138 



RECREA TION. 



hammerless gun, last fall, and am well satis- 

 fied with it. It is superior to any single gun 

 I ever used, both for pattern and penetra- 

 tion. It killed wild ducks at 70 yards. The 

 load used was 3I/2 drams powder and 1% 

 ounces No. 2 shot. 



E. G. Fadden, Mayan, Que. 



I have used all sorts and calibres of rifles, 

 from the old Springfield to the .30-30 Win- 

 chester. I think the .30-30 good enough for 



any game we have in this country. I have 

 hunted with men using .45-70' s and .45-90's, 

 and I killed as much game as they. I use 

 the full metal patch bullets and have had no 

 trouble from " leading." 



A. P. Waterbury, Sugar Loaf, Col. 



Will someone kindly tell me, through 

 Recreation, the best load for a 20 gauge 

 shotgun, and its range and penetration. 

 R. S. Hamilton, Berlin, Wis. 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



WILD PIGEONS IN KENTUCKY. 



Jeffersonville, Ind. 



Editor Recreation: On the afternoon of 

 October 12th near Cobb Station, Caldwell 

 county, Kentucky, I saw a flock of about 30 

 passenger pigeons. They were flying low, 

 just clearing the tree tops, and going in a 

 Northwesterly direction. I heard and rec- 

 ognized the well remembered whistle of 

 wings, and looking up I discovered the 

 pigeons almost directly over me. I had a 

 good view at close range, and, on account 

 of my familiarity with the bird am sure I 

 was not mistaken. 



It seems hardly possible that these 

 pigeons which existed in such vast numbers 

 but a short time ago, could all have been 

 killed. I incline to the opinion that they 

 have sought new fields and that at some fut- 

 ure time we may see them return to their old 

 feeding grounds. Owing to the destruction 

 of the forests and the consequent reduc- 

 tion in their food supply we cannot expect a 

 prolonged visit from them; but I believe 

 we shall see them again. 



Assuming they have found a refuge else- 

 where and are still in existence, it will re- 

 quire only a scarcity of food to start them 

 on their travels. This is likely to occur 

 sooner or later and when they emigrate I 

 predict they will revisit their old haunts. In 

 case they do return it will be interesting to 

 note the point of their first appearance and 

 some idea may be obtained as to their 

 whereabouts during the years of their ab- 

 sence. F. C. Koons. 



ANSWER. 



It is scarcely possible that the passenger 

 pigeon does exist anywhere to-day, in great 

 numbers. It is true, as stated in recent is- 

 sues of Recreation, that when the last 

 great nesting place was destroyed, in the 

 Indian Territory, the birds were not all 

 killed, by any means. They left there in 

 vast numbers and went South; but reports 

 have since been received from nearly all 

 portions of Central and South America and 

 it may be regarded as definitely settled that 



the passenger pigeon does not exist in either 

 of these countries. The pigeons so often re- 

 ported from there are of other species. 

 What has become of the passenger pigeon 

 no one knows. They have doubtless 

 broken up into small flocks and it is safe to 

 conclude that most of them have since been 

 killed off. 



It is gratifying, however, to hear such re- 

 ports as this of Mr. Koons. It is barely 

 possible that, if let alone, these small flocks 

 of pigeons may increase and that they may 

 again become plentiful, but it is hardly likely 

 that the game hogs and pot hunters will 

 permit this. It is more than likely that 

 whenever even a few pigeons are found 

 anywhere, most of them will be killed. It is 

 indeed sad that so noble a bird as this should 

 be exterminated, but such seems to be his 

 fate. — Editor. 



THE RED SQUIRREL AGAIN UNDER FIRE. 



Norway, Me., October 3, 1898. 



Editor Recreation: I am glad the red 

 squirrel question is at last up for an airing, 

 It is needed. A meaner or less desirable lit- 

 tle beast does not live in the woods of 

 Maine. 



I notice David Bruce of Brockport, N. Y., 

 believes an insect and not the red squirrel 

 is responsible for the large number of muti- 

 lated gray squirrels. I won't say he is en- 

 tirely wrong, but I think his statement is 

 greatly out of the way. I once killed a gray 

 squirrel, with rocks and clubs, immediately 

 after it had had an encounter with a red, and 

 on examining the carcass, found unmis- 

 takable fresh teeth marks on him. On 

 others I have shot, I found scars of a surg- 

 ical operation which was never performed 

 by any insect. Hunters here estimate that 

 only one out of every 6 or 8 gray squirrels 

 escapes the attacks of the red. As I haven't 

 shot a squirrel for 5 years, I can't speak on 

 that myself, but I do know the number of 

 unmutilated is small. 



Red squirrels are afraid of weasels, king- 

 birds, mankind and hornets, and I believe of 



