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FRAAK roh'L'S T/:h"S

FUf//77VK Spnirrixa SKF/rcilEs;

Tlii- Mifurllancous Artici'cs iif^on S/^itrl ,viJ Sporl

iii:^, Ori;:;inaliy /'ti/'.'i's/icJ in the F.ariv

American Miv^aJiici and

Periodkah.

IIY ! UK L.MK ^

¥'

u/i./jAM i/Ex/n- iiEianarr.

Aulli' r (il •■ l-rauli l-orcMcr's licl.l Spi.ri.,. ■ " lih iliid I-isliiUs'," ■•Aiucrii.in ( ,.iii|r.

in ils SciSMiis," "War«i,k Wo,..l;inls, n.c n.-.;r M.ilktr',."

•' M\ .iliouliMK bos," ••cJii.iriKl..ii lliuuil-,." cli .

f . hui ri:u.

I Will: ^1 M.lii .|r ol Illiillhur, .;ih1 Nllllior.j, la U-.p! 111,11 u .Ncli;..

r.v
WILL WILD WOOD,

AnUior ut " Miiniuirh (it Kinmtnt Spou>-iijii." cl. .

/

WKMFIHI.IJ. WlbCUNMN.

(T

Enlirtd, anordini; loAttcJ Cull ;rt^f. in tlic Year 1S7S, bv

V . 1: . 1' O N I> .
/n l/ie Ujjictofthe Librarian of Coiiffrc.ts. at Wasliinffloii.

-

/ii-;reyf, in llic Vfar 1S7S, hv
D N I> .
Caiiffrcss. at IViif/iin^'/oii.

riir M'MiKERs 01 FiiANK r\yj<EsrEi<.

1 -lis \ol,rMl< OF

KU <■■ I Tl V v. S ri^lLTI N c; H K KTI :i V. -
IS

ui-.iMicrii'i.i.v ni;t)i''ATri).

BY

r II E F I) r TO 11 .

lor
inl
llu

ilH

;in
1)1-1
liK

sp(
th«

up.

pel

I'K I.IA C/:

\ (ilijfcl ill pi-esciitinjf a work ot this kimi lo tin- -portiny
public, iit tlii> tiiiii', is qviitc liillv tlufMicil in llii' iiitroilui'-
loiv cliaptcr, and to this I have but llttU' ti> ailil. The utility and
inti'icsl (if a volmnt.' of tliis kind wil!, I liiisl, be apiiarcnl in
the most casur.l observer. '1 lu' \vritini;s of •' I''rank I nre-ter,'"
as stateil elsewhere, are too well and lavorublv known to rii|uire
an npoloifv for placinjf a new collection of Ins superb sketches
before the fiatcrnity of which he was, white livintj, llio l)rii,'hte-t
liKht.

1 desire here to acknowledf^e tny obli<;ations lo that keen
sporlsnian p.nd delightful sporting writer, " 'I'DKophihis," whosi^
i^enerous aid and co-operation in this work has fjreatly lessened
the task of the writer in gathering from various sources the
i;eins from Forester's pen which have been, until now, ailrift
u))on the sea of literature.

XS'itli these preliminary remarks, I leave the reader to the
perusal of "Frank Forester's l"uL;iti\e Sporting Sketches."

TiiK FiiiToir

I'l

I

C().\ ■r/:.\ 7 S.

iNTllcilHtlTiiIlV, . ,; . . . , . ,

A Mkmihii <ir II. W. IlKiiliRur. . . , ,

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I. 'I'lIB WoiiDcuOK. ....

II. TlIK' \V(l(ll)l 111 K- CclNl'l.rDKI), , , ,

III. Tin: (,M .Ml.. .... ,

IV TllK l^UAll,— (.'iiNcl.llDKll, . . , .

.■\moni. Till-: .MiU'N'I'.m.Nj'. . . . ,

.\Mi)N(i Tin: ^llH,'.^^.^l.Ns -('(iNci.tJDKii. . .

.\ lll..\ZK AT I'.AIINKIIAT,

'I'm-: .\mi;ki' ,\n ISri'iBUN, ■ . . .

'I'lii: Ukai'Ii (II' Til k Stai;, . ...

TlIK UkI) I'i).\. . . . ... . , .

A Tllll' Til I'ltATKAI' l{l(lll:it: on. SnM'K .'^llOOTlNIi ON TlIK

St. I,a\vui:n( w, ......

Si'iiiNd Mnu'K-.V Uamiu.i.si. I'ai'Ki;.

Ilci.MOTIC'ATION OP (iA.lIK-lillUlH. ....

1.1

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ms
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fail
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Mil
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his
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Fo
hai
the

INTROD UC TOR 1 '

I"'! IE sporting works of "Frank Forester" arc too well known
anil ilearlv pri/AxI tliroii^hout the civilized world, to retiuire
anv extended explanation, or — as seems nnich in voj^ne ■ — an
apologv for placing a new work l)efore tl\e pid)lic, and partieu-
larlv the sporting puhlic, of America. Althougli this lamented
master of the craft has produced a greater number of \\i)rks for
the instruction and entertainment of sportsmen than any otlier
author upon kindred topics, past or present, his writings are
cliaracterized by such beauty of expression, and graceful delinea-
tion of natural scenery, the habits and haunts of our game birds
animals, ecc, that the fraternity is ever eager to peruse anytliing
from or pertaining to " Our Frank."

His incomparable " Field Sports," ''Fish and I'ishing," "Amer-
ican Game in its Seasons," " Sporting Scenes and Characters,"
and other sporting works, are still as dearly prized as when first
published, over a quarter of a century ago. All bear the indelible
impress of a master mind, and have the qualities of imperishable
works. The same is true of all his glorious sporting tales, which
literally teem with bright images of field and stream, picturing
faithfully the forest nook, the deep woodlands, crystal brook, fairy
glens, and all those sylvan retreats so dear to the sportsman.
His were among the first, as they arc undeniably the finest, con-
tributions to our sporting literature; and the bright thoughts of
his surpassing genius, as embalmed in his writings, will ever
remain a grand and indestructible monument to his memory,
more durable than bronze or granite memorial, as these shall
remais'. fresh and beautitid when the more perishable material
would have crmnbieii oi been consutned by rust. Truly, " Frank
Forester'' created his own memorial more durably than other
hands could do, through the medium of his gifted pen; and wliile
the enthusiastic few who strove to erect a bronze memorial as

^■^■l—

10 INTRODUCTORY.

expressive of the admiration in vsliich liis \Mitings are held by
Ihe fraternity of American sportsmen, failed for want of support,
Ids sportinj,' hioiliurvs still continue to shine witii surpassing
lustre, despite the lapse of time which ha-- caused other, and
among them many vjorfhy works illustrative of field and forest
sports, to become obsolete and forgotten. Ills sporting works are
still unrivaled, the clas>ics of American sporting lUcrature.

Although English by birth, his sporting talcs are essentially
and truly American ; a fact which he once stated in the somewhat
equivocal terms that he was "an American autlu r, of I'nglish
birth," though the remark, properly accepted, is to all intents and
purposes correct. Major (iiioiu;!-; 15. IlAi.sriU), in his very able
and eloquent addres- delivered at the unveiling of 1 1i:khkrt's
tomb-stone in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, May, 1S76, alluded to
him as "IIkn'ky William IIkrukkt, of ICngland, the Frank
Forestry of America." It is under this noiit dc plume that he is
most widelv known and best appreciated, many recognizing him
by this while entirely ignorant of his real name, although he has
written far more voluminously as II. \V. IIekbert than under
his sporting alias of "Frank Forester." Thus, while his fine
historical romances, essays, etc., upon which he supposed his
lame as an author to depend, have become to a more or less e.vtent
obsolete, his works upon the sports and sportsmanship of America
have loii- been acknowledged the highest authority in the land
of his adoption.

Further comment upon this remarkable man, and his no less
remarkable abilities as an author, the writer must for the present
forego, merely premising that at some future date he hopes to
place before the sportsmen of America a work descriptive of the
literarv labors and achievements of " Frank Forester."

The present series of sporting tales, etc., originally published
in the old " Demociatic Review," " Graham's Magazine," the old
"Spirit of the Times," "Southern Military Gazette," and other
periodicals long since suspended, have never been, to any extent,
republished, and will therefore have nearly the mtercsi of an
original work to the present generation. It would seem in some
measure a duty — and to the writer it is a very pleasant one— to
preserve the fugitive sporting sketches of the lamented "Forester"

fro
no
prt

CO

th(
by
sei
m(
ge
an
de
tr:
tu
ab
ni;
an
pa
lui
bt
ar
Ui

SI

tr;
in

m
hi
so
ei
cc
m

Ui

ar

1

TORT.

icli liis \M-itings are licld by
;n, frtik'ii for want of support,
lie to sliiiie with surpassiiiij
vhicli lia cau-etl other, and
llustrative of fielil and forest
tten. His s|>orting works are
ican sporting literature,
sporlin;^; talcs are essentially
.' once stated in the somewhat
\merican autlmr, of Mni^lish
accepted, is to all intents and
W. llAi.srij), in his vtr\ able
the unveiling of 1 1i:kukrt's
nietery, May, 1S76, alluded to
KKT, of ICngland, the I-'iauk
■ tiiis nom (Ic plume that he is
iated, many recognizing him
is real name, altliough he has
II. \V. llLREiKKT than under
:ster." Thus, while his fine
ipon whicli he supposed his
ccome to a more or less extent
nd sportsmansliip of America
lighest authority in the land

narkable man, and his no less
)e writer must for the present
ome future date he hopes to
rica a work descriptive of the

" Frank Forester."
ales, etc., originally published
Graham's Magazine," the old

Military Gazette," and other
ive never been, to any extent.
ive nearly the niteresl of an
ition. It would seem in some
it is a very pleasant one — to
les of the lamented "Forester"

IXTRODUCTORT. n

from an oblivion into which they must inevitably have fallen, if
not redeemed by a work of this kind. His gems are by far too
precious, and the store too small, to allow any to be lost.

These sketches— many of them written in his happiest vein-
compare favorably witli the more pretentious productions from
the pen of " Our Frank," and will no doubt be eagerly welcomed
bv all lovers of American sporting literature. Nothing could
serve better to exemplily the inspiration, the keen zest in that
most bewitching and subtle art which he fondly termed " the
gentle science of wood-craft," and, wilhal, the varied character
and surpassing beauty of all liis writings, than a collection of this
description. If brings out in bold relief, and in delightful con-
ti-.-.^.t, the varied style of his contributions to our sporting litera-
ture; display^ to perfection the fruits of his scholarly n-ind; and,
above all, exhibits throughout ''that touch of sympathy whicli
maketh all mankind akin." As "Frank Forester," the learned
and enthusiastic master of true sportsmanship, he makes a com-
panion, as it were, of the reader; leads him forth into the forest
liaunts he so well loves to iVeiiuent, and in glowing colors depicts
beauties which had been hitlurto unknown or unnoticed by the
ardent pupil. '1 he briglit and many-hued garb of glorious An-
linnn, the prime season of the sportsman's delight, he draws with
such fidelity to nature tliat the reader is fain to accept his por-
traiture despite the teachings of the lamented P.ryant, who has
in his immortal verse declared it " the saddest of the year."

It would seem that the spirit of IIerfi.drt is still witli us, and
ministers to the happiness, the instruction and the well-being of
his fraternity, under the magic guise of " Frank Forester." In
sooth, " it carries a brave form, but 'tis a spirit." We feel its pres-
ence; we are cheered by the in-pired teachings; and under the
consolation thus alforded, are better able to bear the loss of his
material form and awe-inspiring presence. This kindly spirit let
us ever cherish, if we would keep pure and unsullied the sport
and sportsmanship of .\merica, for the advancement of which he
uave his finest works.

And now, to close in the fitly chosen words of him whose
miscellaneous writings ho thus ushers into the presence of the
sporting fraternity, the editor has undertaken this " as being

12 /XTh'ODi-cronr.

iiulct'd a labor of love, lie lias l)ioui,'ht to it tlic wholo of his
ciieifjios, the best of his abilities; and tliouj;li unused to sue for
public favor, he does so far deviate from his accustomed practice
as to crave this iuduli^iMice: that all the censure of the critics
may fall upon his head, while all the praise may be awaided
where it is only due," to the deceased sportiiij^ author.

'I'luis said " I'r.mk I'orester" in i^onimitlinfj the "Sporting
Scenes and Suiuiry Sketches" of his friend " |. Cyi-kkss, Jk." to
the kind consideration of the critics and tlie public. Thus saith
the editor of the present volume to you, dear reader, and, I trust,
not unkind critic.

'iU;

CTORV.

jiouLjIit to it tlic whole of his

iiui thoiijjli iinuseti to suf for

iVoni his accustomed practice

all the censure of the critics

I the praise may he awarded
<ed sportiiif^ author.

II comiiiitliiif; llie "Sporting
is frieiul "J. Cyi'KKss, Jk." to
■s and tlie pidilic. Thus saith
I vou, dear reader, and, I trust,

MEMoiK or II. w. iii-rnri^i-

iiv wii.i. wii.nwooii.

'■pWHS'lY-FlVK years ago there stood on Ihe hanks ol the
1 I'assaic River, midway between Newark and HellevilK', N. J.,
■i pleaMnii and picturesque cottage, of the Mary 'rud..r st x le,
endn.wered in foliage and surrou.uUd hy tall, thrifty cedars, u.th
avenues and beautiful garden in close proximity. The dwelling,
a neat gothic cottage, with mansard roof, uas surroun.led with
pia/zas, and bv balustrades with which the fragrant unlrimmed
cedar boughs were thickly interlaced; and the tendrils of llowery
vines, creeping in and out among the latticework, formed a most
romantic ;nd striking scene, which could not fail to attract the
bohokler. Over the pia/za in front might he seen a huge pair ol
stag antlers, and the hay-window on one side gave a fine view ol
the" Passaic, toward which the green lawn sloped. The little
domain was bordered on two sides by the Mount I'lea-ant Ceme-
tery, which, with the wild scenery adjacent, gave the place a
we^rd appearance, denoting the ecce.itricity of its owner. Nor
was the interior of the dwelling less romantic than its extenor.
The neat and well appointed rooms gave token of a master mind.
In one of these a well-stocked library gave evidence ol the literaiy
tastes of the owner ; another, overlooking from the wmdow a long
row of dog kennels, was hung with guns, sabre., fishing-rods,
and other implements and trophies of the chase. From a short
'~^^-■X\^\'^ ni, mmr was orii;iiK,lly cn.Urilnitcil f. ihr columns of th.it
cKcdUMU ,>CM-i<Hlioal. •'HaUKvin's Montl.ly,- for .-\pvil. .^77, l>y the c-ditor ol the
present volu.iu-. Scver.il new a,ul hnp'-rtant additions have been made and
emimdied in the sketch, whicl, is presented in lliis connection as he.nn apropos
to the work, and to fnrnish information upon many i.oinls in the literary career
of '•[•rank Korestor" which may prove ol service to the ueneral reader.

'4

MEMOIR OF II. li'. II EI! HE RT.

distance tliorc appi-arcd uliinpses ot'ii iini(nio gotliic cotlaua' "tike
the wicker-woik d'a haskot tilled willi I'.owors and lial I' buried ii.
green, aromatic verdure."

This was the residence of the talented, eectnlr'C and tanious
writer, scholar and sportsman, IIi.nkv Wiltia.m IIkrmkiji,
whose sporting works, under the uom dr pliinn: of "Frank For-
ester," are known and appre;iated wherever tne Knglish lansjuaj^e
is spoken or the gentle scif nee of wood-craft practiced.

'I'he history of this remarkable personage reads almost like a
romance, so eventful and distinguished was his career, and so
capricious his manner. Horn in I^ondon, April 7, 1807, of aristo-
cratic parentage — being son of W'ii.i.ia.m II i-.khf-.ijt. Dean of
Manchester, and grandson of the Earl of Carnarvon; educated
at Eton College ami Cambridge, and surrounded with the fline-
ments of courtly society ; endowed by biith and education villi
a most enviable position, — he forsook all thes", Ik. me. kinlred
and statioii, 'o carve lor himself a fair.e in the Neu World.

Arriving in New York City, he enjoyed a few days, or weeks
perclKUice, in sightseeing, and thence traveled northward into
Canada in ijuest of sport, being an entbu>ia>tic di-cijile of Nim-
rod, and passed some time there in shooting and tUhing. Here
he formed the accpiaintance of the accomplished sportsman, Capt.
I'eel, of Amherstburg, well known to the s[rorting Iraternity of
America as ''Dinks." one of the authors of a valuable work on
"The Dog." From Canada Mr. IIi'.khkrt came again to New
York City, where his superior education and thorough mastery
of the languages secured him a situation as teacher of Cireek and
Latin in the Classical Academy of R. T. Iluddart. His duties
occupied but a small portion of his time, and he soon exhibited
his proficiency in literature by originating and editing, in con-
iunction with A. D. Paterson, the 'AnKiican Monthly .Mag;'-
zine," a periodical whieli soon became known as one of the most
original and ablest sustained, in the classic elegance of its con-
tents, of any magazine of its kind in America. From the time
of the establishment of the >;iagaz.'ne, in 183:;. until be severed
his connection with it, three years lat-r, Mr. 1 licit i'.kkt m.iintained
the high literary character of the periodical, ofieu unaided i)y his
co-editor. The magazine afterward passed under tlie control of

his

\\\

T

UERlUiliT.

I iini(HH' ijotliic cottam' " like
til I'.owovs iind half biiiicii ii.

I'littnl, fi'ctntr'c ami t'anious
;nkv \V((,i,ia.m IIkriikrt,
vn lie pill inc. of "I'Vank Kor-
iLTovcr tne Kiiijlish laii<»ua;(c
iod-craft praiticecl.
^rsDiiafff reads alinost like a
-lied was Ills cari'iT, ami so
idon, Apiil 7, 1S07, of aristo-
l.r.iAM I li-.i<ni:i{T, Dean of
arl of Caiiiaivoii ; educated
sunoiiiidi'd with the 1 "fine-
ly birth and edueatioii villi
ik all tliei-'-, h,.iiie, kindred
ir.e in the New World,
njoyed a few days, or weeks
ice traveled noithwniil into
iitluiNia>tic disciple of Niiii-
-hooliiii;; and fi^hint;. Here
■ompiished sportsman, C'apt.
o the s|rorting fraternity of
:li<irs of a vahiahle work on
KUKRI' came again to New
ition and thorough inaster_v
lion as teai'hi r of fj reek and
R. T. lluddart. His duties
:inie, and he soon exhibited
inaling and editing, in con-
"American Monthly Magji-
:" known as one of the most
classic elegance of its con-

II America. From llie time
e, in 183.:, until he severed
■r, Mr. 1 1 Jirsr.KKT maintained
iodicai, often unaided i)y his
passed under tlie control of

MEMOIh' Ol' II "■. 1 1 F.I! BURT.

«5

l-.nk IJenjamm, and was for a time edited by Charles IVnno
llulVinan, a dislinguivhed writer and ardent sporlsuian.

During this time, he lound nnuh lei^n-e for the practice ot
his favorite Held sports, usually visiting the Warwick woodlands
in Orange Counlv, N. Y.. where, in company with his devotee
friend, Thomas Ward, he enjoved superb sport among the (piail
and woodcock. Mr. 1 1 i.ki.kk r afterward immortali/.ed his ti lend
Ward, presenting him to the sporting public under the transparent
alia- of '• Tom Draw," bv which name the memory of Mr. W ard
has been ensliriued in thousands of grateful hearts. In the
nnmediale vicinitv of Newark Mr. llf.RiiF.i'T also f<.umi ample
use for his gun, in snipe and wild-fowl shooting, and li.s sporimg
-lie-, are filled with allusions to the I'arsippany Meadows and
o',„,r lesort- near the city of Newark, Ihcugh he dwells most
loudly upon the happv hours spent in the woodlands ot Orange
Countv, with his genial friend " Tom Draw."' In his fishing tours
among the lakes of the Adirondacks, or the clear, cold streams
of Canada, IIkkhkut was usually accompanied by NN m. 1.
i'orter, the accomplished editor of the old "Spirit of the Times,"
ur some other of his many angling friends.

In 1S34 the Harper Brothers publislied Mr. Hkki.kkts hrst
work, entitled '• riie l^rothers."' Although published anonymously,
and at the beginning ^^\ his literary career, the work was well
received, and pas-ed through several editions. Three years later,
m 1S37. his second work " Cromwell," a tale of the early ages ot
|-ngland's hi-torv, was published by the Harpers, and, like the
tirst, proved descrvedlv popular. It was reissued in England,
where it met with m.uch favor. During 1843 another volume
from llKKMKUi's pen was given to the public, entitled " Marma-
duke Wvvil; or. The Maid's Revenge.- This superb story of
the Kngiish cixil wars passed through Iburteen editions in ten
vears, and was republished in London. " Ringwood, the Rover,"
and '■ Guarica, the Carib Bride," spirited novels which were
originallv published in the magazines, appeared in 1844, and
attracted much admiration. " I'ierre, the Partisan," a romance,
appeared one year later.

H. NV. Hkruert'.s greatest historical romance, " The Roman
Traitor," founded on the conspiracy of Cataline, was published

|6

Mi:M()/h' OF II. II . IIEHHEUT

! i

in 1S46, ;iiul it lias l)een I'stccnu'd in maiiv respoclK tin- aiitlior's
ablest v.o.k. It is umlciiiaMv, in all iK iU'tail> , one ol' the tincst
«()! l<s il.scriptivc of i'ail\ Roman scenes and characters, of anv
publislicil in modern timen. Imminent critics upon both sides of
the Atlantic have pronounced it unsurpassed as a livini; repre-
siii;;;'ioi-. of tlie manners, custo:ns, rnd seiiii-barbari': tliivalrv
which cliaracteri/ed the inliabilants of Ancient Koine.

About this *.ime his Hrsl sporting' work. "The Warwick
Woodhiiids," which had previously a;ipeared in \V. T, Porter's
".\mericaM Turf Register,'" was pidilished in New ^'ork. Willi
this seri.il Mr. 1 1 icmiKKT fii-st assumed the iiom tit plumr of
" l'"rank I'orester." and the work was received with enthusiasm
h_v the fralernitv cf American sport, iiu-n. The p()pularil\' of the
work induced thi; author to prejtare aiu)ther of si-uijar scope,
uiulei- tiie title of "Mv .Shooting I!ox," in 1846, and into this a
thread of love and ronuiuce was wover,, which rendered it more
attractive to the general pidilic. "The Miller of .MartijLtne," an
attractive and readable novel, was |)ublished hv Ricli.irds k. Co.,
New \'ork, in lS47, and this addeil considerably to Mr. lIioK-
lU'.urs literary reputation.

In the year 1S48 his great snorting work, " I'ield Sports oft.
United .States and IJritish Provinces of North America," Stringer
iV Townsend, publishers, was issued in New York city, and was
greeted with the warmest enthusiasm throughout the land. As
exemplifying the popidar character and real meiitof this great
work, nearly twenty editions have been published since that
time, and it is still considered a tcatuiard. A memoir of the
author appears in the later editions. " Fish and Fishing of the
United States and British Provinces," a companion volume to
the tbrmer, appeared the year following, 1S49, and was likewise
favorably received by the sportsmen of A.nierica. A prominent
and pleasing I'eature of the work consists in its illustrations —
about one hundred in number — designed and drawi; on wood by
the author. Both this work and •' Field Sports" were re-publislu.d
in London, and found much tavor among trans-Atlantic as
well as American critics. A supplement to " Fish and Fish-
ing" appeared in 1S50, and was afterward incorporated with the
original work. " ^ermot O'Brien; or, The Taking of Tredah,"

a ro

1

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in I

i

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. IIEUKEUT.

inaiiv respfcts tlu' aiitlior's

ilsdi'tail', one of tlic Hiicst
-■cnL's ami cliaractcrs, of any
nt Clitics upon both siilos of
■iur|)assccl as a living rcprc-

rnd M'i;ii-l)ail)aii': cliivalrv
'f Ancient Kuiiit'.
;iii,i; work. " Tlie Warwick
a;i|U'ari\l in \V. T, Porter's
ilislK'd in New ^'ork. With
llincd the iiom di ptiintr ol
s rocciveii with entliiisiasni
men. The popularity of tlic
e another of .si-nilar scope,
X," in 1846, ami into this a
en, wliich rendereii it more
'he Miller of .Martijjne," an
dilished by Richards A Co.,

consideral)ly to Mr. llioK-

X work, " I'ield .Sports oft.
if North America," oirinyer
in New York city, and was
1 tlirouifhout the land. As
and real nieiit of this j;real
been published since that
Atuiard. A memoir of the
" Kish and Fishinj; of the
s," a companion volume to
ing, 1S49, and was likewise
of Anierica. A prominent
>t)sists in its illustrations —
;ned and drawi. on wood by
id Sports" were re-publislud
• among trans-Atlantic as
L-ment to " Fish and Fish-
t'ard incorporated with the
r, The Taking of Tredah,"

,UA,i/('//.' "/ // II ///-A-A'A:/.'/' '7

, .omance fro.n I Ii.m.kh r's pen, appeared in .S,„, and ' The
lipt,ins of the Old WorUl," a most valuable historical work,
i„ ,8u. The latter, and "Captains of the (ireat Roman Re.
,H,,,,ie," (Irst issued in 1854. -nay be deen.ed fine exa.nples of
historical works containing the reqniMte <,ualities of absorb.ng
interest, pleasing slvle and strict a.lbereuce to tacts. I he "Cay.
aliers of England." a collec-mn of historical rotnances. formerly
contributed to the periodic ,s, a, d ■•The K.dghts of England,
France and Scotland," were published by j. S. Redfu-ld, N. \ .,
in ,8^2. Mr. Iliunnn's ..Chevaliers of France," likewise
comprising the romance of history, was issued in 1853. In the
same vear his excellent sporting work, .'American CJame and its
Soasoi.s," with illustrations from designs prepared by himsell,
was presented to the public in book form, having previously
..ppeared a,, a serial in " (Jraham's Magazine." The engravings,
conceded to be among the finest in this sphere ol art, were
prepared by ..Forester's" friend, Jos. II. ISrightly, an accomplished
sportsman: The vear 1853 also witnessed the publicalion ot
another work from 11. W. IIkkhbkt's pen, " Phe Puritans ol
New i:n.;land: a Historical Romance of the Days ol Witch-
cr.ft," and of an admir.-ible brochure, " The (tiorndon Hounds,
descripiive of English lox-hunling as pursued =;» ^'^;^''"'
During .8,6 the above sporting tale, together with ' 1 1'^" ^^ '"■;
wick Woodlands." '. My Shooting Uox," and "The Deei -stalkers
appeared in o.,e work of tv o volumes under the title ol " Irank
Forester's Sporting Scenes and Characters," T. H. Peterson &
iiros., publishers, I'hiladelphia.

Mr. Hkkhert's '.Persons and Pictures from Irencb and
Fnglish llistorv"was produced in .854. «"'! his "Memoirs o
Henry VHi ^.nd bis Six Wives," "The Falls of Wyalusmg, and
" Sherwood Forest; or, TUe Wager of Hattle," in .S55. l-oreste- s
.'Complete Manual for the Young Sportsman" was devised in
I8s6, and his grand work en.itled "Horse and Horsemanship ol
North Atnerica," in iSsT- Of this superb work the New \ ork
Tribune has remarked: "This, perhaps the most elaborate
production of its versatile author, combines a vast amount of
information from a wide range of authorities, with the resu ts of
his own extensive observations and experience in u line ol which,

I»

MEMOIR or II. It . IIEIilililiT.

