6 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



not believe, half to be as much dreaded as the swarms of 

 the genuine article that I have seen down on the Mos- 

 quito coast in Old Mexico, or in Hayti, or Jamaica, or 

 Cuba, and similar places where it has been my fortune to 

 face them. 



Studies of fossil Chiroptera go to prove that the order 

 is of a very remote origin, and specimens of fossils from 

 the Pliocene bone caves show little or no change in their 

 osteology as compared with existing forms of bats. 

 Eemains have also been secured from the upper Eocene 

 of both this continent and Europe. 



In closing I would beg those who have the opportunity 

 anywhere west of the Mississippi, more especially in 

 lower California, Arizona and the Northwest, to capture 

 and preserve in alcohol all the specimens of Chiroptera 

 they can secure. A large, entomological net is a capital 

 thing to take them with, and warm evenings in June and 

 July excellent times for collecting. T have often suc- 

 ceeded by placing my lamp in an open window just 

 before a storm, and the bats will fly into the room, where 

 they may be taken with the net after the window is 

 closed. Remember to split up the abdomen before con- 

 signing the specimen to alcohol, and label fully, giving 

 complete data. In my next contribution I trust to give a 

 short account of the Order Insectivora, and continue the 

 publication of the List. 



In studying the Chiroptera the following will be found 

 to be some very useful works to consult, viz.: "Cata- 

 logue of the Chiroptera in the Collection of the British 

 Museum," 1878, by Geo. E. Dobson, F.R.S., a work which 

 gives full descriptions and a good deal of the anatomy of 

 all the bats then known: also many excellent papers 

 since by the same author in P.Z.S. in Rep. Brit. Assoc. 

 Adv. Science, and "Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist." and elsewhere. 

 Also the classic work and paper's on the "North Ameri- 

 can Chiroptera,'" by Dr. Harrison Allen, of Philadelphia. 

 The accounts in the Monatsb. Akad. Wissemch., Berlin, 

 by Prof. Peters. The excellent revision of the order 

 Chiroptera under article "Mammalia"' in the ninth 

 edition of the Encyclo. Brit. The "Bats," in the Stand- 

 ard Natural History. Accounts in Ann. Mag. Nat. 

 Hist. ,by Mr. Oldfield Thomas, F.Z.S., and Mr. J. Scully, 

 F.L.S., F.Z.S., Surgeon-Major H. M.'s Bengal army. 

 "Osteology of the Mammalia," by Prof. W. H. Flower, 

 F.R.S.. etc.; also "Comp. Anat. and Phys. of Verts.", by 

 Sir Richard Owen, F.R.S., etc., 3vols. Chapters in sev- 

 eral of the standard Avorks by Prof. Huxley. " Recherches 

 Anatomiques svr les Mammifiresde VOrdre des Chirop- 

 t£res," Paris, 1881, by Prof. H. A. Robin, and many 

 other sources too numerous to enumerate in the present 

 connection. 



§mm ihi} and §ntf. 



THE NEWFOUNDLAND GAME SEASONS. 



hid Victoria, (kip. IS. 

 V).— .No person shall hunt, take, kill, wound or destroy any deer 

 within this Colony or its Dependencies, by slips, pitfalls, traps, or 

 otherwise than by shooting, nor between t he first day of March 

 until the fifteenth day of July in any year. 



VIII. — Ha person shall huut, take, kill, wound, sell, barter, re- 

 ceive, purchase or give away, any wild rabbit or hare within this 

 Colony and its Dependencies, from the first day of March until 

 the first day of September in any year. 



IX. — No person shall take, kill, wound or destroy any otters or 

 beavers within this Colony between the first day of April and the 

 first day of October in any year. • 



iMh Victoria, Cap. 9 (May 19, 1886). 



I. — No person shall hunt, kill, wound, take, sell, purchase or 

 give a way, or ha ve in his possession, any willow grouse, commonly 

 called partridge, or any other kind of grouse, or any other wild or 

 migratory bird (excepting wild geese), or the eggs of any such 

 birds within this Colony, from the passing of this Act until the 

 fifteenth day of September in this present year, or between the 

 twelfth day of January and the fifteenth day of September in 

 each succeeding year. 



II. — No person shall hunt, kill, wound or take any deer within 

 the PeniDsula of Avalon, from the passing of this Act until the 

 fifteenth day of September, which will be in the year of our Lord 

 18fW. 



IV.— No person shall hunt, take, kill, wound or destroy any 

 black game, capercailzie, or other game birds now or hereafter 

 to be imported into this Colony, nor have in his possession, take, 

 or destroy the eggs or progeny of such birds for the period of five 

 years from the first day of January, 1886. 



VII.— No person shall hunt, kill, wound, or destroy any moose 

 or elk, now or hereafter to be imported into this Colony, or their 

 progeny, for a period of ten years from the tirst day of January, 

 1886. 



