146 
c 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
[Feb. 20, 1897. 
Owls and Crame Birds. 
Owi-s have played sad havoc with the .eame birds of this 
section during the last two moEths. In the district of 
Saanach scarcely a pheasant is left, and in that district over 
100 owls have been killed. In this city and district fully 200 
Lave paid the penalty for their marauding instiact, and 500 
would be a low estimate for the number of owls killed on 
Vancouver Island alone. 
From the east coast and southern mainland and from the 
neighboring State of Washington come the same reports of 
devastation. Owls have simply swooped down on the land 
like an army of locusts, and are devouring everything in 
their way, pheasants, grouse, quail and domestic fowl, and 
even house cats, very unlikely subjects for owls to tackle, 
but two well-proven charges for this crime are against these 
prowlers in this city. 
In this army of invasion some half dozen species are 
represented, but the one most in evidence is the dusky horned 
owl {Bubo ■mrginianus saturatus). 
Sportsmen of course have been waging a war of exter- 
mination, and the number killed for the whole Province 
would probably reach 1,000. 
The question is now, what brought this army here? In- 
dians and wise old men predicted a cold winter, but these 
predictions have fallen far short of the truth. In fact, the 
winter has been extremely mild, and at the present writing 
flowers are in bloom in the gardens. Cold weather may 
have driven these birds down from their northern homes, but 
it does not follow that cold weather is going to follow them. 
This influx, however, is in my experience unprecedented. 
John Fannin. 
Vjctobia, B. C, Jan. 18. 
How does the Flying-Fish Fly? 
Ediim' Forest and Stream; 
Your correspondent, Mr. Harry Higgins, who writes so 
intere-stingly of the flying-fish in your issue of the 13th inst., 
has evidently had unusual opportunities for observing the 
movements of this fish while it is in the air. Having seen it 
only from the deck of a steamer, I have never been able to 
determine to my own satisfaction the exact manner in which 
the pectoral fins are employed after the fish leaves the water. 
It is my impression, however, that they are used as para- 
chutes, not as wings, and that whatever movement occurs 
in them is a fluttering vibration due to the resistance of the 
air. In extended "flights" the flsh apparently derives fresh 
motive power by striking the crest of the wave with its tail; 
it also usually seems to leave the water from the face of a 
wave. It has been my experience, therefore, that in calm 
weather, when the sea is smooth, comparatively few flyingr 
fish are seen, and that they sail but a short distance; whereas 
when the sea is at all rough flving-flsh are far more numerous 
and their "flights' ' are much longer. 
Doubtless your correspondent can give us some valuable 
information on this subject, and I should also be glad to have 
him describe the "croaking" note of the peHcan, to which 
he refers. Frank M. CHAPMAsr. 
Ameeican MusEtiM OF NATDHAii HisTOH?:, New York City, Teb. 10. 
Briinnich's Morres in Northern and Western 
New York. 
LocEPOKT, ]Sr. Y., Feb 8. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
As the occurrence of Brlinnich's murres {Urki lormia) 
is bping noticed in your columns, I will add what little in- 
formation I have on the subject. 
Two years ago I received a letter from Mr. George Sheley, 
a young man residing on Red Lake, in the town of Theresa, 
Jefferson county, N. Y., in which he stated that "on Nov. 8, 
1894, he had killed four queer-looking ducks," and on de- 
scribing them said "that their bills were black and the shape 
of crows' bills." I wrote him that his ducks were undoubt- 
edly mm-res, but that I had never known them to occur so 
far inland, and asked him to send me one of the heads and 
feet. He did so. and also a pair of wings. I readily identi- 
fied them as of Brtinnich's murres. About this time I re- 
ceived a call from Mr. James Savage, of Buffalo, who in- 
formed me that three Brilnnich's murres were taken on 
Jfiagara Eiver on Dec. 9, 1894, and a short time since I re- 
ceived a letter from Mr. Savage saying that on Dec. 19 last 
five birds of this species were taken near Buffalo. Two 
years ago I also saw three specimen skins of this species 
taken on Lake Ontario, in Orleans county. The first Buf- 
falo record of Mr. Savage, I think, is the earliest reported of 
this species in western New York. J L. Datison. 
The Woodcock's Whistle. 
