Feb. 19, 1891.J 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



81 



slaughter is even greater, owing to the comparatiTB 

 tamenesg and noisy ways of the species. Looking at the 

 eiimmary of this species in the tables it will be found 

 that of 103 stomachs examined, 1 contained poaltrj-, 5, 

 other birds: 61, mice; 20, other mamsuals; 15, reptiles 

 and batrachians; 40, insects: 7, spiders; 3. crawfish; 1, 

 earthworm: 1, offal: 1, catfish: and 3 were empty. This 

 hawk shows the best record of any. there being only two 

 game animals (rabbits) and no game bii'ds. 



A few summaries of other hawks and owls are as fol- 

 lows: 



Marsh hawk (Circus hudsoni'us).—'*Of 46 stomachs ex- 

 amined 5 contained poultry or game birds (1 duck, 3 

 fowls. 1 woodcock and 1 quail), 5, other birds; 24, mice; 

 9 other mammals (no game animals); 3, reptiles; S, in- 

 sects; and 1 was empty. Twenty-two stomachs examined 

 by the Division contained 31 mice." 



Sharp -shinned hawk {Accipiter velox). — Of. 48 

 stomachs examined 3 contained poultry and game hicda 

 (1 fowl and 1 quail); 35, other birds; 4, mice; 3, insects: 

 and 10 were empty. Total number of small birds 41." 



Cooper's hawk (Acdpiter coo})eri).—''Ot 46 stomachs 

 examined I.t contained poultry or game birds (6, chickens; 

 4, pigeons; 3, quaii; and 3 poultry); 17, other birds: 1, 

 mice; 1, frog; 1, lizard; 8, insects; and 11 were empty. ' 



Broad-winged hawk {Buteo lathsimvs). — "Of twenty- 

 two stomachs examined 3 contained small birds, 3 mice, 

 5 other mammals, 8 reptQes or batrachians, 10 insects 

 and 1 earth worms.'' 



Rough-legE;ed hawk {Arddbnteo laijoj)!/,^ sancti-joha)/- 

 nis). — "Of 28 stomachs examined 33 contained mice. 4 

 other mammals, 1 lizard, 1 insect, 1 was empty; seven- 

 teen stomachs examined by the Division contained 53 

 mice." 



Sparrow hawk (Fafco sjxtrrerius). — "Of 1-33 stomachs 

 examined 1 contained game bird (quail), 38 other birds, 

 55 mice. 6 other mammals, 5 reptiles or batrachians, 83 

 insects, 13 spiders and 5 were empty." 



Long-eared owl (Asio ivihoniaiuis), — "Of 47 stomachs 

 examined 1 contained a game bird (quail), 5 other birds, 

 40 mice, 8 other mammals (1 rabbit), 1 insects and 5 were 

 empty." 



Barred owl (Synvium nebulosum). — "Of 37 stomachs 

 examined 1 contained poultry, 4 other birds. 16 mice, 8 

 other mammals, 3 frogs, 4 insects, 1 spider, 3 crawfish, 1 

 fish and 6 were empty." 



Saw-whet owl (Nyetala acadica).—"Ot 6 stomachs ex- 

 amined all contained mice." 



Screech owl (Megascoj^s as/o).— "Of 94 stomachs ex- 

 amined 1 contained poultry, 30 other birds, 41 mice, 1 

 other mammal, 1 frog, 35 insects, 3 crawfish, 1 spider^ 1 

 indeterminate matter and 7 were empty." 



Great horned owl(5?(?)o vii^ginianus).— "Ot 80 stomachs 

 examined 16 contained poultry or game birds (3 ruffed 

 grouse, 1 quail, 3 guinea fowl. 4 fowl, 4 poultry and 1 

 pigeon), 3 other birds, 1 mice. 13 other mammals (5 rab- 

 bits, 1 fox squirrel, 1 gray squirrel), 3 insects and 1 was 

 empty." 



Of the 28 species of hawks and owls mentioned in this 

 report S3 are beneficial, yet these 33 have to answer for 

 the sins of the other 5. Why the Commissioners have 

 seen fit to repeal the law for the protection of these birds 

 is something I can't see. Why were not these 33 species 

 exempt when that law was framed? J. Alden Loking. 

