346 
FOREST AND STREAM. 


Sporting Gews fram Abroad. 
T certainly is a long way off to go, for a regular Mun- 
chausen, when one has to find the original article in 
Bombay, and where a Mr. Byrangee Jejeebhoy takes the 
place of the truthful German nobleman; but the story of a 
swan swallowed by a boa, and the bird remaining quite 
comfortable in the cavernous depth of the Python’s belly, 
is worth recording. The old Hindoo stock gave credence 
to many a wonderful tale, and nothing can be more poetic, 
not even the marvellous mythological story of the birth of 
Castor and Pollux, than the Indian report, that the Mother 
Swan laid eggs when swallowed by the snake, and that 

when the boa was killed, two lively cygnets made their ap- - 
pearance. If our oWn brave country is much inclined to 
the marvellous, let us not be monopolists nor prone to self 
agrandizement in this respect, and for the future modestly 
accord the palm for snake stories to the Bombay Samachar, 
a native Hindoo paper of the year 1873. But all questioning 
as to the veracity of this swan and snake story, being put 
aside, there is no end of improbable fictions told about the 
swallowing capacities of the boa, which are pretty generally 
believed. teography books are still in existence, and 
studied by children, where prints may be seen of a boa 
curled round a buffalo, and the ingenious little boy is made 
to believe, according to the text, that afler strangling the 
animal in his coils, the snake swallows the buffalo, horns 
and all. We want a good deal more of true natural history 
taught in our schools, not only touching snakes, but in re- 
gard to a great many other topics. 
—Dog shows in England seem to be fruitful sources of 
rows, troubles and recriminations, and John Bull’s pre- 
disposition to grumble finds in canine exhibitions ample 
scope. Complaints in regard to the awards made at the 
late Birmingham show are numerous, and angry corres- 
pondents to both’ the Meld and Land and Water seem to 
have imbibed something of the snarl and bark of the pecu- 
liar animals exhibited. The complaint is made, that with 
a fixed standard of points as to appearance the proper tape 
measures are not made by the, judges, and that once a dog 
has been given a prize in some previous exhibition, no 
matter whether better dogs are brought into competition 
with the former victor, the prize dog has always fresh hon- 
ors heaped on him, in fact that there is a ‘‘dog-ring.” AL 
kinds of damaging insinuations are advanced, and so many 
hard words are interchanged, that we should suppose the 
situation of a dog-judge, would be no sinecure. Removed, 
as we are, from the scene of action, we think, ourselves, 
that the judgment of a single man might sometimes be at 
fault, and that it would be better to have at least three 
judges for every class of dogs, and that a majority of 
opinions would be final. It must be remembered, however, 
as expressed by us frequently, that looks, alone, are not 
always the criterions of a'good dog, and that very often it 
may happen that the best dog is not the finest looking, for 
beauty is but skin deep. So much dissatisfaction occurred 
in the awards to mastiffs at the Birmingham show, that 
twenty-nine gentlemen members of the Mastiff Club have 
pledged themselves, giving their names, not to exhibit their 
club dogs at any future show, where a particular judge is 
appointed. > 
—Just before the Chr Pee holidays Englishmen take 
to foot ball, and we see accounts of glorious matches with- 
out end, The old Etoniaus against the old Harrovians, the 
University College Hospital vs. St. 
carrying their sports to Germany, we have a foot ball 
match of Frankfort on the Maine, vs. Hesse Darmstadt. This 
latter game started and the noble institution of foot ball 
owes its origin in Frankfort, to the efforts of the Rev. Mr. 
Hood, the residing English Chaplain in the good city of 
the Burghers. Think of an American clergy man lending 
his countenance to such a dreadful thing as aiding ina 
rational manly sport, and what the American world would 
say about the matter ! 
—The Zodlogical Society has lost an old favorite, that is 
to say in a naturalistic sense, for towards mankind the de- 
parted never was on very amicable terms. The big female 
Indian Rhinoceros is dead. The derunct weighed between 
two and three tons, and Mr. Frank Buckland is in despair. 