I ,

(■.

l)v his piMsoiMl |ial)it> iiiul taf«ti>^, ho bcciiim- Vki\ nrc-omplihli.-il
iiiaHtcr." Ma' laiLT editjoriK, i-ilited niiil rfvi!.L',! bv S. II. ami !,.
C. Ill III c', irnil.T It ilu' Ntaiularil tiiMtisi' oniii- day on tlif sid)iict
of «liiili it iii'ats. " Hints to 1 lorsck.i-piTK," utid "Tricks and
Traps ol I lorscMlialcis," •• I'oivsioi's" latest sporting liiiHliiitcs.
wn-f piil.lisluil in iS^S; and " Tlic I'air I'lnitaii," a work It-It in
nianust-ript at the tiinf ol his ikath, has hciii ic-ci-nti_v issued l.v
Lippini-ott. ••Roval Marirs of Modifval llistorv '• was al-"o
publislK'd iilicT till- deniiso of tlio author

IJl-.NRY Wii.i.iAM Hkiuikkt possess il a lapacitv lor litorarv
labor which was in truth ni.irvclous. W hilr onya^'cd in lliV
pit-paration ol' his inon- clal).)ralc roniaiui's and hi-lorical ^^orl^s.
hu continued his conlrihutions to the Ifadiiit; jxriodiials ol the
dav, and during the twent.v-Cive years oi' his literary careei, there-
was scarcely a magazine of note to which he did not contriliuti-.
In iS-}6 and 1837 he edited a brilliant annual, " The Maiinolia," ns
original in design as it was successlul in execution. I'or a tinie
iie acted upon the editorial corps of the " Courier and Kiu)uiier,"
lor which he wrote reviews and critical essays for a series ot"
years. In 18^9 II. \\ . llitRiiKKT, in conjuuclion with (.'olonel
Thomas I'icton, a gentleman ol' rare lilerary .iltainnunls, and a
loniui pupil of Mr. IIkuukkt at lluddart's Classical .Vcadcmy,
dovis.d and edited " '!' he Era," a weekly journal of real merit,
\\hich survival only one year. -The .Saclu'm" was established
the \.ar followiujr, and was edited by Thomas I'icton, II. W.
IIkkhkrt, Win. .North, Major Richardson, Captain liradley,
(i. (i. I'oster and Dr. Uatcheldcr. To these journals Mr. IIkkiikkt
contributed several entertainin},' articles. The " .Spirit of the
Times" was ever a favorite medium through which '• Frank
Forester" communed with the sporlin},' fraternity, and •• The
Knickerbocker Magazine," "Ladies' Companion," -(Kuley's
Lady's Hook," "Colman's Monthly," •' .Sartain's Maiiazin,'," " Th,'
Literary World," and "The American Turf Ue},'ister ::ikI .Sporting
Magazine." were the receptacles of many bright gems from his
pen. " Cirabam's Ma,!,'azire," however, secured Mr. IIkkiikkt
as a regular contributor when first originated in 1S41. and duriuit
the next fifteen years his articles forined a special feature of that
excellent periodical. To this magazine he contributed poems.

novc

,ll-o
tlir •

Milil

scint

spur

was,

iiuli

1

colh

friei

and

of >

wor

perl

sati

Ma;

wa^

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beii

l.tb

•T

I'll

1)^11

\V

as

Ca

the

as

th.

wi

lh(

II
\\(

lai

IIElilillHT.

'■ lieciimc an nrcomplishnl
tul rfvJM'.! bv S. II. ami I,.
-i' of till- dav on the hubjcct
uepi'iK," und " Tricks and

latest K|>ortln(( hi-iHliiiri-K,
ir I'lirifiin," a work It-It in
as been rc'Ci-ntlv i-siicd by
Jloval llistorv" was aUo
tliDr

■NMcl a capacity lor literary
•■ \\ hill' i'nKa.!i'(l in iIk-
aiii'fs and lii^lorical works.

Ifadiiii,' |)tri()di(aU ol' tbc
III' bi-. lilirary i.ari'ii , tlieru
licli lie dill not contrihiitf.
muial, " The MauMuilia," as
ill exeeiition. I'or a time
-■ "Courier and iMuiuirer,"
ical essays for a series of
conjuiu-liDU with Colonel
iteraiy attainnunls, and a
ilart's Clashieai Acaileiny,
kly journal of real merit,

.Saclu-ni" was established
ly 'I'bomas I'icton, 1 1, W.
irdson, taptain liradley,
esc journals Mr. IIicrukkt
les. The " .Spirit of the
1 tbroimh which '• Frank
ng fraternity, and "The

Companion," '• ( Jodev's
Sarlain's Maifazin,'," " Tin-
'nrl' llej^istcr and .Sportinf;
ny brijjht gems from bis
r, secured Mr. 11kkiii:rt
inated in 1S41. and durirut
d a special feature of that
lu he contributed poems,

MI.MiUR i^r II II lll.HnEliT

>9

novelettes, sporting tale, and learned cs.nyK. - !■ rank l-rester
,d-o wrote several arilcl. s up.n. M'<'"i"K -"»'J^-'-'" ''"" ""' 1"'«;"* "'
,„e .'Democratic Review." and the columns of the • SoutbeMl
Military (Ja/etb" u.ul M'orter's Spirit" were enriched by the
scitttilUtions of Ins pen. To the latter be contribute.! a beant.lul
.porlin« romnue entitled ■• Oneemees, the I'.KCon ot the ().„h.
was," b.•uin•nn^. with the initial nt.n.ber of that journal, and
ending with the complcti(.n ..f volume one.

Ilesides bis fu,itive writinK>, ■' Kr:.nk Forester" .dtted a
,olleclion of sporting sketches Iro.n the pen of bis departed
,Vi..ud I, CvpresH, Jr., in 1841. ^vitl' <1»- ""'• <"' " ^1^'""'"" ^'^■'.'^"
and Sundiv Sketches." In .H,.? be e.lited at. Amertcan edttiot.
of Maj. Walter Ca-nphell's " (JUI Forest Uan^er." a debubttul
work descriptive of wild sport in the Orient; and in iS.sf. K.Tester
perf..rmed the san.e ollice for - Sp..n«e's Sportinu lour. ' a keen
satire or burlesque upot. .vouldbe sporting char..cters. D.nks,
Mavbew and I Intcbinson's standard work upon "The Do-,
was edited by " Frank Forester" in 1857, a..d published by W . A.

Towiisinii.

Mr 111 KB. KT's tianslations deserve particular alliiition, as
hen.U atno-.u the tnost dilbcult vet ablest executed of his literary
labors His tr.mslation of '■ (iold .miih's History ol (.reeee, ^
..The I'romelheus and AKa.nemnon of .Kschylus," and "Wetss'
I'rotestat.i Itetir^a •-■-." have recetved the largest meed ol ap;
hation tron, class.eal critics, and bis faithful translatxms .1
\lc-cander Dnttias' •■ Diana of Meridor" and -Acte of Cor.nllt,
as well as "The WanJerin- Jew," '■ Matilda." "Atar (.ul," ••John
Cavalier " a.,d -The SaU.mander,"of KuKene Sue, are pron.umced
,be best of our tinrc. In tbi, s,,bere Mr. ll-Kn. ur's at.aintnents
as a classical scholar are seen to be-l adva..ta,ue. Hi- " rronu-
tbeus- especiallv. which, was undertaken to while away the
winter eveni.e^s'at - The Cedars," has been adtnired by the -nost
Iborou-'h scholar> a.ul the U!r,al, upon both sid.sol the Atla.U.e.
A eotnpelenl writer has estimated ih.u the fuj-ilive writings o!
llBNKY \Vil.l.l,\M Hkki.kkt, toMetb-r with bis published works,
would form more than two hundred .•olunus. This, too, when a
large portion of his titne each autu.n.i and spring was passed m

I

id

MliMOIliOF H W. llhlh'limiT

the liclil witli rod or -in.; ami when it i« taken into lonhidcriition
(hat liis linii- was rmtluT i:irciiin«cril)fil In otliiT ilnticH, omo
iilea tnav In- x-iiiu'il oC this marvel of lilt-rarv iniliistr\ . Wlieii
cni,'a:;iil with liis pen in liiK shiilv, lie wroti' rapiilh, and l)v
Kteaily ap|)lieHli()n, ev.n atler llie iniilni>{lit lionr, aeeoin|)lihlieil
woiulers. Ilix peninansliip was clear anil ilisliiut a^ eoppi r plate
alnio-t, anil reinarkal)l\ free t'roni blot or era'iine, ami even in
hilt privafe eiirreHpomlenec the same care anil attention was
eviilhiteil,

In one of his )iporlini{ lomts throu-h Maine IIinuv Wimia.m
IIkkhk.kt fornieil the ncquaintanee of Miss Saiali I'.arker, u
heanlit'iil ami aeeotnpli>luil vonnn laiiv, ilaiij^hter ol the then
inavor ol l!aii>;or, ami in iS?y he hronirlit her to the h_v ineneul
altar, a willing hriile. Tin' talented author and his lovel; wife
enjoveil a few yearn onlv of iniilna! happiiax, when she died of
a piilnionarv alVeetion, leaving him donlilv desolate, as his sever-
ance from lioine and eountry had been complete, lie removed
from New York to Newark in 1845, and under his direction was
erected the beautiful cottage home upon the I'as^aic, which he
christened "The Cedars," and its asso'-blion with his memory is
as marked as is " .Simnyside" with thai of Washington Irvin;;,
"lillewild" with N. I'. Willis, or '• (; ,11/0 Hall" with the
literary fame of J. I'enfimore Cooper. It is saiil that tor a
nnmber of years after the dealli of his wife Mr. Ill khkkt
allowed but one unianuiit loadoin the wall of his stud v, iianiel v,
a portrait of his heart's idol, painted by tlie imn.ortal Henry
Innian; and upon certain anniversaries the bereaved sportinj;
author would stand for hours gaziny upon this memenlo, f.'ivinj;
w.iy to the most intense «rief and weepinj,' bitterly as a child at
the remembrance of his few happy years and the sad reflection
upon his ),'ieat bereavement. II. \V. Hkkhi.kt resided at his
hermitage in comparative seclusion, seldom courting societv, vet
mai itaining in his jirelty domain a sort ol' English hospilalitv
witl his fi lends, whom he would entertain in the best style his
means would permit, lieing of a chivalrous and courtlv bearing
he was styled "The Lord of 'The Cedars,'" a title in itsell
appropriaie, though it was applied in derision by his enemies.

» . iiEiiiiiiur

II it in taken into cuiihiilLTUtion
icrllicil In otiur dutii-K, omr
I ol' liluran' Ituluxtr^. Wlu'ii
Iv, he wrote rapiillv, aiul by
liiitliiiKlit hour, aecoinplihiieil
III- and ilislinct a-> copiu r platv
blot or era-iine, ami I'veii in
nine care ami attention was

iliu'li Maine lliAKY W'ii.mam
le ot' Miss Saiali llarker, a
; ladv, daiiyliter ot llie then
lironnht her to Uie li_\ nieneai
il aniliiii ami lli^• lo\el\ wilV'
I liappim>*, when hlie died ol'

iloul/lv ilesojate, as his sever-
liecn complete. lie reinoveil
;, anil under his direction was
•■ upon the Passaic, which he
sBO''t?iion with his memory is

thill ill' Washington Irvin;,',
r '• (; .. L,'() Hall " with the
loper. It is said that tor a

of his wife Mr. IIiuiikkt
the wall of his study, namely,
ted hy the imiiiorlal Henry
sarie.s the bereaved sporlinjf
ly upon this memenio, ^'ivin^
weepin;,' bitterly as a child at
years and the sad retleelion
W. HlCKiii'.KT resided at his
, seldom courting society, \et
I sort of English hospiialit\
ntertain in the best style his
'livalrous and courtly bearing
le Cedars,'" a titli- in itsell
I derision bv his enemies.

MliMoili itin II' III h' II HUT.

i\

In pergonal appearance* Mu. IIicuhku i was above the meilium
|,ei^'ht, Hvminetrical and powerful in form, with a iile.isinK inim-
tier when in his more h«p|.y moods, which could not fail to
attract the ■itlenlioii of u casual ol)«er^er, Hi. eyes were hnxht
and searchlnn; IiIh iVatures, thouKh renular and ntlraclive.
betokened a Ihm will and strum,' passions. He usually wore a
lieavy iliul luxuriant moustache, ami a piofuMon of brown hair
wan ''coolly ilispart.d Iroiii his white unwrinkled forehead." Mr.
lli;iini KTwas undeniably pleasing in form and feature, and this,
...mbiiied with his eccentric manner, made him a man of mark
wherever seiii. His womlcrlul weallh of classic lore, bin knowl-
..diic of aneirnt and modern literature, his prolkiency in all that
pertaiii.'d to out-door sports and athletic i.astimcs, rendered him
an agreeable ctnpnnion alike in the field or in the study. I'ew
who inet him ever forgot the striking ap|.earnnce, and still
more remarkable conversational ability of the sporting author.
■Gloan," well known to the sportsmen of the present day as one
of the most pleasing and forcible sporting writers of the time,
alludes with feeling to the sense of awe and admiration will,
which, upon one or two occasions in his youth, he ga/.>d upon
"Frank Forester." A veteran sportsman, best known to the
sporting public under the pseudonym of " Witch Ha/el Hud,"
pleasantly delineates the early impressions received in shooting
with "Forester" on the Jersey meadows, where the sporting
outfit, no less than the thorouKli knowledge of sportsmanship
exhibited hy the immortal disciple of N in, rod, awakened the
admiration and wonder of the whole country side. " Hakky"
llERiiiJir, as he was familiarly termed by his intimate friends,
approached nearer to the model of a true sportsman, and /-</«
ideal of a sporting author, than any gentleman of the age, not
*TliL- portrait of H. W. Hkiii'ikkt in llu' lirst vnluim' of his " Kicjil Sports
of llic Unitfil St;Ucs :inil Hritisli fn.vincis is liUlf licttir tluui a mere c;irii;i-
Hire It has iK'iu pron.nn.LT.l tiy his iiniuaintaiicos ;. hase liljel upon his nianly
features, ami Ih.-K'iftecl "Acorn" asserts: -"It is no more like Hkkhf.kt than
is a horse to a l.orsc-.chestniit." Tlie most aecnratc likeness of "Our I'rank"
is the photograph by Zimmerman Bros., St. faill, Minn., reproduced from a
portrait liy Meade, the last for which Mr. IIkhhkkt ever sat. This is a laithlul
and tinely-executed likeness of "Frank Forester" -n ■•<ou.,terreit pre<enttnent"
whiih it is a delii'ht to Kaze upon.

32

MEMOIR OF II. W. HER BERT.

excepting tl.e world-renovvned Appciluv, or " Nunrod," whose
famous sporting ^^<,rk^ l.ave been considered matchless bv his
admirers. Mr. I Ikki.kkt is exceilentl v re].reseuted in the ticu'tious
character wiio 'igures so conspicuously and i)leasin-!v in liis
sporting tales as " Harry Archer," wiio was beyotul a doubt given
as tiie author's idea of a perfect sportsman. 'I'hat he, llie author,
excelled in athletic and field sports, is not so much a matter ot'
surprise when we reflect that his youth and early manhood was
passed among scenes and associations well calclilated to foster
and strengthen his sporting proclivities, his father, the Dean of
Manchester, being an accomplished and enthusiastic sportsman;
and the varied experience in shooting and tithing throughout
Kngland and .\nierica, combined with the scholastic attainments
of Mr. IlKKMKRT,^'' comprise a category of aequirenunts such as
we may scarcely hope to see reproduced in a sporting writer.

'J-he later years of IIkxky W.li.i.vm 1 Ikri.kkt'.s life are
enveloped in a maze of brilliant achievements and correspond-
mgly nitter disappointments, until his naturally proud and self-
rehant spirit was bowed and finally crushed by weight of sorrow.
His alienation from home and country doubtless depressed him
greatly after the loss of his wife, by whom he had a son, who
was sent to England to be educated, and the loneliness of his
situation became still more irksome as the vears passed and
middle-age was reached, arousing anew his longing for home ties
During the winter of ,858 .Nfr. llKiu.KRr met a young ladv of
beauty and reputed wealth, Miss Adela R. Budlon-, of I'rovi-
dence, Rhode Island, an.l after a brief aequaintaiile of three
weeks, the twain were married in Newark. For a time all went
"merry as a marriage-bell," and the sporting author was even
more assiduous than before in his literary labors. JJnt a few
* The most complete and spiritc.l reconl of •• I.-ranIc t.'orester's" litenuv c-,reer
IS, beyond a d„ul,t, tl.e „„ic,„e serial by a pleasinj; an.l able writer l,eari„.. the
pseudonym „( - T.,xopI,ilus. Tins serial was published in \-oh„„e , o'l- the
I l>.caKolMeld," under the title of -Foresterian Hibiin,,,raphv," and contains
iK-s.des a nun,l,er of r.ne selections iVnm Hkkmkkt's fugitive' writings, ajndi-
c.ous deser.puon of ...is works and literary lalws; beintf, in short, a graphic

and well-directed labors in this direction, -Toxophilus'' deserves the thanks of
every lover ot American sporting literature.

nialx
upon
relali
sland
Miinvi
uniiui
vainl;
wlion
and V
had t
shattt
just tl
shot i
York
com IT
State;
exoiiL
death
sionat
untiii
peiini
appea
who 1
seiz'ji'
reven
A I
remai
wild,
beeati
drcn
that i
niystt
to anc
cedars
was o
conne
groun
scarct

■&t

HERBERT.

.^FEMor/i OF II. W. URRHERT.

I'lk'v, 01- " Niiniod," wliose
onsidoiL-d matchless bv his
y rejii-L'sculLcl in tlio liccitious
iislv aiul iiicasinijly in his
<) was buyotul a doubt given
-nian. Tliat hf, llie author,

is not so much a matter of
111 and early manhood was
IS well calculated to foster
ies, his father, the Dean of
mi enthusiastic sport-man;
ly ami ti-hinj,' throui^hout

the scliolastic attainments
■y of acquirements sucli as
cd in a sporting writer.
I.IAM lIiiRHKR-r's life are
evements and corresjioud-
> naturally proud and self-
ished by weight of sorrow.
• doubtless depressed liim
whom he had a son, who

and the loneliness of his

as the years passed and
■ his longing for home ties.
■'-i«i' met a young lady of
:1a R. Budlong, of I'rovi-
■ief acquaintance of three
lark. For a time all went
porting author was even
-rary labors. IJut a few

'"ranic Fdrcstcr's" litunu-y career
IK anil able writer hearitiir the
published in X'oiuine 5 of the
1 Hiblioi;rapliy," aiul contains.
■kt's I'ufjitivf writinjjs, ajudi-
ors; beinif, in .sliort, a grapliic
e as an author. For liis carelnl
pliilus'' deserve.s tlie thanks of

niaKcious I'ossips, during his brief absence from liome, seized
upon the opportunity to poison bis wife's mmd against him bj-
relating garbled versions of his dissipation and moiie of lite. 'I'he
slander so inllucnced the credulous young bride that she deter-
mined to live no longer with her husband, who was shocked ajul
unmanned upon his return to find her estranged. Long, tliougii
vainly, he eiul.'avored to call back the alienated allection of her
whom he loved so passionately ; but she let'used a reconciliation,
and when lie learned through bis lawyer in New York that she
had taken steps to procure a divorce in Iiuliana, his mind was
shattered, and about two o'clock on the iiiijrning of Nhiv 17, iSs*^.
just three montlis after his last marriage, the unlbrtimate author
shot iiiinself to the heart, in his room at the .Stevens House, New
York City. liesides a few letters to intiniate friends, iu; lel'l a
communication to the coroner, and one to the press of the I'nited
States, explaining his tviotives for the deed, and also charitably
exonerating his wife from all blame. Tlie sad news of iiis tragic
death spread with electric rapidity, and many were the compas-
sionate and regrettui comments of the public press upon his
untimely demise. "Acorn." a devoted triend and able writer,
penned a touching tribute to his memory, and bv an eloquent
appeal checked the unt'eeling and malicious criticisms of those
who had imbibeil an enmity against Hkrhickt while living, and
seized upon this opportunity to gratify a contemptible motive of
revenge.

.\fter thedeath of Hkn-ry Wit.l^iAM Hick, 'cut, '■ The Cedars"
remained for some time unoccupied, and the Ov, ?'Hmr. with its
wild, weird surromidings. and melancholy associations, soon
became known as "the haunted bouse of Newark." Little ciul-
dren passed the spot with feelings of awe, and many averred
that in the still twilight or -deep, sombre darkness, strange,
mysterious noises issued from the desolate dwelling, lights llitted
to and I'ro througii the tenantless rooms, and tlie wide-spreading
cedars moaned and sighed in mournl'ul cadence. This, of course,
was only superstitious hallucination, due to the romantic interest
connected with the spot and the proximity of the cemetery
grounds. Years ago the dwelling hurned to the ground, and
scarce a vestige remains of a place hallowed in the memory of

MEMOIR OF //. W. l/E/i/iEh'T.

all Aincrican sportsmen. The ruins have bein mostly reinovcil
to enlar^'C tlio cemetery boundaries, and the clinging vines upoi
the crumbling ruins, and a lew cedars, onl\ remain to mark tin-
spot where once lived o.ie ol' the most versatile, talented and
eccentric of authors on the American continent. The tomb ol
the imlortunate writer and sixirt^man, which occupie-- a central
location in the .Mount I'leasant Cemeterv, was for many years
unmarked bv stone or tablet which miijbt serve to inark h.is la-t
resting-place to the wayfarer who sought it; but during the
Centennial year, on the eighteenth anniver-ary ot" Mr. IlKKni'.K i 's
hui ial, the citizens of Newark placed at his ln-ad a suilab' ■ memo
rial, as a token of his worth and the high esteem in which he
was held bv his fellow citizens.

ITS >

T,I

!'■

t

whet
A me
or m
wide
restr
\
then
tiatit
conf
kno'
gent
and
of y
and
spec

rare

r

Kcvi
fill •
have
clout

'. iiERBEirr.

» have bern mostly rcmovi.'il
and the cliiifjing vines upon
rs, onlv ri'inain to iniiik tin-
most versatile, talented and
:an continent. The tomb '>!
lui, which occupies a central
meterv, was tor nianv vears
niitjbt serve to mark his last
D sought it; but during tlie
iiniver-ary of Mr. 1 1 KKni'.K i '.s
I at his lu-ad a suilab' ■ memo
he biiib esteem in wliich he

THE (iAME OF NORTH AMERICA;

,TS NO.MKNCI.Ml=RK, ..Amrs, IIAINT.S ANM SLASO.Ns, Wnil
IIINT.S ON THE SCIENC1-. OF WOOIH RAI- T.

IIV FKANK FOHESTEK.

I.

1'*HERF, i~, perhaps, no country in the world which presents to
the sportsman so long a catalogue of the choicest game,
whether of fur, tin or leather, as the Vnited States of North
America; there is none, probably, which counts more numerous
or more ardent devotees ; there is none, certamly, in which the
^^ide•spread passion for the chase can be indulged under so few
restrictions, and at so trilling an expense.

Yet, all this notwithstanding, it is to be regretted greatly that
there is no country in which the nomenclature of these fcr<r
,i„/,(n/\ these roving deni/ens of wood, wold and water, is so
confused and unscientific; none in wliich their habits are so little
known and their seasons so little regarded; none ir. which the
gentle craft of venerie is so often degraded into mere pot hunting;
and in which, as a natural consequence, the game that swarmed
of vore in all the fields and forests, in all the lakes, streams, bays
and creeks of its vast territory, are in such peril of becoming
speedily extinct.

That in a nation every male inhabitant of which is, with but
rare exceptions, a hunter, and ready with the gun almost beyond
■n.is surics ot sketches was contributed tn the panes of ti.e ••Dc.nocratir
Review " in iM;-". In- -I'-r-ink Forester." and forms tlic nucleus of his delight-
ful "Kield Si.orl.." Several passaKcs of the articles presented in the serial
have been incorporated in that work, but the repetith.n of such portions will no
doubt be pardoned by the reader, viewing its interest as a whole.-ED.

2(>

THE woorrncK.

example, this sliould be tl>e case, can be explained only by the
tact that, as I have said before, little is known K«-'nerally of th,
habits of K'ame; and that the rarest and choicest are slaughtered
inconsiderately, not perhaps wantonly, at such times, and in such
manners, as are rapidly causing them to disappear and become

extinct.

That such is the case, can he proved in a few words, and by
'reference to few examples, the most evident perhaps of which is
the absolute extinction of tlust noble bird, the heath hen, or
finmitcl i;ro„sc,on Long Island, xvhere ^vithiu the memory ol
our elder sportsmen they might be taken in abundance at the
proper season, but where not a solitary bird has been seen for
yea.s. In lb-' pines on the southern shores of New Jersey, and
in the oak-barrens of northeastern I'ennsylvania, the same 1 irds
were also plentiful within a few years; but now they are indeed
rara arcs; and after a few inore returns of the rapidly succeeding
seasons, they will be no more known in their old-accustomeu

places.

The destruction of this, the finest of our gallinaceous game,
,s ;o be attributed wholly, in all the districts I have enumerated,
to the same cause, the havoc made among them at periods when
a little knowledge of their habits would protect them from the
most ruthless not hunter; the season, I mean, when they are
occupied in laving, hatching, or rearing their young broods,
during which to kill the parent ensures the loss ol the whole
hatching-cruellv famished orphans; a veritable illustration ol
the fable v'hich he Uls up to contempt and laughter the slayer ol
the goose which laid the eggs of gold.

In all the European countries, writers on all branches ot
sporting have long abounded; many of them high of birth, many
of them distmguisl-.ed in the world of science or ot letters, some
even of the gentler sex. The greatest chenust of his day, Sir
Uumphrcy Daw, was not ashamed to record his piscatory
experiences in "Salmonia," a work second only in freshness and
attraction toil, prototype by old T.aak Walton. That lair and
eentledame, luHanaHerncrs,deen.ed it not an untem.n.ne task
io indite whai, to the present day, is the text-book of falconry;
and hapless, beautiful Jane Grey thought she had given the

roCK.

\\\ be explained only by the 1
le is known ^eneniUy of tin
and choicest are slaughtered
ilv, at such times, and in sucli
em to disappear and become

oved in a few words, and by
t evident perliap-^ "f which is
loble bird, the heath hen, or
where \vithin the memory of
)e taken in abundance at the
litary bird has been seen for
■n shores of New Jersey, and
Tennsylvania, the same birds
irs; but now they are indeed
urns of the rapidly succeeding
lown in their old-accustomeci

est of our gallinaceous game,
le districts I have enumerated,
; among them at periods when

would protect them from the
ason, I mean, when they are

rearing their young broods,
insures the loss of the whole
uis; a veritable illustration of
mpt and lau'^hter the slayer of
;old.

L's, writers on all branches of
ny of them high of birtii, many
d of science or of letters, some
■eatest chemist of his day, Sir
amed to record his piscatory
k second only in freshness and

Izaak Walton. That fair and
n.ed it not an unfeminine task
>•, is the text-book of falconry ;
;y thought she had given the

rut: WOODCOCK.

37

.xlremest praise lo Plato's eloquence when she prefernd it to
,1a. music of ihe hounds in -I.e wild green *ood. lU.I, till withii>
,hi last few veai s, America has found no son to record the teats
„|- iKT bold and skillful hunters; to build theories on the results
of their experience; m plead the cause of her persecuted and
almost extermmated game.

Within the last few years, however, much has been ilone.
A whole host of sporting writers have sprung up ia all (luarters
of the land, having their rendezvous and rallung poml in the
columns of the '• Spirit of the Times."

Most of Ihe-e writers have aspired, indeed, rather to enterta.n
iban to instruct; rather to depict scenes and inciuents to the life,
than to draw from those scenes a moral and a theory. How
amply thev have succeeded, 1 need not say to those who are
acquainted with the writings of N., of .\rkansas; Tom Owen,
,he lice Hunter; Dr. Henry, of Quebec; J. Cypress, Jr., ot New
York; and others whose name is legion; but to those who arc
i..norant of this, perhaps the most original branch of our national
lUerature, I -nav be allowed to say that it is lobe surpassed in Us
own line in n,." Kuropean language; and that Nimrod, Hawker,
lieckford and lolfrey, of English notoriety, would lose non.- ol
their laurels by being compared to the least excellent of these
writers.

I have mvself long felt a humble pride in being able to sub-
scribe myself as one of the earliest laborers in this fruitful
vineyard, ever endeavoring to blend with such incidents and
anecdotes as my poor skill might device f .• the amusement of
mv readers, some facts ascertained by a long experience of field
sports, both here and in other lands; and some pleas in behalf as
well of the gentle science itself as of the wild animals which it
teaches us alike how to pi'irsue and slay when ///, and how to
spare when out of srusoii.

