Mat 5, 1887.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



319 



open spot not half a mile from Mr. Yancy's hotel. From 1 

 this time on until I started down the canon of Lava Creek 

 (east fork of Gardiner River), I was not out of sight of I 

 elk at any time. We climbed the hill, easily following | 

 the sleigh road until we came to a deep cut into which 

 the snow drifts and slides, making it impassable for teams 

 in winter, but used for a wagon road m summer. The 

 sleigh track tanned to the left, over a higher hill to avoid 

 this cut. Going through and out of the cut we came on 

 to Geode Creek. Elk were to be seen in every direction; 

 cows, calves and spikes. The calves could now more 

 proj erly be called yearlings. Now and then there would 

 be a bull or two off to one side. The proportion of cows, 

 etc., was six cows and heifers, three calves and one spike 

 to every ten head. The bulls older than two years are 

 never with the band, except in the running season. Some 

 of the older bul's have dropped then horns, commencing 

 about the last day of February. 



Before we came to Blacktail Deer Creek, Jack turned 

 to the right, taking a trail to Gardiner, back of Mt . Evarts. 

 I crossed Blacktail, seeing sign of game and elk on all 

 the bare hills. The gulches were filled deep with snow. 

 Soon I came to the head of the canon of Lava Creek. 

 Here are two very pretty falls, but buried under snow and 

 ice. In the distance I could see the Mammoth Hot 

 Spring terraces with high mountains for a background, 

 with Electric Peak white and high above all the rest. 

 To the left the Madison Range with its dozen fine peaks. 

 To the right part of the Yellowstone Range, most of it 

 hid by Mt. Evarts. On this was a band of some thirty elk 

 and a' bunch of ten mountain sheep. 



Running down the long grade to Gardiner River, I went 

 up it for two miles to the springs, and from there, next 

 day, to Gardiner. Going down I did not see the six tame 

 sheep observed when we started out. Jack was in town, 

 having come in the day I reached the springs. We had 

 made the round trip through the Park, as we intended to 

 do when we started out, 160 miles on snowshoes. Count- 

 ing in addition to this the side trips made, I traveled 225 

 miles. We camped out six nights, suffered no hardships 

 or privation, and withal had a most enjoyable time. 

 To be sine, we made no wonderful discoveries, for there 

 are none to be made; the Park is too well known for that. 

 My purpose in going through the Park was to see its win- 

 ter features and to learn something about the game there. 

 Tnis I have done. 



I can only give estimates in regard to the game. When 

 it was possible I counted them, but stiil. one never sees 

 all there are. To count all would require "a round up." 



On the ridges around the Washburn e there are at least 

 150 elk; about the falls, 50; on Specimen Ridge and the 

 section of the Park to the north, at least 2,000; on Black 

 Tail, Lava, Elk and Lost creeks, and country north of 

 Tower Creek, some 1,600; in the country between Mam- 

 moth Hot Springs and the Madison Mountains, some 500. 

 I know nothing of the number on the west side of these 

 mountains. On Alum Creek and the country across the 

 river there are elk, but how many I do not know. Per- 

 haps 200 would be a large estimate, though some people 

 put it as high as 800. In the south end of the Park I- do 

 not think the elk winter, but come in very early in the 

 spring. Not counting these, this would give us 4,500 elk 

 in the Park this winter. A few of the best hunters, men 

 who do not get excited when they see a hundred elk and 

 say there are a thousand, think there are from 7,000 to 

 8.000 elk in all; but I cannot think so, judging from the 

 number I have counted in the country spoken of. One 

 thing noticeable is the very small number of bulls older 

 than two years old seen. On our trip not over fifteen 

 were found. In one place where there were over a hun- 

 dred cows and calves, there were but five bulls, and this, 

 too, in a country where I could see almost all the game. 

 We may be sure that the bulls we saw are not all there 

 are by a long way. Some of the reasons for this dispro- 

 portion of bulls to cows are these: The bulls are killed in 

 summer because they are the best meat up to the running- 

 season. After that they are killed for their heads and 

 horns for specimens. Then, too, a bull is easier to be 

 found and approached than a cow, especially in the fall, 

 for one sometimes goes up to a band of horses or a man 

 on horseback just to see what they are, unless he has the 

 wind of them. 



Of bison I saw but thirty. I believe, however, that 

 there are between 200 and 300 in the Park. Some people 

 think there are not even fifty, as the high price paid for 

 them, $50 to $75 for fine heads and hides, has induced 

 hunters to kill them off and to take great risks of detec- 

 tion for the money offered. 



