FOREST AND STREAM. 
343 

—PanrtiaL ALBrNorsmM my AnmrALS.—There have lately 
come to our notice two cases of partial albinoism in ani- 
mals. Oneis a squirrel (informant does not give the 
species,) which was killed near Owasso, Michigan. We 
have been favored with a photograph of it. The squirrel 
was entirely white, with the exception of a large roundish 
black spot on its back. Another isa common house rat, 
which is in the collection of the Long Island Historical 
Society, of Brooklyn. Itis mottled with its natural grayish 
color. Cases of partial albinoism in animals are rare, and 
all animals and birds that are not strictly albinoes, general- 
ly have their eyes the natural color. Albinoism in any 
form is but a freak of nature, and like melanism, is com- 
mon to both animals and birds. 
—‘‘The Comparative Scructure of the Limbs of Birds 
and Reptiles,” is the prize subject of 1874, at the disposal of 
the Boston Society of Natural History. The award will be 
$1,000. Articles for competition mus: be sent to the Boston 
Society of Natural History on or before the first of April. 
The prize of ’°73 was won by Mr. Alexander Agassiz. 

The Fennel. 
Ee geet 
CAN DOGS, REASON? 
eae ee 
New Lisson, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1873. 
Eprror Forest anD STREAM:— 
What an interesting book could be made up from the 
‘“TInstinct of Young Pointers,” and narratives of similar 
nature, from among the many breeds of dogs. I think 
your correspondent uses a wrong heading for his article. 
“Instinct” but poorly expresses the meaning of the actions 
of dogs at times. Ihave often noticed and experimented 
with dogs, and have about concluded that they possess a 
something higher than instinct, perhaps the power of 
reasoning. I know they possess the power of communica- 
tion, but how it is displayed is a mysterious proceeding; 
and yet there are numerous instances of this power being 
shown. There are occasions when a pointer pup will show 
the instinct of the breed, as I noticed in my dog, when he 
wasapup. The first time I took him with me when shoot- 
ing game, he showed the ‘‘blood” of his dam, an imported 
English slut. Iwas passing near a fallen tree, the top of 
which afforded a fine place for ruffed grouse, ‘‘pheasants.” 
The pup was walking close to the top when out came an 
old cock with that ‘‘whirr-rr” that startles even an old 
hunter; the pup was somewhat scared and retreated a few 
steps, but immediately walked up to the tree top and came 
to as pretty a stand as everI saw. I was delighted with 
him, and spoke to him in a mild tone to be “steady,” and 
kept him there until he could restrain his pup nature no 
longer, when he flushed the bird and jumped on the log, 
and watched its flight. He looked at me, as much as to 
say—‘‘I have marked it down,” and started directly for the 
bird. He pointed it again before I could get within shoot- 
ing distance. He had no previous training, as I considered 
him too young yet for this part of his training. He un- 
doubtedly had the ‘‘instinct” from his high breeding, , and 
that instinct developed into reason, (might I say it?) as he 
became older. Could it be impossible that like the mind of 
a child, weak at first, but in manhood, strong and able to 
comprehend the most profound subjects, a dog’s instinct 
develops into a higher degree of instinct? I am at a loss to 
know where to draw the dividing line between instinct and 
reason. On another occasion he undoubtedly showed his 
ability to reason. He came to the trail of a bevy of quail 
in the snow, and as they had been: flushed frequently that 
day by some pot hunters, they were very wild and running 
fast. He could not get them to stop, and backing a few 
yards he made a circle around and ahead of them, and 
catching the scent, he stood firm, waiting them to come to 
him, which they did. He knew I was behind them, and if 
he was before, we certainly would have them ‘‘flanked.” 
We were rewarded with two birds for our trouble. Was 
there no reasoning in this instance? On another occasion 
he pointed a bevy of quail under a ‘‘corn shock,” and as I 
came up, one ran out, which he quickly caught, and held 
the fluttering bird in his mouth while he stood firm on the 
balance. It was such an unusual sight for me that I did 
not notice anything else. A big yellow dog, belonging to a 
farmer near by, had noticed us, and before I was aware of 
his approach, he had ‘‘Max” by the throat and was worry- 
ing him. My first impulse was to shoot him, but a kick on 
the head satisfied him for an instant, when my dog imme- 
diately returned to the ‘‘point,” and the yellow brute again 
attacked him. Idrove him off again and then noticed that 
“Max” had never let go of the bird. I thought that was 
pointing under diticulties. Perhaps some of the Forxst 
AND STREAM readers have noticed stranger peculiarities 
than these I have mentioned, that would interest us all. I 
had a few years since a ‘‘shepherd” dog that I had trained 
to do almost anything but talk. I could relate instances of 
him that would prove beyond a doubt, that a dog can 
reason. I would like to have your opinion upon the subject. 
B. 
[Dogs—especially highly bred pointers and setters—have 
marked animal intelligence but no reasoning faculties. 
What you would like to designate as reason is simply a 
strong faculty inherent in the dam and more wonderfully 
enlarged in the puppy; but you will find, as the pup grows 
older, the other qualities less distinct.—Ep. | 
—Three hundred dollars in prizes will be awarded for 
dogs at the show to be held at Quebec on the 12th and 14th 
instants. 


