426 



FOREST AND STREAM. 



[Nov. 18, 1898. 



open slightly, and after some delay a few pieces of plank 

 were brought in and arranged so as to make a temporary 

 partition. I then backed out and slipped the loosened 

 bar into its place. After which the small cage was re- 

 placed on the trestles, the male driven into it, and the 

 female given the entire range of her cage. On the next 

 day she scarcely showed any signs of her rough treat- 

 Txient FRA^fK J. Thompson, 



[to be concluded.] 



The Fable of the Fox and the Lioness. 



Fort Smith, Ark., Nov. 8.— In your last issue Mr. 

 Hough describes, among other things, a group of mounted 

 lions at the World's Fair, two of which were "kittens," 

 which he astutely surmises (because of the difference in 

 their color) "were not of the same litter." Now I never 

 raised any lions of my own, and am therefore unable to 

 speak of them with authority, but I believe there is ex- 

 tant a moss-grown story to the effect that the "varmints" 

 with which the footstool is provided once had a mass 

 meeting, and the sisters got to discussing family matters, 

 and some of them began bragging about the number of 

 little ones they were in the habit of imposing upon the 

 commissary department at each impose. When all but 

 the lioness had "filed their claims" thatlady was requested 

 to state the extent of her accomplishments in this hue. 

 She adjusted her glasses and looking haughtily upon the 

 crowd remarked, "One, but that one is a lion." 



Hoodoo. 



[This is the ancient fable of the Fox and the Lioness; 

 but however witty, it is not true to nature; there are 

 sometimes three or four cubs in a litter.] 



The Linnsean Society of New York. 



A REGIXLAB meeting of the society will be held at the 

 American Museum of Natural History, Eighth avenue 

 and Seventy-seventh street, on Tuesday evening, Nov. 28. 

 Papers: L, S. Foster, "A Consideration of Some Ornitho- 

 logical Literature, with Extracts from Current Criticism. 

 II. 1884 to 1893." , Arthur H. Howell, "Birds in Our 

 Great Cities." Arthur H. Howell Secretary (212 Madi- 

 son street, Brooklyn)^ 



A Connecticut Wildcat. 



Portland, Conn-, Nov, 8.— An adult wildcat (Lynx 

 rufus) was killed this morning in Durham, Conn., by 

 Frank Francis. It weighed nearly 251bs. , and is now in 

 the possession of Mr. W. P. Post, of Middletown. Mr. 

 Post will present it to some museum. John H. Sage. 



in low voices, we caught up with other teams going in One other unpleasant insult of the large number of men 

 the same direction as ourselves, and soon we were an ' who congregate on the deer grounds, besides the danger 

 integer of a long procession that wound snakehke among , to human life entailed, is the numerousquarrels tliat anse 

 the silent farms aid stretches of woods. In the outskirts — c...^ Onr r,nrtv fortunatelv was 



of Smith town we pa.ssed the house of a German who had 

 reported the night before that his cabbage patch had been 

 ravaged by deer. 



Several miles further we left aU signs of civilization be- 

 hind. On either side of the road, which wa-s just the 

 width of a wagon track, rose a forest of scrub oak and 

 pines. The procession began to move slower, and pres- 

 ently halts became frequent. Some distance in front, flt 

 the head of the line, we could see lanterns moving about 

 and every now and then ghostly figures stooping down 

 and examining the gi-ourd. The leaders of our party 

 were looking for tracks in the sandy road. 



It is a common thing when tracks are found to obliter- 

 ate them, the hunters marking the place by some sign 

 known only to themselves. Then when it is light enough 

 they come "back with their dogs and put them on the most 

 j)romising track. This early start and search for tracks 

 before daylight is the most picturesque feature of the 

 hunt, and one peculiar to the locality. 



We reached our destination just as the sky was begin- 

 ning to pale in the east. The horses were drawn up a side 

 " and then hitched to the trees, and the hunters began 



"Game Laws in Brief.'''' Bevised to Jan. 1, 189U. Oame and Fish lau8 

 of all the States, Territories ayid Provinces. Correct, reliable, hand- 

 somely illustrated. Published by the "-Forest and Stream.'''' Sold by 

 all dealers. Price 25 cents. 



THE LONG ISLAND DEER POCKET. 



The Long Island deer season, which lasts but six days, 

 from Nov. 10 to 16, opened last Friday. On that day 

 about fifteen deer were killed. Judging from previous 

 years it is probable that fifty or sixty deer wiU be killed 

 before the season closes. 



Few people besides the local sportsmen know of the 

 excellent hunting afforded by this Long Island pocket. 

