FOREST AND STREAM. 



391 



Rockland, Me., June 14, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



The migratory quail arrived here all right with the excep- 

 tion of two dead ones in the cage and seven more short, mak- 

 ing only nine short out of 125. We let them out in squads of 

 tea to fifteen in a place and they flew bs strong as if they were 

 just caught. Our thanks are clue H, P. Tobey, Esq., of Bos- 

 ton, for all his trouble in the importation of the quail. 



James Wigut. 



Cljrkuokt, N. H., June 13, 1879. 

 Editor Forbst and Stream : 



The migratory quail arrived here in good condition. Those 

 purchased by Mr. John Gould and friends, of Ml. Lebanon, 

 N. II. , wire given their freedom Wednesday afternoon. 

 They were only two short, I believe. Those of Col. R. Jarvis 

 and your correspondent were turned into the fields this a. m., 

 early. We were only three short of the full nurnoer. The 

 birds seemed lively, and two of them exhibited for our benefit 

 their speed of wing ; Hie others walked quietly away into the 

 grass and brakes. Should be pleased to hear of other birds 

 imported through your paper. Mont Clark. 



Bostos, June 10, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



The 200 migratory quail consigned to me, at Wareham, 

 Mass., reached that place in blooming condition, there being 

 197 healthy birds, two lame ones, and one only missing. 

 Some were a little short of crest feathers, owing, apparently, 

 to the attentions of their neighbors, but as a whole, they 

 were in excellent health and spirits. They were so tame as 

 to eat from the hand. They were released in different places, 

 in lots of about twenty-five each, under the directions given 

 in your paper of week before last. In most cases the birds, 

 soon after the door was opened, ran out, fed on the grain, 

 flopped their wings, dusted themselves, basked in the sun, 

 made love, and were left in a state, apparently, of high con- 

 tentment with their new surroundings. Touching their 

 habits, I would say that the few which flew a vay went 

 straight as a bullet, with exactly the flight of our American 

 quail. After they had settled, 1 walked them tip, and found 

 they did not run at all, but lay perfectly quiet until I was 

 close upon them, when they were up and off with a celerity 

 and vigor that was refreshing, 'they certainly emit a strong 

 game scent, as our bird dogs confessed to it at once. My ob- 

 servations satisfy me that they possess in full measure the ex- 

 cellent game qualities of our own quail, and that they will 

 furnish abundant amusement if we shall be so fortunate as to 

 succeed in their introduction, for which the prospect is prom- 

 ising. Horace P. Tobey. 



Brooklyn, N. Y., June 13, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



Through the kindness of Mr. Horace P. Tobey, of Boston, 

 I imported 100 migratory quail. They arrived in good con- 

 dition — not a dead one in the crate. I forwarded the bird? 

 by Westcottand Adams Express Companies to the Lehigh Val- 

 ley Game Protective Society, of Pennsylvania, and received 

 notice from the Assistant Secretary, Chas. H. Bitting, Esq., 

 that the birds arrived in excellent condition, and were set at 

 liberty. Arnold Stub, M. D. 



Allbntown, June 12, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream: 



News in this part of the country is very scarce. We will 

 have plenty of game by next fall, especially "■ Bob Whites." 

 We received, on the 10th of this month, as a donation to our 

 Game and Fish Protective Association, 100 migratory quail 

 from Dr. Arnold Stub, of Brooklyn, who is also a member 

 of our association. We were all very well pleased with our 

 gift, and immediately let them fly (June 11). Although the 

 birds were caged since the 10th day of May, yet when we 

 opened the cage, they flew with great rapidity. When we let 

 them fly we first put some hemp, etc., in front of the cage, 

 and then opened the cage. To our great surprise, they did 

 not run nor fly out, but simply walked out, looked around to 

 behold their new home, picked among the bushes, and then 

 flew away about 100 feet. We have very good ground for 

 such birds. C. H. Bitting. 