So much has been already accomplished by the elVorts of
many among those whom I have named, r.nd so well am I
convinced that the most excellent results may be obtained, as
relating to the pieservation of our game, from a wider dissemina-
tion of"facls connected with its habits, haunts and seasons, that I
have embraced with real pleasure the opportunity of presenting

^R

j8

Till': WOOJJCOCK.

mv vicw^ U> llic miiiu'roiis readers of a work holdinj; so lii>;li a
fliar.icU'r as this review, as many persons may be induced to pay
some attention to paprrs from respect to their medium, which
they mi^lit not h.ive heen led into tlie wav of rendint,' liad tliey
appeared in a purely sportirif; periodical.

With tiicse few general remarks, I shall plunge at once ///
iiirdids rc.<, commencing my series on the Game of North America
with the bird dearest to the thorough sportsman.

that ifi
taken t
vouch
doubt fi
every \\
after, ji
yet, th;
circum
To I

7JIE WOODCOCK,

Hcotof'iix Minor, as he is judiciously termeil by n.ituralists, to
distinguish him lVo:n his European hrotlicr, Scofolux Jiiislicohi,
w hicli is above onethiril larger and heavier in llie ratio of sixtei'ii
to nine, the mud snipe, blind snipe, or bightaded snipe, as he is
variously called in various parts of the country, mav be termed
an amphibious bird, and is nearly allied to the waders, lie haunts
woodland sireams and swamps; sunny hillsides covered with
s.iplings, if contiguous to wet feeding grounds; wide meadows
intci>persed with lulls of aldeis or willows; and at tinus, and in
peculiar di:;lricls, open and grassy marslies, quite destitute of
underwood or ti.'nber.

With us, of the Northern States, he is a summer bird of
passage, as lie may be termed with propriety; although he pays
us his aimual visit earlv in spring; sometimes, in open seasons,
before the last moon of winter has waned her snowy round, and
defers his dep.uture until the very end of autumn. In the
Southern States, on the contrary, he is found only during the
short and genial winter, quittii;g them altogether during the
overpowering heals, which our water-loving friend finds unen-
durable. In reply to a question which T pn^pounded some years
since to the readers of the New "\'ork "Turf Register," "whether
in sol't and sheltered situations of the most northern of the
.Southern .States, the woodcock may not be found throughout the
year,'' I was informed by an anonymous correspondent that
among the higher valleys of the Appalachian chain such is the
case throughout the southern portion of that great ridge; and

for it is
follow!
it shoi
howevt
bird I 1
for mis
the con
and of
sununi
by the
son in
cock ii
wlien I
July da
either
Minor
Thi
from ei
his exi
measui
the bil
eightee
curiou'
of a h
taperin
ing coi
exquisi
gular i

i)CK.

THE WOODCOCK.

29

a work lidktiiij; so liiyli a
oils may Ik' iiuiuciil to pav
■t to their nu'cliiiiii, which
; way of rtndint,' liad they
al.

I shall phingo at onci' /;/
Ir' Game of North America
sportsman.

:ocK,

ly lerineil by naturalists, to
irother, Scofohix Ritstkola,
•avier in liie ratio of sixtei'n
liiK-htaiietl snipe, as lie is
he country, may be termed
:l to the waders, lie haunts
iny hillsides covered witli
^ j;rounds; wide meadows
Hows; and at liiius, and in
narslies, quite destitute of

, he is a summer bird of
)ropriety ; altliougli he pays
ometimes, in open seasons,
ined her snowy round, and
end of autumn. In the
\ is tbund only during the
lem altogether during the
r-Ioving friend finds unen-
li T propounded some years
"'I'urf Register," "whether
the most northern of the
lot he found throughout the
lyinous correspondent that
)alachian chain such is the
n of that great ridge ; and

that in the northern parts of Virginia especially they are to be
taken al all seasons of the year. Vm this fact, however, 1 cannot
\ouch on my own knowledge, and, indeiil, 1 am somewhat
doubtful of its correctness. I prefer, therefort', to consider it as
everywhere migratory; and of its migrations I shall speak here-
after, premising only that they are but parrially understood as
vet, that much mystery is connected with them, and that their
eircumstances are as interesting as ihey are curious.

Todesciibe minutely a bird so well known throughout the
length and hreaillh of the cultivated jiortious of North America—
for it is a singular fact that he is never found in the wilderness,
following everywhere the skirts of civilization— would be a work,
it should seem, of su|)ererogalion. I shall say a few words,
however, of his general appearance, in order to indicate the very
bird I mean to my readers, beyond the possibility of a mistake;
for mistakes are indeed possible, owing, as I have observed, to
the confused nomenclature of game prevailing in this country;
and of this I am a good witness, as f was once dragged up to the
summit of one of the highest hills in Orange County, New York,
by the reiterated assertions of a very intelligent lad, a farmer's
son in the vicinity, that he could show me more than fifty wood-
cock in that unusual and remote spot; the woodcock proving,
when I had climbed the ridge, breathless and spent, on a broiling
July day, to be large red-headed x.ood pickers! utterly worthless
either for sport o>- for the table, and no more like to Scohpax
Minor than was Hyperion to a Satyr.

This beautitui bird, then, varying in weight, when full grown,
from eight to eleven ounces — I have heard of but one instance of
his exceeding the latter — is about thirteen inches in length,
measured tVom the tip of the bill to the extremity of the toes,
the bill alone exceeding one-Tourth of the whole length, and
eighteen in breadth, from tip to tip of the expanded wings. The
curiou' instrument by which he obtains all bis nourishment is
of a highly polished, horny substance, stout at the base, and
tapering gradually to the tip, where the upper mandible, project-
ing considerably beyond the lower, is terminated in a knot of
exquisite delicacy and sensibility. The head is somewhat trian-
gular in shape, with the large, full black eye— constructed, as i.i

30

THE WOODCOCK.

tlie case of all birds whicli tly or feed In' ni),;lit, so as to catcli
and concenlralc every ray of li^lit — situate n»'aror tlie apox, or
crown, than in any other bird; a peculiarity which, iiilded to the
unusual size ol the hi'ad, gives a l"(>oli^li and chinisy air to this
otlierwise bcantilnl little I'owl. the brow of the ailnlt bird is of
a grayish white, j;radual!y daikenini,' until it reaches the crown,
where it is shaded into the richest black. 'I'he whole hinder
parts, from the ni'ck downward to the tail, a'e exquisitely barred
and variegated with a thousand minute wavy lines of black, ash
color, cinnabar brown and umber, the tail-feathers bin mij a broad
band of black close to their extremities, and beyond this a tip
of snowy whitene^--. The chin is white, but the throat and breast,
nearlv as far as the insertion of the tbii^hs, are of a warm yellow-
ish chestnut; the vent and thii,'hs white. The leifs, ,ii the young
birds, are of an (.live green; in the adults, of a pale tlesh color.
There is no distinction of plumage, that I have been able to
discover, between the sexes ; nor has any been detected, so far as
1 am aware, on dissection ; and the only diHerence between the
young and old birds, size and weight excepted, i- the change in
the color of the legs, and the increased whitein'ss of the forehead.

This interesting bird is rarelv or never seen by tiay. unless by
those who are especially in pursuit of him ; and by them even
he is t'ound with dilVicultv, unless when hnntcii with well broken
dogs. At nightfall, however, he may often be seen on the wing,
darting athwart the gloom from the dry upland coverts, in which
at manv seasons he loves to lie, toward his wet feeding grounds.
During the hoiu-s of darkness he is on the alr;rt constantly; by
night he seeks his food; by night he makes his long and direct
migrations, choosing for this latter purpose foggy weather, at or
about the full of the moon.

I?y day he lies snugly ensconsccd in some lonely brake, among
long grass and fern, under the shade of the dark alder or silve.y
willow, and near to some marshy level or muddy streamlet's
brink during the sumtner; but in the autumn, on some dry,
westering hillside, clothed with dense second-growth and saplings.

In very quiet spots, especially where the covert overhead is
dense and shadowy, he sometimes feeds by day; and it has been
my fortune once or twice to come upon him unsuspected when

>() enga
luam, \
Ibrth hi
largest
perch o

It is
is dicta
control
tor exa
large c(
in niori
land a I
alTects
the col
vegetal

It I
have le
moult,
himsel
them ii
elating

Wo
.States,
counlii
accordi
the sn
immed

Tlu
in the
round
iniplen
said to
on the
dry eai
sudden
from V
of Jun
able to

OCK.

THE WOODCOCK.

3<

.1 In' night, so as to cati'li
situatt' nearer tlie apfx, or
iliaritv which, aildcil to tlic
i^h and chinisv air to thi>
l)ro\v of tho achilt hini is ol

until it riai'lu's the crown,
black. 'lliL' wliolc hinder
• tail, a'L' exquisitelv hatred
tc wavv linos ol" lilack, ash
tail-l'calhcrs lia\ niij a hroad
lies, and ht'vond this a tij)
c, hut tiio throat and lircast,
liLjhs, are ofa warm vcllow-
tc. TliL- IcLjs, in the voung
dults, of a pale flesh color.

that I have been able to
any been detecfetl, so tar as
nly dilVercnce between the
excepted, i- the change in

I wiiiteiifss ot" the I'ori'head.
ever seen bv day, unless by
)t hini ; and by them even
•n hunted with well broken

often he seen on the wing,
ry upland coverts, in which
■d his wet feeding grounds.
)n the alert constantly; by

makes his long and direct
irpose foggy weather, at or

II some lonely brake, among
of the dark alder or silve.y
evel or muddy streamlet's
ihe autumn, on some dry,
second-growth and saplings,
ere the covert overhead is
ds by day; and it has been
lOn him unsuspected when

so engagt'd, and to watch him for many minutes probing the soft
(lam, which he loves the best, with hiii long bill, and drawing
iiith his snctulenl food, from the smallest red wire-worm to the
largest lob worm suitable for the angler's bait when (ishing for
perch or the yellow bass of the lakes.

It is by the abundance of this Ibod tliat his selection of haunts
is dictated, and his choice of season, in some considerable degree,
controlled. On sandy anil hungry soils, as that of Long Island
tor example, he is found rarely in comparison, and nevci in the
large congregations which so rejoice the heart of the sportsman
in more favoreil localities. .Still more does he eschew sour marsh
land and peat Ixigs, wherein, by the way, the worm he most
allects hardly exists; while on fat loamy bottom lands, whether
the color of the soil be red or black, rich with decomposed
vegetable matter, he may be Ibund in swarms.

It must be understood, however, th.it after the young brood
have let"t the parent birds, which departure occurs after the first
moult, the woodcock is a solitary bird, acting and moving for
himself alone, although the same causes inay draw hundreds of
them into one neighborhood, and never flying in flocks, or ;isso-
ciating in any way with his fellows, unless in the breeding season.

Woodcock arrive among us, in the Middle and Northern
.States, from Pennsylvania so far eastward as to the western
counties of Maine, almost simultaneously, in February or March,
according to the earliness or openness of the season — often before
the snow is oil" the ground. They arrive paired already, and
imniedi.-itely set about the duties of incubation.

The nest is rude and inartiflcial, consisting merely ofa hollow
in the ground, with a few slr.-iws or rushes carelessly gathered
round it, the bill of llie old bird doubtless proving an awkward
implement for niilification. This nest is made, if made it can be
said to be, under the shelter of a reedy tussock or stunted bush,
on the verge of large wet meadows; and should the season be
dry early, enabling the birds to sit on low ground, and should a
sudden flood ensue, numbers of broods are destroyed ; a casualty
from whicli I do not consider them secure until the beginning
of June at least, when, in an early season, the young birds are
able to shift for themselves.

ja

rHE WOODCOCK.

In siu-li a ncKt, unci in tiucli Ritimtions, the waodciick lavs
from two to six bluisli fg>r», irregularly lilotchcil with brown
How lonK tho proi-CHs of iniiib.ilion continiii-s, 1 have not been
able accuiatelv to uscerlain; but I h;ive seen the old birds sitting
Ko earlv as the tenth of March, ^et never ha 'e seen young birds
able to t1_v earlier than the middl. of May.

The ordinary number of a halihini,' '» four birds, and if the
first brood fjets off early, the parents immediately proceed to a
second incubation; the male bird in this case lakini,' care of the
first brood until the second gets olV, when all associate together
until alter the nioultint,' season, when all ties are dissolved, and
they know thenceforth neither kindred nor kindness.

I am aware that the fact of the woodcock rearing two broods
in the same season has been disputed, but I am thoroughlv
satisfied of the tact, having repeatedly killed six and eight young-
sters, and those of dilTerent sizes, -.ith but one couple of old
birds; and that, loo, in places so small as to render it next to
impossible that any should have remained unsprung, and on
occasions when every bird sprung has been brought to bag.

A stronijer proof than this I can adduce, involving, too, a
pleasant aiecdote concerning the maternal allection of this
usually iletined stupid bird :

A few years since— I think it was in 1841*— there was a deep
fall of snow, covering the greater part of the state of New York,
near eighteen inches deep, so late as the twelfth or fifteenth of
May. It thawed, of course, immediately, and produced a complete
inundation, the early spring having been rather uncommonly
dry. From this I augured ill for the prospects of the shooting
sfiiBon. But fine weather followed, and by most persons the
spring snowstorm and freshet were forgotten.

*In quntiiiff thi.s in his siiiuil) work :i lew years later, " Krank Forester"
iiitroduce.s it willi tliu followiiit; apt remarks : "Tliis anecdote was published
by me some two or three years since, in the columns of a leading monthly
magazine, in connection with a number of remarks concerning; the habits ot
the woodcock, on some of which I have since been led to alter my opinion.
1 was, at that time, inclined to believe that the parent birds retained .several
broods of yountf, of dillcrent sizes, about them; but I am satisfied that this
view ol the case was erroneous, and was induced by the accident of two or
more broods having eomc in contact, as is perpetually the case on well-stocked
ground, under the care of only one parent bird each.''

7CA'.

tioiis, the woodcock lays
riy lilotchid with brown.
:)titiinioti, r have not been
■ seen the old biidK >ittinj{
■er ha 'e •-eeii young birds
lay.

h' is four birds, and if the
iniinediately proceed to a
is case lakini; care of the
hen all associate toj^ethcr
all ties are dissolved, and
nor kindness,
dcock rearing two broods
I, but I am thorouijhiv
illed six and el^ht young-
h but one couple of old
II as to render it next to
lained unsprung, and on
jeen brought to bag.
adduce, involving, too, a
aternal allection of this

n 1S41* — there was a deep
)f the state of New York,
he twelfth or fifteenth of
, and produced a complete
een ratlier uncommonly
jrospecls of the shooting
nd by most persons the
;otten.

years later, " Frank Forester"
" This anecdote was published
columns of a leading monthly
larks concernin^!^ the habits of

been led to alter my opinion.
; parent birds retained .several
11; but I am satisfied that this
ced by the accident of two or
■tually the case on well-stocked
iich.''

Till-: w'ooncocK.

n

r

■ On the first ol Jidy I went with a Iriend, a good shot and

I eager sportsman, to a favorite shooting ground in ( )range L'ounty,
New N'ork, on part of uliicli — for it had a very large rnngi-, and
ronlained many varieties of lying — we bad bagged in the previous
year a hundred and twenty-five birds in a single day's sbuoting.

We shot the first ilay on the low meadows, and killed hardly
any birds — not, to the l>e-t of my recollection, above ten or a
dozen, in a severe day's walking. 'I'liey were well-grown birds,
but not a single uld one in tbi' numbn- My companion, greatly
annoyed, insisted that the ground had been hunled before that
season, and all the biids killed off except the handful we bad
found. I'^rom this conclusion I ilissenteil, arguing that if' suili
bail bi'cn the case, we should have f'ounti okl birds, the young
being the easier both to find and to kill, especially for cockney
sportsmen, who alone may be presumed to hunt before that
season. My friend grew almost angry, and asked me, "Where,
then, are the birds.'" I ansyvered, ''Wait till to-morrow evening,
when we shall have beat our other ground, and 1 will tell you."

'I'he next day we did beat the other ground ; wet swales, and
sloping yyoods of small extent in \allevs watered by little stream-
lets from the bills. The result was the same, a wretched day's
sport, and no old birds, or at least hardly any.

As usual, each held his own position. My friend again asked,
" I low ilo you account for this.''" I replied, "All the young broods
liavt been destroyed by the freshet, except the very few which
got oil' before the May flood. This accoimts tor the fewness of
the birds, and for the uncommon size of those few. The old
birds are now hatching their second broods on the ridges and
hillsides. I will show you that I am right, to-inorroyv." And
to-morrow I did siiow him that the ridges ami sapling coverts —
sprouts, as the country people call them — were full of old birds
hovriiiiffy and no young ones.

Still my companion yvas incredulous as to the second broods,
until in the afternoon, as I was passing through a little clump of
alders, not above tyvo or three yards square, I flushed a bird,
which flew out to him lie fired. 1 called out to inquire wliethir
he had killed, and as he answered " yes,'' I heard the bird flapping
its wings on the ground, in the death-struggle, as I imagined.

mmBs—

14

THE W()()/H(HK

Kno\>in|{ that )if I'oukl ii'i'Dvt'r lln' lilnl in tlic «pt'M ground, I
beiit out tlie thii'kft thiirouKl'lv. "ml Icli if, ><ali>.tirii tl\ai it lon-
taiiu'd no other bird, lh()iik(li I hiul knuu' ililli<'iilt\ iti ^rttin^' oih'
c)l iiiv hi'ttciK lUMkv iVom what I Mi|)|iimt'il to lu' a luUI-mow^i'
Oil joiiilni; inv iVifnd, \w luM me that tin' l)iiil had llappfd up,
when he wilH Id the act of hiviii); hi" liand upon it, and had
hta>{nered 'iwav, HecInln^{ every moment on t'\e point of lallin;,',
hu thai he did not care to lire at it a^.iin, until it hail >,'ol out oi
Kliot ; but that he had marked it dcnvn to a yard, in a thick brush
feiiee, three or tour hundred yarilH awn v. On Koin^ to the plai e,
the do^s took tin' hceiit readilv ; hut while thev were trailiiij{ it,
the bird ro>e, a bundled yaiil- oil', thippin^ iiiul vhiKKeriii^' about,
as if severely hurt, nnJ llew >ome lluee or loin- hundred yards
farther tVom the thicket in whiili ..e lir-l started il, and droppeii
a^aiii in u piece of thick liillside coppice. I iiinrkcd the biril
accurately by the top ot a |>iiu' tree, and oil" we set in pursuit,
I inoie tlian hail' su^pciliiif^ lliat the bird was unwouiuled.
.Scarce hail we entered the covert, when up wlii/zed tlie identical
bird, fresh and sound, from tlie verv brakt- in whicli 1 had marked
him, and away like a bullet tluouKh the Iree tops. .So thorouf;hlv
convinced was I, that, though I could have killed the bird with
ease, I would not fire at it; but, to convince my still doubting
friend, we walked back to the little tuft In which \vc first sprun;;
the cock, he promisin;; not to tire if we should again fiush her.
Mv' dogs were not well in the alders before the bird rose again,
and was going a\\;iv at her best pace, when my friend's shot
stopped her, to my .. finite disgust, lie is a very quick shot, and
in the cxcit'.'ment of the moment forgot everything except the
game ind the fury of pursuit.

Alinost at the same moment, oKI Chanci — he was the best
retirever I ever saw in any coii.trv — picked up from the spot
where I had supposed he was , •.utVnig al'ti'r a li''ld-mouse, a
young downy, unfiedged woodcoc!;, less th.in two in< iies long.

Chance was the finest retriever I ever saw, broke bv Mike
Sandford, of Newark, and would carry a hurt bird by the tip of
his wing, without iutllin'4 a I'eath r; aiul tliougli it will hardly be
believed. I took the little fi'.'d;.;linL; iroui liis nunith unhiu'med.

.u .1 bail
himself

'I'hat
hefoi'i' V
with th
«umi'd
( rippled
me that

Had
not to b
since III
simplifii
of wood
day the
I ulfed g
lor whii
when I

i am
parent I
of the I
they ilis
northwc
and Kca
which i
itself al
protei:ti
until th'

A se
of the 1
(|uently
speak in

A th
which r
impossi
on the I

Last
enforcei
it ajipca

OCK.

THE n '>(>/>( <HK

.IS

hinl in tlu- opi'ii ^roiiiul, I
I'll if, HiitihHi'tl thai it ii)n-
iif liillii'iilty ill urtlinj; diic
i|iimcil to be a fuUI-m()u«i'
t till' biril liiul ll;ip|u'il up,

ii» ll.liul lipilll it, IIM(t liiul

nt on tSf point ol' liilliii;,',
In, until it l\!ui jrot out ol
I to II vaiil, in n tiiick brusli
:iv. On yoinK to thi' pltlii-,
.liilc thi'V well' tniiliiijj it,
pmn iiiul Kliij.'ijfiiiiy about,
icu 111- lour liuniiic'd vnrilK
fUft hturtiil il, aiul ilroppcil
ppico. I innikiil tbr l)iiil
anil oil' Nvc n't ill |)urKuit,
llu' bird wav uiiudiiiu'.oil.
L'li up wlii/zi'il tin- iilontical
ake in wliiili I bad tnnrkud
u' tioe top'*. So tboroiij^lily
1 have killi'd till- biid witli
onvituo ni\ still doubting
ft in wliicli we Inst sprung
we sboiild again llusb licr.
it'lbre tbe bird rose again,
:l', wben ttiv friend's shot
le is a very quick sbot, and
got evervtbing except tbe

Clianei' — be was the best
—picked up iVoiii tbe spot
I'lng after a li'ld-iuouse, a
ss tliaii two in> iies long.

ever saw, broke bv Mike
v a biirt bird by tlu' tip of
lul tliough it will hardly be
roni hi-. MiiHitli uiihurmed,

.11 1 bail tbe >-;iti-r.iition of Meing bini run uway biit.kly, and liiile
liinisflf bcbiiid a ilock leal'.

Tbat day w- »liot n> nun', nor Indeed timt numnier; but
before we left Orange County, I went again to tbe naine brake, —
wilb lb." oil! dii'4. but withoul a gun, — ailil llusbed what I pre
»iinied to ba\e been the mule biid, wliieli, b\ it< Hiinulated
I rippled tligbt, again ib'awiiig ine away from tbe sjiot, e(Miviiteiil
Mie that be wan walcbing over Ins niotlurlerts tittle ones.

I laii I needed any tiling to e<»nvin('e ine tbat woiidcoi k (uigbt
not to be xliol in jiilv, tbat scene would have eouviuci'il iiie ; and
since til, It liay I bav .- never ceaseil to .idvoi'ate a change and
■-iniplilicatioTi of our game laws, wbicli should pruhiblt the killing
of woodc<ick until the first d.iy of October; ami make Iliul one
day tbe eiul of close time for .ill game whatever, exci pi the
lulled grouse, eominonly calleil pluasaiil, or partridge, the reason
for which exception I shall give under llie head ol tb.il line bird,
when I reach him in his turn.

I am satisfied thai this change should be maile; because the
parent birds do not cease from sitting until the comtnencetnent
of tbe moulting season, that is, about the llrst of August, when
they tlisapjie.ir for a while, migrating, as some believe, yet farther
northward, or, as I fancy, moving to the dillicult neiuntain tops,
and scattering themselves among the little swales and gulleys
which intersect tbein, This is the first grand reason, anil is in
itself all-sulVicient ; for as close tiiiK is only adopted for the
protection e'' the brooding birds, it should, of course, continue
until the broods are out of danger.

A st'coiul reason is scarce less valid: tbat not one-tenth i)art
of the young birds, killeil in July, are half grown, .ind conse-
([uently afford little sport to ihe shooter, and are, cotnpavatively
speaking, valueless on the table,

A third may be I'ound in the extreme beat of Ji.ly weather,
which renders the sport a toil both to man and dog, a.nl makes it
impossible to bring home the game in a slate fit to be eati'ii. i-ven
on the day which sees it killed.

Last, not least, tbe law, as it now stands, can hardly be
enforced, so dillicult is it to limit men to this or that day, when
it ajipcars to be a mere arbitrary distinction. Prohibit the killing

36

THE WOODCOCK.

of the bird at all during his spring ami suininer vi.it; strictly
punish those who vend him dining that period; let the cause ot"
the prohibition be made thoroughly public, and you will enlist
llie now law-breakers in the lauic of law-protection.

No danger ot' their anticipating the first ot' October by a tew
days or weeks, for this siMijjle reason, that before that day the
bird has not returned from liis summer rustication, and, conse-
quently, is not there to be killed.

These views 1 submit humbly, but with lull conviction of
their justice, to all sportsmen and friends of sporting; and
earnestly do I entreat them to give them a fair consideration, if
they would save the woodcock h'oni ihe fate of the heath-hen —
expatriation and extinction.

In my next paper 1 sliall treat this question somewhat more
fully, as connected with the short moulting migration, with
autumn, or, technically, /«// shooting; with the use and breaking
of the dog; and with what will perhaps be new to some of my
readers, the fire-hunting of the South, as applied to winged game,
and shooting on the wing.

Tub Cedaks, Nov. jj, iS),.

II.

THE WOODCOCK.

THE year has now arrived at the first week of August, and the
earth is scourged with almost intolerable heat. The dwellers
of large cities are all on the wing for the fresh breezes of the
Atlantic coast, for the mineral springs among the cold and quiet
mountains, for the snug farm-houses in some green and shady
vale.

Manv of these, sportsmen in their own conceit, and that only,
go forth encumbered with their Purdeys, or their Mantons, and
accompanied by their high-bred and well-broke dogs, in the vain

i

CK.

li summer v'.it; strictly
period; let the cause of

iblic, anci you will enlist

rt-protection.

first of October by a tew
thai before that ilay the

!r ru>tication, and, conse-

with full conviction of
riends of sporting; and
111 a fair consideration, if
' fate of the heath-hen —

question somewhat more
loullint; migration, with
with the use and breaking
s be new to some of my
s applied to winged game,

THE WOODCOCh'.

37

t week of August, and the
erable heat. The dwellers
• the fresh breezes of the
imong the cold and quiet
n some green and shady

\vn conceit, and that only,
\ s, or their Mantons, and
.'U-broke dogs, in the vain

H.pe of ti.uiing sport in the moist woodlands or the marshy
meadows, that shall relieve the tedium conse^iuent on change
from the stirring habits, and the bustle of dense streets, to the
.nonotonous tranquillity and calmness of the country.

In the van, hope. I said. And wherefore vain.> methinks I
luar the reader ask. unlearned in the mysteries of wood and rner.
Vain hope, dear friend, because, of all the months in the
woodland vear. this burning month ot August is the most barren,
to the -entle sportsman, of all legitimate occupation. No species
of seasonable game is to be found, in this month, in sulbcient
numbers to render its pursuit exciting; while the fierce heat ol
the summer sun renders his sportive labor toilsome to the man;
and the lack of game is apt to produce carelessness, headstrong-
ness, and disobedience to command, in his four-tooled comrade.
It is for these good reasons, that the gun of the genuine
sportsman hangs idle on the antlers in his hall, with pouch, and
4sk. and emptv game-bag at its side, during this weary month;
while his emplovment in the field is limited to keeping his dogs
in exercise, and "to preparing them by steady house breaking, for

the sport of the more genial autumn.

Durin- this month of August, the Knglish snipe, having
withdrawn from our latitudes in June, is luxuriating in the Arctic
regions of Labrador and scarce thawed Greenland. The quail
is protected bv wise laws, rearing her first bevy, if the season
lias been cold and backward; her second, if the times have been
limes of promise to the expectant sportsman. The rufied grouse
is protected likeuise; but, as I think, improperly, holding, myself
this month to be the fittest of the twelve for his legitimate and
pleasa.it slaughter. The woodcock, too. our own woodcock, our
present topic of discourse, hath departed,-vanished from his
haunts of last month, for a season,-nol to be found ol dogs, or
shot of men, until crisp frost's shall have embrowned the meadows
-until the maple shall have changed his leafy green tor hectic

crimson. . , ., ■ u • t

It is .trange that no naturalist should have noticed this bnet
migration; for none have done so-none. at least, ot whose
writings 1 am cognizant. It is scarcely less strange, that until
very recentlv even sportsmen, who knew a-..d perceived the sudden

3S

THE noo/xocK.

ilUapiHaraiui.' ot the binl, >h(iiiKi have <loul)Uil or lUr.ieil the fact
of il^ Miiyiatioii at thi-- period.

