FOREST AND STREAM 
715 
May 30, 1914 
FOREST AND STREAM 
CONTENTS 
By the Light of the Harvest Moon . By "Switch Reel” 719 
Editorial . 730 
Father’s Repentance. By M. H. Hoover 722 
From An Angler’s Notebook. By Robert Page Lincoln 72 7 
Pur, Fin and Feather. 7 29 
Vol. LXXX1I. No. 22 
720 
Live Notes From the Field. 
Man s One True Friend in the Animal World-His 
Dog .By Henry Chase 7 I 7 
My First Deer (Part I). By Mique Webb 725 
Some Observations on Quail. By E. P. Robinson 724 
Trapshooting. 731 
A VIRGINIA FOX HUNT. 
Tuano, Va., April 30, 1914. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
I 'hope the brethren will pardon this old sport 
for a little reminiscence of a Virginia fox hunt 
in tidewater. Old Moses (whelped at a cabin 
on the edge of a “crick”) was the leader of our 
pack of eight tried and true hounds. One lovely 
frosty November morning (by pre-arrangemem) 
we met at 'the court house just as day was 
breaking. We put for the low grounds and in 
a short time, Reubin opened with his deep bass 
voice. “Moses” harked to him, then “Music” 
came up and gave tongue. The balance came 
up but as the trail was a cold one did not open. 
Within half an hour old “Rock,” way off to the 
left, opened. When that note was sounded, we 
started for “Rock” and lifted the pack, knowing 
“Rock” would not open unless the trail was 
good. Within five minutes Mr. Reynard was on 
his feet. The band began to play and the 
horses commenced to dance. The fox took a 
straightaway course down the river with eight 
dogs blanketed not over two hundred yards be¬ 
hind. We rode the field behind the dogs. Often 
the race was at sight, the riders were running 
steeplechase such as only country hoys can ride. 
The sweet music of the hounds on the ideal day 
with a rising temperature made the scent lay, 
but our old sly sport was up to his tricks. Yon¬ 
der he is seen walking the top rail of the 
fence; then he jumps as far away as he can. 
“Music” comes up, and a “bother” takes place. 
He smells the fence, gives tongue. “Rock” fol¬ 
lows, old “Moses” and “Reubin,” “May” and 
“June.” All open, all top the fence. Then they 
“bother” again, “Joker” sweeping off in the 
field, discovers that which is lost, sings and off 
go the others. They pick up the trail and go at 
full cry. Some one (a negro) hollers: “Here! 
Here!” We lift to the cry. The sly old fox had 
topped a tree, but no “bother” this time as we 
lifted right where he jumped. Within ten 
minutes there was a mighty sight race across a 
500-acre field with the dogs bunched so close 
a pocket handkerchief would cover them. The 
riders well up, the fox pressed, commenced to 
double. Then a killing. So ended that fine 
hunt. We do not shoot foxes in Verginia if the 
dogs cannot catch them. We let them go. 
“OLD SPORT.” 
REARING FOREIGN PHEASANTS. 
South Bend, Ind., April 13, 1914. 
Editor Forest and Stream: 
Being one of the many who pick up your maga¬ 
zine as soon as it makes its appearance on the 
stands, you will readily believe I am interested in 
every line to which it is devoted. In this connec¬ 
tion I want to call your attention to an industry 
that is successfully being carried on in the Mid¬ 
dle West where it has been generally believed it 
was not possible. 
I refer to the rearing of Chinese Ring Neck, 
Golden, Amherst and Reeves pheasants by Helen 
Bartlett at Cassopolis, Mich. A short time since 
I happened to be in that part of the country and 
saw her place. I found the birds domesticated 
and in fine form and large numbers, and Mrs. 
Bartlett says they are easier to raise than chickens 
and bring big financial results. They do not re¬ 
quire any covered yard or house except a wind 
shelter, require but little feed and do well in the 
most severe weather. Why is it not a good plan 
to advise the sporting fraternity of the possibili¬ 
ties in this field? Would it not be well if many 
of them undertook the raising of these birds. She 
says when liberated they thrive and multiply. 
Would not any enthusiastic fisher woman or hunt¬ 
ing man or ambitious boy find it a good invest¬ 
ment as well as a source of much pleasure to un¬ 
dertake rearing pheasants? 
Personally I became much interested with the 
business and in the birds at her place, including a 
flock of about a hundred peafowls in addition to 
much other stock. 
If any of your readers can advise me where I 
can buy a few pairs of Jack Rabbits and some 
quail to turn loose here I will feel rewarded for 
all your magazine has ever cost me. 
JNO. W. TALBOT. 
ELK FOR FOOD USES. 
Four hundred head of elk bred on one of the 
Miller & Lux ranches in Kern County, Cal., have 
been given to the California Academy of Sciences 
for distribution among parks and large tracks of 
public lands. 
Already the suggestion has been made that a 
part of this herd be let loose to run on the slopes 
of the Diablo range. Another suggestion is that 
a number of the elk be turned out to graze on 
the sides of Mt. Tamalpais. 
The Miller & Lux herd is the increase of a 
single pair, bred on the Kern County ranch 
some years ago. With a few years of sensible 
propagation and conservation a supply of this 
fine game meat, sufficient for the needs of the 
whole people, should be raised on feeding 
grounds now practically worthless. 