Editor Forest a7id Stream: 
I have read many articles in Forebt and Stream con- 
cerning the woodcock's whistle, and writers differ in regard 
to the manner of producing it. Harris No. 1 has made a 
recent ^est by holding the bird up by the bill, while Harris 
No. 3 says it comes from the throat. Like the Harrises, I 
too was desirous of knowing and took a wing-tipped bird 
home to make a thorough test; but 1 only found him to utter 
a quack, as Harris No. 2 described; and was almost as igno- 
rant as when I commenced my investigation until August 
came and the birds were moulting. I was very much sur- 
prised to find a bird which flushed with a whir and no 
whistle at all ; others in flusliing would whistle for 20 or 
80ft. and then stop; still others uttered no sound during 
their short periods of flight. Now, if the whistle was made 
by the rotary movement of the wings, as Harris No. 1 de- 
scribes, how could the woodcock stop whistling while on the 
wing? No singing bird will sing while moulting, ncithfr 
will a woodcock whistle, so by this observation I am con- 
vinced that the woodcock utters a quack, as Harris No. 3 
describes, in starting, and then the rotary movement of the 
wings increases it to a roll, which makes that beautiful 
whistle that every true sportsman loves to hear. 
Ta;s:ii)ERmist, 
Pennstlyania. 
Birds Winter Visitants. 
Report from Framingham, Middlesex county. Mass , to 
Feb. 5, records: No redpolls, no grosbeaks, nosnowflakes, one 
snowy owl, two goshawks. The season is remarkable for 
the abundance of this last species. Notices of its presence 
are coming in from various parts of New England. I 
Should say twenty at least have been shot in eastern Massa- 
chusetts. It is about fifteen years since I have had it re- 
ported in this vicinity. A flight similar to this is stated to 
have occurred in I860. F. 0. B. 
^ijg md ^m. 
DECOY STORIES.— I. 
Washington, D. C, Feb. 12. — Editor Forest and Stream: 
My reputation for veracity among iny fellow sportsmen 
has been seriously impaired, if not entirely destroyed, by 
my insisting upon the truth of the following experience 
that be'fell me last Thanksgiving Day: My boy of fifteen 
and myself were indulging in a few days' outing at a little 
club liouse on the Potomac a short distance below old Gun- 
ston Hall. The weather was fine, in fact, too fine for our 
purposes, as we were after ducks. Early in the morning 
we put out, oft' the old historic Hallowing Point, dear to 
-many duck hunters, about forty new wooden decoys, as 
handsome as I ever saw, and then took our positions in 
the blind, full of those feelings of exhilaration and expect- 
ancy which all true sportsmen are bound to feel in some 
degree, even when all favorable conditions for sport are 
dead against them. After a few hours' waiting in came a 
bird, which my boy knocked down prettily and with much 
enthusiasm retrieved, but which proved to his disgust to 
be nothing but an old merganser, or saw-bill, known in 
these parts as a "fisherman," a bird, I need hardly add, of 
large size and of beautiful plumage, but absolutely unfit for 
the table. 
The incident over, we waited and waited, with no results 
until finally, leaving the decoys in position, we went back 
to the club house, prepared and ate a luncheon, and then 
took a stroll back into the woods and fields on a tour of 
inspection, when, finding our heavy clothes rather oppres- 
sive under the sun's rays, we concluded to return to the 
blind, where we were sure to find it more comfortable be- 
cause of the light breeze that was coming over the water. 
On arriving at the blind, we noticed that one of the decoys 
was positioned some 25 or 30yds. from the others. My 
first thought was that it was adrift, and I was about putting 
out in the skis' to recover it when I noticed that it did 
not change lits position, although the tide was running 
quite briskly. Could it have floated off and become again 
caught? Could it have dragged its anchor that long dis- 
tance while the others remained undisturbed? These and 
other theories were being discussed by us, when suddenly 
over our heads from behind there passed a dark shadow, 
which on our looking up proved to be made by a large 
eagle, and as we gazed upon him he sailed out over the 
straggler decoy about which we had been solicitous, poised 
himself for an instant, and then settled down suddenly, 
and with outstretched talons grasped the poor, helpless 
wooden thing and rose with it until the leaden anchor 
showed at the surface of the water, when for some reason, 
perhaps because of the discovery of his mistake or because 
of the sudden and unexpected increase in the weight of 
his burden, this king of birds dropped his quarry into the 
water with a splash and scuttled across the river as though 
to keep a suddenly remembered appointment. 
When we had partly recovered from our astonishment 
my boy remarked, "'^''ell, if that isn't a pretty bird for a 
national emblem! What a fool!" while I could only ex- 
press my admiration for the discernment and good taste 
of my excellent friend John P. (thorough sportsman as he is) 
in selecting such life-like deceivers for his fall campaign. 
