6 
truth from both observation and experience. There are hosts 
of then in the service who shoot better than I, but I know— 
egotistical as it may seem to say it—that they can’t tell the 
reasons why to save their lives—and I have to instruct some 
of these very men as a part of my duty. If the penhad been 
held as quiet as possibly he can hold the rifle, ‘Holding 
Well” would have held better, and not have written an un. 
just criticism. I, for one, thank Mr. Duane for his experi- 
ments and articles, and hope we may see more of them, 
OC, D. 
Frog SHoorme.—The frog is a homely creature, but 
every yeat it becomes more yaludble intrinsically as a 
marketable product of the fresh water. It is now esteemed 
48 game in restaurants, and three frogs fricaseed in cream 
call for forty cents, The restaurateur pays about fifty cents 
a dozen for them. They are sold like terrapins, and if under 
six inches from tip to tip they are not ‘counts.’ The 
American Eneylopedia says that the frog is a batrachian 
reptile of the anourous order, embracing such thoroughbred 
eroups as the ranide and hylade. The ranidee is therefore, 
the “‘anourous batrachian reptile’ which we devour with 
cream sauce, and pay forty cents for. The hyla is a tree- 
frog, with warts on its-back, and is not built for the table. 
The small boy used to kill frogs ten years ago on the mill- 
ponds with stones and trade them off in town for enough to 
buy ‘‘alley-taws” or “‘lignum tops” with. Now able-bodied 
men armed with shotguns go out and make a good day’s 
wages by killing a couple of dozen or so. Sportsmen even 
go after them with cat-rifles, and shoot them as they squat 
on the banks of a stream: or pond, with true sportsmanlike 
glee. Hpicures deyour them greedily. The ranide are 
ordinarly known as bull-frogs, because when they attain old 
age they can raise as much fuss along a river bank at night 
as a herd of Texas cattle, The boys call them ‘‘bloodies,” 
the name being an abbreviation of ‘‘bloody-nouns” the 
pronunciation of the compound word in a guttural voice 
being similar to a stave of the ranida’s evening serenade. 
The frog spends most of his time in the water, when he loafs 
under a stone, but he can hop across country when his 
native pond dries up in a style that would discount an 
Arabian camel making for an oasis, When he finds another 
pool of water he stays there and makes himself comfortable. 
Occasionally he will stop and spend some time in a moist 
locality, where there is nothing but ooze and damp leaves. 
He has four non-palmated fingers, a rudimentary thumb, 
ancl enormous extensor muscles in his hind legs. “He lives 
upon bugs, and has been known to swallow smull birds, but, 
like other amphibia and unlike the ward politician, he 
cannot drink. His tongue is fastened to the lower jaw at 
the tip instead of the base, and he slings it out after a cricket 
or June bug like a lasso. The encyclopedia states that the frog 
is peculiar for the presence of occipital condyles and 
the development of the transverse processes of the 
sacrum, but most people do not believe this. His greatest 
peculiarity lies in the fact that there is nothing to eat on his 
bones except the muscles of his legs. The number of frogs 
sent North during the spring and summer is enormous. 
From the tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay alone the frog 
crop averages $100,000 a year. In the salt marshes of the 
South they grow larger than they do clsewhere, but the meat 
is coarser and not so edible, Frogs are as prolificas herrings. 
Millions of little black tadpoles infest every mudpuddle. 
The knowing fish esteem them very highly as food, but the 
tadpole who escapes consumption for three weeks drops his 
tail, which is only a temporary affair anyhow, grows four 
ample legs and goes out to be a “bloody” himself until he is 
shot or hooked to satiate the inveterate maw of the lord of 
creation.— GBultimore Sun. 
