, 
370. 
upon me. I thrust my rifle forward; rising upon his hind 
legs he dropped upon all fours again as I lowered the rifle. 
He now advanced toward me with head lowered, moving it 
after the manner of an infuriated bull. It began to look as 
if it mig.. become too interesting for one of us, so stepping 
back behind the tree, I stopped the scene by shooting him 
through the head. 
[returned frém this trip with eleven deer, flve of which 
fell by my Adirondack rifle, and the whole expense, includ- 
ing six deer purchased, did not exceed one hundred and 
sixty dollars. 
The hunter on killing a deer is obliged to cover the same 
with sticks and jogs to prevent the ravens (corvus corax) 
from picking holes in the animal. He needs to mark the 
spot by blazing a tree, so that when ready to bring out the 
body he may find the exact spot without difficulty. It is 
of the utmost importance for every one entering the woods 
to carry acompass, matches and a few biscuits and a small 
hatchet. These should not be left in camp but carried 
whenever an excursion is undertaken, and even when thu- 
equipped one should not be too venturesome 9n first enters 
ing a strange country. One unaccustomed to wood life 
should neither be foolhardy nor independent. 
The following incident suggested in part the above re- 
marks: A physician by profession came to our shanty. 
‘‘Hfe did not wish to secure the services of a guide; could 
take care of himself; had been in the woods before; was not 
ereen;” &c. Our professionals said, ‘‘well, we will see 
how this man will come out; guess he will change his mind 
after he has slept out one night; good chance for a stranger 
to den out-all night in this country.” After dinner on the 
day of his arrival, before leaving camp, he put on a long 
and exceedingly heavy overcoat. When I remarked, ‘‘Dr., 
you will find that coat inconvenient,” he replied, ‘‘that he 
intended to sleep out that night and mignt need it in the 
place of a blanket.” This was said ironically. He pro- 
vided himself with matches, a small luncheon, but not 
with a compass, I said that it would afford me great pleas- 
ure to have him accompany me. He replied, ‘‘I will try it 
alone; if I get lost, it will not be the first time.” We separated. 
Toward the close of the day, one after another of our 
party returned to the shanty until all had arrived save the 
Doctor and two hunters. Wesdon heard the steps of Joe 
and John approaching, when the foremost, as he entered, 
exclaimed, ‘‘the Doctor is lost; he is now holoaing near 
Wolf’s Swamp, and we have been shooting and screaming 
ourselves hoarse for half an hour; we have come in for 
cartridges to see if we cannot give him the direction of the 
camp.” They returned to the hills, but soon came back 
saying they could get no response from him. ‘‘He will 
perish,” said one another, ‘‘the wolves will eat him, boots 
and all.” <A third, ‘‘should he live through the night he 
will never find his way out.” Nothing could be done that 
night. We agreed to turn out early the next morning and look 
for him. One of our party found him next day three 
miles from camp, almost perished. He was the wildest 
looking man that I ever saw; his wild restless eyes seemed 
set back for meditation; his mental suffering for the time 
must have been terrible. On the previous night, finding 
himself lost, he built a fire and a bough house to keep him 
warm and to protect himself from the wolves which 
howled about all night. With daybreak he commenced to 
tramp, and traveled in a circle, not varying his course more 
than half a mile up to the time found. 
BRIE¥ DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE MAMMALS INHABITING 
THESE DISTRICTS. 
Here, as elsewhere, the order carnivera suffers most by 
advancing civilization. The carniveras must either mi- 
grate far from the settlements or be exterminated. In these 
unnatural and forced changes they suffer much, and while 
the districts described contain representatives of nearly all 
the species of this order indigenous to the Canadas, yet 
they are few in number when compared with what they 
were a few years ago, and are rapidly decreasing. 
One of the most important and valuable of these on ac- 
count of its flesh and fur, and yet most dreaded by the 
early settler is the black bear, (wrsus Americanus.) This 
animal is quite common throughout the Canadas, a num- 
ber having been killed on the Bonne Chere this fall, and 
also in the vicinities of Coulogne and Black rivers. I did 
not meet with a black bear during my trip, since it was the 
period of its hibernation. I was surprised to find these 
animals denned up for the winter, since the ground had 
not been covered with snow more than a week, and the 
days fine and not excessively cold. Their habit is to wan- 
der about some few days after the first fall of snow before 
going into winter retreats. They select and prepare their 
habitations at the close of autumn. Occasioually one or 
more of these animals camp out all winter. I know of 
two that took possession of a swamp and although hunted 
by several partics at times until the spring, were not killed 
or driven from the swamp. Their beds which were nu- 
merous were usually formed by bending down small cedars 
and other evergreen trees. 
