24 8 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[March 17. 1892. 



for a row. He was as courageous as an animal could 

 possibly be. I put him in a small cabin, but he dug out 

 the first night and in the morning was sitting outside, so 

 I chained him up to a post in front of the house in which 

 I lived. He would fight his chain, the post, his box, 

 knock his bucket of water over and act the bad boy all 

 the time. About this time (the second day) I noticed the 

 roach on his back, fitting over his shoulders like a cap, 

 was a lot of hair much longer than that on any other part 

 of his body. E. Hofer. 



CHAMBERLAIN'S NUTTALL'S MANUAL. 



OP the earlier writings on American ornithology, none 

 have a greater charm than those of Thomas Nuttall. 

 The results of his labors were modest by comparison with 

 the elaborate productions of Wilson, Audubon and Bona- 

 parte, but in the two little volumes which constituted his 

 work, there was careful study and painstaking care. 

 Whether as botanist or ornithologist, Nuttall was a close 

 observer, and he wrote with a deep feeling that appeals 

 most strongly to all lovers of nature. He it was who first 

 wrote a connected history of our birds in such form that 

 it was accessible to the general public. Other works on- 

 the subject were expensive and to be seen only in the 

 libraries of the wealthy, but the two plain volumes of the 

 "Manual" with their pleasing text, and their simple yet 

 truthful wood engravings were within the reach of all. 

 It was a popular hand book of ornithology, and the charm 

 of its style, as well as of its subject, at once secured for 

 it a large share of the popular favor, so that after a few 

 years it passed to a second edition. 



The little fat volumes have long been out of print and 

 are now among the desiderata of many a bibliophile, but 

 the demand for the book by ornithologists continues and 

 cannot be supplied. To meet this want, Messrs. Little, 

 Brown & Co., of Boston, have issued an edition of Nutt- 

 alFs Ornithology, and it is of this that we have now to 

 speak. 



A mere reprint of the "Manual" is something that at 

 the present day would hardly be thought of except as a 

 curiosity, and it has been the purpose of the publishers to 

 furnish a. work which should be useful and practical, as 

 well as entertaining. Since Nuttall's time the nomenclat- 

 ure and classification have so changed that, as the editor 

 remarks, "little is left of American ornithology as Nutt- 

 all knew it except the birds." To have reprinted the 

 "Manual*' would have been to mislead many non-techni- 

 cal readers. Instead of doing this we have, in the work 

 just issued, an American ornithology which embodies the 

 results of recent investigations brought up to date for the 

 area that the work covers. Matter that is obsolete, or that 

 has been found to be incorrect, has beeu omitted. We are 

 given the ornithology of to-day. 



The task of editing this work was one which required 

 knowledge, discrimination and judgment. Old and use- 

 less material had to be excised, new matter to be added, 

 the information, acquired during the sixty years that 

 have elapsed between the publication of the "Manual" in 

 1832-34 and the appearance of the new and modernized 

 Nuttall, to be inserted. Mr. Montagtie Chamberlain, the 

 editor of the present work, is well fitted to face the dif- 

 ficulties which here present themselves, and it is a matter 

 of congratulation that he was chosen to perform a work 

 which, so far as it goes, is well done, the intention of the 

 editor and publishers being to give matter which should 

 be popular, leaving to students to follow up technicalities 

 in volumes which are purely scientific. Mr. Chamber- 

 lain's experience in editorial work is quite extended. For 

 several years he was associate editor of the Auk, and is 

 now editor of the Ornithological Club. He has also pub- 

 lished "A Catalogue of the Birds of New Brunswick." "A 

 Catalogue of Canadian Birds," and "A Systematic Table 

 of Canadian Birds," together with many short papers 

 which have appeared in various periodicals. 



The most serious fault to be found with the new Nutt- 

 all is that its title is misleading. It is not a popular hand- 

 book of the ornithology of the United States and Canada, 

 but of the eastern United States and eastern Canada. 

 This is explained, to be sure, in the preface, but the 

 title page and prospectus fail to give any bint that the 

 work is limited to the 6pecies of the east, and in the pros- 

 pectus it is especially stated that the work "will give to 

 the readers the latest acquired facts regarding the species 

 mentioned in the original work, also an account of the 

 species and sub-species that have been discovered since 

 Nuttall wrote." Later in the prospectus a hint is given 

 that the area covered by the volumes is limited, but there 

 is certainly room for great misunderstanding. As against 

 this blemish may be set the charm of the literary style 

 of the work, the general good judgment displayed m edit- 

 ing, the beauty of the type, paper and illustrations. The 

 latter, especially the new ones drawn for these volumes 

 by Mr. E. E. Thompson, are beautiful. 



The volumes under consideration form a valuable and 

 worthy addition to the bird literature of the day, and may 

 be commended to readers. 



