July 18, 1903.! 
FOREST AND STREAM. 
45 
the hard wood ridges. As usual, however, unless trapping 
for fur, one does not secure them. 
Beaver. — The beaver is now protected during all sea- 
sons in Maine. I heard of a few colonies, on rather poor 
authority, but the animal no doubt exists in secluded 
localities. 
Mice. — House mouse, common in dwellings. Canadiaii 
white-footed mouse. Cooper lemming mouse. Pteble 
lemming mouse. Meadow mouse. Redbacked mouse. 
Meadow jumping mouse. Woodland jumping mouse. 
MusKRAT. — Exceedingly abundant. While canoeing one 
day I paddled up within a few feet of one asleep at the 
water's edge. While we were watching him he half 
opened his eyes, apparently looking directly at me, and 
leaning down lapped the water at his feet, then closed his 
eyes ai:d relapsed into slumber. If his eyes had seen, 
his cerebrum had not interpreted, and he did not recog- 
nize his dangerous position. A slight noise sent him 
In the bottom like a flash. 
Canada Porcupine. — Very common from the river to 
ihe summit of Katahdin. Their dens in the fir scrub and 
a uck heaps were filled with caribou bones that were deeply 
chiseled by their incisors. 
Southern Varying Hare. — The varying hare occurs 
on the tableland, where I trapped one in an old caribou 
trail in July. 
Canada Lynx.— Rather a common animal, if the ac- 
counts of guides are correct. 
Red Fox. — Quite common throughout the lower parts 
of the region, where they are often seen on roads. 
Otter. — Quite common along the lower streams and 
ponds where fish abound. 
Wolverine. — The trappers all denied having seen or 
heard of the wolverine in the region, though they were 
acquainted with the animal by repute. 
Fisher. — From the accounts of our cooks the fisher is 
one of the commonest and most valuable of their fur- 
bearing catch. 
The Deer^s Scent. 
NiLWOOD, 111. — Editor Forest and Stream: In June 
6 issue I note Mr. Carney's experience with antelope 
and his impression as to their power of scent. I have 
never hunted antelope, but have put in a few days 
each fall since 1890 hunting deer and moose, and have 
.often wondered if the power of scent in these two kinds 
-of wild animals was so well developed and so much 
■depended on as was supposed. 
Several times have 1 killed deer and moose while 
•going with the wind, and each time the conviction 
that they do not always scent a man, and understand 
that danger follows the scent, was more deeply im- 
pressed on my mind. 
My brother hunted with me on several occasions, and 
he noticed the same thing, and one day, when we 
were ready to start and finding the wind in the wrong- 
direction for us to hunt the place we had intended, he 
remarked, "It does not make any difference, they don't 
scent a fellow so easy as some people think." 
We got one deer that morning, a large buck stand- 
ing and directly in the path our scent should have 
taken if the wind blew straight. The fact that he was 
standing still and not over 100 yards away, shows that 
he either did not scent us or did not know what the 
scent stood for. The same thing happened last fall. 
In company with a friend I was hunting with the wind 
and got a yearling doe. 
My friend remarked that morning, just before we 
started, that he thought it did not make any difference 
which way we went, with or against the wind, and the 
result proves he was correct on that occasion. One 
morning, in the summer of '94, two moose bulls carne 
within two rods of my shanty. I Avas on the porch in 
front, and with me was a young spaniel pup, both of 
us in plain sight, and from the first appearance of the 
moose the pup kept up a constant barking, which did 
not in the least worry the moose. They spent at least 
15 minutes nosing round in the open, then walked 
:away. My camera was just inside the door, and if it 
ihad been just outside I would have been able to have 
reached it and thus been able to give you a picture 
of those fine fellows to prove my statement. 
J. P. B. 
Illinois Game and Songf Bifds. 
A correspondent Icnown as "Farmer $," writes about 
matters and things in his part of the world, which, is at 
Dixon, just west of Chicago, in what was originally one 
(,f I lie best upland shooting countries of this State. 
"I have four Hutchins, three snow, and two laughing 
or speckled belly geese. What I want to know is, will 
they breed in captivity? Will some one rise up and give 
his experience? 