This naturalist speaks of her hide being in some places two 
or three inches in thickness, and as hard as the plate of an 
iron-clad man-of-war. Recently, at our Geographical 
Society, we saw some native African bucklers covered with 
what was cvidently rhinoceros hide, and they seemed to 
us to be able to almost resist a rifle ball. By the way, Mr. 
Buckland speaks in a kindly way of rhinoceros flesh, 
which he found to be excellent eating, tasting like beef. 
Tiere is no reason why rhinoceros should not be admirable 
food. Naturalists have frequently an opportunity of indul- 
ging in peculiar tidbits. We trust, however, 
idermist friend of ours was not offended when we refused 
the other day to eat a slice of panther nicely boiled. We 
might indulge in the graminiverous, but not in the carniver- 
ous way. Though a young owl, nicely basted, is quite as 
good eating as any chicken. 
Se 
An Aponocy.—Among the multitudinous duties which 
devolve on the conductor of a paper, notwithstanding the 
utmost vigilance, it is sometimes impossible to police the 
various departments which make up the whole. 
In our last issue, among the Book Reyiews, appeared a 
criticism on the Birds of America by Thomas Jasper, A. 
M., M. D., of a most peculiar optimist character, which re- 
view as far as the laudatory expressions therem are con 

George’s Hospital, and | 
that a'tax-— 
veyed, we are to-day forced to considerably modify. The 
work has no novelty in its compilation, and there is very 
little if. anything introduced into the body of the book re- 
lating to the later history of birds. It might as well have 
been made up from Wilson’s account, as from any other 
source. Jasper’s book does not even embrace what Audu- 
bon or Nuttall give on the life or history of the species. 
The plates are far from being accurate, and are poorly col- 
ored. The book might serve as a series of illustrations 
offspecies, but as a guide to American Ornithology or as a 
manual of reference, it isscarcely of more account than the 
text of Goldsmith’s Animated Nature. The book, too, is 
peculiar for its want of connection, and species are all jum- 
bled together in the most confusing and distracting manner, 
a duck coming after a hawk, followed on the next page by 
a swallow. 
We are obliged to declare that to the ornithologist, the 
book is almost entirely worthless. As many of our read- 
ers, scientific or otherwise, rely on the judgment of the 
Forest AND STREAM, and make purchases of such books, 
as are recommended, it is a matter of regret to us that this 
most laudatory review of a useless book should have ap- 
peared in our columns. The word “‘sold,” though neither 
classic nor elegant, is applicable in this particular review, 
and we make due apology for its publication. We have 
taken measures that such mistakes shall not happen in the 
future 

—ah 2 
A Trrpure.—Some months ago we published in the 
Forest AND STREAM-an humorous poem called A PrurTE 
PastroraL. Whenit was produced by us, we thought it was 
clever. Perhaps we might not have been, after all, quite 
competent to judge of the quality of such matter as appears 
in our columns, and we were therefore the thore grateful 
when we found our own poor judgment so fully substan- 
tiated. Ever since the ‘‘Piute Pastoral” was printed by us our 
poor little savage has been wandering about from paper to 
paper throughout the land, as some waif, without a father or 
mother to it. As it was an amusing pit of verse, the joke 
to us is, that the ‘‘Piute'Pastoral” has never been credited to 
the Forest AND StREAM. We only notice this in a mild 
way, because some day or other there might be a wrangle 
about this very same poem, and we might be abused about 
it. To-day we find our own Piute in four of our exchanges 
without credit. In fact, from the way we are copied, both 
as to poetry and prose, the editors of the Forresr AND 
STREAM commence to feel quite encouraged, for they are 
certainly meeting with the decided approbation of quite a 
number of other papers (without acknowlegement). In the 
present number we produce ‘‘ The Spectre Muleteer,” by 
the author of the ‘‘ Piute Pastoral.” We think it may be 
copied : let us indulge the hope that it wi!l be credited ! 
a : 
Tur CHALLENGE OF R. L. Pricn, Esq., AND THE REV. 
