FOREST Atm ^oTK^AM. 
Q«ail and YeUowlegs. 
Stockton/ Md., Sept. 4.— Some time ^go T Was asked 
lo report on the quail in New York and Maryland. My 
experience with New York quail Js limited to one small 
covey of about six birds, the only birds I saw during a 
residence of five years in Dutchess county, I have no 
doubt there are plenty of birds there, but I never saw 
them, nor did I ever meet any one who could report more 
than three or four to his credit on the openuig of the sea- 
son. This was near Millbrook, from 1889 to 1894. Mr, 
Foster, of that place, a perfect gentleman and splendid 
shot, will, I know, be pleased to give all information. 
Now, when you ask me about the eastern shore, I am 
right at home; here as a boy I shot my first quail, and as 
strength came to my arms, hundreds of canvasbacks an- 
swered to the crack of my old muzzleloader ; then Town 
Point, at the mouth of the Elk and Bohemia rivers, was 
the finest point on the headwaters of the Chesapeake. 
Then came my long exile to Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, 
Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York 
and then back at last to the eastern shore. Here I hope to 
die in the finest country God ever gave to man, where you 
can live the cheapest, where every luxury surrounds you. 
where no one seems to work hard, and all are happy and 
contented. My garden furnishes me with eveiything that 
will grow north of the frost line. The rivers and bays 
produce fish, crabs, oysters, clams, shrimp, terrapin and 
snappers, all for the taking. With my dog and gun I add 
quail, jacksnipe and woodcock to my bill of fare. The 
coast and marshes give me thousands of beach birds. And 
to all this the bay adds geese, brant, redheads and blue- 
bills. Where else can you accumulate such an array of 
luxuries and pleasures? 
I do not think our quail have done as well as they did 
last year. I do not blame last February's. storms for it, 
although no doubt many of the birds perished at that time. 
The heavy snow soon melted off, and gave the birds a 
chance to feed, while many were fed by farmers and others 
interested. I am also sorry to say that a number were 
killed in the snow by boys and others. I blame an unusual 
northeast storm last June for most of the trouble; this 
lasted almost a week, and was accompanied by heavy 
dashes of rain, in which many of the early hatch were 
drowned. I find plenty of small birds about, but can 
hear of few full-grown coveys. Our season Is late here, 
opening on Nov. 10, so by that time I feel sure we will 
have plenty of birds in good condition. 
This summer we have had an old-time yellowleg season. 
The heavy rains and high tides made the marshes just 
right, and when the birds struck here they staj-ed. We 
have averaged about a hundred birds a day, that being 
our limit ; any more -we could not use or give a\v3,y. We 
have had days when it would have been easy to kill three 
or four hundred. Very little bunch shooting has been 
done, all preferring to improve their marksmanship on 
hard singles and doubles. Take it all in all, we have had 
a grand time, and there are thousands of birds yet trading 
over the ponds. O. D. Foulks. 
Virginia Quail. 
LUMBERTON, Sussex Couuty, Va., Sept., 4— Editor 
Forest and Stream: Again I must crave space in your 
peerless sporting paper — the recognized organ of sports- 
men in America and elsewhere — to answer numerous in- 
quiries that have come to me as to the prospects for quail 
this season in Virginia. 
The general impression seems to be that the "blizzard of 
last February destroyed many birds. Such was the case in 
'95-6. But after most careful personal investigation and 
many consultations with the best sportsmen and guides in 
this part of Virginia, I can safely state that not one 
bird in a thousand perished in the blizzard in this sec- 
tion — except, of course, those trapped or shot by farmers' 
boys — in the snow. A very small per cent. Many fed the 
birds small grain, while the freeze lasted, but those who 
did not, assured me that the birds that were not fed came 
out in as good condition as those that were cared for. At 
all events, I have yet to find the man who picked up a dead 
bird in, or after, the snow. 
The best proof of this fact lies in countless numbers 
of birds in the fields this season — which has been a favor- 
able one for raising the j'oung, "The oldest inhabitant" 
admits that he has not seen quail so plentiful since the 
golden days of his youth. 
