FOREST AND STREAM. 
14B 
se( free near Cumberland to breed. Each member bound 
himself to obey and enforce the law in regard to the 
preservation of the birds. 
A collecting committee was appointed to consist of 
Messrs. F. Jaynes, E. Barrett, O. H. Fechner and W. B. 
Anderson. Mr. S. H. R'ggs, treasurer. The next meet- 
ing will be held on Thursday, Jan. 31, at O. H. Fechner' s, 
to report progress, by which time it is expected letters 
will be here advising prices of birds, etc. Mr. Cross, of 
the Western Life Assurance Compan}', will obtain data in 
Victoria re experience with the qitail there, for the 
benefit of ihe Association. 
More About the Panther* 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Several lecent issues of your valued paper have con- 
tained articles about panthers and the danger from wild 
animals, which have srirred me up to reply, but the busy 
cares of professional life have prevented. But the call 
for facts opposed to the opinions of some of your corre- 
spondents in the issue of Feb. 9 is an appeal not to be 
denied. Before proceeding, however, let me most 
strongly approve your statement on the first page, as to 
gqeneralizing from personal experience. This is a com- 
mon fault in the reasoning of many who mean to be per- 
fectly fair in their argument. Because certain things have 
not occurred in their experience, it seems to them im- 
possible that such things should ever take place, and 
they argue accordingly. 
This faulty logic is not confined to those who claim to 
speak from experience, whether great or small, but is 
often observed in others and along many lines. And 
this very common fault in reasoning may be characterized 
as "broad generalization from insi^fficient data. In other 
words, the premises not being reliable, the conclusion is 
not. This, of course, does not mean that the experience 
of your correspondents in Feb. 9 is not reliable so far 
as it goes, but that it does not go far enough to justify 
their conclusion. 
Now for some facts: 
The first instance I have before referred to in your 
columns, but will now give more fully. 
Many years ago in Vermont a man on horseback was 
returning home at evening, and was chased by a panther. 
The horse ran at its best speed, for it had an unusual 
spur. The panther repeatedly jumped for the man, but 
was not able to reach him. He wore a long overcoat, the 
skirts of which spread over the horse's rump in the rapid 
flight. Those coat skirts were torn to shreds and the 
horse's flesh badly lacerated by the panther's claws as he 
would jump for the man but succeed only in striking 
his forepaws on the horse's hips. At least that panther 
meant business, and only the speed of the horse saved 
the man. My grandmother, who lived in the adjoining 
town, knew the man, and that the incident was genuine. 
My father has often heard her tell the story. 
My father knew a man in our native town who was 
followed about two miles one evening by a panther, 
which evidently meant mischief, but was thwarted by the 
man riding close to a log house, and shouting "Open the 
door." In the large fireplace was a blazing fire, and as its 
light suddenly shone out through the opened door, the 
panther screamed and ran away. The man was an old 
soldier, a captain in rank, and a man who knew what he 
was about, whether dealing wi h men or animals. 
Panthers were formerly plentiful in Vermont, and many 
stories of their boldness and ferocity were in circulation, 
but I give only the above, knowing them to be true. 
As late as 1866 or '67 I saw a panther, in Vermont, 
which had been killed by a heavy charge of shot iii the 
eye. This animal had been killing stock, was hunted to 
its den, the hole blocked up, then a rock pried up expos- 
ing the panther's eye, and the one discharge killed him. 
He was "spring poor." but weighed 120 pounds, was 
7]/2 feet long and 23/2 feet high at the shoulder. His tail 
was 2^2 feet. These measurements were "in the flesh," 
and correspond to those given by Mr. Wells. My father 
once saw a panther's track on his farm in Vermont, and 
the beast must have been immense. Father then weighed 
about 135 pounds and could run on the snow crust any- 
where without breaking it. But the panther broke 
through at everj^ step, and when he jumped to the top of 
a rail fence (about one-quarter inch of fresh snow being 
on the broad, flat top raiO, he left a track 6 inches across. 
