Dec. 20, 1902.] 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
485 
take in turning them frequently, that all parts may par- 
take of the vital warmth ?" He then goes on to speak of 
the manner in which the hen suits her necessary ab- 
sences from the nest to the varying temperature of the 
air; with what strange intelUgence she loiows the exact 
moment when the chick in the egg is hatched ; with what 
nicety and attention she helps the little creature to break 
its way out of its prison, and with what care she defends 
it and provides for it in its helplessness. "But," he con- 
tinues, "at the same time the hen, that has all this seem- 
ing ingenuity, which is indeed absolutely necessary for 
the propagation of the species, considered in other re- 
spects, is without the least glimmering of thought or com- 
mon sense. She mistakes a piece of chalk for an egg, 
and sits upon it in the same manner. She is insensible 
of any increase or diminution in the number of those 
she lays; she does not distinguish between her own and 
those of another species; and when the birth appears of 
never so different a bird, will cherish it for her own. In 
all these circumstances, which do not carry an immediate 
regard to the subsistence of herself or her species, she is 
a very idiot." 
I have already expressed my own view of the very 
limited intelligence of the hen, but still I claim that 
honest biddy is capable of acquiring some knowledge^ 
especially if it is in the way of being troublesome. For 
instance, my side porch faces the south. A window 
opens out on the porch. On a sunny day in the winter 
the chickens persist in getting on that porch to bask in 
the sunshine. I may stand at the closed window and 
wave my hand or my handkerchief and "shop" for all 1 
am worth, and the utmost regard I can win from them is 
possibly a turned up eye, but not the movement of a 
foot, though I am in plain sight and within two or three 
feet of them; but the moment I open the door ten feet 
away they all take to "instant flight." Now they have 
learned, and from very brief experience, too, that there 
is something in the window between them and me that 
makes it impossible for me to harm them. This is no 
instinct; this is acquired knowledge. A wild bird will fly 
away at my approach to the window as quicldy as when 
I appear at the door. 
Addison ends his beautiful essay with these observa- 
tions : "There is not, in my opinion, anything more mys- 
terious in nature, than this instinct in animals, which 
thus arises above Reason, and falls infinitely short of it. 
It can not be acounted for by any properties in matter, 
and at the same time works after so odd a manner, that 
one cannot think it the faculty of an intellectual being. 
For my own part, I look upon it as upon the principle of 
gravitation in bodies, which is not to be explained by 
any known qualities inherent in the bodies themselves, 
nor from any laws of mechanism,' but, according to the 
best notions of the greatest philosophers, is an immediate 
impression from the first mover, and the Divine Energy 
acting in the creatures." T. J; Chapman. 
Nature and the Camera.* 
In a work of art there may be two motives, either 
to copy nature exactly — to make a record of facts — or to 
use nature as a means of expressing our own feelings. 
In his book entitled "Nature and the Camera," Mr. 
Dugmore has combined both these motives. He has 
been a leader in photographing living birds, mammals 
and fish, and the object of his present work is to tell 
how tliis has been done, so that others may do the 
same, and to interest boys and girls to look for the 
happi^ things in nature by which we are surrounded, 
but which we have not the eyes to see. 
The camera has many tribulations, but Mr. Dug- 
more has happily overcome most of these difficulties. 
The first subject considered in the book is the photo- 
graphic outfit. "To influence a man in the choice of 
a camera would be almost, if not quite, as absurd as 
trying to tell a man which gun to use." "A camera 
that may be best to-day might in a week's time be 
superceded by something so much better that the older 
one would be thrown aside for the newer invention." 
The matter of lenses — a consideration of the highest 
importance to the nature photographer — is discussed 
at length. 
The photographing of birds' nests Is taken up after 
the photographic outfit. "This calls for artistic sense, as 
so much depends on the composition of the subject and 
the lighting." "A nest properly lighted makes a beau- 
tiful picture, but the same nest taken without regard 
to the lighting is absolutely uninteresting," from the 
point of art. 
A ground nest of simple forni is the woodcock's, but 
the nests of crows and hawks are much more difficult. 
The kingfisher's nest cannot be photographed, as it is 
placed in a bank, and in order to get the picture part 
of the bank would have to be torn away. 
Birds will desert their nests if the nest has been 
handled, so it is absolutely necessary not to disar- 
range the nest or its surroundings. 
Do not let this work be an excuse for destroying 
bird life. Let it take the place of egg collecting, and 
both the birds and ourselves will reap the benefit." 
