PUHEST AND STHEAM. 
167 
difference between these two animals. Wildcats are fre- 
quently caught in Maine and Canada, and forwarded to 
Boston, and here they are termed lynx. The fisher is 
another feature of the show, known to but few except the 
hunters and trappers of the north woods. He, too, is said 
to be fond of a diet of red squirrels, partridges, and occa- 
sionally a fish. A pair of civet cats are shown; curious 
little fellows from North Africa. Opossums are here, and 
there is a tree with a dozen raccoons in it. They hang 
themselves up in the crotches of the limbs to sleep. Hun- 
dreds of grey squirrels in a tree, with trees of red squir- 
rels, take one down into the Maine vi^oods in imagination. 
Then there is a tree of flying squirrels. 
Of the elk, two bulls have antlers still on at this writ- 
ing, though hourly expected to drop: there are deer and 
four moose from Merrymeeting Park, Brunswick, Me. 
A live caribou is also shown from the Province of Que- 
bec, A pair of Rocky Mountain goats, white and clean, 
are there. Mountain lions, a young cinnamon bear and a 
young grizzly bear are features of the show. All in all, 
there is more of natural history in the Boston Sports- 
men's Show than has ever before been brought under 
one roof. I understand that the management is desirous 
of donating the animals to the Park Commissioners as the 
nucleus of a zoological garden. The city of Boston would 
be required only to provide suitable accommodations and 
make appropriations for maintaining the garden. 
Special. 
The New York Bird Plwrna^e Bill. 
New YorKj Feb. 23. — Editor Forest and Stream: In 
view of the adverse comments which have appeared in 
your columns concerning the plumage bill introduced by 
Mr. Hallock, it may be of interest to know that at the 
last meeting of the New York Association for the Pro- 
tection of Game, the measure was discussed and referred 
to a special committee. A meeting of this special commit- 
tee was held this afternoon at the office of Mr. J. C. 
O'Conor, the chairman, and the following amendments 
drawn by Mr. T. N. Cuthbert, counsel of the Association, 
were decided upon : To insert after the word "possessed" 
the Avords "for use or ornament, or for commercial pur- 
poses of any kind" ; and after the words "provisions of 
this act," the words "or to the plumage, skins or any 
part of such birds lawfully possessed prior to the passage 
of this act." These amendments would, we think, help the 
measure considerably, and tend to disarm the criticism 
\N-hich the bill in its original form naturally aroused. 
RoBT. B. Lawrence, Sec'y- 
On Eastern Waters, 
There is a certain charm about shooting in a thickly 
settled region which one does not get anywhere else. 
The game is scarce and hard to circumvent, and when 
a pair or two of shy old black ducks are successfully 
brought to bag, the satisfaction is often greater than the 
killing of ten times the number in a more favorable 
locality. 
The season is late October. For two days a north- 
wester has been doing its best to remove the few remain- 
ing leaves, until at last the wind has died away and the 
evening is calm and wonderfully clear. It is likely to be 
Hie coldest night of the season, and we go to bed m the 
best of spirits,' almost certain of a shot in the morning. 
It is just beginning to lighten a little as we close the 
farmhouse door behind us and emerge into the breath- 
less stillness of the early morning. The watch-dog 
ambles up, then W'ags his tail, turns about and disap- 
pears in the gloom of the yard. How had the ground 
feels, and what a noise each leaf makes under our feet 
as we walk briskly toward the lake. 
Long streaks of pink and gray appear in the east, but 
look closer and note that little speck against the sky as it 
glides downward across a bright band of orange light 
and drops lower and lower until it vanishes toward the 
lake. Ducks, twelve or fifteen at least, and we set our 
teeth and walk harder. 
Down toward the woods the path leads. Nothing has 
been heard save the distant crowing of sleepy cocks, but 
now a new sound greets us, the cheerful quacking of my 
faithful decoy ducks. 