 One gets a vague idea from the daily newspapers that 

 deer are hunted and killed somewhere on the island be- 

 tween Brooklyn and the jumping off place, but as a rule 

 little stock is taken in these accounts. Every one knows 

 that there are quail and rabbits on Long Island, but it 

 takes an exaltation of the imagination that costs effort 

 for those who have hunted in the Adirondacks, «r Maine, 

 or Michigan to believe that deer are to be found aside 

 from semi-domesticated specimens within inclosures. 



It is a fact, however, that good deer hunting is to be had 

 on Long Island less than fifty miles from New York city. 

 The hunting has its limitations to be sure, and there are 

 many sportsmen to whom these limitations would appear 

 insm-mountable, but as far as the number of deer to the 

 square mile is concerned there is very little to complain 

 of. There are few locaUties, indeed, where sixty deer 

 could be killed in six days within two miles of a certain 

 spot. 



And yet this is the condition of affairs that exists on 

 Long Island to-day. The hunting coimtry is a stretch 

 five miles from Ronkonkoma on the southeast to Central 

 Islip in the other direction, and of less width. The deer 

 occupy in addition to this about 7,000 acres of land owned 

 by the South Side Sportsmen's Club, Cornelius Vander- 

 bUt, Robert Cutting and C. Roberts; but on this latter no 

 hunting is allowed. It is on account of the protection 

 afforded mainly by the South Side Club that they exist 

 to-day. Otherwise the last deer would have been killed 

 off a decade ago. 



The evening before the season opened found a Forest 

 AUD Stream representative quartered at Trainer's Hotel. 

 Smithtown. In the comfortable barroom were assembled 

 a number of representative hunters who annually come 

 together for the deer shooting. Plans were laid for the 

 following day, and battles in which Cervus virginianus 

 figured prominently were refought. The conversation 

 never lags in such a company of sportsmen. 



One story with a curious moral was told, A hunter 

 watching on a stand only a few rods from two others 

 and in plain sight of them wanted to take a drink and 

 remembered that he only had enough whisky in his flask 

 for his own need. He did not want to share the precious 

 remnant and he did not want to be seen drinking it by 

 the others. So he determined to go behind the nearest 

 bush, where he could have it all to himself without 

 acquiring the reputation of being a hog. Scarcely had 

 he reached the bush when up jumped a fine buck which 

 the hunter straightway toppled over. Was ever selfish- 

 ness so rewarded? 



Friday morning an early start was made. Just at 4 

 o'clock the hotel contingent emerged from their comfort- 

 able quarters into the chill atmosphere of a frosty morn- 

 ing. Our team was in readiness and soon we were 

 bowling along at a brisk rate in the direction of the hunt- 

 ing grounds. The distance from Smithtown is about five 

 miles. Hauppauge, Ronkonkoma and Central Islip are all 

 nearer. As we drove along the starlit road, conversing 



stamping their feet and trying by various other means to 

 start the blood in circulation. All hands allowed that it 

 was a cold morning. 



The stars were still shining brightly overhead aa we 

 proceeded to take our stations, under the direction of B. 

 B. Newton. 



The order of the day was to line the road, and hunters 

 were stationed along it at short intervals for half a mile 

 or more, making a cordon that meant death to any deer. 

 Before all had fairly gained their positions the yelping 

 and baying of hounds was heard to the northward. Tlie 

 dogs were driving our way, but it was too dark to see 

 what thej'- had. 



Shortly after daylight a large buck which had circled 

 on the dogs and thrown them off the trail, tried to run 

 over the Foei:st and Stream man from behind. The 

 newspaper representative, fortunately, was armed and 

 succeeded in repelhng the onslaught. When the smoke 

 of battle cleared away it was found that the first deer of 

 the day had been killed— a fine buck weighing over 

 200lbs. Soon after a second buck tried to run the gaunt- 

 let, but turn which way he would he was met by a volley 

 of fire, and finally fell dead close to the road. 



In the meantime frequent shots were heard to the cast- 

 ward, where a party from Stony Brook and St. James 

 were supporting the right flank of the Smithtown hunt- 

 ers. This party succeeded in killing two fine does, Many 

 shots were also heard to the south, where Hauppauge, 

 Babylon and Islip parties were guarding a stretcL of rail- 

 road track. This latter point is one of the most CT'.ebrated 

 stands on the hunting grounds. Most of the d^er started 

 north of the railroad, if they are not kille 1 socrer will 

 cross the railroad within a few hundred yarcs of t/.e same 

 spot. Only a short way off are the grounds the South 

 Side Club and safety. But few are the deer L^:\ t fain this 

 protection untouched. To do it they must racuint the 

 railroad embankment in the face of a terrible fire cl buck 

 shot. 



