86 
FOREST AND STREAM 
side lines and measurements are correct, tbe divergence of the 
iuside lines produce an area of space equal to the extra iuch. 
If the angles arc made square the diagonals will not coin- 
cide, but there will be a triangle, whose area will make just 
the square inch to be accounted for. A Lakeville, Conn, 
correspondent, who is a civil engineer, thus sets it forth : 
“If proof in another way is desired, square up a 5x13 
mrallelo 'ram, put in its diagonal and measure the perpen- 
dicular height to the diagonal from the 8lh inch, and it 
will he seenlo be the 3 1-14 inch and not just the 3 inches. 
The length of the diagonal is 13.92838839 inches. The dif- 
ference on an 8-inch base from a perpendicular side of just 3 
inches and oue of 3.07692312, represents such au angle as will 
require a perpendicular width of .07179 inches at its opening ; 
and inasmuch as there is a space ou each side of such a paral- 
lelogram’s diagonal, its area, though of a long and slim nature, 
is ascertained by the multiplication of the diagonal length by 
that 1-13 to 1-14 of au incli space 18.93.X.07779 equals 1 inch.” 
With the answers have come numerous other puzzles of 
an equally puzzling nature, which we must decline publish- 
ing, simply from prudeutial motives. One query of a New 
York correspondent we give, but wish it distinctly under- 
stood that we do not wish solution of it : 
“ A goes to market with thirty prairie chickens, which he 
sells at the rale of two for one dollar, and for his thirty chick- 
ens gets 81m That is plain. B also goes with thirty chick- 
ens, but he sells at the rate of three for one dollar, and for 
his thirty chickens gets §10. Total received by both men for 
sixty chickens, $25. The next day B is sick. A takes B’s 
chickens to sell them, but savs to himself, “If I offer my 
friend's chickens at three for one dollar I can't sell my own 
at two for 81." So he offers two of his own and three of his 
friend's for $2. Now sixty divided by five equals twelve lots, 
at two a lot equals 824, or five for two equals forty cents 
apiece ; forty by sixty equals $24. One dollar has disap- 
peared, aud yet he has obtained apparently the same price. 
Figures, they say, “ won't lie," but they sometimes equivo- 
cate slightually. Lawyer. 
Objections to Hammbrless Guns.— In your last number 
(Feb. 2U appeared an article strongly advocating the W. W. 
Greener hammerle;S gun. I grant that if it is perfection we 
are aiming at, the hammerless gun comes as near it as any- 
thing yet invented ; but cannot we be couteuted to let well 
enough alone ? It seems to me that “perfection” in this 
case would be rather too much of a good thing. Your cor- 
respondent brings forward as one recommendation to the 
hammerless gun that ws never have a broken hammer to 
mend. How often does a sportsman have a broken hammer 
to mend? Must use his guu rather roughly if he often has 
accidents of that sort ; and for my part I would rather have a 
broken hammer to mend than my own or some one else's 
arm or leg <>r shoulder, for there is about three times the 
danger of = being shot with a hammerless gun than with the 
good old breech loader, yvliich I do not think any hammerleas 
gun can replace. 
Further, our friend says, that with the hammerless gun the 
sportsman is not made to blink by the pulling of the trigger. 
Does Capt. Bogardus blink every time he pulls his trigger at 
Gilmore s ? It seems to me that sportsmen of a slight degree 
of experience would get pretty well accustomed to pulling 
the trigger. 
As to the objection that the hammerless gun is less danger- 
ous while parsing through a thicket or climbing a fence, it is 
to be hoped that most hunters know how to hold their guns 
in a proper position while in a thicket, and to put them over 
the tence first. And, indeed, this objection seem9 hardly 
worth noticing, for it stands to reason that if one gun is 
naturally more dangerous than another it will certainly be 
more dangerous in extraordinary circumstances. 
And, lastly, 1 never saw yet a man calling himself & sports- 
man who would forget to cock liis gun, even in the excitement 
of hunting. II. 
New Brunswick , N. J. 
