S2 
FOREST AND STREAM, 
[Jan. 9, 1897. 
or six miles north of Ithaca, but are altogether too irreg- 
ular in their feeding habits and too wary to invite easy 
or successful sunning;. The flock originally numbered 
sixty birds. Dana Bush succeeded a few days ago in 
.stalking the flock to within the range of a .45cal. rifle, and 
at a single shot was lucky enough to knock down two. 
Later he pot two more of the bulky honkers. Every 
breechloader, flintlock and Zulu gun in the neighborhood 
is being put in shape to train on that little battalion of 
wildfowl bent on getting a daily ration of waste gi'ain. 
The recent reference to wild pigeons made in Forest 
AND Stream prompted me to institute some inquiries rela- 
live to the wild pipeon, as remembered by local observers, 
and I was pleased to learn that a few of these at one time 
very common birds have lately been seen in Tompkins 
county. Mr. Lafayette Krum, residing some seven or 
eight miles north of Ithaca, states that during the past 
year he has noted one or two small flocks of wild pi- 
geons hovering about his section of country. He further 
assures a friend of mine that he has been reliably in- 
formed of several other small flocks having been seen 
in various parts of this and adjoining counties. 
A pigeon roost at one time existed near Ithaca, where 
the birds congregated in vast array. 
The last great flight of wild pigeons, as applied to this 
locality, occurred in the middle 70's, if the writer's mem- 
ory be not at fault, and it lasted from an early hour in 
the morning until past midday. The writer, then a farm 
boy just learning to wield a long, lean, murderous-looking 
muzzleloading gun, exhausted his meager supply of pow- 
der and shot ripping holes in the atmosphere as the mighty 
host went by, but precioua few birds came to his capa- 
cious pockets. The flight on that beautiful spring morn- 
ing, so far as numbers were concerned, was extraordinary. 
The horizon was literally banked with birds, saemingly 
one vast, undetached sweep of wings whirling past into 
space. How the guns cracked on that morning of the 
long ago. But alas! the feathered multitude pever came 
back. M. Chill, 
he Menml 
FIXTURES. 
BENCH SHOWiS. 
Feb. 3 to 5.— New Englarid Kennel Club's annual show. Boston 
Feb. a2 to 25.— Westminster Kennel Club'-sfwenty-frst annual sUo-w , 
New York. James Mortimer, 8upt., Hempstead, L. I. 
March 2 to 6.- St. Louis Kennel Club's show, St. Louis, W. Hutch- 
inson, See'y. 
March 10 to 13.— MascnutAh Kennel Club's eighth annual show, 
Chicago. John L. Lincoln, See'y. 
March 17 to fO.— Kentucky Kennel Club's show. Louisville, Ky. J. 
A. Reaves, Sec'y. 
March It to SO.— Milwaukee Kennel and Pet Stock Association's 
bench show. Louis Stefiin, Sec'y, Milwaukee. 
March 23 to 4 6 - Baltimore K™nel Association's second annual 
show. Dr. Gr. W. Massamore, Sec'.y. 
MELD TRIALS. 
Jan. 11.— Tupelo, Miss.— Continental Field Trial Club's quail trials. 
P. T. Mwdison, Sec'y. 
Jan. 18.- West Point, Miss — U. S. P. T. C. winter trials, W. B. 
Stafford, Sec'y, Trenton, Teun. 
Sept. 6, -Morris, Man. - Manitoba Field Trials Club's eleventh an- 
nual trials. John Wootton, Sec'y, Manitou. Man. 
Nov. 8. —Carlisle. Ind - Union Field Trials OJub second annual trials. 
P. T. Madison, S^ec'y, Indianapolis, In.l. 
Nov. 15 —Newton, N. C— Eastern Field Trials Club annual trials. 
S. 0. Bradley, Sec'y, Greenfield Hill, Conu. 
BEAGLES AS FIELD DOGS. 
Boston, Mass. — Editor Forest and Stream: Ad mirers of 
the beagle are earnest in promoting its welfare, but their 
earnestness seems to have in it an unintentional exclusive- 
ness. We bold trials, and we all concur in that they are 
excellent, afford good sport, rejoice at meeting our old 
friends, and we then return to our homes and remain 
silent till the next trials are due, when we meet the same 
people, say much the same things we said last year, have 
an enjoyable time and return home again. 
