104r 
Ivlsiy 1^ 
Wilbur F. Parker, - - Editor and Proprietor. 
THE ONLY JOURNAL PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES 
Devoted Exclusively to 
SHOOTING, FISHING. NATURAL HISTORY, FISH CULTURE, 
AND THE PROTECTION OF FISH AND GAME. 
Term* of Subscription; Four Dollars a year in advance. 
Tsb Rod and the Gun can be obtained from aU News Dealers. 
The Postase on this paper is pre-paid to snbscribere in the 
United States. 
Persons sending money to this office, by means of Money Orders 
Ebonld invariably make the same patable to The Rod and 
The Gun, at the West Meriden P. O. 
JM oommunUations must be acoompatded by the fuU name of the 
writer and addressed to 
THE ROD AND THE GUN. 
West Meriden. Conn. 
^“We earnestly reqnest all onr contributors to adopt the plan in 
legard to the use of scientific names which some of them have 
Steady adopted, viz; to PRINT all snch names legibly in the mann- 
script. as tms will prevent error by giving the compositor plain copy 
to follow. Above all things we say, do not ventnre upon the nse 
of scientific names at all umess certain of their accuracy. 
SATrRD.lT .1IAY 15. 1875. 
CONTENTS OF THIS NUMBER. 
Page. Page 
Occurrence of the Burrow- American Sportsmen and 
isz Owl in Massachusetts.. 97 their Don 102 
Disappearance of Certain The Amenwn Elk 103 
Song Birds 97 National and International.. 104 
Frank Forester 98 The Editor on the Wing 104 
Exploring a California Cave. 98 Need for Game Laws 1 (» 
Two Weeks in the Adiron- Our Rivers and Lakes 1(6 
dacks 99 National Sportsmen Conven- 
The Rifle 100 tion 1(B 
Pigeon Matches 101 Coming State Conventions... 1<6 
The North-Woods of Maine Letters from Sportsmen. 106-107 
—No. 9 102 Queries and Answers 108 
The iNpEX and title-page to Vol. V are ready. Those 
subscribers who desire them will please notify us. 
\ATI0\AL A\D I\TER\ATI0\AL. 
Among the suggestions which come to us as to what 
should be said or done or omitted at the June meeting 
of the Xational Sportsmen’s Association, we are dis- 
posed to assent to that which bears on the subject of an 
International Association. The idea is not new. It 
was mooted by The Americ.vn Sports.man as incident 
to the Xational before the organization of that bod}-, 
and it has at all times been the subject of repeated com- 
ment in our columns. Not very long ago one of our 
“ Letters from Sportsmen” repeated the old story of 
border market hunters evading the law by carrying 
their spoils over the dividing line, while in Xew York 
city the question of fish protection lias long been seen 
to involve a reciprocity law, since the dealers in fish out 
of season could always fall back on the defence that it 
came from the British provinces. In one respect we 
nave active reciprocity. We have numerous subscrib- 
ers in the Provinces, while the Provincial sporting pa- 
pers manifest their cordial sympathy by freely drawing 
on our columns with and without acknowledgment. 
We recommend that all sporting clubs or societies and 
associations for the preservation of game on' the Brit- 
isB side should be admitted to affiliation with the Xa- 
tional Sportsmen’s Association. The Xational was laid 
down on a basis broad enough to include all. 
It might not be easy for Americans to legislate for 
the Provinces, nor for the British to legislate for Canada, 
hut we commend the most thorough reciprocity and 
mutuality in this matter even to the extent of allowing 
Canadian delegates a voice in our councils. Their 
interests are coincident with our’s. We are only divided 
from them by a hair line, and the same legislative sys- 
tem which would suit us would be found applicable to 
them. The Americ.\n Sportsman and the.KoD and 
Gun have long been in receipt of complaints on the 
wasteful methods of taking large and small game with 
appeals to public opini m. Let the Xational then take 
the matter up and formally extending the hand of broth- 
erhood arros.' the divide. Let us invite all good spuris- 
men and honest men to join us in our efforts towards a 
mutual good. 
W. F. Parker, has given notice to the President of 
the Xational, of his intention to bring this matter 
before the house in June, and to move for any amend- 
ment in the title and constitution that may he expedi- 
ent or necessary, “to allow the Association a wider 
I scope in order that our friends in the Provinces may 
join us in our efioits to protect the game and fish ot 
I America.” 
That’s the idea, not the L’nited States only, but 
America. 
THE EDITOR 0.\ THE WI\G.— \0. 2. 