Wolves are very abundant in all districts inhabited by 
deer, There is but one variety found in the Canadas, (C7. 
occidentalis, var. grisevalbus.) These animals hunt in packs 
and never attack man or quadrupeds except in companies. 
When in packs they are cunning and ferocious, when alone 
cringing and cowardly. Though gregarious, they are 
often found separate, and are then perfectly harmless. It is 
their habit to keep in the vicinity of the hunter’s camp. 
This they do not merely for the refuse of the camp, but 
more to secure the wounded game that may escape. It is 
surprising to note how quickly these animals will strike the 
trail of a wounded deer. Indeed where I hunted this fall, 
if any of the party were so unfortunate as toslightly wound 
a deer, and the darkness prevent following it, in the 
evening we were sure to hear the wolves pressing it to the 
death. These animals are great gluttons; a half dozen 
have been known to eat an entire deerat one meal. They 
fight terribly among themselves over a carcass, the largest 
and strongest of the pack keeping at bay the weak until 
they have satisfied themselves. 
One of our party while hunting one day was treed by a 
pack of these wolves. While trailing a wounded deer 
three miles from the shanty, in the edge of an extensive 
swamp, the full cry of a whole gang of these animals 
broke upon his ears, fairly unnerving the old trapper and 
hunter, though to him these were no new sounds. There 
was but one chance of escape, he must take refuge in some 
tree. Turning from the trail, he ran a short distance, then 
stopped, hoping that they might pass by, following the 
deer tracks. He was, however, disappointed in this. On 
they came, turning where he turned, like bloodhounds on 
his track, vieing with each other in the chase as to which 
FOREST AND STREAM. — 
should have the pleasure of first lapping his blood. He 
sprang into atree with the agility of a panther. Seated on 
one of its branches out of their reach, he examined the 
priming of his. rifle. Satisfied that it was all right, he 
drew forth his hunting knife and strapped it upon his buck- 
skin pants. On they came, snarling, snapping and barking, 
the leader, an immense savage fellow, seeing him the 
moment they appeared in sight. A few jumps and they 
were about the tree, their eyes flashing, mouths open, 
gnashing their teeth, mad and crazily wild because their 
prey was ont of reach. The hunter drew “old Faithful” 
to his eye, extended the muzzle downward upon the heart 
of the leader, and with its report the wolf leaped into mid- 
air and fell at the root of the tree. It spoke again, and 
another which seemed to take command fell mortally 
wounded. Now they broke rank and scattered in every 
direetion, deserting the dead and wounded, ‘‘I re-loaded 
old Faithful,” he afterwards said, ‘‘and descended to the 
geound, where I stood for a moment, thinking that they 
might return, but as they did not, I. commenced to skin the 
first one I shot. You may not know,” he continued, 
“what cunning creatures wolves are. I have known them 
to leave aman in atree so as to get him to come down, 
and return cautiously and thus outwit him.” 
This was the largest wolf of the variety that I ever saw; 
length from point of nose to root of tail, five feet; color of 
a reddish brown shade, mixed sparingly with gray, except 
the front parts of the legs half way up, which were dark 
brown, ‘The tail was very bushy. The skins of these ani- 
mals have but little commercial value, selling from two to 
three dollarsonly. The Government pays a bounty of six 
dollars on each and every wolf’s head brought to the 
proper town official. About the only successful way of 
hunting these is by poisoning them with strichnine, placed 
in venison or other meat. 
There are inhabiting these districts three varieties of the 
fox species, (Vulpes fulvas,) the only species found in the 
Canadas. 
The red fox (v. fulvus) is the most abundant. This af- 
fords good sport in some localities where it is hunted with 
hounds. 
The cross fox ». f. var. diewsotus) is in form very similar 
to the red fox. Its head and back isa dark gray. There 
is a dark stripe running across the shoulders and another 
passing over this at right angles down the back, making 
the form of a cross, from which the fox is supposed to de- 
rive its name. 
The black fox, or silver fox, v. f. var. argentatus) is ex- 
ceeding rare throughout the Canadas. Occasionally, how- 
ever, there are a few killed. Its color is of a glossy, silvery 
black, sprinkled sparingly with shining white hairs on the 
back, loins and thighs, and tip of the tail silvery white. 
The fur of this fox is exceedingly soft, fine, and of great 
beauty. 
The fox fur trade of the Canadas is large and quite re- 
munerative, there being quantities of their skins annually 
shipped to Europe. 
very highly, a single, a number one skin, in England, sell- 
ing as high as thirty pounds. 
The Canada lynx (lynx Canadensis) is common to most of 
the forests of Ontario and Quebec, though you may cross 
and recross their numerous trails without meeting one of 
them. Thelynx though quite a large animal, measuring 
about three feet in length, is of a harmless disposition and 
timid. It is with great difficulty that the hunter comes 
upon these animals unawares. The animal will neverthe- 
less, when driven to bay, defend itself, spitting and scratch- 
ing like a cat. I was told of a wounded lynx which with 
claws and teeth mangled the hands and face of a woodman 
in a most frightful manner before it could be dispatched. 