We hasten into the pines and over a noiseless carpet 
of dry needles. How dark it is. A rustle in the brush 
and a faint streak of which shows we have waked a rabbit, 
and a belated flock of robbins make the air. hum as they, 
spring from a birch tree above our heads. • 
Cautiously we creep out on to the point, sheltered on 
both sides by walls of brush. Ahead of us is the stand 
and coops, and as we come in sight, a watchful old drake 
sees us and sends out a ringing call. Instantly a chorus 
of duck music from out on the water fills the whole air, 
and we walk boldly ahead, past the coops and into the 
stand, knowing that no wild birds can hear us through 
all that racket. . 
Remove your hat and peer between the branches. Out 
there on the dark water float the bunches of wooden 
ducks, while in the shallow water along the beach the 
live decoys swim and quack. Count them all carefully. 
To the left there is a flock of fourteen, where there 
should be but nine, and even as you look five silent shapes 
detach themselves from the rest and glide out in front 
without a ripple, and as if moved by some mysterious 
power. 
Caution is now the word. Against the paling lean 
three grim sentinels; one an 8 gauge, one a 10 and one a 
Winchester pump. But do not reach so nervously for 
your gun. It is always ready loaded, and moreover 
there is plenty of tim.e, for the game is still two gun- 
shots distant. 
Suddenly, with hardly a moment's warning, the wild 
birds rise in the air with one accord, and vanish against 
the dark background of the pines on the opposite shore. 
We feel almost ready to cry. "What frightened them?" 
you ask. Nothing; it is only a way these shy black fel- 
lows have, and we could have done n» better. 
And now we have time to note the surroundings, the 
gr^at looming shapes of the distant ice houses, the tall 
chimneys of the pumping stations, all loosing much of 
their artificial ugliness in the glom of early sunrise. Be- 
hind us runs a high oak bluff, the tree trunks just be- 
ginning to catch the rosy eastern glow. A few teams are 
heard rumbling over frozen roads, and across the lake 
we mark a night-watchman trudging homeward, his 
lantern still lighted and swinging by his side. Slowly 
and solemnly comes the sound of the Wenham bell. Six 
times the message is sent out over the still water, and 
so loud it sounds that you can scarcely believe the church 
i«s a mile away. 
All this time I am sweeping the lake with the glass, and 
at last I make out three little specks. They look as if 
they w'ere drawing toward us. Yes, they are coming, as 
fast as they can swim. But they are small ducks, and a 
moving like this we should certainly get a better shot._ 
Ah, I thought so. There is the bunch we saw drop in 
earlier. They haven't noticed us yet, but we will see 
what we can do. 
Softly one after another of the flyers is lifted from the 
coop, and sent sailing out over the line of ducks, which 
reply in a deafening chorus. Some of them waddle 
back to the expected corn, and are again scaled. 
The small ducks, buffleheads they are, have approached 
to within 15 yards of the beach, and are resting in a 
little knot, their heads tucked under their feathers. It 
would be easy to kill all three with one barrel, but we 
must wait. 
The big bunch have made up their minds, and slOwly, 
ever so slowly, they begin to push toward us. You would 
scarcely believe they were moving, but every time you 
look they are a bit closer. Unless the unforeseen occurs, 
as it sometimes does, we are pretty certain of a fine shot. 
They have reached a bunch of block decoys and stop, 
puzzled for a moment. Quickly hand me that little 
drake. See! he has done the work, and watch how 
eagerly they follow him, as he swims toward the beach. 
Take the lO-gauge and be very careful you do not 
show yourself. I will count three, and we must shoot 
together at exactly the same moment. Let them get as 
near as we want them, about 25 yards will be the most 
effective range for the open barrels of our big guns. I 
see you would pull now if I were not here to stop you, 
but above all things don't get excited or we are sure to 
make a mess of things. 
One, two, hold! They have spread again, and we 
must wait for a better chance. One, two, three — we pull 
well together, and a deafening roar, a great splashing of 
ducks and a chorus of squawks from frightened decoys 
is the result. Lucky is the man who can single out his 
bird and kill with the left barrel. I missed clean, and 
am too busy shooting at cripples with the pump gun to 
see what you are about. 
The fusillade is over, and we count eight dead ducks. 
Two only have flown away, besides the three buffetheads, 
while one is swimming some 200 yards out. 
