1873.] 
227 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
HOTS ds PWIMSo 
Hunting' the Mare. 
Farmers’ boys as a general thing have fewer opportuni¬ 
ties for fun than city boys, and yet they have many chances 
that city boys (lo not have for amusing themselves. We 
never saw a lot of farmers’ boys having a game of base 
ball on a smooth meadow, although we have often seen 
them swinging the scythe or driving the mower or rake 
over it. And yet why should they not enjoy this and 
other games on Saturday afternoons or other occasional 
holidays? “All work and no play makes Jack a dull 
boy.” Farmers’ boys, as a rule, do a good share of work, 
and need now and then to polish off their dullness with a 
good frolic. Now we have a splendid game for farmers’ 
boys which will furnish them a great deal of sport at any 
season of the year except the depth of winter. It is a 
hare hunt. Not one of those after a four-legged hare, 
with dogs and guns, which always made us feel sorry for 
the poor little helpless, harmless, creature, run to death by 
savage dogs, but one after a two-legged hare by two- 
legged hunters. A dozen or more of boys may join in 
the game, with one of the smartest boys to act as the 
hare. The hare has a satchel fastened around his shoul¬ 
ders filled with small pieces of-paper about an inch or two 
square, made of newspaper. He starts off across the 
country over fences, across roads and creeks, through 
fields and woods, having a start of say 5 or 10 minutes, 
dropping here and there a piece of paper. This is the 
scent which the rest who hunt him have to follow. 
When the hare has got a sufficient start, the chief hunter 
gives a signal halloo and the pack start on the scent. The 
hare will keep out of sight as much as he can, doubling 
on his scent, throwing the dogs off as much as possible 
in every way; sometimes, when he has a chance, he turns 
back on his trail and springing to one side and hid¬ 
ing in the brush or behind a fence or a log or in the edge 
of a cornfield, until the dogs have passed him, he 
starts off in a new direction, which they have to come 
back and discover when they find the scent is lost. When 
the pieces of paper are all used up a whole newspaper is 
laid on the ground and a stone placed upon it. This is 
to show that the run is up and the hare has turned home. 
Then the nearest way home is taken, and if the hare can 
be caught before reaching home, the one who catches 
him is the hare on the next run. In this game there is a 
splendid chance for fun of the most exciting kind. The 
dogs spread out so that ono or more is sure to keep sight 
of the “scent,” and in calling to each other as they 
should do, that they are on the scent, they make noise 
enough to enliven the neighborhood all around. When 
the scent is lost there is a sudden silence for a time until 
il is struck again, when the hallooing begins once more 
and all the pack are as noisy as ever. In fact there is as 
much sport over such a hunt as there ever -was over a real 
hunt with a pack of hounds, and a score or half a hundred 
of mounted huntsmen after a frightened hare or fox anx¬ 
ious to save its skin, and up to all the dodges which 
these hunted animals know so well, and which often help 
them to escape the dreaded dogs. 
There should be a weekly meet during the season at 
some appointed place, to which all should return when 
the hunt is up, and the master of the hunt should an¬ 
nounce the place and time of the next week’s meet. 
If the hare is caught sightof during the hunt there is no 
longer any need to follow the scent, but he may be run 
down ns quickly as possible unless he can get away, 
when the scent must be taken up again. 
Aunt Sue’s Muzzle-Box. 
TRANSPOSITIONS. 
(Fill the blanks with the italicized words transposed.) 
1. I was surprised to hear that Squirt Magdan went 
2. Don’t examine that-- there is a secret in it. 
3. Before we go boating is it-that Ida can steer ? 
4. If you are so - to come here and rest, step in. 
5. M. Carmen's beer suggested unpleasant-. 
6. I found pleasant-in the Hoppic Mansion. 
CROSS-WORD. 
My first is in bracelet but not in ring. 
My next is in summer but not in spring. 
My third is in night but not in day. 
My fonrth is in August but not in May. 
My fifth is in pistol but not in gun. 
My sixth is in hundred but not in one. 
My seventh’s in raven but not in crow. 
My whole is a name you all well know. 
Franklin W. H. 
SQUARE WORDS. 
1. —Square the word “ O C E A N.” 
2. —1. Scanty. 2. A journal. 3. A fruit. 4. A me¬ 
morial. 5. Perpendicular. 
NUMERICAL ENIGMA. 
I am composed of 6 letters: 
My 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 is a part of every one. 
My 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 is all the world to you and me. 
My 2, 3, 4 is strongly attached to you. 
My 1, 2, 3, 5 is of a melting disposition. 
My 1, 3, 5 is elevated above the crown. 
My 5, 2, 3, 4 is a small body of salt water. 
My 1, 3, 4, 5 though often abounding in the country, is 
always dear in the city. 
My 4, 3, 5 though often preying, never prays, nor de¬ 
serves praise. (Aunt Sue does not quite agree with this 
last sentiment, having—herself—ejaculated, admiringly 
—“ What a clever creature 1 ”) 
My whole is the sole support of many an orphan. 
E. S. B. 
436. Illustrated Bebus .—We have lots of rebuses on 
hand from Aunt Sue’s correspondents, and it is not her 
fault that they do not go in. Those who have sent their 
rebuses to Aunt Sue must not blame her, but if blame 
belongs anywhere, it is to the editors that it must be 
given.—Well, here is a simple case of positive and 
comparative. 
436. Muttrated Bebus .—This is not quite so easy as 
the other. Let us sec who will make it out first. 
pi. 
