FOREST AND STREAM. 



193 



■within u few years past, and it is now claimed by several 

 writers that the noise is produced, not by the wings striking 



the body, but by their rapid motion just as those of 'the 

 humming bird when hovering over a flower. Others argue 

 that the noise is caused by the backs or exterior sides of the 

 wings striking each other as they are forcibly raised over ihe 

 back of the bird. I have never b _en fortunate enough to ob- 

 serve the movements of the bird when so engaged sufficiently 

 to say which of the, above theories iscorrect. The dramming, 

 which beyond a doubt is the love call of the male, often leads 

 to his destruction, as it enables those who have no conscien- 

 tious scruples against killing birds during the breeding season 

 to mark well their location, and often kill tbem. It is during 

 this season that the males become so pugnacious, and often have 

 severe encounters caused by their jealousy. 



The recent disastrous lire at the Patent Office building, 

 which destroyed so many valuable models exhibited there as 

 a monument to the inventive skill of the American people, 

 did not reach those relative to fire-arms, gunpowder, fishing 

 implements, etc., which fortunately were arranged in the East 

 Hall, which was saved from the flames. There are great 

 numbers of models pertaining to fire-arms, ordinance, etc., 

 which form aii interesting exhibition, and their destruction 

 would have been an irreparable loss. R. F. B. 



OUR LONDON LETTER. 



London, England, Sept. 12, 1877. 



GRIM old London, with its fogs and smoke, is deserted by 

 the beau viomic. The main streets and thoroughfares 

 wear a tame, lifeless aspect ; the Park makes scarcely an effort 

 at style and ton — in short, " the season" is over. And where 

 has all this gay life disappeared to ? The numberless country 

 seats have received the greater portion by far, while numbers 

 of rich families, without this luxury, have, for the sake%f 

 fashion, sought the continent, there to sojourn for the dull 

 London months, and to return again at the approach of spring. 

 The titled gentry and Honarable M. P's. are at present en- 

 gaged in waging indiscriminate w T ar upon the grouse and part- 

 ridges o'er woodland and lea, and the reports incoming from 

 the different game counties indicate good sport and fair shoot- 

 ing. Perhaps a short review of out-door sports in England, 

 culled from the columns of The Field, may be of interest to 

 the patrons of Fokest .mid Stebak three thousand miles 

 away. The Field is the best of London sporting chronicles, 

 and is not davoted to the turf only, but yields some space to 

 almost every branch of manly exercise. ' ■ Bell's Life " is 

 authority on matters pertaining solely to the turf, and wastes 

 little space on minor matters. 



Glancing over a copy of the Field, the last issued, Sept. 8, 

 we notice few items of interest to the American reader. 

 Going back a week, we find much readable matter, and a 

 more attractive sheet than the present issue. 



The first thing that strikes the eye is a short article on Fal- 

 conry, descriptive of a " stud of hawks" now on exhibition 

 at Alexandra Palace. The revival of falconry in England and 

 the placing of the sport upon a secure footing, seems to be 

 taking a definite shape. Efforts have been made in years past 

 to this end, and in 1871 an attempt was made to establish a 

 "Central School of Falconry." This plan has of late been 

 re-agitated, and the sporting journals are doing all they can to 

 aid in the revival of this delightful, but till lately, obsolete, 

 sport. We append a short account of the present exhibition 

 clipped from the Field of Sept. 1 : — 



"The recollection of the efforts then made seems now to have been 

 revived, for at the Alexandra Palace at the present time there is on 

 view as tine a stud ot hawks as oue could wish to see. The stud con- 

 sists of two Norwegian je: falcons, four Norwegian goshawks, three 

 French goshawks, two lanners, sixteen peregrines (seven young and 

 nine old bird*), three hotibies, three sparrow-hawks, and ten merlins, 

 besides nine cormorants trained for fisalug. The quarters assigned to 

 them in the grounds of the Palace are not only very picturesque, but 

 are very fairly salted to their requirements; and when it is stated that 

 they are under the care of the experienced Scotch falconer, John Barr, 

 it will be understood that they are properly looked after. The owner, 

 a well-known amateur falconer, in allowing the turds to be "on view" 

