156 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


Shot Gun and Rifle. 
GAME IN SEASON FOR OCTOBER. 
Ices Malchis.) Caribou, Tarandus Ran ifer.) 
Mone rtd Cervus Canadensis.) Red Deer, Caricus Virgen) 
Rabbits, common Brown and Grey.) Squirrels, Red Black and Gray.) 
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo.) Quail, Optyx Virginiuna.) 2 
Woodcock, Scolopax rusticola.) Pinnated Grouse, Tetrao Cupido.) 
Ruffed Grouse, Tetrao uwmbelius,; Curlew, Numenaus Arquata.) 
lew, Numenius bo- Sandpipers, Tringine.) 
sei oes Pate dam Pigeons, and all kinds of Wild Fowl 
(Under the head of ‘Game, and Fisn im Season” we can only specyfy m 
general terms the several varieties, because the laws of States vary so much 
that were we to attempt to particularize we could do no less. than publish 
those entire sections that relate to the kinds of game in question. This 
would require a great amount of our space. In designating game we are 
guided by the laws of nature, upon which all legislation is Sounded, and 
our readers would do well to provide themselves with the laws of their re- 
spective States for constant reference. Otherwise, our attempts to assist them 
will only create confusion. | 
ce 
—The ruffed grouse, known as the partridge in New 
England,and as the pheasant in the Middle States, is now in 
full prime, and his noisy whirr is heard in the woods among 
the crisp and falling leaves, as he rises suddenly before the 
rustling tread of the well-trained dog, and darts like a shoot- 
ing star into the thicket. There is no music sweeter to the 
sportsman, but it requires a true aim and steady nerves to 
bring down your bird when he plunges headlong through 
the yielding branches, making noise enough for a dozen of 
his size. It is only by accident that a stranger to the 
ground he is shooting over comes upon his birds; but if, 
when he goes to the country, he will employ some young- 
ster who was ‘‘raised thar,” and knows where every ‘‘pat- 
ridge” was hatched out and brooded, he will saye much 
time in beating the bush, for the birds seldom wander far 
from their native place unless they have been disturbed 
and scattered by much hunting. The places where they 
are most likely to be found are near old roads, around de- 
serted clearings, near running streams, and in swales and 
damp but not marshy places, though the locality depends 
upon the season and the food the birds are hunting for, 
whether whortleberries, beeci:-nuts, alder buds or laurel 
buds. It is not uncommon for ruffed grouse to take to 
trees, nor to kill every bird in a covey by properly follow- 
ing them up with a well-trained dog and treeing them one 
after another. This in answer to a correspondent’s ques- 
tion. 
—Quail, Ortyx Virginianas, familiarly known as Bob 
White, is a great favorite with the sportsman. Bevies of 
full grown young birds and their parents are now to be 
found in the stubble fields, where an experienced hunter 
will make sad havoc among any particular flock when he 
becomes acquainted with their haunts. The puails prefer 
to inhabit localities in the immediate vicinity of thickets 
composed of low bushes, into which they retreat when 
alarmed. The true home of this species is in the Middle 
and Southern States, Massachusetts being its limit, and 
even in the more northern sections of this State they suffer 
much during some winters. If a heavy fall of snow oc- 
curs the quails, as is their constant habit, burrow beneath 
it for warmth; let this happen in unusually mild weather 
when the snow is moist upon the surface, it too often 
chances in our variable climate that the thermometer sud- 
denly falls far below zero and the weather grows intensely 
coldina few hours. This change forms a crust which is 
so thick and solid that it cannot be penetrated by the im- 
prisoned birds, and consequently if the cold continues they 
perish miserably. Entire flocks are thus destroyed, and in 
some winters they become nearly exterminated; but in fa- 
vorable summers they increase rapidly, and soon re-popu- 
late the country. Yet we should carefully protect them by 
law during the breeding season, as the poor quails will be 
driven from the North if man, as well as nature, conspires 
against them 
—Quail shooting is said to have been very fair until with- 
inthe past week along Overpeck creek, near Leonia, two 
miles south of Englewood, New Jersey. At Tennafly and 
other localities adjacent an increase in the number of quail 
has been noticed, showing that the protective laws have 
done good. 
