Mat 29, 1890.] 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



367 



impossible to follow the tracks far; there was no blood. 

 Convinced at length that the deer were up, though it 

 was long past their accustomed hour, I took my rifle. 

 Within a little while, upon stepping cautiously into the 

 edge of an open grass-plot, recently burnt over, I saw 

 standing broadside on another magnificent doe. As I 

 coolly brought my rifle up, she as coolly stared at me. 

 Accustomed to shooting in the rare clear air of the 

 mountains and being "fooled" as to distance, I deliber- 

 ately miscalculated and overshot. The deer gave a bound 

 unhurt into the bushes, when I saw glimpses also of a 

 companion making off. That shot sticks me yet. I 

 could not have been persuaded it was possible, and can 

 scarcely believe it now. On an easy shot I usually aim 

 for the spinal column, a shot there downs the animal on 

 the spot: I thought I was shooting from 125 to 150yds. ; 

 it was about 75. I had aimed so high on the body that 

 there was no margin for my miscalculation. A misty 

 morning in a thick wood gives very different conditions 

 for estimating distance, from those of the clear open 

 mountain atmosphere of Mexico and the West. The rule 

 of "Yo," as stated in his "Fccord of Nineteen Shuts,'" is 

 a pretty good one I believe, i. e., take only near shots. T 

 have been rather lucky at long shots, however. 



Tired and hungry, but pleased over the Doctor's 

 '•maiden" deer, we drove back for dinner. Entering the 

 wood at about 9 o'clock the party had seen eight deer, 

 supposing that none were seen twice. I never saw a 

 lovelier place for the Imorning still-hunter, the best and 

 most satisfactory among all the modes of deer killing. 



A great army of sandhill cranes that had been down in 

 the field feeding came to their nooning at a large pond 

 in the field back of the house. This is an unnaturally 

 shy bird. We drew in the coach behind a little wooded 

 hill, and dismounting crept up among the trees. We 

 found them quite out of range, but plainly visible, stand- 

 ing tall and in ranks like an army. Trying our guns at 

 some mud hens a little later we found the distance nearly 

 four hundred yards; yet they showed uneasiness as soon 

 as they saw us, and soon flew, while we were debating 

 the chances of a shot. Next morning one of the men got 

 near them while feeding, and clipped both wings of a 

 fine fellow with a rifle ball. He brought him in alive, 

 and the proud bird stalked around the court as if upon 

 his native soil, as from his name I suppose he was. We 

 like game at our house, and consider ourselves fair judges 

 cf it, and it was unanimovsK decided that this specimen 

 (if dm a riiexkcma was the best dish that ever graced our 

 table. When I go to Angostura again I am going to 

 •'lay for him," and not out of mere curiosity. 



That evening we watched for deer at a beautiful 

 laguna, but saw none. Don Rarnon and Mrs. E., excited 

 by our morning's experience, went to watch near where 

 Lsaw my second deer in the forenoon. They saw no 

 deer, but' the turkeys flew into the trees near them as it 

 was growing dark. Don Ramon wanted a shot at them, 

 and to get it had to cross a little stream that Sirs. E. 

 couldn't conveniently cross. They had just seen the 

 track of a lion (panther), a small one the guide said, 

 "about the size of Monarca" (a huge mastiff), and Mrs. 

 E.'s courage suddenly vanished. She raised such an out- 

 cry calling Don Ramon that the turkeys took themselves 

 off, as did probably the lion, if he was anywhere near. 



Next day was Sunday, and not wishing to obtrude my 

 conscientious scruples 'against shooting, I decided on a 

 little stratagem. Reasoning that by thoroughly tiring 

 out the whole party nobody would want to go out, I ad- 

 vocated with much enthusiasm a fishing party after sup- 

 per. Away we went, therefore, followed and preceded 

 by a whole cavalcade of attendants, one of them lighting 

 H8 with a piece of tarred rope, which filled the air with 

 a sweet resinous odor. Fues were lighted, hooks and 

 lines rigged, and we fished with about two-ounce weights 

 just below a roaring cataract. Don Luis yanked out one 

 catfish of about a pound and a half after faithful waiting. 

 The rest of us got nothing but the romance of the trip. 



As 1 had calculated, all was quiet Sunday morning. 