It is ordinarily easily killed, a single blow from a stick be- 
ing sufficient. Its skin is of little value, and its flesh is not 
suitable for man’s food, consequently the animal is seldom 
disturbed. The Indian, however, who eats the flesh of al- 
most every beast that roams the forest, declares it tender 
and very sweet. The lynx isa good swimmer and a fair 
traveller. It preys on birds and small animals, and is es- 
pecially fond of the hare (/epus Americanus.) 
The river animals proper of the Canadas embrace the 
the otter (lutra Canadensis,) the American beaver, (C. Can- 
adensis,) the mink, (putorvus wson Rich.,)and the musk rat, 
Tiber Zbethicus, Cuvier.) These are found throughout the 
watered portions of these districts. The haunts of the 
otter and the. beaver are on streams rarely visited save by 
the hunter and trapper. 
The otter is au exceedingly interesting animal. It is 
about four and a half feet long, including the tail, which 
measures eighteen inches. Various naturalists in their 
descriptions of it have been unfortunate. Among these is 
Goldsmith, who informs us that its color is white. Cuvier 
confounds it with the otter of Brazil. Pennant with the 
Enropean otter. Another gives its length two and a half 
feet. Its usual color du.ing the summer is a deep, lively 
brown; late in the fall, quite black on the back, and under- 
neath of a lighter color; the sides of the head, throat and 
breast, gray, varying to brown. 
The otter lives in holes on brooks and rivers, the en- 
trance being from the water under the banks, and usu- 
ally located with reference toa gravelly or stony bottom. 
These subsist almost entirely on fishes, though when their 
favorite food becomes scare they will eat almost anything 
that comes in their way. Sometimes during the winter 
they undertake exploring expeditions in search of open 
streams, and it is quite remarkable the directness of their 
course to waterfalls and rapids that are frozen. They 
are easily tamed, and have been trained in Europe to catch 
fish for their masters, 
are taken by means of traps. The price of these furs. this 
fall was from nine to eleven dollars gold each. They bring 
forth their young in the month of April, which never ex- 
ceed three in number. 
The beaver’s habitation is close to wild meadows, or as 
they are called, ‘‘beaver meadows,” through which streams 
everrun. These are due to their genius and industry. 
Years ago they constructed their dams across brook and 
rivulet, obstructing their course, flooding valleys and cre- 
ating ponds. On the banks of these they built their houses. 
In time the trees ceased to grow and fell on the innundated 
ground, and the rain together with spring thaws brought 
deposits of soil from the banks and hills adjacent. Soon 
the beavers migrated, the dams broke away, the pent up 
waters escaped, the brook and rivulet returned to their for- 
mer courses, and ran musically as of old, and out of the 
rich soil sprang up in the wilderness wild grasses to feed 
the pioneer’s cattle. 
It was the writer's good fortune on this trip to meet with 

























































The fur of the last variety is esteemed - 
They are hunted for their fur, and. 

four comparatively newly built dams. These were exam= — 
ined with great care. The work was executed with such 
system and skill that it was difficult to persuade one’s self if 
that this was not the result of man’s planning and execut- 
ing. That any man should look upon the work of the dj 
beaver (house and dam), and suppose the animal possessed a 
of mere instinct and not capable of thought and reflection, — - 4 
is only solvable on the ground that he is pledged to the sup- 4 
port of the theory that all animals are void of reason. The b 
ingenuity of the beaver in planning and devising is too ap- ; 
parent in his architectural monuments for the unprejudiced a 
to refer all to blind instinct. : q 
The beaver is represented as building almost entirely in 3 
the night. Since this is contrary to the nature and habits % 
of the majority of quadrupeds it requires more than mere é 
statements to give it credence. It is very doubtful indeed 
if they ever build in the night, unless in situations where A 
there is danger of being disturbed in the day. Indians 
and white trappers have assured me that they work most 
vigorously in the daytime. 5 
The manner of their felling trees is ‘illustrayed by the o 
following incident related to me by a white trapper: ae fe 
was out,” he said, “looking for new: beaver dams. ‘ 
Having struck quite a laage creek, I came suddenly upon 
two of these animals hard at work, They were cutting 
down atree. As they had not seen me, I thought I would 
watch them, thinking that I might learn something of the 
creatures. They were onthe opposite side of thetree, |. 
standing on their hind legs. The tree was gnawed all ry 
around, and they were rapidly working into its heart. I 
had not remained long before it gave signs of falling, 
when one stepped back a few paces from the tree, where e 
he stood up, while the other continued to work. When : 
about to fall the one standing at a distance struck the 
ground a vigorous stroke with his tail, the other jumped 
one side, escaping in the opposite direction from which it 
fell.” The animal does not cut down trees by means of 
| its tail but fells them with its teeth. Neither does it use 
its tail as a trowel when plastering its house. These are 
vulgar notions. The only instruments used by these car- ; 
penters and masons in their architectural works are their 
teeth and paws. The shape of the tails, together with the 
habit of constantly flapping it when at work doubtless gave 
rise to these fallacies. 