It is mainly because this selfsame John has once or 
twice looked curiously at me while hearing me recount 
this adventure to others that I have been moved to ad- 
dress this communication to you, in the hope that some 
one of your many readers may have had a similar experi- 
ence, which he will kindly relate in your columns, and 
thus bring my narrative within the bounds of what most 
of my friends would claim to be reasonable probability. 
Melville Church. 
SHOOTING MALLARDS IN ICE HOLES. 
Late in the fall or very early in the spring very excellent 
shooting may be had at times in ice holes. These holes are 
found in running water, or at what are generally known as 
air holes. When the weather has been cold and prairie 
ponds are frozen, driving the ducks from open land to tim- 
ber, naturally at this time they seek water wherever it may 
be found. They fly through the timber and over the trees 
in constant search for open water — places where gxperience 
had heretofore taught them that water and feed could be 
found in plenty. Their flight is slow, their search thorough, 
and they are not unrewarded, for they find a spot where 
water may be had. 
When they find a place like this they alight in great num- 
bers. The quantity lighting in the hole depends on the num- 
ber of them coming. This hole, like an omnibus, always 
has room for one more. After the hole is filled they become 
generous, and wishing to make room for fresh arrivals, they 
crawl out and sit on the ice, quacking vigorously, or with 
craws distended with corn, fruits of the last overland trip, 
sit on the ice pruning themselves and sleeping the time 
away. Their loud calls vibrate and course through the still 
woods, carrying welcome music to the alert ears of the 
hunter. 
He marks the direction, and stealthily proceeds to locate 
them. Then some noisy duck, having partaken too freely of 
corn, and feeling the effects of its fermentation, raises her 
voice so loudly that he marks the spot where they are locat- 
ed. He shows his open palm to his dog, and thus conveys 
to him warning for great caution. The dog understands 
this signal and crouches close to ' the earth. Those two 
Jriends stand silently behind a projecting tree, the hunter 
debating in his mind whether to step boldly out and rout the 
birds or attempt by crawling to get a sitting shot. He de- 
cides on tlie former, and when he steps out in open sight is 
seen^ and with a grand roar that fills the woods with its vol- 
ume the tjirds arise in fright, and in pairs and flocks, both 
great and small, fly away. The dog looks askance at his 
master, questioning the propriety of routing such an im- 
meme fiock without firing a shot, but a reassuring pat on 
the head and he silently acquiesces to the judgment of his 
master. 
The ducks are loath to leave a place like this, and soon 
begin to return — they will not keep out. Coolly the hunter 
knocks them right and left; the dog is in an ecstasy of de- 
hght. Constant exercise has caused his blood to rush 
through his veins. He comes and goes in and out of the 
water, his brown coat ghstening with ice, forming brilhant 
beads in the sunhght; then be marks the course of a wing- 
tipped drake as it tries hard to follow the flock and faUs 
from 100 to SOOjds, from the shooter. Away he goesj over 
ridges, brushpiles, and frozen sloughs, and soon returns, the 
drake in his strong jaws, its good wing beating against his 
nose, and delivers it to his master. 
When a man finds a place like this he has found a mine 
which is exhaustless for that day. If he intends staying in 
the neighborhood he should hunt some other place similar to 
this— hunt them on alternate days, and his shooting will be 
good each day. It is advisable to scatter corn in the hole 
and around the edges on the ice, but plenty in the hole if the 
water is shallow. The birds will soon discover this, and 
come often; and if the hunter is a good shot, will tarry long. 
As fast as killed, set up the dead ducks for decoys; keep on 
until you have a good-sized flock. No fear of having too 
many — the more the better. 
Jn building a blind, advantage must be taken of locality. 
If in timber secrete yourself well, with a good open place to 
shoot through. Better have an indifferent blind with a good 
place to shoot through than one where you find you cannot 
shoot without interference of limbs. Should you find the 
shooting must be bad in an exposed pond or river, where 
a shore blind cannot be made, your ingenuity will be taxed 
to hide yourself, and you must depend as much on quietness 
ai d patience as on a blind. Should the ice be strona; enough 
to bear you, build a wall 10 or 13in high of ice or snow to 
conceal you. A little hay, a rubber blanket spread over it, 
cover yourself with a white cloth, wait patiently; it's a 
splendid place for contemplation, especially if the thermome- 
ter registers down about zero; you can drive away the cold- 
no ss by thinking of Turkish baths, strawberries and cream, 
and the church sociables you enjoyed the past summer. 
