806 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



fJAH. £0, 188^. 



"THE HOUND OF THE PLAINS." 

 'TX) the J antiary number of the Popular Science Monthly 

 X Mr. Ernest Ingersoll contributes an article on the 

 coyote entitled "The Hound of the PlainB." ]\lr. Inger 

 8oll is a clever and skillful maker of literary crazy-quilts. 

 He displays cultivated taste in liis selection of materials 

 and not less remarkable ingenuity in piecing his patch- 

 work into a many-colored and brilliant whole, so deftly 

 put together that the quotation marks (which in Uterary 

 crazy-quilts answer to stitches) cannot Ije detected by the 

 closest scrutiny. "The Hound of the Plains" is a'well- 

 raade sample of literary work of this class. It is instruc- 

 tive, entertaining and comprehensive. We note only one 

 omission in Mr. Ingersolfs paragraph on the ditferent 

 names of the coyote; he has neglected to say that the 

 creature is sometimes called "the thief of the plains," 

 because of a way it ha.s of appropriating as its own things 

 that do not belong to it. 



The following passages are taken from Mr. Ingersoll's 

 article in the Popular Science Monthly, January, 1887, 

 pages 363-63, and from a sketch by our well-known con- 

 tiibutor "Jacobstaff," pubUshed twelve years ago in the 

 Forest and Stream, March 18, 1875, pages 82-3. The 

 "deadly parallel coliunn" is employed for reasons which 

 are obvious: 



E. JngcrsolU in Popular Sctojce '^Tacobstaff,'''' in the Forest and 

 Mtmthly, Jan. 1886. Stremn., Marcli IS, 1S7S. 



Word would be sent out, in- Word had been sent out sev- 

 stnicting the different ^-illages eral days before to the different 

 concerned to elect their cap- towns and villages scattered 

 tains and furnish their quota of over the countrv lo elect their 

 wUliug gunners in the ring that captains for the 'grand hunt, to 

 was to concentrate upon a point form their portion of the ring 

 indicated by a tall flag-staff far that was to close up to a certain 

 out in the prairie. center indicated by a flag or a 



tAll stafl: far out on the prairie. 

 Theee rings were, sometimeR, These rings are sometimes 

 twenty . or thirty miles in dia- twenty and thirtv miles in dia- 

 metor, and it took an early start met«r, and it takes an early 

 and rapid traveling to close up start, with rapid traveling, to 

 in time. The captams, on horse- close up in time. The dift'erent 

 back, ride back and forth, keep- captains, on fleet hoi-ses, ride 

 ing the line in order, watching back and foi-th keeping the line 

 that everything is driven before in order, and as they close up 

 it. tlicj- drive everything before 



them. 



Aft«r marching for a few After a smart tramp of a few 

 miles, the different parties be- miles, wo began to see seatter- 

 gli to come in sight of one an- ing parties on our riglit and left, 

 other, all converging toward the that gradually grew more nu- 

 oentral point. merous, until an almost un- 



broken line was f orjned on both 

 sides, all heading toward a dis- 

 tant point. * * * 

 Glimpses of fleeing game, verj' Shots were heard every now 

 likely including deer, or a woK and then along the line as the 

 or two, are seen; and tlie orders gi-ouse, as they whirred un from 

 "Hurry up! hnrry up!" are more the t^li gras^i, or a fox scudded 

 ft^quently heard. B^inally the oil in the distance. Then we 

 nag can be. seen, and a little had glimpses of larger game 

 later the line of the opposit* disappearing over the knolls of 

 side of the circle comes into the rolling prairie, and word 

 view. Now all nerves are strung i-an along the line that several 

 to the highest pitch. There is a deer were ahead; then a wolf or 

 constant fusilade of shots as the two was signaled, and the ex- 

 thickening grouse soar up and citement increased. The orders 

 backward over the line, or foxes came, along more frequently — 

 and hai-ee scud away from the "hurry up, hurry up." With 

 shouting and yelling gunners. heart8beatingwildly,and nerves 

 The captains, suddenly riding at strung to the highest pitch, we 

 top-speed to one side, shout, came in view of the flag, and 

 "Close up! close npl The deer then of the advancing portion 

 will break!"' Before it can l>e of the other side of the circle 

 well done, a small band, follow- far in the distance. 