 After a late breakfast we all took a ride on horseback. A 

 ladies' saddle had been found for Mrs. E., who was the 

 first lady who had been on the place for sixteen years, 

 and probably the first American one ever there, and 

 handsome mounts were provlaed for the rest of us. The 

 attendants were legion. Tf you wanted to mount, a man 

 had your horse ready and held the stirrup (if you would 

 let him). They would take anything out of your hands 

 which you were carrying, and no matter when or where 

 you dismounted the ever present mozo was at your 

 horse's head in an instant to. take charge of him for any 

 time, long or short. It was a novel sensation, but not as 

 disagreeable as some might imagine. The sun had come 

 out veiling her splendor a little behind high cirrus clouds, 

 and the breeze blew sweet and cool from the Gulf. We 

 visited a banana orchard. , and though the trees were 

 brown from a recent frost we felt ourselves in the tropics 

 as we stood under their huge spreading leaves. Great 

 clusters of fruit just beginning to ripen hung on some of 

 them. One of these was added to our impedimenta, as 

 Don Luis said they would rinen as well off as on the tree. 



He was determined we snould not go away without 

 fish, and so had ordered some dynamite to be exploded 

 in the pond where we fished the night before. Consider- 

 ing the kind of fish and that the pool was only one of 

 hundreds I didn't insist on my protest. Few were secured 

 there, but a cartridge in another pool resulted in some 

 251b3. or more, mostly of about a pound in weight. Fresh 

 fish are rare, we enjoyed even the plebian pimelodus. 



At dinner that day they brought in on a huge earthen 

 tray the head entire of the bullock that had been killed, 

 roasted under ground. It was the very quintessence of 

 cookery, thoroughly done, but having lost no juice or 

 flavor. Old hunters in California have told me of dig- 

 ging a hole under the camp-fire and burying a deer's 

 head over night, but I never saw it done. The principle 

 is the same. 



Trains were uncertain at the nearest station. "Better 

 go in the coach to Cerritos, where they are regular," said 

 Don Luis. We naturally asked how far it was. "Oh, 

 nothing, some eight leagues" (twenty-five miles). So we 

 said good-bye reluctantly and rolled away. At Cerritos 

 we chose to rough it among the raihoad people, all pleas- 

 ant enough except the telegraph operator, soaked, mind 

 and body, with vile alcohol, rather than come from the 

 hotel in the early morning. Next day we reached home 

 by 1 o'clock, sound in mind and limb and with a wealth 

 of renewed health and invigorating experiences that this 

 chronicle but feebly conveys to those who have been 

 patient enough to follow it. ' Aztec. 



CANADA GROUSE IN CAPTIVITY. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Having had some experience with Canada grouse in 

 captivity, I will attempt a description of their habits. 



These birds are not plentiful in any part of this Prov- 

 ince. They are chiefly found scattered through the cen- 

 tral part, which is a barren rocky district, thinly settled 

 and abounds with rivers, lakes and swamps. These 

 swamps are usually covered with a thick growth of fir, 

 spruce and hackmatack, which constitutes the chief part 

 of the birds' food, especially in winter. 



I began my experiments in domesticating these birds, 

 in order to procure a few sets of their eggs, as it is 

 almost impossible to find the nests while the birds are at 

 liberty. With this object in view, I built a pen of strips 

 of boards, Sin. wide, leaving space between them for the 

 admission of light. I then gave out word that I wanted 

 a number of these birds and the price I **'ould pay for 

 them. It was, not long before a bird was brought, but it 

 was a male and my chances for eggs were not very much 

 increased by its receipt. Not long after this, however, a 

 mau brought me three females. This was in September, 

 1885. The question to be solved then was how to fexl 

 them, which I soon learned was rather a difficult matter, 

 &s two of them sickened and died within three weeks 

 from the time I got them. When I found they were ail- 

 ing I tried every means I could think of to restore them 

 to health, but without avail. I did not get discouraged 

 by this loss, however, but had them replaced by others 

 as soon as I could get them, which was not long, as I had 

 offered a liberal price. Through the winter I lost several, 

 while, at the same time, a few were coming in ; and when 

 the nesting sea,son came I had three females and one male. 



During this time I had made every effort to determine 

 what was necessary to the health of these birds, what 

 was their proper food, etc. I carefully examined the 

 contents of the crops of specimens sent me to be mounted. 

 In this way, and by introducing different kinds of food, 

 I learned what was most suitable for them, and so com- 

 pletely was I successful that for a long time I have lost 

 but very few, and when I do lose one now it is through 

 neglect on my part, whic 1 ? sometimes occurs, as my 

 other duties keep away from them for a time. 



The birds are caught by means of a long slim pole with 

 a noose of soft twine at the end. They are usually found 

 parched on a limb, where they will si't as motionless ae 

 though they were a part of the tree, usually with the 

 neck stretched out at full length. At such times, if very 

 slowly and carefully approached, they will remain in 

 this position until the fatal noose is dropped over their 

 head. Then with a slight pull the bird is brought strug- 

 gling to the ground, the noose is then taken off and the 

 bird is placed in a covered basket carried for the purpose. 



