152 



RECREATIOX. 



produce of the forest. The right to shoot 

 is leased under restrictions for a certain 

 period or is exercised by the foresters in 

 charge, who sell the game and credit it to 

 the state or commune. 



Although large game, such as deer, do 

 considerable damage to the forest, it is gen- 

 erally conceded in Europe that the main- 

 tenance of a moderate number in the forest 

 pays. Experience there has shown that 

 2,500 acres will support 16 herds of deer, 

 and that the damage resulting to young 

 growth therefrom will not be serious. The 

 tender shoots of young trees are often 

 protected by cotton tow. The deer gets 

 the tow tangled in his mouth and dislikes 

 it to such extent that trees thus treated are 

 usually not molested. 



The League of American Sportsmen is none 

 too soon in adopting strenuous measures 

 for game protection and propagation. Other- 

 wise many of our most valuable wild 

 animals, including those yielding food ma- 

 terial and pelts as well as sport, will soon 

 become extinct. 



In an interesting book on the Domes- 

 tication of Animals, by Professor Shaler, 

 of Harvard University, is noted the fact 

 that for the last 300 years but little atten- 

 tion has been paid to the domestication of 

 our wild animals. We should consider the 

 possibility of domesticating many of these 

 before it is too late. He suggests that in 

 the "great Lone Land" of the North many 

 of our fur-bearing animals might be sub- 

 jugated with profit, It has been said that 



the mink, when reared for ito fur, is as 

 profitable as any of our domestic animals. 

 "The domestication of the beavers to the 

 point where they would tolerate the pres- 

 ence of man should not, provided they 

 could be protected against the depredations 

 of poachers, be a matter of any difficulty." 

 The beaver is bred by Mr. R. Stuyvesant 

 on his estate near Allamuchy, New Jersey. 

 Many large trees have been felled by this 

 active little worker. 



"Among English Hedgerows" is si de- 

 lightful outdoor book from the presr of 

 Macmillan & Co., lavishly illustrated fro.a 

 photos and drawings of English rural 

 scenes. Clifton Johnson tells in a charm- 

 ing, informal style of the daily lives of 

 English peasants and dwellers in villages, 

 beside giving "A Peep at the Gentry," "A 

 Glimpse of the Lake Country," views of 

 castles and cathedrals, and touching on 

 many other peculiarities of English life, 

 which make it interesting to Americans. 

 Price, $2.25. 



Macmillan & Co. have also recently pub- 

 lished "More Pot-Pourri, from a Surrey 

 Garden," by Mrs. C. W. Earle. This is 

 indeed a medley, treating of everything 

 from plants to tuberculosis, from Cow- 

 per to acetylene gas. The index is by 

 months, the subject matter really a sort of 

 diary, kept by an accomplished, clever 

 woman, thoroughly alive to all topics. 

 Price, $2. 



A CONTRAST. 



I. N. CAMERA. 



Slip leash! and give the dogs a run, 

 If that be the meed of your sport or fun; 

 But give me a rifle trim and true, 

 And I'll hunt my game the wild woods 

 through. 



Ye may ride o'er moor with loud hurrah. 

 And view the hounds and fox afar; 

 While I noiselessly part the brush aside: 

 (In yonder glade stands the forest's pride). 



Now scatter and whoop in your steeple- 

 chase! 



You've taken the fence, and marred your 

 face, 



W T hile I draw fine bead on noble buck: 



I press the trigger; the ball has struck. 



Up! up! my noble bespattered count; 

 But see! you cannot o'erUke your mount. 

 I've no steed to pursue; my buck lies 



dead — 

 The leaden missile went through his head. 



Your winding horn may be music to you: 

 The fox has pangs the long day through; 

 While of danger to him my buck knew not. 

 He but bowed to the ball and fell on the 

 spot. 



Ha! your dogs are close, but the day is 



done; 

 Poor Reynard has died more deaths than 



one; 

 I'll stick to my rifle; 'tis a merciful pier" 

 Would that you'd see it and give game its 



release. 