 Ing their leader like sheep, dart V."e could see the affrighted 

 toward a vacant space in the animals— deer, wolves and foxes 

 l-ankofmen. Half the deer get —hurrvlng hither and thither, 

 away in safety, but a few fall wliile nundreds of grouse were 

 under the ready rifles, and one, charging back over our heads, 

 stabbed by a bayonet, carries it Shots were following thick and 

 and the gun twenty rods before fast, the excitement growing 

 dropping dead. more intense as the shouts and 



yells along the line grew more 

 hoarse and vigoi-ous. The cap- 

 tains, riding as for life, shouted 

 "close up, close up; tlie deer will 

 break in a miuut«." And so 

 they did. Here they come, as a 

 dozen charged down on a broken 

 spot in the line. Like sheep, 

 they all came following their 

 leader. SsTeral wei'e killed, but 

 the most of them went by like a 

 whlrlvrind, bounding clear over 

 our heads. One fell some twenty 

 rods back of the line, carrjung 

 with him a musket, to which 

 was attached a bayonet. 

 Soon word is passed to stop As wc approached nearer, 

 firing, for the circle is becoming word came aiong the line to 

 dangeiously contracted. Al- cease liring, as it was becoming 

 ready one man has a bullet in dangerous. It was astonishing 

 his leg, and a captain's horse has to me that during so much reek- 

 been shot under him. less excitement more casualties 

 do not occur. This time we got 

 oft" ^^ith one man having a bul- 

 let in liis leg, and anotlier had 

 his horse shot from under him. 

 Thus, in sil6»oe, the ring con- On one side, to the left of the 

 centrates t<}ward T;he flagstaff, flagstaff for some distance, was 

 which stands on the edge of a a siough, or at lea-st a large in- 

 bowl-like depression. As the deutaticn in the jprairie. This 

 rim is attained, what a sight was the center. W e were order- 

 greets the eyes of the eager ed not to tire another shot until 

 circle ! Witfi lolling tongues word should be given, when we 

 and staring eyes, a dozen tawny should have closed up to the rim 

 wolves are rushing up and down of this bowl on the plain, some- 

 the shallow pit, seeking some thing like a quarter of a mile m 

 chance of escape. But no mercy diameter. As we got over the 

 exists for the sneaking lamb- knoll, and looked across at the 

 stealers. "Give it to them!" other side of excited facos, and 

 comes the order, and a hundred then down below, what a sight 

 rifles pour Instant death among was before us 1 A dozen or more 

 the con-aled victims. tavray, dirty, lank-looking crea- 

 tures rushed here and there in 

 wild confusion, and with lolling 

 tongues and protruding eyes 

 sought in vain to escape : but no 

 mercy was shown to the cow- 

 ardly lamb-stealers. Soon the 

 word came, "Give it to them," 

 and a hundred guns belched 

 forth their contents at the pant- 

 ing victims. 



Then follow taiget matches. Then commenced the greetings 

 trials of strength, races, and and hearty hand shakes among 

 plentiful gingerbread, apple- the boys, and cheers for this and 

 fomayers, cider and methe^in. that hero who had distinguished 

 himself in the hunt. A wagon 

 drove on the ground from some 

 mysterious quarter, having as 

 ca,rgo a barrel of metheglin 

 (honey whiskey), and another 

 loaded with beer, pies, and huge 

 cakes of gingerbread. * * * * 

 After shooting the flag down, 

 which seemed always to be the 

 first thing, targets were put up 

 and the oft-liand shootei-s tried 

 theli' hands, or rings were 

 formed here and there, and 

 famous wrestlers essayed to win 

 new laurels or succumb to bettor 

 men. The boys were out for a 

 day's sport, and they had it, for 

 all was jollity and genuine en- 

 joyment. 



GROUSE AND THE SNOW CRUST. 



T;\;^ATERVn.LE, Me., Jan. 17. —Editor Forest and 

 » T Stream: On December 18 we had lying on the 



ground in this vicinitj' about fifteen inches of light snow, 

 n that day there was a further fall of a few inches, but 

 at aboiit two hours after stmset the snow changed to sleet 

 and rain, the mercury, however, remaining just l^elow 

 freezing point. In the morning the snow was covered 

 by a hard ico-like crust, half an inch thick, and strong 

 enough to beai* tlie weight of a heavy dog— verv nearly 

 the worst crust tliat I ever saw. As it had not begtm to 

 form until two hom-s or more after dark, every grouse in 

 tlic woods must liave been caught, and with eighteen 

 inches of light snow tmder him that could afford him no 

 foothold in any eifort of engineering that he might un- 

 dertake to lift the heavy sheet of ice over Ms head, the 

 conditions of escape seemed about as difficult as they 

 could well be made. I had no opiX)rtunitv to get into the 

 woods until the following Saturday, Dec. 25. Tiiere 

 had been no further snowfall in the interval nor anv 

 softening of the weather tmtil the day and night just 

 preceding when there had occurred a thaw and heavy 

 rain settling the snow and making an end of the ciaist. 