In describing the pen in which these buds are kept I 

 ought to have said that I cut spruce treetops, and stand 

 them up in this inclosure, which gives it the appearance 

 of a natural forest. These spruce tops I replace from 

 time to time in order to keep them fresh. Not only are 

 these treetops useful in ornamenting the pen, but if the 

 right kind of spruce is used it supplies one of the chief 

 articles of their bill of fare, and also affords the birds 

 convenient roosting places. In summer I have f spot in 

 the center covered with green grass, and in this is a small 

 stream of water led in from the water pipes, which ap- 

 pears like a little spring hubbling up out of the ground, 

 adding to the beauty of tne place a3 well as constantly 

 supplying the birds with good fresh water. 



I can assure you that this makes a pleasant place to sit 

 for an hour or two on a hot summer's clay. I have some- 

 times taken a small table, a chair and my pen and paper, 

 or some reading matter, and spent many pleasant hours 

 among the birds. They are so tame they will often fly 

 upon the table, or on my shoulder, and not show the 

 least fear. 



When a bird is first caught and placed in this inclosure 

 it is quite shy, and keeps hidden away among the spruce 

 limbs for several days, only coming out occasionally long 

 enough to feed: but ne soon grows bolder, and in a few 

 weeks will come and eat with the rest as the food is put 

 down for them. 



As the nesting season approaches I prepaxe suitable 

 places for them by placing spruce boughs in such a way 

 as to form cozy little shelters where the birds will be 

 pretty well concealed from view. I then gather up some 

 old dry leaves and grass and scatter it about on the 

 ground near where I have prepared a place for the nest. 

 The bud pays no attention to this until she wants to lay. 

 She will then select one of these places, and after scratch- 

 ing a deep, cup-shaped place in the ground, deposits in it 

 her eggs. When the hen is on the nest she is continually 

 making a kind of cooing sound, a sound that I have 

 never heard*them make on any other occasion. If there 

 should be sufficient material within easy reach of the 

 nest the bird will sometimes cover the eggs up, but not 

 in all cases. 



No nesting material is taken to the nest until after 

 three or four eggs are laid. After this number has been 

 deposited the hen, after laying an egg, and while leaving 

 the nest, w ill pick up straws, grass and leaves, or what- 

 ever suitable material is at hand, and throw it backward 

 over her back as she leaves the nest, and by the time the 

 set is complete quite a quantity of this litter is collected 

 about the nest. She will then sit in her nest and reach 

 out and gather in the nesting material and place it about 

 her, and when completed the nest is very deep and nicely 

 bordered with grass and leaves. 



So strong is the habit or instinct formed of throwing 

 the nesting materials over their backs that they will some- 

 times throw it away from the nest, instead of toward it, 

 as the hen will sometimes follow a trail of material that 

 will turn her right about so that her head is toward the 

 nest, but all the time she will continue to throw what she 

 picks up over her back. This, of course, is throwing the 

 material away from the nest. Discovering her mistake, 

 she will then "right about face" and pickup the same 

 material that an instant before was being thrown away, 

 and throw it over her back again toward the nest. 



The way they will steal eggs from one another would 

 do credit to a London pickpocket. Two hens had their 

 nests near together, perhaps two feet apart, and as each 

 hen laid every other day, one nest would be vacant while 

 the other would be occupied. The hen that laid last 

 would not go away until she had stolen the nest egg from 



the other nest and placed it in her own. I once saw a hen 

 attempt to steal an egg from another nest that was twenty 

 feet away. She worked faithfully at it for half an hour 

 or more, but did not succeed in moving the coveted egg 

 more than about eight feet, it being uphill. The egg so fre- 

 quently got away from her and rolled back afoot or more 

 each time that she at last got disgusted and gave up the 

 task. I had no fear of getting the sets mixed, as each 

 was so different from every other, in color and shape. 



On going to the pen one evening I found one of the 

 hens on the nest, and I knew she was beginning to sit, as 

 all the others had gone to roost. Slipping my hand under 

 her I found three eggs, the nest egg, the one just laid and 

 the one stolen from the other nest. I picked two of them 

 up and held them before her, when she all at once 

 placed her bill over the one held between my thumb and 

 forefinger and tried to pull it out of my hand: I did not let 

 her have it, however, and she immediately stepped up on 

 the side of the nest and placing her bill over the remain- 

 ing egg, drew it up out of the nest and pushed it back 

 under her out of sight, as much as to say "You have two, 

 and that is all you can have." I must confess that it was 

 with great reluctance that I took these eggs from her, she 

 pleaded so hard for mem. 



Any one who has only seen eggs of the Canada grouse 

 after they have laid in the nest till the whole set is com- 

 plete, can have no idea of the beauty of a fresh-laid egg. 

 I have now in my collection about eighty of these eggs, 

 all perfect specimens. 



