90 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Sbptkmbkh 1, 1881. 



good send-off." Thomas Moody was of thiB number. For 

 thirty years lie was whipper in for George Forrester and 

 when he died he was carried to his grave by a number of old 

 earth-stoppers, who mourned his involuntary departure. His 

 favorite horse, carrying Moody's last brush in front of his 

 bridle, was led behind the corpse and the cap, whip, boots 

 and spurs of the whipper-in were hung across the saddle. 

 After the service, as requested before his death' "three clear, 

 rattling view ballots " were given over his grave, and when 

 they had done this his followers felt that they had paid the 

 highest mark of respect to bis memory. 



But Miss Mary Breese, who lived to see seventy-eight 

 years (fox hunters are usually long-lived"), went Moody one 

 better. She regularly took out a license, kept good horses 

 and hounds, and as a shot was not surpassed by any sports- 

 man in Norfolk County. Dearly loving the chase, and ex- 

 pecting and hoping to keep it up in the world to come, she 

 gave orders at her death that her favorite mare and dogs 

 should be killed and buried with her. 



The fon-going reference to a license calls to mind a discus- 

 sion that once took place in England, growing out of the sub- 

 ject, and how happily an astute magistrate bridged over the 

 difficulty. The question was raised whether a sportsman 

 who followed a pack of hounds kept by subscription, he 

 being known as a subscriber, made himself liable to a pen- 

 alty by sporting without a license ; and, as the members of 

 the club could not decide it, it was referred to a man of law, 

 who gave the opinion that the "Game Certificate Act, George 

 111.," requiring that " every person who shall use any dog, 

 gun or other engine to destroy game" did not apply in such 

 case, "for the members of a club do not use dogs to destroy 

 game, it beiog the object of the association to hunt or course 

 by which game will be destroyed." The above opinion was 

 accompanied by the suggestion that if a member of the club 

 kept the pack and took out a certificate, there was no reason 

 in the world why he should not invite the other members to 

 hunt with him— a step that would not make them liable 

 under the Certificate Act or any other existing game law. 



Every hunter holds that there should be game laws aud 

 that they should be obeyed, if not too stringent, and with 

 them it is a matter of faith that the fox was made to be 

 hunted. 



"Nature's! instinctive laws tbo beasts obey. 

 Implanted in their breasts by Nature's Goa. 

 And say. vaiu man, dirt not the same groat canse 

 Which gave the fox to taint the ground with scent, 

 Give to the dog sagacity and speed '!" 



The poet evidently knew nothing of an artificial scent, and 

 if he had lived in Germany he would have known that the 

 scent in fox-hunting could be dispensed with altogether. 

 When the Emperor of Germany sent an embassy to Constan- 

 tinople (1664) to settle terms of peace, marked attention was 

 shown the ambassador and his suite on their arrival at Vien- 

 na. Among other things a fox-hunt was got up for their 

 benefit. After dinner the Emperor, accompanied by the Em- 

 press and Princesses, led the way to a park about a mile from 

 Vienna, where four or five acres of ground were inclosed 

 with canvas as high as a man s head, which was kept in place 

 by means of poles. Within the inclosure was another line of 

 canvas, which made a lane breast high. At the proper time 

 and at a given signal eight or ten foxe6 were let loose by the 

 master of the hunt, and were chased by beagles, while the 

 hunters, each with a net, did their best to bag the game. 

 What with the aid of the nets and dogs, and a free use of 

 sticks, seventy foxes were killed, which the Emperor said 

 was enough for one day.— Cttamplin in the Evening Post. 



TRAJECTORY CURVES OF SPORTING RIFLES. 



DURING the spring I continued some experiments made 

 last spring in regard to the trajectory curves of the 

 standard sporting rifles of American make. Having better 

 facilities, the experiments were more extended and conse- 

 quently more satisfactory. 