27, 
DECEMBER 1873. 
Eprror Forrest AND STREAM :— 
In one of your numbers, I think there was some account 
of the instinct of dogs in finding their homes from long dis- 
tances, which recalls to mind an instance that came under 
the writer’s notice in the fall of 1872. A gentleman living 
on Long Island had a setter seven months old, and took him 
up to Orange County for the purpose of trying him on 
ruffed grouse and woodcock. We started out before day- 
light, with a thirteen mile ride before us, and two dogs in 
the wagon. After travelling half way or more the older 
dog became restless and we let them both out for a short 
run. Unforfunately the pup became alarmed at son.ething 
and started ahead of the wagon, running so rapidly that we 
lost sight of him. We traced him for some two miles along 
the road by inquiries, but could not find him; so leaving 
word at the different farm houses we passed, to keep him 
until our return, if he could be caught, we kept on our 
journey. 
After spending thet and the following day shooting, and 
meeting with fair success, we returned home, stopping on 
our way to inquire if the dog had been seen, but could hear 
nothing of him, Arrived at home, we found Mr. Puppy 
there, he having returned the same day we lost him, but 
how he ever found his way back, over eight or nine miles 
of hilly, crooked, country roads, never before travelled by 
him, 1s still a mystery to us. He is now well broken in, 
and excepting a little wildness at first, a splendid dog to 
shoot over. Crroie. 
Che Horse and the Course. 
ENDURANCE OF HORSES ON 
PRAIRIES. 
ae 



SSE AES 
IDDING adieu to my host, a young Scotch gentleman, 
at Fort Ellice, my little party turned once more 
towards the north-west and, fording the Qu’ Appelle five 
miles above its confluence with the Assineboine, struck out 
into a lovely country. It was the last day of October, and 
almost the last of the Indian summer. Clear and distinct 
lay the blue sky upon the quiet sun-lit prairie. The horses 
trotted briskly along under the charge of an English half- 
breed, named Daniel. Pierre Diome had returned to Red 
River, and Daniel was to bear me company as faras Carlton 
on the North Saskatchewan. My five horses were now be- 
ginning to show the effect of their incessant work, but it 
was only in appearance, and the distance traveled each day 
was increased instead of diminished as we journeyed on. I 
could not have believed it possible that horses could travel 
the daily distance which mine did without breaking down 
altogether under it; still less would it have appeared possible 
upon the food which they had to eat. We had neither hay 
nor oats to give them; there was nothing but the dry grass 
of the prairie, and no time to eat that but the cold, frosty 
hours of the night. Still we seldom traveled Jess than fifty 
miles a day, stopping only for one hour at midday and 
going on again until night began to wrap her mantle around 
the shivering prairie. My horse was a wonderful animal, 
day after day would J fear that his game little limbs were 
growing weary, and-that-soon he must give out; but no, 
not a bit of it; his black coat roughened and his flanks 
grew a little leaner, but still he went on as gamely and as 
pluckily as ever. Often, during the long day, I would dis- 
mount and walk along, leading him by his bridle, while the 
other two men and the six horses jogged on farin advance; | 
when they had disappeared altogether behind some distant 
ridge of the prairie my little horse would commence to look 
anxiously around, whinnying and trying to get along after 
his comrades; and then how gamely he trotted on when I 
remounted, watching out for the first sign of his friends 
again—far away little specks on the great wilds before us. 
When the camping place would be reached at nightfall, the 
first care went to the horse. To remove saddle, bridle and 
saddle-cloth, to untie the strip of soft buffalo-leather from 
his neck, and twist it well round his fore legs, for the pur- 
pose of hobbling, was the work of only a few minutes, and 
then poor Blackie hobbled away to find over the darkening 
expanse his night’s provender. Before our own supper of 
pemmican, half-baked bread and tea had been discussed, 
we always drove the band of horses down to some frozen 
lake hard by, and Daniel cut with the axe the little drinking 
h@les in the ever thickening ice; then up would bubble the 
water and down went the heads of the thirsty horses for a 
long pull at the too-often bitter spring, for in this region, 
between the Assineboine and the South Saskatchewan, 
fully half the lakes and pools that lie scattered about in 
vast variety, are harsh with salt and alkalis. Three horses 
ran loose while the other three worked in harness. These 
loose horses, one might imagine, would be prone to gallop 
away when they found themselves at liberty to do so; but 
nothing seems farther from their thoughts, they trot along 
by the side of their harnessed comrades apparently as 
though they knew all about it; now and again they stop 
behind to cross a bit of grass or tempting stalk of wild pea 
or vetches, but on they come again until the party has been 
reached; then, with ears thrown back, the jog-trot is re- 
sumed, and the whole band sweeps over hilland plain. To 
halt and change horses is only the work of two minutes— 
out comes one horse, the other is standing close by, and 
never stirs while the hot harness is being put upon him; in 
he goes into the rough shafts, and, with a crack of the half- 
breed’s whip across his flanks, away we start again. But 
my little Blackie seldom got a respite from the saddle; he 
seemed so well up to his work, so much stronger and better 
than any of the others that day after day I rode him, ‘think- 
ing each day, ‘‘ well, to-morrow I will let him run loose;” 
but when to-morrow came he used to look so fresh and 
well, carrying his little head as high as ever, that again I 
put the saddle on his back and another day’s talk and com- 
panionship would still cement our friendship, for I grew to 
like that horse as one only can like the poor dumb beast 
that serves us. I know not how it is, but horse and dog 
have worn themselves into my heart as few men have ever 
done in life; and now as day by day went by in one long 
scene of true companionship, I came to feel for little Blackie 
a friendship not the less sincere, because all the service 
was upon his side, and I was powerless to make his supper 
a better one, or give him a more cosy lodging for the night. 