Slaughter, mere butchery, I hear some one say. But 
come with me and watch them, possibly four mornings, 
your eyes glued to sky and water, with nothing but a 
meager ruddy duck to reward your patience. Then, when 
the longed-for moment arrives, you will grasp your 
trusty 8-gauge with as much pride as a quail shooter his 
light 16. . ■ 
We have collected in all nine plump black ducks, fresh 
from their summer home, and with few exceptions as 
finely flavored as any bird that swims. 
You will scarcely believe that we have been in the 
stand two hours. Game was in sight nearly all the time, 
and now that the excitement is over we remember that 
we are hungry, and shouldering our game tramp proudly 
back to breakfast. J. O. Phillips. 
CHICAGO A.ND THE WEST. 
Canvasbacks in Chicago. 
The outer basin of the Chicago Harbor is now full of 
great flocks of ducks, among them many sprigs and mal- 
lards. Mostly these lake ducks are blue bills. This 
morning, as I was coming down town on the Illinois 
Central suburban train, I distinctly saw a long line of 
birds among the blue bills, whose outline in head and 
neck had a very peculiar look. They took wing, and I 
saw at once that they were genuine canvasbacks. This 
certainly settles all claims rival cities may have against 
Chicago. What other city has a Chicago River and also 
has canvasback ducks? 
Gulls in the Rivet. 
By the way, speaking of the Chicago River, or, as we 
should call it, the new drainage canal, there appears to 
be some mystic change taking place in its waters. The 
gulls are now following its course in large flocks, whereas 
they formerly declined it with thanks. 
The Breeding of Jacksnlpe. 
Mr." Ruthven Deane, one of our most prominent West- 
ern naturalists, writes in a number of the Auk of the 
breeding of the jacksnipe at this latitude. He says that at 
English Lake club house, Ind., on Aug. 7, 1893, Mr. J. M. 
Mackay and friend killed sixty-nine jacks, and on one 
morning in late July, 1897, forty-two jacks were killed. 
These birds must have been local birds, as no migration 
takes place so early as those dates. Mr. Deane cites 
discoveries of nests of jacksnipe by John Watson (as was 
reported in Forest and Stream at an earlier date), on 
Maksawba Club grounds, April 24, 1898. A set of eggs 
was collected on the same grounds by G. F. Norcom. Mr. 
F. R. Bissell saw a snipe nest near Waukegan. 111., April 
24, 1896. 
As Canvasbacks Once Were. 
It is Mr. Deane, by the way, who sends me the fol- 
lowing letter from his friend, Mr. S. S. Foster : "I send 
you copy of a letter from Governor Tompkins, of New 
York, to Gen. Macomb, of New York city, which I saw 
yesterday. It is dated early in the century, and canvas- 
backs must have been common then." The letter reads: 
"Albany, N. Y., Jan. 20, 1814. — Ducks are horribly 
scarce here. Bring up 100 canvasbacks. 
"D. D. Tompkins.^' 
Let us hope the Governor got his birds and had the 
4iQner. ' 
For the Minnesota National Paik, 
The Pioneer Press has the following good news about 
the Minnesota" National Park: 
"MinneaJ?)lis, Feb. 20. — National Forest Park stock 
went up several points in public confidence to-day, as the 
result of the announcement that Mrs. Lydia Phillips 
Williams, president of the Minnesota Federation of 
Women's Clubs, and Prof. Maria L. Sanford, of the Uni- 
versity of Minnesota, are going to Washington to take 
personal charge of the interests of the project. These in- 
fluential and enthusiastic women left to-night over the 
Burlington. Prof. Sanford will remain about two weeks, 
while Mrs. Williams' stay will be prolonged into May, 
by which time it is hoped the interests of the bill may 
be safe to leave." 
These ladies will be well received in Washington, and 
they are there upon a dignified and important mission. 
"The Rescue of Helen." 
Speaking of the Minnesota National Park movement, 
one is pleasantly obliged to bring into memory the unique 
tour of last October made by the Congressional party into 
upper Minnesota. It was said at the time that some 
better record should be made of that expedition than the 
bald newspaper stories. Here, then, is that record, most 
felicitously and handsomely done, in the form of the "Res- 
cue of Helen," as fine a specimen of book craft as the 
famous Roycrofters of East Aurora, N. Y., ever turned 
out, soft and velvety to touch of hand and touch of eye. 