Between the field trials, a period covering almost a 
whole year, the public hears nothing of sport with the 
beagle. The literature of this dog is nearly all confined 
to field trial reports, the history of the dogs in competi- 
tion. The practical value of the dog in the field is left 
untouched. The public can only infer from this silence 
that either we have no writers in the ranks of the beagle 
fancy or that the beagle, as with the spaniel, is of value 
only as a means of juggling for priz9s. Though the 
beagle admirers are free from talking spaniel nonsense, 
such as what is the correct type of spaniels for field work 
when they are used solely for bench show purposes. On 
this subject. Uncle Dick can rest assured that he is right, 
and each of the other wranglers can rest assured that he 
is right, though if they would hold a spaniel trial they 
might be convinced that they are all wrong; but it is 
much less trouble to describe and decide, each for him- 
self and all the others, than it is to hold a trial and decide 
that talk does nothing toward making a field dog or his 
work. 
But to return to the beagle. There is hardly a section 
in the older parts of the United States which is not adapt- 
ed to the use of beagles. However much the birds or 
deer may vary in numbers in different parts of the 
country, the rabbits are sufficiently numerous for sport 
everywhere. 
As a sport, it ranks with the best. And in many of its 
parts it is the best. In shooting birds, the work of the 
dog when the birds are found lasts but a moment. The 
work of the beagle, when its quarry is found, is only be- 
gun. There is then for many minutes the melody of the 
voices swelling sweet and full and dying away as the 
eager chase comes and goes in all the desperation of pur- 
suit and the imcertainties of it, in which the actors are 
cunning and swift. The sportsman must be vigorous in 
changing from point to point, and his judgment in 
anticipating the course of the chase must be good, else he 
will find himself thrown out. To kill the rabbit while it 
is flitting through the brush or a narrow space in some 
hazy vista requires a degree ol skill with the gun which 
but few possess, even though they may be most skillful in 
shooting on the wing. True it is that rabbit shooting is 
easy if one makes it easy, as bird shooting is easy if one 
sneaks up and takes pot shots; but rabbit shooting ahe'^d 
of the beagle orchestra, the woods ringing with the ful'- 
ness of importunate music, and the swiftness of the spurt 
and the uncertainty of results, make a combination which 
must be experienced to be appreciated, 
And yet this sport is within the reach of the masses of 
sportsmen, regardless of class or condition. The dog is 
small and easily maintained at a small expense for food 
and shelter. His training is much simpler than the train- 
ing required for bird dogs, and it is so simple that any- 
one who knows the sport can accomplish it. A fair skill « 
with the shotgun or rifle is necessary, but the gun itself 
may be any old thing in the shape of a erun, because rab- 
bit shooting is short-range shooting. The man with a 
$500 gun is no better equipped for this sport than is the 
man whose gun cc st $5, Rich and poor many gratify 
their love of the most perfect and beautiful according to 
their means, but for practical eflSciency they are on the 
same footing. 
And the lands of the people of the United States are 
open to all who wish to hunt rabbits. Land owners 
object to bird hunters, and much of the land in the 
States is closed against them. Big-game hunters encoun- 
ter the same ' obstacle, with stringent game law restric- 
tions added. But the rabbit hunter can roam free as the 
wind wherever he lists. His sport is simple, it is of the 
people, it takes nothing of special value from the owners 
of the land, and the merry music is a compensation to all 
who hear it, far and near. Rabbits multiply rapidly, so 
that keeping them within limits confers a public service. 
With all the advantages of the sport with beagles, the 
interest in them spreads but slowly; for few know of the 
excellence of it, though many know of the beagles as 
field trial performers. Without the needed description 
for the public information the beagle as a sporting dog 
will gain popular favor but slowly. If the beagle does 
his work well he relies on his master to make it known. 
Let the brethren of the beagle family show more and 
broader energy in 1897 — less about bone and more of 
work, JosiAH, 
THE IRISH SETTER AS A FIELD DOG, 
PAST AND PRESENT.— IV. 
Little Valley, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
About the time Irish setter trials were advocated there 
were a number of importations of these dogs made from 
both Ireland and England — notably of these Finglas, Coler- 
aine, Blue Rock, Tearaway and others. But as subse- 
quent events proved they were not superior to dogs of 
American breeding. Most of them came over with the 
prestige of having run at the trials on the other side, and 
as such were heralded far and wide. Of these Blue Rock 
and Tearaway were of Muskerry blood. Blue Rock im- 
pressed me altogether more favorably than did the others, 
although his work was not up to that of some of them. 
This I believe was accounted for because of his having 
chronic catarrh. He was a dog of good style and great 
courage, and with the right kind of bitches bred to him 
should have produced something better than himself. 
Probably no better Irish setter all round has ever been 
imported than Coleraine, she being up to first-class show 
form and a good one afield. In her Derby form she 
made a strong competition, but was outclassed in the 
final for first honors by Nugget. 
