THE AMATEUR SPORTSMAN. A-iJ^ . / ^ f' ^ g 
any sound louder than a growl, but I have been told by 
an old negro who has hunted them a great deal in years 
past that he has often heard thena barking like the 
grays. I was riding along one day and came up with an 
old fox squirrel sitting on the rail fence by the side of the 
road. He didn't seem the least bit frightened, but sat 
still and gave a low growl, and this growling he kept up 
till I threw a stick at him, when he ran along the fence 
a short way and up a tree about ten feet, where he 
perched on a limb, and I then rode on and left it there, 
still growling and making a low chattering noise, seem- 
ingly with its teeth. 
The illustration presented herewith shows two North- 
ern fox squirrels, with the skin of a gray and ground 
squirrel to show comparative sizes. Largest fox squirrel 
is 780 millimeters (30.75 inches), total length from tip to 
tip. 
I will now close this with a request to my friends of 
the sporting fraternity, that, if any of you happen to 
shoot specimens of this species, by all means preserve it, 
and by sending it to some museum in which you take an 
interest, or to the United States National Museum, earn 
the gratitude of future generations, when the Northern 
fox squirrel, like the elk that at one time (not so many 
years ago, either,) ranged the Allegheny Mountains, will 
be forever swept off the face of the earth. 
Whitb Sulphuk Springs, Va. 
DO ANTELOPES SHED THEIR HORNS? 
In the September issue of the Sportsman Thad Sur- 
ber makes the statement that prong-horn antelope do 
shed their horns annually. Now I believe Mr. Surber is 
mistaken on this pomt, as, in a ten years' acquaintance 
with the antelope, I never saw a shed horn, neither have 
I ever seen an immature horn on a full-grown animal. 
Besidf>s, I think that the construction of the horn is 
such as to preclude the possibility of shedding. If I am 
mistaken in this, however, I would like to have Mr. Sur- 
ber or some of his learned authority explain in what 
manner the pith of the horn is protected until a new horn 
is grown. J. C. Reillt. 
Bartlett, Neb. 
PROVISIONS FOR CAMPING OUT. 
If I were starting out with one other to make a two- 
weeks' hunting trip, says a writer in Harper's Round 
Table, my outfit of provisions would consist of the fol- 
lowing : 30 pounds of flour, 5 pounds of sugar, 5 pounds 
of coffee (ground and roasted), 2 pounds of tea, 2 pounds 
of salt, 3 pounds of prunes (dried) or apples, 20 pounds of 
bacon, 2 pounds of baking powder, 8 pounds of beans, 8 
pounds of rice, 3 pounds of tobacco, 2 pounds of powdered 
alum for curing skins, and if I were taking any dried 
vegetables, about 2 pounds. 
Of course, if you are traveling by wagon so much care 
is not needful for the protection of j'our provisions, 
although it is always desirable to have them well put up 
and occupying as little space as possible. But if you 
are going in a canoe or are packing, then everj'thing 
must be carefully and stoutly done up, both for protec- 
tion from rain as from frequent handling. Everything 
should be in heavy canvas sacks, and if in the rainy season, 
you ought to carry along a plentiful supply of rubber 
blankets, certainly one for each pack animal. If in a 
wagon or canoe, rul)ber sheets, though not so manj', are 
quite as necessary. The sugar, baking powder, salt, 
tobacco and alum should be in tin boxes, and the small 
packages put into sack to avoid having so many little 
bundles to handle. You should also have little bags for 
your salt, sugar, tea and coffee for daily consumption, 
that you need not go to the main supply more than once 
in every four, five or six days. This you would find of 
very great convenience if you are campinj,'- every night, 
because you need unpack only the bags you are daily 
using, and can leave the main supply of provisions 
undisturbed. 
The sleeping-bags which the Milford Shoe Co., of Mil- 
ford, Mass., are making for the Alaska trade are about 
seven feet in length by about three feet in width, tapering 
at the bottom. There is a flap that closes over the top 
which makes the bag- wind and snow proof. 
The sleeping-bag, so called, really consists of three 
bags, ^. e., the outer being made from heavy duck, v. hich 
is waterproof, by the paraffin process. Tlit^ next bag 
inside of this is made from heavy sheep pelt or shearlings, 
as they are termed. It is the hide with wool on. Inside 
of this is the inner bag or sheet, which is made from a 
heavy drill. The bag is large enough for a man to crawl 
inside and sleep at full length. 
The bags are arranged with loops around the edges for 
rope to be strung through, so that they can be hung 
upon trees at night, like a hammock. Also are arranged 
so they may be rolled up and carried on the back when 
not in use. 
In addition to the sleeping-bags, this firm are making 
Esquimaux suits from sheep pelt, as well as other warm 
garments suitable for Klondike emigrants and sports- 
men. 
The annual meeting of the Rosedale Gun Club, of 
Toronto, Canada, was held at the Granite Club, October 
1st, when the appointment of officers for the ensuing 
season took place, resulting in the unanimous re-election 
of the following gentlemen : 
H. M. Pellatt, president ; D. S. Barclay, vice-presi- 
dent ; D. L. Van Vlack, captain ; A. R. Stell, secretary. 
Mr. J. B. Miller having resigned the position of treas- 
urer, Mr. W. H. Gooderham was elected to fill that 
office. 
The meeting was verj' largely attended, all members 
present feeling that in the establishment of the Rosedale 
Gun Club an opportunity is at last afforded gentlemen 
who are admirers of this class of sport and who are op- 
posed to shooting for cash prizes, sweepstakes and other 
unsportsmanlike methods, for enjoying a Saturday after- 
noon's recreation in a sociable and agreeable manner. 
The ensuing season is looked forward to with pleasant 
anticipation by the members, the captain having ar- 
ranged for a number of friendly matches with outside 
clubs in Canada and the United States. There will also 
be club handicap matches for gold medals, three medals 
to be presented to each class. 
The new Magautrap for artificial bird shooting, which 
the club has just purchased, is the only one of the kind in 
Canada, and serves to indicate that the equipment of the 
club will at all times be of the most modern style obtain- 
able. This trap performs the work of five ordinary 
artificial traps, throwing, as it does, singles, doubles and, 
in fact, the whole flock of birds in the air at a time if 
desired. The machine is worked by one man, the birds 
being released by the touch of an electric button. 
William Read & Soxs, 107 Washington street. Bos- 
ton, Mass., sell all the prominent English and American 
makes of guns, but make a specialty of the Scott. This 
gun took nine of the principal prizes at the Monte Carlo 
1897 meeting for the International pigeon shooting. A 
catalogue and list of sec ond-liand guns will be sent to 
any reader of this paper upon application. A beautifully 
illustrated art catalogue of fishing tackle is also issued 
by this firm. 
i 