—Black bears are fat at this season, and the easiest way 
to come it over Bruin is to watch beside the fields of ripen- 
ing corn for his appearance, for Ursus Americanus is fond 
of the yellow succulent ears, and as soon as the first frosty 
nights occur he sallies forth under the gleaming harvest 
moon to forage. Unfortunately for the uniform success of 
his expeditions, the husbandman ‘‘ who owns the place” is 
aware of his proclivities, and liesin wait with a shot-gun 
crammed with slugs, and sends a rude but warm greeting 
into his shaggy carcass. Although this may seem tame 
sport at first, yet one must possess tolerably steady, 
nerves and some patience to sit perfectly quiet for an hour 
or two listening for the tramp and the snuffing of a huge 
ungainly fellow which, ordinarily harmless, is a tough cus- 
tomer at close quarters if wounded. Then, when the 
great brute does appearatlast, looking three times larger 
in the moonlight than he really is, it requires, especially on 
the part of a novice, aclear head and a firm hand to kill him, 
even with ashot gun. When arifleis used, itis fifty to 
one that a man will not bag the first bear he encounters 
by moonlight. 
—It is fine fun shooting black and gray squirrels, now that 
the groves of hickory, oak and chestnut are showering down 
their treasures of nuts, andthe sprightly little animals are 
gathering on mountain and hillside their plentiful stores. 
Many sportsmen are not aware that the glossy black squirrels 
which are found so abundantly in some portions of Michi- 
gan are only a variety of the gray species. This isa fact, 
however, and could a sufficient number of specimens be 
procured so as to exhibit all the varieties of color in the 
pelage, it would be exceedingly difficult to determine where 
the gray leaves off and the black begins. This is but one 
instance of many where we find extremes of color in some 
individuals, yet with such a perfect gradation in others 
that no one who is at all conversant with natural history, 
would hesitate to consider them as one species. 
—A Philadelphia friend who is a veteran hunter of an al- 
most world-wide experience, notices in the last issue of 
“FOREST AND STREAM” an allusion to the old practice of 
clearing a stopped gun nipple by driving a pointed stick 






























































for thirtg years at least, on the Delaware!” WN othing new to 
him, that’s sure; but there are youngsters growing up, dear 
Mr. R., perhaps too old to be your grand-children, but never- 
theless having much to learn, especially in the craft of the 
huntsman, to whom our humble information may be new 
and serviceable. And as we hope to include a large number 
of the rising generation among our readers, as wellasa given 
number of inexperts and amateurs of maturer age, we shall 
print our paper chiefly for their benefit. What we wish of 
our dear old veteran friends is merely to direct our utter- 
ances, and set us right if we go astray. And our success, 
we are not too proud to admit, depends much upon their 
co-operation. 
—Snipe still occur in the meadows, but will soon depart, 
although stragglers often remain quite late, even in New 
England, and we have known them to Start up from the 
grass on inundated meadows when the ice was stiff enough 
to bear the weight of a man. The great mass of sand-pip- 
ers (#ingenoe) have gone South, but the little dunlin remains, 
his family being the last to migrate. For fear that some 
sportsmen may not recognize the species, we will state that 
it is of about the size of the grass bird (7. maculata), but has 
a slightly curved bill. It is gray in color above, white be- 
neath, with the breast streaked with dark murkings. This 
is the autumnal plumage; in spring the back is red and 
there is a black band across the breast. They now frequent 
the shore in considerable numbers, and are quite fat. These 
have a wide distribution, being found on both sides of the 
Atla-.tic. 
—J. U. Gregory, naval agent at Quebec, acknowledges 
to having bagged 174 brace of snipe on the 2d inst., at 
Chateau Richer, sixteen miles below the city. Just at this 
season there is good shooting on Crane Island, Sorel, and 
on the north side of the island of Orleans, in the St. Law- 
rence. Sportsmen can run down ina steamer from Que- 
bec without trouble. At Chateau Richer there is fair 
hotel accommodation, but poor elsewhere, 
—The sharp-tailed grouse (Pediocetes phastanellus), to 
which our Western correspondents frequently allude, is 
closely allied to the pinnated grouse, or prairie hen, which 
it much resembles in habits, and might possibly be mistak- 
en for it by a casual observer. Hybrids between the two 
are not rare, though it is believed by most naturalists that 
they never reproduce. 
—Ruffed grouse and pinnated grouse are in considera 
ble abundance. There is a fare showing of plover, snipe, 
and yellow legs, and a few dozen blue-winged teal. 
—Saddles of venison begin to appear in front of the 
principal restaurants. 
—Woodcock, Philohela minor, have generally taken to 
the highlands and may be found among the low growth 
of birches. on hillsides. 
—Wild pigeons may now be found flocking to the grain 
fields, and are readily shot. 
—A few canvas backs and red heads arrived in market 
last Monday, being the first invoice of the season, 
—There was a goodly number of gentleman at the 
fine farm of Mr. Ditmars, Flat bush, L. I., last week, to 
participate in a sweepstake for a double barrel breech-load- 
ing shot gun, added to which was a small entrance fee. 