In the Irish setter field trials of 1891-92 some good dogs 
competed. In 1891 Sedan, who carried off first honors in 
the All- Age Stake, was a remarkably good one. She, 
being a fast, wide ranger, carried, herself in good style 
and had a good nose. Her disposition and field qualities 
were such that had she been properly mated the results 
ought to have been splendid. In the Derby four com- 
peted for first honors, namely, Nugget, Coleraine, Elcho's 
Maid and Squaw. They were all of splendid merit. 
Nugget was a small bitch, light red in color. She had 
her dam's great endurance, was a fast, snappy worker, 
and on single birds especially it took a good dog to defeat 
her. In the Derby of 1893 there was nothing remarkable 
produced. 
In the All-Age Stake the competition was strong, there be- 
ing I believe twenty-two dogs which started. The winner 
of this stake, Bedford, whom I had the pleasure of training 
and handling, was a fast, snappy and a very stylish dog. 
His nose was excellent and his work on game good. In 
disposition he ^as level-headed, with p'enty of grit. His 
great individual quality should be much in demand by 
those breeders of Irish setters who wish to improve their 
field stock. Another dog in this stake who impressed me 
very much was Henmore Shamrock, He was another of 
the Muskerry blood. He was a fast, wide ranger, with 
plenty of grit and go, and in short a dog of superior merit 
in every reepect. 
There were other dogs in this stake of much merit also. 
Some of them were former field trial winners, but they 
were outclassed in this by Bedford and E cho's Maid. 
I have gone into the question of grit and endurance, 
and have laid much stress upon it because it is the weak 
point in the make-up of most Irish setters. 
In conclusion, I do not now own, nor haVe I any 
interest in any Irish setter. I have written of them just 
as I found them, without trying to gloss over their im- 
perfections. A breeder who fools himself will never 
produce good dogs, I believe the breed could be put on 
a footing with the English setter and pointer, but it must 
be put in the hands of men who at least shoot enough 
over their dogs to know all about their individual perfec- 
tions and imperfections. Since commencing this I note 
with much pleasure that Dr, Divis has won the Members' 
Stake of the E. T. T, 0. with his Irish setter bitch Lou in 
competition with pointers and English setters. May the 
doctor yet produce one that will sweep the fields. 
Dr H, B. Anderson. 
Dogs and Taxation. 
Hornellsvillb, N. Y.— Editor Forest and Stream: 
Last season the Midvale Kennels and I were assessed 
about $100 on our breeding stock and boarders. We asked 
the Board of Supervisors for relief, and while they ad- 
mitted the tax was unjust, as we were breeders of thor- 
oughbred stock, they could not change the State law. 
We are having a bill prepared which will be introduced 
by our member of the Assembly, Mr. Joel Clark, and we 
earnestly invite the cooperation of all breeders, snorts- 
men and lovers of dogs throughout the State of New York. 
Send your petitions to your [Afsemblymen or to Mr. 
Clark, at Albany, and by a litte effort we can get this ini- 
quitous law removed, and a State law made to license 
breeders; for surely it is just as honorable and legitimate 
9 business to breed dogs as it is to breed horses, hogs, 
iheep, cattle, or poultry. 
J Oris Fellow."?, HTnell Hirmnny K^nneld, 
Mbs. Habuy Chivers, Midvale Kennels. 
How a Dog Conquered a Man. 
RossviLLE, S. I. —Editor Forest and Stream: The name 
of the dog of a friend of mine Is Beva. He is noted as 
the friend of little children. Out of pure love, with wag- 
s'ing tail and glowing eyes, he will follow a tot for blocks. 
But bristling hair and furious barking have revealed his 
violent hatred of larger boys and men. Until recently 
it was thought that this hatred was congenital. 
Beva never bit man nor boy. But he got a bad repu- 
tation, and it was thought by every man and boy in the 
community that Beva might bite him. So everybody in 
long trousers went by the gate within which Beva always 
seemed to be Iving in wait, on his guard, armed with 
stone or stick. But it has ultimated that Beva is not by 
birth an enemy of bipeds above a certain height and out 
of dresses and knickerbockers. He seemed to be the 
holder of a special enmity against the man-about-the-place 
of a well-to-do gentleman living at the further corner of 
the block in which his (Beva's) owner lives. 
We will call this man Henry, He usually does his 
marketing when he goes. for the mail to the village post- 
office and grocery in one. So his passing by Beva's 
watching place is at regular hours, morning and evening, 
daily. Beva came to know these hours, and was always 
in evidence when Henry appeared. What of Beva at 
these times was not bark was teeth, claws and bristles. 
Henry was always armed with one stone and generally 
with two. 
Beva's mistress was in the habit of going to the front 
window for the show, and a good show it was. Beva had 
acquired quite an agility in dodging tbe stones which 
Henry hurled at him. He knew when Henry had only 
one stone or two. When Henry was unarmed Beva 
would make for him as if he would eat him, and Henry 
would move on with more speed than dignity. One day 
Henry was returning with both hands and arms full of 
bundles. Beva was in wait, as usual, and his mistress was 
on watch for the show. But the show did not come off. 