 I saw no gTouse, but in the half hom-'s tramp found 

 plenty of indications that the birds had somehow, as 

 usual, proved equal to the emergency, and had cut or 

 drilleti theh way otit. There were fresh tracks, evidence 

 of recent roosts in trees since the forming of the crust, 

 and other "signs" in abundance. Also, a few days later, 

 my brother in another piece of woods saw five"gi-ouse, 

 all "buddmg" in one tree, I conclude that the ice storm 

 is a less formidable danger for the gi-ouse than has been 

 supposed. Kennebec. 



Wild Celery.— Mr. Beni, M. Everhai-t, of West 

 Chester, Pa., has given the Local News some notes on 

 wild celery, the favorite food of the canvasback: "This 

 plant, Like many others, lias a variety of local names. 

 Some of the most common which I now call to mind are 

 tape grass, from the tape-like appiearance of the long 

 leaves; channel weed, as it frequently grows in channels 

 where the water flows, not swiftly; eel grass, this name 

 arises, it is said, by Dr. Darlington {Flora cestrica), 'from 

 the habit which eels have of hiding under the leaves 

 which are usually procumbently floating under the 

 water's surface.' The appellation *Avild celery —a local 

 term applied, I think, only by gunners and watermen at 

 Havre-de-Grace and vicinity — is, I consider, like many 

 vulgar synonyms, a misnomer, as tliis plant is in no 

 particiilar related to celery, which by botanists is known 

 as Apiwm. 'WOd celery,' or as it is more generally 

 known in this vicinity as 'eel grass,' is not confined to 

 the region from which yom- specimen was obtained. It 

 is found in the Brandy wine Creek growing in slow run- 

 ning water. The scientific name of the plant is Vallis- 

 nerm spii'ol'L'i (Limi.) the generic name being given in 

 honor of Antonio VaUisneri, an Italian botanist; the 

 specific spi7'alin is applied in consequence of the fact that 

 the fertile stalk in its development assumes a spkalform. 

 It is a remarkable dioecious, nerbaceous plant on accomit 

 of its mode of fertilization. It grows entirely imder 

 water, has long radical grass-like leaves from i to 3ft. 

 long and from J to fin. wide. The female flowers float 

 on the .surface at the end of long thread-like spii-al scapes, 

 wliich curiously contract and lengthen with the rise and 

 fall of the water. The male flowers have very short 

 stems or scapes, from which the flowers break off and 

 rise to the sm-face, to fertihze with their pollen the at- 

 tached, floating female flowers. The leaves of this plant 

 form an exceedingly beautiful object for microscopic 

 study, the extreme tenuity and transparency of their 

 cellular tisstie allowing the oljserver to watch the move- 

 ment of the fluid contents of the cells." 



Bear Dogs, — Salem, Mass. — I began to htmt bears in 

 1863 in northern Maine, My first bear dogs were a black 

 and tan hound and a dog that probably had some hoimd 

 and some bull mixed with other blood'. He was a good 

 fighter, but would not follow a bear far into the dense, 

 dark swamps. I liave found better dogs since. I have a 

 brother living in Roxbury, Maine, which is a good bear 

 cmintry. He has caught thirty-three bears so far. Being 

 desirous of having a good pack of dogs that would stop a 

 bear anywhere, I have expended several hundreds of 

 dollars, trying aU kinds of dogs. Fu-st we tried hoimds; 

 one, old Major, sits by my side now as I -write. His ears 

 are 22in. across. He is a splendid representative of the 

 old New Hampshire stock of foxhounds. He is a veteran 

 retu-ed from the field, having come in from the front, to 

 live at rest and take comfort here in eating and sleeping, 

 and often sending along the .streets a terrible howl, which 

 is music to my ears. He has the mai'ks of action, having 

 a foreleg well marked by a bear trap. 1 Jiave all tola 

 some eight dogs. I have corresponded with old bear 

 htmters in the Southwest, West and the Rooky Motmtains. 