These observations do not apply to the mountainous 
northern and western parts of Virginia, where the snow 
was much deeper and was on the ground probably a week 
longer than down here, in our sheltered tide-water region, 
just between the warm brine and the sheltering shoulders 
of the mountains. This was the favorite hunting ground 
of the Nottoway Indians, from whom our long, devious 
river takes its name; perhaps because of the villages of 
that tribe dotted along its banks in the long ago, as imple- 
ments of stone and pottery plainly tell. These villages 
were fed and clothed from the abundance of fish taken 
from the river, and the fur-bearing animals along its 
shores. 
Trappers and hunters still take beaver, otter, coon, 
mink, gray fox, squirrel and muskrat, and many deer 
seek to elude the hounds in its waters. I recall as I 
write a pretty picture indelibly photographed upon the 
retina of my "mind's eye." 
A noble buck, with the graceful braiiching horns of the 
Virginia deer, held high, swelling white throat, wide, 
quivering nostrils and big soft eyes, wild with terror, as 
he plunged into the swift dark stream — his last refuge— 
the hounds pressing close, bursting through the green 
btanches and dropping into the water at his heels. He 
was wounded and labored heavily, and the dogs gained on 
him at every stroke, snatching at his flanks and then his 
throat. Finally, tossing his horns from side to side and 
spent with his efforts to free himself from his tormentors 
and the loss of blood, he began to drift down stream, when 
a hound gripped an ear on either side, and slowly and 
surely dragged the stately head with spurting nostrils 
under water. 
Several dogs were badly cut in the struggle by the 
sharp hooks, but the victory was worth the battle wounds, 
and I can never forget the picture it made, set in its 
frame of deep green wood. 
Not many years ago these deep forests had never echoed 
1:0 the shriek of the locomotive, and when a pioneer lum- 
ber road— a narrow gauge branch of the Atlantic & Dan- 
ville Railway — made its way through the "forests prime- 
val" and startled the quiet homesteads, many of the oldest 
inlmbitants had never seen an "engun,"' and walked miles 
to enjoy that long-denied pleasure. 
Since then this road, whicli lias recently come under the 
able management of the Soutliern Railroad Company, has 
brought many sportsmen to the haunts of the wild game, 
once so secure in their leafy fastnesses. Pope, Capron, 
Lawrenceville, Lumberton, Homeville and other stations 
along this line furnish fair accommodations and excellent 
quail and deer shooting, within easy walking distance, and 
guides and dogs are to be found of the best the country 
affords — "bi'ed to the chase." 
I "speak whereof I know,^'" for I have had the op- 
portunity here repeatedly of trying the old wager, "A 
partridge every day for thirty days," and let me add I 
never won it. Ev?n the chosen people of old couldn't do 
it when quail rained from heaven. They sickened before 
the thirtv days ^vere over, so whv should we degenerates 
try? ' L. P. Blow, 
The Capture of a King. 
In the Valley of the Arkansas River in the bottoms 
until the lands" were fenced and cleared for cultivation 
there was abundance of game. The timber was very 
heavy and the cane grew to a height of 20ft. and as thick 
as weeds in an abandoned field. It was next to impossible 
to kill deer in this wilderness, so when in the fall the 
deer in great numbers came out in the uplands to feed on 
the post oak acorns, those who love the splendid sport of 
deer hunting were in a seventh heaven of delight. One 
November it was my good fortune to be settled for the 
winter in a house overlooking the river bottom twenty 
miles east of the eastern border of the Indian Territory, 
and to have as companions three young men who, like 
myself, loved to follow the game abounding here. 
Having five splendid hounds and the necessary gUns Snd 
horses, and a colored man who was an Ai cook, we 
settled down for a winter of unalloyed happiness; and 
now, after the lapse of years filled with lights and 
shadows, with the work and the responsibilities which 
come to us all as the years go b.v, and time with noiseless 
tread steals away so much that it is sweet to keep, I won- 
der now why I did not appreciate even more than I did 
the happy days then spent in one of nature's favored 
spots. 
We were hardly settled in our camp before we were told 
by a native that in the ridges a mile back of camp among 
the scrub oak, there was seen frequently a buck which 
for size outstripped anything ever known in that region. 