Mountain sheep, antelope, blacktail deer and white- 

 tail, as a rule, do not winter in the Park. There are a 

 few sheep, some 200 antelope, but no blacktail or white- 

 tail worth mentioning. Still, a great many have their 

 young there and pass the summer, only going out as the 

 snow comes. I have seen hundreds of sheep and black- 

 tail on their way out in the fall, and returning in the 

 spring. Last fall I knew hunters on the Gallatin River 

 who saw, as they express it, "more blacktails coming out 

 of the mountains in the Park this fall than I ever did 

 before for years." Some say they think not less than 

 1,500 came out on the north side and west of the Yellow- 

 stone River. 



Tourists through the Park, as a rule, keep the beaten 

 roads, only going to the hotels, and never seeing any of 

 the wild ani m als they hear so much about. Traveling as 

 they do, nothing else can be expected. For their benefit 



some propose to pen up the elk in pastures for them to 

 see as they ride along. 



To see the game in this country, one must either leave 

 the roads or visit the Park in the winter. At Yancy's 

 (a day from either the Hot Springs or Gardiner) they 

 would have elk on all sides of them. Thousands can be 

 seen in a day from there. Elk may be seen within three 

 miles of theMammoth Hot Springs. At both these places 

 hotels have been open all winter. A great many people 

 with a few days practice on snowshoes, can see part or 

 all the Park in winter and be well repaid for their trouble. 



In a short time the proprietors of the hotels will find it 

 to their interest to encourage winter travel, for, in addi- 

 tion to the game to be seen, certain features of the Park 

 are much more interesting in winter than in summer. 



E. Hofek. 



SPRING IN VIRGINIA. 



I30INDEXTER PLACE, Virginia, April 15.— During 

 . the past fortnight, while "you all" (local vernacular) 

 have been experiencing, as I learn from the papers (which 

 every now and then I get hold of) a good deal of harsh 

 weather. I have been rusticating in a climate where, 

 for several days, the mercury flirted with 75 and 80° in 

 the shade,) and. have fancied "myself in the real woods by 

 indulging in loafs under the shade of friendly pines, 

 stretched full length on the springy sod. 



I have not been entirely idle during this lay off, for 

 upon several occasions I have worked more or less hard 

 at hunting. Now don't throw up your editorial hands 

 in horror and prepare to read me a lecture upon violation 

 of Forest and Stream ethics by hunting in spiing, for 

 I've neither killed nor tried to kill beast, bird or fish. I 

 have "hunted without a gun." My first hunt was for 

 trailing arbutus, and it led me through brier root tangles, 

 wait-a-bit underbrush, muddy marshes, and up the facet, 

 of steep north-facing banks, rough enough work to satisfy 

 the most cultivated taste of the most chronic pursuers of 

 snipe and woodcock. It was my first tramp this year, 

 and confiscated a good portion of my wind, to say nothing 

 of a couple of pounds weight, if in perspiration, as in 

 other water, the alliteration, "a pound apint." holds good; 

 but comparatively I had an easy time of it, for while my 

 lower garments would permit me to stride clear of some 

 of the tangles, petticoats would not. We were very suc- 

 cessful and bagged lots of the shy flowers; our carrying 

 resources were strained, and how I did miss the only 

 handkerchief I had with me, which, shoitly after our 

 reaching the hunting ground, was, by a fan companion, 

 borrowed to make a game bag of. 



Another of my still-hunts was for Indian arrow heads, 

 and such other implements as might turn up. About a 

 mile from the house, the bank of a water-course is a low 

 bluff; at certain places on this bluff (places which in con- 

 sideration of the proximity of the Smithsonian — that 

 camp of ardent hunters for such game — I shall not "give 

 away") the face of the bank, as cut away by high tides 

 and freshets, shows a conglomerate of clay, mud and 

 shells. Arduous digging in this heap, and easier search- 

 ing among the debris left by low tide, is often rewarded 

 by a find. I was not lucky", the tide was high and the 

 day warm; search I couldn't, and dig much I could, 

 would and did not. The day before several very pretty 

 specimens of obsidian and flint had been found and added 

 to the cabinet of mine host, already enriched by quite a 

 number of specimens, including a leather-dressing stone 

 and rubber, a pestle and some spear heads. No traces of 

 human bones have been found during the many years 

 that these heaps have been known and searched. It 

 seems probable that these places were simply the resort 

 at certain seasons of some of the Virginia first families 

 who came from the interior for a supply of fish, and 

 while here subsisted on oysters. 



I have e - joyed some "small deer hunting" after field 

 mice. For companions I had Quail, Brasco and Maj r, 

 three members of a happy family wlo deserve a brief de- 

 scription. 