Srpe-Honr STRATAGEMs.—Several years ago the writer 
und a friend named Hodge (then hoys) decided to have a 
shooting match on a certain New England Fast Day. A 
value was to be set upon everything shootable, including 
even conimon house cats. The day came raw and chilly, 
and the writer betook himself to tae starting point at an early 
hour of tbe morning. Hodge soon appeared and produced 
the tip of the tail of a cat, which counted 25, explaining: that 
4 neighbor had asked him to kill it for her several days ago, 
but that he had kept it tied up until the day of the match, so 
as to get 25 points to start with. Of course I felt cheated, 
wud meditated revenge. The day and place selected proved 
unpropitious, and after a weary tramp the shades of night 
found me withont a thing to show for my hunting. At this 
point, while walking along the bank of a river, a skunk was 
discovered apparently lying down under a bush. <A close 
examination showed if to have been dead but a few. hours. 
A crashing in the bushes told of the near approach of Hodge, 
so the writer drew up his gun and fired at the defunct skunk, 
making some new shot holes init, ‘‘Hello!” came from the 
woods in the voice of Hodge. “Hello!” was yelled back at 
hin. ‘*What did you shoot at?” ‘‘A skunk; come and see 
it,” called the writer, The bushes opened and Hodge ap- 
peared, likewise minus any game. ‘‘I don’t smell him,” said 
Hodge, ‘surprised him, and shot him before he had time 
fo give out any odor,” Lreplied, Hodge came up and viewed 
the creature, saying mourpfully, ‘‘Well, then, I suppose 1 am 
heaten, as a skunk counts 50, while a cat counts but 26.” 
The pair wended their way homeward in the chilly atmos- 
phere, one sad at being beaten and the other feeling that the 
ends of justice had not been thwarted. Some months after- 
ward the writer confessed to a congenial crowd, of which 
Hodge was one, and it cost him a treat for us all, and it was 
a long time before he heard the last of that shooting match. 
—CURTIS, 
Fiswer’s IstAsp Cius.—Hoboken, N. J.—The secretary 
of the club has received yery encouraging news from the 
farmers of FPisher’s Island, N. Y., stating that about all of 
the 400 quail turned out were mated and doing well, whistl- 
ing over the whole of the island. This will give the club 
one of the finest preserves to shoot over that can be found in 
any of the Hastern and Northern States, and insures the suc- 
cess of their field trials, to be held about the middle of No- 
vember, These trials will be made a social gathering of the 
members and a friendly contest between their pointers and 
setters for a handsome prize in plate. In time, when the 
club grows stronger, public field trials may be inaugurated, 
a want sadly felt by the sportsmen of the Hastern States, who 
cannot compete in the trials held at present in Tennessee and 
other Southern States, for want of time and on account of 
the heavy expense. Besides the abundance of quail, the club 
has two coveys of English pheasants on their island, and 
proposes to turn out during this. summer probably forty or 
fifty young hares, of a Huropean breed, which are now being 
bred in captivity by a member. These will be used for 
coursing only, and the members of the club will shoot none 
fora few years,—Max W. 
sill -_ i eee Gee 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
Prize OwLERs.— Washington, Pa., has a society called 
the Hawk and Ow] Association, now in its seventeenth year. 
The President of the society writes: We are strictly a sports- 
man’s organization for the preservation of game, and who 
have waged war so long on the worst enemies of our game 
that [ believe we are at last well paid, It is no uncommon 
thingto count 1,000 heads of hawks and owls at our annual 
meet, presented in competition for prizes offered by the 
society. ‘The birds are for the most part captured in steel 
traps placed upon a pole on elevated ground. A bunch of 
feathers, a wing, a rabbit skin, or similar lure, placed within 
twenty-five yards of the traps draws them a long distance. 
They light on the pole to investigate. The pole should be 
set in the open field, Many depend upon shooting them but 
it is not so successful. John Crawford, in this county, turned 
in for count forty-seven, taken in the trap during the month 
of January last; that seems wonderful, yet itistrue. He 
has quite a number of traps set. The men who participate 
in the contest for prizes are generally farmers. The prizes 
are for the largest specimens, from the Cooper hawk to the 
redtail, and from the barn owl to the great horned owl. 