We give with pleasure our space to our correspondent H 
M. H. All opinions for or against a new weapon may be 
useful ; still the onward march of progress in all things is 
irresistible. When muzzle-loaders gave way to breech- 
loaders precisely the same arguments as our correspondent H. 
M. II. uses were advanced. One thing urged by all those 
who advocated the old style was that more accidents would 
occur with breech-loaders than with muzzle loaders. The 
very opposite is now found out to be the case. We do think 
that with the hammerless gun it may take some time before 
sportsmen can become acquainted with them ; but it should 
be remembered that hammerless arms are by no means ex- 
actly novel, that is as far as cocking the piece by application 
of the finger on the hammer goes. The bolt action used fo 
military arms has been the gradtAl step forward which has 
led up to other important changes in lock mechanism. Some 
of these days we shall consider even the hammerless gun as 
old fashioned. The world must move. 
Lex Femina Faoti.— No; we have not blundered in that 
quotation. It was the woman’s privilege to be the light of 
this jaunt to the woods; the leadership waa undoubtedly a 
thing of masculine assumption. We have always contended 
that the world, forest and stream, and all good things per- 
taining thereto, were made for woman as well as for man. We 
are therefore glad to present the subjoined letter in substanti- 
ation of our theory, simply premising that we have a com- 
panion letter from the husband, in which he expresses the 
very worthy resolution never again to go off into a corner and 
have his enjoyment alone : 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
For many years, on the comiDg of autumn days, my hus- 
band, who is quite domestic in his habits at other seasons, has 
an attack of a migratory character, aud the overhauling of 
tents, camp chests, and the varied paraphernalia that years of 
experience have accumulated in his outfit for the woods, 
finally culminates in a northerly flight about the time chilly 
winds and frosty mornings betoken approaching winter. 
Many a time, on bidding him adieu as he Las started for a 
month’s absence, liave i wondered where in the vast solitudes 
of the northern wilderness existed a charm that could allure 
him from comfortable surroundings, and the regularity of his 
migrations served to deepen the mystery, untU feminine in- 
stinct could eniure it no longer, and my parting admonitiou 
in 187G was, “I shall go with you next year.” So it came 
about that last season, for the first time, I caught glimpses of 
the forest and stream primevul, and the rocks and lichens 
olden, aud gathered some of the treasures that are stored in the 
solitude aud sunshine of forest life. In ft sheltered glade, ad- 
jacent to the rocks nnd rapids of n noisy river, among the 
magnificent pines and hemlocks, far from all signs of civiliza- 
tion, we pitched, our tent, and the unspeakable charm sur- 
rounding that four weeks iu the wilderness is a treasured 
memory. My husband was successful in the chase, and en- 
joyed the triumphs of a hunter, while I was captivated with 
the ferns, mosses and evergreens that grew about in bewilder- 
ing profusion. We climbed the highest peaks, aud worked our 
way through tangled swamps and thickets, paddled our 
hark canoe under the drooping branches of the spreading 
cedars that overhung the margin of the stream, and guided its 
course iu sufety among the rocks in the whirling rapids. We 
found pleasure in the Indian summer noonday sun, and our ad- 
mirable outfit fully protected us, while the “ patter of the rain 
on the roof ” mingled with the roar of the storm far up among 
the tree tops. The snowy mantle that finally covered the trees 
brought new charms, and many weird and fantastic outlines 
were woven in the branches over us, and the crisp, frosty air 
and hillside climbing brought u« health and color to the 
sallow cheek, and developed a relish for eating aud sleepiug 
that civilization knoweth not of. The mystery of my hus- 
band’s migrations has been in a measure revealed, and a charm 
in the revelation folds me as closely, aud we anticipate greater 
pleasure in the coming of the Indian summer days that will 
see us off again to the woods. Kaloola. 

For Forest and. Stream and Rod and Oun. 
BEARS IN THE GREAT DISMAL. 
