FOREST AND STREAM 
44 
charges Id military and sporting rifles, nor to 95 grain charges of Curtla 
A Harvey 'a powder In Sharps sporting rifles with wada, and a 400 grain 
Mullet, well home In the shell. I have never called American . rifles 
“despicable abortions," for the almplo reasouthat I have never thought 
them ao, nor have I called your riflemen mere trigger pullers; but I do 
believe that the best results will be got from a team when Its members 
yield to the judgment of their coacher In the matter of wind and do 
not argue the matter out over each shot at the tiring point. It stands to 
reason that the coaoh, who watches every shot, and whose attention s 
not taken off by the wants of bis rifle, must be a better judge of 1 tt o 
variations than the shooter who, between his ehots, has his whole 
time, or nearly the whole of it, taken up with cleaning and preparing 
$<tg and 
GAME IN SEASON IN FEBRUARY. 
Hares, brown and gray. Wild duck, geeso, brant, etc. 
FOR FLORIDA. 
Deer, Wild Turkey, Woodcock, Quail, Snipe. Ducks and Wild Fowl. 
1110 |j ill*. 
Ithlnktho Spirit o/ths Times match was a conclusive proof of the 
assistance your team received from their coacher in the Centennial 
match. All honor to them for their ability, and to your team for their 
good sense and skill in taking advantage of It. I have said, and again 
say, that with your team and your coaohers, In my opinion, you would 
havo beaten us had the match been shot In England. I am, yours 
faithfully, H. ST. J. Halford. 
p. S.—l see a very able letter from “T. S. Vau Dyke” on sporting 
bullets. I think he will flml the bullets made by Sharps Rifle Company 
for me In 1876 all tnat hq can desire. The pattern has been In oae on 
deer In this country for more than a dozen years. Metford's shell com- 
poaltlon is safer and far stronger than a .89 cartridge. 
EXPLOSIVE AND EXPANSIVE 
BULLETS. 
Dublin, Jan. 39, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
Under this heading, “T. S. Van Dyke” has a very practical letter In 
yours of January 17. He has found out by actual experiment much In 
connection with sporting rifles which Is already known, but his experi- 
ence is valuable as a conllrmatlon of the truth of those arguments 
which I have urged In support of Express rifles durlDg the last dozen 
years. The merits of the Express rlflo are no longer a matter for dis- 
cussion among British sportsmen. They are admitted unanimously, 
and the only question remaining Is .as to the size of calibre most suit ed 
to each description of game. The following are the proportion of the 
rifles which we supply to Indian sportsmen : 
“ For bison aDd large, dangerous animals, such as tiger, bear, etc., 
calibre, .677; powder, 6 drachms; ballet, 480 grains. 
For mixed shooting In the JUDgles, tiger, deer, etc., calibre, .600t 
powder, 5 dracbms; ballet, 400 grains. 
For hill shooting, Ibex, markoor, etc., also for antelope on the plains, 
and deer, calibre, .460; powder, 4 drachms; bullet, 300 grains. 
For antelope, and all the smaller deer, calibre, .400; powder, 3 
drachma; bullet, 200 grains. 
For the same, a lighter rifle, calibre, .360; powder, 2 drachms; ballet. 
“Bay birds" generally. Including various species of P l0 ver, sand 
piper, snipe, curlew, oyster-catcher, surf birds, plialaropea, avoeect- 
etc., coming under the group Limieolce, or Shore Birds, 
150 grains. 
In all these live sizes the bullets are hollowed In front, the hollow 
varying In depth according to the amount of penetration desired. The 
shells used are of brass drawn solid, and can be reloaded many times. 
No explosive powder Is required to expand these bullets. The resist- 
ance suddenly developed by ibelr high velocity Is so great that the effec 
of an explosion la evident when they strike, and thie Is especially remark 
able in soft bodied animals. About ten days since I was huntlDg fallow 
deer In a large park In ihc north of irelsnd. The herd was eby, and 1 
had great difficulty In getting a shot, bat having at last crept to 
within 200 yards, I drew a bead and missed. Suspecting that the rifle 
1 carried— a double .450 Express— was undersighted, I resolved, as the 
deer bad vanished at the report, to test the sighting on the flrst object 
I could Dad suitable. This appeared In the »hape of a hare sitting up 
about 100 yards ahead, and presenting her side as an easy mark. I took 
a full sight and fired. The report of the rifle was followed by a minor 
explosion, like the bursting of an Inflated bladder. The hare lay on one 
side, which was uninjured ; the other side, that next to me, had been 
blown clean oat, showing an opening about nine lncUeB long and three 
wide, and the whole viscera were on the grass beside her. This bullet, 
which did not penetrate a hare, was 359 grains weight, one Inch long, 
and made of lead hardened with tin, and ewedged. The propelling 
power was 4 drachms of Cnrtls A Harvey's No. C. 
