1875 . 
23 
tiuE; them loose; so he was confined in a dark room, but 
■without avail, and the result was, Lon was a one legged 
cripple the remainder of his days. lie never fully re- 
turned to his jolly old self after this disaster, but during 
the remainder of his life was more sedate and quiet. 
He lived a number of years and died without any as- 
signable cause. We children buried him with fitting 
ceremonies and much honor, and the memory of his 
wild tricks and cunning ways is still cherished by us 
all. 
Not long after Lon's demise, I was pre.scnted with an- 
other crow, yet in his infancy, which I named Lon, in 
remembrance of my dead pet, and hoped he would he as 
intelligent and interesting as his illustrious predecessor: 
and these hopes were more than realized. Shortly after 
the acquisition of Lon the second, another crow was 
given me, and I called him Tom. He proved to be 
quite, intelligent and learned all of old Lon’s cute ways, 
and learned to talk some, but never approached the 
giddy, heights of knowledge and fame that gave to his 
companion Lon such r-nown. Lon showed early signs 
of being possessed of superior intellect, and accumu 
lated knowledge rapidly, and within a twelve nmnth had 
mastered all the accomplishments that rendered poor 
dead Lon famous, besides the grand and finishing touch 
of being able to master the English language in a re- 
markable degree. Ah! he was a rare and wise bird, 
most marvellously sagacious and knowing; and if spirit 
of departed mortal ever transmigrated into bird or beast, 
Lon certainly possessed one It was not long before he 
knew all the members of the family b}. name, and could 
call them oS as glibly as any person. Like us boj's, he 
called father “ pa,” and could be heard most any lime in 
the day, shouting at the top of his voice “ pa! pa! come 
here!” And as a variation would set up a prolonged 
call of “ Boys! boys! where are you?” and many atime 
when brother and I were engaged in some mischief, 
upon hearing that call, so perfectly imitating our father’s 
voice, that we would scamper away in hot haste to pre- 
vent detection, but next minute would feel badly sold 
on hearing Lon laughing like a maniac. He would talk 
to Tom and call him “ poor Tommy;” and if Tom hap- 
pened to get out of his sight for any length of time, 
Lon would begin calling “ Tommy! poor Toram}', 
where are5'0u?” and would not cease his cry until the 
absent brother ans'wered in return. When the bell rang 
for meals he always came .into the house to be fed, and 
father would pick out all the delicate titbits upon the 
table to please master Lon’s palate. "What provisions 
he could not eat he would stow away in odd nooks and 
comers for future reference. It fathei’s pantaloons 
happened to be turned up at the bottom, Lou was cer- 
tain to stow away any surplus of provision in the folds, 
and this trick caused many a laugh at father’s expense, 
for he would offen forget to turn down the folds until 
after he had gone uptown, or to see some patients, and 
then hastily straightening out the folds, out would roll 
a handful of bits of bread and meat. He had a great 
affection for father and during a serious illness that 
confined him to the house, and bed for mouths, Lon 
manifested the greatest anxiety and solicitude for his 
welfare. When the door was closed he would mount 
upon the winaow sill, and pecking upon the window 
pane call out “ Pa! poor pa! let Lon in,” and when ad- 
mitted would jump upon the bed, seeming so delighted 
to see his friend, and would begin to laugh and cackle 
and sing out “ Poor pa! poor Lon! ” I would not re- 
late half the remarkable doings, and sayings of dear old 
Lon, for I know none, or at least very few, of my readers 
would credit their truthfulness, yet all this I have related 
is true as the existence of the sun. He lived four or 
five years, but came to a sad end from the claws of an 
arch enemy tp his race, an owl. When we moved from 
town into the country, w'e brought the crows along, and 
they seemed delighted at their greater range and fuller 
liberty, but never evinced any disposition to wander 
away or join their wild relations, but marched about 
the premises, laughing and calling to each other all day 
long, and at night roosting with the chickens upon an 
appletree, and that is how it happened they fell into the 
clutches of a murderous owl. Poor Tom fell the first 
victim and was carried off one dark night, and all we 
eyer found of him was a pile of feathers; all that was 
flesh and blood of the poor fellow found a resting place 
in the merciless owl’s stomach. Lon mi.ssed his com- 
panion sorely, and kept calling continually “Tommy, 
Tommy, poor Tommy, where are you? ” but he never 
received an answer to bis calls. One night a month or 
80 after Tom’s tragic death, we were aroused from our 
slumbers by the fearful screaming of poor Lou ; father 
rushed out to bis rescue, but it was too late, for the de- 
mon owl was bearing him away fast out of hearing. 
Next morning no traces of Lon could be found, and 'we 
concluded he had met with the same fate that befel Tom^ 
and we mourned over his death deeply. Father de- 
clared dire vengeanee against the oivl creation, and 
brother and I chronicled our vows, that from that hour 
on until the end of our days every great horned owl that 
fell into our power should yield up its life to atone for 
the death of poor Tom and Lon. And as I write these 
lines commemorative of the lives of the lamented pets, 
I can say that, vengeance hath been glutted with its nu- 
merous victims, and yet the slaughter continues. Great 
was our rejoicing, about noon that da}' to see Lon march 
into the house; but our joy vvas of short duration, for 
Lon was in sore dilapidation, and seemed to be suffering 
terribly. As he toitered across the floor he kept ejacu- 
lating “ Poor Lon! poor Lon! ” and reaching the hearth 
crouched dow'n, fluttered his wines convulsively, uttered 
a farewell “ Poor Lon! ” and was dead. Upon exami- 
nation of his body we found where the merciless claws 
of the great on 1 had penetrated deeply and fatally. 