\\'l)eii liisl I bei^aii lo sporl in this eoiinti v, --ofne (ll'teen vesrs
ago, tliere were two theorie-i current anionj; sportsmen, \vherel)y
to aeioiiiil lor tlie fact ''at in wooil^ where tile birds swarmed in
July, he was li.U'dlv lo be tound in August. Hotli theories, as I
lia\e proved thoroughly to my own >alis('aeli()ii, are absurd and
I'ulile.

The first w a- this ; That the bin! did not, in tiuth, disappear
at all, bnl uinained on hi- old i^nuiiul ; tIioii>;h, owiny to the
I'aet of his beint( in moult, lie Lfave out n>) seent whereby the do^
lonld detect him; and from sickness, or inability to lly with his
woiitid velocity, refused to rise bel'ore the tread of liis intrudini;
enemy, the man.

This theory is answered, in a word. The woodcock, while in
moult, (/()(',< give out as much scent, ;'.< pointed as reailily by dogs,
lior.i rise ps willingly before the frosts, and /.< as good upon the
table, as at anv other season ; facts which are easih proved, since,
although the great mass of bird-, withdraw ihiring August, and
do not return before October, a tew do still tarry in their old
swamps, and may be found anti sliot; though so few in n imbcr,
and at so great an expense of time ami labor, as to render the
pursuit of them toilsome, and producli\e oiilv of weariless and
ilisappointmenl

I have, however. Killed thein repeateiily, while endeavoiing
to satisly myself oi' the facts which I now assert, so deep in the
moult tliat their bodies have been almost naked, and that Ihcy
liave tlutti.'red up teebly and with a heuvy whirring, on wings
divested of one half the tiuill-teathers; and in that state 1 have
observed that the dogs stood as staunchly, and at as great a dis-
tance from their game, as usual; aiul that the birds took uing as
freely, though, in truth, half impotent t<.) Il\ .

The other theory was this — which I li;ive heard insisted on as
strenuously as the lormer: That the woodcock, on beginning to
moii'l, betakes himself to the niai/e, or indian corn fields, and
remains there unsuspected until the crops Inive been housed, and
the cold weather has set in.

'I'hai
mai/e (i
that till

I'ound g

in such

experie

I hi

circuiiv

ihousai

as any

farmer^

lieUls";

liirds i:

ground

1 th

above i

An.

•■Whit

sage (p

salisf.u

the iiu

runnel

among

signal

belvvei

forth,

woodc

scores

and g.

rascal-

In

the ea

word

the su

the 11

a city

ledges

['A'.

oublcd or ilci-.'ioil tlio fact

)iiiiti V, sofiii.' (irtet'n vc'3rs
onu spoitsiiK'n, \vluTel>v
KTL' tlic birds swariiuil in
list. 15otli tlieorii's, as I
islactioii, ari.' absiirtl ami

I not, in ti nil), disappear
i; llio.iijb, owiiij:; to tlie
K) scint wlicrcln' tin- lio^
inability to fly witli bis
\v tread of iiis intruding;

Tbe woodcock, uliile in
linted as rcatlily by dogs,

and IS as good npon tbe
1 are easih proved, since,
raw di'ring August, and
o still tarry in tiioir old
ougli so few in n nnl)cr,
d labor, as to render tbe

e only of weariress and

ediy, wbile endeavoiing
>vv assert, so deep in I be
:)st nailed, and tiiat tbey
avy whirring, on wings
md in that state 1 bavt
Idy, and at as great a dis-
it tbe liirds took wing as
. fly.

liave heard insisted on as
jodcock, on beginning to
• imiian corn fields, and
)s bave been boused, and

n

////■; UOODCOCh'.

y)

Tliat a few -catleit'd woodcock may be found in wet, low
mai/e fields, along tlie edge of woods, is true; and it is true, also,
that thev 'i^-^-'\ in sucb sitiKitions in great numbers, i/iinin,'- tin-
ni^bt, previous to tbeir removal; but ibat tbey are ever lo lie
Ibimd generally, or tor any number of consecutive days or weeks,
in such ground, is an utterly incorrect surmise, disproved by long

experience.

I bave applied myself care.ully to tbe investigation of this
circumstance, and in tbe last ten years bave certainly beaten a
Ihousand maize fields tborougbly, with a brace of as good setters
as any private gentleman possessed, at the very period when
lariners would tell me "tbey were as thick as fowls in the corn
lielils"; ami 1 have iu;t on uiy occasion flushed more than three
liirds in any one Held; nor have I killed twenty-five on such
ground altogether.

1 think the reader will admit that tbe two theories alluded to
above are, by these facts, indisputably controverted.

And now I mu.st expect that it will be inquired of me,
•■Whither, then, do tbey go.? what iH'comes of them.'" to which
sage questions it i^, 1 grieve to say, my tate lo be un;d)le lo make
satisliu ir,ry replv. 1 was formerly inclined to believe that when
the mou. " s at baud, the woodcock withdraws to tbe small upland
r>mne!^ and boggy streamlets which are to l)e found everywhere
among our hills or mountain-. Tbal the moulting season is the
signal , ir dispersion, and the termination of all family ties
between the young and old birds, is certain. I'rom this time
forth, until tbe next February brings round tbe pairing time, tbe
woodcock, whether t'ound singly in a solitary place, or among
scores of his kind, is still a lonely and ungregarious bird, coming
and going at bis ow n pleasure, without reference — undemocratic
rasca' — to the will of the majority.

In corroboration of this view of the absence of our iiird during
the earlv autumn, I was once informed by a gentleman whose
word 1 have no reason to disbelieve, that on ascending once to
the summit of Bull Hill, one of tbe h.ftiest of the liighlands of
the Hudson, with the intent of showing the fine view thence to
acitv iViend, he found tbe brushwood on tbe barren and rocky
ledges, and even on tne crown of the hill, literally alive with

I

Hi

40

THE WOODCOCK.

woodcock. This occurred, according to liis statem..-nt, in the
heginnini,' of .Sept.niher, when no hirds were to be found in the
level and wet woods below Me further stated that he at first
intended to revisit the hill the next dav, with dog and gun, in
order to profit bv his discovery, but was prevented doin- so by-
casual circumstances, until the frost had set in keenlv in the
woods. He then climbed the hill, and beat it carefuUv with
dogs, without obtaining one point to reward his labor; andon the
next day- found the swamps below full of birds.

Not vouching for the truth of this tale, I tell it as 'twas told
to me. The teller was a sportsman, and a man of average
veracity-that is to say, I should have been inclined to believe
any lact he stated, where I could see no interest on his part which
should lead hi,n to attempt deception. In this case there was
no such reason; not even the de.sire of prevailing in argument,
for we were not arguing. I cannot, therefore, well doubt the'
correctness of his information.

If truly stated, as I believe it to have been, this fact makes
somewhat for my former opinion. I have also myself frequently
found scattered birds on such hill tops, and in s'uch mountain-
swales, while deer-stalking, in August and .September, though
not in numbers which would justify the belief in a gene::d
migration in mass,- to such localities.

If, however, my half-formed opinion,— for it is no more,— be
correct, the birds are dispersed at tliis period of the vear, and are
only to be found, casually, in knots of three or four, and never in
greater numbers.

The other, and on the whole, perhaps more probable sugges-
tion, is this: That, after rearing their young, driven bv the heat
of the weather, or, it may be. by the temporary exhaustion of
food on their favorite grounds, they move farther northward, as
does the English snipe yet earlier in the season, not to return
until the premature cold of northern Canada drives them back,
to tarry xtith us a few months on their way southward.

Should this prove to be the ca.se, the woodcock, instead of
being termed with us a summer bird of passage, must be regarded
as a spring and autumnal visitant, like his congener, the snipe;
with this diflerence, that the snipe rarely breeds with us, going

northwa
invariab
of the n

Of tl
better o
for accc
season,
now rat
the lorn
tion has

It is
ing, in I
more st
come, {
undistir

Whc
New Y
because
not. N
are ext
around
before t
for the '
a victiiT
a half 1
at a dol

Oh,

Oh,

winter i
that de
likewisi
day is
pleasuri
swarm,
the Wa
the po:

to liis statcmi.-in, in the
s were to be found in the
ler stateci that he at first
av, with cio^ and gun, in
s prevented doin-,' 1,0 by
ad set in keenly in the
id beat it carefully with
ard liis labor; and on the
f birds.

lie, I tell it as 'twas told
and a man of average
been inclined to believe
nterest on his part whicli
In this case there was
prevailing in argument,
tierefore, well doubt the

e been, this tact makes
■e also myself frequently
and in such mountain-
and September, though
the belief in a gene::d

—for it is no more, — be
iod of the year, and are
■ee or four, and never in

more probable sugges-
lung, driven by the heat
'inporarv exhaustion of
e farther northward, as
e season, not to return
lada drives them back,
ly southward,
e woodcock, instead t)f
ssage, must be regarded
s congener, the snipe;

breeds with us, going

T/ir: n'oo/icorK.

41

northward to nidificate, while his fellow emigrant, our srohfav,
invariably rears his young before going I'arther toward the Irosts
of the northern pole.

Of these suggestions my readers must judge whether is the
better of the two; one of the two I believe to be the only way
tor accounting for the woodcock's short disappearance at this
season. For the 1 est, as i leaned at first to the former, so do I
now rather incline toward the 1: tter belief, facts not bearing out
the t'oimer to n y satisfaction, although 1 do not think the ques-
tion has been, as yet, fully teste'' by experiment.

It is to be regretted, here, that this question is yearly becom-
intr, in these districts, more ditliciilt of solution; and I am the
more strenuous in noting this emigration, because things may
come, ere long, to such a pass that it will become wholly
undistinguishable.

When first I shot in New jersey, and in the river counties of
New York, the disappearance of the birds was evident enough;
because, up to a certain day, they abounded, and after that, were
not. Now, long before the second week of July, the woodcock
are exterminated in their summer haunts for miles and miles
around our large cities; too many of them, alas, slaugl.tered
before the season, when scarcely able to fly, when nearly unfit
for the table, when a game despicable to the loyal sportsman, and
a victim easy to the pot-hunting knave, who goes gunning with
a half bred, half broken cur, and a German fowling-piece, dear
at a dollar's purchase.

Oh, gentlemen legislators — gentlemen sportsmen,

" Reform it altogetlier I "

Oh, ye choice spirits, who stood forth, after the long, hard
winter and deep snow-drifts— cpiail-destroying — of 1836, to rescue
that delightfid little fowl from total extinction, stand tbrth in
likewise now, in protection of the woodcock. Sullicient for the
day is the evil thereof. Railroads are ruining the hopes, the
pleasures of the sportsman; our best shooting grounds now
swarm, on the first of July, with guns more numerous than birds;
the Warwick woodlands, once inaccessible to the pot-hunter and
the poacher, may now be reached for fifty cents; may now

fU

4J

THE WOODCOCK.

be swept clear in a s'ngle dav — nay, <irr swept clear of hali-

flcdgeii younj^liiigs, bv men, boys and bunglers, and ruthlessly

devoured before the season has set in, by ignor..nt, voracious

cockneys.

•Keform it altogether I "

Enact that the woodcock shall not be slain, -.hall not be pos-
sessed— as Mr. Hlunt possessed him — on plate or in stomach,
until the tirst day of October. Every true sportsman — ever\
sporlsman whatsoever— will ;,'0 hand and heart with the law, will
watch and prevent the illegal sale of the bird; and then— ye gods
of woodcraft! .Sylvans and Faims! and thou friend of the hunter,
Pan! — what sport shall we have in brown October, when the sere
underbrush is bare of leaves to mar the sportsinan's aim; when
the cool, dewy earth sends up the odor of the game in fresh
streams to the setter's keen and sagacious nose; when the pure
air braces the nerves and fans the brow — delicious; when the
full-grown, white-fronted, pink-legged cock sprini^s up — not
fluttermg feebly now and staggering stupidly into the muzzle of
the gun, to drop again within twenty yards, but on a vigorous
and whislling pinion, with sharp-piping alarm note, swift as a
rifle-bullet, soaring away through the tree-tops, or darting, devious
with abrupt zig-i. among the thick-set saplings,

Him no boy can blaze at his twenty times in half an hour, and
slaughter after all with on<. chance pellei, or happilv wearied
down without one! Him can no (ierman gun achieve, of cast
iron, scattering its shot over an area of twenty feet, harmless at
twenty yards! llim can no cur-dog flush in gunshot of pot-
hunting poacher.

No! gentle reader, him, whether he lies in the tufted fern and
wintergreens, or the dry slope of some warm westering hill-
side, among brown second growth of oak and chestnut; whether
he wades among ihe shallow mud-pools, sheltered by tern, dock-
leaves, and dark colt's-foot of some deep maple swamp, it needs
the stealthy pace, the slow, cat-like, guarded motion, the instinct-
ive knowledge of the ground, the perfect nose, and absolute
docility, which belong only to the thorough dog of the thorough
sportsinan, to find certainly, and stand staunchly! lliin, whether
he flap up, seen for one second only among the leafless stems.

;md lost t
whether 1
red and y
sharply a
faith, the
celerity, I
inan, the
like the p
not wing
charge, ti
quick am
tells gooc
gorgeous

My w
pastime—
and ardoi
culinary,
comparec
them, gel
it be, in
sportsma
cock ; prt
which til
meetings
perpend,
plan for >
our norti
all cavil!
thou, Co
great all
and repe
in Gothi
didst mo
Jersey la
long bet
fine fan;
on thee!

Oh!

THE WOODCOCK.

43

'e swept clear of half-
unjjleis, imd rulhlussl^
)}• ij^nor.-nt, voracious

slain, ^.hall not be pos-
1 plate or in stoinacli,
true sportsman — every
heart with the law, will
ird; and then — ye jjoils
Du friend of the hunter,

October, when the sere
portsinan's aim; when

of the fjame in fresh
i nose; when the pure
— delicious; when the
:ock spring's up — not
)idly into the muzzle of
rds, but on a vigorous
alarm note, swift as a
tops, or darting, devious
saplings.

nes in half an hour, and
ei, or happily wearied
m gun achieve, of cast
wenty feet, harmless at
sh in gunshot of pot-

s in the tufted fern and
: warm westering hill-
and chestnut; whether
heltered by fern, dock-
maple swamp, it needs
ed motion, the instinct-
ict nose, and absolute
;h dog of the thorough
unchly! lliin, whether
Dng the leafless stems,

and lost the next among the tufted tops of the yet verdant alders;
whether he soar away, with his sharp whistle, far, far above the
red and yellow tre< tops ; whether he pitch, now here, now there,
sharply anil suddenly, among close saplings, it needs the eye of
faith, the fmger of instinct, the steady nerves, the deliberate
celerity, the marking glance, which characterize the true sports-
man, the crack shot — who, as poor Cypress a\ erred truly, is born
like the poet, not made like the oiator — to cut down at his speed,
not wing-tippeil or leg-broken, but riddled by the concentrated
charge, turned over and over in mid air, arrested inercifully by
quick and unerring death, and falling with a heavy ///«</, which
tells good thing-- of ten ounces' weight, on the brown leaves of
gorgeous autumn.

My words are weak to describe the full charm of this noble
pastime — noble when followed, as it should be, in the true animus
and ardor of the chase, but most ignoble when perverted to base
culinarv, carnal, gluttonous, self-seeking; weak are they when
compared with the vivid and heart-thrilling reality. Yet read
them, gentle legislators ; spurn not the hilloi scolofax — long though
it be, in no wise tedious — spurn not the humble petition of the
sportsman. .lact! enact! and save our gentle, well-born wood-
cock ; pri-serve our harmless occupation t'rom the untimely end
which threatens it. And ye, oh generous club, who hold your
meetings under the sign and sanction of the nob'e woodcock,
perpend, and ponder. Judge if it be not for the best to adopt inj'
plan for our bird's safeguard : one common day of killing in all
our northern country, for all states, all counties, so we shall shun
all caviling, and that one day the first day of October. And

thou, Colonel D — P r, famous although thy race of pointers,

great although li'.y renown with the Manton, bear my words
and repent; thou who, a member of that same sportsmen's club
in Gotham; thou who, although thou didst, alas, know better,
didst most feloniously and basely — taking ralvantage of a flaw in
Jersey law — anticipate thy brother sportsmen and shoot woodcock
long before the fourth day of July, on our friend Pom Dekay's
fine farm, nigh unto Vernon, in good Sussex County. Oh, fie
on thee! repent! repe , and be tbrgiven!

Oh! if there be a clause in the New Jersey statute permitting

44

Till-: n (>()/)( oih'

t'vtrv lami owner to sla\ yaine, in or onl •>>' M'aNon, or. liis own
farm, — to wrinn tlif nctk of the hen c|uail siitiiij; upon lu-r
speckled e^Lt^. to murder llie hen woodcock liovcriut; her helpless
voun^, — it' that sanie clause I'inpower tliat owner to authorize iiis
triend to do like slianietiil luunler, does it helit the gentle and
the generous, the courteous uiul the chivalrous — tor such shou'd
the true sportsman he — to avail himself f>l' ~o miserable a petti-
fojifjinj; suhtertUKi? Ashamed to hear ol it, lluiu werl, t'ol.

U — 1' r; for thou iliiNi hlush, confused, and slammer taint

apology, when chaiijed with Ihv misdoitiifs. W'hv not ashamed
to do it, nallanl colonel.' Or how shall ::■<• dare to enforce the
law, or prav for le;,nslalive aid to save our proper birds from
others, if one I'roin amonn (uu-sclves resort to -mall evasion,
descend to dirtv depreilalioiis.-

1 trust, indeed, that the day "ill ere lonij ariive— if not ere
long, Iheii will it iu\ei he — when all true sportsmen, and their
naiue, in this land of yuns, is lc;;ioii, will set their f.ices steadilv
toward ;4ame protection, as steadilv against those lalse brothers of
the gun. who, crving oul. "protect!" "protect!" yet lose, them-
selves, no opporlunitv, when unsuspecU'd or unseen, of slaugh-
tering for the bag, and for the brtii,'-, at all risks, in all manners,
and at all seasons.

There certainly is no more manly, no more salubrious, no
more animating sport than the pursuit of gatne, with the traiiu'd
dog and the gun. It naturally induces hartlihood, and strength
of limb, freeness of breath, vigor of constitution; it makes men
familiar with those works of God, in the field and forest, which
are imknown to the dwellers of pent cities. To the studious and
scdcntarv scholar, it is a salutary change of habits, a better tonic
and restorative than any bark or bitters; to the rich citizen, the
man of wealth, and luxury, and leisme, it is almost the only
thing that shall save him from driveling down into a mere
gluttonous sensualist, or yet worse, a mere effeminate man-
itiilliner. It leads us into the wildest and the lairest scenes of
nature; it brings us quietly to think and ponder with our>tlves;
it teaches us the habits and instincts of those interior animals
which we too much incline to undervalue; it causes us to weigh
their instincts, to compare them with our own boasted reason;

it discove
has gii'tM
suited to

Does
ami to li
nun, and

1, lor
moiiious
the unpr
arrani to
thai, in t
world al-
almighty
our neigl
ing them

1 helii
used in i
innocent
pastime,
incalcula
sure, at I
nor do I
that sou
degree o
mens suit
better im
which lit
hypocris

Xeno
the maki
day, it is
ness — to
hunger,
must iiu
constitut
this all ;
instinct!

TilE WOODCOCK

4S

111' M'Usou, OI-. his own
iiuil siltiiijj iipdii lu'i
c hovcriiij; lii-r lit-lploss
owner to aiilliori/f liis
t bi-rtl tlu- fjentk' ami
r<Jii* — for sui'li sliou'd
<r -o miserable a petli-
il it, lliou werl, I'ol.
f(l, ami stamnuT taint
;s. W'liv not iislianii'il
;>• dare to entbrce tlie
lur proper liirds I'roni
ort to -mall evasion,

onu an ivi' -il not ere

.' sportsmen, and their

:.et their tares steadil\

those talse brothers of

)lect !" vet lose, them

or unseen, ot' slanijh-

risks, in all manners,

0 more salubrious, no
fjame, with the trained
ardihood, and strenf(th
itution; it makes men
field and forest, which

'I'o the studious and
)t' habits, a better tonic
fo the rich citi/en, the
it is almost the only
ig down into a mere
mere etTeminate man-

1 the (airest scenes of
louder with ourselves;
those interior animals

i il causes us to weigh
r own boasted reason;

it iliscovers to us lliat the poorest bird, the humblest nuadruped,
has j^ii'ts and allril)utes greater than we possess, and exiiuisitily
suited to its wanl>

Does it not lead u^, lIuii, to sell'cxamiiialiou in some sort
and to humilit\ .- to the knowledge ot' oui-.elves, ol our leMoW
nun, and ol' the j^rrat works ol our Maker?

1, for one, think so; and 1 never hear a yreasv lacid, sauiti-
mouious lellow ill! laim ai;ain-.t toe cruellv, the wantonness and
the unprotitahlene^- ot field sports, but I -.el him ilown for an
arrant t'ool, or an arrant hypocrite. Hut I long to as>ure hinj
that, in the e\ e^ of Heaven — ami, (iod be IhankeO, e\eu in litis
world al-o — some pursuits are luld prot'iiahle besides thai of the
almij^hl y ilollar ; and some amusements innocent besides cheating
our litiglibors in the street, and calling thai business; or slander-
ing them by the lireside, and calling thai conversation!

1 believe, therefore, that field-sports, not carried to excess, but
used in their proper places, and at their proper times, are very
innocent, very creditable, and very profitable, and very improving
pastime. I'or my own |)art, I know that they have ministered
incalculably to the improvement of my bodily health ; ami 1 am
sure, at least, that they have not deteriorated my mental faculties;
nor do I conceive how anv reasonable man can fail to discover
that some inducement is necessary to lead men to take that
degree of exercise which is necessary to the maintenance of the
mens siiiiii ill corporf stiiio ; and that there can be lu) stiongeror
better inducement than this ancient ami masculine amusement,
which never was decried until these ell'ete days, rich mainly in
hypocrisy and humbug.

Xenophon said, of old, that there was no sport so suitable to
the making of soldiers, as this said sjiort of hunting; and to this
day, it is true that the ability — nay, not ability only, but willing-
ness— to endure all extremes of heat and cold, of thiist and
hunger, of fatigue and watchl'ulness, to which the spoitsnian
must inure himself, is that precisely which in the highest degree
constitutes the aptitude of the citi/en to be the soldier. N'or is
this all ; for the readiness of hand and quickness of eye, the
instinctive rapidity of thought and glance, and the coolness undev

46

riiE wooncncK.

Hurprisc, which Ihi- sporlKmnn must iu'kIk acquirt- it" ho would
be MiifCfHsfnl, nrc qualitioK more requi-ite than any to tin- warrior.

Ilepi'iuliiii,' iiH Amt'rica ilocs inaiiilv, it' not entirely, lor iier
defenci-, on thf I'aiilily ol' I'onvcrtint^ her citizi-ns into soitliiTh, I
tiiink that all consislont tni-aiih hhould lii; taken to prevent that
of which I I'ani'v there i> some (hin^jer, at least in the jjreat cities;
theKrowtli. ' mean, of luxury ami elleininate hahits ainon^ tlu-
rising ^jeneration.

Destroy (iaine — abolish (ield sports, and you aholisli the most
manly of exercises; you leave the loun)(e in fashionable streets,
or the drive in easy chariots as the sole out-ot" doors amusement
of the wealthy man; and to the poor man \ou leave none at all,
but rioting and what is termed ro-Miyism — if these can be called
amusLmenls.

l'"or all these reasons, therel'ore, I think it hij;hlv ailvisahU'
that till' externiin.ilion ol i,'aMie in the vicinity of our lar^je cities
Khould be previ'iited il' possible; and that it can oiilv be prevented
by the speedy interposition of the states' le:{islalures, backed by a
truer ami more sinjjle spirit than now exists among those who
are proml of the name, even when they possess too few of the
attributes of honorable sportsmen. I hol.l certain.

To these, therefore, I api>eal in protection, especially, of the
wood<:ock — which will, most assuredly, before ten yeais have
elapsed, be as utterly exterminated, within fifty miles of New-
York, and within the like circuit of all other large cities, as are
the deer and the heath-hen — nay, the wild turkeys, which once
peopled our own hunting-grounds.

In conclusion — 1 find, on relerence to my last article on this
subject, that 1 made allusion to a mode of killing the woodcock
commonly practised in the southern states, which is so singular,
and so completely at variance with all our ideas of sporting in
these regions, that it deserves mention, and will, I doubt not, be
interesting to manv readers who mav never have heard of such a
process — which, unheard of, they certainly never would imagine.

This process is termed fire-hunting; it is carried on, of course,
at night, and arises from the habits of the bird in that section of
the country, which differ wholly from its usages while here.

In Louisiana and Mississippi, where, chiefly, this mode of

sporting

in the dt

sect and

wherein

unprofiti

killed Ol

toil woi

pursuit.

No s^

by thou

siiles in

nibbling

worm d

Here

bag. pov

Sir u lid II I

high str

ent poin

an old,

with thi

set erec

with li^

bustiblc

Arri

fuel ser

circumi

ten yan

than at

his rigl

along o

cock, c

nated e

springs

light, i(

darknc

advant

— neve

ging h

Tim WOODCOCK.

47

Is acquire if l.i; would
liati aiiv to till' warrior.
I" not fiitin«ly, tor lier
•itizfii* into KoUlitTK, I
laken to prevent that
fast in the great cities;
late lialiits anions tlu-

I vow aliolisii the nio.st
in tasjiionable RfrectH,

it-of iloors amusement
\<)u leave none at all,

-if these can be calleil

k it lii^hlv advisahU'
lilv of our larj;e cilie^
can oiilv be prevented
t^islalures, backed by a
ists among those who
possess too few of the
•ertain.

tion, especiallv, of the
liefore ten \eai s have
in fiftv miles of New
luT large cities, as are
d turkeys, wliich once

my last article on this
f killing the woodcock
K, which is so singular,
,ir ideas of sporting in
il will, I doubt not, he
■r have heard of such a

never would imagine,
is carried on, of course,

bird in that section of
isagcs while here.

chiefly, this mode of

sporting prevaiU, the woodcock lies during the day-time entirely
in the dense eaiiebrakes and impenetrable swamps which inter-
sect and divide the cultivateil lands and ricli plantations, and
wherein it would be almo»t impossible, and altogether weary ami
unprofitable to attempt to follow him; as he could hardly he
killed on the wing in such covert as is then' t'ouiul. while the
toil would be incomparably greater than the pleasure of the
pursuit.

No sooner is it dark, however, than out the woodcocks come
by thousands, from their fastnesses, and pitching down on all
sides in the old faUls and maiite >fubbles, apply themselves to
nibbling and boring in the soft rich loam for their succulent
worm diet.

Hereupon the tire hunt com.nences. With gun and game-
bag, pow<ler tiask and sliol-pouch, and all appliances and i.-.L-ans
.«rr««c/««i r/r/(V«, the sportsman lallies forth; Init no silkv-haireJ,
high strung, sagacious setter — no saimskinneil, rat tailed, obedi-
ent pointer follows his master's heels. In lieu of Don or Sancho,
an old, craflv, griz/.lepateil. merry negro comes forth, equipped
with the brazen vessel of a warming-pan, or the like instrument,
set erect on a pole of some ten or twelve feel in length, and filled
with lightwood, pine knots, or such like bright-burning com-
bustibles.

Arrived on the feeding-ground, a light is applied ; the quick
fuel sends out a broad, ruddy glare; and as the bearer slow'v
circumambulates the field, a circle of intense lustre is s'led for
ten vards around him, rtivlering every object more clearly visible
than at noon-day. The siiooter walks close to the tire bearer, on
his right hand, and ever and anon, as the circular glare passes
along over the surface of the grf)und, his eye detects the wood-
cock, crouching close to the earth, and gazi.ig with its full, f.isci-
nated eve u|)on the strange illumination. The next instant, up il
springs, dizzy and contused; and soaring upward toward the
light, it is seen for a second, and then is lost in the surrounding
darkness; but of that one quick second the sportsman takes
advantage, and by a snapshot cuts him down with a light charge
— never killing a bird at above ten pace ; distant, and often bag-
ging his hundred in a single evening's \.ork.

I

.*'

4«

THE sh'ah.