 for some weeks, has, we believe, made it a condition of their loan to 

 the Palace management that there shall be no attempt at exhibiting 

 falconry, strictly so termed, wttuin the Palace grounds, He has con- 

 sented, however, to their beiiig publicly "flown to the lure •'— a very 

 pretty sight, to which we shall allude anon, in which the marvelous 

 qulcbuesa and power of wing of these noble birds are thotougbly dis- 

 played. To those wlio are at all curious to see trained hawks, and ex- 

 amine and compare the various species which are employed for taking 

 different ' quarry,' a visit to this collection will prove most instructive. 



"Leaving the terrace ami walking down to the Japanese Village, a 

 group of picturesque wooden buildings and verandas in the Japanese 

 style, the visitor passes through a wicket gate, and straightway nndshmt- 

 sclf in view of the birds, the majority of which are on then- blocks upon 

 a sloping grass bank, enjoying, without their hoods, the afternoon sun. 

 The larger birds, as the peregrines, lanners, and goshawks, are ou 

 wooden blocks, to which they are secured by a leash through then jes- 

 ses (the short leathern straps which are fa-tened to their legs); but the 

 smaller kinds, as merlins, hobbies aadsparrowhawks, are perched upon 

 inverted flower pots, which answer the same purpose and are much 

 more portable than the heavier blocks. Some are dozing on the perch, 

 others are disporting themselves on the cool grass at the full length of 

 their leher, or 'tiling,' it may be, on a pigeon's wing; while in the 

 background, under the shade of the trees, sit nine cormorants, grim 

 aud weird-like as we have seen them on the rocks at sea, -watching in- 

 tently with their keen and cruel eye every movement of the appioach- 

 mg visitor. The coup d'cdl presented by this group of fifty odd birds, 

 posed in every conceivable attitude, and clothed in various shades of 

 soft gray and brown plumage, is picturesque in the extreme, and even 

 those who are not ornithologists cannot fail to admire the sight. 



"Among the peregrines the visitor will notice two Irish birds, others 

 from Lulworth on the Dorsetshire coast, and the rest from Falcons- 

 waerd in North Brabant, a locality long celebrated in the annals of fal- 

 i Tits hawks and aat ivc falconers, a noteworthy Mrd 



press,' a magnificent old i eregrlne, whosn brilliant performances at the 

 lure before many thousands of people in the French capital, in 1873, 

 formed a frequent to >:c m the newspapers at that time. Her mynir 

 cousiders that she is almost, if not quite, the finest an 1 fastest pere- 

 grine ever known in modern times. 



"The 'quarry' down at with these peregrine may be partridges, wild 

 ducks, plovers, and looks, aud wheu opportunity serves, and the hawks 

 have. been properly entered, a good flight may be had at a heron. Part- 

 ridges, tays an enthusiastic modern falconer, are the modem game- 

 hawker's principal quarry, and are flown at In Ihe same manner as 

 grouse. They have, however, nn awkward habit of taking refuge in 

 hedges, bunks, or Ihe slightest possible covert, and very cleverly too, 

 so that It is most desirable to meet with them ou open ground. Oimeul 

 whereon stone walls take the place of hedges in these days of initios- 

 ures, Is therefore not to be despised; but for English partridge hawk- 

 ing there is no place like the glorious arable downs of Berkshire aud 

 Wilts." 



Turning again to the last edition of the paper we see much 

 space devoted to aogling. The devotees of Ihe rod are 

 having grand salmon fishing in the north ; faucy killing a 36 

 pound fish with a rod! The unusually severe weather in the 

 north of Scotland is putting a damper upon the ardor of many 

 of the gentlemen, however, and they are returning disgusted. 