I onoe fired a similar bullet Into the head of a wounded hind In the 
gootch Highlands. The whole of the top of the head over the eyes ex- 
ploded, and disappeared, and then fell all around in small fragments. A 
similar effect may be produced by firing Into a bag of wet sawdust— a 
small bag not bigger than a man’s head wll 1 expand one of theBe bullets, 
which will fly Into small fragments. The bag may burst, but flakes of 
lead will be found in the sawdust. These effects will not be produced 
by moderate charges of powder— about one grain of strong powder to 
three grains of lead la the least proportion which develops properly the 
Express principle. 
Your correspondent falls Into a not uncommon error when he says 
that It Is necessary to stop up the cavity In front with something to 
iBsare accuracy. I do not And that It makes any difference In the 
shooting when the cavity is left open. 
For all American game, except bear, and perhaps buffalo, I would pre- 
fer the .400 Express to any other. It takes the American shell 40-70ths, 
and U very light and handy, about seven pounds being ample weight 
for a dtubU. It will drop any deer In his tracks, If shot anywhere for- 
ward, and not too high. 
For a grizzly, however, it has not sufficient lead. If 1 ever meet a 
large specimen of that aulnul where there are.no Iron bars between us, 
I will not feel comfortable without a double .600 bore, and five drachms 
la my cartridges. Nothing Is so calculated to inspire conlldence under 
suoh circumstances as a barrel In reserve. Yours falthfally, 
John Rigby. 
EFFECTS OF FIRING WITH HEATED 
GUN BARRELS. 
Fort Stephens, Oregon, January 25, 1878. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
One correspondent asks “ Why his gnn shoots better after the barrel 
Is heated V' and another (Lars), “ Why a ball from an over-heated rifle 
barrel rises or shoots over 7” If you will refer to Benton’s •' Ord- 
nance and Gunnery,” you will find that the temperature of the gaseous 
products of Inflamed gunpowder Is estimated at about 4,900 Fabr. It 
will be seen, also, that Count Rumford, In his experiments to deter- 
mine the absolute force of gunpowder, fired twenty-five grains In an 
eprjuvette by heatlDg the stem of It with a red-hot caanon ball ; that 
experiments were continued by which this absolute force was found 
to be 29,178 atmospheres, aud that “this pressore Is much greater than 
that developed In the explosion of projectiles and mines, owing to the 
low temperature of the surrounding surfaces, and the -large amount of 
heat which they absorb. It Is the same with cannon, for the most 
rapid firing does not iaise_thc temperature of the bore above 210 degs. 
Fabr., which 1 b much below that of the eprouvette." The theory Is that 
much of the explosive energy or tbs charge, resulting from the high 
temperature of the inflamed products, is absorbed by the cold metal ; 
but aa the barrels grow warmer the force of the charge Increases, and 
herefore the energy which was lost In heating the gun Is saved after 
becomes heated, and acts on the projectile. 
Y*ry traly, P. L. 
Master Eugene Bogardus, whose picture we give, is thirteen 
years of age. About two years ago he first commenced shoot 
ing, picking up the art in a rudimentary way. His gun which 
he used then is the same breech-loader that he shoots with 
now, and is a 10-bore, weighing 8 pounds. Master Bogardus’ 
first practice was on black birds and meadow larks, always 
shooting them on the wing. About a year ago, having 
passed, as it were, through the freshman and sophomore 
studies iu the field, he entered the junior class, that is, he 
solved the mysteries of prairie chickens. With such a men- 
tor as his father he was taken into the prairies. Captain Bo- 
gardus informs us that with a dog he often accompanied his 
son, the boy being instructed to shoot the first bird aDd leave 
the second for the father. “ But," said the Captain, “ I never 
had a chance at tbe first bird in case the boy missed it, and 
ju 9 t as often when there were two birds Eugene would take 
both of them. It used to tickle me to see meu in the party 
miss a bird and how Eugene always bagged that chicken as 
he kept sweeping past. The boy will shoot, maybe, as well 
as I can, after a while.” Master Eugene made his debut on 
the llth before the public, and has so far, out of 98 balls, a 
weeks' shooting, only missed 4 balls. Eugene is a modest, 
quiet, handsome lad, and takes his laurels with dignified com- 
posure. 