 OwEOO, N. Y. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



One of the worst features of the present and the pro- 

 posed law is the one that allows men to go into the woods 

 after woodcock and hares in September. It is imjpossible 

 to follow people about and watch what they shoot, and 

 it is a well-known fact that by Nov. 1 quail in many sec- 

 tions are about shot off. Hares are often with young" even 

 up to October, and should not be shot a day before that 

 month. H. 

 Nbw York, Feb. 16. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



1 was present last Thursday at meeting of committee on 

 game laws and was given to understand that shooting 

 from boats will be allowed on the Hudson. Several 

 prominent sportsmen along the Hudson had written the 

 committee exjiressing a desire for such amendment. 

 Three or four persons were present from Long Island and 

 strongly expressed a desire to have more favor for Queens 

 and Suffolk by allowing wildfowl shooting as now. until 

 May ; also to allow game to be sent out of the county to 

 market by carrier, which is prohibited in the bill, stating 

 that their local shooters killed a great many ducks for 

 market, two last fall having killed over 300 ducks iia one 

 day. (More than killed on the Hudson in a season.) 



Forest Commissioner Townsend Cox opposed spring 

 shooting on Long Island and advocated making penalty 

 for killing a deer in the Catskill Mouutam region from 

 Heidelburgh to the Pennsylvania line within five years, 

 "oae year's imprisonment and i^lOQ tine." Mr, J. D. Col- 

 lins, of Utica, presented amendments to thejjroposed law 

 to such extent as to be almost a substitute bill, and in 

 the end complimented the Board of Commissioners by 

 stating that he did not regard the proposed bill as being 

 as good a bill as the present State game and fish law, Mr. 

 Collins advocated jack-hunting for deer after Aug. 15, as 

 I -understood him, for reason that they did not come much 

 to water to feed and to get rid of insects, flies, after that 

 time. If so, there would be few to jack-hunt. The pro- 

 posed bill prohibits jack-hunting of deer. The present 

 law, giving by lease or hire, exclusive rights to shoot and 

 fish, excepts leasing any lands or water belonging to the 

 State. Such prohibition is not in proposed law. Asking 

 E. G. Whicaker, of Attorney General's office, about this 

 point I was informed that the State could not and would 

 not lease thus any of its lands. Mr. Whitaker did 

 appear to be very desirous to get the game bill passed 

 without any amending, stating to me that if I would wait 

 until the bill was passed and signed, he would then get 

 such amendments introduced and passed as I desired. 

 This letter is not intended for publication, but you can 

 make any extracts. 



Mr. Henry A. Reeves, of Suffolk, opposed the provision^ 

 of the bill forbidding the use of steamboats in dredgin" 

 for oysters in JLong Island waters, and the use of dredges 

 heavier that thirty pounds. This would virtually put an 

 end to oyster dredging there. Prof. Lintner asks for the 

 protection of certain birds that were insectivorous, and 

 therefore beneficial to the agriculturists. He wanted it 

 made a misdemeanor to feed English sparrows. Hawks, 

 shrikes and owls should be protected, as they were in- 

 sectivQigiiSj a^d the sUrikea killed Qjany of those little 



pests, the English sparrows. He also asked for protection 

 for robins, blackbirds and meadow-larks, giving no open 

 season for these birds. Assemblyman Bradford asked for 

 a brief open season for web footed birds in the spring on 

 the St. Lawrence River. The Canadian himters were 

 given an open season in the spring, and they did not con- 

 fine their- hunting to Canadian waters. He also pleaded 

 for an amendment allowing jack-hunting for deer. A 

 further hearing will be given next Thursday at three 

 o'clock. Correspondent. 

 AtjBANT, Feb. 14. 



NOTES AND NOTIONS.-II. 