McKeesport, Pa., June 16, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



The cane of migratory quail for the McKeesport Sports- 

 man's Association came to hand on 12th inst,, in fine condi- 

 tion, and were turned loose on the grounds of the association 

 the following morning. There was but one dead one in the 

 cage on its arrival. We had ninetj -3even live birds, showing 

 a loss of but three out of the hundred. We divided them 

 into five lots on an area of about 1,500 acres. But two lots 

 took flight upon opening the cage, and settled down just like 

 our " Bob White," after flying about 100 yards. We will 

 report to you during the summer for the information of your 

 readers any notes we make of their nesting, etc. Please ten- 

 der our thanks through your columns to Mr. Horace P. 

 Tobey for his services. We have come to the conclusion 

 that "Bob While" also migrates to some extent. During 

 the month of April the writer scoured the country with dogs 

 and could not find a single one within ten miles, but since 

 mating season there are at least a dozen pairs with young on 

 our grounds. Woodcock very plenty. 



H. Holdanb, 

 Sec'y McKeesport Sportsman's Assoc'n. 



Towanda, Pa., June 16, 1879. 

 Editor Forest and Stream : 



The migratory quail ordered by, and consigned to, the Rod 

 and Gun Club of this place, arrived in excellent condition 

 Wednesday the 11 th inst., and have been distributed in this 

 vicinity in from two to six pair lots. The writer of this had 

 the privilege of letting loose quite a number of them, and it 

 was surprising to see in what fine strong condition they all 

 were iD. In each case a place was selected conveniently near 

 water and cover in meadow grounds. The number to be let 

 out were put in a low pasteboard box (plentifully perforated 

 with holes to admit light and air) and set down on SOTie 

 fleshly ploughed dry earth, and then withdrawing a few rods, 

 with a cord attached to an end of the box, previously cut and 

 fixed so as to be easily drawn as a slide, after waiting a few 

 mimitea to allow the birds to quiet down, the cord was cau- 

 tiously drawn, and in every instance they walked quietly out 

 end commenced dusting, which they seemed to enjoy im- 

 mensely, and then rising together or in pairs going away into 

 cover. In one or two instances before leaving the dusting 

 bed they gave the strongest possible evidence that they were 

 aware that the nesting season was at hand. The result of the 

 experiment thus far has been highly satisfactory, and ma we 



have placed them on properly where the owners will look 

 kindly on these "little strangers in a strange land," we have 

 every reason to expect gratifying results if they only fill the 

 migratory pari of the bill. Jot. 



Watnesbtjrgh, Greene Co., Pa., June 15, 1879. 

 Editor Forkst and Stream : 



We ordered last March, through Mr. H. P. Tobey of Bos- 

 ton, 100 migratory quail, and on Wednesday last they came 

 to hand. They wore all in first-class condition and as blight 

 and lively as we could wish, with the exception of one cock 

 wilh a broken leg. They were released the next day in suit- 

 able places within a few miles from town, and in accordance 

 wilh the instructions published in Forbst and Stream. The 

 fanners on whose premises they were placed will co-operate 

 wilh us in protecting them as far as possible from hawks, 

 owls, pot-hunters, elc. If they do well we expect to order 

 a greater number next year. The sportsmen of our neigh- 

 boring town of Washington also received their birds in good 

 condition. Byron Craoroet. 



§¥ BM*- 



FRANK H. LORD, PISTOL SHOT. 



WHILE we have had rifle experts, and almost the very 

 perfection of skill with the small bore at the extreme 

 ranges, another claBS of small arms has been left to an almost 

 entire neglect. For pistol- firing we are referred back to the days 

 and feats of Capt. Travers and other by-gone champions. 

 The wordy advocates of off-hand shooting would find it in its 

 entirety in pistol-shooting, which is off-hand or nothing. In 

 France the art of pistol-firing has not fallen into such neglect, 

 but in this country, while pistols by the thousand are daily 

 carried, it is only at rare intervals that one is met who has 

 even the most common-place ability in the handling of the 

 weapon. 



The practice of piBtol-ahooting possesses some advantages 

 over rifle-shooting, in that it is more nearly a test of personal 

 ability — it is more readily conducted, and the fact that one is 

 a good pistol shot may often prevent a rencontre with evil- 

 disposed persons. The really good pistol shots of the city 

 and country may be reckoned on the fingers ; but pre-eminent 

 among them is Mr. Frank H. Lord, a gentleman of this city, 

 whose feats with the pistol are in some respects almost be- 

 yond credence. Shooting only for his own pleasure, and 

 never appearing in open matches or in other places than the 

 privacy of the shooting gallery, it is not at all strange that 

 Utile should be known of his skill outside of the small group 

 who almost every evening admire his combined skill and 

 nerve. 