Seven screens were used, instead of four, at one time, one 

 at each twenty-five yard point and one at the highest point 

 of the curve. Walter Cooper, of Bozeman, the most exten- 

 sive gun dealer in Montana, placed at my disposal all of the 

 standard sporting rifles of his establishment, as also the stand- 

 ard fixed ammunition. 



Where the same standard of rifles were used the trajecto- 

 ries agreed very closely with those obtained a year ago, mak- 

 ing allowance for difference of barometrical pressure and dif- 

 ference in direction of wind. 



Experiments were first made to locate the highest of each 

 curve. Screens were accordingly placed at 100 yards, plus 25 

 feet (325 feet), and 100 yards, plus 40 feet (340 feet). For 

 balls as light as the 1873 Winchester (200 grs.) the highest 

 point appeared to be at or near the latter point, or .560 of the 

 total range. For the heaver balls it appeared to be at or near 

 the former screen, or .542 of the range. This was to be ex- 

 pected, as the lighter ball falls much more rapidly in the de- 

 scending branch of the cure. I inferred from experiments 

 made last spring that this point was about .55 of total range 

 and so stated in article in Forest and Streajm. Prof. Bash- 

 forth, in his work on " The Motion of Projectiles," gives ex- 

 amples from the curves made by rifle balls' of from three to 

 six inch calibre ; that for Ogival-headed balls, this point was 

 .53, and for Bpherical balls .55 of range, initial velocity being 

 from 1,300 to 1,500 feet per second. 



A great deal depends upon the weight and velocity of each 

 ball in determining this point, but from .53 to .57 will cover 

 every case, I think. 



It appeared desirable to test whether the tissue paper of 

 the seven screens had any effect in decreasing the velocity of 

 the balls. Shots were accordingly fired from same rifle, un- 

 der like conditions, first through two screens near the centre 

 and then through the whole set, seven screens, the highest 

 point of curve in each case being carefully measured. No 

 appreciable difference could be discovered in the curves and 

 it was inferred that the resistance due to the paper screens 

 might be practically disregarded. 



Subjoined is a table, a careful study of which will give all 

 the iniformation desired as to atmospheric conditions, features 

 of rifle used, weight of powder and ball and resulting trajec- 

 tory curves. This table contains a few of the many shots 

 fired from the several rifles. 



The rifles reported here were either new or, if used, were 

 in first-class condition and were mostly furnished from Wal- 

 ter Cooper's establishment. 



In a series ot trajectories from same rifle they rarely dif- 

 fered more than one-half inch at highest point. Of course 

 great care was required in getting the centre of bore of rifle 

 at filing point — the (0) zero line of each screen and the cen- 

 : i hullseye in the same sight line. It is confidently be- 

 lieved these points are correct to (.10 in.) one-tenth of one 

 inch and that the curves given are substantially correct. 



As was to be expected, little irregularities occurred in the 



curves made by the same rifle under the same conditions and 

 that, too, irrespective of any error there might have been in 

 the zero line of screens. These irregularities might have 

 been corrected by differentiating. All the curves were 

 plotted to an enlarged scale and those reported above were 

 such as appeared the most regular. The curves as they ex- 

 isted, from standard rifles, using standard ammunition, were 

 what was desired and not what "they should have been theo- 

 retically. 



The experiments showed that the flight of the ball, between 

 the firing point and the target was frequently very erratic, 

 and this entirely independent of any error possibly existing 

 in the zero line of screens. This was the more observable in 



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the naked or canellured balls, and more especia'ly with the 

 lightest (200-grain) kind. As an example, three balls were 

 fired from same rifle, under like conditions. One would be 

 highest at the 25-yard screen, then cross below the othertwo 

 be the lowest about the centre of range, cross back and be 

 highest at the 175-yard screen. The other two would be 

 lower at 25-yard screen, highest at the half-way point and 

 then lower at the 175-yard screen; sometimes crossing eac h 

 other's flight. With other balls, of three consecutive shots, 

 two would be regular, having the highest point at the proper 

 place, whilst the third shot would be highest at the 100-yard 

 screen. 1 feel sure this does not occur from any resistance 

 of the screens, but results from irregularities in the shape of 

 the balls or for want of homogeneity in density of the lead. 