A great many hunters argue that the deer make ftr the 

 lands of the South Side Club because they kno they will 

 be safe there. Others say that most of the deer Iielt^ been 

 born and bred there, which is a much more logical ' tate- 

 ment. A third reason w^hy they should take tlii^cirec- 

 tion, which would be sufficient were the former IrtC. ing, 

 is of ti-n overlooked. That is the brook that flows thr, ugh 

 these grounds and eventually contributes to the trout 

 ponds nearer the ocean. In the old days, when there was 

 no protection on the South Side grounds, the deer used to 

 take the same course. It is their inborn instinct to run to 

 water when pursued by a swift dog, and when bard 

 pressed no deer that ever lived would resist its prompt- 

 ing. 



The stream enlarges as it approaches the ponds and is 

 navigable for boats. It is said that years ago deer started 

 at the head would run down the brook and sometimes 

 even reach the ocean. 



If the woods are full of deer it must be acknowledged 

 also that they are full of men. This is the cliief draw- 

 back to the sport. There are entirely too many hunters. 

 It was variously estimated that from 250 to 500 hunters 

 were out that day. These men were not scattered over a 

 wide area, but mostly grouped in a few constricted spots 

 where deer were known to pass. No accidents were re- 

 ported on the opening day, but one could only thank an 

 All Merciful Providence that such was the case. In large 

 bodies of men there are always to be found some ignorant 

 and thoughtless individuals. 



In the afternoon the Smithtown party resolved to beat 

 fi-om [^e Sayville road westward toward the east 

 border of the South Side Club grounds. A portion of the 

 hunters got in their wagons and drove around to the low 

 wire fence which marks the club territory, and there 

 strung out en cordon to intercept any deer coming that 

 way. The others formed a line, and with the dogs started 

 to beat the intervening country. This country was very 

 open. Small pines grew siiarsely, but one could often see 

 for long distances among them. The ground is flat, but 

 intersected here and there by little valleys, which slope 

 downward toward the club grounds. In the sandy soil 

 could be seen many deer tracks. Some were old, and 

 some only made the" night before, but take it all in all 

 they were more abundant than the writer has had the 

 pleasure of seeing in localities celebrated for deer hunt- 

 ing:. 



The line of beaters extended nearly a quarter of a mile 

 from end to end, and the hunt was what is commonly 

 known as a breast hunt, When they had nearly reached 

 the club fence a nice buck sprang up from a clump of 

 'oushes near one end of the line, and Geo, A. Smith, the 

 popular president of the Smithtown Rod and Gun Club, 

 knocked it over. It could not be persuaded, however, to 

 give up the contest on the spot and ran nearly half a mile 

 before the dogs pulled it down and put it hor.s de combat. 



This was the tliird and last deer that fell to our lot. 

 Tlu-ee fine bucks should be enough to satisfy any one, 

 however, for a single day's hunt. The last deer killed 

 had had a hind leg broken some time before. The wound 

 was perfectly healed, and the deer ran as well on three 

 legs as other deer run on four. It was in good condition. 

 Its horns, however, were mere stamps, which was prob- 

 ably a result of its crippled condition. 



over the ownership of game. Our party fortunately was 

 in no serious quarrel. Here is a sample, however, of 

 what often happens. A party of hunters driving along 

 the bridge road heard hounds ahead of them driving a 

 deer. As they came in sight of the raihoad they saw 

 three hunters stationed there raise their guns and fire in 

 succession. They hastily jumped out of their wagon and 

 formed a line along the railroad, whfle one of tneir party 

 took their dogs and ran ahead to where the shots had 

 been fired. The men there reported that they had failed 

 to drop the deer, and that the dogs had lost it. The fresh 

 dogs w-ere loosened and soon had the track. The deer 

 made a short run, and then in attempting to cross the 

 track was killed by one of the hunters last upon the scene. 



All gathered around the deer and mutual congratula- 

 tions were in order. The hunters who had first shot now 

 appeared and demanded a share of the deer. They could 

 not prove that they had wounded it, but as their dogs had 

 been running it, although they had lost, it was finally 

 decided to let them share, and a hindquarter was skinned 

 out and given to them. _ ^ 



Scarcely had this been done when a "howling mob' 

 from the' northward, to use my informant's expression, 

 appeared on the scene. Their spokesman advanced with 

 his fist raised in the air, and yelled, "Where in sulphur 

 and brimstone is our deer?" There were thirty or more in 

 the party, and a division with them would have meant 

 scarcely a smefl for the hunters to whom the deer rightly 

 belonged. Fortunately it had been put in their wagon, 

 and on a given signal the driver lashed his horses, and 

 before the invading party realized the situation, had car- 

 ried the deer safely away. The last comers claimed to 

 have started the deer. 



In counting up the spoils of the chase it was found that 

 besides the three deer killed by the Smithtown party and 

 the two already credited to the St. James party, three had 

 been killed by hunters from Hauppauge, one near the east 

 line of the South Side Club and one near the spot where 

 our first deer was killed. An eleventh deer, a large 

 buck, was killed in a cabbnge patch just after daylight. 