Will report at close of this year.—J. 8. M. 
A’ Grounp Hoe Day.—Steubenville, O., July 25.—Our 
boys are starting for their camping grounds on Yellow Oreck, 
Thomas Mears and his sons Will and Ed are camped near 
Nebo, and report squirrels very plentiful. Bob White is 
whistling around the wheat fields, and unless we are mis- 
taken we are going to have some good shooting this fall, 
Some time ago one of your correspondents wrote Inquiring 
if it Was an unusual thing to see a ground hop up a tree. If 
he would come here I could show him one up a tree any day. 
Last season some boys were camping on good old Samuel 
Wallace’s place on Yellow Creek. “Boys,” says he, ‘the 
ground hogs are ruining my meadows. I will give you a 
quarter a piece for every ground hog you kill.” The boys 
started out and formed a skirmish line. Bang bang all day, 
and in the evening they brought in the game, and you should 
have seen Wallace. Forty ground hogs, young and old, all 
in one heap. Of course the boys didn’t want the money, 
arth had the old man solid on the ground hog subject.— 
MassiLion, O., July 26.—The sportsmen of this vicinity 
met last evening and organized the Massillon Rod and Gun 
Club, electing the following gentlemen as officers: President, 
E. W. Eckert; Vice-President, Frank Brown; Secretary, 
L. C. Cole; Treasurer, Jas. H. Hunt; Captain, Geo. O. Dob- 
son; Executive Committee, Dr. H. ©, Royer, E. W, Eckert, 
and John Ryder. The club intends to improve in shooting, 
and to see that the game and fish laws of the State are en- 
forced, an undertaking in which they will find that they have 
their hands full, as there is plenty of room in this section of 
the country for action, several cases having already been 
discovered, Negotiations haye been made with the Ligow- 
sky Clay-Pigeon Co. for traps and pigeons, and the club ex- 
pects to begin practice in a week ot so.—Rop anp Gun. 
Two-HyEp Snoorme.—Glassville, Mo,—I think ‘Ama- 
teur,” of Somerset, Pa., is a little “off” in his idea that two- 
eyed rifle shots do not observe the sights. It is impossible 
for any one to shoot a rifle at, say 200 yards, without sight- 
ing it, and sighting it fine. Now, the fact is two-eyed rifle- 
men shoot just exactly as others do, 7. ¢., they look through 
the sights with one eye, while the other is of no use what- 
ever, it might as well be shut. I know whereot I speak, for 
I have handled a rifle ever since I was big enough to carry 
one, shooting sometimes with one eye open. sometimes with 
both, but I always take aim, and always with my tight eye. 
No man living can Jook through rifle sights with both eyes 
at the same time. It is a physical impossibility,—S. Y. L. 
CAMB INTO THE BiIND.—Boston.—A party of duck ghoot- 
ers had Jast fall quite a curious incident, while shooting on 
one of the ponds near Sandwich, ‘They had decoyed a flock 
of about seventy-five black ducks up to the stand, and. were 
waiting till they conld shoot to good advantage, the ducks 
being somewhat scattered, some being on the shore within 
two or three feet of the blind. The gunners had a number 
of live decoys inside, and one of the wild ducks hearing 
thein call, flew on the top of the blind and jumped down 
inside where the shooters were, staying there for one or two 
It then went back into the water without seem- 
minutes. 
ingly being frightened in the ieast. 
shot fifteen from the flock.—H. J. T. 
The party afterward 
He Expecrs Four Hunprep Ann Furry.—EKasthamp- 
ton, Mass., July 22.—The woodcock season opens Aug. 1 
here, and as the birds are very plenty good sport is looked 
for, Last year I got 150 birds, and this year will get as 
many more, as the birds are three times as thick. 
squirrels are also yery plentiful. 
be satisfied with the bags of woodcock, partridge and quail. 
—W oopcock. 