J. Cummine Macpona.—A meeting of gentlemen, owners 
of American bred pointers and setters, who are Aésivous of 
accepting the challenge, will be announced by us in due 
time, as we have every reason to suppose that the challenge 
will be accepted. Butit would be premature for us to ad- 
vise the public that such was the fact until our numerous 
friends are thoroughly acquainted with the rules governing 
field trials in England, a!l of which rules we will publish 
shortly for general information. 
As disputes and differences too frequently arise not only 
in sporting, but in business, from the want of a clear un- 
derstanding, we have advised our friends to wait until all 
was made plain and distinct tothem in regard to the con- 
test which is to determine as to the comparative excellence 
of the English or American bred dogs; also, that it is right 
and proper that gentlemen should know what tests and 
points they have to encounter before accepting a challenge 
of this kind. We believe that a little patience-exercised in 
this way will eventually prove of mutual benefit to all par- 
ties interested, and that the adoption of such rules and reg- 
ulations as are in vogue in England at field trials will add 
materially to the pleasures and excitements of not only this, 
but all future contests. 

oo 
ACCIDENT TO Mr. Wu. H. Conkuiy.=We regret to hear 
of quite a serious accident of which our worthy Superin- 
tendent of the Menagerie of the Central Park, Mr. Conk- 
lin, was the victim. A camel, generally known for his 
amiability, had had a_ nail dtiven into his foot, and had 
shown temper of late. On Mr. Conklin’s approaching him, 
without a moment’s notice, the camel—one of’ the largest 
in the Park collection—scized the gentleman by its teeth,” 
Tt oat 
lifting him from the ground and trampling on him. 
had not been for the fortunate arrival of some of the under 
keepers, Mr. Conklin would have undoubtedly been killed. 
We are pleased to say that’ Mr. Conklin ‘is once more about, 
though still bruised and foreed to walk with a stick. 
a ee te 
THE -ADIRONDACKS.—As we are constantly publishing 
descriptive and-accurate, sketches of all parts of the Adiron- 
dack Wilderness, our readers will find it greatly to their 
benefit to provide themselves with that very réliable* ‘guide 
book, called ‘‘ Tam Mopern BABES IN. THE Woops,” which 
can be obtained by sending an order to E: R. Wallace, 
Syracuse, New York. By referring to the: guide and com- 
paring notes- with the articles’ in our paper, they will be 
enabled in time to acquire very thorough information of a 
large part of the territory. The contributions in our paper 
are not written by tyros, but by gentlemen most thor oughly 
conversant with the localities of which they write. In the 
course of a twelve-month, we presume that the aggregate, of 
these articles, if compiled, would make a very complete | 
and reliable book. 
Sea and River Sishing. 
FISH IN SEASON IN JANUARY: 
——— > — 
SOUTHERN WATERS, 

Pompano. Trout, (Black Bass.) Sheepshead. 
Snapper. Drum, (two species.) Tailorfish. 
Grouper. Kingfish. Sea Bass. 
Rocktfish. Striped Bass, Rockfish. 
Sees 
Among the contributions to this number of our paper 
will be found one containing some very useful and inter- 
esting information respecting black bass and muscalonge 
fishing in Lake Pepin, an expanse of the Mississippi river 
bounding the State of Minnesota. We are much enamoured 
with the mode of fishing for muscalonge therein described. 
The sport fairly rivals the contests with the great bass at 
Cuttyhunk and Pasque Island. The trolling among the 
Thousand Islands is but drudgery in comparison. One 
must not mind getting his feet wet though—up to the arm- 
pits! It is brave work, and worthy of a graduate of Wal- 
ton school with all the honors. But this ‘“‘hoisting” of a 
forty-pound fish with an ignominious kick to start him— 
what are we to think of that? And what’s to stop him, with 
twenty miles of sea-room, when once he gets started? Or 
should the tackle hold with all the line run off, what life in- 
surance agent would take risks on the man that is up to 
his waist in water on the bar? Why, he would cut such a 
wake directly for New Orleans that he would astonish all 
the river craft and swash the Mississippi from shore to 
shore! Nothing could stop him while wind and bottom 
held, and the fisherman stuck to the but of the rod. 