 The mastiff blood crossed with a hound was said to be 

 ahead of aU others, so I tried it and have two of that 

 cross, one a trained and exjierienced dog, the other a 

 year old dog about 34in. high, and as fine a dog as one 

 ever saw. He is white, a color said to be decidedly best, 

 as a bear is afraid of a white dog. The first dog of that 

 breed I found not only ready to take hold of a bear, but 

 would land on their backs after being knocked over by 

 their paws. No money would buy that dog. 1 will give 

 |100 for a mate for him. The white dog has never seen 

 a bear yet; and is hardly old enough imtil another fall, as 

 a dog has not the courage while a pup that he vnll have 

 afterward.— Bruin. 



Eastern New York Assocoation.- The officers for 

 1887 of the Eastern New York Fish and Game Protective 

 Association are: President, Dr. Samual B. Ward; First 

 Vice-Pi-esident, A, N. Cheney, Glens Falls; Second Vice- 

 President, G. E. Vincent, Catskill; Secretary, W. W. 

 Byingfcon, Albany; Treastxrer, J. H. Quinby", Albany; 

 Counsel, F. M. Danaher, Albany. Executive Committee, 

 W. W. Hill, Chairman, Albany: Robert Lenox Banks, 

 Albany ; W. F, Beutler, Albany; Frank R. Wright, Allaany; 

 J. H. Manning, Albany; Henry L. Smith, Albany; J. L. 

 Van Valkenbm-gh, Albany: J. Ten Eyck, Albauyl Dayton 

 Ball, Albany; Wm. R. Winchell, Albany; Watts T. 

 Loomis, Little FaUs; Geo. Witbeck, Nassau; Jas. Shana- 

 han, Ti-ibes Hill; D. P. McQueen, Schenectady; Dr. 

 Levris Balch, Albany; Hem-y A. Strong, Cohoes; Lansing 

 Hotaling, Albany; Dr. Hermad Bendell, Albany; L. B. 

 Pike, Saratoga Sprtnjfs. 



Quail in Maine.— The Portland Argiis of late date 



f»ye these interesting particulars of the quail on Cape 

 lizabeth: "There are now about twenty quail to be seen 

 daily in the vicinity of the Two I-ights, Ca,pe Elizabeth. 

 Qtxail have also been seen in several other towns in the 

 county during the past fall and early Avinter. It would 

 certaiidy be a good practice for those Uving where these 

 quails are located to throw out food for them, such as 

 cracked wheat, screenings, or sweepmgs from the bara 

 floors, as this wiU naturally increase the quantity of bird 

 game for another year. "\^^e learn from a rehable source 

 tliat 300 quail, now being kept in quarters at the Cape, 

 will be liberated in this vicinity the coming spring. If 

 this is done it -n-ill gi-eatly tend to make quail shooting 

 around here as good as it is in the West. We tmderstand 

 that these quail hatch two broods in one season, and that 

 as the yoimger of the broods do not become full grown 

 until late in the fall, the present legislatoi-s will be asked 

 to pass a law protecting them from the gunners during 

 every month in the year except November. These are 

 the real 'Bob White' quail. In 1882 F. H. Farnham 

 liberated at Wooclfords a few pairs of quail that he had 

 bought in Boston, Dm-ing the past season over one 

 hundred quail have been seen in various parts of this 

 comity, and many regard them as the oft'sprmg of those 

 hberated by Mr. Farnham. It is a well kno^vn fact that 

 foxes in the course of the year kill more birds than the 

 gunners, and the Legislature would do a good thing by 

 placing a bounty on the head of these pests to the peace 

 of the farmer's poultry as Avell as to the wild birds. The 

 quail at the cape have stood the cold weather nicely thus 

 far, being carefully fed and looked after by M. A. Hanna, 

 the pojjular keeper of the Two Lights, who is thoroughly 

 posted in regard to the habits of all the game birds of this 

 latitude." 