Editor Forest and Stream: 



Not very long ago I happened to find myself in com- 

 pany with half a dozen men, who make it a practice to 

 spend their vacations in the West. They were all good 

 fellows, keen sportsmen and well bred men — all men to 

 whom could fairly be applied that much-abused word, 

 which in common talk has now almost ceased to have a 

 meaning and which yet means so much— gentleman. The 

 game killed by the party comprised bears of two species, 

 deer, antelope, elk, white goats, moose, sheep and moun- 

 tain lion. As we were all familiar witli one another's 

 tastes, it may be imagined that there were plenty of 

 hunting ptories told, and that we had a pleasant session. 



I sat still and smoked and listened most of the time, 

 and as T listened I was struck by one thing. This was 

 tliat these men hunted not for blood alone but really for 

 tiie clear, manly sport of the thing. They did not vv-ant 

 to wallow in gore, they wished simply to live the free 

 outdoor life of the uioujitains and to provide themselves 

 with meat m a fair honest way, by matching their htmt- 

 ers' craft against the keen trained senses of the wild 

 creatures which they pursued. All of them seemed to 

 appreciate that the game is rapidly decreasing, and that it 

 is the part of all hunters to do what killing he does with 

 judgment and discretion. 



Thus one gentleman explained that he never killed a 

 cow elk nor a calf. One party desiring to bait for bears 

 did not depend on game for their baits, but purchased 

 for a small sum a lot of crippled, worn out horses, which 

 they drove along with their pack train and killed as they 

 needed bear baits. 



One of the party told a most interesting story of a fight 

 which he witnessed between a bear and two dogs that he 

 had with him. One of the dogs was a greyhound ]iup of 

 nine months and the other an older greyhound. Avhich is 

 supposed to have a dash of bull-terrier jblood in him. The 

 older dog is a veteran and has for years been used in bear 

 hunting. It is generally supposed that the greyhound fol- 

 lows game only by sight, but this is knovvn by most men 

 who are familiar with this breed to be an entirely errone- 

 ous belief. At all events these two dogs hunted by scent. 

 The old dog when he struck a bear's trail, would follow 

 it, feathering like a foxhound; at first, when the trail 

 was cold, going slowly and stopping every now and then, 

 but as the scent got warmer, advancing more rapidly, 

 When it was seen that the dog was on a trail a rope was 

 put on him, and the men would follow on foot. When 

 he got near the game he would stop and point for fifteen 

 or twenty seconds, and then, if not restrained, would 

 make a dash for the bear. The first time the young dog 

 was taken out they came upon a bear trail, and this per- 

 formance was gone through with. The young dog seemed 

 at once to catch the idea and thereafter followed a trail 

 very satisfactorily. 



These dogs were astonishingly quick, and would hold 

 a bear absolutely in one place. They would feint at him 

 and he would strike, as it seemed, within a few inches of 

 their heads, but he could never hit them, and if he turned 

 to run they pinned him by the hams in half a second, 

 and he was obliged to sit up again and assume the de- 

 fensive. In the particular battle above referred to. dogs 

 and bear fought until both were almost exhausted, but 

 neither dog had a scratch on him. Then when the ani- 

 mals were quiet for a little while the hunter killed the 

 bear. 



Of the six bears accounted for last season by this party 

 of diners only one displayed any great ferocity. This was 

 a grizzly hrought to bag by "a well known gentleman. 

 Briefly the story of the capture is this: The hunter was 

 alone and was just passing out of a piece of bull, or lodge- 

 pole pines, when he saw the bear in the open oark which 

 he was about to enter. The animal was standing broad- 

 side on, and the first shot struck it behind the shoulder 

 and passed through the lungs: it at once turned and ran 

 up hill into a small thicket of laurels which stood about 

 shoulder high. The hunter followed, saw by the blood 

 where the bear had entered the thick brush, and heard it 

 whine. He walked along the edge of the thicket trying 

 to look over and catch a glimpse of the beast, but without 

 success. Suddenly it came into view at the point of the 

 brush some 60yds. distant aird stood for a moment. In 

 an instant the hunter fired again, and this ball entering 

 just behind the fore leg, and low down, split the point of 

 the bear's heart. It whirled about, and without an 

 instant's hesitation charged down the hill toward the 

 man, who again fired, this time striking it in the chest. 