ThiK inoilf of cock--liootin>r nrJM-K, as it in evidint, rx neri-.in.u.
tut, tn aiiil may, for ii uliile, be huiruuntlv cxiitiiijf. Ii niiihi,
howfVfr, liu:k all that variety wliicli is the i-it'at charm of our
northern shootlnK— varifly whii-h ariM-h iVoin flio working ol' ihf
fintiloiiK, ohciliciit ativl well triiineil iIo^n, in ohservinx whose
c.xijuisite itihtirct, tine attitude" and beautilul doeility, imjiulue,
lifN hair the pU'aHure of Held sports; v";lety whieh, toKether
with the lovely M'enery, the hrisk, breezy air, and llu' exullinK
hense ol" pirsoiial indepeiulcnce and perHonal power, sprinKiiitf
Irum these, and Iroin the j^low ot eheerful exerciiie, renders these
sports, to aetjve, energetic and enthiisiastie minds, the liist ol'
pleasures, and almost a necessary relief from the dull monotony
of every day existence.
TllK Ckdahk, Dei-, a, 1S15,

NuTK.-'riii' flnqiinil and tniuhlnK appciil of •• Krunk Forester" for the
preservation of the wooilriuU, ami tlie aliolitir>n of siiiiimer iiliootiii(;. is as
pertinent to ilay as when first penned, nearly forty years a^o. Although a
voire of the past, It comes with reilnubleil force, when conteinplatiuK the sad
depletion of onr Kume birds in the years which have since flown, by thf
abomination known as summer shoolinK.— Kditok,

III.

THE QUAIL,

'T'ETIiAO Cntiiinis, I-in. Coturnix Vir/rinianus, Latham.
Ortyx Vifi^^iuidiiii.t. .Si« William jardine. The .ig«fl//, of
the Eastern and Middle, the Partyidire of the Southern .States.
This beautiful little bird affords one of the most remarkable
examples of those errors and confusions in the nomenclature of
game, to which I alluded, in the first paper of this series, as being
so general in this country. It would appear, indeed, at first sight,
and I suspect not quite untruly, that we have derived the names
of all our game, and many of our common song-birds, from the

M

it i^ evident, f.v Hfrr.s.i.ii-

iil.v I'xritinx. It imi»t,
till' i;rfat charm of mii
lom fill' woikii^ oi' tlif
'«, in obxtTvinn wliosi-
itiful (locilitv, iHf jiidiii',
■■^lit'tv wiiiih, ti)i{i'iluT
;.v nir, ami tin- exulli?!^
soiiai power, spritiKiii^
1 i-vcni>.f, niulcrs tlii'M'
istic nlillll^, till' rn>t of
oin tlic dull monotony

" I'rank I'drrster" for the
(if MiiiiniL'r tliDdtiiiK, is a»
rty yi'iirs iiKo. AltlvMi({li a
vlien cnntt'inplnliiit; tlic sad
I linve since flown, by the

Virffiniaittis, Latham.
RHINE. The .ig'""/, of
f the Southern States,
the most remarkable
in the nomenclature of
•of this series, as being
r, indeed, at tirst sight,
ave derived the names
n song-birds, from the

THE SlUML.

4')

rude and uiipolislii'd men vvl'.n, foi the mn»t part, Hr-t heltled the
sMMullands of the United States, .u.d who, InMu a de^ire to cul-
Ijvate some ple,t-.anl memories of home In their new coiintrv,
>;ave to sueh varietie-. as they found heie, having the slightest
allinitv to the unforgotten aniinaU of Kumiie, nani'solien incmi-
gruons and untitling. This hinl is one of tin' iiislMiues in
question; and coiiMipientlv, we t'lnd that il has, ni fact, no name
,il all ill the I'nited .Slale>— itN appellation being iii.uli' In depeiul
altogether on that ol another bird in no wi-.e conneeled with it -
the rutVed grouse, immely, /<•//•.((/ iimhiUnn; which it has pleased
the original n<>melu•lalor^ to call vaiioii'.ly /i(i>/nifj;i' ni\A />//iiis,ni/,
to neither of which -picieh does il bear nuuh moie roemblanci-
than does an owl to a woodcock, or a ganu-lowl to ;i turkey.

Where the rullVil grouse i> called a pailiid^e, the bird of which
we are now spe.iking is calleii a ipiail — only, 1 believe, because il
is siTiall than the ollur, and because, In linglaiul, the quail is
the next i^allinaiieous fowl in hize alter the partridge. Where the
rull'ed grouse is called the pluasaiit, oiu' bird beciunrs the part-
ridge, Irom precisely the same analogy in size, ami in lliat only,
to European g.ime.

With regard to the rulled grouse, there can be no iiucstion
for a moment by what name he should be calletl; for he is a
distinct variety of a well-known genus — several varieties being
found in the United States, and yet others in tlie Hrilish posses-
sions and the Or^'gon territory. lie is neither partridge nor
pheasant, but a distinct feather legged grouse, and properly tailed
rutfed or tif'pi't irfousf:, from the beautiful long neck feathers,
which, though pendulous in the unexcited stale of Ihe bird, are
set up in the form of a magniricenl rulf, while ihe tail is lamied
like that of a peacock or turkey, by the amorous male ilming the
breeding season. It is, therefore eipially unsportsinan-like and
unscientitic to call the bird pheasiini or jiartridge : and it is
moreover as needless as it is a slujiid barbarism, since the bird
has an excellent good name of its own, by which il should iiuar-
iablv be styleil, whether in wri'.ing or in conversation, by every
one claiming to share the spirit of Ihe gentle sport.

As conci'rns our little friend, whom 1 judge it best to desig-
nate as (juitil— (or reasons which 1 will briefly give hereafter—

rr

,1

so

THE ^UAIL.

this is not altogether the case; for, singular as it may r ipear, he
is so unfortunate as to possess no legitimate or scientifii; English
name whatever. Formerly, he was classed by raturalists as a
variety of the quail — Tctyao Cotuniix o( Linnneus — and as such
was denominated Coturnix Virffinianiis, Virginia quail, owing to
>'ie fact, doubtless, that in Virginia he was found most abun-
dantly, perhaps only, on the first landing of English settlers in
America.

It has been, however, more recently determined, and I pre-
sume correctly, that this bird is not a variety of quail, but a
distinct species, peculiar to the New World, and situate about
midway between the tribes of partridges and quails; and the
investigators of these differences, which consist in the greater
hardness and peculiar shape of the bill of the American bird
and in sonie dissimilarity in the shape of the wing, have agreed
to designate the new variety, scientifically, as Ortyx Virn-i/iianus,
but have assigned to him no name whatever in the vernacular.

I may here be permitted to observe, that the new term, or/v.v,
as a designation of a new genus, or sub-genus, is absurdly ill-
chosen ; since the old name, Cotiiynix VirffiniatiKS, signifies
Virginian quail, in Latin, while Orlyx Viy^nnianim signifies pre-
cisely the same thing in Latiiiizi'd Creek.

Now, it is partly for this reason that I would retain the old
English name of quail, in preference to that of partridge, for this
American spe-ies ; since I consider the choice of the title, by the
distinguished naturalists who have adopted the designation or/y.v,
to indicate that the bird is, in their opinion, more nearly allied to
the quail than to the partridge.

Again, the size, weight, haunts and habits of the .\merican
bird, all very nearly resemble those of the European quail; while
they are exceedingly unlike those of European partridges, of
which there are two varieties — the gray, or English, and the red-
legged, or French species.

The American bird is, perhaps, an ounce heavier than the
European quail, while it is full one-half lighter than either of the
partridges. The American bird, like the European quail, fre-
quents bushy ground, and the skirts of woodland, and often takes
to the tree, and perches The European partridges are very

THE ^UAIL.

S'

X as it may r ipear, he
ite or Rcientifii; English
sed by raturalists as a
Linnaeus — and as sucii
Virginia quail, owing to
ivas found most abun-
l of English settlers in

ietermined, and I pre-

variety of quail, but a

orld, and situate about

s and quails; and the

consist in the greater

of the American bird

the wing, have agreed

, as Orlyx Virginianiis,

■er in the vernacular.

lat the new term, ortvx,

genus, is absurdly ill-

VirffinianuSy signifies

rginianiis signifies pre-

I would retain the old
lat of partridge, for this
loice of the title, by the
d the designation oriyx,
n, more nearly allied to

liabits of the American

European quail; while

European partridges, of

ar English, and the red-

mnce heavier than the
ghter than either of the
le European quail, fre-
Dodland, and often takes
.'an partridges are very

rarelv found in th,- shrubbery or coppice, and are never known
to perch. The American '.ad, like the European quail, is migra-
tory. The Europi'un partridge never removes, unless in conse-
quence of unrelenting pursuit, far from the fields on which he is
bred; and lastly, the cry, the flight and the plumage of the
American bird, very closely resemble those of his compeer, the
quail of Europe.

Hence I consider ^luitl to be his correct name, in common
parlance; 1 should wish to see Am,-yican ^uail adopted as his
title in works on ornithology ; and I sincerely trust that I shall
live to see one general name, and that name qnuil, adopted by all
sportsmen in the United .States, thereby avoiding the palpable
absurdity of shooting, I will suppose, twenty of these birds, and
two or tiiree ruff.jd grouse, in the morning, in New Jersey— the
former being quails and the latter partridges; and, in the after-
noon, walking across abridge over the Delaware, and shooting
more birds of each kind in Pennsylvania, which shall there and
then have become partridges and flirasmits. Heaven save the
mark! When it is as clear as day that there is not a single
variety of partridge or pheasant to be found on the whole conti-
nent of America, North and .South.

The pheasant is an .Vsiatic bird, like the peacock ; originally
found on the southern shores of the Black Sea, and thence
imported into Europe, where it ha~ tliriven wonderfully; so that
in Germanv and France, and yet more so in England, it has
become indiginous and abundant. Many attempts have been
made to naturalize it in this country, but entirely without suc-
cess; owing, 1 lancy, to the want of moisture in the climate, and
to the summer droughts, rather than to the severity of the winter

season.

Having premised thm. much concerning his name, 1 will
desrrihe our bird brielly, and then proceed to his habits and
haunts, which are both curious and interesti.ig; and indicative
of a higher degree of instinct than is usual to birds of this tribe,
and seemingly more nearly allied to reason.

The quail'is about nine inches in length, from the tip of his
bill to the extremity of the toes, by twelve in width, from wing
to wing, when extended. Though apparently much smaller than

I

i

IS

S3

THE ^UAIL.

the woodcock, hi- is not tmicli lighter, for not onlv are bis feathers
closer ami more compact, hut he is rouiuler and plumper in
proportion to his length; and when well grown and lull fed,
weighs from seven to nine ounces, although he rarely attains the
maximum.

His hill is strong and horny, the upper mandihlc considerably
arched; and the whole instrument constituting an apjiaralus
calculated to break the shells of the hardest seeds, as well as a
weapon capable of inflicting severe wounds on his rivals; for he
ii> scarcely less pugnacious than the game-cock; and is still kept
for the same purpose by the Chinese and Malays, as he was of
old by the polished ilemocrats of Athens.

Mis eye is large, black and very lively. The back ol his head,
neck, shoulders, wing-coverts, and rump, are all beautilully
mottled with brown, black and chestnut, each feather having a
yellowish margin, and a dark, irregular line, diverging from the
point towards the stem. The quills and tail are of a rich, reddish
btown, broadly barred with black.

In the cock-bird, the cheeks and chin are snow-white, with
the exception of a dark streak, running upward fr.nn the angle
of the eyes. In the hen they are a bright ochreous vellow. The
breast, in both, is while, speckled with wavy lines of black,
something like arrow-heads in shape, pointing downward toward
the tail ; the legs are protected by strong scales, of an olive
brown, and the male bird has rather a formidable spur.

Otherwise there is no distinction between the sexes, which are
similar in eye and shape; except, ptirhaps, that the colors of the
hen are somewhat less vivid and distinct than those of the male,
as is generally' the case in the animal creation.

It will be seen at once from this description, that our .Vmerican
quail is a mo t beautiful little bird; but his beauties do not con-
sist merely in hi> plumage, but in his gait, his pretty, pert move-
ments, his great vivacity, his joyful altitudes, his constant and
cheerfnl activity.

lie is in all respects the most social, the merriest, the most
amiable of his tribe. During the breeding season he alone, of
the gallinaceous tribe, makes wood and mead resound with his
shrill, merry whistle — whence our country folk have framed to

bun a nai
cheering

A Iter V
huddle in
perhaps t
cheerful i
"and see
Audubon
creature i

Unlik
-ave the I
to be atta
accidenta
Hushed Ir
passed o
|)lainti\e
male l)ir(
one rutin
soon coll
circle of
genial wt
in the ho

If, ho
with his
sorely thi
for their
I know n
me to hi
whistle.

Once
thirteen
passing i
killed t\v
pertectly
two othei
and drop
I could
feeling ii

i

Tim .:)UA/i.

S3

not oiilv are bis feathers
inder am) pliirn|ier in
t.'llj;rowii and lull ted,
lyli lie rarely attains the

• maiuiihlr considerably
silitiitinj,' an apparatus
Jest seeds, as well as a
Is on his rivals; for he
;-cock; and is still kept
li Malays, as lu' was of

The back ot his head,

ip, are all beautifully

each teather having a

ne, diverj^ing from the

lil are of a rich, reddish

I are snow- white, with
pward tV.jtn the angle
ochreous yellow. The
wavy lines of black,
ting downward toward
ng scales, of an olive
nidable spur.
LMi the sexes, which are

that the colors of the
than those of the male,
ion.

ion, that our .Vmerican
s beauties do not con-

his pretty, pert move-
jdes, his constant and

;he merriest, the most
g season he alone, of
lead resound with his
V folk have trained to

Inm a name, lioh Whitf, tVom some fancied similarity of sound —
cheering his faithful |)artner during the toils of incubation.

Afterward, when the bevies are collected, as he runs trom the
luiddU- in which lie has passed the night, he salutes his brethren,
perhaps tliai\ks his L'reator for the pleasant dawn, with the most
cheerful noise that can he fancied, a short, quick, happy chirping,
"and seems to be," to borrow the words of the inimitable
.\uduboii, — I c[U()te trom memor; alone, — "the happiest little
creature in the universe."

I'nlike the young broods of the woodcock — which are mute,
save the twitter willi which they rise — the bevies of tpiail appear
to be attached to each other by tender alVect'on. If dispersed by
accidental causes, either in search of their food, or from being
llushed by some casual intruder, so soon as their first alarm has,
passed over, they begin calling to each other with a small
[ilaintixe note, ipiite dilVerent from the amorous whistle of the
male bird, and trom their merry day-break cheeping, and each
one running toward the sound and repeating it at intervals, they
soon collect tluinselves together in one happy little family, the
circle of which remains unbroken until the next spring, with the
yenial weather, brings matrimonial ardors, pairing and courtship,
in the hope of future bevies.

If, however, the ruthless sportsman has been among them,
with his well-trained setter and unerring gun, so that death has
sorely thinned their numbers, they will protract their little call
for their lost cotnrades, even to nightfall; and, in such cases —
I know not if it be fancy on my part — there has often seemed to
me to be an unusual degree of melancholy in their wailing
whistle.

Once this struck rne especially. I had found a small bevy of
thirteen birds in an orchard, close to a house in which I was
passing a portion of the summer, and in a very few minutes
killed twelve of them, for they lay hard in the clover, and it was
perlectlv open shootiMg. The thirteenth and last bird, rising with
two others, which I killed right and left. Hew but a short distance
and dropped among some sumachs in the corner of a rail fence.
I could have shot him certainly enough, but some undefined
feeling induced me to call my dogs to heel and spare his little

'f

14

THE ^UAIL.

life; yet, afterwards, I almost regretted what I eertainly intended
at the time to be mercy ; for day after day, so long as I remained
in tlie country, \ heard his sad call from morn till dewy eve,
crying for his departed friends, and full, apparently of memory,
which is, alas, but too often another name for sorrow.

The cjiiail is not only t! most sociable of his tribe in reference
to his fellows, but is by fr ■ .ie most tameable and friendly in his
uisposition as regards the general enemy and universal tyrant —
man.

In the winter season, when the ground is so deeply covered
with snow as to render it impossible for them to obtain theii-
customary food — the seeds, namely, of the various grasses which
they love the most, or the grains which ' scattered in the
stubbles, they come naturally into the vicinity of man's dwelling,
anil it is by no means an unusual sight to perceive them running
about among the domestic fowls in the barn-yardj and flying up,
if suddenly disturbed, to perch under the rafters of some barn or
out-house, seemingly fearless and confident in such seasons of
protection.

At this moment, I have a bevy of thirteen birds lying within
three or four hundred yards of the room in which I sit writing,
under the shelter of a rough wooded bank whereon I have been
feeding them with buckwheat since the heavy snows have fallen,
and they have now become so tame that they will allow me to
approach within twenty paces of the spot where they are ted,
running about and picking up the triangular seeds, perfectly
unconcerned in my presence. As soon, however, as the spring
shall have commenced, and the bevy separated themselves into
pairs, their wild habits will return upon them, and I shall see no
more of my little friends until I meet them next autumn in the
brown stubble-field, — no longer in the light of a protector.

The quail pairs early in the month of February, if the winter
has been a mild one and the ground at that period is free from
its snowy winter covering. If, on the contrary, the spring be
late and backward, his courtship is deferred until March — some-
times even so late as to the beginning of April.

As soon as he has chosen to himself a mate, the happy pair
retreat to wide, open, rushy meadows, where the conformation of

till' coun

which th

land is I

fmd thei

t' red hec

sequestci

open fiel

Most

iluties of

me, how

proceedi

so early

the hen

shooting

same gn

I ha

middle c

end of J

Theii

most pai

meadow

orchard.

relieved

stantly 1

nearest i

the wooi

The

the youi

is not ui

shell ad

The

at once

care of

him the

she devi

.So fi

second,

Hence,

THE .'DUAIL.

^^

hat I certainly intended
\\ so long as I remained
n morn till dewy eve,
apparently of niemor}',
'. lor sorrow,
of his tribe in reference
iable and friendly in his
and universal tyrant —

d is so deeply covered
ir them to obtain theii-
e various grasses which
z\\ ' scattered in the
inity of man's dwelling,
i perceive them running
irn-yardj and Hying up,
rafters of some barn or
lent in such seasons of

teen birds lying within
I in which I sit writing,
k whereon 1 have been
eavy snows have fallen,
; they will allow me to
iQt where they are fed,
ngular seeds, perfectly
however, as the spring
)arated themselves into
bem, and 1 shall see no
;m next autumn in the
lit of a protector.
P'ebruary, if the winter
that period is free from
contrary, the spring be
ed until March — some-
April.

a mate, the happy pair
ere the conformation of

the countrv atVonis them such retirement, among the tussocks of
which tliev love to bask in the soft spring sunshine. Where the
land is hii^her, and is broken into knolls and gulleys, you will
tind them at this season on the grassy banks beside some shel-
t red hedgerow, or along the green and shrubby margin of some
sequestered retreat, but never in thick woodlands, and rarely in
open tield".

Most birds, so soon as they ha\e paired, proceed at once to the
iluties of nidification and the rearing of tht.. young; it seems to
me, however, that the quail spends some time in pairs before
proceeding to this task ; for I have frequently seen them paired
so early as the twentieth of February ; yet 1 have never found
the hen sitting, or a nest with eggs in it, during spring snipe-
shooting, though I have often flushed the paired birds on the
same ground with the long-billed emigrants.

1 have never, indeed, seen a quail's nest earlier than the
middle of May, and have often found them sitting so late as the
end of July.

Their nest is inartificial, made of grasses, and situate, for the
most part, under the shelter of a stump or tussock in some wild
meadow, or near the bushy margin of some clover-field or
orchard. The hen lays from ten to twoand-twenty eggs, and is
relieved at times, in hatching them, by the male bird, who con-
stantly keeps guard around her, now sitting on the bough of the
nearest tree, now perched on the top rail of a snake fence, making
the woods and hills resound with his loud and cheery whistle.

The perirJ of the quail's incubation I do not know correctly ;
the young birds run the moment they burst from the egg, and it
is not uncommon to see them tripping about with pieces of the
shell adhering to their backs.

The first brood hatched and fairly on foot, the hen proceeds
at once to the preparation of a second nest; and committing the
care of the early younglings to her mate, or rather dividing with
him the duties of rearing the first and hatching the second brood,
she devotes herself incessantly to her maternal duties.

.So far as I can ascertain, the quail almost invariably raises a
second, and sometimes, I believe, a third brood, in a single season.
Hence, if unmolested, they increase with extraordinary rapidity

<^f>

THE .fUAfl..

wlieii tlif «oa>i()ns are pi'0|)itious ; aiul lu'iice voi; frcqu«;iitly fini:
young birds, in two or throe staj^es of maturity in ;i single
bevy, and under tlie protection ot a single brace of parents.

The quail (•aiiiiot endure severe cold weather, hence he is
never found far to the eastwani of l?(>stpn; I have never heard of
liis being found at all in the states of Maine and New Ilain))-
shire and can assert of my own knowledge that, in the former
state, lie iloes not exist, if elsewhere, east of the liver Kenne
heck. In Lower Canada lie is unknown; and it is only witiiin a
few years that he has become abundant, and a continu.il resident
in the upper provinces, along the northern shores of the Niagara
and of Lake Erie.

1 cannot, however, satisfy myself entirely that this is the
etTect of climate, as it may be the consequence of cultivation, on
theskirtsof »vhich only is the quail found — with one exception,
the great prairies of tiie west, which — whether natural tneadows,
or, as some persons bi'lieve, the remnants of aboriginal civiliza-
tion— present to the quail all the comforts which he desires t'rom
cultivation and the vicinity of man's dwellings — grass-seeds, I
mean, and open sunshine.

In the forest the quail is never found, unless when that forest
is girded about with settlements, and interspersed with partial
clearness and buckwheat or corn fields, when he will ramble
away during the heat of summer noontide into the cool, green
retreats of mountain woodlands.

I have never seen, nor have I heard of a nest placed in a
wood; and, were it not for the prairies, which I suppose to have
been their haunt and feeding ground for ages, I should be at a
loss to conceive wheie either the quail or the woodcock existed,
when all the sea-board of America, and for leagues upon leagues
inward, the whole face of the country was covered with primeval
wilderness, since neither of the birds, as I have before stated, are
ever found in the wild forest, and both make their appearance
almost iminediately when sunshine is let into those deep soli-
tudes by the settler's axe, and the brown stubble has succeeded to
the leaf-carpet of the dim and steamy wilderness.

But a few years ago, the woodcock was found in Maine, only
in the vicinity of Portland and the oldest settlements; he is now

' illed a1
region, (
suiely ei
is, howe
there an
of that \
I have
superior
beautit"u

I'ive
and foul
which h
not be s
plenty ii
cnces tl
ahonndt
[lolis, in
the reig
than in

It m
namely,
of largt
most st:
found i
assume(
to the n

Hut
sportsm
where ii
this bin

I h£
increast
imfavor
tion. I
deep, ai
charity
when s
thaw, s(

THE ^UAIL.

57

nee yoi; frequ'jiitly find
f maturity in a single
e brace of parents
;l wenlher, luiiee lie is
1 ; I liave never heard of
it.iiiie and New Hamp-
!t;e tliat, in the former
ist of the liver Kenne-
; and it is only witliin a
ind a continual resident
■n shores of the Niajjara

iitirelv that this is the
iience of cultivation, on
d — with one exception,
lether natural meadows,
;s of ahoriijinal civiliza-
s which he desires from
wellings — grass-seeds, I

unless when that forest
nterspersed with partial
, when he will ramble
de into the cool, green

d of a nest placed in a
vhich I suppose to have
■ ages, I should be at a
r the woodcock existed,
or leagues upon leagues
s covered with primeval
I have before stated, are

make their appearance
;t into those deep soli-
stubble has succeeded to
derness.
IS found in Maine, only

settlements; he is now

' illed abundantly in the intervales, as they are called in thai
region, on the Kenneheek, and is extending himself slowly but
suiely eastward, as the forest recedes before the lumberman He
is, however, a rare bird on the waters of the Penobscot, though
there are ranges of swampy coverts, miles and miles in length,
of that very soil and nature \' hieh he loves the best; and though
I have never seen lying or feeding groimds in New Jersey
superior to the oak-islands, abo.e Indian Oldtown, upon the
beautiful river I have mentioned.

l'"ive years have passed, however, since I shot in those regions,
and t'ound it hard work to bag a couple or two of cock on ground
which here would have yielded forty or fifty birds; and I should
not be surprised to learn that, in the interim, they have become
plentv in those very woods. That it is not cliinate which influ-
ences the woodcock, is evident from the fact that they have
abounded for many years in the vicinity of Windsor and Anna-
(lolis, in New I'runswick, where the climate is much colder; but
the reign of cultivation more widely extended, because far older,
than in the eastern parts of Maine.

It may then, in some measure, be attributed to the same cause,
namely, the prevalence of unbroken wilderness, and the absence
of large grain lields, that the tiuail is not (bund in our eastern-
most states; and il' it he true, a-- I.athain states, that the ([uail is
found in New IJrunswick and Nova Scotia, this might be
assumed, and not climate, as the establisheil cause of his aversion
to the northeastern country.

]5ut I believe it is not true; for, of many good and staunch
sportsmen, with whom I am acquainted in St. John, and else-
where in the British Provinces, I have found none who have shot
this bird therein.

I have said above, that the quail, in propitious seasons,
increases with extraordinary rapiditv; I will now adi', that in
unfavorable years, he ot'ten comes to the very verge of extinc-
tion. I-ong, severe snows, when the country is buried inany feet
deep, and he can procure no sustenance, save from the precarious
charity of man, famishes him outright — heavy drifts, especially
when succeeded by a partial thaw, and a frost following the

thaw, stifle him in whole bevies, encased in icy prison-houses.
6

58

IIIE :>l'A!f.

ft

It is tlu' peculiar liabit of this bird to lie Ktill, so .mtteil in
conix'iitric luiildlos, as they are teilmieally eallecl, eomjiosed ol
lliL" whole hevv, seated like the radii of a eircle, v ith their tail-
inward, so long as snow, sleut or rain continues \o fall. So
soon as it clears otV, ami the sun shines out, with a siniiiltaneous
etlbrt, probably at a preconcerte<l signal, they all sp'ing up at
once, with an impetus and rush so powerful as carries them clear
through a snowdrift many feet in depth; unless it be skimmed
over by a fro/en crust, which is not to be jienetrated by tluir
utmost efforts. In this latter case, when the storm has been
general over a large extent of country, the ipiails arc not untVe-
ipiently reduced iso nearly to extinction, that but a bevy or two
will be seen for years on ground where previously they had been
found in abundance; and at such time, if they be not spared ami
cherished, as they will be by all true sportsmen, they may be
destroyed entirely throiighout a whole region.

This was the case especially through all this section of the
country, in the tremendous winter of 1835-6, when these birds,
which had been previously very abundant, were almost annihil-
ated, and would have been so, doutless, but for the anxiety which
was felt generally, and the energetic means which were taken to
preserve them.

Another peril, which, at times, decimates the breed for a season,
is a sudden and violent land-tlood, in June and July, which
drowns the young 'irds, or a continuance of cold, showery
weather in those and the preceding months, which addles the
eggs and destroys the early bevy. This is, however, but a partial
evil, as the quail rears a second brood, and, as I have before
observed, sometimes a third; so that in this case the number of
birds for the season is diminished without the the tribe being
endangered.

The open winters which have prevailed latterly have been
exceedingly favorable to the increase of this beautiful and prolific
little bird. Never, perhaps, have they been more abundant than
they were last autumn ; and though there has been more than an
average of snow thus far during the present winter, it has not
been heavily drifted tor the most part; it has not laid on the

ground it
crusted ot

The sii
■■eason is 1
in leeding
we have c

In my
of bound)
laws for t
they may
inuch-dis|
relation t(
not, I bel
inn ; ami,
ijiiail shoi
nceticul s
limit of II

TllH (.'K

TIIK ir
in s(
and spor
altogethe
Notw
the fact 1
some wei
from my
of others
subject a
bird is s
and, seco

THE :>irAi/..

59

to lio still, s(| lalteil in
ll_V imUciI, comjiosed ol

circk', V itli tlifir tail-
continues \o fall. So
lit, willi a siniiiltani'oiis
, tilt'}' all >p' ing ii|) at
fill as carries tlicm clear

unless it l)e skinmu'd
bo pciu'tratt'il In tluir
en the storm has been
e i|uails arc not untVe-
that but a bevy or Iwd
-eviously they hail been
they be not spared and
)ortsnien, they may be
jion.

all this section of the
3i;-6, when these birds,
t, were almost annihil-
jt for the anxiety which
ms which were taken to

;s the breed for a season,
June and July, which
ance of cold, showery
inths, which addles the
s, howe%'er, but a partial
, and, as I have before
his case the number of
Dut the the tribe being

iled latterly have been
his beautiful and prolific
;en more abundant than
; has been more than an
2sent winter, it has not
it lias not laid on the

ground many connecutivo days, ami it has not, hitherto, been
crusted once.