Aquaria and Taxidermy Display.— Mr. W. M. Brack- 

 eft, General Manager of the Minneapolis Industrial Ex- 

 position to open Aug. 31, writes: "We propose at our 

 exposition this year, in addition to our fish exhibit, which 

 attracted so much attention last year and which will be 

 largely increased and improved this season, to arrange a 

 very unique and interesting taxidermy exhibit of the 

 birds and animals (game especially) of the Northwest, or 

 in other words, what might be termed a 'zoographicon' 

 of the Northwest. We have already secured a very large 

 collection, and expect to make a very full exhibit, as we 

 are still soliciting for more. All will be catalogued, with 

 a short and terse description, printed in a neat and attrac- 

 tive form, with owner's name, and if for sale so stated. 

 We should be pleased to correspond with any parties hav- 

 ing specimens of the class named." 



Spring Woodcock in New Jersey.— Newark, N. J., 

 March 10.— Editor Forest and Stream: Every spring a 

 few woodcock can be found in the vicinity of this city 

 and occasionally a brood of young birds is met later in 

 the season, but most of the old birds are killed before 

 they have time to rest from their flight. Dead birds are 

 openly shown and even bragged about on the streets and 

 in public places, but as long as I can remember not a 

 single lawbreaker has been prosecuted. It is discour- 

 aging. Cannot the gun clubs of this city or county, com- 

 posed mostly of enthusiastic, law-abiding sportsmen, 

 take the matter in hand and bring some of these fellows 

 to terms?— J. G. 



%nmt §zg mid §m\. 



Antelope and Deer of America. By J. D. Caton. 

 Price $2.50. Wing and Glass Ball Shooting with the 

 Rifle. By W. C. Bliss. Price 50 cents. Rifle) Rod and 

 Gun in California. By T. S. Van Dyke. Price $1.50. 

 Shore Birds. Price 15 cents. Woodcraft. By "Ness- 

 muk.' Price $1. Trajectories of Hunting Rifles. Price 

 50 cents Wild Fowl Shooting; 'see advertisement. 



A NORTHERN WISCONSIN HUNT. 



THE month of November was very dry and had no 

 snow, hence the hunting was not at its best nor 

 equal to many former years, as our old hunters, J. M. 

 Cox, of Marion, Ind,, and Nat. Doyle, of Van Buren, 

 Ind., who have hunted in those parts almost yearly for 

 the Jpast ten years, assured the new members of the 

 camp, which was pleasantly located on a fine creek 

 which empties into one of the branches of Pike River, 

 We were south of the "Soo" railroad. The report of 

 these two, after a fair examination of surrounding coun- 

 try in all directions for sign of deer, was unfavorable, the 

 apparent scarcity of game and the dry season were truly 

 discouraging; and thoughts were entertained and dis- 

 cussed of moving camp; but this is a great trouble, and it 

 was concluded to do the best we could where we were, 

 as other hunters in camps from three to five miles of us 

 reported still other camps adjoining them, and then a 

 camp of Indians came and stayed three days; they left 

 saying "too many white men, not much game." 



The Tomahawk Ciub, of Milwaukee, Wis., was east of 

 us; they had moved down from Flood wood, Mich,, bring- 

 ing several deer with them. They also killed several 

 near us. A camp west of us were from Kalamazoo, 

 Mich. They, like the other hunters met by members of 

 our camp, were gentlemen and sportsmen, and succeeded 

 fairly well and, like us, did not hunt with dogs, yet dogs 

 were heard almost day by day. 



After a few days Doyle killed a large fawn and, with 

 venison in camp, all were hopeful of better success. In 

 a day or so after Cox shot a splendid doe, and in extra 

 good condition; this gave some encouragement and pros- 

 pects looked brighter. A circumstance. This deer was 

 one and a half miles south of the river, one mile down 

 the river from the creek where we camped. One day 

 Cox, Dr. Williams and the writer took our boat down 

 river to the nearest point, then making fast took his 

 "blaze" to his deer, when after taking it down from 

 where it had hung he found that the ropes had been left 

 in the boat. Things looked as if some one had a good 

 chance to take a three-mile walk extra, as there was no 

 chance for bark where we were nearer than river. But 

 I remembered that I had a few yards of annealed wire 

 carried in one of my coat pockets. I ottered it; it was 

 very useful in getting that deer to the boat and to camp 

 by dark. 



The Doctor shot a fine one, and as it was his first to 

 bring down he was greatly elated; but he had been prac- 

 ticing at them on several occasions, according to current 

 audible reports. He has now mounted in his office a 

 very choice pair, buck and doe. He will try them again, 

 and as he is a good one in camp he will make himself 

 heard. 



