376 



RECREATION. 



woods, and if it will run to earth, like the 

 common gray rabbit, if hunted with dogs. 

 I should like to get some, and let them loose 

 around here, if they will not run to earth. 

 Should like to hear from some of your read- 

 ers who have had experience in this kind of 

 business. The gray rabbits hole so soon 

 there is no chance of shooting them out, and 

 I do not fancy that much. 



La Drew Sherwood, Etna, N. Y. 



What rifle would be best for all-around 

 shooting in Arizona? 



H. C. D., Denver, Col. 



ANSWER. 



For rabbits and coyotes, which are most 

 abundant in Arizona, I would advise a 

 .32-20 repeater. — Editor. 



I saw a friend of mine shoot through a 

 stove pipe at a distance of 200 yards using a 



Marlin Safety rifle and a .22 short cartridge, 

 and the pipe was stuffed full of rags, too. 

 The same rifle and ammunition have killed 

 several beeves and they were dead when 

 they struck the ground. These trials in my 

 mind prove that the .22 short will give satis- 

 factory results if used in a good rifle. 



John Combe, Mahaska, Kans. 



I believe the Remington is as good a gun 

 as any ever placed on the market. I have 

 used several Remington guns, and have also 

 used other makes, but like none better than 

 the Remington for a close, hard shooting 

 gun, strong, durable, and accurate. 



H. L. Hayes, Warrenton, Va. 



I should like to hear from some reader 

 who has used a .25-36 Marlin or .25-35 Win- 

 chester smokeless, in regard to killing 

 power, etc. Also the loads giving best re- 

 sults. W. E. Nourse, Salem, Mass. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



A KINGFISHER'S FISHING. 



My home is on the banks of the Missis- 

 sippi river. I spend much time in fishing 

 and canoeing, and during some of my trips 

 have noticed quite a number of dead fish 

 on the shallows, with a hole in the back 

 of their heads and both eyes out. I have 

 studied and watched for hours, trying to 

 find out what killed them. I finally gave 

 up in disgust, thinking it must be done in 

 the night by some new kind of fish hog. 



But one morning I found out, quite un- 

 expectedly, what caused the mischief. 



It is my habit during the fishing season 

 to cross the river to a small lagoon that 

 runs through the meadows, catch a few 

 bass or pike and store them in a small pond 

 I built for the purpose at the mouth of a 

 little spring brook. 



One morning I was standing in front of 

 the house enjoying the fresh air. I had my 

 shotgun with me, intending to practice on 

 any stray birds of prey that might be after 

 the chickens. 



I had fallen into a sort of day dream, 

 when I was tapped on the shoulder and in- 

 formed that if I wanted a fish for breakfast 

 I would better go to get one. 



Arrived at the pond, I seated myself on 

 a log, behind some bushes, to watch for a 

 few minutes for muskrats. 



While sitting there several kingfishers 

 flew by, one pausing to light on a limb 

 hanging over the dam, where my fish were 

 confined. He sat turning his head first 

 one side, then the other, apparently looking 

 for something, as I soon found he was. 



All at once he made a dash, striking the 

 water like a stone, pausing there for an 



instant, then flying back with a noisy chat- 

 ter, to his perch on the limb. There he sat 

 shaking himself and giving forth his saucy 

 chatter. 



I watched him, wondering what he had 

 done in the water; for he brought nothing 

 out with him, and I knew there were no fish 

 in the pond he could lift. Just then a fish 

 jumped in the air and fell back with a loud 

 splash and the water boiled as other fish 

 rushed around, seemingly trying to get out. 

 During this time the kingfisher sat con- 

 tentedly watching the fun. 



I looked toward the pond and there, 

 gently turning toward the surface, was the 

 white belly of one of my choice fish. My 

 companion on the limb seemed just as in- 

 terested as I. He kept his head turning 

 from one side to the other, looking at the 

 water, but never noticing me. Finally, the 

 fish gave up his struggles and floated 

 against the head of the dam. 



The bird flew to the head of the dam, 

 hopped to where the fish lay, took it by the 

 fin and by little pulls and jerks towed it to 

 one corner of the dam where the water was 

 shallow. Then he deftly plucked out its eyes 

 and started to fly away, but did not go far 

 for I dropped him with a charge of shot. 

 On examining the fish, I found a hole in 

 the centre of its head made when the bird 

 plunged at it in the water. Since then I 

 go each morning to the river bank and prac- 

 tice on kingfishers. 



INSTINCT OR REASON. 



In July Recreation C. M. Dickson ex- 

 presses his belief that " a dog can and does 