The birds were of better quality than usual, and the shoot- 
ing scarcely up to the average. Dr. A. Robins and Hicks 
tied, and as they could not divide one gun, they settled it 
amicably between them. The following is the summary. 
Seven birds each, twenty-one yards rise and eighty bound- 
ary :— 
Ditmarg.. .. 3... 0.0 Ded ORL Ole saad nO LUtee see eee ULet 0180) 
A LObhiod. feet calor 20 170;10i= OL Wingate. sy) ELON 1 oF 1; 
G; Bennett.......... APOMLOMINO eCopt. cele. kee eee 11071 04, 
Dit AS ie wii 51% Je Aa Veloot Othe ind ie eae Sin, eed TRE IRONS SONtyea ey 
Baslar sc cel catia. se dO On SChar, esha eee ee LeLsOnIO TOS 
DT Wes cosceeee ene L100 tO ye Korawner a. sae 7 eee iubeals itera ik (0), 
Russell ees ceee ness LTS 20) wee obing pees. ee ele Det SA Oo tots 
Bayler:.c7et cA pe LAdeteO dy OM, Sp Redony espe sane oe tele OeL Olds 
Hicks j5tiigece- datel 170) ded ee ormian 2 ie 11,0. 1.10.1, 
BOLLO Waits sanrer ales Slips Bn OE 
—There will be a grand pigeon shooting tournament, open 
to all, held at Toronto, Canada, on December 2d, under the 
auspices and management of the gentlemen connected with 
the Toronto shooting clubs. The gentlemen who have at- 
tached their names to this announcement are men of pro- 
bity and honor, and the tournament will be conducted with 
fairness and decision. Every shooter will furnish twenty- 
five pigeons, and shoot at twenty-one; H and T ground 
traps; any size gun; twenty-one yards rise; eighty bound- 
ary; not more than 14 0z. shot. All entries to be made be- 
fore 11 o’clock Monday night, December 1st, with Mr. Jos. 
Taylor, Colborne street, Toronto. The prizes will consist 
of $1000 in gold. The best shot $300; second, $200; third, 
$100, and so on until the thirteenth. The Junior Gun Club 
of Toronto, will give a gold medal to the winner of the first 
prize. Committee of management: Jas, Ross Espe, Pres. 
T. 8. C.; W. H. Coen, Pres. I. G@. O. ; John Maughan, 
Toronto and I. G. C. 
—With regard to deer hunting, a well-informed and ex- 
perienced correspondent calls our attention to the fact that 
into it and pulling the trigger, and says ‘“‘ I have been doing it 
the deer of Florida are governed in their times of feeding 
“by the moon,” and accepting his statements as truth gath- 
ered from personal investigations, we would like to inquire 
of the many expert hunters who read this paper, if they 
have remarked the same peculiarity throughout the North 
and West, and if so, whether they can ‘explain’ or account 
for the habit? This gentleman writes:— 
“When I first attempted to hunt deerI was almost always uusuccessful, 
rarely being able even to see one, I was informed by the hunters that I 
did not go out at the right time. Upon questioning them they told me 
that the deer were governed in their time of feeding by the moon. An 
hour before moonrise the animals arose from their beds or came out of 
the hummocks to feed upon the grass in the clearings, or in the piny 
woods, continuing until after the moon was up. An hour before the 
moon Southed (4. ¢. attained its highest altitude) they did the same thing, 
and also when it was directly beneath the earth, making in all eight hours 
feeding time, At first I laughed at this as an old hunter’s notion, for al- 
though it is easy to understaud why the deer should feed at those times 
when the moon rises near night and sets near morning, it is difficult to 
preceive why they should conform to the same rule through all the varying 
phases. But after three seasons’ experience Iam obliged to acknowledge 
that as far as my observation extends this theory is correct. The deer are 
certainly seen feeding much more frequently during these stated periods 
than at others. Of course one occasionally meets a straggling animal at 
other hours, but I never found any number on their feet ot any other 
time. All the hunters with whom I have conyersed also confirm this. 
Another singular fact is that the great horned owls hoot at the feeding 
time of the deer, even it be broad daylight. I haye observed this fact 
on many occasions, and the hunter when they hear the owls, say ‘now 
the deer are feeding.” 
—Mr. LI. Hite, who keeps a pleasant boarding house at 
Mellonville, Florida, sends the following letter, which con- 
tains some facts that may be useful to tourists the coming 
winter :-— 
Our winters here are like the last fifteen days of May, and the first 
fifteen days of June with you. We are now planting out gardens just as 
your people do in May and June. 