X. — Nothing contained in Sections One and Two of this Act 

 shall extend to any poor settler, who shall kill the game men- 

 tioned in the said sections for his immediate consumption or that 

 of his family. 



[See analing colum ns for fishing seasons,"] 



A BRACE OF ELK. 



TO the FOREST and Stream and its many readers and 

 writers I offer my best wishes. The camp-fire is 

 still burning brightly in memory. Business, work, care 

 and trouble are laid aside sometimes, and in fancy we go 

 back, it may be years, to some incident of our past lives. 

 Then is it any wonder that the lover of the wild, free 

 woods turns often and hunts again the old hunts in 

 fancy's realm? Is it any wonder that in his day dreams 

 lie will visit his old camp-fire far away in some rocky 

 glen? It is so with me to-night. I am going on a hunt 

 up among the wilds of northwestern Wyoming. 



There were three of us. "We had more time than 

 money, and we knew if we staid long in the wild little 

 city of Milestown or Fort Keogh we would have still 

 less of the last named needful; so we concluded to go 

 and have a hunt and let our horses get fat. We chose 

 the country east of the upper Tongue River as the one 

 most likely to give us plenty of sport and good grass; so 

 getting our grub stake we started up the country, and 

 after five days of travel came to a range of pine-clad 

 hills which we thought would suit. It was two o'clock in 

 the afternoon when we made camp, the tent was set up, 

 a lunch eaten, and we were ready to go and look up 

 some fresh meat. Each went as fancy led. I took iny 

 way toward a high ridge, it might have been a 

 mile away. Gaining the top I sat down to take 

 in the view of the country around, and what a 

 country, I was on one of the highest ridges between 

 Tongue and Powder rivers. To the east the country 

 broke away in pine- clad hills; then beyond I could see the 

 prairie rolling away toward the Black Hills like a great 

 yellow ocean; to the west I could look down into the 

 valley of the Tongue; then on the other side I could 

 « plainly see the white-capped peaks of the Big Horns. I 

 had been sitting for a half hour or more, when I saw an 



animal come out of a thicket about a half-mile below me, 

 I made it out to be an elk, and alone as I thought. Slip- 

 ping back over the ridges I made a circle until I got the 

 wind right, then started toward my game. Cover was 

 good, and I was not long in getting in the vicinity of the 

 gulch where I saw the elk. Going to the top of a little 

 rise I cautiously raised my head, and to my surprise 

 found myself within twenty yards of a magnificant buf- 

 falo bull. He was about a five-year- old; his long, sharp, 

 black horns were a perfect pair; and what a head, black 

 and majestic, while his bright eyes blazed upon me half 

 in defiance, half in terror. He was lying down, but 

 made no effort to move. Was this my elk? I thought. I 

 did not think so. I was not after buffalo, so I crept into 

 a little gulch out of his sight, and kept on toward the 

 main draw. No sooner was I out of his sight than lie 

 was up and away, running swiftly and silently up the 

 gulch and soon disappeared among the pines. 



I crept onward, and once more raised my head cau- 

 tiously above a little ridge. A thicket of plum and wild 

 cherry brush was growing along the bottom of the main 

 gulch. Here I was sure I had seen an elk. While I was 

 looking the brush parted, some hundred yards from me, 

 and there stepped out into the open the very prince of 

 mountain game— a full grown bull elk, sleek, fat and 

 round. How grand he looked as he stood there, his head 

 thrown back. His horns, which were in the velvet, 

 made me think of a dead juniper. How daintily he 

 sniffed the air. My moment had come. I brought my 

 Sharps to my shoulder, and as I glanced through the 

 sights I knew the game was mine. Crack! An instant, 

 and I heard the dull thud of the heavy ball strike his 

 body. A convulsive spring and he disappeared in the 

 thicket. Crash, crash, and out he came on the other 

 side of the gulch. Again I brought my rifle up and 

 fired, again I heard the lead strike. There was no frantic- 

 leap this time. He took a couple of steps forward, 

 dropped his head, then went down upon his knees, 

 rolled over on his side and lay still. I went down 

 to where I had seen him cross the gulch, and what was 

 my astonishment to find a full-grown elk lying dead in 

 the little draw, and not ten steps away his exact counter- 

 part lying also dead. There had been two, and I had 

 killed them under the impression there was but one. I 

 was sorry for this double streak of luck, for I had no use 

 for so much meat; but this question will always remain 

 unanswered: if I had seen the two elk, would I have had 

 mercy and spared one? Does any one know of a hunter 

 who has fairly got within range of two such grand game 

 animals, and after shooting one quietly taken his rifle from 

 his shoulder and allowed the other to walk off? 



