186 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



LOOT. 5, t8B3. 



hutched in confinement I don't know; but as a boy I have 

 seen a neat full of egg? in the evening, and nothing Inn 

 shells in tlie morning. 1 floa'1 suppose I will havemSch 

 more to chronicle in linn.' tor your next issue, and will there- 

 fore merely say that if successful in raising the birds until 

 proper growth "iu determine how to pair them, I propose to 

 present at least three separate! pairs to such, gentlemen as 

 may Batisfy me of their ability and Interest in tin' subject to 

 marram tin.' gift, l will donate two pair to gentlemen ap 

 proved by Forest and Stukam. as a thank offering for the 

 pleasure and benefits I bavc derived in reading its many .and 

 varied articles of interest to disciples of (lie gun and rod, 

 September 19.— Eight young quail roade their appearance 

 this morning and at Cnoe coinnienced to scratch, eal and 

 drink, run after files, etc They are all as lively us crickets 

 and about the size of the eud of your thumb. Tiny don't 

 seem to be afraid and pay no attention to my entering the 

 mom. The cock bird insists on appropriating all the duties 

 of nurse, and covers the whole ot them whenever he can 

 coax them to come. They run out and teed about every ten 

 minutes. Barring accidents 1 bavc liltledoubt of being able 

 io raise tbem.— WiLiis. 



« 



OriA Sk \soss. — See table, of open sea&oW fir :/ n ,„<■• ,1)1(1 Huh 

 in issue Of ./>il;/ SO, 



QUAIL SHOOTING IN KENTUCKY. 



T11K fall of 'OS found me established in a border bluegrass 

 county in a district where only foxhounds were recog- 

 sporting dogs. 1 always persistently declined in- 

 vitations to accompany tin* hunters, lest ihe infatuation 

 .should demoralize mo into a nightly follower of the chase. 

 Although the old gentleman is nowa •'continne.' rheumatic" 

 from the many hours shivered through oo the front veran- 

 dah and yard feuces rather than lose $ slTain of'thaf inex- 

 plicably and [Hereditably fascinating music of a large park 

 in full cry, I knew Hint the introduction of bounds to the 

 back yard was no imnv to be entertained than the establish- 

 ment pf a red fox as Hie old lady's poultry keeper, 



The accepted incompatibility of fox chasing with con- 

 sistent Sunday Christianity would bavc rendered it almpet 

 blasphemous to join in the chose, and 'twas ever an "1 give- 

 il-up puzzle" to me to figure pot Ihe paradox of that individ- 

 ual's unrelenting Mid uncompromising batre.l of the hound 

 species, and the alacrity with which the approaching 

 Serenade rushed him into his overcoat and out of the bouse. 



"Posted" was an unknown term there then, as the gentle- 

 man from Africa, with ex army musket, had not developed 

 thai remarkable ramification of his genealogical sapling 



which [e Dow directly traceable to Ni I and Diana (a 



thoroughbred CrOs&j unque-iionai'ly. however often the 

 black crops out in fresh litters of pickaninnies) as well as 

 demonstrated bis Utter inability to distinguish a domestic 

 fowl from an untamed quail) or discriminate between ihe 

 inoffensive pig and the ferocious ban. If "gates" or 

 "oars" were not provided for convenient near-cuts from 

 farm to farm, fox chaser.- bad found panels, the top rails ot 

 Which, WOuld slip, and teiices \w ic no 1 >n i to tiding where 

 you chose, provided you had Learned Tie many routes. 



There was a light ihirly-ax-inch double muzzle-loader in 

 the family, winch was at my command, and a brother, w hose- 

 business engagements prevented his hunting thai season, 

 lent me his pointer, consequently, 1 was in good condition 

 to practice on the ihirty-iwo flocks of quails which I had 

 located Within a radius <l a mile. Often my wife would 

 count in\ garni- and give me the per eeiil, ot inissc-, having 

 counted my shots. If 1 BtartCd tor a ball' day's jaunl 1 

 nearly always mounted my thoroughbred gray, whose sad- 

 dle |li- more than, onee furnished me a rest for a difficult 

 ritle shot, and over who-e head 1 have cut down man v a 

 quail float bevies thai he'd tlu-h. 'Ihe whirr of a bird 

 brought, him to as Staunch a stand as did sight or scent, the 

 Little bitch that would always rear up to deliver me game 

 killed from Hie saddle. 



