on 

 the top of the barn or in a tree, the former Avould dissap- 

 pear in the first hole he could pop into. 



The rabbit, Lepus cwiiculus, is a congregationalist, (I 

 speak not orthodoxically, and yet I think I do too, ■which 

 to say the least appears rather parodoxical) is very friendly 

 and sociable in its habits, living in villages or warrens. It 

 is polygamously inclined at least in its domesticated state, 

 though I believe not when Avild (proving so much for civil- 

 ization). It breeds six or seven times during the year, 

 taking great care in arranging its nest in the darkest and 

 safest part of its burrow, lining it with the softest of fur 

 plucked from its own body. It brings forth from five to 

 eight at a litter, sometimes more. The little fellows are 

 ushered into the Avorld without hair and are stone blind, 

 their eyes not opening until the tenth or twelfth day. They 

 are very tender and Aveakly, requiring especial care irem 

 the mother for several weeks. 



The flesh when cooked is whitish in color, someAvhat 

 juicy, with not much if any game flavor. 



It is not a nocturnal animal, for the most part lying snugly 

 coiled up in the recesses of its burrow during the dark 

 hours. 



The hare Lepus syfaaticus, is monogamous and a timid 

 hermit-like creature, sits by himself nearly all the day in 

 his form, a mere indenture in the leaves often in the open 

 ground or under a bush, and Avhen aroused by the dogs is 

 off like a shot, trusting to the speed of his foot and his cun- 

 ning art in doubling to save his skin. His ears are very 

 acute, always open, and so constructed as to catch the 

 slightest sound in any direction. His eyes too are never 

 closed even Avhen he is asleep, and are so prominently situ- 

 ated as to enable him to take in almost an entire circle at a 

 glance. The hare takes but little pains with its home dom- 

 icile, being satisfied with a mere depression in the ground or 

 under a bush of grass. Sometimes, though, it takes posses- 

 sion of a hole in a wall or decayed tree where it brings 

 forth from three to five youngsters tAvo or three times only 

 during the year. The young leverets come fo:th with 

 their eyes open, and with their clothes on, and ready al- 

 most at their birth for regular hare business. 



The flesh is dark and dry, with a decided game flavor, 

 but after the first frosts have toned down its someAvhat 

 stringy nature is very good, and were it more difficult to 

 obtain would be highly prized. 



The hare is emphatically a night animal, feeding mostly 

 then, and on a moonlight night it is an interesting sight 

 Avhen you are well concealed to Avatch their fantastic gam- 

 bols. They are very destructive to young nurseries, gird- 

 ling the small trees, doing much damage in a single night. 

 The undersigned with one other once in two hours of a 

 moonlight night in Wisconsin shot nineteen in the road as 

 they crossed from an oak thicket to a young nursery. If 

 was fun for us but "frogs for them." 



We have several different varieties of the species lepus, 

 but the tAvo best known is the one above mentioned and 

 the northern or great hare, L. Americanus. This one has 

 an advantage over his smaller brother in possessing two 

 suits of clothes, or at least a change, a brown turning to 

 grey for summer, with almost a perfect white for winter 

 use, whereby he is better enabled to escape the lynx-like 

 eyes of his hunters. I can not better close this article 

 than by an extract from Chambers' Encyclopedia. It 

 says the species of lepus are abundant in Africa and 

 western Asia, but North America possesses more species 

 than either. 



Baird divides the American species into five sections de- 

 pendent on the degree of separation of the post orbital pro- 

 cesses from the side of the temporal region. In one extreme 

 they diverge widely from the cranium, in the other they 

 are in close contact with the distinguishing suture oblitera- 

 ture. 



To the last belong L. aquaticus ' and L. palustris, large 

 headed species from the SAvamps of low countries of W 

 southern States. To the first, the Arctic hare {L. glaciam 

 the changing hare (L. Americanus) and the Oregon haie 

 (L. Wazliingtonii) of the higher northern regions. 



Several species {L. eampesiris) L. callotis) {L. artemem 

 inhabit the places>est of the Mississippi river. The L.cw^ 

 its is well known to pioneers in Texas and New Mexico a 

 the jackass rabbit. Jacobstaff. 

 -*$,*&- — , 



—The following is said to be an extract from t ne ° ial} , 

 of one of the first ministers in the Green Mountain b*» ' 

 "Went this evening to see Miss Susy Smith. On W^J 

 saAv a peculiar animal. When if went into its hole it 

 appeared; when it came out of his hole, it appeared. Spo 

 to Miss Susy about it, and she said it was a skunk, ana 

 pose it Avas a skunk." 