I have no doubt but whilst being borne away by the 
owl he uttered some cry in human tones, which so 
frightened his captor that he released his hold and al- 
lowed Lon to escape. 
Dear, faithful old Lon, when stricken by death, he 
seemed to have but one great desire, and that was to 
reach home to die. How homelike his home must have 
been to him. Br;ive, wise old Lon, tl.ou wert king, and 
peer of thy race, and never shall I find another like thee. 
I have had many a pet in these long years that have 
been reckoned with the past, but none so worthy to have 
their names and deeds chronicled upon the pages of 
tiistory, as the ones already given, but perhaps at some 
future writing I will perfect the history of all my pets. 
SILOOTI\G tLlBS IX THE TMTED STATES. 
liV .Mtou.s. 
Shooting parks ami clubs when properly organized 
l)y gentlemen sportsmen have their uses. They furnish 
pleasant society, easy sport and a place for festive meet- 
ing ; but to t:e a success they must be run entirely with- 
out a view to profit, without wliich condition it will be 
difficult to establish them in the United Stales to the 
satisfaction of a well-versed sportsman; everj- true 
sportsman who knows the world ftels shy about any- 
thing like real estate speculation in conuection with 
their favorite recreation. When we notice advertise- 
ments calling the attention of the sporting public to the 
fact that such or such an association is being formed, 
and that so-and-so are tlie patrons, and that shares are 
in great demand, and knows that the very journal in 
which the .advertisement can be found has a large inter- 
est in the farm which is to furnisli out the shooting 
ground, we sportsmen are naturally suspicious that a 
“ wild cat” is afoot. 
Game protective societies are our best shooting clubs. 
Very little capital is required and nothing but pleasure 
isexpected. It is not impossible but it is certainly diffi- 
cult to so stock any pre.'cribed limit in this country 
(whatever it may he in Europe) to such gn extent as to 
give satisfactory sport to any considerable number of 
sportsmen. Suppose nay one thocsaiul acres are stocked 
with fa'o hundred pairs of quail, how many pairs, even 
granting they all hatched a brood the first season, will 
be found the following year, admitting that not one is 
killed. Our quail is pugnacious, and ■when a section of 
tlie country becomes overstocked or when the covies 
grow too numerous in a certain region the naturalist or 
sportsman is aware they begin a migration at what is 
called the running season to a locality less crowded. 
In the middle and eastern States (piail are thought 
plentiful where we find six or seven covies to the one 
hundred acres, and perhaps we may be overstepping 
the mark in stating this. Be not advised, brother 
sportsmen, that by attaching t'ourself to any real estate 
shooting clubs that are now being advertised, you will 
gain more sport than you would by seeking as your field 
a naturally stocked game section. The country is W’lld 
enough, and our natural supply ought to be great ; you 
have only to enforce the laws, organize protective socie- 
ties, be severe on the pol-liuuter, and you will reap tar 
more pleasure Ilian by putting your motiev into doulit- 
ful schemes. 
— ■ 
Thk of a mantodon were recently discovered near Dunu- 
villu, Canada. Ouu oi the tusks weighs over guu ])oundb. ^ 
Livino8to:?e, in his last journal, just published, says; “ The soko 
often goes erect, but places the hand on the head, as if to steady 
the body. When seen thus the soko is an ungainly beast . The 
most sentimental young lady would not call him a ‘dear,’ but a 
bandy-legged, pot-bellied, low-looking villain, xnthout a particle of 
the gentleman in him. Other animals, especially the antelopes, 
are graceful, and it is pleasant to see them either at rest or in 
in motion; the natives, too, are well made, lithe, and comely to be- 
hold, but the soko, if large, would do w ell to stand fur a picture of 
the devil. He takes away my appetite by his disgusting bestiality 
of appearance. Ilis light yellow face shows off his ugly whiskers 
and faint apology for a beard; the forehead villainously low, with 
high cars, is well in the background of the great dog mouth; the 
teeth are slightly human, but the canines show the beast by their 
large development. The hands, or rather the fingers, arc like 
those of the natives. The fiesh of the feet is yellow, and the 
eagerness with which the Manyuema devour it leaves the impression 
that eating sokosw'as tho first stage by which they arrived at being 
cannibals . They say the tlesh is delicious. The soko is represented 
as being extremely knowing, successfully stalking men and women 
while at their W'ork. Kidnapping children and running up trees 
with them— he seems to be amused by the sight of the young native 
in bis arms — but comes down when tempted by a bunch of bananas, 
and, as he lifts that, drops the child. The yonng soko in such a 
case would cling closely to the arm-pit of the elder. One man was 
cutting out honey from a tree, and naked, when a soko snddenlV ap- 
peared and caught him; then let him go. Another man V’as nunt- 
ing, and missed in his attempt to stab a soko. It seized the spear 
and broke it, then grappled with the man, who called to his com- 
panions: ‘ Soko ha^ got me.' The soko bit off the ends of his fin- 
gers, and escaped unharmed. Both men are now alive at Bambarre. 