The sun is now beginning to gain considerable power ; tiie
-eason is rapidly atlvaiuiug toward spring, and, with a little care
in leeding and preserving the birds from poachers and trappers,
we have every prospect of yet a larger supply next autumn.

In my next paper — for I feel that I am running somewhat out
of bounds — I shall point out wlure, in my opinion, the present
laws for their protection are inoperative and inadetiuate, and how
they may be simplified and amended: I shall touch ujion that
much-disputed ])oint — their domestic and internal migrations, in
relation to which 1 have collected some curious tacts, which are
not, 1 believe, generally known, and which may prove interest-
ing; and, lastly, I shall dwell at length on the best nuthod of
i|iiail shooting, with the results ol' some days' s|)ort, t'loiii Con-
necticut so tar southward as Maryland, which is the southernmost
limit of my sporting cvperience in tin- I'liited States.

'I'liK I'KPAK--, J:iniiiMy, iS|i,,

IV,

T// /<: Q UA J L.

Till'" migratory habit of the American (piail has always been
in some degree a disputed point, among both natjialists
and sportsmen, and I know many of the latter who deny it
altogether.

Notwithstandii'g this, I am myf.elf thoroughly convinced of
the fact that the bird is, to a certain degree, migratory during
some weeks of the autumn ; and I think I can establish this fact
from my own personal observation, as well as from the statements
of others worthy of high credit. The reason of the doubt on this
subject arises tVoiii two causes; first, that the migration of this
bird is short, irregular, continuous and, apparently, causeless;
and, secondly, that it is not nearly so distinctly marked in this

HT-

60

THE :>U.\tf..

dif trici of the country ii>^ it is in tlif woslern states, wlnTc tlv
bin! is intlniti'Iv niiiti' abuiulant tlian in tlu'si' rcj^innB.

WliiMi I slate that the migration in irregular and iohIiiihohs, I
mean to sav that tlio l)iril, at no season, iiihnlv leaves anv -oction
ol' the eouiilrv ; hut th't there is a eotislant movement ot sueees-
sive bevies in the same direction, wliieli is invariablv eastward;
anil 1 am peifectlv satislieil that this is more or Uss the ease
every wliere, ami tliat it is more eoTispieuousiv' so the t'nrllier wesi
we travel.

Audubon, than whom no better authority exists, for he write-
from personal observation, states that on the banks of the westi'rii
rivers, he mentions, I think, particularly the eonlluences of the
Ohio, these beautiful little birds may be sei'u re^jnlarly in the
,ilumn, running; eastward in ^reat tloeks, not sinj;le bevies, ami
crossiny; the larjje slreuinR on the wiiij;, always in the same
direction. During a discussion which took place in the pages ol
the New York "Turf Register," originating between that e.\(el
lent writer and most estimable man, Wm. I'. 1 lawes, and an
anonymous author using the signature "H.,"of Marietta, and
subsequently enlisting, on one side or the other, half the sporting
writers of the country, some new and striking authorities were
elicited on this fact; these I shall here present to my reader, and,
in corroboration of these, apply some recent observations of my
own, which cannot, I think, but prove conclusive.

The first O' these authorities is a very distinguished \vi iter on
turf affairs, under the signature of "Alpha," whose testimony i^
the more valuable on this |>oint, that he is in some measure an
unwilling witness.

Qiioting from an article of mine, he says; "'The quail is
known to be a bird of passage.' Ours is not so :;)'>in-tilly known
to be; at least / doubt it very much. They seem to me, in the
fall, to be taken with a sort of crazy rambling tit, which lasts for
so slioi ' a time as not to allow of a very distant emigration. Sonu-
people say they always fly ea.st."

The writer then proceeds to speak of the large flocks in which
the quail is said to travel in the autumn, declaring that he has
heard of the fact, but never seen or believed it.

The testimony of Alpha, therefore, proves all that is asserted.

^i^i»-

////•: if.Mi.

(M

sttTii states, wln-ri' ll>'

\\VhV n'gi'MlH.

c^'tilur anil kih/iiiiiohs, I
//n/l' loaves iinv -action
lit movi'iiu'iit ot sui'i't's-
is iiiv;iiial)lv castwaril ;
more or Uss the I'asi'
nislv SI) the t'mllu'r west

iiity exists, for lie write-
the hanks of the western

the eonlluencfs of the
e seen rennlarlv in the
i, not single hevies, ami
;;, always in the same
r)k place in tiie pages oi
ling between that exei'l
kVm. I'. 1 lawes, and an

"11.," of Marietta, and

■ other, half the sporting
triking authorities were
esent to my reader, and,
izent observations of my
inelusive.

■ distinguislied wi itei' on
iha," whose testimony i-

is in some measnre an

le says: " 'The quail is
not so i;enry<illy known
riiey seem to me, in the
d)ling fit, which lasts for
istant emigration. Some

the large flocks in which
1, declaring that he has
;ved it.
roves all that is asserted.

naniily, that tlieie/AU general migrator\ nui\ enniil, wliieh In-
i;raphically tle^erilies as "i/v/r miil itinil'liiig" in the earlv
.uitumn, and that it is thought to lie eastwanl. This paragraph
brought out anoth. r witness, the celebrated •■ N." of .\rkansas,
ihan whom there exist* no person bi'tter ijualitied to speak to any
lact ctincerning tield-sports in .\meriea.

lie teslities distinclly, that he litis sirn, with his own eyes,
xast congregated tlocks of (juail ; ; nd knows, of his own knowl-
idge, that in his own state, and throughout the western stales,
there is an annual eastward aulumnal Miigration.

So clear and |>ositive is he on this subject, that the writer
liDiu whom 1 ([uoted first, ailmilted in a subseipuiit paper:
" -Alpha ' must give' up to'N.,'of Arkansas. I know • N.' of
oKI, and although he is no very great sportsman in the /;///»■ bird
Ime, he knows what he sees; and like the young Persian, 'when
a bov he learned to shoot, ride a horse, and speak the truth.' "

The admissions of these western writers, who have every
opportunilv, which we lack, ot' observing the manners and dispo-
sition of Ibis bird, when condiined with the paramount authority
of Ml. Audubon, settle the question, as it appears to me, so far,
at least, as the western country is concerned.

Now, as it might be replied to tliis that the (juail is migratory
in the west, but stationary here, I will adiluce two circumstances
which have fallen under my own immediate observation, and
which I think indisputably show that the migratory character of
tiie birtl is unchanged in this region of the coimtry.

It will be remembered by all sportsmen that the winter of
1H35-36 was one of extreme and unusual severity; that the
ground was covered with snow to the depth of several feet, tVom
the earlv part of January until the middle of April; and that
much apprehension was entertained that the ipiail would be
entirely destroyed throughout this section of country. Precau-
tions were taken very generally to guard against this misiortune;
live iiuail were sought iluring the winter by many gentlemen,
and carefully preserved until the spring; and some were even
imported from South Carolina.

Among others engaged in this work of solucrine love, I bought
myself, and kept in New York, a hundred brace of these birds;

^mr—

hni

fts

T//H :>LA//.

and on llu- U'lilli ol April liiini'il '.lii'ni mil In tlu- vak' ol W.ii
wick, my lavtirlte xlioiilinK ^lonnd at tliiit time, on tUv duiw ~ ni
I wi> ililliicnl iVii'iul-, by uliimi 1 was mtv lonlUlcnt llu'v wnnKI
he prt'Kcrvi'd.

It HO liappi-nt'd lliat I spent tlio yiiatcr part of that smnmii,
hum till- mi(!dlc ol' |utu- imtii tlic t-nd ol' AukukI, in llic iinmt'
iliatc niiKld)()rliood ol' tlii' place wlu-ri' tlic biriln were turned onl,
and rcelinf{ a ^ood deal of inleretst in the mutter, watched them
rennlarlv din-ini; Uh' whole hn'i-dinjj season.

I'lie conseipience was, that I knew llie exinlence and loialils
ol" above twenty nestH, no one of whicti contained less than a
do/cTi ey^s. all of which wcie hatched safely, and f^i>l oil early,
hy the oUI hirils, There must have been, of course, many olhei
nexts which were not discovered at all; and many of those birds
whose thst broods I saw, must uiupieslioiuibly have raised secoinl
l)evies.

Naturally enoujjh, I was deliKhteil with the result of my
cxpiriment, and auyiwed ^reat thinjjs coni'eniiii^; the autumn
^hootin^' of that year. I was on the jjroimii at daylight on the
lirsi day of the season, with a parly of frieiuls, whom I hail
seilueeii into aceompanvini; me by the promise of admirabK-
sport; we hail undeniable do>;s with us, in considerable numbeis;
we spent ten dayn in thoroughly rummajjing the country; and,
without vanity, 1 believe I may s.iy that we knew sulliciently
well wliat we were about, not to leave many birds behind us.

The result was tliat we had no sport whatever — two or three
bevies were all that we found over a wide tract of country; and
from that day to tliis, the race of quail has run so nearly extinct
in llial rej^ion, that it is not worth looking for them.

The explanation of this fact is, I think, easy enou,L;h. The
native breed of quail were, as we had expected, nearly exter-
minated; those which were turned out, emigrated to a l)ird.

It is proper that I should add, that the Warwick sluioting
grounds were at that time shot over by no sportsman but myself;
and that the people of the place hardly knew what it wa-- to shoot
living. liirds of prey were scarce, and could hardly, however
lilentifnl, have destroyed t/ir -i/iolr Inoods of a hundred brace ol
old birds.

»Al

I UK >r Ml

^•»

out ill tilt' vale (il W.ii
lit tliiii-, oil Ihf rarni'^ m
ry contUlfiit llirv wuiiM

trr |i.irt ol that suiimui ,
ot' Au^^uht, in tlic iiniiu'
Ih' birtlh wcio turiifil out
11' iimttur, watched tlicm
son.

Ill' c'xihifiict' ami loialiis
Il contained less than a
snl'i'lv, iiTuI ),;()t oil lailv,
II, ol I'oiifsi', many olhii
anil many ol' lliosc bird-,
iiiilbly liavi' lai^i'il m'coihI

with llu' n."-iilt of my
lonci'i niii^; the autumn
rouiul nt daylighl on the
ol' IViendK, whom I had
le pidinise of adinirahli'
in eoiisiderahle numl)ri>;
laninn the country; and,
hat we knew sulliciently
many birds beiiiiui uh.
whatever — two or three
ide tract of country ; and
lias run so nearly exliiui
n^ t'or them.

ink, ea^y enoui;li. The
I exiHcted, nearly exter-
, eniiL^rated to a bird,
it the Warwick shootinu;
no sportsman but my sell':
knew what it wa-- to shoot
d could hardlv, however
its of a limulrod brace ol

llie set Olid ...uvdiile which 1 have to iclale, i- wl moie
. iinrlimive.

The HUiiimei ami auliimii ol' |S^4. f pa-scd al Ihe pleasant
vilhi'jeor Ihislol, oil Ihi' western hank of the Delaware; and,

«ilh my iriend Mr IS , ain\> .lU'ul and Ihorou-h sportsman,

had a nood ili al ol -.hooliiij; at ipiail, woodcock and i;ra«s plover
m Iheir season-. Having; liule else to do, 1 was out shoolin^r
cerlaiiilv ihrei' limeH a week, aii.l loi some day* previous to the
,(iiiiiii> nccmeiit ol' the quail -c.imm, had beaten all the country
lor -eveiul miles up ami down the river and westward, lor
woodcock.

Indoiiin this, I became satisfied that there were no k\\\a\\, to
speak ol, Ml the vicinity; not, al Ihe ulmo«t, above two or three
bevies ; and our sport, after the close lime expired, corroborahd
inv opinion in this respect.

Shorllv afterward, when the cold weather -et in, mil an
evening passed, but bevy after bevy came, about dii.k, into the
Hardens and orchards of the village, and into all the surroumlliiK
coppices, and mi^ht be heard calling in every direction until

nightfall.

Morning after mornim;, as soon as it was liijht enou^'h lo
>lioot, I was a-foot, expecting lo get sjiort; but not in a single
instance did I find any birds, though I -ul)se(|ucntly learned that
a few, who knew their lia'<its in that district, crossing the Dela-
ware to the jersey shore, had good shooting on these very birds,
which, it s.oins, invariably crossed the river, there scarcelj a
mile in width, as soon as the morni-i.' twilight was growing gray.

This migration is perfectly well known to all the sportsmen
in that di-trict; it takes pkice rei^ularlv every autumn ; commenc-
ing with the first sharp frost, ami continuing from three to six
weeks; it is invariably from the west eastward; and the country-
men will tell you that the birds are making their wav to the
I'iiies, on the fersey shore, which I ilo not believe. Lastly, I
could not learn that any counter- migration, from the east west-
waril, has e\ er been oh-erved, though several intelligent persons,
whom I ipiestioned, informed me that they had looked for such
a thing annually, but in vain.

The birds, I should add, are constantly seen Hying across the

64

THE .^rA/L

liver l)v onrlv laborers and fislieniieii ; ami occasio.ailj', il" llio
wind should be adverse, the weaklings of the bevy lall into tiie
broad stream and perish.

Tliese laets, in my opinion, thoroughly establish the fact that
tlie quail dop.i migrate, though of all migrations it appears to be
the most strange and mysterious.

Contrary to all expectation, at the comineneeinent of the cold
season tiie quail runs— (or unless in crossing large strcains, oi
sheets of water, I am satisfied that the journey is made on foot—
from the warmer west to the colder east.

I'nod can have nothing to do with the change of locality,
since that abounds most where the climate is mildest.

Appropriateness of breeding-ground is not involved in the
movement, for it takes place at the very opposite season of the
year.

Lastly, it cannot be ascertained whither the passengers go,
or where their wanderings terminate.

'I'he conseciuence of this annual eastern migration ought to
be, at least, a temporary accumulation of bevies in vast numbers
to the eastward; since, as I have stated in my last paper, there
is an eastern limit, and that not very distant, to the existence ot
the bird at all.

No such accumulation is known, however, or rather no such
accumulation exists.

It is almost certain, therefore, that at'ter what " Alpha" calls
its "crazy rambling lit," the quailagain returns westward, though
to say the least, it is strange in the extreme, that constantly seen,
as it is in all parts of the country, on its eastern movement, il
has never beer, heard or seen when working its way backward.

Of one thing only we are certain, that no instinct of the
humblest of God's creatures but has its meaning and its use, and
I know nothing which should lead us so much to doubt our own
boasted intellect and superiority, as the conviction which must
force itself upon us the more strenuously as we examine the
more deeply, how little we can comprehend of the wonderful
nature and wisely constituted habits of what we term the inferior
animals.

ICvery year, it is true, brings something to our little stock of

knowled^

country ).

they obsi

beasts, fis

public, it

and in he

I will

men, whi

any obse

tant— for

ceriiing

sorts of

o likes ot

the Timi

and I do

of the cc

as the v\

pairing,

be gaine

ing, and

history.

I will

this bee

desire tc

ever see

The -

from th(

privilegi

annihila

incubati

is conse

certain i

The

all thos(

in the i

Misappi

in the n

the ollt

mi occiisio.-Hll}-, if llic
tlu' bevy lull into tiic

' Chtal)li!.li tlie lad tliat
ations it appears to bv

iiieiiceineiit of tlie cold
!sing large streams, or
irncy is made on tool —

he cliange of locality,
; is mildest.

is not involved in tiic
opposite season ol' the

ler the passengers go,

rn migration ought to
bevies in vast nnmbers
n my last paper, there
nt, to tiie existence ot

;ver, or rather no such

cr what " Alpha" calls
turns westward, though
le, that constantly seen,
eastern movement, il
ig its way backward,
lat no instinct of tlie
eaning and its use, and
nuch to doubt our own
;onviction which must
ly as we examine tlie
lend of the wonderful
lat we term the inferior

i to om- little stock of

T//E .:^UA/I.

6S

knowledge, and it sportsmen, and gentlemen residing in the
country generally, would note down tlie time and incidents which
thev observe with regard to nalural history, wlietlier of birds,
beasts, fishes or flowers, and would occasionally give these to the
luiblic, it is incredible how much information might be collected,
and in how short a time.

1 will take, tlierefore, this opportunity of reipiesting gentle-
nien, who take any interest in fieKl-sporls, to communicate to me
any observations they may make, however seemingly unimpor-
tant—for from masses of tritles are combined gieai truths— con-
cerning the habits, and more especially the inigratwns of all
sorts of game, either directed to my own residence or to the
olVices of the " Democratic Review " or the Now York " Spirit of
the Time-." I'reeision of dates is of the greatest importance;
and I doubt not from simultaneous observations in many parts
of the counlrv, of the first and last appearance of various birds,
as the woodcock and English snipe, of the earliest and latest
pairing, nesting and hatching, as of 'piail, etc., that much might
be gained of really valuable knowledge concerning very interest-
ing, and, comparatively speaking, unknown portions of natural

history.

I will now proceed to the existing laws for the preservation of
this beautiful little bird; to the alterations which I would
desire to see eiVectcd in them, and without which I despair of
ever seeing game adeipiately or properly protected.

The object of the game laws of this country, dilVerenl entirely
from those of Kurope, which reserve the right of killing game to
privileged classes, is intended merely to protect the animals from
annihilation, by guarding them during the periods of nidification,
incubation and the immaturity of the broods— and their operation
is consequently limited to prohibiting the killing of game during
certain seasons of the year.

The great ditTiculty which has hitherto resisted the efforts of
all those who see the utility of protecting game, has been found
in the impossibility of getting farmers to enforce these laws.
Misapprehending their object, and overlooking their own interests
in the matter, they have never as yet been willing to prosecute
the olltnders, or to prohibit their o-mix neighbors from killing, in

66

THE SiVMl.

ii>,"

I* I

t-eahoii .mil duI ul season, ultliuugli lliev liave. pel hap.-, at limt
enlbrci'd tlio law against strangers.

'I'lio rea'-oii of this seeming pervorsitv hes, 1 believe, mainl\
in the inaileciuacy and absurdity of the laws themselves; which,
having been framed without any proper understanding ol' tin-
subject, naturallv appear to the land-owner useless, vexatious and
made for the pleasure of the men of cities, as opposed to that of
the countryman and farmer.

I have shown, in my articles on tlie woodcock, that the law-
does not protect that bird sulliciently long, for the broods are nol
half-grown in July, and that the woodcock is consecjuently on the
verge of absolute extermination. I have shown that Jidy shoot-
ing is obnoxious to the farmer, becar e it leads to the damage ami
dcslruc'ion of his standing croj-s ; and I will now add that it is
untair lowarti him in its ojieration, because the summer is his
busy season, and before the autumn, when he has leisure to enjov
field-sport, the woodcock are all destroyed by loafers and pot-
hunters.

1 have jiroposed, therefore, that the close time during which
woodcock may not be killed, taken or sold, shall be extended
from li\e first day of Kebruary until the first diiy of October.

This alteration will save the immature bird from slaughter
by mere cockneys; will act as a guard to the crops of the
farmer; and, lastly, will give a fair opportunity of enjoying
tield-sports to him who has the best right to enjoy them, the
owner and occupant of the land whereon the game is bred and
reared.

I now come to the (luail; and, for reasons which I shall
presently give, as well as to produce simplification and uni-
formity, qualities which always tend vastly to the practicability
and enforcement of the law, I would propose that the close
time for this bird shall be the same as that for the woodcock —
from the fir.it of February, namely, until the first day of October.

The laws at present prohibit the killing of quail in the sti; -.'of
New York, except between the twenty-fifth day of October and
the first day of January ; in the state of New Jersey, except
between the first day of November and the first day of January;

and in Ih

SeptiMiib

Now

October

January

commeii

The

on Ihe II

except i

Let i

yrovMi;

of four,

Now

lion of

who wi

sport sm

his dog

named,

on the

The

the hal

pulsori

not bu;

Tht

the pet

can gt

grown

m)l bu

purchi

He

antici]

sports

ship, £

to hill

mere

It

the fa

of pri

JiUi,

Iiave. pel hap.-, at turn'

lifs, I believe, maiiil\
iws llieinselves; wliicli,
r utulurstaiuliiij; of llu
;r useless, vexatious ami
:s, as opposed to thai ol

Aooilcock, that the law
;, for the broods are iiol
k is coiise(|ueiitly on the
shown that July shoot-
leads to the damage aiul
will now add that it is
use the suiiinier is his
n he has leisure to enjov
ved by loafers and pot-
lose time ihirinjj which
sold, shall be extended
irst day of October,
jre bird from slaughter
d to the crops of the
pportunity of enjoying
ight to enjoy them, the
n the game is bred and

reasons which I shall
simplification and uni-
tly to the practicability
propose that the close
hat for the woodcock—
the first day of October,
ig of quail in the st;: oof
fth day of October and
of New Jersey, except
;he first day of January;

T//E :>UA//.

67

and in Ihe -tate ol Pennsylvania, excei.l between the first day ot
September and the lifleenlh day of January.

Now the fust dav of November a,ul the twenty-fifth day ol
CJctober are M/> needlessly /<//<• in the season; and the t.rst ol
January is needlessly n,r/y in the season for the ternunation a,ul
commencement of close time.

The .-reat majority of the bevies of nuail are (lu.te tuU grown
c.nlhefi^st of October; except in very backward seasons, and
except in the case of a few very late (hn;/ bevies.

Let it be observed that 1 do not say that all the bevies are lull
yrovMi; but that they are so in the proportion of three bevies out
of lour, will not, I think, be disputed.

Now the object of the law is chietly to prevent the depreda-
tion of pot hunters, poachers, idle boys and village or city loalers
who will kill -ame at all times when they can sell it. The good
sporlsman, if he falls upon a bevy of half-grown birds, calls oil
his dog at once; because such r/>nfrrs, as they are technically
named, afford him no sport in the field and are not fit to serve up

on the table.

The ve- class, moreover, from whom all danger accrues to
the half.grown bird, 1 mean the prowling market-shooter, com-
pulsorily spares the half-grown quail, because the victualler will

' The victualler .-f/// buy the half-grown woodcock, because at
the period when the law allows them to be killed and sold, he
can get none other, eight-tentbs of all July birds being halt,
grown younglings of th.tt summer; the quail, however, he :<•,//
,„/ buy'half grown at all, because he has always the option o!
purchasing full-grown birds at the same period ot the year.

Hence I argue that the quail runs no danger whatever trom
anticipating the present shooting season by one month; since the
sportsman will not kill the young bevies, trom true sportsman-
ship, and the poacher will spare them because they are ot no use

to him when killed; and because to shoot them is, therefore a

mere v\^aste of powder and shot.

It will on the contrary, be a farther protection to them; since

the farmer, as the law now stands, clearly perceives the absurdity

of prohibiting the killing of perfectly mature birds at the very

T'T

68

rilE .-HIM I.

season wliicli is the iiuisl agroealile lor out olitoois exiiciso atul
tlic most siiitablc lor sporting.

Still worse is the prohibition to kill iiiiail during the nionlh ol
January— a prohibition groundoil on a total ignorance of the
liabits o(" the bird.

It ncvrr pairs, under any circumstances, earlier than the
beginning of February, and in backward years not earlier than
March, and even April.

It was only yesterday that I counted llfteen birds in bevy
withni fifty yards of iny door.

I will now cite a fact to show the evil operation of sucl;
capricious and useless legislation.

My notice was called, a fortnight since, \o a protest, by some
h.ighly respectable larmers in the vicinity of Newburg, exclaim-
ing agr.insi all game laws as oppressive, vexatious and made so as
" to restrict not only the lihntKs, but the Irgal ria/i/s of one class
of socielv. for the exclusive //iiisiin; iuu\ not lor the benetU of
another" — and giving notice that they will kill game on their owti
premise- at all such times as their convenience, pleasure or
interest may dictate.

This protest contains this remarkable passage : " I5ut why
prohibit the killing of game after the first of January .? Clearly
because the weather is then too uncomfortable for the loafers to
leave their grog-shops, and because that is the only season 7v/uii
the f (inner lius Insure tiiid am lake such recreation"

Now, these gentlemen are in error, it is true; but only as to
the intention, not as to the operation of the law. The prohibition
to kill game after the first of January is useless vexatious, absurd
and oppressive to the fanner; though certainly it was not
inteiided to be so by those who framed it.

The only chance there is of having game laws enlbrcei! is
nut only in seeing that they be just, but that they s-em just.

They are nc^r unjust, and appear to be more unjust than they
are.

Put them in their right form, and no such question as .he
above will be asked; or, if asked, it can be answered at once by
a scatement of the actual fact, that the close time is intended to
protect birds during the breeding season, and during that only.

Then

woodcoc

first of (

fifteenth

animals

and no

reality, i

farmer s

end, we

the lam

extermi

1 ha

which I

The

passage

stands.

ble pre!

deep sii

Now

than til

Far

accustc

severe

some s

frequei

tion t'

wooilc

Thi

ularly

lastly,

our la

cock !

cpianti

same

De

one oi

stock

W

I ol-doois exuciM.' iiiiti

uil during tlic mouth ol
loliil ignoiatici.' of the

uices, cailk'r tliaii tliu
years not earlier than

il llt'teen birds in bevy

evil operation of Miel;

:e, to a protest, l)_v some
V of Newl)urg, exclaim-
exatious and made so as
Ifffd/ rii;/i/s of one class

I not lor the benefit of

II kill game on their own
Jnveniencc, pleasure or

e passage : " Hut why
St of January ? Clearly
rtable for the loafers to
is the oidy season xv/uii
creation."

is true; hut only as to
le law. The prohibition
seless vexatious, absurd
1 certainly it was not
d it.

j,'ame laws enloreeil is
that they s-em just,
e more unjust than they

lo Nuch question a^ .he
Je answered at once by
ose time is intended to
and duriner that onlv.

Tf/E ::>l/A//.

fx)

Therefore, I sav, open the season for killing and selling quad,
woodcock, rulVed grouse (:■«/,,'. partridge) and rabbit frotn the
first of October to the first or. if thought better, even until the
fifteenth of Februarv. We shall the.- protect each ot these
animals during the whole time in which they need protectmn,
and no longer; we shall avoid the appearance as well as the
realitv, of partialilv and injustice; we shall ultin.ataly en-.st the
farmer as a law.preserver, instead of a law-breaker; and m the
end, we may hope lo have fine autumnal shooting throughout
the land, instead of seeing all the species of game utterh

exterminated.

1 have two more observations to make under this head, with
which I shall close this somewhat, I fear, o.er-long paper.

The first is addressed to those gentlemen who procured the
passage and were engaged in the framing of the law as it now
stands. Their obiect was, doubtless, to extend the utmost possi-
ble preservation to the quail, fearing the extinction, during the
deep snows of winter, bv trapping and the gun.

Now, the fact is that the quail is in far less danger of extinction
than the woodcock.

Farmers, seeing the quail bred and wintered on their land,
accustomed to see them daily feeding on their stubbles, and during
severe storms taking shelter in their barn-yards, regard them in
some sort as poultrv; do to a certain degree protect them; and
freque.itly forbid the pursuit of them, while they ofier no objec-
tion to the hunting of the migratory and swamp-baunting

wooilcock. , .,, 1 ,•

The woodcock, moreover, is much more easily killed, part.c-
ularlv during the absurd and barbarous summer shooting; and
lastlv it is a matter of fact that, while for fifty miles round all
our "large cities, and even our considerable villages, the wood-
cock has become almost extinct within the last ten years, the
quantity of quail has very slightly declined, i. at all, during the

same period. .

Deep snows and severe weather may thin them lor a time, but
one or two prosperous seasons bring them about again, and the
stock is as numerous as ever.

With regard to the woodcock, on the contrary, 1 know hity

m.

70

Tf/E ^l/A/L.

swamps myself, wherein, ten years ago, it was an easy thing to
kill twenty birds in tlie morninfj, in wliich there lias not been a
solitary cock seen for the last six or seven seasons.

There is no fear, therefore, of injuring tiie quail by extenil-
ing the open season for shooting, while certain annihilation
must fall on the woodcock if summer shooting be not instantly
abolished.