To finish my story, I dressed my beef, and left it spread 

 out to cool. It was too late to return for it that night, so 

 I had to take the chances of bears and other carnivorous 

 animals. Early the next morning we took our pack ani- 

 mals and went for our meat. Finding it as I had left it, 

 we concluded to make some dry beef, and a nicer lot of 

 dry beef I have never seen than we made from my brace 

 of elk. J. J. Fui/roN. 



MASSACHUSETTS GAME INTERESTS. 



IN their annual report the Commissioners on Inland 

 Fisheries and Game say: 

 "The change of the law, whereby the close season for 

 raffed grouse begins Dec. 1, is believed by many to be a 

 mistake. 



"Legislation concerning the protection of game has 

 been capricious and largely unwise. It is the result of 

 pressure from different sections of the State, each having 

 in a degree rliffering conditions affecting the game birds, 

 and in some measure of mistaken although honest zeal 

 from the friends of the game. 



"It is probably impossible to frame a law applying to 

 the whole Commonwealth, that would satisfy entirely 

 people desiring the efficient protection of game; but, in 

 the light of our past experience, of present observation 

 and careful consideration, we recommend a law which 

 shall give a uniform open season of the months of 

 October, November and December, for woodcock, quail 

 and partridge. This will be3t secure the protection 

 desired, and give ample time and the best time for the 

 pursuit of these birds. 



"Complaint is made from the Cape that the protected 

 deer are killed illegally. We have no doubt that this 

 is true. Because of lack of definite and sufficient evi- 

 dence, no prosecutions have been instituted. To protect 

 a close district like the Cape requires more instrument- 

 alities than we have a t hand without the earnest coopera- 

 tion of the residents. 



"A few successful prosecutions for violation of the 

 game law in a neighborhood always resul ts in practical 

 protection for the game in that region thereafter. Prose- 

 cutions are instituted whenever the evidence can be 

 had. 



"The public sentiment in favor of the protection of our 

 song and insectivorous birds is growing, and the moral 

 sentiment of the State is tending strongly in favor of the 

 law for their protection. The diffusion of intelligence 

 concerning all our birds, and concerning the purposes of 

 legislation for close seasons and for protection, is the 

 strongest factor in aid of our efforts. As the people 

 learn the facts, they help us." 



National Park Game.— Gardiner, Park County, Mon- 

 tana, Dec. 29. — Editor Forest and Stream: This town is 

 within a few feet of the Yellowstone National Park 

 boundary line; most of the buildings face the Park. 

 From the front doorways game can often be seen on Mt. 

 Evarts and the flat east of Gardiner River. Last night a 

 large bull elk came off Mt. Evarts, crossed Gardiner 

 River near its mouth, where the town stock is watered, 

 came up the trail and remained about the east end of 

 town until morning, spending most of the time about 

 McCartney's barn. He was in the edge of town by sun- 

 rise. Early risers saw him feeding around just in front 

 of the barn and along the fence inside the Park. He was 

 in sight for a long time. This is not the first one that has 

 been in the edge of town. Antelope come down on the 

 flat within a few hundred yards; elk, sheep and deer are 

 very common and tame; parties passing often speak of 

 seeing the mountain sheep by the road side. — H. 



Philadelphia Sportsmen are talking of revising the 

 game laws of that State. 



THE SHOOTING CLUBS OF CHICAGO, 



m.— THE FOX lake shooting and fishing club. 



NEARLY eighty feet above the level of the inland sea 

 which breaks in miniature waves upon its boat 

 house stairs is situated the comfortable and commodious 

 house of the Fox Lake Shooting and Fishing Club, one of 

 the best known, if not the very best known, sporting 

 organizations about the lakes, and one which certainly 

 brings together a grand lot of thorough goers. 



This club, which is popularly known as the "Fox Lake 

 Club," has several acres of more or less steep wood and 

 open, and a good reach of well pebbled shore line. The 

 grounds are well fenced, well shaded, well tufted, and 

 in every way sightly. Some of the big oaks and elms are 

 beautiful old trees. The view from the piazzas is a grand 

 one, and admits miles of gentle lake and ratal scenery to 

 the vision. A more suitable and altogether commendable 

 site for a club house does not exist about the lakes than 

 this, well toward the top of the big bluff which adds 

 more than anything else to the picturesque quality of the 

 lake landscape. Of a good summer day one can catch 

 here the best of the air as he swings in his hammock, or 

 plays at tennis when the fish won't bite: and here, too, 

 the stern duck hunter, quit3 above tennis and hammock 

 swinging, may in his season sweep the lake with his glass 

 in the early morning, and mark out the banks of redheads 

 and canvasbacks, or note the mallard flight over Grass 

 Lake and the channels. 



The club property, including the house, has necessitated 

 an outlay of $14,500. The main building is of wood, two 

 stories high, and provided with two glorious balconies or 

 galleries, which are nothing short of a joy forever. 