I have no knowledge as to the presence or absence of 
panthers in Maine. But knowing of their former abun- 
dance in Vermont and Canada, I cannot understand why 
they should not also have been in Maine, especially as 
their favorite food, venison, is there so plentiful. In 1881 
I met in Florida a professor from Maine, who, with some 
of his students, had been hunting birds for the museum 
of his school. He told me that all the wild animals he 
saw in Florida appeared very different from the same 
species North. The Sou hern animals seemed as if ener- 
vated by the climate. E. g., he saw a panther sneaking 
by at short range, and fired at him with bird shot, trust- 
ing to climatic influence to prevent the brute from aveng- 
ing the insult. The result proved the accuracy of the 
calculaion in that instance. The panther kept on his 
way. 
Some seventy years ago an uncle of my father, with a 
brother, was driving just at night in the Chateaugay 
section of the Adirondacks. A wolf howled, then a.nother, 
and another, and soon a pack was gathered and in full 
pursuit. The men were unarmed, but had a very fleet 
hor.se. The horse ran at top speed, with the wolves close 
behind till a clearing was reached and welcome lights. 
The men always thought the horse saved them, and I 
think they were right. 
Looking over the matter generally, it appears to me 
that something can be tru.hfully said on both sides of 
the question of the danger of wild animals, and that the 
advocates of neither side should ridicule or question the 
■statements of known facts by the others. It also appears 
clear that long contact with man has greatly modified 
the attitude toward man, if not the nature, of our larger 
and iTiore dangerous game; that climate and other local 
causes have a powerful modifying influence; and that 
among animals, as among men, there is great variation 
between individuals of the same class, In dealing b&th 
with biped and quadruped it is still true that "you can't 
most always tell who's going to do what." Jltvenal. 
The Wood Buffalo. 
Mr. J, A. Macrae, Inspector of Indian Agencies and 
Resen^es for the Dominion of Canada, has recently re- 
turned from a tour of inspection to the far North— the 
mouth of the' Mackenzie River. He brings some infor- 
mation concerning the wood buffalo which is of very great 
interest to naturalists and all interested in big game. Mr. 
Macrae writes : 
"At Fore Chippewyan, Fort Smith and Fort Resolu- 
tion I made close inquiries in.o the number of wood 
buffalo remaining, having an opportunity — owing to meet- 
ing so many Indians fresh from their grounds — such as I 
think no one else has enjoyed, to do this. Some of the 
Indians who were to meet me at each place had lately been 
near the buffalo, and had coimted the different herds, 
which are generally speaking three in number— one rang- 
ing from Salt River to Peace Point, on Peace River; one 
from Salt River north to Great Slave Lake, and one from 
Salt River east and west. They number, I conclude, from 
500 to 575. I understand that there has been an in- 
crease of perhaps a couple of hundred, and it would ap- 
pear onl}- to be necessary to continue vigorous protectve 
measures in order to perpe.uate the herd. It is noticeable 
that, the fur of the wood buft'alo, owing, no doubt, to cli- 
matic conditions, is longer and thicker than that of its 
brother of the plains, and it has that straightness and 
thickness which characterized the muskox robe." 
The Canadian Government has forbidden the destruc- 
tion of buffalo at any time, and the existence of this law 
has been made known to traders, trappers and Indians 
alike, so that there is now a general and well defined 
sentiment among travelers and residents in the country 
where these buffalo 'railge in favor of their protection. 
If Mr. Macrae's estimate . of their numbers is any- 
where near the fact, there are many times more wild 
buft'alo in Canada than there are in the United States. 
Albino Hawfcs. 
As Mr. Ruthven Deane in his note on "Alb-'nism in 
the Red-tailed Hawk" wishes a record given of such cap- 
tures, 1 will add a few to his list. About two years ago 
Mr. Charles A. Allen, of San Geronimo, Cal, wrote me 
that a pure white red-tail was shot by a ranchman who 
lived near him. but was not preserved, and also that he 
had several times seen another -where the first was 
taken, which he thought he could secure for me. Some 
rnonths after he wrotC. that the hawk had left the 
vicinity. 
About a year ago I was written to of the capture of a 
pure white red-tail in western Missouri. This one was 
mounted, but the price asked was so extremely high, I 
did not purchase. This fall a friend in Galesburgh, 111., 
wrote me that otie of a shooting club of which he was a 
member had shot a pure white "chicken hawk," which 
had been mounted by the keeper of the club house. I 
wrote and tried to purchase it, but it was not for sale. 