The illustration of a wood thrush on its nest is 
very pleasing, while that of . the cedar bird has the 
effect of being rather made up. In photographing 
birds on their nests, we learn of the existence among 
them of a marked individuality in temperament. Some 
are shy, while others are very bold. To be success- 
ful at this work, it is necessary first of all to let the 
birds know that you are a friend. 
What could be more charming than the picture of 
the nest of the little marsh wren with the long, sweep- 
ing lines made by the cat-tails, wliich so suggest to us 
the marsh. The light coming from overhead shines 
on the nest, accentuating the dark hole by which the 
little brown bird enters its home. Such a picture 
brings to mind a thousand memories. And if in a 
picture we are stirred by an emotion kindred to that 
felt by the author in the presence of his subject, has he 
not succeeded in making a work of art? When Mr. 
* Nature and the Camera— How to Photograph Live Birds and 
their Nests; Animals Wild and Tame; Reptiles; Insects; Fish and 
Other Aquatic Forms; Flowers, Trees and Fungi. By A. Rad- 
clyffe Dugmore, author of Bird Homes. New York: Doubleday, 
Page & Co. 
Dugmore turns to photographing birds alone, whether 
as individuals or in families, his pictures, while not 
less admirable as representations of fact, are far less 
pleasing from the artistic point of view. This is, of 
course, inevitable. Birds will not pose for the artist; 
he must take them as he can, not as he would, and the 
opportunity for securing a happy pose or combination 
LOCKED ELK ANTLERS. 
of surroundings and light and shade occur very sel- 
dom. 
In the same way, though for different reasons, the 
pictures of animals, reptiles and fishes, though true, 
are less interesting. Yet those of the antelope (p.8o) 
and of the moth unfolding its wings (p. 90) arc very at- 
tractive. With certain of his pictures of fish also, Mr. 
LOCKED ELK ANTLERS. 
Dugmore has succeeded very happily. That of the 
rnoon fish, from its position in the aquarium at the 
time of taking, makes an interesting composition in 
form and line. 
Mr. Dugmore proceeds step by step and tells in 
such a clear and simple manner what one should do in 
that particular branch of nature study that one cannot 
fail to comprehend his meaning. His book is airy in 
structure and will, no doubt, be an incentive to many 
who desire to know more about nature by means of 
observation and photography. E. C. G. 
A Pait] of Woodcock, 
Did you ever while out shooting come across a bird or 
animal that appeared to have a charmed life? Did you 
ever w'aste shell after shell, or bullet after bullet, in vain 
endeavor to bag the coveted creature, only to fail igno- 
miniously? Let me give you an experience of my own, in 
which a pair of woodcock figured as the coveted game. 
One Sunday while out walking with a companion, we 
passed across a piece of marshy ground, near which was a 
fine spring. While we were carefully picking our way 
across, two woodcock suddenly arose from beside an old 
decayed log and flew swiftly in the direction of some 
wooded knobs on the opposite side of the marsh. I told 
my companion that I would come back on the morrow 
and attend to their order, and as I had never killed a 
Avoodcock, I was greatly pleased with the prospect. 
The next day I took my gun and crept carefully 
through the bushes to the marsh. I beat about among the 
bushes for some time, but failed to raise the bird, and was 
about to retrace my steps when I heard a faint whir of 
wings to my left and looked up just in time to see the 
woodcock disappear among the thick bushes. I was dis- 
appointed, but resolved that they should not fool me the 
next time. 
Again and again I visited the marsh, but always with 
the same results. The birds either got up out of range 
or diA^ed into the thick bushes where it was impossible 
to get a fair .shot. I generally sent a charge after them, 
however, hoping to bring one down with a stray pellet, 
but it was a mere waste of lead. 
I was about ready to give up, but decided to try once 
more, so in company with my brother I set out for the 
marsh again. On reaching the place the w^oodcock, as 
usual, got up out of range, and although we both fired at 
them, they gained the knobs in safety and settled down in 
the bushes. We then proceeded up the side of the knob, 
and by good fortune flushed tlie birds again. As they 
rose we each chose our bird and fired. At the report of 
ray gun the woodcock gracefully folded his wings and fell 
with all the dignity that he could command. No more 
would the echo of his wings be heard in the lonely 
marsh ; the day of his happy reign was over. My brother 
crippled his bird slightly but it got away. The next day 
while hunting over the same knob he started it again 
and sent it to the happy hunting ground to join its con- 
sort. Clarence Vandiveer. 
MiAMtSBURG, O, 
Locked Elk , Hotns. 
Baltimore, Nov. 24.— Editor Forest and Stream: Mr. 