Canada. — Danville, Quebec, Feb. 14. — On the 8th ult. I 
shot two cariboo about fifteen miles from here. J. C. D. 
Mass. —Nantasket, Feb. 16.— The effect of the game law 
was very perceptible the past season, as quail aud part- 
ridge were more plentiful than ever before. Our whistler 
shooting has been fair, and as soon aa our ice goes out we 
shall have good sport for a few weeks. The birds remain with 
us all winter, also old squaws ; but during the period of ice 
they are outside, so we get no gunning. Rabbit shooting is 
very good now. S. K., Jn. 
Pennsylvania. — According to the Reading Times, snipe 
have appeared in Berks County, nearly two months before the 
usual spring arrival. 
Sharon, Feb. 7. — The season here has been a good one, and 
the boys have laid aside their guns well satisfied with the sue 
cess of the past and with hopes of equally fine sport next sea- 
son. Lem. 
Waynesburg, Feb. 13. — Fall shooting not so good as in other 
years. Pheasants scarce and wild. Prospects for next season 
partridge shooting is good, as there were many birds left over. 
Breech-loadiDg arms are just being introduced among our 
shooters. E. W. W. 
Vibginia — Lawrenceville, Feb. 11.— The season closed with 
a stock of game on hand unprecedented for twenty years, and 
a general recognition and obedience to the game law. W. L. 
Mississippi— Boonville, Feb. 11.— Partridges are very plenty 
this fall. Good many turkeys, deer and foxes. We are hav- 
ing fine sport. The most successful bird hunters are Judge 
Boone, T. K. Young, T. 8. Hamilton, W. G. Smith. I made 
a bag of ten partridges and one rabbit the other day. Bags 
range from twenty to 6eventy-five. R. B. B., Sb. 
Ohio— Lancaster, Feb. 11.— A bona fide old fashioned wild 
cat, weighing seventeen pounds, was killed in the neighbor- 
hood of Pratt’s Mill one day last week. A gray fox, the only 
specimen of the kind I ever heard of in this part of the coun- 
try, was run down, holed and caught, near Clearport, recently. 
Mr. John Hamilton, proprietor of the Sportsman's House, on 
the Big Reservoir, shot two wild geese on Saturday last from 
a flock flying over. He report* but lew ducks on these waters 
as yet. Mr. Hiram Hughes, who resides in Clear Cre ^ Va J.* 
ley, shot a fino tweuty-pound wild turkey on A 
rat hunt, gotten up by the farmers of Hoclung Township, re - 
suited in the slaughter of twenty-seven thousand two blinded 
and twelve of the destructive “varmints in 8, *y 
The event was celebrated by a princely banquet paid ior oy 
the defeated side, at the residence of Mr. Peter Crumley on 
Our correspoudeut writes that the bags of quail made in the 
past season by himself and friend — 130 birds a day are not at 
all an uncommon record in one of the best quail countries in 
the world. Our Chinese subscribers will read with peculiar 
pleasure the account of that rat hunt. We anticipate the re- 
ception of twenty-seven thousand two hundred and twelve 
missives-one for each rat-from as many Mongolians of the 
Pacific slope, containing all sorts of inquiries about the price 
of laud in the pleasant vales of Hocking rich-in- rats, llus 
immigration will doubtless solve the rat question, and at the 
same time afford a new species of game for the shot gun of the 
Ohio sportsman, for, according to the San Francisco hoodlum, 
there is*no close season for Chinese. 
Miohigan.— Fully twenty-five hundred deer were lulled in 
Qreeu Bay peninsula duriug the season just closed, and two- 
thirds of the meat spoiled owing to warm weather. 
California.— A correspondent writes to the San Fran- 
cisco Chronicle: “ Roderick Lang, a 14-year-old sop or John 
Lang, residing at Lang’s Station, on the Southern Pacific Rail- 
road, Los Angeles county, killed, between the 10th of August 
— i oQ»t, r .( fwomlior lntit fiftv.fivfl deer.” 