 These balconies run around three sides of the house, and 

 have lately been extended across to the "cottage," which 

 is now practically merged into the main building. It 

 stands upon the right of the main house, looking from 

 the lake, and not upon the left, as the artist has it. I 

 should think the total frontage of the buildings upon the 

 lake side was considerably over 120ft. The balconies and 

 parts of the house are overgrown with woodbine. It is 

 not, strictly speaking, a reproach for a friend to say of a 

 Fox Lake Club man that he has "gone where the wood- 

 bine twineth," inasmuch as it twineth in other places 

 besides up the spout in this pleasant and old-fashioned 

 abode of comfort. 



On the lower floor of the club house is the dining room, 

 which seats fifty persons comfortably. Near this is the 

 gentlemeu's room, niceiy fitted up with lockers for the 

 individual members' guns, tackle and general outfit. The 

 ladies' parlor, also upon this floor, is a handsomely 

 furnished room, with rags, big chairs, piano, etc. It has 

 also evidences of luxury and good taste in the paintings, 

 etchings and engravings, in the books and flowers that 

 adorn it. Upon the first floor, naturally, are also the 

 kitchen, store rooms, pantries and wine closets, and it 

 need not be said that each is well provided. 



Upon the second story, lengthwise of the entire house, 

 in much the same plan as in the Mineola club house, 

 there runs a wide hall, which at its extremities opens 

 upon the big gallery. The sleeping apartments flank 

 this big hall, and they are provided with wide transoms 

 which open upon it; wide doors also open out to the 

 balcony, and furnish a perfect circulation, of air in the 

 warmest of weather. The sleeping rooms are nicely and 

 uniformly furnished with rugs, good beds, fine matresses, 

 fine linen, good blankets, mirrors and wash stands, and 

 one fortunate to rest himself in one of them need not 

 compare his apartment to a bunk in a logging camp, by 

 any means. 



Creature comforts of a perishable nature are well 

 cared for by the product of a big ice house, which holds 

 seventy-five tons; and they do say some of this ice, 

 mingled with some of the water from the big well that 

 goes down ninety feet to the bottom of the hill, makes a 

 cooling and refreshing drink on a warm summer day. 



At the foot of the big bluff, under a spreading chestnut 

 tree, which would grace the forge of any village black- 

 smith in verse or sober fact, stands the club boat house, 

 a neat and tasty two-story edifice, as the engraving ought 

 to show. In the lower story are kept the boats of the 

 club, and also those which are the private property of in- 

 dividual members. Here also are lockers for decoys, seat 

 cushions, minnow pails and other loose gear, and this is 

 in general the room for the sporting appliances of the 

 club. Upstairs, in this very remarkable and commend- 

 able little boat house, there is an elegant billiard table and 

 all its paraphernalia; also six beds, which fold back into 

 the wall, and which can be used if rare occasions should 

 so demand. The upper story of the boat house has a 

 pleasant little verandah on three sides, and the big over- 

 hanging Swiss roof make this a pleasant corner of the 

 world if the day is warm. 



In boats this club is certainly well provided. It owns 

 as an organization a number of small hunting boats, also 

 six row boats, two small sailboats, and a rattling yacht, 

 the Frolic, which was built in 1884, which flies 200yds. of 

 canvas, and is pronounced by yachting men to be built 

 on most effective lines. A skipper, Mr. Alberg, is regu- 

 larly employed to sail this tidy craft, and no charge is 

 made to members who wish to take a trip around the 

 lakes. There is also a good steam launch. In the fleet of 

 private boats, fifteen or twenty in number, each man has 

 followed his own idea as to his own boat, and the results 

 are somewhat different, although there is a general close- 

 ness to the model before mentioned as found well fit for 

 these waters, the short double-end clinker, decked and 

 combed. 



The Fox Lake members are all general sportsmen, and 

 you can't get one to say that he likes shooting more than 

 he does fishing, or mce versa. More than this, the club 

 contains some of that most ardent and most genial of all 

 discovered species of the genus crank, the canoe crank. 

 Prominent among these delightful water dippers are Dr. 

 Fuller, Messrs. Geo. E. Cole, W. D. Porter and Geo. M. 

 Millard, who all have elegant little craft. Dr. Fuller's 

 canoe was made by Douglass, of Waukegan, who has, by 

 the way, built several of the other boats. Mr. Porter's 

 cockleshell is also an ornament to the profession. These 

 are all paddling canoes, and I believe never use a sail. 



Pushers for shooting or oarsmen for fishing are always 

 obtainable at Fox Lake, and this work is really the main 

 source of revenue among some of the lake dwellers. 

 Among these men are some of the best pushers and 

 hunters I ever saw, and it is really to their skill and ex- 

 perience that the shooter must look in securing a bag in 

 these much-hunted regions. The regular pusher's rate 