To the surprise of the mistress, Beva's teeth and claws did 
not appear, his hair did not rise, and he neither barked 
nor growled. Henry was surprised too. He stopped, 
faced Beva, and said: "And what are you going to do to 
me now?" Beva had evidently taken in the situation. 
He knew the difference between bundles and stones. He 
knew also that Henry's hands were engaged, so that he 
could not defend himself And what did Beva do? He 
made manifestation of his natural character. He ap- 
proached Henry with undulating body and wagging tail, 
giving every evidence of the most friendly feelings, and 
as Henry walked on fell in at his heels and followed him 
home. Since then Henry has carried no more stones, 
and Beva does not bristle, nor show teeth nor claws, nor 
growl nor bark at him. The man and the dog are the 
best of friends. 
Some one says, "Kill all the dogsl" I enter Beva's pro- 
test. Kindness is better than killing for both man and 
dog, Chaeles Josiah Adams, 
American Fox Terrier Club Stakes. 
Wellesley, Mass., Jan. 2. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
At a meeting of the governors of the American Fox Ter- 
rier Club held Dec. 30, 1896, resolutions of congratulations 
were passed, and any help in our power was offered to 
the new fox terrier clnbs just formed in Louisville, Nash- 
ville, Pittsburg, Detroit, the Pacific Coast and Canada. 
The regular club stakes will be decided as usual, the 
Homebred Stakes at the N. E. K, C. show, the Stud Dog 
Stakes «nd the First Division of the Grand Produce at 
the W. K. C. show; final entries in the above stakes must 
be made with the secretary A. F. T. C. when made at 
their respective shows. The following specials will be 
offered by the club: 
New England Kennel Club, Boston: $5 respectively for 
the best American-bred fox terrier in show (smooth and 
wire); in open and novice classes (smooth and wire); in 
puppy classes (smooth and wire). 
Westminster Kennel Club: $10 for the beat American- 
bred fox terrier in show (smooth and wire); $5 respectively 
for same in open and novice classes (smooth and wire); 
$10 for same in puppy classes (smooth and wire). 
Mascoutah Kennel Club, Chicago: $5 respectively for 
the best American-bred fox terrier in the show (smooth 
and wire), and in puppy classes (smooth and wire). 
St. Louis Kennel Club, St, Louis: $5 for the best Ameri- 
can-bred fox terrier in the show (smooth and wire) re- 
spectively. 
The Apollo, Tomboy, Yankee and second division of 
Grand Produce Stakes will be judged later in the year. 
Members are reminded that entries in all above stakes ex- 
cept the Yankee are due by Feb. 1, 1897. 
Anv one wishing any information regarding the Amer- 
ican Fox Terrier Club, or wishing to become members, will 
kindly ccmmunicate with the secretary, who will gladly 
give them all the information he can. 
H. H. HUNNEWELL, JR., Sec'y-Treas, A. F. T. C. 
Brunswick Fur Club. 
The Brunswick Fur Club has sent out a circular letter 
cordially inviting its friends to its winter meet, to be held 
at Brunswick, Me,, during the week of Jan, 10. The 
club's headquarters will be held at the Tontine Hotel, 
rates $3 per day for single rooms, $1.50 when two occupy 
same room. The annual meeting will he held on Monday 
evening, Jan, 11. A handsome prize is offered for the 
best story told during the meet, so that with such a pro- 
fusion of talent there should be a good competition. 
Foxes are reported plentiful. Members and guests are in- 
vited to take their best hounds and aid in making the 
bunt the best in the club's history. Bradford S. Turpin, 
Secretary, Roxbury, Mass. 
KENNEL NOTES. 
NAMES claimed. 
Mr. C. L. Hopkine claims the name Mack H. for- Irish setter dog 
whelped June il, 169i, by Jack Option— Biddie G, 
BRED. 
Mr. V. H. TannehiU's Lula Furness, English setter bitch, Dec, 88, to 
Border Chief. 
SALES. 
Mr. J. C. Mahler has sold 
Screa+ham Monarch, Jr., bull terrier dog, to Mr. Henry Alliadep 
Tri'-mph. 
Eaven Monarch, bull terrier dos, to Mr.O. W. Preston. 
Dog puppy, same litter, to Mr. John Morehead, Jr. 
Bitch puppy, same litter, to Mr. John Morebe^id, Jr. 
Two bitch puppie.<!, same litter, to Mr. Joe Hopkins. 
Doa: puppy, same litter, to Mr. Hugo Baum. 
Dos puppy, same licter. to Mr, B. T. Kahle. 