My second appeal is to the farmer, to wliom I desire to point
out that it is vastly for /lis hilnest to enforce the game laws, even
if he care nothing about shooting himself.

'["he fondness of lieldsports has increased much of late, and
the quantity of game diminished so greatly, that if in any section
of the country, where game of any kind abounds, two or tlnee
owners of adjoining farms would combine to preserve their game
strictly, allowing no person to shoot it at any season, and rigor-
ously prosecuting for every trespass and every breach of the
game laws, they could readily let the exclusive privilege of shoot-
ing, over every thousand acres so preserved, for two or three
hundred dollars a season, or, perhaps, even a larger sum.

Advertisements in the " Spirit of the Times " or other papers
of large circulation, offering the riglit of sporting upon such
tracts of land so preserved, would be readily taken up uy com-
panies of two or three gentlemen, supposing that due reliance
could be placed on the strict protection of the game against all
interlopers.

There is no doubt, therefore, that in good game countries every
farmer owning two hundred acres of land can, by combining
with his neighbors to enforce the game laws, realize his fifty dol-
lars, and from that to a hundred a year, without the expense of a
dollar or half an hour's trouble.

I know myself at least fifty gentlemen who would gladly com-
bine in parties of three, four and upwards, to hire the privilege of
exclusive shooting on good tracts of sporting ground. I would
myself willingly enter into such combinations; and should any
farmers think this suggestion worthy of notice, would gladly
assist them in negotiating such arrangements.

I have no hesitation in saying that for certain tracts of land,
such as portions of the drowned lands in Orange county. New

York, the
Little Pio
jersey, th
like, if re
dollars an
of shootii
The Ce

NoTK.—
part, cliisei
Sliiiotini;,"
it's Kii'lil

KniTiiK.

t was an easy thing to
K there lias not bcL-n a
I seasons.

ig tlie quail by I'xti'nil-
lie certain annihilation
ootinj; be not instantly

whom I desire to point
rce the game laws, even

r.

aseil much of late, ami
ly, that if in any section

abounds, two or three
i to preserve their game

any season, and rigor-
id every breach of the
usive privilege of shool-
jrved, for two or three
■n a larger sum.
rimes " or other papers
of sporting upon such
idily taken up i,j ^om-
osing that due reliance
af the game against all

3d game countries every
ind can, by combining
.ws, realize his fifty dol-
ithout the expense of a

I who would gladly com-
, to hire the privilege of
•ting ground. I would
ilions; and should any
af notice, would gladly
lents.

ir certain tracts of land,
in Orange county. New

T//E SlUAIL.

V

York, the Big Piece on the I'assaic river, the Long Meadow, the
Little riice, in the same vicinity, the Chatham meadows, in New
lersey, the ciuail grounds near Sparta, in the same state, and the
like, if resolutely preserved by the joint owners, many thousand
dollars annually could be realized merely for the exclusive riuhl
of shooting over them.

TliK Ceuaks, Kiln ii;iry. I'^l'i.

NoTK.—Tho cNcellrnt series of sketches, (if wliii-li llic fnregning form a
part, closes witli a viiy cnt.rlaininK mid instnutivc article u|ioii •• l^uail
Sliooliim." Init as llie paper lias lieen (jiveu aliiw.sl vfilHilhn in • l'>.ink Forest-
er's Kieia Sports." it may he safely coiisiilere.l that it is familiar to tlw reader.

KniroH,

AMONG THE MOUXTAINS;

(III,

TAKINd TIMES ALO.Xd A TROUT STREAM

IT is some two yi':irK sinCL-.thal I was sitlint? alone, in tl.o i-arlv
1 gloaming of a beautiful Mav .vt-nin-. towarci the close ol
that sweet but variable month, in the projeeting oriel windows ol
my little eottage-hall, .vhich overlooks a beautiful reach of the
smooth, silvery I'assaic, and the upward slopes of the farther sid.'
covered with "rich orchards, in the last flush of their delicate
bloom, and groves of ornamental forest trees and shrubbery, horn
which peep out, not unfrequent, the roofs of ornamented cottages
or unambitious tarm-houses-a calm and pleasant i.icture of easN
a.Kl contented moral culture. The day had been soft and balmy,
with a miUl western breeze playing among the tender, light green
spravsof the beeches and the young chestnut leaves, the hya
cinths and jonquils were gay and fragrant in the garden beds, the
lilac hedges perfumed all the air around, and a faint scent was
stealing from the woodbines on the porch and the cluster-roses
around the rustic verandas. The blue-birds, saucv and familiar,
had been busy all day long, twittering and chirruping, as they
flew to and fro with morsels of wool and moss or feathers, to
their nesting boxes; from the shrubberies had come constant the
melodious warble of that much maligned of songsters, the
traduced cat-bird, while from the neighboring wood-skirts had
come up, clear, ringing and mellow, the emulous carols of the
brown and the hermit thrushes.

IJut now, as the day waned and the fire in the west faded out,
all was changed,— sounds and sights, and the sentiments created
by them. A soft mist floated up from the stream, half suiting
the landscape, glimmering as it was in Ihe feeble moonshine.

AMONfi THE ^for^rTA/JVS.

73

UNTAINS;

TROUT STIiRAM

s sittiiifj alone, in tlio t-arlv
niii^', towani tlie close ol
irojectiiifj oriel wimlows ol
,s !i heautifiil ifacli ol' tlu'
rd slopes of the faillier s-iile
last tliisli of tlu'ii- iklieatf
it trees and shrubbery, Iroiii
lofs of ornamented cottages
Hid pleasant picture of eas_\
,v had been soft and balmv,
nong the tender, light green
^chestnut leaves, the hva
rrant in the garden beds, the
Lind, and a faint scent was
porch and the cluster- roses
le-birds, saucy and familiar,
ig and chirruping, as they
)1 and moss or leathers, to
)eries had come constant the
laligned of songsters, the
eighboring wood-skirts had
, the emulous carols of the

le fire in the west faded out,
, and the sentiments created
3m the stream, half suiting
s in the feelile moonshine.

with a soft, sau/.y veil, illumined by the lustrous beauty within,
like transparent lace interspersed between the eye and the face of

■\ lair woman.

Ihe only sounds which now soothed, rather than broke the
silence, were the pipings of the frogs from the marshes beyond
the river, mingkd bv the distance into a melancholy, modulated
concert, the plaintive, oft-repeated cry of the whip-poor-will, a.
he -kimmed beneath Ihe moon under the shadows of the ueepmg-
willows over the gla-sy eddies, and occasionally the long-drawn,
quavering wailings of the brown owls, answering one another
IVom the woodlands on either bank of the river.

The sprii „ had been, as usual, somewhat late, long and dreary.
There had been sofi and plea>ant tricks of weather for a few da>
at a time, and genial southerly gales for a day or two, and the
willows had pushed into full leaf, and the grass h.id grown fp i
and succulent; the snipe had come and for the most part gone
northward, witb'-it atlording much sport to the shooters, owing
to the wild and interrupted ehar.acter of the springtide. Am'
this, in short, had been the lirst day of real, genial, settled sum-
mer-seeming spring.

Trout, it is true, had been captured on Long Island, in the
midst of sleet and snow-s(iualls and east winds, if no» in thunder,
lightning and in rain; captured from ponds, in which leave to
talie them must first be angled for with the all-conquei ing silver
hook, and at which, when ca|.tured, it is the use to leave behind
you vonr deur-won booty. But to me, at least, the glories of Long
Island are departed; and its once noble woods and waters,
haunted by the red deer and the heath-hen, alive with countless
hoards of geese, brant, I'onnI, whose name is like their number,
legion, whilom frequented by such choice spirits as Cypress aiul
his jovial crew, who learned therein " to stop a woodcock in a
brake, with the finger of instinct and the eye of faith," and to
" cut down a leatherhead, at sunrise, skating before a stilT north-
easter at three miles a minute," are now but the forlorn gho>ts of
themselves, the suburban cockney sporting grounds of New York
merchant princes, or of the verdant and impudent abortions
known us the rising generation of Young New York and

Progress.
6

74

AAfoxa riiK Mouxr.\/\s.

Thcreforo, be it known, I hail tifilluT f,'(»iu', nor thoiinht ol
fjdiiijf down, to lliosf oncc-t'anioiis llhliin^^ plai-cs; ami ultliouKli
iiiKtiiinltil l)v tlu' annual instinctive astins, wliitli ptrioclii-ailv
neizeK the amjlcr, tlic keen shot an>l the anient hunter, anil cei -
tain sij,'n>. anil season- of the times, I hiul oveihauleil mv C'un
lovs anil m^ Kellevs, oilcil niv eliek reels, looked to inv lines
that they were unliayed anil sound, ind untouched of mildew or
dry rot, seen that my hottoins and j^"' loot lengths were tou^h
and round and responsible, and t,'loaled over my stock ot Hie-., ot
many nniiics and nations, the collection of years speiil in wander-
ings far and near; I had little intention, little hope, of welling a
lonj; line or landinj; a two-poinultr, whether in the salt creeks oi
the Atlantic shores, or in the moinitain torrents of the Appal.a-
chian ridjje or in the ice-cold rivers of the far Northuesl.

Still, it must be admitted, I had been thinking all ilav lon^
about my favorite sport, of which the season and its especial
fitness so pleasantly reminded me, so that had any brother of the
t,'cntle craft been present, or any accessible water, likely to atloril
sport, occurred to my imajjination, I had incontinently packed up
my traps and committed myself to the speed of the famous iron
horse. Hut I was alone, and I bethou{{bl me of no nearer place
than the wild (Jarden river, or the lonj;, foamv ripples of the
beautiful Sault St. Marie or the splendid trout streams of Lake
Superior;* with a sis;ii, therclbre, 1 lighted my Indian pipe and
proceeded to pulV away my chagrin in a cloud of delicatelv
llavored kinnikinnic, lubricated by a moderate sip of exquisite
Victoria punch, a beverage, indeed, worthy of the royal ladv in
honor of whom it was named by her gallant 3jd.

Just at this moment, however, when the mellowed legrets
were vanishing before the soothing influences of the Indian, there

♦The Lake Superior rcsfioii was "IVaiik Korustcr's" favoritL' (isliiiijr resort
for many years, ami lie there cnjoyeil the most superb troutin^f then to be had
in the country. This, however, was long prior to llie completion of the
Wisconsin Central Kailroail. which drives safe and speedy access to the glorious
sportinj; region aliout Like Superior; and particularly the trout streams
debouching into Clieiiuamet'on Kay, near Ashland, on the south shore, and the
magnificent Nepigon river, on the north shore, where may be had the tinest
trout-tishing in America. Whether for its scenery or the angling it aliords
the Lake Superior country is unsurpassed \\ v\'

'\t/.VS.

j,'oiiu, nor thought ol
[ places; ami iiltlioiijjli

us, whicii ptTKHlicullv
irdiMit luinti.'r, iiiiil ccr-
J ovi'iliauli'il my C'(jn
■Is, looked to im liiir-
ntoiicliicl oT iiiililmv or
lot lengths wert' toii^li
er my slock ol Hie-., ol
yt'uis sjunt ill waiulei-
llle hope, ol' welliiij; a
er in the salt eieeks of
orrciits ol' ihe Appala-

lar Nortliuisl.

thinking all day loiij;
ieasoii and its especial

had any brother of the
e water, likely to ntVoiil
iicontinently packed up
Ked of the famous iron
me of no nearer place
, foamy rij>ples of the
trout streams of Lake
li my Indian pipe and

a cloud of delicately
lerate sip of exquisite
y of the royal lady in
It 32d.

the mellowed regrets
cesof the Indian, there

;r*s" favorite lishin^ resort
rb troutinjf then to be had
to llie coniplctioii of the
[leeily access to the glorious
icularly the trout streams
oil the south shore, and the
lere may bo had the finest
r or the anjilin^; it aflords

w. vv

AAfOJVa THE MOUNTAINS.

75

eame to my ear the clatter of fast hoofs and the rapid roll of little
wheels rattling up the drive, while the many-voiced clamor ol
pointer, setter, Newfouiulland and terriers announced a late
arrival. A small bustle followed, quick ipiestions and answers,
and in came the servant hearing a telegraphic message, marked
"in haste, forwanl."

It was from a trusty comrade and right jolly angler, who had
pitched his t<nt far from the city in the beautiful valley ot
Chemung, and being satisfied that his lines had fallen in pleasant
places, troubled u. of the seaboard but rarely, eitlier by literary
eommuniention- or personal interviews, whicli last had tor the
last year or two become like angel's visits, indeed few and lar
between. So ihat I was somewhat astonished as well as greatly
pleased when 1 read his name as I glanced hurriedly at the foot
of the dispatch.

'. iMunU Forester "-thus it ran. '•Stony Urook. nattering Creek, have
been foul, are fuu-. Trout plenly. prime. taUiiiR. Dinf at seven. Erie roa.l.

Lanckuoi I.anod.m.k.
Now or never.

•• Cotton's Cabin. Coliocton."
VVhereunto I replied, incontinently:
" Lancelot Kanndale.-Now. Dinner tomorrow. Thank Korestbk.

" The Cedars."

Paid the dispatches, dismissed the messenger, happy with a
dram of cogniae and a cigar, devoted my evening to a reinvesti-
gation and selection of tackle, to an assorting of ankle shoes,
shepherd's plaid trousers, shootiu- jackets, creels, sandwich
boxes and dram oottles, supped lightly, turned in early, slept like
a dormouse, tiU mv man dragged me out of bed, two hours
before sunrise, and found myself, just as Dan Phoebus made hl«
appearance above the summit of the Palisades, creaking and
clattering along the I'atterson branch of the Erie Railroad, in a
fearful perturbation of mind, and haunted by a sort of insane
idea that 1 ought to have insured my life and limbs before
starting, in order to run a remote chance of arriving at the
terminu.^ with my due share of arms and legs-a rare occur-
rence, nowadavs, on a New York railroad.

For a wonder, however, we passed through safely-whirled
through the fair pastoral strath of the Passaic into the wdd,

76

AAf<>X(, Till- MOVS IMXS.

romantic (jlon of the liniwlinn U;iiim|u), l)i-lorc the tlin of the
carii, the iflliiiK ot tlioold Ibresti* iiml tliu <laininiin{ up the cryntnl
water» IjiuiUlicd naiail and dryad and tlit- -hv orcailV train, llu'
lovflicht hvlvan s.ilitudi.-, the most Arcadian dell of all that have
reinaincii unlionoied, only hccauhC iinHimn hy mhik' ininiorlil
bard. 'I'hcncc onward Ihrouuli the fertile meads and luxnrianl
ilairy farms of lovely Orange county, till, whirlini; di//y hinh in
uir, over the broad and glanHy waters of Ih.' l)elav\are, we rn^h
into Penn-ylvania an<l are lo^t ainoiii; the ^tul)endo\l^ mountain
ridjjes, harJ cra«s and clilV^ of primitive rock, darW forests .>!
evergreen, now skirting the brink of airy precipices, overlookiiiK
leagues of valley, hill and champaign, above whicii it seems to
hang Kuspending, and now Ihnnderinj,' over black ravines and
roaring cataracts, on giant single arches that outvie that bridge
bnilt in the Canton of I'ri, by the Mishop (ierold of t:insiedlen,
an local history says, but by the devil, as the people tell you, who

know better.

At last I found myself disembarked, lisliing-iods, gall-.,
carpetbags and sandwich-box, at a quaint-looking little station-
house, peeping out of a cluster of cedars and hemlock, about half
a mile short of a picturesque village, which was discernible,
orchard embosomed, in a rich meadowy tlat, half encircled by a
reach of the beautilul Delaware, here a broad, shallow, rapid,
rippling river, brawling over a stony bottom, with here and there
a large deep pool, in which the waters swept in lazy eddies, clear,
but dark as night, owing to its ex'.-.eeding depth.

At the station-house a wide, well-kept road came down a lai)
among the wooded hills on the right, leading, as the finger-post
informed the traveler, to a city of some size and beauty, lying
among the small lakes of New York, to the northward. On the
opposite side, through a bold, ragged gap in the left-hand moun-
tains, a mountain torrent rushed in impetuously at an oblique
angle, jamming back the current of tlie Delaware, and almost
crossing it before mingling its dark-brown waters, sprinkled with
bubbles and foam-tlakes, with the majestic river.

From the conductor of the railroad I'rank had contrived to
pick up some information concerning his friend Lancelot, who,
up here among the mountains, was something of a personage.

f A/.VS

hi'lorc the <liii <>l ll>i'
atnindiK up llio i-rvHtal
I sliv orcmlV iiaiii, llif
iin ilcll <>r all that liavi'
uii^,' bv hoini' iminorliil
I' iiicail' ami hixiiiiaiit

wliiiliiii^ ili//y liil^l' i"
till' Delawnrc, wc ru-h
L- htuponiiouh moimlaiii

!• rock, ilarW ti)ro>lH ol

piicipiciti, ovorUMikiim
Dovc whicli it weem- to
Dvcr black ravincn niiil

llial outvie tliat l)ii(li,'c
) (ieroUl of Kinhicillcii,
the people tell you, who

ked, lisliitig-iotls, KallV,
int-lookini,' little Rtution-
anil hemlock, about hall'

which was ili>ccinible,
flat, half eiicircU'il bv a

a broatl, hhallow, rapid,
loin, with here and there
kept in lazy eddies, clear,
if depth.

I road came down a lap
jading, as the finger-post
L" size and beauty, lying

the northward. On the
1 in the left-hand moun-
ipetuously at an oblique
lie Delaware, and almost
,vn waters, sprinkled with
.tie river.

Frank had contrived to
lis friend Lancelot, who,
omething of a personage,

.\\fn\i. Till. Mo I N / l/.N>

77

ihi.ugl. h.' u.r- nobody w hile show ing Imiisell the clev cichI young
lawver and ino.t brilliant uiaga/.ini»t of New York, until, a
Mii.ill legacv lalliu'; to him, he de-crlcd the ilollrtr-worHhiper-. and
their il.ilHl I.M- a retreat among the lake-. Here he led what the
U all-siiveter, cilled a ukcIc.h life, with a few old Inciids, a goo.l
in.inv old books, a little old wine and an innocent, charitable and
kiiullv heart -a thing whuh, if it exist at all, has neither value
nor honor in the modern (Jo.norrah. He had learned that,
although hi- place pioper— a pretty farm of some eighty or a
huiuhvd acres-lay not lar trom the iulet of the lovely .Seneca, he
h.ul bought a scrap of the wildest, barrenest, stoniest, -Iraiigest
kind of land, up the gorge of the identical ravine bclore him,
where lie had established the queerent sort of a building that was
ever seen in old .Sullivan or in I'enusylvania either, said the mat
ter-of-fact guaulian of trains, where he spent some portion ol
every year, in the spring trout-fishing, in the autumn deer-hunt-
ing,'and in the deati of winter pursuing the wilder and fiercer
dcMiuens. the bear, the cougar and the catamount, which still
roaiiuil and roai ed in those little-frequented solitudes.

,\ccoulinglv, no sooner had I'rank deposited himself and his
l,,il.> on the boarded platform before the station-house, before a
tall, haiul-ome, light-colored mulatto man, dressed in a buckskin
hunting shin and leggins, and flapped felt hat, round which wa-
lapped a ci.il of -audy. colored lake-llies, touched his beaver and
inquired, with a sort' of welcoming grin, displaying all his fine
white teeth, if "di- was de genlemau what Mas.a Langdale
expect.' 'Case if he be, he please come 'long to tie boat, and be
dar in no time.''

Finding that he was in the right, the spoitsmaii darken, m
whom Frank imagined a resemblance to an ex(iuisile, dark-curleil
and exquisitelv-bearded coxcomb, who, in former limes, had
condescended io serve Massa Lancelot, in his days of New York
ladv killing, in the capacity of adoiiizer as well as mentor, became
more and more voluble in his speech and mirthlul in his greet-
ings, till he, too, having evolved Frank from some dim recess of
his I'nemorv, welcomed him, with what the French call effusion,
I. Cotton "cottage, assuring him that " they'd have tine times
no**, sartain!

. I"

78

AMO^'<^' THE MOUNTAfA'S

With that he shouldered Frank's vaHse and rodcases and led
the way down a steep path to the water's ed<;e, .vhere there lay
a Ion- sharp, beautifuUv-niodelled pirogue, cut of the entne
trunk^of a huge basswood, containing paddles, setting poles, a
long rifle and longer f.sh-spear, and having its bottom carpeted
with fresh, green hemlock tips, artistically disposed, and soft as
the most luxurious couch of cities. Into the bow of this some-
what ticklish craft he motioned Kratik to descend, wh.le, after
depositing his burthens amuiship., he coiled himself in the ster.>,
and vigorously plying his paddles, sent the light boat sk>mm,n,
.cross the river and into the n.ou-h of the stream, whtch, heie
-ibout fiftv feet in width, came pouring down over a stony bottom
in a swift', arrowv rush of dark brown water, filling the ravme
almost from side to side, and scarce affording room for a broken
a,.,d irregular foot-path atnong the bare rocks, the deep ern
patches and the occasional patches of alder and red willow, which
pushed out here and there in some sheltered cove, where they
found soil wherein to flourish, or among the trunks of the lordly
pines and feathery hemlocks which rifted their roots m the stern

'"' Nothtn- could be wilder, nothing more picturesque and even
,rand at times, than this ravine of the brawling Catasauqua, w.th
he .un gle.,ning only here and there on the loftiest of the eastern
cliflV, or s,re.uning in yellow and loving light through the gaps
of the western rklge and dwelling on the soft swells verd.ant
with thriftv hard- wood, between laps and hollows tuU o so t blue
shadows, while not a wandering ray could touch the foa.ny
ripples and glassv shoots and rapids of the impetuous trout-
team. It was 'hard work to stem the rush of the .ce-co d
' v^^ 'r, and Frank soon found himself compelled to buckle to
The p ddle and do his share ot the propelling, havmg the fear o
a hu'e arrival and cold provender before his eyes-no F.easn
nrospect after a long railroad journey, to a hungry . nd t.red
n :n' Swifter waxed the stream, and swifter, narrower the gorge
Td more abruptly and angularly winding, at t.mes tnterrupted
b great fallen trees, still root-anchored to the shores from whtch
tl ev had fallen, among the .V..zv.M./.-./n>.like branches o
,ih it required skillful pilotage, and at times .nterrupted oy

TAfA'S.

e and rod-cases and led
i cdf,'e, .vhere there lay
ogue, cut of the entire
laddles, setting poles, a
ing its bottom carpeted
Iv disposed, and boft as

0 the bow of this some-
to descend, while, after

liled himself in the stern,
;he light boat skimming
the stream, which, heie
own over a stony bottom
water, filling the ravine
)rding room for a broken
re rocks, the deep fern
ter and red willow, which
eltered cove, where the}-
; the trunks of the lordly
ed their roots in the stern

lore picturesque and even
)rawling Catasauqua, with
II the lot'tiest of the eastern
g liglit through the gaps

1 the soft swells, verdant
id hollows full of soft blue

could touch the foamy
s of the impetuous trout-
, the rush of the ice-cold
:lf compelled to buckle to
ipelling, having the fear of
fore his eyes— no pleasant
2V, to a hungry and tired
5'wifter, narrower the gorge,
nding, at times interrupted
;d to tlie shores from which
\.,/c-/r/>-like branches of
id at times interrupted by

AAf<).V(. THE MOUSTAISS. 79

U,u.., shooting rapicis, where tlie stream was so much contracted
„Ki ran with such violence that the paddles became useless and
it was onlv bv the exertion of every nerve at two stout setting-
poles that the .wo men succeeded in stemming the mountain

rivulet's force. .

ForalMuit five miles they had threaded the intricacies ol tlie
n,de ulen, the mountains toppling higher and more abruptly
overhead, the old trees, solemnly swathed in centennial draperies
of inoss and ivy, stooping ghost-like over the noisy torrent, and
no sound or sight leininding one of human life disturbing the
sen.e of solitude or suggesting the vicinity of man. Once or
twice a prowling otter plumped from his rocky station into the
pools, as the dug-out approached him; at every hundred yards
the little white-winged sandpipers sprang, feebly twittering, Irom
the pebblv banks and fluttered along its margin; once and again
the kinot^sher swooped and soared before them, bearing away ai
each plunge a scalv victim ; on rounding a projecting stony point
., pair of beautiful snow-white egrets rose up, like spirits, against
the dark background of the evergreen forest; and, at the same
moment, the harsli. clanging cry of the golden eagle came
harshlv from the clilVs, and his soaring wings intercepted the
,K,,,ow glimpse of davlight, as he sailed slowly up the gorge.

AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

rpiir,.s far, since thev had entered the wild and desolate ravine
I of the Catasaucpia. thev had passed no spot which could well
have been adapted to the site of a human habitation, even of the
smallest size and most inferior kind, and no vestige of a road was
to be discerned bv which access c.uld be had to it from the set-
tlements, except up the channel of the shallow and rapid stream.
And as the day gradually declined, and the sunbeams through

8o

AMONG THE MOUNTAINS.

the gaps in the hill-tops fell higher and higher up thi- opposite
mountain sides, and dwelt no longer, even for a nvoment, in the
bottom of the valley, Frank began to get somcwnat curious u>
to the domicile to which he was wending his way undc-r auspices
so peculiar, and somowhat suspicious as to Ihe nat\ire ot the
feed which was likely to meet him in the middle of so absolute
a wilderness.

Nevertheless, he held on, stoutly plying his paddle or his
setting-pole in silence, asking no questions of his dark ferryman,
hut greatly admiring the picturesque and devious pass wliich h.-
was traversing. Suddenly, after forcing the canoe, not without
the dint of very considerable exertion, up a long shoot of clear,
swift, glancing water, where the stream rushed, unbroken, over
an inclined plane of smooth rock, the ravine turned an abrupt
angle, formed by the projection of a bare, precipitous crag of
vellow linu'stone, narrowing the channel to a tl-.ird of its usual
width, and excluding all upward view, due westward.

With a powerful sweep of liis paddle, the steersman brought
round the head of the light vessel and she swung round the point
in deep water, and lay in a large, circular tranquil pool, some
three hundred yards across, embosomed in a sort of lap an\ong
the hills, of a milder character than anything which Frank had
yet seen on the Catasauqua, and containing on the left bank a few
acres of cleared laud, pastured by a single cow, a rougl. Indian
shooting-pony and half a dozen ragged-looking moun'-.iin sheep.
This pool, at the lower end, was perfectly still, as clear as glass
and verv deep; but in two different places, at its upper extremity,
where two narrow glens, or ghylls, as they would be called m
the north country, entered the little amphitheatre from the higher
ridges to the south and the westward, the perturbation of its
surface, the floating bubbles and toam-tlakes, and the whirling
eddies, showed that two strong and rapid streams were discharged
into it from above.

On the point formed by the union of these two tributaries, or
constituen's rather, of the Catasauqua, known as the ".Stony
nrook " and the " Clattering Creek," which was a shelving bank
of gravel at the water's edge, covered by a magnificent grove ot
the largest hemlocks Frank had ever observed, growing with

AINS.

ligher up thi- opposite
1 for a moment, in the

somewhat curious a>
lis way under auspices

to llie nat\Me of the
; middle of so absolute

inij his paddle or his
; of his dark ferryman,
devious pass which he
he canoe, not without

a long shoot of clear,

ushed, unbroken, over
vine turned an abrupt
re, precipitous crag of

to a tl-.ird of its usual
; westward,
the steersman brought

swung round the point
ar tranquil pool, some

in a sort of lap an\ong
ling which Frank had
g on the left bank a few
e cow, a rougl. Indian
)oking moun'-iin sheep,
tlv still, as clear as glass
. at its upper extremity,
ley would be called in
itheatre trom the higher
the perturbation of its
akes, and the whirling
,treams were discharged

these two tributaries, or
kr.own as the " Stony

ch was a shelving bank
a magnificent grove of

observed, growing witii

AMOXn THE .\f or -.VTA/ AS

8i

fneir great trunks far apart, but their wide, feathery branches
,„ingled above into a catu.py of impenetrable verdure, stood m a
s,nall. sheltered nook, scooped, as it would seem, out ot the shel-
tering wood, the cottage, which he recognized as the welcome
liourne of his journey.