"My geese have a blue grass pasture of one and a half 
.Lcres, They tame easier and sooner than ducks. I have 
tamed a number of species of ducks, but a pair of pintails 
were .so wild 1 finally mounted them and put them in my 
case of ducks. 
'"One mallard hen that my wife winged we kept seven 
years until it got killed by the cattle. 
'T saw an account of a great northern shrike in some 
Eastern city making the sparrows go into hiding until 
some misguided person shot it. That was the wrong 
thing to do. The shrike kills a great many sparrows. It 
is quite destructive to small birds, but nature seems to 
keep a pretty good balance when let alone. To import 
English sparrows is 'dead agin nater.' 
"One of the most valuable birds to the farmer is now 
'oxlinct in this part of the country; one or two pairs put 
in their appearance each season, build a nest that is 
^)romptly taken by the sparrow. Where a few years ago 
lOver a herd of cattle you saw hundreds of the common 
Ibarn swallow, now you see none. Flies have increased 
jiccordingly, and it means the loss of flesh to cattle that 
have lo fight flies all day and feed at night. Few farmers 
realize what this big loss means. The sparrow can be 
poisoned or shot in winter, but for every one man that 
would get rid of the pest there are fifty who will do noth- 
"The bluebirds are in very small numbers, but I do not 
know whether the sparrow is to blame for that or not. 
They surely have possession of the bluebird and martin 
boxes before they come in the spring; but I have seen 
more bluebirds this spring than I did last year. 
"The heavy rains of late will be bad for the first hatch 
of chickens, and I do not see how the early nests can 
escape the crows before the grass grows up to hide the 
nests. There are fifty crows to one that was here twenty- 
five years ago. 
"The striped gopher went missing, or most of him did. 
Sonie think they were drowned out last season. I'm 
affaid my staying home from meeting laBt season accounts 
for four hundred of them." E. Hough. 
Squiwels for City Parks. 
Buffai-O, N. Y. — Editor Forest and Stream: W. P. 
Davidson inquires as to the best variety of squirrels to 
use in stocking city parks* 1 lived in Madison, Wisconsin, 
several years ago and the capitol grounds there have been 
stocked with gray squirrels. The ground keepers scatter 
nuts around the grounds regularly, besides visitors take 
pleasure in feeding them, and many squirrels will take 
nuts from strangers' hands, and seem to be perfectly 
tame and fearless. The squirrels show no disposition to 
leave, but as they have increased from year to year they 
are now plentiful throughout the city. No one harms 
them and dogs are not allowed to bark at or chase them. 
Small houses have been placed in various trees in the 
capitol grounds for their homes. I think that if the squir- 
rels were tamed before liberated, and provided with food 
and small houses built for them it would be an easy mat- 
ter to stock a park, and in time, with the exception of 
winter, would require but little feeding. The visitors 
and neighbors will do that. Dixmont. 
Proprietors of shooting resorts will find it profitable to advertise 
them in Foxkst axd Stxsak. 
His First Deer* 
It was an afternoon late in July. The little pond 
nestling in the heart of the Adirondack hills glistened 
under the rays of the mid-summer sun like a gem ''of 
purest ray serene," a sparkling jewel of wondrous beauty. 
From its -mibroken shores the forest rose, spreading from 
hill to hill in billows of living green, until it seemed to 
reach to heaven itself. This was indeed the "forest 
primeval," for as yet the lumberman in his search for 
riches had not found his way to it, and the "murmuring 
pines and the hemlocks" were as yet untouched and un- 
scarred by his devastating ax. The surface of the pond 
was as smooth as a mirror except as some trout rose after 
an elusive miller, more in sport than from hunger, for 
the afternoon breeze was so faint it did not cause even 
the faintest ripple to disturb its glassy depths. There was 
not a sound beyond beyond the song of a robin in a 
nearby tree, or the lazy croak of a frog in his marshy 
home, to break the peaceful stillness of this secluded spot. 
The very air seemed full of that peace such as one finds 
only when close to the heart of nature. Away beyond 
yonder mountain tops there was a world of strife and 
discord, of evil and sin, but here in the midst of the 
mighty forest, under the shadow of the eternal hills, 
there was something akin to that "peace which passeth 
understanding, which fadeth not away." • 
There was no sign about this quiet spot of the presence 
of man, for the little pond lay off the beaten trails fre- 
quented by the sportsmen, and was seldom visited by 
those in search of health or game. None but the denizens 
of the wood, nature's humbler children, lived here, and 
seldom had the crack of rifle or click of reel caused them 
to know fear or pain, or disturb the peace and quiet of 
their haunts. 