The male bird begins to strut in March. I remember 

 very well the first time I saw one strutting. I had ob- 

 tained the bird in the fall, and he used to sit about 

 bunched up almost in a round ball as the female did, 

 until one morning, when I went to feed them I found 

 him strutting. His attitude was so different that one 

 would scarcely know it was the same bird. I went in 

 the house and told my wife to come and see him, re- 

 marking that whether the females laid any eggs or not I 

 was well paid by this sight for all my trouble, I was so 

 interested in seeing him strut that I had the photographer 

 bring his camera in and take some stereoscopic views of 

 him while strutting. I have some on hand now and can 

 supply any one who may want one, 



I will describe, as nearly as I can, his conduct and at- 

 titude while strutting. The tail stands almost erect, the 

 wings are slightly raised from the body and a little 

 dropped, the head is still well up and tne feathers of the 

 throat and breast are raised and standing out in regular 

 rows which press the feathers of the nape and hind neck 

 well back, forming a smooth kind of cape on the back of 

 the neck. This smooth cape contrasts beautifully with 

 the ruffled black and white feathers of the throat and 

 fore breast. The red comb over each eye is enlarged 

 until the two nearly meet over the top of the head. This 

 comb the bird is able to enlarge or reduce at will, and 

 while be is strutting the expanded tail is moved from side 

 to side. The two center feathers do not move, but each 

 side expands and contracts alternately with each step as 

 the bird walks. This movement of the tail produces a 

 peculiar rustling, like that of silk. This attitude gives 

 him a very dignified and even conceited air. He tries to 

 ai tract attention in every possible way, by flying from 

 the ground up on a perch and back- to the ground, mak- 

 ing all the noise he can in doing so. Then he w 11 thump 

 somei hard substance with his bill. I have had him fly 

 up ou my shoulder and thump my collar. At this sea- 

 son he is very bold and will scarcely keep enough out of 

 the way to avoid being stepped on. He will sometimes 

 sit with his breast almost touching the earth, his feathers 

 erect as in strutting and making peculiar nodding and 

 circular motions of he head from side to side; he will re- 

 main in this position two or three minutes at a time. He 

 is a most beautiful bird and shows by his actions that he 

 is perfectly aware of the fact. 



As the spring and summer advances the food given 

 these Canada grouse must be changed with the season, 

 and it is only with a perfect knowledge of their wants, 

 and with constant care that they can be safely carried 

 through the heat of summer and the mcuiting season. 



In the nesting season the females are very quarrelsome, 

 and at this time n ore than two or three cannot be kept 

 in the same pen, but in July they may be all turned 

 together again, and they will agree very well until the 

 following March. 



I'have always attributed the scarcity of the Canada 

 grouse in the haunts of the raffed grouse to the fact that 

 they were more exposed to gunners, and as they are 

 quite tame compared with the latter, they would stand 

 but little chance of escape, This I still think is true as 

 far as it goes, but an incident occurred a short time ago 

 among my birds that leads me to believe there is still 

 another cause. That is, the male ruffed grouse kills the 

 male Canada grouse. Last fall a boy brought me a male 

 ruffed grouse, and I put him in the pen with the others. 

 All went well until a short time ago, when the Canada 

 grouse began strutting, he then seemed to think he had 

 charge of the whole place and should run it to suit him- 

 self. The ruffed grouse seemed to be very much in his 

 w?v, he tried every meanri in his power to get up a row 

 with him, but the strangrr. tried to avoid him, that is, he 

 would walk away rather than quarrel. This did not 

 seem to satisfy the smaller bird, and he went on teasing 

 un til one day he came to grief. The ruffed grouse turned 

 or. him, and judging from the appearance of things when 

 I went in, he made very short work of him, for he lay 

 dead under a bush, badly torn up, while his antagonist 

 had scarcely a ruffled feather. This is the second one I 

 have lost in this way, and it is my opinion that instances 

 like this occur in their native wilds when they come- in 

 contact with each other in. the nesting season. The ruffed 

 grouse still lives and is doing well. 



In August last I put a pair of golden pheasants in the 

 pen with the partridges. They agree very well. I have 

 seen the whole flock feeding on a little piece of board a 

 foot square. The female pheasant died early in the fall, 

 from what cause I do not know, but the male bird is 

 doing well, and is in fine plumage. He has no protection 

 from the cold and storms of the winter other than that 

 provided by the slat pen before mentioned, from which, 

 when the snow became too deep, I used to shovel it out 

 to give them a better chance to feed and walk about. 

 Although we have had a very cold winter, the ther- 

 mometer often falling several degrees below zero, he did 

 not even freeze his long slim toes, which I think shows 

 conclusively that he is a much hardier bird than many 

 suppose. Watson L. Bishop. 



Kentvtt.TiTC, N. S. 