Od toun resoth ea ouy odwul vaeh rothes od not.u uoy. 
Jes. 
ALPHABETICAL ARITHMETIC. 
ODL)EFNOI(OLF 
DIN 
SHO 
FOS 
GFLI 
GFHG 
LF 
DOUBLE ACROSTIC. 
The initials and the finals each name a quadruped. 
1. A bird. 
2. A fish. 
3. A reptile. 
4. A quadruped. Adolph M. Nagel. 
ANSWERS TO PUZZLES IN THE APRIL NUMBER. 
PATCHES, CUTTINGS, AND FRAGMENTS. 
1. Mick, Nick, Dick. 2. Pat, Mat, Wat, Nat. 3. Sal, 
Hal, Cal. 4. None, one. 5. Lamb. La. 
Arithmorems. —1. Phthisic. 2. Cynic. 3. Kino. 4. 
Elevate. 6. Im-mix. 6. Vex. 
Words enigmaticallt expressed.—1. Kindred. 2. 
Equipage. 3. Tendons. 4. Farthing. 5. Parapet. 6. 
Something. 
Charade.— Madam. 
Pi.—What is resolved once for all, should be long con¬ 
sidered. 
Cross-Word.—S pring. 
Numerical Enigma.— Providence. 
alphabetical arithmetic. 
218)6908856(31692 
(Key. My pet scarf.) 
Puzzle.— Sword, word, rod, O 1 
Square Word.— EXPOSE 
XERXES 
PROBES 
OX B A KE 
SEEKER 
E S S E R A 
Illustrated Rebus, No. 434. — Potato. Coxcomb. 
Love lies bleeding. Phlox. Box. Monkey flower. 
Cypress. 
AUNT sub’s NOTICES TO CORRESPONDENTS. 
I would respectfully suggest to my young friends, that 
I have more “ Cross Words ” and “ Numerical Enigmas ” 
on hand than I can use in twelve months. 
F. W. B. We “ charge ” nothing for printing enigma¬ 
tical contributions, and only give prizes for special puz¬ 
zles. 
T. G. C. Tour puzzle looks more like a shanty struck 
by lightning than like a fair word. But you say it is 
“O U T,”—well I will leave it “out.” Thanks, all the 
same. 
Thanks for puzzles, letters, etc., to J. L. Howard, Kit- 
tie, M. Sharpe, H. K. M., J. Rettew, Robt. W. M., O. A. 
Gage, Frank, J. H. Craig, Hubert N. R., Mary A. II., H. 
L. B., E. S. M., F. W. B.,W. P. & E. II. A., Edwin E. P., 
Liaeie M„ Edmund H., Kittie M. E., E. M. Welles, V. S. 
Peet, and Willie Masters. 
Aunt Sue’s address is Box 111, P. 0., Brooklyn, K. T. 
Some Curious Sea Animals. 
Last month I told you about some quadrupeds that live 
in the sea; now I shall ask you to look at some very 
curious forms of animal life that arc found in the sen, 
and nowhere else. Only a small portion of my readers 
live upon the sea-shore, and I doubt if many of these 
ever saw any animals like those I am going to tell you 
about, as they are for the most part found well out to sea 
and in southern waters. Still, we ought to he interested 
in everything that has life, as every animal, even the 
most obscure, forms a part of one great chain of which 
we have good authority for the belief that we are the 
head. Probably very few of you ever saw a Medusa, or 
Jelly-fish or Sea-nettle as it is variously called. I give 
an engraving of one which will give a general idea of 
the whole. Some are so small, that thousands can find 
sea-room in a wine-glass; others are as large as a bullet; 
others, again, a foot across; and wc have accounts of 
some so large that they were estimated to weigh several 
tons. Formerly, they were not regarded as animals, but 
were looked upon as mere masses of jelly; hut a more 
careful examination has shown them to be animals, and 
very curious ones, too. The engraving will give an idea 
of their general form. There is a mushroom-like body, 
from the underside of which are bodies hanging down 
that are called tentacles ; those vary in length, from a few 
inches to several feet, and the animal has the power of 
extending or withdrawing these very rapidly. The jelly- 
like body shows that it is made up of divisions attached 
to a common center, and on this account these animals 
are called radiates. They have organs which serve for 
eyes, mouth, and stomach, and the long tentacles are 
useful in seizing their food. The Medusas are often beau¬ 
tifully colored, and have the edge of the mushroom-liko 
body bordered by a handsome fringe. In a calm day they 
present a charming appearance, and I have passed hours 
on the Gulf of Mexico in watching these singular Jelly-fish 
as they floated by the vessel. I, however, made a closer 
acquaintance with them when I went to take a sea-bath. 
As I was enjoying the roll of the surf, I felt something 
flabby strike my back, and then a most annoying burning 
and prickling. Upon examining the cause, I soon found 
it was the Jelly-fish, and was quite willing to admit that 
it had a good right also to the name of Sea-nettle. These 
animals are so largely made up of water, that when they 
are thrown upon the beach the hot sun soon causes them 
to disappear, and there is nothing perceptible left of 
them. Yet this mass of jelly has its appetites and the 
ability to procure its food, and is able to capture and 
feed upon much stronger animals, such as the fishes 
proper, crabs, and other marine animals. It is not pro¬ 
vided with weapons for a regujar fight, hut, it has won¬ 
derful power of holding on, and when its numerous 
flexible arms or tentacles get hold of another and stronger 