Upon investigation I found that this was true. Livmg 
near us and keeping "bachelors' hall" like ourselves, were 
two brothers, Joe and John Smith, who were ardent 
sportsmen, and who were eager to attempt the capture 
of this king among the deer. Getting all ready for our 
first hunt, we gathered at Smith's camp to spend the 
night, that with coming daylight the following morn- 
ing we could make the drive. . In order to reach the 
cover of the river bottoms the deer in leaving the hijls 
were compelled to go about two miles east through an 
open timbered country and through a small farm, or else 
leave the hills and follow the foot of the river bluffs and 
pass around the north end of what is known as Grany 
Lake. In doing this they were bound to go through a 
pass which was only looyds. wide. We decided before 
going to bed that Joe Smith should guard the pass, that 
John Smith and my brother John should take the stand 
at the farm and that I should "drive" the forest king 
from his cover. 
The morning came cold add bright, there having been 
a freeze during the night. As soon as we could dis- 
tinguish a light in the east we were astir; and mounted 
on a mule, which had probably done service in the War 
of 1812, judging by appearances; and surrounded by the 
hounds, wild with }Ov, I started nortiiwest to where 
the haunts of the deer were; and the other boys made for 
the points agreed upon. I had gone half a mile from 
camp, when my two lead dogs left the path for a thicket 
and started a j'-earling deer; and reversing the usual 
course the deer crossed the path and ran south down an 
open ridge, giving an opportunity to see one of the pret- 
tiest short races I ever saAv. Just as the deer and dogs 
disappeared over the hill that miniature cannon carried 
by Joe went off with a sound that fairly shook the hills 
around us; the roar of the chase suddenly ceased, and 
I heard that welcome sound, "Come on, I've got him." 
Giving the mule the spur, I rushed down at the rate of 
about three miles an hour and found that just as the deer 
had made a long leap to clear a slough Joe had shot 
and actually broken three of its legs. While we were get- 
ting him to the mule, about fifty mallard ducks came 
flying up the slough and we all took a pop at them, with 
the result that we added three ducks to our supply of 
meat. Hurriedly taking the game to my camp and giving 
Pete, the cook, orders as to how much we would want 
for dinner, I went to the place where I expected to find 
the big buck. I 
Just at the edge of the woods I saw a large deer track; 
and while examining it I noticed one of the hounds 
smelling around a large log. He raised his head and 
gave a long cry, which aroused all the others, and in- 
stantly they were running around, and very much to my 
surprise, from the top of a tree which had fallen the 
previous summer with the leaves on, bounded 'the much- 
talked-of buck. And truly, he was a magnificent creat- 
ture. With flag erect and antlers thrown back, nostrils 
distended, he made direct for the cover of the river bot- 
tom. His starting was so unexpected and sudden that 
I failed to get a shot. The dogs were right on him, not 
40yds. behind, and they were dogs— a ten-rail fence was 
nothing to them. When he reached the farm through 
which he intended to go. he leaped at the fence, but fell 
back, but managed to elude the grasp of bis relentless 
pursuers, and making a detour of about a mile he struck 
out for the pass at the end of the lake. As soon as I 
saw where he was going, I stopped in the open and 
waited results. 
I did not have long to wait. Nearer and nearer 10 
the oass came the roar of the hounds, and although 
T wa's half a mile away my nerves were strung to the 
highest pitch and my heart be^t like a trlphafflmef, 
my suspense w-as short, for just as I mounted my l| 
one after the other there came the reports of Joe's 
and all was still save a whoopee. "I've got him." _ 
he had. I hurried to the pass and found all the li 
there. We had not been deceived in the size of the q 
We put him on the mule and carried him to our c^ 
and before we took out the entrails weighed him, an<| 
weighed 225lbs. and had eight prongs to each a 
Except for his great size there was nothing to distin 
him from any other deer. He was poor; if he had 1 
fat I am confident he would have weighed 25olbs. 
Having accomplished our heart's desire for that 
we gathered around the dinner table, on which i 
venison and duck, cornbread and hot biscuit, coffee 
wild honey. Thus ended our first day's hunt in' 
forest of the Arkansas River valley, but not our las 
any means. J- E. Loudo. 