What was meant by "chicken liawk" I do not know, but 
think that in all probability this was a red-tail, as the 
only other kmd of hawk showing any trace of albinism 
of which I have ever heard is a Krider's buzzard, which 
has the whole tail pure white except the central feathers 
are slightly reddish. As the Krider's hawk (B. borealis 
krideri) is a very closely related variety of the corn- 
mon red-tail, it would seem that so far as now known 
albinism in hawks is largely confined to the fed-tailed 
species. I have lately obtained a godwit, which is all 
white except a slight buffy shade, and I hear of a white 
sharp-tailed grouse having been taken. 
M. Hardy. 
Brewer, Me. 
Squiftels in Confmement* 
Deepdene, Surrey, England.— fiJzVor Forest and 
Stream: Owang to my illegible handwriting (which has 
exhausted the patience of many printers). I am made to 
say in my letter to you on the black squirrels not quite 
what I meant to. 1 meant to say, "unless the large, jet 
black squirrel he writes of is the same species as the 
melanic variety of the gray squirrel." and have said 
"when the large, jet black," etc. And again I wrote 
"unless the upper tooth is broken the lower will never 
grow unduly long," and the types make me say "when 
the upper tooth is broken, the lower will never grow 
unduly long," which is exactly the oposite of what I 
meant to say. The squirrels in the London Zoological 
Gardens are never given nuts harder than peanuts, biit 
they have sunflower seed, carrots, etc., and they used to 
be quite wild with delight when I brought them a few 
hazel nuts. There was an albino gray squirrel which used 
to chuckle over the nuts in a steady stream of glee and 
gather them all up to her with her paws as if she 
couldn't be sure of them unless they were under her. 
The teeth grind each other down and sharp. One of my 
pets used to sleep on my pillow beside my head, and I 
could hear him in the night grinding his teeth together. 
He insisted on my cracking his nuts for him, and I 
always did so^ and his teeth were perfectly regular when 
he died. W. J. Stillman. 
Like Picking Up Money. 
In every city, town and village in the United States where there 
IS shooting or fishing or yachting we want agents to canvass for 
subscriptions for Forest and Stream. Every sportsman is deeply 
interested in its subjects, and every sportsman is glad to discuss 
his doings afield and to hear of the adventures of other sportsmen. 
Money is to be made by canvassers for Forest and Stream, 
and those who wish to take advantage of the opportunity we offer 
should send for premium list and circular.— Forest and Stream 
Publishing Company, 346 Broadway, New York. 
A parly of Chicago sportsmen have purchased Chambers Island, 
Mich., from the Wisconsin Chair Company. The island is in Green 
Bay, about eighteen miles east of this city. The wealthy Chicago- 
ans intend to convert the island into a game reserve and expect 
to expend ?3B,000 or more in the construction of a club house and 
otherwise improving the property. The island comprises several 
thousand acres of land, , mostly timbered, and deer are very 
numerous. The present owners have men employed the year 
round to keep hunters away. A strict surveillance has been main- 
tained for several years, and as a result it is regarded as a fine 
game. xeserVe. . . ■ 
The Forest and Stream is put to press each week on Tuesday. 
Correspondence intended for publication should reach us at the 
latest by Monday and as much earlier as practicable. 
— # — 
Froprieton of abooting retorts will find it profitabl* to Mtrixttaa 
chem m l*ujuut amo Miiam. 
Notice. 
All communications intended for Fobkst and Stbbah abouia 
always be addressn) to lit Kuir«ii and Stream Publisfaiag Co., asd 
not to any individual cu incvicd u iih ibe paper. 
The Qiange m Washington. 
Keller. Washington, Jan. 2H.— Editor Forest and 
•Stream: For the last two years 1 have been feasting on 
the many good thuigs that have been set before the 
readers of your vahiable paper, without contribu.ing any- 
thing toward supplying the larder. I am still living on 
the reservation, which a few years ago was one of the 
best stocki?d game preserves in llie West, but to-day 
there is, comparatively speaking, no game at all. 
In December Arthur Snyder and Henry Yake started 
out for a Jew days' hunt. They left Keller and went up 
to the nine-mile meadows, some fifteen miles distant, 
where they expected to find some deer, but no deer was 
to be found there, and as the mountains were covered with 
snow they did not even find any tracks. Then they went 
over on to the headwaters of Wilmot Creek, a once 
famous game range; there they found a few tracks, but 
did not see any game. Then they followed down the 
creek to near the mouth, and came back to camp through 
the nine-mile ser\'ice thickets. Here ihey saw several 
tracks, but no game. 