Explosive Bullets.— American Powder MUls, Boston, 

 Mass., Jan. 12.— Editor Forest ami Stream: "Mark 

 Wef3t" asks for testimony on the subject of explosive 

 bullets. We have in our office three cross sections of a 

 4x4dn. pine scanthng, into which three bullets had been 

 fij-ed, using a Winchester .45-cal. shell with explosive 

 bullets. In one the cap (.22 long shell) in bullet was 

 charged with gunpowder, and in the otlier two the cap 

 was filled with No. 2 XX ^Etna dynamite (oO per cent, 

 nitro-glycerine) the shell loaded with 70 grains coarse 

 "Dead Shot" powder and a thick felt wad between 

 powder and bullet for safety in firing the dynamite 

 projectile. The range was 50yds. , and while the rending 

 effect in center of post (or scantling) was considerable 

 with the powder explosive bullet, it was many times 

 greater in the other two cases, where a dynamite ex- 

 plosive bullet was used. The specimens show the terrible 

 effect the latter bullet has when exploding in the object 

 fii-ed at, and also that it exploded more quickly than the 

 former after sti-iking, not having entered the wood so far, 

 and tearhig the large hole full size almost from the siuiace, 

 while the powder-charged bullet entered the wood about 

 an inch before explodmg, leaving the hole for that dis- 

 tance only the bullet's size. For fm-ther facts, should 

 yom- correspondent desire them, we regret we have for- 

 gotten the name of the experitnenter, and have no note 

 of it, but he was in busmess in this city, living, we think, 

 out of town; and seeing .this statement may respond. 

 We give only his evidence and our own obseiwation of 

 the results as above described. — ^F. A. Adams. 



Oritane Snoavshoe Club.— On Wednesday of last week 

 a number of members of the Oritani Snowshbe Club mot 

 at the Erie depot equipped with snowshoes and dressed 

 in their picturesque uniform. Taking the N. J. & N. Y. 

 train to HackeuKack, which place was soon reached, they 

 were entertained by their president. Mr. J. M. Fairchild, 

 Jr., and by then secretary, IVIr. W. Holberton. By 3 P.M. 

 they were off for a tramp in the wilds of New' Jersey, 

 headed by a well laden toboggan with supplies for the 

 inner man. In single file they made their way over the 

 gUstening fields, through the woods and swamps and 

 finally in a wild otit-of-the-way nook, called a halt and 

 made' a glorious fii-e. A stream neai* by furnished the 

 water for the camp kettle. The toboggan was unpacked, 

 and with appetites sharpened by their long tramp, the 

 club enjoyed a hearty supper, followed by a camp-fire 

 smoke, enlivened by song and story, to say nothing of 

 the excellent tea brewed by the secretary. Tlie president 

 succeeded in taking several fine photographs of the 

 scene, and the members returned in time to take the 

 evening train back to the city. The snowshoeing was 

 excellent and to the city members particularly the affair 

 was one long to be remembered. — Ef. 



TflE Indefinable Charm. — As the years go by we learn 

 to value things in which we have found all qualities are 

 good. So Forest ^us'd Stream, which contributes much 

 to the placid enjoyment of the sportsman, whether he 

 fishes and shoots in reality, or only identifies himself with 

 those who do, and teach him or recall the pleasure on river 

 and lake, the changing atmospheres, the hushed muflic 

 of the woods, the glorious stmiise full of a day's gi-eat 

 expectations, the paiated sunsets filling the manly heart 

 with quiet satisfaction over a well spent day or life. The 

 weight and numbers of creel and bag are the incidental, 

 often the accidental part. It is the unweighed, tm- 

 counted indefinable something suggested which fills and 

 tlu-ills the spirit, for which I am grateful. And as the 

 three score years come nigh, as the eye loses its quick 

 perceptions and the responsive hand its ctmning, I shall 

 yet more and more enjoy the tales which othei-s write 

 and others read for me, of Forest and Stream,— Juni- 

 ata. 



Coot. — I am afraid "Cooter" has a wrong impression 

 of my intention concerning his coot. I did not try to 

 give "an unfavorable impression concerning liis coot, but 

 only to faithfully represent my coot. If his coot is iden- 

 tical with my coot, then I would fain beheve both coots 

 are a bad lot "and I decline to go in co-hoots with "sich," 

 but you, Messrs. Editors, have decided that his coot is 

 not my coot, which I am glad to hear, for I should be 

 loth to believe that "Cooter" would enjoy killing birds as 

 tame and worthless (as I have found them in Florida and 

 California) as my coots. Thanking "Cooter" for his kind 

 invitation to come and help shoot his coot, which I 

 shoiQd very much like to do. I wiU, for the present, 

 -coot.— O, O, S. 



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