 It is nearly a fortnight ago that the snow covered the Gram- 

 pian hills, and this is very unusual, ns the fleecy mantle holds 

 off generally tmtil the middle or later October. Great com- 

 plaint is heard on all sides of the scarcity of partridges. The 

 season opened on the 1st inst., but only moderate, bags have as 

 yet been made. This is owing to two things : they say the 

 continuous wet weather of the spring and summer has killed 

 innumerable quantities, and then again the harvesting in Eng- 

 land is so late this year that much of the corn is still standing, 

 thus preventing the sportsman from working out many other- 

 wise fine stubbles. But what do the English call "moderate 

 bags?" 130 grouse and two snpe! A fair week's shooting is 

 thus recorded, 1,233 grouse and nine snipe. Grouse-shooting 

 opened on the 1st ult. and pheasant shooting is yet to be inau- 

 gurated on the 1st prox. By the way, en passant, there is, 

 in this connection, something which may he useful for your 

 wealthy n aders to know, namely, that in certain.shooting local- 

 ities of Scotland extensive moors with shooting box and every- 

 thing complete may be hiredfor the "season'-six weeks or more. 

 You become sole possessor during your tenancy, and the rent 

 in most cases is a mere song. I shall not have an opportunity 

 just at this time, though pressed with numerous invitations, 

 to give you an account of your correspondent's own experience 

 upon the English and Scottish moors, but ou my return from 

 the Continent may have something of interest to say about 

 pheasant shooting. Referring again to what was said above 

 about hiriug a moor, we may add that Banffshire, Scotland, is 

 an excellent locality for this, as there are many line moors 

 and the rents are low. 



The sporting papers here also fill their columns with reports 

 of archery matches, lawn tennis (a very popular game with 

 the ladies), golf (a game which the writer but imperfectly un- 

 derstands), cards, chess, etc. Besides these, they give pages 

 of cricket matches, turf notes, and other minor matters of 

 which the American reader knows little or nothing about. 

 Lack of space forbids the completion of this letter at present, 

 and, with a sincere hope for the continance of your present 

 prosperity, I subscribe myself BAmoh. 



The 800 and 000-ynrds shooting was not unto the standard 

 of our long-rarrge experts, nor do we think it represents the 

 full skill of the men taking part ; but for this poor shooting 

 the gusty character or the- wind, which prevailed daring the 

 shooting, must be held reBDOrsible. At 800 yards the Wis- 

 consin men secured a good lead, but a bad break in Ihe 

 1.000 yards allowed the home team to entry olf the honors 

 of the match, Wisconsin falling in the second place, and 

 Michigan steadily in the roar. The full scores were as fol- 

 lows: 



ILLINOIS TEAlf. 



J A Scliaffer. 

 3 5 3 5 4 S 3 5 5 4—41 

 5 5 3 8 « 3 5 3 S 5— 3T 

 3 :: u ii a 3 2 (1 5 3 3 4—28 



B S Thompson. 



3 5 5 5 4 6 -13 5 5— if 



■t -l 6 1 G a r, 3 e 5— 46 



56445344354534 3—61 



Total 104 



George WiHard. 



» a 4 a 8 8 3 3 5 5—26 



3 5 4 5 A 4 2 3 5 5—38 



4 4 3 5 3 6 2 3 5 3 4 4 4 3—51 



Total 155 



Walter Burnham. 



5 4 3 3 3 5 4 5 4 3—39 



n S 2 f. 2 it 5 5 3 3—28 



00-34624506SJ8 3U 4—40 



The Gn,moee's Gakden Presentation. — There his been 

 a gjeat pother made over the money received from the pro- 

 prietors of Gilmore's Garden by the National Rifle Association 

 as its share of the receipts taken on the night of the presenta- 

 tion of the prizes. The daily papers have sought to turn it 

 to sensational uses, and talk very loudly and very ridicuously r 

 about money paid to the American team, failing meantime to 

 give a complete and intelligible account of money matters be- 

 tween the team of the National Rifle Association and the pub- 

 lic. So far as Gilmore's Garden went the team did notreceive 

 one cent of the money there collected. Snail sums, we un- 

 derstand, had been paid to members of the team as part pay- 

 ment of their expenses of practice at Creedmoor, but this was 

 entirely distinct from any question of success or failure. For 

 several years past it has been the practice of the National 

 ltifle Association to hire Gilmore's Garden under the same 

 conditions, and why it should now raise so much indignation 

 on the part of the press it is difficult to understand. 