1 soon learned that if a quail. Sighted over those 

 long barrels, appeared no .smaller than a ,!uuc bug. my 

 chances were worth ihe trial, and before the season closed! 

 could almost average two birds to every three shots, oil 

 which I've improved little or none 



In 'li'.l Ihe crop wa- nearly up to lliat of the. previous year, 

 and proof ol my BUSpifiioUB descriptions of ihal "li.ippv 



bnnting ground'' increased my popularity amazingly with 



the boys who-e lots were cast in the per- cuted districts. 



On a clear frosty morning in November, 'Hit. I had slnrtcd, 

 alone-, for a friend's farm nearly four miles distant. When 

 aboui a mile Irom home, I met two buggies loaded with 

 guns, ammunition, dogs, and four as true spoilsmen a- i v. :■ 

 pnHed trigger onrcejed a line. They were bound for my 

 head quartets, where it was proposed io sojourn until they 

 Were surfeited. Three were entire -Hanger-, whom I have 

 not since met, nor would I now recognize, and who,lc--oulcd. 

 handsome, eloquent Dick, the friend of my early manhood, 

 who had brought, his friends forty miles to CDJoy our sport, 

 can lepeat the. cheery introductions of that morning only 

 when we shall all have met on Hie "oilier side." 



Doctor was a 'dignified old practitioner and farmer, who 

 Wore spectacles in the field, and whose prudence kept him 



a "lectin" in Hie rear aBor Ihe first volley into a b.vv on 



the rise, consequently his score at the end of the hum Was 

 expressed by n single figure. Harry was a genial young 

 Benedict of my age, and' we were well-mated as ordinary 

 shot— apter to get a bird with the SOCOud barrel in a snap 

 contest. Will was rapidly merging into venerable bachelor 

 hood, if there be such, and was an exemplary cliurch-goiug 

 farmer, of whom it could he truthfully said that there were 

 literallv few hairs between him and" heaven, lie used a 

 common old muzzle-loader, for which he paid IWiCi i:- 

 value. because it. suited him, and I.ad an old red and white 

 setter that would hardly have been demoralized on a warm 

 trail by a bladder of dried beans tied to his tail, 



That old bachelor was the best field shot that I ever saw, 

 and I sincerely believe the equal of any of whom 1 ever 

 heard. If to-day what he wa- in '(ill, I'd 'put up" on his 

 grassing as many as any man living, under Hie same circum- 

 stances, sooner than back a favorite which 1 absolutely 

 knew would not be pulled. 



Dick had u seven aud one-half pounds Mortimer muzzle- 

 loader, built to order, for which be paid ijOoO in London, 

 and barring ihe circumstances that In: was occasionally de- 

 moralized when contending with one of the best wing shots, 

 whom he refused to acknowledge his superior, was an ex- 

 traordinary shot, 



As an opportunity offered to send word of their arrival, I 

 turned them for the fields to which 1 bad started, and they 

 were soon reached. Buggies and horses secured, hunting 

 gear was rapidly donned and the doe.- )<-j"t io exchange cards 

 aawe crossed into the nearest cover. We were not half 

 across ihe Meld who, a Hock was Hushed out of range. We 

 followed theni into an adjoining woodland, win- Barry 

 walked up a brace and made a handsome double- before a 

 point was made. Every fellow seemed on his mettle and 

 resolved to take no dcspcrale chances, neither any undue 



advantages, and the greater part of thatcovev was bagged 



without a miss, and every u'un made a score*. Harry 'sad- 

 vantage of a couple wa- mentioned, but after the next'eovev 

 wus put up, and the Doctor insisted on acting marker, Dick 

 and Willgol down totheii work and pressed rapidly to the 

 Iron! In. SCOritig 8 bird at every -hoi. till gun barrels were 



so hot and pocket- so full thai a resting and cooling spell was 

 but suggested to be adopted, and it also occurred that the 

 panting dogs needed water. It wa- lacillv understood that 

 Dick's "Whole soul was bent on making a larger bag than 

 Will, of who- modestly worn laurels he bad heard much, 

 and with whom he had shot but once, and that, a recent 

 occasion, when Will's guest. Dick- had used his friends 

 gnn while the owner substituted the most convenient, and 

 hi- generously permitting Dick to tie him on I heir afternoon's 

 shoot, had deluded him into the belief that he could demon- 

 strate to Will that at least one other sport-men was about as 

 nearly dead certain of grounding every fair shot as he. 