Napa, Feb. 10. —A sportsman's club has beeu formed with 
the following officers : Pres., Charles Pearch; Sec., J. H. 
Howland; Treas., F. A. Sparrow. 
Phcenix Sportsmen Club of Seneca Falls. — We have to 
thank this club for copy of the Constitution and By-laws. 
This club, organized in 1870, has 75 members. 
Wild Pigeons.— A correspondent writing from Paiuesville, 
O., Feb. 16, says : “ Pigeons are roosting in the big swamp at 
Bloomfield, Trumbull county, Ohio. They are feeding in that 
county ; also Portage and Ashtabula counties.” 
Killing Sparrows in England for a Premium.— In Jan- 
uary last, a question was put to us iu regard to the killing of 
sparrows. “ A bet B that in England a premium was paid for 
killing sparrows, and that the person so killing them can have 
the premium applied to paying his taxes.” Our reply was as 
follows : “ A has lost. There are no such foolish thiDgs done 
in England." On the publication of our reply, wo received 
quite a number of letters from various portions of the United 
States, in which our answer was found fault with, some of our 
correspondents citing their own experience. To set the mat- 
ter at rest, we wrote to the Live Stock Journal and Fanciers' 
Oaeette, of London, and the editors have very kindly sent us 
the following iD regard to sparrow killing in England : 
Live Stook Journal and Fanciers' Gazette, > 
La Belle Sauvage Yard, Ludgate Hill, E.C-, Feb. 4, '78. J 
Dear Sirs : In reply to your inquiry, there is no recognized 
public reward for the destruction of sparrows or their eggs. A 
few cases have been known in which private families have 
offered private rewards to village boys, etc., but even these 
cases have been very few and exceptional. All the course and 
spirit of English legislation is against such rewards. 
Truly yours, The Editors. 
—Our Montreal correspondent, whose pseudonym is ap- 
pended to the paragraph below, recently paid a fortnignt’s 
visit to New York, in the course of which he honored us with 
a call : 
“ Among other reminiscences of my voyage to New York, I 
recall an evening at the Tivoli, giving me an opportunity to 
witness Captain A. H. BogarduB’ wonderful exhibition of glass- 
ball shooting. The following week I saw Mr. Ira A. Paine 
display his no less remarkable skill with the shot gun and pis- 
tol. His performance with the pistol especially is worthy of 
notice. In fact I don’t quite understand how a man, even 
wilh any amount of practice, onn acquire sufficient skill as to 
enable him to break, with a pistol loaded with powder and a 
solid bullet, almost every glass ball sprung from a trap. I say 
I don't understand it, if the weapon is loaded as above men- 
tioned, which I presume Mr. Puine expects me to believe. 
However, his performance was really a very good one, and 
contributed largely toward making up what we Canadians call 
“a jolly good time." Butin justice to the editor and man- 
ager of the Forest and Stream and Rod and Gun, I must 
acknowledge that I look upon my visit to their office as the 
most pleasant incident of my visit in New York. Royal II. 
How to Cook and Serve the Canvas-Baok,— Upon the 
table canvas-back makes a royal dish. It is seldom served 
precisely as it should be anywhere out of Maryland. If al- 
lowed to remain in the oven five minutes too long it is unfit 
for the table. A great deal also depends upon the carving. 
A good, quick oven will cook a full-sized duck in twenty-two 
minutes. It should never remain in over twenty-five. After 
a duck is picked and drawn it should be simply wiped 
dry. Water should never touch it. When done the birds 
should be placed in pairs in hot, dry dishes. There is 
no need to prepare a gravy ; immediately they are 
cut they will fill the dish with the richest gravy that 
ever was tasted. One canvas-back to each “cover” is con- 
sidered a fair allowance at a Maryland table ; but when the 
bird is only an incident of the dinuer and supper, of course 
half a bird is sufficient for each person. Slicing the bird is 
unheard of. The two-pronged fork is inserted diagonally 
astride the breast bone, and the knife lays half of the bird on 
each side, leaving the “ carcass ” on the fork between. The 
triangle of meat an inch thick comprised between the leg and 
wing, with its apex at the back and its base at the breast, is 
considered the most delicious morsel of meat that exicts. 
The canvas-back iu Maryland is served with large hotniny 
fried in cakes, celery, and a dry champagne, or a bottl* of 
Burgundy that Is Burgundy.— Soribner't Monthly. 