 Besides thepe, other deer werp undoubtedly secured by 

 parties from Islip, Sayville and other points, so that it is 

 probable at least fifteen deer were killed on the opening 

 dav. 



The Smithtown hunters are generally accredited to be 

 the leading party both in point of sportsmanship and suc- 

 cess. It is largely made up of members of the Smithtown 

 Rod and Gun Club, who control several thousand acres of 

 good gunning ground. The following gentlemen belong 

 to this club: A. E. Hallock. G. H, Newton, Luther Hal- 

 lock, Chas. Otton, Andrew Lamb, Geo. A. Smith, George 

 Strong, Frank Strong, Mellville E. Brush, Capt. L. Brush, 

 James H. Trainer and A^ail Blydenburgh. In addition to 

 these, friends and invi+ed guests of the club were present. 

 One has to have an invitation to join such a party. Among 

 the other hunters were J. W. Arthur, of Northport; Uncle 

 "Lem" Garland H. J. Hartman, of Huntington; Sydney 

 Blydenburgh, Dan Sherry, Clark Waterbury, Wflliam 

 Sheely and Messrs. Elsnerr and Detlefsen, of Brooklyn; 

 Capt, Rogers, Wm. Rich, Capt. Low Davis, WiU Jeffrey 

 Smith and Will Jonas Smith, of Stony Brook; G. W. 

 Smith, Devorex Emmett, Ben. Powell and D. Lawson, of 

 St. James's, and B. B. Newton, Chas. Conklin, Louis Bly- 

 denburgh, C. Darling and Chas, Hunting, of Smithtown. 



Uncle Lem Carl, who is an honorary member of the 

 Smithtown Rod and Gun Club, is a shming example of 

 what an outdoor hfe and a love of field sports will do for 

 a man. He is seventy years young and more, but his 

 three score and ten years sit lightly on him. His hair is 

 still dark and he is sound as a four-year-old colt and just 

 as full of spirit. One could look a long way and fail to 

 find a more enthusiastic or successful hunter. 



Years ago deer used to he found all over Long Island to 

 within a short distance of Brooklyn. At that time they 

 were generally hunted from horseback. Long and excit- 

 ing chases were the rule. Now the deer are confined to a 

 limited area and most of the hunting is done on foot, the 

 deer being driven to the hunters by hounds. 



Some time ago there was a period of ten years in which 

 no hunting was allowed. The deer multiplied rapidly 

 and it is reported that on the first day that the law per- 

 mitted hunting no less than fiftj^-fom- deer were killed. 



The season of 1892 was not a v.'ry good one so far as 

 results a.e concerned, but a New York taxidermist, Fred 

 Sauter, mounted thirty heads of detr killed on the island 

 that year. This probably included half the total bag. 



There is good sport to be had on the island if you are 

 lucky, also plenty of chances for disappointment and 

 some danger. If you wish to go next year you liad better 

 t»t-«ui by cultivating the friendship of the local sportsmen. 

 This is a pointer. [ J- B. BURNHAM. 



Oakdale, L. L, Nov. 13.— Deer have been killed to date 

 as follows: By parties from Smithtown and Hauppauge, 11 ; 

 Islip, 9; Sayville, 3; Bohemia, 3; West Sayville. 3; Bay- 

 port, 1. ^- Fraser. 



Told in One Sentence. 



At the meeting of the National Sportsmen's Association, 

 adjourned from last September, was held in Chicago, 

 Nov. 1, seven members present, the name was changed to 

 "National Game. Bird and Fish Protective Association;" 

 these ofiBcers were elected: President, M. R. Bortree, 

 Chicago; First Vice-President, A. L. Lakey, Kalamazoo, 

 Mich.; Second Vice-President, Joseph Huuter, Washing- 

 ton, D, C; Secretary, Fred E. Pond, Mflwaukee; Treas- 

 urer, T. P. Hicks, Chicago; Attorney, F. S, Baird, Chi- 

 cago; the annual dues were fixed at $5 for a club and $1 

 for an individual; and the meeting adjourned to Jan. 10, 

 1894. 



The Louisiana Snipe Flight. 



Franklln, Sl. Mary Parish, L:i., Nov. 5.— Such quanti- 

 ties of snipe have appeared that old hunters say that this 

 season will be unequaled since "befo' de wah," Several 

 splendid bags have been reported. Mr. L. S. Frere sent 

 down 10 dozen to be distributed among his friends here. 

 He found them in the "Floatmg Prahie," near New 

 Iberia. He reports ducks imusually plentiful. Mr, J. J. 

 Pringle has arrived, and was out with his gun Saturday. 

 I haven't learned tiie size of his bag, but it is always a 

 large one. The writer spent a very enjoyable day on the 

 of Mud L^ke and bagged 67, CatsJ 