We left Kansas City via Kr.nsas Pacific Railroad at 
9:40 A. M., but before doing so, we drove down to the 
market to inspect a White Pelican that had been shot 
the day before, found it to be a beautiful specimen in 
what is called its “love plumage,” and having three 
horny projections on its upper bill [see Ridgway’s arti- 
cle in American Sportsman, Aug. 1874.1 We purchased 
this fine specimen and forwarded it to the taxidermist to 
be mounted and added to our collection of birds at 
home. After leaving Kansas City we soon crossed the 
Kaw river, (which is the Indian name for Kansas) from 
which the city is supplied with water. We roll on 
and on the route, pass car loads of bones — bufialo bones 
from the plains, and also Texas cattle, going Ea.st. 
Soon we arrive at Lawrence, Kansas, and after a brief 
stop, are again in motion for the far West, amusing 
ourselves by watching the ducks on the Kansas river, 
which we follow for miles. Topeka is the next stop of 
importance; dinner is announced,' and plenty of time 
allowed for a good square meal. The tables are well 
supplied with nice plated ware, amJ every thing is neat 
and clean. The next point of interest is the “K«w 
bottom lands,” two or three miles wide. We follow the 
river in these lands for 200 miles. AVe went to the rear 
of the train and viewed the magnificent ranges— land 
burned off in Fall, for early Spring grass, and that now 
burning or just burned, is for Fall feedimr. AVe saw a 
grey wolf sneaking up to some cattle lying on the prai- 
rie ; they will sometimes attack cattle while lying, if 
very hungry, hut they will seldom attack cattle stand- 
ing. The stone wall forming the boundary line to the 
Government reservations of Fort Rilev is reached and 
quickly passed, and the old stone house with a hole 
knocked in it by a cannon hall shows what lessons the 
pioneers had to learn. Fort Rih-y is seen on an eleva- 
tion in the distance and we begin to realize that we are 
getting into a portion of the country where a man in 
days not long ago carried his life in his bands while 
bunting game enough for a good meal. AA’e are now 
in the vicinity of the magnesian limestone formations 
and many curious freaks of nature are passed some 
having the appearance of a fort or fortifications, and 
then cropping out on the sides and tops of the hills in a 
uniform fashion looking like a series of stone walls laid 
in a workmanlike manner. L'pon arriving at Detroit the 
conductor informed us that the village of Enterprise 
on the South side of the Smoky Hill river was started 
by a small hand of Germans about nine years ago, and 
their stock consisted of lO-A ewes and 4 bucks, and their 
inventory last year made an exhibit of 17.50 sheep, a 
large stone woolen mill and a fram-.- grist mill in addition 
to their stores and dwellines. This is only one out of the 
manv prosperous settlements passed where everything 
bears a thrifty and prosperous aspect. Before reaching 
Abilene our attention was called to an immense wheat 
field, three miles in length, alongside of the track, and 
containing 1380 acres, without any fence, and only a 
finely ploughed strip of land for a boundary. The own- 
er of this vast field does not own a house or an imple- 
ment for agricultural purposes, but has the sowing and 
reaping all done by cont.'act. At Abilene, 162 miles 
fron Kansas City, Conductor Cheeney introduccil us to 
Air. T. C. llemy, the owner of the great wheat field, 
who had just stepped from a neat road wagon, and in 
conversation with him he said he did not own even a 
hoe for farming purposes, but had everything done by 
contract. 
The Kansas Pacific Railroad Company shipped from 
this station alone 2,02.5 ear loads, or 40,500 head Texas 
cattle in 1871, but the rapidly increasing population of 
this district has compelled the removal of the stock de- 
pot westward to Ellsworth. Speaking in general terms 
of the countiy at Abilene and westward to Ellsworth, 
Col. Elliott, in his “Industrial Resources,” says: 
“The track at Abilene is 1,057 feet above the level of 
the sea. In 53 miles westward, at Summit Siding (two 
and a halt miles east of Fort Harker,) the railway track 
rises to 1,-556 feet, or 499 feet higher than at Abilene — 
an average of nearly ten feet to the mile. This eleva- 
tion IS on a part of the road which cuts off a bend of the 
Smoky Hill River. At Ellsworth, 60 miles from Abi- 
lene, the track is again in the valley of the Smoky, and 
1, 440 feet above the sea — 116 feet less elevation than at 
Summit Siding, and 383 greater than at Abilene. From 
Abilene to Black AA’'olf, ten miles west from Ellsworth, 
we have a sandy soil on the uplands, nourishing a thick 
growth of grass, and productive under the plough; in 
the bottoms a darker loam, containing more clay as a 
general rule, but having all the elements of permanent 
fertility. Rocks appear on the bluffs and banks of 
streams; also in limited areas on the surface of the up- 
lands west of Salina, and in picturesque buttes, ledges 
and crests between Brookville and Fort Harker.” 