The happy family, led by Wallace, the bright and beau- 

 tiful six-year-old, consists" of Little Lord Fauntleroy of 

 the manor, the three dogs mentioned; live cats, namely, 

 Tonsy, Fanny, Alice, Smut and Maude; two pet fowls, 

 Cleopatra and Cinderella; Lester, the solitary guinea hen, 

 aui Uncle Felix, a gorgeous, but lame old Muscovy drake. 

 Sleeping and eating and in every way living together on 

 the most intimate and friendly terms, this family gave 

 me lots of fun, but for steady amusemmt I depended 

 upon Wallace and the three dogs. Quail is a e plendid 

 old Irish setter, who through a long and busy life has 

 earned a reputation second to none in th country, and 

 has aided and abetted in the death of thousands of his 

 namesakes. Now he is growing old and stiff, red-eyed, 

 lazy and cross, but not so old or lazy but that the sight 

 of a carried gun will draw him from his meal or nap. 

 Brasco is a half-breed, setter and spaniel, who with no 

 blood in particular o boast of, through his rare intelli- 

 gence and docile disposition has become not only as good 

 a bird dog as any man would wish to shoot over, but a 

 valued fri nd and companion to every one who knows 

 him. A dog that can do most anything but talk, nd 

 those who know him well claim that in that faculty he is 

 not entirely deficient. He can and does make his wants 

 known in unmistakable languge and by shrewd devices. 

 For instance, but a ew days since an uproar in ' he poultry 

 yard, in which the growls of Brasco mi gled with the 

 yelping cri ;s of Major, a little red pure blood cur, a warm 

 friend and kenn :1 mate of Brasco, drew Pay, Brasco's 

 owner, to the spot. Major was on his back, legs up, tail 

 in, mouth open, yelling, a very scared dog. Brasco was 

 standing over him , holding him down with one foot and 

 growling ferociously. Of course he was severely re- 

 buked and driven off. Standing at a distunce, looking 

 bes f chinglyat his master and half whining, an idea 

 seemed to strike him. He ran to the hen house and re- 

 turned with an egg which he laid at Pay's feet with an 

 air which ^as at once understood to mean that he had 

 caught Major stealing the egg and had thrashed Mm for 

 it. Major is simply cute, as good for nothing as a, yellow 

 cur could be when he came here a tramp and wiggled 

 his way into a home, but so improved by his association 

 with the others that he makes lots of fim for us. 



A branch runs near the house, skirting a considerable 

 portion of the farm. In tMs dwell many rats, and nearly 

 every morning the trio start very early for a breakfast of 

 fresh meat. Twice I have followed them up. Quail and 

 Brasco take each a side, and with noses down work rapidly 

 I along till they strike a scent, and follow it to a hole. 



Then posting themselves, one above and one below, some 

 ten yards distant, they stand as still as though on a ooint, 

 except slowly turning their heads in search, while Major 

 is set to digging. On neither of my trips were they suc- 

 cessful. But I did not consider my time lost, for it's not 

 bad in early April to be able to he at ease on the leaf- 

 covered ground and calmly smoke an outdoor pipe. 

 Others have been more fortunate, and say that the instant 

 a rat takes water the still-hunt becomes a chase, and that 

 the dogs swim and dive so well that their chances of meat 

 are full as good as are those of the rats for life; and they 

 work in perfect harmony until the rodent is captured. 

 Then if Brasco or Major get him a quarrel with Quail is 

 imminent; if Quail gets him a trial of patience to the 

 others, for they must wait till he is satisfied. 



By the way, speaking of this little episode in Norfolk, 

 I was informed that on the "eastern sho' " the muskrat, 

 properly cooked , is esteemed a great delicacy, and this 

 information came from a lady born and raised there, who 

 knew whereof she spoke, for she herself had prepared 

 many a good meal of them. 



Our hunts for field mice were still more simple. Quail 

 and Brasco would quarter the field with noses down: 

 striking a scent a peculiar yelp would summon Major, 

 who, as with the muskrats, was the boss digger, and he 

 would go to work most eagerly, undeterred by the fact 

 that he never got any mouse, for they fell victims to 

 Quail and Brasco, and were evidently enjoyed. 



So you see I've had one outing tMs year, and have 

 revelled in pine, odor, ozone and Eunshine, and throughout 

 all have been the happy recipient of the far-famed and 

 well-known Virginian hospitality, wliich needs no de- 

 scription at this late day. Not all sunshine though. One 

 mormng, I think it was the last day of March or first of 

 April, we awpke to a new sensation, the ground was 

 white with snow, and mingled with the peach and apple 

 blossoms were icicles — a pretty sight but not a welcome 

 one. That day the northeaster kept us hou sed. I had the 

 day before received a copy of "Ne ssmuk's" ' 'Forest Rune3," 

 and while the ladies sewed I read aloud, first selecting by 

 title, then after a narrow escape from running on a snag 

 at "Elaine," saved only by a skillful Sheer and stern- 

 board, making reconnoissance before wading in, and we 

 thoroughly enjoved the rain. 