 Still the bear came on, running like a race horse, and. 

 when he was only about eight feet distant, a fourth shot 

 was fired and the hunter sprang to one side, up the bill 

 and reloaded. As the bear passed him it made an ugly 

 stroke at him with its paw, and— by that time being 

 pretty weak — fell forward so that its nose hit the ground, 

 leaving quite a pool of frothy red blood on it, It made 

 three or four jumps and then rolled over and over, head 

 over heels and was dead. The last shot, aimed for his 

 nose, but while he was running, had entered his mouth 

 and broken the lower jaw far back on one side. The 

 whole affair was soon over, but while it lasted was. I 

 fancy, about as exciting an episode as one is likely to 

 meet with. The Silent IVIan. 



To Encourage Game Wardens.-— The Maine Game 

 and Fish Commissioners have published the following 

 notice: "Reward! Ofiice of Commissioners of Game and 

 the Fisheries.— Bangor, Me., Jan. 36, 1891. To any Fish 

 or Game Warden, or any other person who shall cause 

 the final conviction of any person foimd guilty of viola- 

 tion of any of the game laws (Chap. 30, R. S.) the under- 

 signed will, until further notice, allow a sum equal to 

 one-half of the fine imposed in each case; certificate of 

 the justice imposing the final sentence to be the evidence 

 of who is entitled thereto. E. 31. Stillwell, Henry Q, 

 Stanley, Oommiesionera of Game and tlie Fisheries." 



A COONLESS HUNT. 



EVERYTHING comes to him who waits," and the 

 writer waited until old Time had changed many of 

 his raven locks to silvery hue ere an invitation came to 

 spend a night with a jovial party on historic Mount Wa- 

 chusett, in pursuit of the cunning thief of the cornfields. 

 The invitation came from an old timer from whose belt 

 dangled many a noble pelt, and who, though called uj)on 

 to fill the seat of chairman of the Board of Selectmen, 

 could not forego the pleasures of a night in the old 

 haunts. 



Reaching the house of our host, we were ushered into a 

 cheery dining-room and were soon discussing the tempt- 

 ing spread. The conversation naturally drifted to the 

 sport before us and the prospect of success. 



"Will you have some more of the roast?" 

 _ "Thank you, I will. The drive has sharpened my appe- 

 tite, and the lamb is very tender and nice." 



"Well, if we have the good fortune to get a nice, fat 

 coon, you must take it home and dine on roast coon." 



"Hardly, At wood , hardly. I am rather inclined to think 

 1 will have to draw the line at coon," 



A roar of laughter burst forth, and came the inquiry; 



"And what are you now eating?" 



"Why, lamb, of course." 



"Yes, lamb taken from the quarters of a fat coon!" 



Passing Ransom Rock of colonial fame, where the 

 whites rairsomed their captives from the Indians, we were 

 soon on the mountain side and Tige and Pomp were cast 

 off. We had not been long seated before they gave 

 tongue some distance away. A coon they had. dead sure, 

 and away go the party in pursuit. The baying of the 

 dogs reechoes from the mountain side and makes weird 

 music in the stillness of the night, The lantern man 

 heads the procession and the rest follow as best they can. 

 Now down goes one and tlien another until nearly all 

 have paid tribute to the uneven footing and the darkness, 

 rendered visible by the feeble rays of the lantern. We 

 overtake the dogs only to find that the quarry has taken 

 up secure quarters in a fissure of the ledge. 



The dogs are pulled oft' and led some distance away and 

 again they are oft". The party gather under a spreading pine 

 and spin reminiscence and story until called to the work 

 in hand by the music of the dogs. Again the procession 

 moves, quartering up the hillside, a long and fatiguing 

 jaunt-trying to the mind and muscle of the best. 

