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frost covers the 
FROM THE GAME FIELDS. 
A DAY AMONG THE MOUNTAINS IN CUBA. 
Aie:5:30% a. tr on, ~April.-27, 90, my 
brother, a guide and [I left Trinidad, Cuba, 
for a day’s shooting among the Guamu- 
haya mountains. At 8 A. M., we reached 
San Juan springs, the source of the San 
Juan river, 8 miles from Trinidad. This 
place is so beautiful and game is so abund- 
ant, we decided to spend the day there. 
The lovely little valley known as San 
Juan de Letian is in the heart of the 
Guamuhaya mountains, at the North of 
the town of Trinidad. This valley runs 
North and South. Its height above sea level 
is about 2,00- feet. TheSan Juan river rises 
at the head of this valley, plunges down a 
deep canyon, enters the picturesque valley 
of San Luis and follows it to the sea. 
Near Trinidad it is known by the names 
of “Guaurabo” or “Tayaba.” The falls of 
this river present a grand sight. Below 
the falls almost all species of fresh water 
fish abound, but above only shrimps are to 
be found. The mountains surrounding this 
little valle« pen at the North, where the 
river gushes out from the earth. On the 
South the mountains form a deep canyon, 
where the crystal waters pass through. 
The difference of temperature between 
San Juan and Trinidad in all seasons of 
the year is 8 to 10 degrees Fahr. During 
the winter, in the early morning, light 
mountain sides, while 
their summits are enveloped in dense fog. 
The San Juan valley is one of the most 
healthful spots in Cuba. The waters of the 
San Juan river have no equal for purity. The 
spring is a large pool surrounded by rocky 
walls. The water issues from 2 grottos in 
the wall and is of a deep blue color, won- 
derfully clear and exceedingly cold. In 
its deepest part it is not over 12 feet. 
The road to San Juan is a stony path, 
which winds around the steep mountain 
sides. Only one horse at time can 
walk on the narrow path. In many places 
in the course of the journey the path 
passes on the very edge of precipices, hun- 
dreds of feet high. 
From one spot on the mountains, nearly 
2,000 feet above the sea level, a magnifi- 
cent view of the San Luis valley is ob- 
tained. The several plantations dotting 
this valley can be plainly seen. Beautiful 
groves of palm trees adorn this vast. 
stretch of level ground. Farther on across 
the valley can be seen the bays of Caselda 
‘and El Macio, the numerous keys close to 
the coast, and lastly the boundless sea. 
Leaving the guide to select a good spot 
447 
-back and turned them loose. 
for the camp and make the necessary prep- 
arations for breakfast, my brother and I 
went to a palm grove near, where we 
could hear a great number of “torcaces,”’ 
a species of pigeon larger than the do- 
mestic birds. We shot 6 as they flew from 
one tree to another. 
In the afternoon we saddled our horses 
and started down the valley, on the way 
shooting several torcaces and quails. We 
entered a thick forest of palm and red- 
streak trees, growing in a deep canyon. 
There we shot 18 torcaces and 2 jutias. The 
jutia is a kind of opossum, feeding entirely 
on nuts, leaves and roots of trees. Its 
flesh is highly esteemed by the natives. 
There are 2 species of jutia, the conga 
and the carabali. 
We took home 23 torcaces, 3 quails, 2 
jutias and 2 doves. Could have shot a 
great deal more game, but had sufficient. 
Three sportsmen (?) were at San Juan 
a few days previous. They shot 182 tor- 
caces in one day! At this rate the game 
will not last much longer. 
O. A. Fischer, Trinidad de Cuba. 

IDAHO NOTES. 
The Oregon Short Line railroad should 
direct the tourist hunter to Miller moun- 
tain, near Banner, for bear. I have seen 
6 this summer, not to mention 3 cubs, and 
I have not been hunting bear. At Sul- 
phur creek we saw a fine set of fan horns 
from a white-tailed buck killed by a Boise 
man. They were to every appearance like 
miniature moose horns. Lone creek would 
be a paradise for sportsmen were it only 
more accessible to the railroad. There are 
more bear there than in any other place 
I ever saw. Big horns and deer are also 
plentiful. Buck Culver caught 4 bear cubs 
last spring near the Payette river. After 
vain attempts to sell them he took them 
Buck is one 
of the worst old game butchers in Idaho, 
and deserves a berth in the penitentiary, 
as well as in the hog pen. 
One tenderfoot initiated himself in the 
fool hen business by shooting 2 of them 
through the body at a distance of about 5 
yards. When asked why he did not shoot 
their heads off he ;seplied that he was 
afraid he would miss them and then they. 
would fly. He mistook them for young 
grouse. One evening, on making camp, 
-he went to get some water. After taking 
a long, deliberate look at the stream he 
carefully waded it, gained the opposite 
shore, walked to a deeper pool a short 