They were out five days and killed one squirrel. 
A few years ago in going that round I am certain they 
would have seen over a hundred deer. 
This winter two panthers were killed near Republic. 
A short time ago Mr. Eichinauer was coming from 
Bridge Creek, and after wilking eight miles he met 
three cougars, and he claimed that they showed fight, and 
he ran back to camp. The next day Roll Clayton and a 
brother of the returned miner went down to where the 
cougars had been seen, took the tracks and followed 
them up in among the cliffs of rocks near the river San 
Poll. They found where the cougars had stopped, and 
they saw ihem. The boys fired and killed two at the 
first shot. The other cougar ran off a short distance, 
stopped and looked back. The boys both fired at it, and 
both shots took effect, not two inches apart, and the 
cougar rolled over dead. 
Last week a farmer on the south side of the Columbia, 
near here, was rid ng along and he saw a cougar along 
the bluff. He gave cha.se. and as he was on horseback 
he soon treed the cougar, then went to a neighbor's 
house a short distance, got a rifle, and returned and killed 
the varmint. 
It has seemed strange to me that though I have been 
on the reservation for sixteen years, I have never got to 
see a live one; and six are all that I remember having 
been killed. 
There are a few beaver and otter, and this winter the 
boys down town kille<l a few coons. While the coons 
here are very much smaller than those we used to kill 
a^ong the Missouri bottoms, they are marked the same. 
Grouse are disappearing very fast, especially the ruffed: 
there are a few sharptail here, and on this side of the 
river they seem to be more plentiful than a few years ago 
I have heard but one big wolf howl this winter, and 
that was in the early part. Coyotes seem to hold their 
own. I rather think they will increase, as there are 
getting to be more sheep in the country. They thrive on 
sheep. Ducks and geese are still to be found along the 
Columbia River, as we have not had any severe weather 
yet this winter. Lew Wilmot. 
A Hunt for Grub. 
I have just received a letter from my cousin, Amos Cameron, 
whose love of nature s wilds led him lo settle in northern Wash- 
ington a few years ago. I inclose extracts.— Emerson Carney. 
Last Monday morning I shouldered my old faithful 
.45-70 and at daybreak hit the trail for some meat, as we 
were getting below par as to grub. I reached snow line in 
about one and one-half hours, and soon struck a fresh 
deer track, and immediately set about to try my stalking 
abihtres. I judged it a goodly sized buck. Fil-st he led 
off to my left on the steep mountain side in an old 
deadening. After zigzagging around feeding. I found a 
bed and saw it was a night bed. He then led off to the 
right and kept a s.raight course for a mile or more, then 
he began feeding, and I knew he was close. While 
maneuvering around. I found that he was up and a-go:ng, 
first up one way, then slanting back the other, always 
keep ng above on the steep slope back and forth. Well. I 
saw his scheme, and I believe he saw me more than 
once, but I left his trail and went straight up. hand over 
hand, for several hundred yards. Of course I was look- 
ing, and I saw him — or her. as it proved to be an immense 
doe. She was looking down her slan ing trail from her 
lofty perch to see that man with the rifle come along 
Well, I looked at her and tried to get a sight on her but 
I was so worked out with my climb that I had a fair buck- 
ague. I could not hold a bead on a whole mountain 
peak, so I sat still a minute and rested. She kept a sharp 
eye down the track, then moved a few steps and <:topned 
with her body behind a tree, peeping around, which left 
me the rear end only in view, but I was pretty close- 
probably 100 yards or a little less— so I crawled up along 
a log and gave her one high up on the hip point It 
ranged a lit le crosswise, passing through the back bone 
A jitmp and a few slides and tumbles and she was mine— 
the largest deer I have ever shot. 
Now my work had only begun. All at once it 
began snowng. as it only can on mountain peaks. Then 
while trying to bleed my game, there came a little cyclone 
or something e se. I dodged behind a tree, and the air 
was literally full of snow and dead treetops. One too 
came down kerthump almost at my feet. As soon as the 
hrst squall was^ past I grabbed my deer by the ear and 
started down the steep slope, for a fairer clime below 
over and under fallen trees, rocks and brush. Once I 