Conorapo,—Hot Sulphur Springs, July 25.—Some sports- 
The chicks 
are of good size and make a capital fry, but the law forbids 
The people in this region 
men are already shooting young sage grouse. 
their killing for some weeks yet, I 
still rely almost entirely upon game for their meat supply, 
and .deer, antelope and elk are almost daily killed. How- 
ever, very little meat is now wasted, and no one ventures to 
The season has been and is favorable, the 
lll for market. ) ! I 
feed very fine, and in the auttimn months all kinds of veni- 
son will bein superb condition and very abundant.—W. N, B. 
PRosECUTE THE DEER Ki~Lers.—Wyalusing, Bradford 
County, Pa., July 28, 1884.—Adstor Horest and Stream: 
What can be done ina case like this? On Saturday, July 
19, 1884, two red deer (buck and doe) were killed in this 
county. The buck was skinned, and the meat used, but the 
doe was left until Sunday, July 20, when the party took the 
skin off and left the carcass to decay, The doe bad two 
fawns running at her side. These deer have fed in sight of 
our home this spring.—L. W. 
GAME WANTED.—Hampshire, Il]l.—Will some of your 
readers please tell me through your valuable paper where 
good deer and turkey shooting can be had, nearest point 
from Chicago, Ill. How is it around Dodge Centre, Minn,? 
—C. BE. P. New York,—Can your correspondents put me 
in the way of the best ruffed grouse shooting within ten or 
twelve hours of New York?—H, B. G. 
above title has purchased fifty acres 
sixteen miles southeast of 
Grouse 
are more plentiful than they have been for the last fifteen 
years, as large flocks have been seen close to the town. Gray 
J would like to see some 
sportsmen come here next fall, and I will warrant they will 
ee 
{Sony 31, 1884, 
Wooncocge 14 Oxnto.—Wooster, O., July, 1884.—Editor 
Forest and Stream: Mr. J. Fi. Mack, of New York, manager 
of Haverly’s 
hunting woodcock, Considering the extreme dry weather 
we did remarkably well. On 
a half brace; Wednesday eight brace, and on 
a half brace—all fine, plump birds. 
pally in the cornfields; some few in 
Joun Boxvs, 
enterprises, spent the past week with me. here, 
Monday we bagged nine and 
Friday ten and 
We found them princi- 
the alder thickets,— 
Raccup- Lake Rop Any Guy Crus—A club with the 
of ground and a house 
N. Y. The lake is about 
Malone and four miles west of the 
Upper Chateaugay Lake. The members of the club are 
mainly from Syracuse, and among the number is the Hon. 
James Geddes, This club will materially assist in the pre- 
servation of fish and game in the Northern Adirondacks, 
on- Ragged Lake, Franklin county, 
PENNSYLVANIA Woopcock SEAson. = Hollidaysburg, 
Pa,, July 28.—Hditor Forest and Stream: Prospects for fall 
shooting through this section are fair. Woodcock haye been 
quite plenty this summer, but a good many sportsmen here 
would be pleased to see the season open later, say Aug. 1. 
The birds secured then would be worth double their.number 
on July 4, and every young hobbledeboy would be unable to 
cause their feeble-wings to fold.—T, BE. D. 
TEXAS CHICKENS AND QuaAtL.—Indianola, Calhoun Co., 
July 18, 1884.—Weather very dry since I wrote you last and 
birds of all kinds very scarce, although reports from the 
surrounding country say chickens and quail have bred well 
and are very plenty, When the first of August arrives I 
will be better able to report the truth of said reports.— 
GEORGE ARMSTRONG, 
Bay Brrp Movements.—Philadelphia, July 26.—Curlew, 
willets, and other shore birds, are beginning to show them- 
selves as they pass down the New Jersey coast. No birds 
are stopping, unless those that are called down. The flight 
will be over by the end of the first week in August, Robin 
snipe come later, These and the calico bird are the latest 
comers, —Homo. 