I heightened their enjoyment as well aa my own by a 

 graphic description of the author and of my first meet- 

 ing with him at the Forge House, Fhsfc Lake, Fulton 

 Chain, wMch, epitomized, may be thus rendered: I— 

 "Take a seat." He — "Thank you," and sits down in my 

 other chair. Five minutes after he had deserted it, and 

 with an apology, when noticed, was most uncomfortably, 

 I thought when I tried it, squatted and seated on his 

 heels. On this trip I became familiar with that little 

 hatchet, buckskin bag with ten bullets, muzzleloading 

 rifle, ditty bag, and umbrella tent, all of wMch, when 

 encountered in his camping-out instructions, were recog- 

 nized as old friends. 



On this occasion the jolly old fellow failed to appreciate 

 my real character, for he certainly thought he was pay- 

 ing me a great compliment (which is true) as well aa 

 doing me a great favor by offering to me the use, when I 

 wished it, of the Sairey Gamp, a boat wMch I felt 

 sure would have drowned me off hand. He meant well 

 all the same. Piseco. 



IN GEORGIA FORESTS. 



THE very extensive pine country in Georgia between 

 the Chattahoochee and Flint rivers is but sparsely 

 settled; here and there, often at the distance of some 

 miles, one finds a little clearing in tMs great forest. At 

 this season (late in February) the scattered settlers set fire 

 to, the tMck mat of brown and withered wire grass which 

 covers the surface of the earth beneath the boughs of the 

 lofty pmes, wMch here frequently attain a height of 

 100ft. and upward, wMle their circuniference 4ft. above 

 the ground not unfrequently exceeds lift., as we ascer- 

 tained by actual measurement. These forest fires do no 

 harm to the pine trees wMch are sound, but those from 

 which the turpentine has been removed by the ordinary 

 plan of cutting a hole in the side of the tree, into which 

 the turpentine descends and is gathered, are attacked by 

 the flames from the burrnng grass and frequently com- 

 pletely destroyed. The surface of the ground among the 

 pines, while gently undulating, is perfectly smooth, and 

 the trees are so far apart that one can ride among them 

 on horseback or even in a wagon. It is necessary, how- 

 ever, for the horseman to have an eye to the "gopher" 

 holes, which are found in very many places in the light 

 sandy soil from wMch the pines spring. These holes are 

 large, and a horse putting Ms foot into one would be 

 very apt to throw his rider over his head. The "gopher" 

 is a variety of land turtle wMch remains in its hole dor- 

 mant dining the winter. Although running brooks and 

 springs are rare in tMs pine country, one meets here and 

 there with little pond holes whose shores are fringed -with 

 rank vegetation. In one of these we noticed a number of 

 soft-shelled turtles. 



After having left the Mghway we made our way with 

 a wagon and pair of horses tMough the woods of Early, 

 Miller and Decatur counties by private roads, if roads 

 they may be called, which lead from one little clearing to 

 another, and I am sure that I could not by any means 

 find the same way back over the twenty or more tracks 

 which we followed. Our way was ascertained by inquiry 

 of the inmates of the scattered houses which we passed. 

 Around or near almost every one of these lonely habita- 

 tions clustered peach trees' now in full bloom, while 

 clumps of plum t^ges, covered with wliite blossoms, were 

 nearly as abundant. Here and there in front of these log 

 cottages stood a beautiful magnolia; one we saw was 

 more than 30ft. in. height. Or there might be a tall rose 

 bush, of which we saw a specimen which was more than 

 12ft. Mgh. In another garden was a huge cactus, whose 

 buds were already preparing to open. The Cherokee 

 rose, now in early bloom, we also met with. The holly, 

 though common in the woods, did not seem to have been 

 a favorite with the people; they made use, however, of 

 evergreens as ornaments around then houses, the live oak 

 occupymg a prominent place. Wild flowers had already 

 begun to make their appearance in the forest, especially 

 about clearings or around the shores of ponds, the most 

 prominent among the flowers of the forest were those of 

 the red bud, a shrub, or rather tree, which was now a 

 mass of lilac, the leaves not yet having put forth. About 

 the ponds it often mmgled its blossoms with those of the 

 May haw, now in full bloom. TMs sMub stands in tMck 