As to the bass fishing experiencos of our correspondent, 
they add corroborating testimony to the affirmative of the 
question, ‘‘Do black bass take a fly?’ Our readers will 
accept the recommendation here offered for a trip to the 
Upper Mississippi next mid-summer, 
—A valued correspondent in Grafton, Vermont, who is 
an expert angler, (avd a clergyman, like twenty others at 
least of our subscribers snd‘ coadjutors,) sends us the fol- 
lowing instance of what he terms “hydraulic fishing.” 
The device is as novel as it appears to be practicable—for 
the testimony is undoubted—and ought immediately to en- 
gage the attention of the savans who are at present occu 
pied in experiments for producing artificial rain: 
Eprror Forrest AND STREAM:— 
Judge B. Leete, of Chester, Vermont, was widely known 
for his genial qualities and his devotion to the ‘‘gentle art.” 
He was the author of an ainusing device, in his later years, 
for taking the shy trout in the over-fished waters of his 
vicinity. There was a pond in Windham where it was im- 
possible to catch trout on a fair day. The Judge was too 
old to fish in the rain, but was determined nevertheless to 
get his skare of the fish. So he took his son along with 
him and an old fashioned syringe that would hold about a 
pint of water. His son worked the syringe and the judge 
dropped his line under the falling spray which was thus 
produced. The trout were actually taken in by these in- 
termittent showers; they readily came to the Judge’s 
hook, and a fine string was taken; while at the same time 
it was not possible to provoke a rise anywhere else upon 
the pond. 
As the Judge never took out a patent for this application 
of hydraulics to the gentle art, the readers of the Foresr 
AND STREAM are free to make whatever use of it they please. 
8:73.52 P:: 
ewe at 
208 West Logan Square, Pura., Jan. 8, 1874. 
Mr. Cuas. HALLOCK. 
Tam charmed with your paper and much gratified with 
the success you are achieving. I don’t see how a man who 
handles the rod.or gun can keep up with the times without 
it. I hear it spoken of everywhere_in terms of high com- 
mendation, and will do all I can in its interest. I am not 
a shootistas you know, but, as you do know, much inter- 
ested in angling and national and State fish culture, and re- 
joice to see that Commissioner Baird and his coadjutors at 
Washington and amongst State Fish Commissioners and 
Fish Culturists, are making Forest AND STREAM a medium. 
(and indeed it is the only one entirely suitable) of giving 
their operations publicity. E 
IT have not the time nor inclinajion to get up clubs, but 
recommend it to all sportsmen I gossip with, and have sent 
you not a few subscribers, as I think, by so doing. I send 
you a short communication, and will send others longer as 
I get time and a topic offers. Yours, truly, 
THADDEUS Norzis. 
eee 
ACCIDENTAL PROPAGATION OF SHAD. 
Eprror FOREST AND STREAM :-— 
A fact worthy of note was related to me by Mr. W. A. 
Smith of your city, about the time that Mr. Seth Green 
made his first successful experiment of hatching shad arti- 
ficially on the Connecticut. Some twenty years ago or more 
‘Mx. Smith was spending a week or two in ne neighbor- 
hood of Newburg on tle Hudson, near the close of the 
shad fishing season. The contents of the seine were emp- 
tied or dipped into one or more large scows, one of which 
contained a few inches. of water in the bottom, probably 
from its being leaky. The scow was not used for some 
days, when Mr. Smith on observation found a great many 
young fish darting about in it, and wondered how they got 
there. A close examination, he told me, convinced him 
that they were shad fry. The short time required for the 
spawn of shad to produce youug fish, from sixty hours to 
three days,.as demonstrated by Mr. Green at Holyoke, as- 
sures him that they were from the spawn of the shad he 
