388 



RECREATION. 



striking. The localities represented are 

 the Adirondack^, West Virginia, Florida, 

 Colorado, Western Canada, Washington 

 and the Cassiar Mountains, British Colum- 

 bia. 



I have read with much interest all the 

 comments in Recreation in regard to the 

 rattlesnake question. I, too, have found 

 young snakes in the body of an old rattler. 

 Once, when riding along the road, I heard 

 a snake rattle, and on looking, found a 

 prairie snake with a rattlesnake's tail stick- 

 ing out of its mouth. A few days ago my 

 nephew found a large prairie snake that 

 had half swallowed another good sized 

 prairie snake, head first. 



Yes, Carey C. Waleman, a coon does 

 make a loud noise. I do not know if it is 

 a challenge to a rival or a call to its mate. 

 It sounds something like "woo-oo-oo." 



B. Kuhn, Bulverde, Tex. 



In May or June Recreation I saw a 

 question which I can answer regarding 

 black and gray squirrels nesting together. 

 In Soison Park, at this place, I heard 2 

 squirrels barking and saw that one was 

 black and one gray. They ran into a hole 

 in a tree near by. I plugged the hole and, 

 getting an ax, cut the tree down and 

 caught the squirrels. I kept them some 

 time as pets, and finally sold them. The 

 black was a female ; the gray a male. 

 The hole was plainly their den. I also saw 

 young squirrels that I am sure were the 

 young of the pair mentioned. 



J. W. Miles, Connellsville, Pa. 



While reading July Recreation I came 

 across some interesting facts regarding the 

 muskrat. My experience as a trapper leads 

 me to believe that muskrats will eat flesh. 

 I use no bait for these animals, except 

 when they are scarce ; then, I have used 

 the flesh of muskrats with success. 



S. Newhouse, in his valuable guide for 

 trappers, says : "Their natural food is grass 

 and roots ; but they will eat clams, mus- 

 sels, flesh, corn, oats, apples and many 

 vegetables." 



H. K. Davidson, Jr., 

 Charlton Depot, Mass. 



In answer to Mr. Carey C. Waleman's 

 question, "Does a coon make a loud noise?" 

 will say I never knew a coon to make such 

 a noise as he mentions. During the rut- 

 ting season the male makes a rather loud 

 purring noise. They also make a noise 

 while fighting, but that is a squall. I have 

 had considerable experience coon hunting 

 and own some fine dogs. Should be 

 pleased to correspond with anyone inter- 

 ested in coon hunting. 



^, E, Barnes, Charleston, Ind, 



I have moved to this place for the sum- 

 mer's work. It is a fine upland plateau, 

 partially open and covered with lakes and 

 ponds, where great numbers of ducks and 

 other water fowl breed. It is a grand place 

 to study wild fowl, as they are as tame as 

 the semi-domesticated ducks one sees in 

 parks. I often have 5 or 6 kinds of ducks 

 within 25 yards of me and through a glass 

 I can see every feather. Allan Brooks, 

 150 Mile House, Caribou, B. C. 



I note the letters in June Recreation in 

 regard to rattlesnakes. The snake popula- 

 tion of this county has decreased more 

 than 1,000 since spring, as a result of a 

 bounty of 50 cents being offered for rat- 

 tlers. If A. W. King, who "is still waiting 

 to hear of a bona fide death from rattle- 

 snake bite," will send me his address I will 

 gladly furnish sufficient evidence to re- 

 lieve his suspense. 



F. A. Barney, Soldiers Grove, Wis. 



Our dove season opens August 1st. I 

 have found dove nests containing eggs as 

 late as July 18th. The dove is much hunted 

 in this State. I suppose the bird hatches 2 

 or 3 broods during the Summer. August is 

 to early to shoot them, I think. 



S. L. Spencer, San Dimas, Cal. 



My daughter has 2 tame crows that are 

 a source of great amusement. In my opin- 

 ion crows are exceedingly valuable to 

 farmers, as their search for insects is con- 

 tinuous. They fully earn the little corn 

 they pull. 



A. S. Doane, Waterlily, N. C. 



A SUGGESTION FOR CHRISTMAS. 



Have you commenced to think of Christ- 

 mas presents ? If so, here is a suggestion : 



A _ yearly subscription to Recreation 

 furnishes one of the most delightful, in- 

 structive, entertaining Christmas presents 

 you can possibly give a man or boy who 

 is interested in nature, in fishing, shooting, 

 amateur photography; or, who is fond of 

 the woods, the fields, the mountains, the 

 lakes or the rivers. 



Many of the presents which people give 

 their friends afford pleasure only for a few 

 days, or weeks. A subscription to Recrea- 

 tion means solid comfort a whole year. 

 It reminds your friend 12 times during the 

 year of your kindness and generosity. 

 There are many men and women who for 5 

 years past have annually sent in long lists 

 of names of friends, accompanied with a 

 check in order that these friends might be 

 made happy a whole year. Would it not 

 be well for you to adopt this plan? 



Try it and see how grateful the recipient 

 will fae, 