Mr. Lord's records are unimpeached, and the larger part 

 of them have been made in the ordinary routine gallery prac- 

 tice. He is what may be termed a natural shot, and this keen 

 eye sight, with general and epecific training in his pastime, 

 has brought him very near perfection. Mr. Lord is still a 

 young man, and as far back as 1857 began a system of gene- 

 ral physical training under Prof. John Wood. This contin- 

 ued until 1867, and such was the young amateur's profi- 

 ciency, that in 1866 he was presented with the "Hanlon 

 Badge " by the celebrated Hanlon Brothers for excellence as 

 a finished gymnast. He began the practice of pistol firing 

 about this time, under: the guidance of Mr. Jas. 8. Conlin, 

 and to-day the bulk of his shooting is done in Oonlin's Gallery. 



Mr. Lord makes a yearly trip to Pans to spend time, benefit 

 his health, and enjoy a bout with the famous pistol shots 

 of the French capital. For ten seasons past he has been 

 chosen by the English-speaking residents of Paris as 

 their champion, and a well-chosen representative has he 

 proven. On one occasion he performed, among other feats of 

 accurate marksmanship, the following: A cap of an ordi- 

 nary musket was placed upon the neck of a champagne 

 bottle, and Mr. Lord, standing at 36 feet, or 12 paces, with an 

 ordinary duelling pistol picked off the cap without scratching 

 the glass. The same feat was repealed, but with the pistol 

 transferred from the right to the left hand. Two more caps 

 were picked off with right and left hand firing respectively, 

 but in these instances the pistol was held in a reverse position, 

 with the line of sight below instead of above the line- of Are. 

 The next shot was a fancy one, Mr Lord standing with back 

 lo Hie object tired at, leaning far forward, and then with pistol 

 pointed back between his legs, picking off the cap as before. 

 The last of the six shots was made sitting in a chair, again 

 with back to target and leaning back until the target could be 

 seen by the head and eyes bent back. These shots were de- 

 livered consecutively, and gave the Parisians such an idea of 



bis slrill that none cared to try conclusions with him. It was 

 Mr. Lord's delight to step into a shooting gallery, and, when 

 he had found a good weapon, astonish the keeper and specta- 

 tors by his seeming inability to miss an object or mark fired 

 at. The shooting of plaster eggs placed on bottle-necks is a 

 favorite pastime there. Generally the cost of the shot far ex- 

 ceeds the cost of the broken plaster spheroids; but. Mr. Lord 

 of course reversed this, and the astonished maitre d'arms* 

 found his brittle ware swept away about as fast as they could 

 be set up. 



In shooting at the word of command, as in duelling, where 

 the seconds cry out, "Are you ready?" Ans., "Ready;" 

 "Fire!— one — two — three," the shooter being required to 

 shoot between the words "Fire "and "three," Mr. Lord is 

 equally expert. With a duelling pistol, at 12 paces, Mr. L»rd 

 struck down six J-inch bullets hung up by threads. Such an 

 adversary on the Field of Honor would satisfy the chivalric 

 yearnings of about any mortal. At the word "one "Mr. 

 Lord fired ten consecutive shots into a 1^-inch circle, same 

 distance. 



Where nerve as well as exact holding are required Mr. Lord 

 is equally proficient. It is a favorite feat to suspend his 

 watch— a fine imported piece, costing $250— and put shot 

 after shot through the loop at 36 feet distance, a match or 

 wooden tooth pick laid across the opening of the golden loop 

 is cut cleanly through, and though the watch has been under 

 fire scores and hundreds of times, it still ticks on toward the 

 day which may come when a bullet, a fraction of an inch out 

 of the way, may send the works of the watch in a shower of 

 wheels and pinions. 