Cy Wilson got a shot on his first day out, the Doctor 

 was with him, both failed to score. Cy's next shots 

 were in the last four days in camp, when he got two 

 shots and dropped two bucks in their tracks, neither 

 making a jump after shot. This, of course, very much 

 helped his rheumatic affliction and increased his good 

 feelings. 



The exciting event of the hunt occurred about the mid- 

 dle of November. All had noticed, at times, signs of 

 bruin, mostly where he had crossed the river, leaving 

 tracks in the sand; but as all the tracks were going north- 

 ward, it was not expected to find any specimens. Yet 

 Cox and Doyle have long had a strong desire to bring one 

 to bag. They took a trip to Wyoming four years ago 

 almost expressly to capture one, and failed, but they got 

 enough other large game, yet the great ambition was not 

 satisfied, and is not yet by one of the parties, while one 

 is content on that score; his next ambition is for moose 

 and caribou. Whether that is ever filled or not time only 

 will show. 



Doyle having found a dead buck, which had been killed 

 in a fight with another, as evidenced by the manner in 

 which the ground had been torn and scratched, the hair 

 scattered around; and the largest point broken off one 

 horn, he was in the habit of watching that carcass every 

 day or so, hoping to see sign of "b'ar." Finally one 

 morning he found various and abundant signs that they 

 had been feasting on the carcass. His thoughts then 

 went to the old trap at camp as a possible means of cap- 

 turing one, but such was not to be. 



Continuing his hunt for deer a short distance, his atten- 

 tion was called so the continuous cry of a raven not more 

 than 100yds. in a cedar swamp, or 200yds. from him. Now 

 something, he knew not what, and does not now, 

 prompted him to investigate; so, marking the locality as 

 woodsmen only know how, he proceeded with his investi- 

 gation. Penetrating the swamp, hunting faculties all 

 being keen and active, he discovered an object about 

 50yds. distant, not in good view, owing to surroundings. 

 And as soon as he was satisfied that it was not a human 

 being and. must be a bear, as he noted a few movements 

 of its head (lying among the logs its body was partially 

 concealed), he brought his .4.5-75 Winchester to proper 

 position, and at its explosion there was a dead bear and a 

 cub with a broken back. The first seen of it was when it 

 was dragging itself away. This he shot, and slightly 

 wounded the other cub, which was making off. Now 

 feeling that it would be safe to approach, he did so 

 cautiously, and found that the ball had entered the right 

 eye and came out back of left ear. 



And now comes the runaway cub to investigate per- 

 haps. If two balls had killed two bear, we who were in 

 hearing of the shooting cannot say with due regard for 

 truthfulness, that two or three killed the second cub, 

 but it was killed. Cox, who was nearest him, said he 

 thought there were two Winchesters, but Doyle could 

 stand it with three dead bear within 20ft. of each other. 

 What Nimrod would not feel proud and joyous? Surely 

 Doyle looked so when he returned to camp and when the 

 exploits were narrated. Proper arrangements made, all 

 hands and the cook proceeded up the river, some with 



the boat to the nearest point, thence between one and two 

 miles to the swamp where the game was, which was con- 

 veyed to the boat. The bear were duly suspended in 

 front of camp with our deer, making quite an addition 

 to our game rack. While all were worn and weary they 

 were all willing to do »tbe same thing over. It was an 

 eventful day, to be remembered by all who were there. 



Several hunters called to see them. All admired, all 

 would like to try it themselves. The old bear weighed 

 about 2001bs. when we came out, cubs near SOlbs. each. 

 They are now mounted and can be seen at business room 

 of M. Doyle, Van Buren, Ind. 



We brought out ten deer (five bucks, four does, one 

 fawn), Largest buck weighed 2031b3„ at railroad and was 

 killed by Cox. S. F, J. 



MR. CLEVELAND AT SPESUTIA. 



HAVRE DE GRACE, Md., March 11. — Editor For- 

 est and Stream: All old gunners along the Chesa- 

 peake are familiar with Spesutia Island, but to many of 

 your readers in the North and West this may only be a 

 name. It is, however, one of the most famous ducking 

 shores of Maryland, and many thousands of gamy can- 

 vasbacks and equally delicious redheads, to say nothing 

 of blackheads, widgeon and other ducks of the commoner 

 sorts, have fallen before the guns of the shooters of 

 Spesutia. 