Alter being enlightened by Harry a glance art the situation 

 disclosed the fact that Will was' as "thoroughly aware of 

 What was in the wind as if Dick had declared his iutention, 

 but not a word escaped either till that night around the lire, 

 and a casual observer of their marvelous shooting could have 

 Suspected DO more than that they were paired against a rival 

 couple shooting over other grounds, with whom they were 

 to compare their combined scores at close of the hunt. The 

 woodland was surrounded by corn nnd stubble Selds,.and 

 every hew that we found pitched into that excellent cover, 



and when a hall was called about '-2 o'clock, we were so near 

 our horses that 'twas resolved we should start, for home 

 in time to have quails at supper. My lunch, though plenty 

 for two, didn't grow in the subdivision (nary fish in the col- 

 lation); and a passing visit to a couple qf /locks of which 1 

 knew the location near our route was voted enough to con- 

 clude Out first, day. Wc got thirteen from one, and enough 

 1 nun Hie la-t he\ \ Io s\\ ell our bag Io -event v-eight. The 

 last bird flushed was an old cock, which Harry covered as 

 it made a bee-liap for Dick, whose lurches and yells to 

 ■don't shoot! don't shoot!" and the Doctor's racket to avert 

 the peppering, at probable cost of an eye. which be had been 

 dreading all day. made. Ihe .-ccnc a" rather nervously ex- 

 citing one till Harry lowered his gun. when it was demon- 

 strated that Dick was the only one of the four cool enough 

 to .stop ihe author of all that hubbub on as beauliful a cross 

 shot as is often made. The accidental discharge of my gun 

 during the day in such close proximity to Dick's head as to 

 temporarily deafen him. tended little to relieve the Doctor's 

 apprehensions of accidents, and when Harry deliberately 

 covered the un fortunate with both barrels at full cock, not 

 fifty yards off.it did appear that Dick was doomed to 

 slaughter. A dozen for supper had been forwarded by a 

 passing neighbor, anil the suggestion of some one (hat 'he 

 recognized the aroma of broiled quail was a reminder of Ihe 



long fast which, wiuie ii lengthened faces, it both acceler 

 ated and lengthened our -Hide-, supperwaid. 



The veranda readied and the strangers welcomed by the 

 most hospitable host aud wife, a count was first on pro- 

 gramme. Diok couldn't count more than twenty-seven, 

 while Will piled up even thirty, and nol one of the party 

 could refer Io another Hum the single miss which he declared 

 he bad made. 



Doctor was the only man who bagged a bird every shot. 

 lie had three. As the iucident.sof llial day deiermined him 

 to continue his adopted course, his score at close of the hunt 

 amounted to less than ten. It wa-. deemed an occasion for 

 setting out the landlady's quart bottle, full to the cork, of 

 medicine, and as a contributor to the combined flavors of 

 mint and nutmeg its quality was affectionately tested and 

 conceded "moat excellent,''' without -hadow of dissent. 

 The thoughtfuhiess of that, motherly hostess bad suggested 

 the. contingency of the visitors reaching the field unprovided 

 with lunch, and a hint to hurry up preparations for early 

 supper put an unceremonious 'end to all discussion. My 

 memory extends to the good old days when the wedding 

 least, in fare, and a round of parties (supper and dancing 

 always, except at a parson's house) were the order of mar- 

 riage festivities, and till the recent innovation of levees and 



standard of culinary excellence. On such occasions I have 

 ever been acknowledged a first-class gastronomer in a go-as 

 voti-plcasc contest with fingers, knife, fork and spOOn, bill 

 ihal particular supper saw and went one bellci any spread 



\\ Ere they nol in had taste (I), details of the dishes would 

 di.-tressimr for me to voluntarily attempt them at 

 iiiis late day — o vividlv remembered— aud 1 must pass on 

 10 less taelancholy matters by briefly adding that a fried 

 Oysters' accompaniment to broiled quails make a mouth- 

 watering impression on memory never recoiled without my 

 becoming "too full for utterance" before first swnllowing- 

 oue of those oysters in imagination. 