 This irregularity was to be expected from the canellured 

 ball, when it is recollected the circular grooves in these balls 

 are at right angles to their flight, and must (being often jag- 

 ged after coming from the rifle) affect the trueness of their 

 flight. This will sufficiently account for their want of ac- 

 curacy when compared to the smooth patched ball. Experi- 

 ments had before led me to suspect that a rifle ball might fly 

 with reasonable accuracy to the bullseye and still have a 

 gyratory motion, corkscrew fashion, around the line of true 

 curves. That suspicion is more than confirmed by these ex- 

 periments, and is sufficient to account for many of the slight 

 irregularities above alluded to. 



The same irregularity was observed in regard to the ex- 

 press or hollow-pointed ball, where the core-peg, forming the 

 orifice, was suspected of being slightly eccentric to the centre 

 line of ball. The effect of weight of balls on the trajectory 

 is very noticeable. Take the two extremes in this regard, 

 No. 1 and No. 4. 



The latter, with a lead-powder proportion of 5 24, has 

 nearly (4) four inches (latter trajectory than the former, with 

 a lead-powder proportion of 5.00. This is probably due to 

 the 8-inch longer barrel of No. 4, for it is well established 

 that with the same conditions of powder charge the longer 

 barrel will give the higher velocity. The experiments of 

 Major Farley, of the Ordnance Department, are exhaustive 

 on this subject. 



No. 3 and No. 13 have very near the same curve, the 

 smaller bore of the latter compensating with a possibly 

 higher initial velocity for its lighter ball, No. 5, with its very 

 sharp twist, has by approximate calculation aninitial velocity 

 of 1850 or 1000 feet per second, showing that its very quick 

 twist does not interfere with its power to impart a very high 

 velocity. No. 12 is said to be the " Corning rifle" among 

 the buffalo hunters on the Yellowstone. That has surprised 

 me, but my surprise is lessened on comparing its flatter curve 

 (nearly two inches) with that of No. 4, its competitor 

 among those hunters. 



The beginning of each curve is at the centre of bore of 

 rifle at the muzzle. In practice this is corrected according 

 to the heighth of the foresight of each rifle. Take, for ex- 

 ample, No. 5, whose highest point is 7.06 inch. The heighth 

 of foresight ahove centre of bore is .744 inch. The highest 

 point (7.06) is to be corrected by reducing it by .34 inch, 

 leaving as the practical heighth of curve 6.72 inch. Re- 

 duced to a point blank of 150 yards, the curve at 75 yards 

 would be 3.25 inch above, and at 175 yards it would be 

 (— 2.70) 2.70 inch below line of sight. 



I failed to state in proper place that the firing point was 

 (8) eight feet below the target, which will make the curves 

 slightly flatter than were the range horizohtal. P. 



Camp or Stillwater, Montana, June 1. 



A Grntusman fbom Kentucky.— Josiah Quincy in his 

 Reminiscences tells a story of his college days at Harvard in 

 the following style: Oxford street, in Cambridge, is at pres- 

 ent a very decorous thoroughfare, not at all adapted to the 

 wild sport of turkey-shooting, for which purpose the ground 

 it occupies was used when I was in college. We stood with 

 our backs to the site of Memorial Hall, and discharged rifles 

 at long range at a turkey which was dimly discernible in the 

 distance. A small fee was demanded for the privilege of 

 shooting, and the turkey was to be given to any one who 

 could hit it. But, except for some chance shot, like that 

 made by Mr. Tupman when out rook-shooting, it was safe to 

 predict that nobody would hit it. The usual end of a Har- 

 vard turkey-shooting was the departure of the proprietor of 

 the turkeys with all his birds and all our sixpences. Still, 

 there was the excitement of a lottery about it, if nothing 

 else. The ball, if discharged, must strike somewhere, and if 

 so, why might it not happen to strike the turkey ? The logic 

 was simply irresistible. A fowl of that magnitude would be 

 a most desirable addition to the meagre fare furnished by the 

 college commons ; and so the rifles cracked, with small re- 

 sults to the students and splendid profits to the turkey man. 