The soko is so cunning and has such sharp eyes, that no one can 
stalk him in front without being seen, hence, when shot, it is always 
in the back. When surrounded by men and nets, he is generally 
speared in tbe back too. Otherwise he is not a very formidable 
beast. He is nothing, as compared in power of damaging his assail- 
auts, to a leopard or a lion, but is more like a man unarmed, for it 
does not occur to him to use his canine teeth which are very formi- 
dable. Numbers of them comedown in the forest to w^ithin a hun- 
dred yards of our camp, and would be unknown but for giving tongue 
like fox hounds. This is their nearest approach to speech. A man 
hoeing was stalked by a soko and seized, lie roared out, but the 
soko grinned, and left him, as if he had done it in play. A child 
caught up by a soko is often abused by being pinched and scratched 
and let fall. The soko kills the leopard occasionally, by seizing 
both paws and biting them so as to disable them. Ue then goes up 
a tree, groans over bis wounds, and sometimes recovers, while the 
Leopard dies. At other times both soko and leopard die. The lion 
kills him at once, and sometimes tears his limbs off, but does not 
eat him. A very large soko was seen by Mahomed’s hunters sitting 
picking his nails. They tried to stalk him, but he vanibhed. tiome 
Maiiyeuma think that their buried dead rise up as sokos; and one 
was killed with holes in his ears, as if he had been a man. Hei 
very strong, and fears guns but not spears. He never catches wo- 
men. lie draws out a spear but never uses it, and takes some leaves 
and stuffs them into his wound to staunch the blood; he does not 
wish an encounter with an armed man. He sees women do him no 
harm, and never molests them; a man without a spear is nearly saf 
from him. They live in communities of about ten, each having his 
own female; an intruder from another camp is beaten off with their 
fists and loud yells. If one tries to seize the female of another, he 
is caught ou the grouud and all unite in boxing and biting the of- 
fender. A male often carries a child, especially if they are passing 
from one part of the forest to another ox'er a grassy space; he then 
gives it to the mother." 
“ Roor HOG OR DIE," 19 a proverb that has political and social sig- 
nificance. The rooting propensity of the hog is accompanied by a 
fine scent, and thi» faculty is utilized in France in hunting for truf- 
fles. The trufile is an underground root, and is the delight of every 
gourmand from the delicious flavor it imparts to cookery. A turkey 
with tniflles is the one perfect thing in an epicure's life. A pig, or 
rather a sow, is trained to "point" on the truflle. A dog, could, of 
course, do the work, but a cur has not the nose and a sporting dog is 
Ukxable, hence the sow is brought into requisition. Sows trained 
for hunting truflles are fed entirely on acorns, (never anything else) 
—and during the season once a day only— after the day's work is 
over. Rain in July and August is generally tho precursor of a good 
crop. The truflle begins to form in July. .In August It has reached 
the size of a filbert, and cracks the ground if the weather is dry, this 
admits the air and is prejudicial to the quality. It is only in tbe be- 
ginning of November that it has arrived at its regular size (that of 
a large hen’s egg) and begins to ripen. From a dull white it now 
turns to a marble gray, becoming quite dark in December, and black 
as ebony and ripe in January. Truflles are found from six to ten 
inches below the surface. Those nearest are sometimes hurt by the 
frost, though not often in the mild climate in the south of France. 
Truflle hunting is a specialty, and the men devoted to it depend ou 
the short season of forty to fifty days to earn enough to take care 
of tlieinselves and their sows the rest of the year. The hunter can- 
not employ his time at anything else. lie has all he can do to 
gather every day the necessary supply of acorns needed by this 
useful animal. The whole outfit consists of the sow, fastened by 
the liiiul leg; one bag containing bread and cheese for the man and 
acorns foi the sow, a blanket and a cane. They are no sooner in the 
wiMxls than^the sow is let loose and begins to hunt, the man keeping 
close watch bcliind. The s^w will go slowly over the ground and 
never root nntil it scents the precious vegetable. The hunter must 
be ready to strike the sow on the snout the momeut the truflle is in 
sight. Her sow»hip will retire with a groan. The man then picks 
up and bags the truflle, and gives the poor animal one or two acorns 
for its trouble. 
J. C. Murphy, of Fayette (.’o.. Ind., shipped some fat hogs from 
Glenwood to Cincinnati, and missing one, gave it up for lost or 
strayed till om'day last week, when he found the old fellow in a 
vi r\* emaciated state under a bo.K in his barnyard, where it had in- 
voluntarily coiillned itself while trying to escape from its drivers, 
by tiiniiugthe box orur and getting caught under it. This remark- 
able hog was actually alive when found, tbougli it had lam under 
that box for six long weeks without food orx\ater. It is now doing 
well. 
