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RECREATION 



there he is not doing his duty. I am sure 

 any Sunday there would be a rich harvest 

 for a fearless game warden at this season, 

 especially at Little Rye Lake. 



I was requested by several of my friends 

 (all readers of Recreation) to call your at- 

 tention to this outrage so near New York 

 City. Trusting this will receive your earliest 

 attention, very truly yours, 



Joseph Mitchell. 



A PLEA FOR THE SKYLARK 



Editor Recreation : 



The European skylark {Alauda arvensis), 

 one of the finest songsters in the whole 

 world, was brought to the vicinity of New 

 York City over fifty (50) years ago; so little 

 notice has been taken of him that we do not 

 know to-day how far north, south and west 

 he has penetrated. 



Of the millions' in this country, both na- 

 tives and foreigners who have heard his song 

 in the Old World, there must be a few 

 hundreds like myself who would be glad to 

 help spread his song all over North Ameri- 

 ca. Bird importers in New York City will 

 sell the birds by the hundred at $1.50 per 

 pair, male and female, delivered in New 

 York. I would like to be one of one hundred 

 men to contribute $1.50 apiece for one hun- 

 dred pairs of skylarks, the money to be 

 placed in the keeping of the Editor of Rec- 

 reation, and the birds to be liberated in the 

 fall of 1906 at some point in the Gulf States. 



The skylark is migratory all over North- 

 ern Europe. 



I am satisfied that if a number were lib- 

 erated during autumn in the South they 

 would soon spread all over the continent. 

 In 1888, seventeen years ago, a number were 

 set free at Portland, Oregon; they have 

 spread over California Oregon and Wash- 

 ington. It is fifty years since I have heard 

 the lark and I never expect to listen to him 

 again, but I would like to give his song to 

 future generations. 



Edward K. Carr, Kerrville, Texas. 



BACK FROM THE STIKINE 



Editor Recreation : 



I'm back again to where people sit in chairs 

 and live in cages. 



We had a splendid trip and I brought back 

 a lot of photographs, drawings and good 

 health. 



I wish you could have been with me. The 

 Stikine river, I am sorry to say, is becoming- 

 very popular. This year there were fifteen 

 or more sportsmen hunting there, and all of 

 them were more or less successful. This, of 

 course, is a great strain on any country, and 

 although the Stikine is a big country, a few 



years like this one will be hard on the ani- 

 mals. 



I am speaking about large heads only, as 

 the game is abundant and can look out for 

 itself for years to come, but the big heads 

 will be difficult to secure, as in lower British 

 Columbia, where sheep are still numerous, 

 but large heads very rare. 



I was successful in securing some photo- 

 graphs of wild sheep and one of them, a pic- 

 ture of a Stonei ewe, with a grand glacier 

 for a background, is most interesting. Many 

 fine caribou heads were brought out, and in 

 the rugged interior country they are still 

 plentiful. All in all, it was a successful sum- 

 mer. We had more comforts than I have 

 ever had before in camp, namely, a cook — but 

 luxury doesn't agree with me and after this 

 I am going to cook my own grub and do my 

 own camp work. We took horses for the 

 first time (with packs) into the country west 

 of the Theslay and Tsi Tsehlah mountain. 

 This work I love, and "packing" certainly is 

 interesting work. 



Belmore Brown, 

 Tacoma. Wash. 



A RECIPE FOR ARSENICAL SOAP 



Editor Recreation : 



Recreation is one of my favorite papers. 

 It is always on my table. I am seeking a little 

 information. Can you tell me what prepara- 

 tion is used on the skins of birds and smaller 

 animals to preserve them when mounted? I 

 do a little of this kind of work, but am only 

 an amateur at the business. My specimens 

 have not been very good at keeping. Will 

 you kindly send me a receipt for the compo- 

 sition used? Any expense I will be pleased 

 to pay. Hoping that Recreation will always 

 be as good in the future as in the past, I re- 

 main. C. W. Bedford, M. D., 



New York. 



Take one pound of arsenic, one pound of 

 ordinary yellow soap and shave the latter 

 into thin slices, which will dissolve in warm 

 water to a thick paste, add four ounces of 

 camphor, and mix all these together. You 

 will find this a very useful arsenical soap. — 

 Editor. 



A REVERIE 



BY MARGUERITE JANVRIN. 



Our thoughts of summer do you say 

 Are buried with the ocean spray; 

 Beneath a sheet of morning dew. 

 Or lost in mists of rainbow hue, 

 Lie deep within the brier-rose. 

 Dreaming where the starlight glows 

 Perhaps 'neath autumn leaves they lie 

 While breezes croon a lullabye. 

 'Till springtime breathes a silent prayer 

 They sleep, then waken blooming fair. 