I N perusing my traveling friend, guide aud companion in 
my southern trip this year — “ Hallock’s Gazetteer” — I 
came upon a passage which spoke of the game in the Dismal 
Swamp, page 167 (of “Fish and Game Resorts"), and it brought 
to mind an adventure there in 18G3, or the winter thereof 
where for a time my regiment lay at Suffolk, in the edge of 
Nansemond. 
One day I was out on our picket line on the Dismal Swamp 
side, when a boat came down the river literally loaded with 
game— saddles of venison, bear-meat, possum, ducks, etc. A 
lank, swarthy-faced man, rather past middle age I should 
judge, was in charge, and asked to be passed in with his 
cargo. Wanting some game myself, and wishing still more 
to know where to find it, 1 talked with him a little while aud 
then passed him in, sending a man to show him to various 
quarters where I knew officers would soon buy up all his 
game. This man’s name was Duke; perhaps the Prentiss 
Duke spoken of in your Gazetteer. But he was no 'prentice 
at hunting ; he was a foreman in the craft. When he sold 
out, which was speedily, he came to me, and, in a gruff tone, 
said: 
“Colonel, I’ve heard you’re right smart with the rifle. 
There’s a powerful chance o’ game up my way. Come to my 
'Jbin when the moon fulls and i’ll give you a allowin’ at bar 1" 
caTo say I jumped at that in vital ion is to utter truth, no 
more. When the moon was at full I got a Nansemond skiff, 
took two picked nun to row or t 'w up the canal just as it 
best suited them, and started for Duke’s. By the way, it is 
the easiest point to reach him : rail to Suffolk, and up the 
canal, 1 should judge seven or eight miles to his place. Am 
not certain as to distance. It seemed that I got there just be- 
fore dark, had a splendid fish and game supper, enlivened by 
coffee which I took with me, looked at his hounds, curs and 
bear dogs, of which he had a yard full, and then got ready for 
our night hunt in the swamp bordering the banks of Lake 
Drummond. 
Duke led out four bear dogs— they looked to me like a cross 
between the bulldog and bloodhound— and we started, he 
letting the dogs run as soon as we were out of his little clear- 
ing. In ten minutes they were yelping “like mud." 
“They've struck bar !” was Duke’s quiet answer to mylook 
of inquiry. 
We pushed on through the weird and tangled forest of 
cypress, gum, water oak, aud I know not what else, the 
bright full moon casting fantastic flickers of light among the 
dense and varied shadows, nearing rapidly the spot where the 
dogs kept up their wild chorus. Soon, in a little open, we 
came to a thick, bushy persimmou tree, around the base of 
which the dogs sat on their haunches barking their level best. 
They were 6ilent at a word as Duke aud myself walked up. 
“ You wanted bar, Colonel; there's a spuukle for you,” 
said Duke, quietly; “An old lady, and two cubs nigh full 
grown 1” 
So it was; three bears in one tree ; better luck than I ever 
had before. The tree was low ; I carried two army Colts in 
my belt and a Sharps' carbine in my band. 
“ I think I'll take a contract for all that meat, Mr. Duke !” 
said I, and 1 pulled for the head of the old bear an inch or 
two under the ear. 
In a second she was tumbled down among the dogs, and too 
badly stunned to do any damage. Duke’s knife let the blood 
fr xu her neck, and then with my revolvers I “ went for" the 
cubs. One fell at the first shot, giving the dogs more fun, for 
it was a body shot ; but lie was soon still, and then with two 
shots, one through the kidneys aud the other a neck shot 
cutting the jugular, I “let down ” number three— limber 
when he struck grouud. The whole work probably took from 
three to five minutes. It looked too much like slaughter, but 
bear-meat was a luxury in camp, and I had come for meat as 
well as sport. 
I will not tire the reader with repetitions, for the whole 
night was spent out, and in the morning Duke sent in two 
men with mine to briug out tbe large game ; the small we 
packed in ourselves. Seven bears, four racoons, two wild 
turkeys and one fat “ possum " was the result of one night’s 
sport in the Dismal Swamp. Who could ask better ? 
Ned Buntline. 
QUAIL SHOOTING WITHOUT A DOG. 