Between Solomon station and Salina we cross the Sa- 
line river, where the immense pair of elk antlers orna- 
menting our office were found, the Illustration and 
measurements of which were given in Xo. 21, vol iii. 
Salt springs exist in abundance in this vicinity, and 
the Continental Salt Company manufactured 10,000 
bushels last year by solar evaporation. In the surround- 
ing countiy there is a fine extent of rich bottom lands, 
the Smoky Hill and Solomon valleys being very wide at 
this point. Gypsum, Holland, Buckeye and Coal 
Creeks, all within ten miles of Solomon, form an area 
of well-timbered and watered farming lands not sur- 
passed along the line of railway. The above are all liv- 
ing and inexhaustible streams, giving great advantages 
to both stock raisers, agriculturists, and fish culturists. 
After passing Salina, we saw a prairie on fire again. 
Aloonlight night — beautiful sight — the subdued flame 
looked like a line o' battle under fire, as it flashed and 
darkened, so ’twas no great stretch of imagination k> 
see the men passing one in front of the other and deliv- 
ering their fire fall back again. Just as I had this desi 
cription penned Cheeney says: “Here Parker, comes the; 
boss fire!” and sure enough in a moment more we ran 
alongside of a broad sheet of fire, giving one an impres- 
sion of a vast red-hot field of molten iron advancing as 
if being flooded by a constant stream from some hidden 
source. It was just at twilight when its beauty 
burst upon us. Imagine the ocean tumbling and leap- 
ing before a stiff breeze, deep hollows of lurid light 
with the white caps all aflame, and it is the only fig- 
ure that illustrates this wonderful spectacle. In fact, 
to fully describe its effect on my mind is beyond my 
power, and lo tell others how it looked is impossible. 
It was awfully impressive! 
At Brookville, '200 miles from Kansas City, we part 
with Cheeney, as whole-souled, noble a specimen of a 
man as ever lived, and when we say this, we ask, could 
we .say more for a friend? If so, let the reader imagine 
it, for Cheeney deserves it; and with a friendly "God 
bless you, Parker, I’ve arranged it so to-morrow if 
there’s any shooting you can have some,” and a “shaKe” 
we part with mutual promise to meet at Kansas City on 
my return. AA'e had heard a great deal of “Al. Cliee- 
ny,” but not one word spoken in his praise was ever 
misplaced — not sufficient to tell one of the man — you 
must meet him to know him! 
Bed, just before we reached Ft. Harker. Before arriv- 
ing at Sheridan, we rose early, beautiful morning, just 
wiping my face after a wash, when Banks rushes in with 
“Antelope wild,” out I rushed, partly dressed, with 
towel in hand, and saw two black specs about [a mi’e 
away, running parallel with the train, “ like lightning.” 
I had no idea that they had such speed. Herds of five 
to twenty run wildly when first on foot, but when settled 
down to business they go in single file. Al AVallace, 
breakf-ast was announced, and after partaking of a 
hearty meal, visited the store of A. L. Dodge, one of 
the veteran hunters and trappers of the plains, and a 
lii-avy dealer in skins and robes. His headquarters are 
(luite a curiosity-shop, :uid the many relics gathered 
from the plains, with his slock of good.s, and armor} of 
available weapons would be interesting to any sports- 
man. He said the Sharps’ was his favorite and he had 
more of them than of any other make. Upon invita- 
tion he visited the train and taking our light Sharps’ 
sporting of only 40 calibre, from the stale room, he says 
“Give me a cartridge, I want to try it,” and stepping to 
the rear of the platform, remarking “Do you see that 
bright spot in the sand?” (pointing at a distant object,) 
“well, that is six hundred yards,” and without a mo- 
ment’s hesitation be drew a bead and .sent a cloud of 
dust flying in the air at the point named, greall}' to the 
surprise of the passengers standing by.* After leaving, 
AA'allace with a promise to return and spend a few days ' 
with Air. Dodge on the plains, we crossed the fork of 
the Smoky Hill river, and were soon in the vicinity of 
Prairie Dog villages, limitless plains, divides and 
gulches ; not a stick or a tree to be seen, and only brown 
and black strips of sand bearing the nutritious grass of 