New York Ruffed Grouse. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Ruffed grouse or partridges, as they are more commi 
styled in this part of the country, are somev/hat rl 
plentiful this season than they^ have been for a few J 
past. This is especially true of the Adirondack reg 
where the birds have prospered finely thus far 
broods hatched last spring came out early, and the grc 
of the chicks was rapid and healthy. In the early da>/ 
July young birds were seen which, although still u:! 
their mother's care, were far enough advanced to fl^ 
into the spruce trees when disturbed, and their fi 
was noticeably strong. The mother bird manifested 
some extent the nervous anxiety which she is wont tO' 
play when an intruder invades the immediate loc! 
which she and her brood are occupying, but Avhile, 
made some effort to attract attention to herself 
away, from her little ones, she kept at a respectful dist 
and pretty well under cover, as if satisfied that her 
springs were getting so big that perhaps it was not nt 
sary for her to make as much fuss as she deemed esse 
a fortnight or so previous. Is it not wonderful wha 
stinct and what a reckless disregard of personal s;' 
the mother grouse displays when she deems her b 
in danger? Her sudden appearance almost under 
feet running in dishabille with rulfled phunage, v 
spread tail and fluttering, outstretched wings, is 
culated to attract and retain the attention at least 
mentarily, and ordinarily before a person recovers- i 
the surprise her little chicks are safely hidden. G 
sionally the maternal anxiety is so great that the bird 
remain within a few feet of the intruder for two or t 
minutes before taking wing or otherwise beating a ret 
During all this time she keeps up a continual clue 
or "mewing" sound, as Thoreau termed it, which is 
peculiar and difficult to describe. The noise is ( 
different from any other which one hears in the wc 
and is of such a nature as not only to startle but thl 
person. There is something more, too, in the sou 
hold one's attention than there would be in a i 
repetition of ordinary clucking. There is not only 
sistence, but insistence. The sound seems to carry wi 
something in the nature of a command, or at least s 
mand. If Mrs. Partridge could talk and should 
claim, "Look at me ! Look at me instead of my chici 
she would not express herself any more clearly thati] 
does noAv by her actions and voice. The little ones 
a peeping sormd when first alarmed, but this is, 
stantly hushed when they find a place of concealment)! 
the great disturbance created by the mother bird iis' 
has the effect of causing the cries of the chicks to 
unheeded. One young bird in a brood which was flu 
early in July flew some 6oft., when he first took wingj 
alighting on a dead limb, perhaps 20ft. from the gr 
stretched his neck and looked Avith great apparent avo 
ment at two men who came along. He was about the 
of a robin. After maintaining his position a minut 
tAvo he took another flight into an evergreen thicl< 
hundred feet away. 
Four years ago ruffed grouse were very numerous u 
Adirondacks, and in certain parts of Oneida county' 
adjacent counties, but during that fall the birds 
mercilesslj' slaughtered by the pot-hunters. In this c 
ty alone thousands of partridges Avere killed for 
market, most of them during the latter part of the 
son, when the leaves were off from the trees. The ' 
ceeding year there were some birds, but by no meat 
many as the preceding season. In 1897 grouse wer^ 
ceedingly scarce, and it was a rare thing to see a yi 
bird. Local hunters explained this state of affair: 
the theory that the scarcity was due to the conti 
rains and cold weather Avhich we had in the spring 
earlj' siimmer that year, and Avhich it was believed 
vented the hatching and rearing of new broods, 
year the shooting was not very much better, alth 
there was occasionally a brood to be found. 
In vieAV of the scarcity of grouse during the past 1 
seasons, it is gratifying to hear reports coming 
various parts of central New York stating that they 
now quite plentiful, by no means as numerous as 
Avere four years ago, but nevertheless enough to Ava 
the hunter in expecting a reasonable bag of birds as 
Avard for a day spent in the woods. In certain loca 
the broods are said to be larger than usual, a fact v 
will naturally be Avelcome ncAvs to all AA^ho enjoy the 
of shooting. The birds are more mature than they us 
are at this time of the year. 
Another thing which hunters are congratulating ti 
selves over is the fact that there are some Avoodcocli! 
in the countr}\ During the past few years Avood 
shooting in this part of the State has deteriorated 
rapidly, and it began to be feared that these birdsj 
forsaken and forgotten their old haunts. The preseri 
dications are that there will be fairly good sport 
fall in some portions of this and neighboring coup 
where there are good woodcock grounds. 
The oldest, most experienced and most successful li 
ers usually knoAv from obserA'ation something abouli 
condition of things before the shooting season o;, 
They haA'e favorite hunting grounds and occasionally 
'ing the summer months make it a point to visit i 
pieces of woodland, without a gun, of course, and se<S 
themselves whether they contain any game birds, % 