He fed and lodged himself and he carried me—all he asked 
in return was a water-hole in the frozen lake, and that I 
cut him. Sometimes the night came down upon us still in 
the midst of a great open treeless plain, without shelter, 
water or grass, and then we would continue on in the iiky 
darkness as though our march was to last eternally, and 
poor Blackie would step out as if his natural state was one 
of perpetual motion. On the 4th of Nov. we rode over 
sixty miles; and when at length the camp was made in the 
lea of alittle clump of bare willows, the snow was lying cold 
on the prairies, and Blackie and his comrades went out to 
shiver throuyh their supper in the bleakest scene my eyes 
had ever looked upon.—Lieutenant Butler's ‘“‘ Great Lone 
Land.” 
—At Ocean View Riding Park, San Francisco, two races 
took place on Christmas Day. The First race was fora 
ourse of $1,000, free to all pacers and trotters to harness 
and to rule. There were ten entries, eight of which came 
to the post. Stewart and Lady Mac were second and head 
and head on the eighth mile. Stewart won. Time—29:131. 
The second match was a match running race between the 
celebrated mare Nell Flaherty and Joe Daniels. The match 
was a race for $2,000, one mile and a half dash. The race 
was a very even one, Joe Daniels winning by half a length. 
Time—?2:46. 
—At Agricultural Park, San Francisco, on December 
26th, a match race took place, between Cassins M. and 
Romeo. Distance, 4 miles out. Cassins M. won the race 
by a dozen lengths. Time—11:54. The result of this race 
was unsatisfactory to the friends of Romeo. 
—The.ageregate amount of prizes offered by the Mary- 
land Jockey Club for the spring meeting is about $10,000. 
—The Executive Committee of the American Jockey 
Club announce that the spring meeting for 1874 shall take 
place in June and the fall meeting in October, on and be- 
tween the first, second, and third Saturdays of the month. 
—Messrs. Homewood & Johnson, of Westfield, Chautau- 
qua County, N. Y., offer to match their bay stallion Tar 
River, nine years old, by Jack Tar, against Mr. George 
Treat’s California champion, Thad Stevens, for a race of 
four or five mile heats, best two in three or three in five, as 
the later chooses, for $25,000 or $50,000; the race to take 
place on some track in the State of New York, and be gov- 
erned by the rules of the American Jockey Club. 