Deakboen Rifle Club Meeting.— A three days' tourna- 

 ment of the Dearborn Rifle Club of Chicago, at Stony 

 Island near that city, occupying Thursday, Friday and Sat- 

 urday of last week, gave the Western riflemen an oppor- 

 tunity of showmg their skill before the target, and affording 

 gratifying proof of the hold rifle practice is taking in vari- 

 ous parts of the country. The programme was a good one, 

 and drew probably as able a concourse of riflemen, shooting 

 under the modern system, as it is possible to gather in the 

 Northwest. The weather was favorable, though doubtless 

 there w r as liberal grumbling on this point. Besides a good 

 array of local talent, the international match was recalled 

 by the presence of several members of the Imperial British 

 Rifle Team, as well as by the attendance of a member of the 

 American team. 



The first contest on the programme was the inter-State 

 match, open to all teams. Distance, 800, 900 aud 1,000 

 yards. Only three teams entered. Illinois was represented 

 by J. A. Schutl'er, George Willard, R. S. Thompson and 

 Walter Burnham, all of Chicago. J. W. Roberts was cap- 

 tain of this team. Wisconsin was represented by a 

 team from the Milwaukee Rifle Club, which consisted of J. 

 M. Johnston, captain ; David Hill, E. Fielding and J. C. 

 Wells. Michigan was represented by ateam from the Jack- 

 sou Club, consisting of G. H. Wolcott, captain ; J, T. Hav- 

 g, S. Levy yn.d 1> J, tteiic. ' 



Total 115 Total., 



WISCONSIN TEAX. 



J M Johnson. 



4 5 4355 3 65 4-43 



5 34555233 5—40 

 03032 2 2 533 2 525 2—39 



.,107 



E Fielding-. 



255434245 5—39 



5. "14544544 2—42 



3 2 3 2 4 i 3 U 0—19 



Total 122 



David Hill. 

 4 4 5 5 3 5 4 4 5 5—44 

 345552564 5—43 

 J3335534433364 3—36 



Total .: 1L0 



JC-Well.s. 



3 2 B 4. J 8 3 5 5 5— 3ft 



4 5 3 3 3 3 2—23 

 3 3 2 4 5 3 5 S-<3 



Total 143 Total.. 



MICHIGAN TEAM. 



G II Wolcott. 

 0446 4 445 3—35 

 3 2 4 4 5 5 5 4 5 6-32 

 203045444353 2 5 3-4' 



J T Harrington. 



3 5 4454540 2— SO 



4348 3 S 8 5 6 S- gfl 



05542 2 32425502 0-S9 



Total 124 



S a Levy. 

 5 44233232 4—32 

 335454320 0—24 

 42252332430033 4—40 



Total..., 101 



Total, 



..in 



R J Halre. 



3 5 S 3 5 4 3 2 4-35 

 nn r~* i553 ° i 3 2-l 3—38 

 00535 2 003 2 3420 0-31 



™al ^ 



The other match of the day was at 500 yards, iudividus 1 

 shooting, two sighting and ten scoring shots, open to men - 

 hers of regular rifle clubs and associations. Two prizes 

 were offered, the first being a silver pitcher, and the second 

 A silver cup. The entries contained several notable names 

 including Sir Henry Halford, the cactain of the British 

 team ; J. K. Millner and R. S. Greennill of the Irish team 

 and F. Hyde of the American team. These crack shots 

 were, however, defeated, the first prize falling to D HilPef 

 the Milwaukee team. The wind, which had troubled the 

 shooters so badly on the long ranges, had somewhat sub- 

 sided, and the scores were correspondingly better. The 

 following are the gcgres : 



B Hill 5 



K Fielding 5 



R S Thompson 5 



JK Millner 4 



George 'Villard 4 



Jr Hyde 5 



AG Alford 4 



sir Henry Halford 5 



•Johu Johnson 5 



R L S Greenhill 3 



5 5 5 3 4 



5-50 

 5—49 

 5-49 

 5-43 

 5—48 

 5— 4S 

 5— 4T 

 5— )7 

 4— 4T 

 5-44 



It heme a tie between Fielding, of Milwaukee, and Thomp- 

 son, of Chicago, for the second purse, they shot off the 

 former winning by the following score : 