 Coming up to them we find the dogs tearing around 

 through dense spoon wood, through which runs quite a 

 large brook — but coon saw we none! The knowing ones 

 claimed that Mr. Coon being hot pressed took to the water 

 for some distance to throw the dogs off the scent, and that 

 he emerged into such dense thicket that the dogs could 

 not follow. It was decided to cast off the dogs and start 

 a new trail. The wind meanwhile had veered again into 

 the west and the full moon rolled out from a bank of 

 cloud and lent an added charm to the night. Again the 

 group formed under the sheltering boughs, and quickly 

 sped the time with brilliant sallies and skillful repartee. 



The faint note of the distant town clock, as it tolled out 

 the hour of one, had hardly died away ere all were smn- 

 moned to their feet by the' hardly aud'ible barking of the 

 dogs. We had not proceeded more than a hundred yards 

 before a ruffed grouse, disturbed in his slumber, made the 

 hUls thunder with his pinions. 



One of the party in line with the moon saw him alight 

 near a form in a small maple, and summoning the 

 writer, who carried the gun, he confesses to doing the 

 deed of death in an unsportsmanUke manner at an un- 

 seemly hom' in the morning. Gathering up the spoils we 

 huiTy on and soon strike into an old wood road which 

 materially assists our passage. Soon after the writer 

 stepped on an old sled stake that was lying athwart the 

 pathwa,y concealed by a pile of dead leaves, and down 

 he went as if struck by a political cyclone. Gathering 

 himseK up with the assistance of friendly hands he pro- 

 ceeds to retrieve his hammerless breechloader, which he 

 found broken completely in two at the wrist. No mis- 

 haps must stand in the w^ay and we are soon with the 

 dogs at the foot of two white birch ti-ees of considerable ' 

 size— one standing»erect and the other bending in grace- 

 ful ellipse toward the earth. Here the dogs w-axed eager 

 and soon the coon was discovered near the top of the up- 

 right tree. Getting in line of the moon he was clearly 

 discernible to all, and he of the dilapidated gim was 

 summoned to "bring the critter down." Placing the 

 broken ends in oi^position and grasping the fracture 

 firmly with one hand he cut loose, but his coonship was 

 not seemingly disturbed. 



"You hit him for certain! I saw the fur fly!" said 

 one. " What size shot have you in?" said another. "Try 

 him again!" chimed in a third, And thinking I must 

 have flinched through fear of my gun I wrapped a hand- 

 kerchief around the fractirre and again took deliberate 

 aim and fired. "Hit him sure!" said several, but he did 

 not "coom doun." Handing the weapon over to the 

 Nimrod of the party, he sends up his compliments with 

 like results. 



Climbing irons are strapped on, a Colt's navy revolver 

 stuck in the belt, and now down will come his coonship. 

 The party forms a ring around the trees, the dogs teai-ing 

 like mad; the climber has reached the treetop, which he 

 proceeds to shake as it it had been struck by a hurricane, 

 but the coon is not unhorsed. "Put a bullet into him," 

 said some one growing impatient at the delay. Aim is 

 taken and the navy belches flame and thunder, but no 

 coon moves. "What in thunder does it mean?" Is it a 

 plantation coon?"' "I've seen fm' fly every time he was 

 shot at," were some of the many sayings of those on 

 terra frrna, while he in the treetop had "putup again his 

 sword into its scabbard" and proceeded to reconnoiter 

 more closely. Carefully making his way up the small 

 stem of the tree near its top, he sings out: "Well, boys, 

 I thirrk we had better go home. A big wasp's nest is all 

 the coon there's up here!" 



Thoughts were not revealed until we reached the team 

 in the early dawn some miles away, when the chairman 

 of the board of selectmen with becoming gravity said : 

 "Wan't he cimning. though! to run up the bent tree 

 and jump off to break the scent and fool the dogs!" 



Geo. M. McAlebr. 



WoBCESTEK, Mass. 



FpHEST AND Stream. Box 3,83S, N. Y. city, has des«riptive UItts- 

 trated cu-culars of W. B. LefflngweU's book, "Wild Fowl Shoot- 

 ing," wMon will be mailed free on request. The book Is pro- 

 nounced by "Nanit." "Gloan," "Dick Swlveller," "SyblUene" and 

 other pompetent authorities to be the best treatise on the aubjeet 