Mahlboro, N. J., Jan. 39, 1878. 
Editor Fobest and Stream : 
I've tieen interested in reading: some article In your journal describ- 
ing tbe way quail shooting Is conducted lu some parts of California— 
I. e,, without tbe use of a dog. It brought to my mind pleasant remi- 
niscences of a day-s sport In Ohio that I enjoyed u few years since, anl 
prompted me to relate them. 1 may add that I've been a very active 
and eutbuslastic quail shooter for tbe past twenty years, and during ul 
this lime do not remember to have hud a single day's quail shooting 
(except the one I will try to relate) without the use of a clog. Thin os- 
ceptloual (lay was very unexpected, anil liuppeueil In this way : 
I was visiting some relatives In Ohio, not far from the town of Day- 
Ion. A sportlug friend whom I met proposed a trip up the Dayton and 
Detroit R. R. to a point not far distant from Sidney. My frleuil shot 
so little that he did not keep a dog, but he assured me that there would 
be no dlllloulty In procuring one at Ills relative's where we were to Biop. 
We were soon en r<mu, and found at our 'destination most comfortable 
and hospitable entertainment. During the night It snowed about two 
luclieB deep, and cleared away before day. In the limrulug we were 
late In getting out, as we waited for our guide aud promised dogs. My 
friend Unally ascertained that no dogs could be obtained that clay, as 
they were all In use. so we determined to try It alone and do the beat we 
could. It was anew country, and much of the ground wus uuoleartd. 
The Orel piece of grouud we hunted was full of stumps aud brush, 
and very exteuslve. In walking along the outside of this ground, and 
near some ragweed aud stubble we db covered some quail tracks In the 
snow, upon what I supposed the feeding ground ; but they goon re- 
turned again to the stumps, and then we lost them altogether. In one 
corner of this new ground was a large flock of sheep feeding upon corn 
fodder, scattered over au acre or two. We tracked the quail to this 
place from several directions, but Invariably lost them here, and Unally 
gave them up and concluded to go home. We had not thought of 
looking among the sheep for the quail, but here they were feeding 
upon the loose grain that they found shelled out— I suppose by the 
sheep. It so happened now that we were walking home directly 
through the large number of sheep, when what wus our astonishment 
to hear the whirr of the quail’s wings not twenty paces from us. I 
must confess I was so startled I did not get but one barrel luio them, 
aud that one aimed at the whole covey, thinking to kill them all, and, 
of course, with no other result than making u few feathers fly. 
My friend, If auythlng, wa^ more frightened tuan myseir, and could 
not get hi gun Into position at all. It was a Une, large covey, uud they 
went out among the stumps und scattered most beautifully, and were 
carefully marked down. They did not lie very well— I suppose because 
of the snow— but gave us good shooting. There was scarcely any 
cover, and the grouud waa so large they did not fly out of it after seve- 
ral attempts. We followed them up most perseveriugly, thinking tills 
our only chanoo, and bagged ten very fine birds. Ou our way back we 
passed through a large cornfleld, where the stalks hud been left stand- 
ing and the corn had been gathered out aud placed upou the ground In 
large heaps. These heaps had been removed, but much loose grain 
had been scattered about upon the ground, which was getting bare In 
places, as the snow began to disappear with the warmth of the noonday 
son, affording feeding for quail, etc. We were fortunate to Und an- 
other large covey upon this ground, and to be ready for them when 
they first rose, securing three. Following them up Into open ahootlng, 
we got nine more. Three rabbits and one ruffed grouse upon the edge 
of some large timber completed our bag, aud we went home to enjoy a 
late but most excellent dinner. M. 
CHILLED SHOT— A REPLY TO 
MR. KNOWLTON. 