On this particular afternoon the place seemed unusually 
quiet and still, and there was no suspicion of the 
presence of aught to disturb the peaceful scene, when sud- 
denly there appeared on the shore of the pond two per- 
sons, a man and a boy. 
The man was tall and straight as an arrow. His 
swarthy skin, his piercing eye, his manner, his every 
movement betokened one in whose veins ran the blood 
of the stealthy, crafty Indian. A long line of savage 
ancestry, chiefs of the St. Francis tribe, had left -its mark 
upon him, giving him a grace and dignity of expression, 
while the blood of the white woman who had borne him, 
coming as it did from the strong race of the Dutch, had 
given him nobility of character and of mind. He was a 
fit subject for a painter's skill as he stood there, his keen 
eyes alert to catch every movement about the pond. 
The boy was but a little lad. His fair skin and light hair 
showed plainly he was of different origin from the man 
beside him. The seal and stamp of the city had been 
set upon him, just as the Huguenot blood that ran in his 
veins marked him from the man of savage lineage. He 
was but twelve years old, but by his manner showed he 
had at that early age learned something of woodcraft, 
for he imconsciously imitated the cautious, stealthy man- 
ner of the older hunter. Hugged close to his breast he 
held a rifle, while in his belt he had a hunting knife, sus- 
piciously new. 
The tw© stood for some moments carefully scanning 
the shores of the pond in search of any deer that might 
be feeding upon the lilies growing upon the marshes. 
Having satisfied himself there was no game in sight, the 
man drew from the bushes where he had concealed it a 
light cedar skiff, and pushing it into the water bade the 
boy get in it. With carcf-1 tread the latter crept to the 
bow of the boat and sat down with his rifle across his 
knees. In a moment the boat was afloat and the man, 
with a few strokes sent it flying out into the middle of 
the pond. 
For some time the boat wias_ allowed to drift while the 
two hunters listened for the slightest sound which should 
warn them of the approach of the game they were seek- 
ing. 
As they listened, the boy thought of the camp across 
the long trail, and of the mother who had kissed him 
good-by and told him to "bring home a big buck." The 
others m the camp had rather laughed at the little hun- 
ter as he set out, as if it were a joke for such a "kid" 
to expect to kill his first deer, for some of the older ones 
knew what it meant to have "buck fever" and to get 
rattled at the sight of one. He had felt very proud to be 
sent off all alone with "Isaac," his father's guide, to get 
mc^t for camp, and he meant to show them that he was 
enlitlfed to a place among the hunters of the camp. And 
now as he sat there listening with eagerness for the 
sound of a deer's step, though his heart seemed to beat 
so hard he was afraid "Isaac" would hear it, he felt very 
brave and cool, and felt certain he was going to shoot 
straight and true if he had the chance. 
Suddenly the stillness was broken by the sound of a 
stick being broken on the side of a hill just across the 
pond from the boat. The man shook the boat and the 
boy nodded his head to show he understood what it 
meant. Similar sounds showed the approach of a deer, 
for such it was, until finally there stepped out from the 
bushes upon the marsh a fine buck. For a moment, "like 
crested leader, proud and high" he "tossed his beamed 
frontlet to the sky" and gazed out across the water at 
the strange object floating there, then stepping out bent 
his head and began to drink. As soon as his head went 
down the man swung the boat toward the shore, and be- 
gan to paddle with noiseless skill, bringing it Avith everv 
stroke nearer to the unsuspecting deer. The latter raised 
his head and again looked long and hard at this un- 
familiar sight, but as he did so, the man stopped every 
niovement, his raised arm seemingly turned into stone. 
The boy sat motionless, his eyes fixed upon the game in 
front of him, his fingers tightly gripping the rifle i!ipon his 
knee. 
