tree, but the trees were full of nests. In a few moments 
a gun was fired in the immediate vicinity, and instantly 
hundreds of birds became visible. It is unlawful to 
shoot birds within a mile of the roost, or to trap them 
anywhere, yet the law is broken in both ways continu- 
ally and with impunity. The nesting ground is from 
one and one half to two and one-half miles wide and 
about twelve miles long, and in this space and vicinity 
there are several hundred gunners and about eight hun- 
dred trappers constantly engaged in slaughtering the 
helpless birds. One hundred and fifty barrels, each con- 
taining 350 dead birds, and as many crates, holding from 
six to eight dozens of live ones, are shipped every day 
from the different towns within a day’s journey of the 
roost. Such work as this is not only wicked, but it is in 
the highest degree foolish. If the trappers and hunt*rs 
would remain outside of the roost and take the birds in 
their frequent flights to and from home, they would be a 
source of revenue all summer. As it is, the natural re- 
sult of the birds’ departing must come, and that in a 
very short time. Indeed, the trappers admit that the 
birds are already beginning to leave, and Frank and I 
were a source of suspicion to these law-breakers, as we 
had no guns and exhibited no evidences of legitimate 
business. We had expected this, however, and had 
brought a pocket full of cheap cigars ; a small number 
of these, judiciously distributed, had the desired effect, 
and a few only of the many trappers with whom we 
conversed failed to become talkative under the influence 
of the weed. 
The first requisite in the pursuance of the trapper’s art 
is a stool pigeon. A bird is selected while young and 
and made to perch upon her owner’s finger. He is then 
raised about six feet from the ground, and the linger 
gradually lowered. Finding his support sinking, the 
candidate uses his wings and flutters or hovers to the 
ground. Being again raised, he again hovers to the 
earth. This training is continued for weeks and some- 
times months, and is not discontinued until the habit of 
hovering becomes a part of the bird’s nature. A net 
about ten by forty feet is procured and one side fastened 
to stakes in the earth, so that it will flop over — if you 
will allow such an inelegant expression— like a trap door. 
Close to the net, and where it will rest when “ sprung,” 
is spread buckwheat, or other grain, and salt, for the 
birds are as fond of salt as a deer of a salt lick. The 
stool pigeon is then fastened to a movable platform near 
by. The net is fastened to bent saplings in such a man- 
ner that by pulling a string it will be thrown over the 
bait. The trappers lie concealed in a “ bow-house,” a 
hut built of hemlock boughs, and await results. When 
a flock appears, the stool pigeon is made to hover, and 
the birds, thinking he is free like themselves, and in 
search of edibles, light, and soon find a net between 
themselves and freedom. The prisoners are placed in a 
coop until a wagon load has been captured, and are then 
taken to the nearest express office for shipment. Live 
birds have been as high as $2 per dozen, but are now sell- 
ing at sixty cents to seventy-five cents. The average 
price during the season of five weeks has been about $1. 
The business of trapping is therefore a lucrative one. 
Two years ago tvvo trappers made $5,000 in two months, 
and Irvin Kitelinger and Lyle Dickson have so far this 
season trapped more than thirteen hundred dozen. A 
large proportion of the trappers live in Ohio and follow 
the birds wherever they roost from year to year. 
But trappers and gunners are not the only enemies 
with which the birds find it necessary to contend. Three 
weeks ago, just before the “squabs,” or young birds, 
could fly, about two hundred Cornplanter Indians left 
their “ reservation ” above Warren, and moved, bag and 
baggage, upon the pigeon roost. They remained a week, 
and during that time cut down thousands of trees in 
order to get the squabs. When the marauders departed 
they left the ground blue with dead birds, having killed 
twice as many as they knew how to dispose of. The 
male birds are called “toms, ” the females, “ hens ; ” and 
the young, without regard to sex, “squabs.” They are 
very prolific, raising several broods in a year. But two 
eggs are laid in a nest and the young are generally of 
opposite sex ; Incubation requires about two weeks, and 
— now here is a point for you, Susan B. —the tom sits on 
the nest nearly as much as the hen. The squabs are able 
to take care of themselves in ten days from birth. They 
leave the roost for food and return at irregular intervals, 
but the mature birds have their unvarying periods of 
flight. The hunters take advantage of this, and, posting 
themselves on a hill anywhere within five or even ten 
miles of the nesting, shoot the birds by hundreds as they 
fly away for food or home to feed their young. The 
nesting is in Forest County, twenty-one miles southwest 
of Kane and sixteen miles southeast of Sheffield. To 
those desiring to reach the ground I would advise going 
direct to Kane, which, although further from the nesting 
than Sheffield, would be preferable for several reasons 
GOod hotel accommodations can be had for $1 .50 per day, 
and a good livery stable is located in the village, A 
team and carriage, together with a competent guide, 
may be procured for $5 per day. G. 8. B. 