One writer, speaking of ice-hole shooting, says a good way 
to build a blind is, ''take a barrel, chop a hole through the 
ice so the barrel will slip through, nail pieces of scantling on 
the sides of the barrel, fill the barrel with water unt'l it sinks 
down far enough, then bail the water out, first cutting nar- 
row edges through the ice, push the scantlings down, give 
them a half twist and they will hold the barrel where 
wanted. Put in hay and push snow against the sides and 
top of the barrel to hide it, and the blind is complete." No 
doubt this would work, but it would hardly paj' to go to so 
much trouble The only good way is to shoot from the 
shore, as first mentioned; any other manner has drawbacks 
that will more than offset the pleasure derived. 
Never take any chances in trying to get duck shooting 
around ice. Better not get a shot than attempt to get to 
some place where there is a flight, and then take chances of 
breaking in. If you haven't a boat or a good dog, you know 
you cannot get the dead birds without retrieving them your- 
self over ice that might be weak; turn your back to that hole 
and walk away — you have no right to take any such chance, 
and no wise man will do it. Death by drowning is said to 
be an easy death. If, then, you prefer death in this way, 
choose summer time; the water will feel decidedly more 
pleasant and flowers are much cheaper. G, L. E. 
GAME PROTECTION. 
The question of better protection of our game will soon 
be brought up before the New Hampshire Legislature. 
Speaking of this section of the State, the supply of ruffed 
grouse has been fair. Woodcock seem to grow scarcer each 
year. Both the woodcock and gxouse are hunted to death 
and grow wilder every year. As for my hunting, I have not 
tried or worki d hard to make large bags. Six birds in a 
few hours has been my best score, with a total of some sixty- 
five grouse and a dozen woodcock. The time has been, and 
not long ago, when I would kill as many in a week; but I 
got enough, as many as we cared to eat and a few to give 
away. I am now giving my time to the foxes and hope to 
thin them out to some extent before spring with the old- 
fasliioned hound I have. The first eight foxes he started 
were killed. 
A few deer are wandering about our woods. A three- 
year-old buck was killed early in November a few miles 
from here, and a few days since while himting grouse I 
jumped a deer twice. Doubtless during the present winter 
a close season for a number of years will be put on deer in 
this part of the State. In a recent number of the Manches- 
ter (N. '3. ) Mirror, which has a department devoted to shoot- 
ing and fishing under the heading of "Sport," the editor 
says: "The men who are shooting our grouse for the mar- 
ket are the ones who need checking. Stopping the sale of 
game, as advocated by Forest and Stream, will do more 
to preserve our birds than any law we are likely to pass. 
When the Forest and Stream came out boldly, saying, 
'The very best protection of game will be to stop its sale at 
all times and in all places,' many sportsnaen thought such a 
measure would be of great benefit, but that it would be al- 
most impossible to pass and enforce such a law throughout 
the country." I predict the time will come, perhaps not until 
the next generation of sportsmen are in the field, when we of 
to-day will be blamed for not insisting upon suohalaw, 
Mr. E. E. Robinson, in his story of New England fields and 
woods, speaks of the present century as one of extermina- 
tion. 
In the first half of the present century the buffalo of the 
Western plains were apparently inexhaustible. The skin 
hunter got in his work, and they are practically extermi- 
nated. The elk and antelope bid fair to follow the same 
course. Dr. W. F. Carver told me a few years since that in 
a trip across the plains he saw but seven antelope, while on 
the same grounds not many years before he had seen thou- 
sands, and killed 1 won't say how many. 
The moose of Maine and the Provinces, while they cannot 
be slaughtered as easily as the large game of the Western 
plains are being hunted and killed to such an extent that 
unless rigid mea.sures are taken in time the day will come 
when the moose hunter of the future may consider himself 
lucky should he even see an old track. 
One f if Maine's oldest and best known guides could tell a 
story, if he would, of moose killing in years past. How the 
moose in that region lying between Patten and Oxbow, in 
Aroostook covmty, were killed for their hides alone. How 
one man on snowshoes hunted up the yards, shooting every- 
thing he found, and his partner following on his trail did the 
skinning. 
Caribou, according to accounts, are growing scarcer, with 
possibly the exception of Newfoundland. Ciribou, as I 
have found them, were not hard to kill, but it was usually 
very uncertain about finding them. The question which 
seems to be now before the commissioners of Maine is what 
to do to better protect the moose. It is proposed to shorten 
the open season and to prevent, if possible, hunting by proxy, 
which some men calling themselves sportsmen are doing. It 
certainly is easier to stay in camp and hire guides to do the 
hunting and killing, and the latter are more likely to succeed 
if well paid. A large amount of taoney is left aiinually in 