On a recent date, as showing his ability for long range 

 firing with the pistol, he struck two caps out of three shots at a 

 distance of 60 feet. As the ordinary musket cap is about ^th of 

 an inch across, the mere seeing of the mark was somewhat of 

 a feat, but to see and hit as well was something entirely be- 

 yond the common. Yet it was done at a certain hour pre- 

 viously agreed upon before n large number of marksmen, in- 

 cluding many members of the N. Y. and Zeltler Rifle clubs. 

 With a Stevens 12 inch barrel pistol, distance 125 feet, Mr. 

 Lord picked off a couple of f inch bullets, using right and left 

 band in turn. Three consecui ive ;,' inch bullets fell at 45 feet 

 before shots from a large-sized Smith & Wesson revolver, 

 Russian mode), heavy trigger pull, and with this and a Stevens 

 pistol at 75 feet, Mr. Lord is at any time good for three bul- 

 lets out of 6 shots fired, while a shot an inch out would be 

 looked upon as a very wild shot. To give some notion of his 



ability Mr. Lord struck off a target at 36 feet, or 12 paces, 

 firing 10 shots with a Stevens pistol, with 10 inch length of 

 barrel. It makes a record of 49 in a possible 50, Creedmoor 

 rule, and the difficulty of catching an open sight at a flat mark 

 as compared with the round must be known to appreciate tho 

 target which we publish in its full size, showing exactly the 

 point struck by each shot. A trade dollar would have been 

 winged or punctured by the whole 10 shots. 



Massachusetts — Walnut Hill, June 11. — The eighth com- 

 petition in the long-range match, at 800, 900 and 1,000 yards 

 at Walnut Hill to-day, with the favorable weather, induced a 

 fairly large attendance of spectators, including more than the 

 usual complement of ladies ; and the result of the close at- 

 tention of the riflemen to their work is shown in splendid 

 shooting, an average of 201 10-11 having been secured by the 

 eleven contestants who completed their scores at the three 

 ranges. Mr. Nichols, running short of ammunition, was 

 compelled to withdraw on his fourteenth round at 1,000 

 yards. Capt. Jackson again heads the list for the day's work 

 wilh a fine 215. The weather conditions were capital at tho 

 beginning of the sport, the light being good and the wind 

 blowing gently from the northeast, changing, as the match 

 progressed, to a "5 o'clock," where it continued till the close 

 of the competitions. During the afternoon members of Co. 

 D, First Regiment (Roxbury City Guards), visited the range, 

 and did good work at 200 yards, the scores of the four leading 

 competitors being as follows, ten rounds per man, military 

 rifles : 



F J Andrews 40 Fit Carter ST 



Lfiddy aa V CBrownell sa 



The long range scores stood : 



W H Jackson. 



800 6 55555468355.', 5 6—72 



9(10 3 58555S65555 5 5 6—71 



1,000 4 5654545556658 6—72—215 



J V Brown. 



800 5 5 555455556655 4-73 



SUO 5 655 5 5466455B5 3— 71 



1,0110 ,,4 4555645565653 5—70—214 



J 8 Sumner. 



SOU 5 S546B6466B556 5—73 



9UI1 3 6 4 5 5 5 6 5 5 5 5 6 4 3 5-69 



1,000 6 56555355554 2 6 5-69— 21i 



L Saundi i'B. 



800 4 5346355356465 6— CO 



900 B 5465656655644 5— eT 



1,000 6 56555 4 4550556 6—73—206 



W C Howard. 



800 6 5554555565653 4—73 



000 6 5645455 4 55366 5—7(1 



1,000. 5 8346334554356 5— 52-305 



H Tjler. 



800 5 4564645534444 5-66 



900... 3 6646535645533 6—65 



1,000 4 5664464 5 65454 6—59—200 



EW Law 65 63 66 199 



WM Ward 71 6S 69 198 



James WemjBB, Jr 71 65 5S jm 



D Web»ter 01 61 71 193 



Salem Wilder 01 119 56 166 



JJUeliols 6B BO w 



Walnut Hill, June 14. — A fairly large number of specta- 

 tors gathered to-day, and a good many riflemen took part in 

 the three regular competitions of the day. The weather was 

 favorable to the sport, a good light prevailing most of the 

 day, and the wind hanging pretty steadily to one quarter, 

 marking from " seven to nine o'clock" throughout the shoot- 

 ing. 