It was on the shores of Spesutia, and in Spesutia Nar- 

 rows, that the big-guns of Wash Bai'nes and his gang of 

 duck killers were used ten years ago, and I well remem- 

 ber the occasion, in the early part of the year 1883, when 

 several of these guns were captured by the aid of a de- 

 tective named Lindsay, and the exciting scenes which 

 took place in court at the time the poachers were tried, 

 These great-guns were used exclusively at night, and 

 were mounted in the bow of a skiff, the stock being 

 braced against a block on the bottom. The gunners lay 

 in the stern and propelled the boat by means of a paddle, 

 The guns were painted dull blue or gray, and each one is 

 said to have had a line, with a buoy attached, tied to it, 

 so that if the officers of the law pursued him, the shooter 

 could unship it and throw it overboard, and if overtaken, 

 no evidence would be found against him. When the 

 pursuit was over, he could return, and finding the buoy, 

 recover the gun. The destruction wrought by the dis- 

 charge of one of these heavily-loaded guus into a bed of 

 sleeping ducks was tremendous, and it is said that some- 

 times 100 canvasbacks have been killed and crippled by 

 a Bingle discharge. 



From what has been said it will be seen that Spesutia 

 Island is historic ground so far as duck shooting is con- 

 cerned. The island has just been visited by ex- President 

 Cleveland, who stopped there for a day or two to try the 

 ducks, and left to-day for New York. Mr, Cleveland is 

 better known to sportsmen as an angler than as a gunner. 

 He is an ardent trout fisher, and has made frequent trips 

 to the Adirondacks. There he has taken many a good- 

 sized trout, and it is said that he has spent some fruitless 

 hours on a lake's shore, waiting for the dogs to drive a 

 deer into the water so that he could kill it. It appears 

 from his visit to Spesutia, that Mr. Cleveland can handle 

 the double-barrel as well as the split-bamboo, and that he 

 enjoys facing a March gale and watching the blackheads 

 dart as much as he does whipping a stream for trout. 



Mr. Cleveland reached Havre de Grace last week, in 

 company with Mr. H. W. Maxwell, Geo. W. Evans, H. 

 A. V. Post and Dr. Wells, of Brooklyn and New York. The 

 party boarded the steam launch Evadne, commanded by 

 Capt. John Kean, and at once started for the island, 

 which is about four miles distant. As they approached 

 it they obtained their first view of the club house, a large 

 wooden mansion with a cupola, built years ago by a 

 wealthy Philadelphian as a residence for his son. Coming 

 up to the dock, they landed and walked up to the bouse, 

 passing the boathouse, well supplied with decoys for all 

 sorts of fowl, from swans down to woodduck, as well as 

 with batteries, sink-boxes, skiffs and all equipments 

 necessary for the successful pursuit of this sport. At the 

 club house the party passed into the hands of Mr. D. E. 

 Mitchell, the six-foot-four Marylander, who has charge of 

 the island for the Rod and Gun Club. He is one of the 

 oldest duck hunters on Chesapeake Bay, and enjoys 

 telling his experiences of years ago, and how once he 

 killed 156 canvasbacks in a single day. 



The shooting party was called at 4 :20 A. M., the usual 

 hour, on Thursday morning, and half an hour later were 

 discussing a delicious breakfast prepared by Aunt Rachel, 

 the club's old Southern cook. After this was over they 

 started for the boxes, which they reached before light, 

 Mr, Cleveland's gun was a 10-bore hammerless. 



It is the club's practice to bait their blinds, putting out 

 twenty bushels of corn at a time. The result of this is 

 that the birds collect at the blinds to feed, and when one 

 rows up to them in the gray light of the morning he finds 

 there acres of ducks, which rise and fly away. Almost 

 before the shooter is placed in the blind and the decoys 

 have been put out the birds begin to return in small 

 bunches, three, seven, ten, or forty in a flock, and splendid 

 sport is had as they come in to the decoys. 



The tender remains not far away, and picks up the dead 

 and knocks over the cripples. The fowl killed here, be- 

 sides swan, geese, brant, canvasback and redheads, are 

 blackheads, widgeon, greasers, whistlers, pintails, and 

 now and then a blackduck and a woodduck. 



It was a rough day when Mr. Cleveland had his first ex- 

 perience at Spesutia — regular duck-shooter's weather, a 

 howling gale from the north and the birds flew well. Of 

 course the shooting was not easy, as any one knows who 

 has tried the blackheads under such weather conditions, 

 but, on the whole, the gue3t. of the club held up his end 

 pretty well. The total bag of the first day was 50 birds 

 for the party. The second day they shot only till about 

 10:30 and then returned to the clubhouse. Out of the 

 70 birds secured, Mr. Cleveland killed 18, which was 

 more than his share. 



I asked Mr. Cleveland what he thought of the new 

 Forest and Stream, and called his attention to a copy of 

 the last issue lying on the table in the reading room of 

 the club. He laughed pleasantly as he answered: "You 

 need not show it to me, I have already read that copy 

 through. The paper is greatly improved : every one must 

 acknowledge that. I enjoy the increased size, but I con- 

 fess that I regret a little bit the old green cover that I had 

 known for so many years." 



Mr. Cleveland and Mr, Maxwell left Spesutia at 3 

 o'clock this afternoon for New York, having heartily en- 

 joyed their stay. Black£EAD ( 