J. J. Carter, familiarly known as "Pap Carter," who is 
one of the few remaining pony express riders, and who 
lives at Cheney, Wyoming, in the lower end of Jackson 
Hole, in getting his winter's meat this fall, ran across a 
black bear that was feeding on a bull elk, which had ifo 
horns locked with those of another that was still alive, 
although very near death from starvation. He killed the 
bear and found that in order to get the elk heads apart, 
so that he could pack them on his burro, he had to saw 
down through the skulls. 
I inclose you a photograph showing the way iti which 
they were locked. You will notice that both heads are 
freaks; one having eighteen points and the other fifteen. 
An interesting feature was that the largest elk, the one 
with eighteen points, had his neck broken, while the 
smaller was still alive. Tahena. 
Strangle Tale from Michigza^ 
During the past few years we have frequently heard 
stories of black-tailed deer being killed in Michigan. It 
is said that the tip and underside of tail is jet black and 
that the animal is slightly less in size than white-tail 
deer. This description does not correspond with the 
mule deer, and in any event is too vague to be of use. 
If any of dur correspondents should kill or Icnow of 
such a deer, it is to be hoped that he will send a skin and 
a skull to Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Department of Agricul- 
ture, Washington, who will be able to tell us what it is. 
Hints and Wrinkles. 
Readers are Invited to send for publication under ihis 
head hints and wrinkles drawn from practical expeiience, 
and pertaining to shooticg, fishing, camping and outdoor lile. 
Collecting a Cooking Outfit) 
The novice at camping out experiences not a few 
annoyances in the matter of selecting proper cooking 
utensils for his needs, and if he has no advice from 
seasoned campers-out, who have gone through the 
mill often, the result must be a waste of time and 
money ere he gains an insight into just what he does 
not need, rather than the other thing. This is espe- 
cially true of begiimers at canoeing. They generally 
purchase too many articles, and too bulky ones. This 
they learn for themselves in time, and the result is 
that a new outfit becomes a necessity, and in the pur- 
chase of this they exercise more judgment. Still, this 
one must, of course, be gone over as more experience 
is gained, so that in a couple of seasons all the articles 
are new, arid the original ones represent some money 
wasted. 
I do not refer to cooking outfits for several peo- 
ple, but to those suitable for the use of two men — 
for it is conceded that the lone camper will invite a 
friend to go along with him occasionally, and an out- 
fit for two will comprise only a few little extra articles 
like spoons, cups, forks and knives. Old-time canoe- 
ists who camp throughout the warm season, have 
learned from hard experience that it is not wise for 
several men to club together in the matter of provis- 
ions and cooking outfits, even while several persons 
are cruising together. Several persons may thus agree 
to meet at a certain place and start for a cruise of a; 
given number of days. One man is expected to carry 
half the provisions, another the cooking outfit, a third^ 
and fourth the tents, a fifth the blankets, and so on. 
Business detains one, sickness another, the third is 
delayed. The result is that some have gone ahead, ex- 
pecting all_ hands to meet at the first camp. They wait 
and wait in vain, then take an inventory of the ar- 
ticles that have been brought along, as agreed. The 
situation is laughable, but serious and exasperating at 
the time. There may be several pounds of coffee, but 
no coffee pot; three tents without poles and pegs; 
several pounds of butter, but no bread; etc. Experi- 
ences like this have taught the lesson that each man 
must take with him his own complete outfit through- 
out. He may cook and eat his meals alone, if he pre- 
fers, or several persons may club together in a gen- 
eral mess. This latter is often done, but as a general 
thing, the different members of a party pitch their 
tents close together, but each one attends to his own 
needs. There is no selfishness in this. Rather habit, 
and a good one. What applies to canoeing will also 
apply to hunters, fishermen and others who prefer to 
be independent while in the Avoods, and who may 
transport their outfits on ponies, burros, or by boat 
or train. 
As it is true that in time the woodsloafer learns to 
buy the best articles he can_ afford, it is well to bear 
this in mind; provided one is sure. If not, then the 
cheaper the article the better at first, as weeding out 
will be less costly. _ One may purchase complete cook- 
ing outfits of aluminum, and these are superb in many 
respects, but they are costly as compared with granite 
and agate iron ware. The latter are so generally used 
they will be given the preference here in some re- 
spects. Go to the largest hardware or department 
store near at hand, and ask to be allowed to make 
your own selections, in your own time, and do this 
carefully from a list previously . prepared. Don't let 
the sales people advise you. 
First select three granite ironware plates. This ware 