Editor Forest and Stream : 
I must, confess that I was somewhat surprised to find so strong a 
champion in favor of chilled shot as Mr. Knowiton seems to be. know- 
ing this gentleman to be a salesman for a shot manufacturer who does 
not make chilled shot and consequently might be expected to condemn 
It, as a matter of policy ; but Mr. Kuowltongenerously suggests advant- 
ages lor It which I think Messrs. Tailiam fc Bros. must have forgotten 
to claim. He proves to the sportsman that it Is economy to use chilled 
shot, as It does not take as much powder to drive a number of pellets of 
hard shot with greater penetration aud produce a better pattern than a 
like number of soft shot of the same size. A sportsman will readily see 
thut he not only saves on Ills powder, but a’so gets a greater number of 
loads out of a pound of shot. Mr. K. could scarcely suppose that Messrs. 
T. <fc Bros, nad neglected to experiment with an equal weight of hard 
and soft shot. 
Before and since his communication I have made a number of exper- 
iments In that direction. The average result of a uniform charge of 
powder and shot by weight, the pellets In each load gauged and couuted, 
shows, for soft shot— pattern 3S«4, penetration ; Unproved chilled- 
pattern 66Vi, penetration 29 3-6. Pattern 68 per cent., and penetrailon 
49 per cent, better for chilled shot. When loaded by measure, the 
pattern Is slightly decreased, and penetration somewhat Increased on 
chilled. These results weie obtained by udug 414 drachms Curtis & 
Harvey’s No. 4 powder, a felt wad over It, and cardboard wad over the 
shot. 
Mr. K. closes by condemning black lead finish, “ which so fouls the 
gnn, and taints the game." but which Is used by all soft shot makers ; 
thus, It seems to me, leuvlDg the sportsman no choice but to use the 
“Improved Chilled Shot,” to Unlah which plumbago Is not necessary. 
It Is scarcely necessary to state what every practical sportsman knows, 
that when a gun does lead It U with metallic lead, aud not plumbago, 
the latier being a lubricator. 
The communications from Mr. Geo. Hayden aud MaJ. Merrill lu your 
last issue, seem to be from gentlemen of practical Ideas, who under- 
stand what Ib wanted by sportsmen, viz. : Ammunition and uppllauces 
which will give best results. I agree perfectly with Mr. U. lu using 
the best, strongest and cleanest powder. My experiments teach me 
that the best results with chilled shot are to be obtained by using strong 
shooting guns and strong powder. The killing penetratlou of soft shot 
may be Increased by using stronger powder, but what Is gained lu pen- 
etration Is more than balanced by loss In pattern, the increased pro- 
pelling force causes the pellets to bruise each other so much more lu 
passing out of the gun barrel, that fewer reach the mark, or, In other 
words, scatter more. I consider that the recently published trial was 
about as poor a result for chilled shot as could honestly be obtained. 
If quick, strong powder had been used, a felt wad over it, and a card- 
board wad over the shot, the soft and hard shot sifted to exaotly the 
same size, the result would have been twice as greut In favor of hard 
shot. 
I wish to correct a few errors which MaJ. Merrill has made, as he will 
see by referring to your report of the trial. Ho soys, “ Each gun flred 
but one round, slxteeu loads In all,” when the fact Is, each gun fired 
two rounds-one of hard, and one of soft Bhot— thirty-two loads In all. 
He will also notice that the guns showing In favor of soft shot, or nearly 
so, were comparatively weak In penetration, not shooting with sufficient 
force to mash up ihe soft shot. 
I have experimented with various sizes of Bbot, at different distances, 
and find the result much the same. I was very much averse to using 
chilled shot, until 1 tried It In the field. After a month’s shooting 
during which time I killed more birds, wounded fewer, und killed at 
longer range with hard than with soft shot, I was forced to believe In Its 
efficacy. Cqas. Richards. 
— . 
California Wine Depot.— M r. Auton Meyer, of No. 302 Bowery 
New York, has been In business for over twenty-five years, having 
been the first to appreciate the excellence of the California cimm-> 
pagnes. Ills trade mark— au M— Is recognized among the best brands. 
Mr, Meyer has opened, In his extensive wine vaults, u Nile range in 
which shooting takes place every night. The prize for tho best shot l* 
u Creedmoor long-range Remington rifle. 