Dick had enough cigars to last, through a protracted siege, 

 and every brother accustomed to bituminous fuel knows 

 what peculiar ze-t a cheerful wood lire lends to cigar and 

 anecdote after a successful day 's'shool over good dogsand 

 with congenial companions. Dick voluniarilv acknowledged 

 to hi- determination on entering the field, and Will smilingly 

 assured him that he had only Confirmed a suspicion which 

 was aroused curly m the day. In discussing next day's 

 route n was proposed to go back over the same ground, 

 when the old bachelor informed the audience thai 'twas 

 doubtful if those birds were reassembled after an interval of 

 two bights, [J was a point to nearly all, which was soou 

 verified by some of the Skeptical. 



Dick and Will selected birds for breakfast and next day's 

 luiiei,. ,!-. -pile ihe landladv's rinonstr.'inee, then drew the 

 remainder and suspended them above the reach of thieving 

 < ainivora. The dogs and guns were looked after, and a 

 motion to retire early met a ready second, as it was desired 

 that an early start should bo made next morning. All Were 

 astir in lime io hear the birds calling in every direction, and 

 by sunrise a mount for eat h Was at the door, aud in conse- 

 quence of u hint from the old bachelor as to the great con- 

 venience of such ad attendant, the obliging host i.ad 

 instructed one of his sons to accompany the parly, horse- 

 back, with a grain bag, and cany all the game, as well as 

 open gates, lay down fences and bars, and hold the horses 



during an engagement. It was the most acceptable addition 

 to our" parly that could have been made, and almost as in- 

 dispensable with me now as my dcg. A game bag is a 

 nuisance, shoulder straps and strings from belts always 

 permit birds to flop around most anuoyingly to me, to omit 

 great Stress on Often finding only a'bird', head lei I in the 

 loop, and though not an anomalously lazy sportsman, I 

 gcueraliv manage to have an attendant "to help me, even if 1 

 can't drive a better bargafu than upromise of half the game. 

 I have alway.- exhibited highest appreciation of the hoys' 

 c ulinaiv accomplishments in camp; never object to location 

 of the tent, nor gt umblc at. the side of the bed assigned me; 

 invariably complimented the good judgment they displayed 

 in taking care of the minnows and their skill in dressing the 

 fish; always kepi an eye out for the best, pile of driftwood 

 and reported its location; never refused to stand up in the 

 boat and point out the. easiest chute up through shoal waier, 

 and the safest down — have even sprawelcd out in prow of 

 the craft like a lizard on a log, and aided in pulling through 

 by the twigs overhanging the hank when no other alterna- 

 tive: never in a Single instance that I can recall, when 

 solicited, hesitated lo undertake that most difficult under- 

 taking, when the fresh water was provided, to compound 

 toddies in accordance with the caprice of every member; 

 and I defy any man to prove that T was not. always ready in 

 any emergency, with the best advice in stock, Nevertheless, 

 notwithstanding, all Hun 1 have modestly offered hi self- 

 vindication, I have the first time to have escaped in a party 

 of four or more, one of those sore-headed, meddlesome, 

 hard-to-jilcase fellows, who tried to hurt my feelings by 

 having some confidential chal with one of the tun.-, about 

 me. in" which I'd overhear .something about getting there by 

 nigh-cuts; if but. one good minnow in a bucket of fifty, I 

 couldn't put my fingers on any other; and much more of 

 that kind, to invariably wind up with -omething about 

 "a darned shirk." 



I'm nol. over sensitive, and 1 know that full justice is 

 rarely rendered any of us here, our solace should be fa hope 

 of -'future rewards." But. lo the second day's hunt. But 

 a few rods from the front gate we left the road through ihe 

 yard of a halt' finished dwelling house. Kvcn the horses 

 wen- -tailed by the rise ol a tlock from under their very feet. 

 The dogs had passed the gate before we turned in and were 

 behind us, and the birds so frightened that nearly half of Hiein 

 aliirhudoii and in II. e hou.-c. l.-ii not a fact that quails alight 

 on the nearest tree or fence from ihe demoralization of sud- 

 den frighl ■'. I don't remember to ever have seen a quail fail 

 to alight on the ground, when the bevy bud lain to Hie dogs 

 till put up by the hunter. 