CALIFORNIA.—Mr. N. E. White, late of the Sacramento 
Bee, has bought the Sunday Capital, of the same city. Mn. 
White is well-known to all California sportsmen, and his 
pen has had a great influence in promoting the interests of 
game protection in that State. The Capital will, of course, 
be sound on this theme. 
Mrssounrr.—Ironton, July 18.—Quail wintered splendidly. 
The outiook for fall shooting is the best for several years. 
Several flocks of wild turkeys have been seen within three 
miles of town. Young turkeys are very small at present, 
but are in considerable numbers wherever seen.—W. E. B. 
ILutors.—Lacon, July 21.—This has been a very fine 
season so far for the breeding of game and wild life of all 
kinds here, therefore if nothing happens we may expect fine 
shooting when the season opens,—BYRNE, 
Outo.—Seville, July 25.—Weather dry here and prospects 
good for fall shooting. A whooping crane (@rus americanus) 
was shot near here lust week, something unusual for this 
locality. CHIPPEWA, : 
Wisconsty.—Roberts.—The promise is good now for chick— 
ens this fall; was never better. Bass fishing is very fair. 
Have only been trouting once; then got a good string,— 
On TW: 
+e aay Fiber 
Camp Lire HMlickerings. 
i 
“That reminds me.” 
128, 
Gb OYS,” exclaimed Sid one evening after we had eaten 
supper and were sitting around our little camp table, 
“did I ever tell you of my adveniure out in Colorado, in “72, 
with a panther?” “No,” ‘‘give it to us,” ‘fire away,” and 
the like greeted him. 
“Well, you see, ’d been out out after turkeys and was 
pretty far from camp, when | was struck with the idea that 
a drink of spring water would go good, so I shouldered ‘Old 
Maria’ and set off to hunt up a spring, Just as [ was emere- 
ing from a deep thicket I heard water drip, and looking 
around I spied a large rock and a tiny stream of water trick- 
ling down its side into a little pool below. I knelt down to 
take a drink when, to my horror, I saw reflected in the 
water from a limb just above me a panther’s head and shoul- 
ders, and its eyes told me that it was just about to jump. I 
knew that if I tried to leap away it would spring, sure, so I 
instantly swung Maria up over my shoulder, took aim bythe 
reflection in the water and fired. I killed that panther 
deader’n a, nit.” eens et, 
OsweEaeo, N. Y. 
129. 
Tf was quite late in the evening and had begun to grow a 
little dark. My dog, as usual, was off working the brush 
when all at once I heard a yelp, next a stampede, and then 
came face to face with a large flock of wild turkeys. The 
surprise was mutual, as well as the alarm, and before I 
could raise my gun and fire the flock had taken to the trees. 
I could count a half dozen within easy range, so selecting 
my victim, one which appeared to be a little larger and 
nearer than the rest, 1 fired. The turkeys all flew excepting 
the one I had fired at, which never moved, I fired the sec- 
ond barrel. The bird did not move. Then I tried again. It 
did not budge. Finally, I went closer to see what it all 
meant, I had been firing at a large hornets’ nest. 
Vatu, Ia. EH. B. B. 
WHAT THEY SAY OF “WOODCRAFT.? 
SSMUK” is an old and valued contributor to Forrest AND 
Stream, and his articles in that paper haye been of great 
Service to those who have undertaken a summer ramble in the 
forests. This writer has lately written a little yolume (**Wooderaft,” 
New York: Forest and Stream Publishing Company), in which are 
given in readable and entertaining form a vast deal of information 
and advice to those unacquainted with the ways of the woods. Not 
only does he tell how to pick out an admirable outfit, but he dis- 
courses on game, hunting, fishing, camp cooking, ete. No one can 
possibly do better before going into the woods than to read thought- 
fully “Nessmuk’s” words, acting upon his suggestions and remember- 
ing everything he says,— Albany Argus. 
66 