Again the deer dropped his head and began to eat the 
yellow lily buds, seemingly satisfied there was no reason 
to fear the strange object on the water. As he did so the 
man stopped the boat, which by this time was quite near 
the shore, at the same time shaking it to warn the boy 
to get ready to shoot. In response came the click of the 
hammer as the trembling fingers of the boy drew it back. 
At the sound the deer threw his head up and began to 
walk toward the bank, his suspicions apparently aroused 
by the faint noise from the boat. 
"Shoot," the man whispered. 
Slowly and carefully the boy drew the rifle to his 
shoulder, and after taking steady aim fired. As the sharp 
crack of the gun broke the stillness the buck sprang into 
the air and went plunging into the brush. For a few 
moments there was the sound of breaking twigs, and then 
all was still again. 
"You've got him," the man said, for his quick eye had 
noticed the dropping of the deer's tail, a sure sign he was 
hit. He pushed the boat in to the shore and the boy, all 
eagerness, sprang out and ran into the woods. The man 
following hin;i found him standing beside the dead buck, 
a grand one with five prongs on each horn. Patting the 
youngster on the shoulder, he complimented him on hi.s 
good work. The boy's eyes glistened at the words' of 
praise from one who was known to be one of the best 
hunters among the guides of that region, and he was 
filled with exultant pride as he gazed at the noble prize 
that had fallen before his sure aim. Now, indeed, he 
>eould prove to those who had laughed at him in the camp 
that he was entitled to a place among the hunters, for 
he had shown his ability at the very first time he was 
tested. - 
Soon the man had dressed the deer, and it was ready 
to he carried to the camp. Pushed by the strong arm of 
tihe man, the little boat was soon flying across the pond, 
and in a few moments the hunters were at the end of the 
carry leading to the distant camp. Hiding the boat 
agam in the brush, the man picked up the deer, and, fol- 
lowed by the boy, was soon lost to sight in the shadows 
of the forest. 
A-s they are lost to view, peace seems to settle once 
mone upon the little pond, and there is naught to mar the 
calm stillness which they had so rudely broken. The 
setting sun sheds a soft glow upon the surrounding hills 
and glistening water, while the pines sing their evening 
hymn in response to a gentle breeze that faintly stirs 
their stately tops. The robin sleeps in his leafy home 
in yonder tree, and the lazy frog sits silent on the marsh, 
while the trout has sought the seclusion of some deep 
pool. A timid doe and her fawn feed quietly upon the 
shore, undisturbed and unalarmed. There is iio trace of 
the tragedy of an hour ago as the shadows of the even- 
ing fall, and softly now the light of day fades away into 
the ealm and peace of the quiet night. 
Many years have come and gone since that July day. 
The boy has grown to man's estate and many deer have 
fallen before his aiin. He has learned to love the 
woods, as one must do who has spent any davs in the 
"Adirondack Wilderness." To the man whose nerves are 
jaded by the rush and whirl of city life, who is wearied 
from the strife and struggle of business, sick at heart or 
ill ni body, there is nothing so refreshing, so restful, so 
heahhful for mind and body as a sojourn in camp, or 
cabin in the forest. Close to the great heart of nature, 
away from the sordid things of the great Avorld of strife 
for gain an,d pleasure, in the fresh sweet air, the simple 
life of the woods, there is healing for all "those ills 
which flesh is heir to." On the sparkling waters of the 
little pond, under the shadow of the eternal hills, or by 
the crackling fire in that good fellowship such as one 
finds only in camp, in sunny day or starry night, the ach- 
ing heart, the wearied nerve, the tired body will each 
find rest and peace. 
What pleasures can we find to compare with the sim- 
ple pleasures of the woods? Who would not exchange <X 
dozen nights amid the electric lights of Broadway for one 
star-lit night in camp, or the gayest party of "the season" 
for a quiet 4iour by the camp-fire with one or two con- 
genial souls? Can any of Mr. Grau's singers make music 
half so sweet as the click of a reel or. the crack of a gun, 
or did any orchestra ever play symphonies to compare 
with those played by the wind upon the pineS;,? 
Surely the man who has once tasted the joys of a life 
in the woods- can never forget them, and never cea^e 
to enjoy them. 
So to the man who was a boy that July day there will 
ever come knocking at memory's door the thou,o-ht of 
that great day when he stood in boyish pride beside his 
first deer. Morris Jesup Duryea. 