This little work, telling how certain knights of old did 
make rescue of the little lake known and baptised as 
"Helen," is beautifully done, and makes a souvenir which 
methinks will be jealously guarded by every one who was 
upon that journey, or had part in the quest. It is said 
for Col. Coooer that this work was done by his "Armour 
bearers" (Messrs, J. A. Campbell, Everett Sisson, H, 
Williams, of Chicago, and Mr. Elbert Hubbard, of East 
Aurora, N. Y.). The armour bearers have certainly done 
their part faithfully and well. 
Got Geese with a Rifle. 
Mr. J. N. Sterling, of Dixon, 111., has this winter killed 
forty-nine wild geese with a .25-25 rifle, using nitro pow- 
der, getting all the birds along the open water in the Rock 
River at that point. He says that he often got one as the 
birds were sitting, and one out of the flock as they rose. 
This statement comes from a gentleman just in from 
Dixon, and is reliable. 
Wild geese have appeared in Lake Michigan along our 
north shore drive territory and near Evanston, our north- 
ern suburb. It is no doubt time for Mr. Townsend Smith, 
who does a good business with these birds each spring, to 
get out his gun. 
Sues the English Lake Club. 
Mr. Hall Green, postmaster at English Lake, Ind., 
brings suit this week against the English Lake Club, a 
body of Chicago gentlemen owning land which they use as 
a sporting preserve, at that point, which is on the Kanka- 
kee River. Green wants $10,000 for unlawful arrest as a 
trespasser on the grounds. Other suits have been brought 
against the club, and it seems much a matter of Tolleton 
troubles all over again. The Indiana soul seems not to 
love a legal game preserve. 
Gone South. 
Mr. C. C. Jones, of Sandwich, 111., finding himself 
broken doAvn in health by over work, had dropped every- 
thing and gone South. He writes from Bay St. Louis, 
Miss., on the Gulf Coast, that he is having a rather dismal 
time of it there for sport just now, all alone and a 
.stranger. He contemplates a trip to the Rockies later. 
Gone to California. 
One of the best known sportsmen of Chicago is Charlie 
Mears, an old-time member of Maksawba Club, and of 
great experience in fishing and shooting in our North 
woods. Mr. Mears has made money here in Chicago, but 
now he says he is going to leave this climate for one 
more congenial. He has put up a fine residence at Pasa- 
dena, Cal, and moved out there to live. He will be 
missed here by many friends. 
Death ol Washakie, 
Old Washakie, chief of the Shoshone Indians, is dead, at 
the age of ninety-three. Washakie was always the friend 
of the white men. He seems not to have been able to 
stop the butchering raids of his young men into the 
country below the National Park, but it does not appear 
that he ever encouraged them. His life ran back into 
times far different from these. 
Kabekona Club. 
Mr. H. G. McCartney, of this city, owner of the Kabe- 
kona Camp in Minnesota, which has been patronized by 
many of our best sportsmen, says that there is a pos- 
sibility that this resort may this season be turned into a 
club and become a private institution. 
E. Hough, 
300 BovcK Building, Chicago, 111. 
The Guinea Fowl as Game. 
Puerto Principe, Cuba, Feb. S.— Editor Forest and 
Stream: Mr. Robt. B. White asks regarding the guinea 
fowl as a game bird. In Cuba the gumea fowl seem to 
have demonstrated their fitness for that purpose them- 
selves, as they are abundant as game all over the province. 
I suppose that, of course, they have descended from 
domesticated guinea fowl, but to-day they are entirely 
wild and make excellent game. There is but one objec- 
tion to them, and this is that they frequent localities 
where the grass is so thick and tall— called guinea grass, 
very likely on their account — ^that it is exceedingly diffi- 
cult to find a dead or wounded bird, even with a good 
dog, and without the good dog it is next to impossible. 
Of course, this objection would not be serious in the 
United States, as such tall grass does not grow there to 
any considerable extent; and from my experience with 
them in this island, I believe the experiment of propagat- 
ing them as game in the United States well worth the 
trial, Wm, R FLYNsr, 