I expect to be fixed to lodge thirty persons comfortably. The Orange 
House now for rent at $1,500 is out from Mellonyille boat landing, two 
miles. It will lodge about thirty nicely. The Brock House on the En- 
terprise side of the Lake Monroe, (five miles wide) will lodge eighty or 
one hundred upon a squeeze. Boats can be had here to Indian River, six- 
ty-five miles, where there are a number of boats for hire. G. 8. Hardee, 
Esq., City Point, (P. O.) Indian River, Florida, and others down there 
keep boats and other conveyances. Steamers run from here to Salt 
Lake, fifty miles; from Salt Lake to Sand Point, six miles by 
hack, or wagon. Sail boats connect there. Hunters and explorers can 
go to any point south of this. By December there will be another small 
steamer going 200 miles south of this, just for the benefit of winter 
boarders in this section. 
There is good hunting from Mellonville, Orange Co., out by land 
south of this for 150 miles. It isa beautiful country. At Orlando, 
twenty-four miles from here by hack, or possibly stage by December 1st, 
there is a hotel. Men here get into their saddles at 1 o’clock and are back 
by dark with their game hanging across their horses. Wild turkeys, and 
opossums come up into Mellonvile. Two miles from here a few days 
since an old man and a boy were fishing and a large wolf passed within 
thirty steps and did not even look at them. Bear and black six foot pan- 
thers are plenty within six miles of Mellonville. The mouths of creeks 
coming into Lake Monroe are splendid fishing places. Hie Spas 
A correspondent gives his experience in the use of the 
Canadian moccasin, which tallies with that of all gentlemen 
who have worn them:— 
Epitor Forest anp STREAM:!— 
I have tried almost everything in the way of boots Zand shoes, for life 
in the woods; Napoleon high top boots, canvas shoes, rubber boots, and 
the like, but all without success, but last summer while spending some 
weeks in Canada, I invested ina pair of moccasin-boots, or shoe packs, 
as they are more frequently called, and such ease as I have enjoyed in 
my tramps since, can hardly be described. The boots that I possess are 
made of tanned deer skin, reach almost to the knee, and are tied with 
thongs of the same material, without which they would hardly keep in 
position. I was obliged to have heels and an extra sole added afterwards, 
as the material being very thin made me immediately aware of all sharp 
stones or sticks in the path. They are very light, seeming almost like a 
stocking rather than a boot, and need a little oil occasionally, but I can 
hardly agree with you that they are “almost impervious to water.” A 
good pair of shoe packs costs about $4,00in Canada. Messrs. H. & H. 
Merrell, 290 Notre Dame street, Montreal, would supply them, as although 
in the dry goods business, they are true sportsmen, and more obliging 
gentlemen cannot be found in Canada. eSi28. 
If T. 8. S. will refer again to our article, he will notice 
we spoke of Caribou hide, and not deer skin, as being im- 
pervious to water. The essential oil of the caribou hide is 
so considerable in quantity as to be a natural preservative: 
and a protection from wet. 
—_____. 
CHARMS FOR ANIMALS.—A tongue taken from a living 
fox was thought to prevent disease of any kind attackin 
the fortunate possessor. The slough of an adder hung on 
the rafters of a house renders insuring that house unneces- 
sary; a house-leek in the roof makes it proof against the 
lightning’s flash. When a Northamptonshire henwife sets 
« hen, she is particular that the nest contains an odd num- 
ber of eggs, and is careful to mark each egg with a small 
black cross, tosave it from four-footed poachers, A large 
stone having a natural hole through it, hung outside a cow 
house, prevents the cattle having the nightmare; and farm- 
ers of the fifteenth century thought their beasts cecure 
against murrain if marked with the mark of a saint, for one 
Thomas Egliston was paid ninepence for putting St. Wil- 
frid’s mark upon sixteen oxen belonging to Cardinal Lang- 
ley, Bishop of Durham,to the intent that they might escape 
such a visitation. A Norfolk man boasted that no mishap 
could chance to his horse so long as he wore something he 
had tied round its neck; a curidus urchin stole the charm, 
which turned out to be the thumb of an old leather glove, 
containing a copy of the Lord’s Prayer. * Not long ago a 
valuable horse, belonging to a well-to-do farmer at Crew- 
kerne, was so ill that two veterinary Surgeons were sum - 
moned to consult as to what should be done. pon exam- 
ining the patient, they found something tied round the an- 
imal’s neck, and making inquiry, were told by the farmer’s 
wife that she and her husband agreed that the horse was 
bewitched, and she had therefore tied one of her garters 
round its neck to break the spell.— Chambers? Journal. 
—<0 > 
—Later developments indicate that the first suspicion that 
Captain Hall died from poison was wellfounded, N otwith- 
standing the efforts of Secor Robeson to prevent the pub- 
lic from obtaining correct information, the truth mus i 
eventually be known. 