The beaver’s house is constructed of the same materials 
as his dam, small limbs of trees, short pieces of wood, 
bushes and branches, lapping and crossing each other, 
representing an immense inverted willow basket, the struc- 
ture being filled in with gravel or mud, the outside over- 
lapped with willow, birch and poplar. I have never yet 
seen the dome plastered house, with front and back doors, 
so often met with in works of natural history. His house 
looks very much like a mammoth fish hawk’s nest inverted 
It lacks the beauty and architectural design observable in 
the nests of many of our birds. The beaver deserts his 
house in the summer months and camps on lake and 
stream like a true angler. His dwelling is erected before 
his dam is constructed. His fur though still in demand is 
not so valuable and fashionable as it was once. The ani-~ 
mal is especially fond of the stem of the water lilly (nuphar 
luteum.) , : 
The mink is very abundant on all streams throug 
fur regions of the Canadas. Its food consists ] 
frogs and fishes. It does not migrate from civilized'd 
tricts, but remains and often visits the early settlers’ 



poultry yard. The fur im season is worth from two to five. Uae 
dollars, and is of a dark reddish brown color. Se 
The musk rat dwells here in his flattened, miniature, ‘i 
peaver-like house not much disturbed. Occasionally the 
Indian hunter, while seated on the margin of some lake at 
the close of day, calls it forth out of the lilly bearing cove 
bya plaintive sound made by chirping with the lips through 
closed hands. 
The only game bird in these districts is the ruffed grouse 
(tetrao umbellus,) These congregate in flocks of fifties 
about three o’clock P. M. daily upon the birch ridges to 
feed upon the buds, their principal food during the deep 
snow season. At the approach of night they return to i 
the swamps, their places of cover. P 
Much has been said of late pro and con about the game 
qualities of this bird. My experience is that in districts 
where the ruffed grouse is but little disturbed it affords but 
poor sport and cannot be ranked with game birds. While 
hunting in the wilds of Nova Scotia and the Canadas I 
have often flushed these birds to see them light in trees, 
to my great surprise, directly over my head, where they 
sit and look at me, while I walked about throwjng stones 
_and sticks at them, they scarcely ever flying before hit. I 
once saw my Indian guide knock one out of a tree with a 
stone that was not over ten feet from the ground. I find , 
that these birds in the wilds of our own State and also of . 
Pennsylvania are much wilder and more shy of both man 
and dog than in similar localities in the Provinces. 
It is also my experience that in regions where the grouse 
is constantly disturbed they afford good sport, being among 
the liveliest of all of our game birds and the most difficult 
to kill on the wing. There can be no doubt of the game 
qualities of the civilized grouse. Poor shots and poor dogs 
have good reason to complain-of this bird. The one is 
constantly flushing without ever making a peint, and the 
ether is ever shooting without bagging a single bird. 
A. B. LAMBERTON. 
i 
MR. MUGGINS GOES A DUK SHUTIN. 

Drer Eprror Forrest AND STREEM:— . 
Wun da Jast ottum, I sterted out to shute duks. If thare 
is ennything that I like better then ennything els that I 
don’t like.as wellas ennything els that I like better than 
anything that I don’t like so well, its shutin’ duks. Itsmy ~ 
phorte. J never shot any duks on the wing, except when 
tha was in the watter and helt thare wings still. I never 
cud hit a wing worth a sent when it was floppin’ around. 
L stroled off torze Koney iland, becaws I'd herd that duks 
was indiggeans to that klimate. Indiggeans means of fad 
spontainyus groath and produkshan. If enny boddy douts «> 
it, let hin. dout, who kairs? : 
After fouragin’ along through the orchards, I krost over 
down by a crik and thare, shure anuf I ome a flok of 
regler kanvas baks. Thare wasa gote in the lot whare A 
was. I menshan this, not from enny affeckshan for the 
gote—not mutch—but because he figgers prominent in the 
subsekwent paiges of this sadd story. 
I krawled around verry kawchusly, for duks is skeery 
critters, till I got a good posishon behind a stump, an’ then 
I drawed up my Remington reffel, and got a good sight on 

he 4 