5 Eee Be) 
aAuswers Ca Correspondents. 
stat Se 
[We shall endeavor in this department to impart and hope to receive 
such information as may be of service to amateur and professional sports- 
men. We will cheenfully answer all reasonable questions that fall within 
the scope of this paper, designating localities for good hunting, jish- 
ing, and trapping, and giving advice and insiructions as to outfils, an 
plements, routes, distances, SeCGSONSs, EXPENSES, TET Gies, traits, species 
governing rules, etc. All branches of the sportsman’s erst wil receive 
attention, Anonymous Communications net Noticed. 
pp 
Memphis, Tenn.—The address is 170 East Madison street, Chicago, Til. 
CarrBou, Woburn, Mass.—For leggings, etc., address C. Field & Co., 
735 Broadway, N. Y. See advertisement in this paper. 
W. J. K., Brooklyn.—Do you considera setter at flve or six years too 
old for hunting? Ans. Certainly not. 
W. E. T. Brooklyn.—Can you tell me where I can buy a good muzzle 
loading rifle? Ans. Look at the gun advertisers on cover pages. 
D. L. B., Bald Mountain, N. Y.—Excuse our mistake. The concern 
who made Spencer’s Repeating Rifle broke up some time ago. Ma- 
chinery and patents were dispersed, All not manufactured at present. 

Qurry.—Where can coast survey maps of Florida be obtained? Ans. 
At the houses of T. 8. & J. D. Negus, 140 Water street, and of D. Eg- 
gerts’ Sons, 74 Wall street. 
SHEPHERD, Ulster Co., New York.—Bathe your dog’s feet in rock salt 
and water, but if she has sore feet, procure five drops of oil of vitriol and 
one ounce of tineture of myrrh; add a little water, and bathe carefuily. 
=J.H. B., Brooklyn.—What makes ‘‘partridges’ drum? Ans. Neyer 
asked ’em. Anold Philadelphia sportsman says that all around his vi- 
cinity the birds are shot at so much that they are obliged occasionally to 
get up on a log toshake the shot out of their wings. 
Duncan, Lexington, Ky.—Certainly not. When hounds are running 
hard and suddenly come to a check, they on no account whatever ought 
to be interferred with or even spoken to; the fox has either laid down 
or turned short back. 
J. H. P., Chestnut street, Phila—Your breech-loader is good enongh. 
The central fire strikers should not be too short, or they may discharge 
the gua while closing it. If too long, they. impede the motions of the 
gun. Inapin fire gun the pin should stand in the exact line of the ham- 
mer, or the blow will bend it and not explode the cap. 
H. H., New York.—I have a valuable setter.’ He coughs and his eyes 
look dim. Ihave been feeding’him: on meat. Ans. As tohis eyes, sec 
Forest AND STREAM January 1st., in answer to H. 8.0. For the cough, 
etc., give of castor oil three parts, syrup of buckthorn three parts, syrup 
of poppies one part; mix, and give two tablespoonfuls. Drop the meat, 
W. Ellingwood, New York.—Please publish in your next issue how 
mapy grains of powder in a drachm, and how many grails in ofie ounce 
oflead. Ans. 27} grains of powder in a drachm and 480 grains of lead in 
an ounce. 
B. G., Eighth avenue, New York.—The answeryou require would be 
too long to treat thoroughly. Procure ‘‘Stonehenge’’ Shot Gun aud Rifle 
at, Routledge, 56 Walker street. We wili send you a cleaning rod for 
your gun for one subscription. Creedmoor membership costs $5. Write 
to Captain Wingate, Sec. N. R. A:, 194. Broadway. . We can procure you 
a setterif vou will state age, breed and price. 
C. H. E., New York.—I. At what place in this city can I get a hand 
pump made of tin, suitable to use in pumping out a small sail boat? Ans. 
Donglass Manufacturing Co., John street, New York. 2. Which is con- 
sidered the best brass shell made for breech-loading shot guns? Ans. 
Sturtevant metal shell. 3. Do Scott & Son make breech-loaders, cen- 
tral fire, 12 bore, 30 inches long, and weighiug § lbs? ans. Yes. 
@. S. S., Hartford, Conn,—1. What will a perfectly trained pointer, 
cost me, ayear and a half old? Ans. $100. 2. Can you get me one? 
Ans. Yes. 8. Will a setter cost less? Ans. Abouf the same.’ 4. What 
is the best book on training- and diseasés of dogs? Ans. Stonehenge” 
Shot Gun and 2tifle. 5. Will there be good ducking in Florda in March? 
Ans. Yes. 
K.—A perfect split bamboo single-hand fly rod shculd taper gradually 
and uniformly from the bulge of the but to the tip. The but is madeto 
bulge in order the better to fit fhe grasp of the hand and also to balance 
the rod. The reel is shipped 'on behind the hand, at ‘the extreme end of 
the but, partly to balance the rod, but mainly for! the more convenient 
thumbing of the line when fishing. Rods of this kind should have three 
joints only, varying from 3}to 4 feet in length, the tip-joint being 
generally a trifle shorter than the other two. A perfect rod of this class 
cannot be probably manufactured at a less price than $32. The usual re- 
tail price of the best makers is $40, 