 Fielding 5 5 5 5— 20 Thompson 5 5 5 4-19 



The second day of the meeting saw more long-ran^e 

 shoo intr in the contest for the Dearborn Club Challenge 

 Oup. The wind was steadier and less strontr ; the sky 

 cloudy, but light good. Four teams were made up for the 

 match. The Dearborn Rifle Club impressed Sir Henry Hal- 

 ford into their ranks, making up what they styled a British- 

 American team. The "Irish contingent," of the Imperial 

 team, united with Frank Hyde in formiD.a: an Insb-Amcri- 

 cau team, while the Wisconsin and Michigan teams stood as 

 on Ihe day previous. Ihe resHlt was an easy victory for 

 the Irish-Americans on the following score : 



IRISn-AMEBtCAN TBAlf. 



K 8 Greenhill.", 



25442453 445335 3—56 

 ? 4 4 II 5 5 4 5 4 3 4 5 2 3 5-64 

 50434045355355 5-56 



Total ' ^ 



Frank Hyde. 



03 3 4565 545 3 353 4— 6T 

 * u^ I \i I 5 3 2 4 5 ° 4 5-58 

 33332630345544 5—52 



J K Millner. 

 5555 5"4 35453544 4—66 



5 5 5 5 4 4 4 5 2 2 3544 3—60 



4 2 255553353555 5—62 



Total 188 



Will Rigby. 

 2 3 242454453355 5—56 



5 334 5 242445555 4—60 

 2340 3 504 325555 5—51 



Total 167 



R S Thompson 

 '.55 5 455565 5 45 5-6T 

 i 5 2 4 5 5 4 5 5 5 5 3 5 5—65 

 >524555545555 5—68 



BKITISH-AMEBICAN TBAM. 



Sir Henry Halford. 

 334545 45232 5 4 5- 54 

 2 2 5 3 3 3 4 4 3 4 5 4 5 2—49 

 45433223344554 3—54 



Total ,200 



O C Blackmer. 

 8 2 3 3 8 4 4 4 8 4 4 8 3 3 B— 48 



440500 3243545 3—43 

 2 5 3 5 5 5 3 4 3 4 3 3 4 0—19 



Total. . 



..1ST 



George Willard. 

 S3 303565453453 4—53 

 4 3 4 3 3 3 5 4 2 5 3 6 3 2-49 

 4 0-2 00530000000 4— IS 



Total 139 



WISCONSIN TEAM. 



David Hill. 

 5 4 5 5 5 5 4 5 3 5 4 5 4 5 4—68 

 3 5 4 3 5 4 4 5 5 3 5 5 3 4 0—53 

 2 5 3 2 5 3 5 5 5 3 3 3 5 5—48 



Total 120 



J M Johnson. 



4 5 4 4 5 3 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 4 4-66 

 3445 2 3 2555 5 544 5-61 

 00300454543325 0—38 



Total 163 



R Fielding, 



2535 5 3 45340440 5—52 

 2 5 2 3 5 3 3 5 3 5 5 4-lt 

 00 50522430003 0—24 



...155 Total JiQ 



MICUIGAN TBAM. 



G H Wolcott. 

 2535455435 5 556 4—65 



Total 1T5 



J C Wells. 

 0055454434. 5 443 5—55 

 2 5023045344525 6— 4M 

 4 23 54055454344 0—51 



Tota 155 



Total 1T6 



S S Levy. 

 43250453043242 5—16 

 2 4 3 2 S 2 5 5 3 2 2 3 II 3—41 

 00000053335320 4—28 



J T Harrington. 



5254 5 532352243 5-55 

 4 4 5 3 3 3 3 5 4 2 5 5 5 4—65 

 3 5 5 3 5 3 3 2 4 4 3 2 0—42 



Total i5~i 



R J Haire. 

 2 3 344 5 53542552 5—57 

 2 424 4 200045335 3-41 

 80050342334554 3—43 



Tola 1 .. 



..115 



Total. 



.;•;■; 



hax was mt§ favorable for the third and cloiligj 