From thai yard we passed into a field where three tlocks 

 were found, and everyone sought the Shelter of a small 

 locust grove, in which the. grass had fallen in -itch a tangle 

 a v of the birds, The 

 Idier of a brisk skirmish 

 but I her,- were at that 

 sh to the fray" and con- 



kicki 



in of the old bache- 

 ;er killing one with 

 of four that sailed 

 "scape so shameful. 



In thai grove was the only manifestati 

 lor's loss of temper. While reloading al 

 each barrel. Surry and 1 winded but om 

 off under circumstances that made their 

 for even tyros, that he couldn't hold in, and the lecture 

 Wasn't losi on either Of us, for we kept on the alert the re- 

 mainder of the day, for the chance of a split (?) With the 

 old follow when beside him. There too was bagged the only- 

 woodcock seen by any of the party. That went to the old 

 bachelor's credit. 



When each fellow bad made his deposit in the grain-hag 

 before leaving -.that grove for stubbles new, Will was so far 

 in the lead that hope deserted Dick, and that night he pro- 

 nounced the bachelor a "world beater.'' 



The mxt covey we found afforded an instance of the un- 

 reliahiliiy of the average hunter as a marker. The birds-, 

 (lushed out of range, and every one dropped within view on 

 the opposite hillside. "I saw 'em go down!" from two or" 

 three of the six markers led to a comparison oi opinions. 

 Developments proved that, the old bachelor was the only one 

 who had accurately located them, some of us being badly oil'. 

 I confess that 1 'can't, in weeds three feet high, kill two 

 birds at a right angle, and turning to gather the lirsi go 

 within twenty foot of either, unless accidentally marked by- 

 some conspicuous object, aud 1 have more li'ian once left 

 both after a disgusting search; consequently 1 generally slay 

 home ii I can't persuade or bribe someone into going along 

 ,- marker and game carrier It naturally occurs to the- 

 reader: -'Why doesni he have, a good retriever!" My 

 wife has always taught mypvippiee to retrieve and I urns 

 them ov. r lo nie satisfactorily broken, but 1 have in\ ariablv 

 neglected that accomplishment so long before taking them 

 into the li. Id thai it has been of no practical value to me in 

 a niajoiuvof in v do--. How many sportsmen have yet to 

 learn the 'impropriety of endeavoring to aid a retriever tur- 

 Hnr than to approach, the spot where the bird fell and take a 

 stand until tin dog tuts found the game, or the trail, if a. 

 runnerv It was long aftcrthe hunt of which I write that- 1 

 learned it of an old friend whose residence nece-itatcil his 

 hunting alone in his younger days, when wiun-shooling was 

 regarded an impossibility uy the majority, and pointers and 

 setters were cunosii.ics to most of our dog fanciers. 1 am 

 indebted lo him for more valuable suggestions during the 

 four year.- Ihal we hunted and fished together than a life- 

 time 'experience would have taught (be. He is one oi ihe 

 few sportsmen who carry their philosophy into the fields, 

 and when vexed by effects trace Ihem back to their e tuseffl 

 that they may avoid recurrences. . 



In connection with that bevy Which developed the unre- 

 liability of live of us as markets, occurred Iwo incidents 

 which! doubt not are as fresh in the memory of every oilier 

 member of the partv living as in mine. Two birds arose 

 li-ioionu- old bachelor and started for the adjoining field. 

 Tie lir-t- Was bcautiiully grassed, but before the second 

 could lie covered k had Settled behind an intervening post 

 and rail fence and was rapidly whizzing out of range when., 

 to the astonishment of all, that remarkable shot, dropped W 

 a silling posture and killed the biid through a crack i hat 

 would but comfortably admit the thrust of a fool, in climb-- 

 ing. The greater pari of the charge of shot wa- lodged in 

 the rails. It was the handsomest [eat ihal 1 ever saw in ihe 

 field. The wonderful performances with guns aud pistols^ 

 on the Stage, as per programme, soon appear commonplace^ 

 from the realization that they are bul recitations of lessorfl 

 conned. and rehearsed till they hecomemere deliveries by 

 note. Such performances ill the field elicit always warmesS 

 applause and highest admiration Irom the display Of readi- 

 ness in emergency and quickness to circumvent unantic** 

 paled obstacles. 



The other was the fall of a bird. Flushed high on the- 