 One day a little tow-headed fellow appeared on the field and 

 desired to take part in the sport. Though he seemed almost 

 too young to be trusted with a rifle, the master of the fowls, 

 foreseeing future gains, was quite willing he should try. He 

 must first receive proper instructions about the holding and 

 pointing of his piece, and then there would really be no 

 danger. Young Larz received the directions with great 

 good nature, raised the rifle, and down went the turkey. 

 The man stared with amazement, and then broke into a 

 smile. "Try it again, young one," said he; "most any one 

 can throw sixes once, you know." Another bird was pro- 

 cured, and the ball flew to the mark with the same result. 

 The law of chances was now so overwhelmingly in favor of 

 the turkey man that a third bird was set up with some confi- 

 dence. Again the boy raised his rifle, and that third turkey 

 was added to the banquet upon which his friends would re- 

 gale. "Well, where in (in the United States let us call it) 

 did you come from ?" exclaimed the master of the fowls, who 

 began to realize that his occupation was gone. 



"I came from the State of Kentucky, sir," answered Larz 

 Anderson, proudly; "and next time you meet a gentleman 

 from that State, just remember there's not much you can 

 tell him about a rifle. That's all." 



Worokster Gun Club at Springfield-Worcester, Mass., 

 Aug. 29. — A number of members of the Worcester Gtm Club 

 visited the Rod and Gun Club, of Springfield, Mass., for a 

 friendly shoot on their grounds the 24th inst. The visitors 

 were met at the depot by the Rod and Gun Club, and after 

 many friendly greetings, conducted to the rooms of the 

 latter, which are fitted up in most artistic style, the walls be- 

 ing hung with elegant paintings, representing every kind of 

 native game. From theclub rooms the party adjourned to the 

 Massasoit House, where a bountiful repast was served to 

 their guests by the Rod and Gun Club. A noticeable 

 feature of the day was, that, owing to the generosity of the 

 entertainers, Worcester money was not a legal tender. After 

 a hard contest at the shooting grounds, the special prize was 

 won by the Springfields. One of the most interesting places 

 visited was the large and attractive store of L H. Mayott, 

 dealer in sporting goods, 445 Main street. Mr. Mayott, who 

 is a thorough sportsman and perfect gentleman, showed them 

 every attention in his power, and will be remembered by 

 them for many a day. The Worcester Gun Club wish to 

 express their heartfelt thanks to the Rod and Gun Club for 

 their hospitality aud hope at an early day to be honored by 

 a visit from them in Worcester, when an earnest endeavor 

 will be made to give them a day of enjoyment in return. 



Raynakd. 



Rabbit Taking to Water— Bainbridge, Ga., Aug. 19. — 

 I see in your issue of Aug. 4 inquiry if any one ever saw a 

 rabbit take to water ? In the spring of 1874 tbe Chattahoo- 

 chee River at Eufaula, Ala., was very high, in fact a regular 

 flood. All the lowlands around were covered and a great 

 many islands formed. Several of us went up the river rab- 

 bit hunting in a bateau. We did not carry any dogs. We 

 would go on one of these islands and jump the rabbit, and a 

 jolly time we would have catching him. Right in the water 

 he would go, and one of the boys after him until it got too 

 deep, then we would chase him with the boat, and a right 

 lively one too it was ; for just as you thought you had him 

 he would turn his course, and on would go the boat twenty- 

 five or fifty yards before we could change it. We succeeded 