'. Cotton's Cabin," as the owner h.id christe.ied it, after the
friend and brother angler of dear old l..aac Walton, was the
smallest and least pretending, as it was the (luaintest and prett.e-t
of primitive cottages, In Iront it presented a face ol tlnrty teet
,n length, divided into three co.npartmenls, that m the centre
presenting an advanced gable of a story and a half in height,
with a dortner window above the rudely-arched doorway, w.th .ts
,u,ainllvcarved inscription on the key-block, and a gigantic pa,r
of elk "antlers adlxed lo the wall above it. In the spaces, on
..ither side, which were but one story in height, was one largo,
latticed window, and no more. The whole edifice was Iramed ol
rude pine log^. with the bark still on them, those in the wings, U
thev inav be so called, lunning horizontally , dove-tailed into one
■mother at the ends, tho.e of the centre standing perpendicularly,
,norticed into the plate, and ground-siUs. The doorposts, lintels
,nd window frame- were just as rugged of materials and as
,„siic of manufacture as the remainder of the building; and the
,„of, wliich widelv overiumg th.- eaves, was covered «.th
scolloped slabs of pine bark, overlapping each other like shin-
Sles A bright, fitful light glancing from one of the w.nc.ows,
out of the shadows of the hemlock grove, and a blue wreath ot
smoke winding up in stror.g contrast against the black loliage ot
the evergreens, gave pleasant token of preparation and ot hospit-
able welcome in the wilderness. There was no sign ol cultiva-
tion, no fi wer pot, no patch of vegetables near the house, only a
narrow .-rave', walk winding up among the grape stems to the
door from .• small dock, at which lay moored another dugout,
similar to that in which the voyagers were approaching, U couple
of Indian birch canoes and a light cedar skitV. double-headed like
a whale-boat, built for a p^.ir of sculls or paddles. But the ground
under the trees was beautifully smooth, well-kept and cleared ot
fallen leaves, the hemlocks themselves were free from dead

82

AAfOXC; THE MOl'NlAfXS.

brandies and lirv, sapless limbs, and on the stems ot one oi two.
in the foreground, the native vines and creepers h.d been trained
with some care and t;re\v luxuriantly, with their lon^ trailers and
bright hues otlVrin^,' a pleasant contra-t to llie dark formality of
the evergreens. The only animals visible were a noble jet-black
NewlV)undland dog lying at length, with his head eonclied
between his massive paws, on the door-sill, and a huge eagle owl,
sitting on a rustic perch, to which one leg was attached by a long,
light chain, devouring part of a tish which liad been s^i- en to
him, and occasionally wakening all the echoes Oi tlie lulls by hi^
solemn and melancholy shouts, waughoh! waaghoh! rendering
the wild aspect of the place wilder and more outlandisli.

" Dar de cabin, sah," exclaimed the mulatto, brightening \\\>
as they came into sight of the rustic lodge, " and dar old Cappiui,
de dog, and dar de owl; and dar come Massa I-angdale, too, 1
guess," as the door opened and the owner, a tail, fine-lookiim
young man of some eightandtwenty or Miirty years, made his
apjiearance on the lawn, if it may s(^ In. called, attired sport^--
manly in a tweed shooting jacket and trousers, a low-cro ned
felt bat and u pair of stout shooting-shoes.

"Iloware you Frank.'" he halloaed in a clear, strong voice.
" Devilish glad to see you at tlie cabin, now that you've got to it,
which I suppose you gave up in despair of ever doing. I should
have come down to pilot you up niy.'e;f, but I've got a queer sort
of cockney chap up here, only he n not a cockney, but a New
York chap, that knows more about nsiiing than all of us together,
to hea' his own talk. lie's a Wall-streeter, I believe, but he
ca'.i. . :' to me upon the strength of a letter, and I can't gel rid
of \\iv.\: .lut I fancy another day or two will tinish liim, for he
frail!: :, i.s vou sav in Yorkshire, very badly, and he's death on
tackle. But come in, come in ; ain't you thirsty.'"

Whereupon, replying to his friend's greeting so .soon as he
found room to put in a word, and admitting that something long
and cool wouldn't go far wrong, Frank followed his friend into
the interior of the fishing-hut, first pausing to note the invitation,
carved in rude characters of old black 'etter, upon a slab, beneath

rAfxs.

lie stems of :iiiL' oi two.
eepers li. d been tiaineii
li their Ionf< trailers anit
D Ihe tiark Ibrniality ol
le wen a noble jet-blacK
vith his head eoiiclied
1, and a luijje ca.ijle owl,
: was attaehed bv a lony,
lieh liad been i^i' en to
clioes Ol tile hills by his
il \vaa{^h-oh! renderiii,;
lore outlandish,
mulatto, brightenin.; up
;e, " and dar old Cappun,
Massa I-angdale, too, 1
.ner, a tall, fine-lookinsj

thirty years, made his
)e called, attired sports-
trousers, a lovvcro lied
2s.

in a clear, strong voice.
low that you'v e got to it,
of ever doing. I should
but I've got a queer sort
t a cockney, but a New
!ig than all of us together,
leeter, I believe, but he
■tter, and I can't get rid
) will finish liini, for he
ladly, and he's death on
u thirsty?"

i greeting so soon as he
ting that something long

followed his friend into
ling to note the invitation,
;tter, upon a slab, beneath

AAfONii THE AfOrrjVTA/NS.

S3

,he branching antlers, which ran thus, in the owner's antiquated

doggerel—

COTTOS'S CAIil.N.
1S50.
Rest, iinglcr, lierc y"r wcaiy feet;
A lirdtlier :int>lcr liiJs you stay.
If hearty Krcetins. liealthy meat.
Mild drinlv to -noisten thirsty elay.
A-lied betimes and lilythe uprisiii)?.
He welcomes worth an anL,'lcr's prizin)-.

The ent>an.-e, which was had through a hatch-duor, the upper
half of which was glazed, admitted them into a small vestibule
, .some .eu feet squire, with a door in the centre of each s.de.
Us walls were plainly wainscotted with unpamteu but neat'y
.arnished pine wood, of which also were all the doors, wndow-
casin-'s and wood-work of the hou.e ; the floor, composed ot
octagonal pine blocks, similar to those used in the old wooden
pavement of Hioadway. was covered by a neat red and white
matting, in the centre of which stood a solid octagon-shaped
pine table, strewn with powder-flasks, shot-pouches, reels, ty-
hooks and manv e. the implements and materials necessary lor
the an-ler's or 'shooter's art. The wainscotting was hung around
.vi,h ri"les, shot-guns of several sizes and calibres, rods of all sorts
,nd dimensions', from the huge eighteen-foot sahtion >od and
powerful trolling-rod for the great mascalonge and pickerel ot
the lakes, to the neatest and lightest single handed trout-rod,
built especiallv for the use of the smallest mountain streams;
with landing-nets and gatTs of new construction, and Indian pipes
and paddles, and fish-spears, interspersed, swinging from tK- deer
antlers atVixed at intervals along the cornice, festooned with
Indian-tanned hides of the deer, the wolf, the cougar and the
loup cervier, none of them, even at that day, rare or unfrequenl
visitants of those rude and thinly populated districts. I wo glass-
fronted corner cupboards in the upper angles of the rootn d.^
played, the one a beautiful assortment of lines, bottoms, loot-
links, hanks nf salmon-gut, reels, winches, hooks of every lorm
and dcscripiion, bait-kettles, creels and a complete assortment ot
costly feathers, furs, silks, gold and silver twists, and all the

84

AAfOAf. THE hfOrSTAI.\^<

necessaries lor flv-inaki,.« ; the other a show of all the sportsiiia.i
can require for shooting;, v hether upland or lowland, mountain
or forest, field or fen, sea or river, which wouki not have been
overlooked in Cooper's m ,^t perfect showcases; four massive
settles of the same fashion and material as the table, with d.xT-
skin cushions, completed the furniture of this primitive but
pleasant and characteri-tic apartment.

The door to the left fjave admission to a siltins-room of the
same si/e and corresponding furniture, with tlie exception that,
i,.stead of arms, anlkrs and furry tapestries, its varnished hui
unpainted walls were adorned by some tine engravings from
Landseer and bv two sets of well-filled book-shelves, one one.ich
side of the great fire place, in which blazed, not unpleasant, even
at that season, in that wild spot, among those bleak and chill)
mountains, a merry fire of pine knots and rock-maple. 'I'wo
double settles, one on each side the fire, four cushioned arm-
chairs, two tables, one in the centre spread with a white cloth and
laid with three covers, and one beneath the end window— for
this room possessed two— cosered with books, writing materials,
a che-sboard and a few knick-knacks and ornamental articles;
we will add a noble jet-black beu. skin, playing the part of hearth-
rug, ,..d the tale is told of the decorements-as Caleb Haider
stone would have called them— of the mIou of Cotton's Cabin.

It wa- not into this, however, that Lancelot led the wav ; but
ihrowing open the right-hand door from the hall, •' I am sure,
Frank," he -^aid. " after your burning race at the tail of the Krie
te.i-kettle and your long pull up the Catasauqua, you would
rather have a cool bath than anything else, while the cool
drink is getting ready. So voila on,- common sleeping-room.
tv»W the bathing-tub,"— pointing to a huge cedar tub, sparklin-
with almost ice-cold water,— " and here comes .Scipio .\fricanu-.
bearing your trap>. So now to make yourself presentable «ith
what speed you will, and then to supper, or dinner, if you like
it better, with what appetite you may. And now as to the cool
drink, will you London porter, will you cider-cup, will you
sherry, will you claret.?— the ardent we eschew, save in the fish-
ing-flasks, as an antidote to wet feet, chills and fever and such

open
But li(

■TA/.\'S.

liowotall Uie spiirtMiiaii
id or lowland, mountain
ill wouki not have bocn
howcases; four massive
1 as tlic table, with dcer-
.' of this primitive but

1 to a sitting-room of the
with the exception llial,
;stries, its varnished hui
ic fine engravings from
)ook-shelves, one on each
zed, not unpleasant, even
:t those bleak and ehill\
5 ami rock-maple. 'l"wo
ire, four cushiomii arm-
■ad with a wliite cloth and
,th the end window— for

books, writing materials,
and ornamental articles;
playing the part of hearlh-
ments— as Caleb Haider
uiloii of Cotton's Cabin.
..ancelot led the wav ; but
im Ihe hall, " I am sure,
ice at the tail of the Kvie
; Catasauqua, you would
ling else, while the cool

cominon sleeping-room,
luge cedar tub, sparklinn

comes .Seipio Africanu-^.

yourself presentable with

iper, or dinner, if you like

And now as to the cool

you cider-cup, will you
; eschew, save in the fish
:hill8 and fever and such

A^fOX<i THE MOrNTAIXS.

8,S

l,lest appendages of the time, the place and the profesBion.

What sav vou."'

'■ Cider'cu].," replied Frank, briefly, who had already extr.-
ruled a change of habiliments from his crammed valise, and
divested himself of his dusty jacket; and with the words, ■' I'll
see to it myself," his hospitable host left the chaml.er, loUowed
hv the conqueror of Hannibal, showing his ivories Iron, ear to
ear, and chuckling to himself at he knew not what. MeanwlnU.
Frank, though he applied himself with all due diligence to the
renovation of his person, curiously observed this mountain l»ed-
chamber, and examined all its apparatus; for, wanderer as he
was, and acquainted, 1 ke Ulysses of old, " with the cities and the
ways of many mortals," yet of a verity, like of Ibis, at home or
abroad, far or near, never had he seen.

Like the sitting-room, of which he had caught a glimpse
through the open door, this chamber had two windows, one over-
looking the basin of the main river, in front, one looking trom
the east end, through the hemlock grove, toward the " Clatlering
Creek," one of the cataracts of which could be seen among the
evergreens, glancing like a pillar of snow through the shadow.s.
Like" that also, opposite to the front window, this had a wide,
open fire-place, with a few brands smouldering on the hearth.
Hut herewith all similarity to that or any other room Frank had
ever seen, disappeared.

Beds, properly so called, there were none; but, in lieu thereot,
two oblong boxes of pine wood, about six feet, or a little over, in
length, by three in breadth, heaped to a foot above the brim, with
■ui hiviting white pillow, and a .t^d Tartan plaid by way ot coverlet,
occupied the two spaces on each side of the fire; and one, in all
respects similar, ran across the front of the room, with its foot
toward the door, occupying nearly two-thirds of the area ot the
chamber. To make up for this occupation of space, two massive
slabs under the windows projected over the foot of two beds, one
supporting three basins, ewers and washing apparatus comp etc,
and the other a toilet-glass, razors, brushes and combs and all the
needfuls tor a gentleman's uprising. .\bove the head ol each
bed an angular cupboard, supported on brackets, at tour teet
from the ground, was ready to receive the occupant's wardrobe;

T-

86

AA/Om.' THE htOUNTAlNS.

a tanne-J deerskin for a foot-clotli ami a fmir-legged stool to each.
Such was the bed-chamber of Cotton's Cabin.

lUitsuch passing' observation, tor Frank's inqiiirin^r mind, \v;i
insiitVicient; it struck his eye, at once, tliat the garniture ol" the
beds spoke little of feather-bed, hair-mattress, Whitney blankels
or down-sluiTcd coverlets, wherefore see he must, before sleepini^.
'I'o the britn, or, by'r lady! a little above the brim of the bunks.
])erbaps two feet in depth, were piled the soft and feathery tips of
the fra.t,'rant hemlock, with the stems downward, layer above
layer, the softest and balmiest bed on which ever reclined weary
hunter. Above these was spread a tanned deerskin with the
hair downward, sheets ol the cleanest but the coarses* linen,
Rcenteil with the *vild herbs on which they had been blenvhed,
and over all the warm and beautiful hill-plaid, the quaint bi.:
lavorite wear of the eccentric but warm-hearted owner of the
cabin. Scarcely had Frank completed bis survey, when Lance-
lot made his entree, followed by AlVicanus bearing an oaken
salver, on which was a mighty pewter tankard, burnished till it
shone like silver. It was fdled— I commend it to you, noble
reader, as the best and most cooling of summer beverages— with
a quart of sound last year's cider from the cask, a half pint of
brown sherry, a modicum of white sugar and one slice of lemon.
The surface was brown as maiiogany with grated nuttreg, and
thereon floated a bunch of thyine, summer-savory and sweet-
basil, bobbing about among great lumps of ice, glittering and
lucent as the diamonds of Golconda.

" Was hael, Frank Forester," exclaimed the host, raising the
tankard to his lips, not merely in ceremonial hospitality, as was
seen by the length of the pull which followed, and then handing
it to his guest.

" Drink hael. Sir Lancelot," elevating the tankard more and
more, till its bottom corresponded to the plane of the horizon,
and then lowering it with a grateful " A— h ! that does a fellow
good when he was as thirsty as I was just now. But how's this,
Sir Lancelot.' Is not this shabby treatment .oward Wall street—
or don't the broker drink?"

"Only brandy," replied Langdale, glancing round to see that
the door was shut. " Nothing stronger than that, nor anything

see ;
knov
Is nc

sbor
dete

"1

/TA/.VS.

fDiir-leggcii stool toeacli
'ahin.

ink's in{|iiii ing mind, wii
hat the garniture of tlu-
ittress, Whitney blankets
he nuist, before sleeping;
e the brim of the bunks,
e soft and feathery tips of
downward, layer above
,liich ever reelined weary
nned deer skin, with the
; but the coarses*^ linen,
they had been blea^ heel,
hill-plaid, the quaint bu:
rm-hearted owner of the
his survey, when Lanee-
icanus bearing an oaken
tankard, burnished till it
)mmend it to you, noble
summer beverages — with
11 the cask, a half pint of
[ir and one slice of lemon,
with grated nutireg, and
immer-savory and sweet-
ips of ice, glittering and

med the host, raising the
nonial hospitality, as was
illowed, and then handing

ng the tankard more and
he plane of the horizon,
A — li ! that does a fellow
just now. But how's this,
inent ..oward Wall street-
glancing round to see that
.•r than that, nor anything

A}/oxi. tuf. movntaixs. ^7

,nueb weaker, I fancy. lie was afraid, it seems, he should fuul
nothing lit to drink up here among the mountains, ,o be brought
„|, a gallon of old Otard, which, seeing that 1 drink it not, be
has well nigh consumed to his own cheek. 1 c.mfess, 1 look lo
its going with some interest, surmising that, it gone, he wdl go

soon afterward." ,

"A most considerate and delicate broker," returned I'rank,

laughing.

-. lint for heaven's sake, Frank, not a word about \N all street
,„. brokers before bitn. In the fust place, because I don't know,
lor certain, that he comes from the one or rv the other. In the
secon.', because, though a bit of an ass, he is not a bad lellow,
„ul brout'hl me a recommend fron> a capital good on.-. In the
third, because if he plead guilty of both, it may be no lault ot
his that he hang out in a den of thieves and pursues a d.rty
,.,|li„.,_it mav be he can dwell nowhere, and do nothing, else.
And in the fourth, especially, because he is under my root, what-
ever he nuiy be, and must neither be iiniz/ed nor roasted, lar less

artVonted."

" A second Tianiel," Frank answered, with a mock .beisance.
''I never roast or quizz anybody, much less mulls in my nvn
friends' bouses. Nor do 1 admire brokers so much tha. I lov. to
talk either to them or about them. In this case I wdl esc.ew
the word break altogether; I .vill Iradurc my rod, should, v hich
the gods forefend, such calamity fall out; rend my line; rackmy
•nit, /«vmy hooks; and, should occasion be, /'«":r '"-. hang the
U.e head of any who shall deserve it; but devil c thing will I
break, no! not even silence, if I cannot do so without say.ng

"broke." . , ,

"Weill well'" said Lancelot, "come along, you are riggeii, i

see; and dinner, such as it is, is ready. And you shall be made

known in due form to Mr. 1>. St. Clair Robins, of New York.

Is not that high.'"

" Immense. Wl-.at does P. stand for.'"

"Peleg, I lancy. But he calls himself St, Clair only; lor

shortness, I suppose. In his signatures, however, out comes the

detested P."

And, therewithal, passing across the little hall, and entering

AMONG THE MOlhXTMXS

-i:

88

into the sole Mt.in« room, which .orvea tl.c compan, ior lihran

tion.a pcrM.nabK' r.«ur.' --'"gl^. elaborate- "' ^voU o Ic.l h - i

and-casy sportsman's .cc-d like this. r.aa,n« I u; last n.nubcr
. TlH- Spirit," in the red li«ht of the jolly vvood .., e.

..p.. e.ter. let me make you acquahUed w.h my muul, M.
St. Clair Robins; Mr. Robins, this U FranU Koreste, ; you we„
lookiuL' over one of his books last ni«ht.

S thev bowed, and shook lumds and were nu.uall) char... d
.„■ luse'; neither of them caring a s.,ap of h s hn.er whet ■
;„. other .ere erucined before breakfast; and, that duty do.u ,
Frank turned reproachfully to his h.end-

.. HI tn Brulr he .aid ; " at least f.o.n you. I expected r.o.
,Ui. outrage. Among these unutterable hills and unpronounce.
^^r^er' where iew read and none wr.te, I did hope to sn.k
;t.abo,ninable shop. Here, at leas,. I had hoped to escape the

'"llere Mr St. Clair Robins looked at our friend wistfully and
then at Lancelot doubtfully, as if hesitating whether he was

crazv or in his cups. . i.>,.„,,i. j

But Lancelot laughed and inquired.-'What e.n.n.es, l-ank.

Mr. Robins imagines you see 4««Xr.s/" ,„„a,,.

.. Pardon me, Mr. Robn.s, I never have been so unfor u a
as to enjoy,/./. /..; and even if I ^^ "^^^^ ''^'^ "^^
.,fr-dd of ; 11 the serpent tribe, I an> sure .t >8 ..ot they whom
;;::';have seen, 'sol welcome snakes, save ^^^^^^^
ers alone. From the least wrigj^lh.g dealer ... cheap obsccn.t
:Vhe vast baronial constrictors, who. s.alU.wing authors, vo, .
,eir torrents of folios; these are the terrors ot the poo. pe-
nman's waking hours, the tortures o. his fevensh d™- 'e
had hoped, fondlv but fruitlessly, to hear o. no books l^ut fl,
Lks, .u booU-.nakers unless on the Leger and the Derby an
,o> o, n.v ih-st visit into this ,nost inhospitable cab.n-th.
now! stop that, Lancelot; I foresee in the curl of vour hp^ a,
:ilusion to Uncle Tom!-n,y appetite is taken -;y ^^^-f,
allusions to my miserable tr.ade of grinding gamn.on to fill the
..Halt, there!" interrupted Lancelot, ''we-ll .ee about the

appcfil

presei

now-
seasc
have

VTA/JVS

lliL' company l'«r lil"''"'>'
object of their conver-<a
jratc of well oilcil bfiiia
lely (gotten up for ii fno
iciini; ttu' last iiuinbcr oi
Iv wooil flic.

iiua \vitl> my fiiftul, Ml
I'raiiU Forester ; you were

it."

il wfre imiliuilly chiuiiieil,
mi) of bis fitter wbellur
fast, aiul, iliat iluly done.

id—

from you, I expected not

)le liills and uiipronounce-

Nvrite, 1 did liop" '" *'"'^

, I b;id lioped to escape tbe

at our friend wistfully and
iesttatinf< whether he was

.tl_-'\Vhat enemies, Frank?

have been so unfortunate
liad, tliougli beiny terribl\
,ure it is not they whom I
.kes! save me troin publisb-
ir .lealer in cheap obscenity
). swallowing authors, voniil
he terrors of the poor pen-

his feverish dreams. Here
o hear of no books but fly-
,e Leger and the Derby, and
it inhospitable cabin— there

in the curl of your lip, an
elite is taken away by base

inding gammon to fill the—
celot, "we'll see about the

A}f<>\'(. THE MOV \'TM.\S

8y

appetite before we proceed, for I observe that Scipio has done his
,lutv ; how, it rests to be iteen."

.So thev seated themselves cosily round ti^e small rouru table
.bereon appeared but a single dish, Hanked by a P>«'- ;- ^^
,,.nu,ns, a decanter of sherry and a Ion, cork-m he la. o tu
r,re tiashed a porter-bottle and at .St. Clair Uobms' ngh. h.uul Ins
favorite cogniae stood sentry over his plate. , . ,. ,

.•No soup. Frank," said Lancelot, uncovering us dish
whereon reclined, on a neat white napkin, so exc,u.s,tely broiled
tbat all the fair freshness of their silvery armor, sanguine
spotted, all the innocent tri-color of their resplendent fins, was
preserved intact, two lordlvbrook-trout. ,.,,-.

..Tbree-pounders, by tlie Lord Harry!" exclaimed !• rank,
almost bounding from his seat.

.'Good bov. Frank," replied his host approvmgly. Two,
nrteen ounces" and a half, this fellow," tapping the largest with
,be fi.hknife, '-and the little one about an ounce lighter; but
the little chap .ought the harder tight Did he not, Mi • ^" ;;;;;^

.. Nearlv five minutes longer, I reckon, answered the S oiku.
•^ Now tha't's a capital good trout, a'most as good as ours on the

'''""you don't see manv so heavy fish as those on the Island,
now.a.days, Mr. Robins " interposed Frank, " two or three .n a
season at best. The general run is getting small, I h, ,.r, tor
have not fished there many a year." . . ., . .

.. Well I can't sav," replied Robins; which was strictly true
for he had never wet" a line in his life in any of those beautifu

„d now strictlv preserved waters, though, like -any otheis
L townsmen, he was very fond of talking about L. . S.,edeco,s
and .Sam Cainans. '• Have you thetn as fine in England?

.. Our trout in England, in my day, were much larger, but
,nuch fewer in number and much shyer. A five,.ounder was no
wonder then, and who would not rather take two or three brace
of such than ten or twelve do^en haU" pounders-sometimes a
monster is taken; one on record, caught in.tlie Rennet or the
Avon, above twentv pounds; and equally large hsh have been
caught in the Ulackwater, in Ireland. Thatnes trout rarely run
less than five or over ten pounds ; but they are rare and solitary fish

J

f)0 hUOVa THE MOVSIMXS.

I!ui a fricKl, wlm ti,l.ocl all (irciU Hritain la.t year, idU xw tliiu
except in close vvnterH, wluch l.e ai.l not try, the trout arc vt-ry
numerous ln.( .xc.e.linnl v ^n.all, owln^', no doubt, to the xvatu,
hciutf over.tishcd. Another slice, Mr. Lancelot, an.l if you sa.^
sherry, I say ^lierrv too. What say you, Mr Roh.n^?"
" Allow nie to tak.' niv branilyanilwater to your sherry.
•' How iihout the appetite, I'raiiK.'"

" Pshaw! what have trout to do with rppetile.> Anylxuiy can
eat trout at any time; t- catch them', the ihiuK. Have you ■
fair sprinkling ot sudi as tiiese lierc.'

.'There are nlwnvH two or three l>race in the pool and ;i
sprinkliuK i" all the hasins down the Cul:i-auiiua, a.ul 1 have all
the lishint; to n.vself, no sportsmen hnvinij c<>//««e,/ as yet, except
for a llvinK visit", to the,e rude regions. There are smne very
lar«e lisl> in the deeps of the Delaware, at the tails ol the eddte,
but ..o one will believe it, because they cannot he taken by bait at
all, nor bv a fly, except at ,noonli,'ht; and I am not .anx.ous to
,,ersuade"them about it. I .nean that we two should «o down
when the moon is lull and have a dash at then,. Stony Urook
has some Kood pools, hut the fish run smaller; a pouttd-and-a-
halfer is a biK otie, atul the average is not above three.iuarters.
Mr Robins had K'>od sport this morning, up it."

"Twentv one ftsh-einhteen pounds in all," said that wortny
complacently ; " hut it's the deuce and all on tackle."

"Full ot fallen trees and logs?" asked Frank. " I hey are the

deuce sometimes."

"No "replied Lancelot, "a beautiful gravel bottom, with
swift'ed'dies and tuce whirling holes; here and there a fall ot
two or three teet, and here a glancing rapid over rock It .s the
branches overltead that bother Mr. Robins. The brook is wholly
overarched, and it ,-s ditllcult to one who is not used to it.

" T believe you, it is," said Robins. " Why, I broke three ol
Conroy's best tips, and carried away I don't know how many

leaders." ,,

" Ah! that's baJ. liu* you got a nice creel-full, alter all. Uo

vou use fly?" ,, ,

" No, .wr; I stick to the good old-fashioned worm. Hut you

won't try a glass, ot .my Otard?"

UNTA/XS

tain last year, iflU mi' tliiii
not tiy, the trout art- very
iiiL;, lu) iloiibt, to tlic \vatirt> |
Ir. Lancflot, \\\\<\ if yoii kuv
you, Mr Robins?"
ilwatiT to your slierry."

■ith nppflile? Anylxuly fH"
\ the thhig. Have you u
>

e brace in tlie |iool anil a
Cul;ifnuiiua, ami 1 have u
lavin;^ cottoned an yet, exei'|)l
>ns. 'There are some very
re, 111 the tails of the eddies,
ev cannot be taken by bait at
;; and 1 am not anxious to
Ult we two should j^o down
ash at Ihein. Stony Mrook
un smaller; a pound-aiid-a
is not above three (juarlers.
•ning, up it."

nds in all," said that wortny
and all on tackle."
asked Frank. "They are the

eautiful gravel bottom, with
)les; here and there a fall of
ii» rapid over rock. It is the
Robins. The brook is wholly
; who is not used to it."
ins. " Why, I broke three oi
ray I don't know how many

a nice creel-full, after all. Do

Id-fashioned worm. Hut you

IMAGE EVALUATION
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Sciences
Corporation

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, NY. 14580

(716) 872-4503

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microfiches.

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1

AMONG THE MOUXTAJNS.

91

"Thank you. I'll pledge you in a stoup of Sir Lnncelol's
Bordeaux; it used to be wortli tasting."

" It is still, Frank ; nearlv the last that is left of the old Sneyd
and Barton. Now, Master Scii.io, what else have you got for

" Pigeon-p''-'. ^I'"^^'' Langdale, and broil' ducks. Mus' git on
ui' dat Massa"— turning a deprecating glance to Frank. " Berry
little ga.ne in de woods now-berry little Massa let me kill, any

liow."

"Pigeon-pie and broiled ducks! I should a^ soon have
expected turhot and lobster-sauce or larded sweet-breads."

" Scipio has only realized the poet's fancy; ' he has found out
a gift for his fair, he has found where the wood-pigeons breed,'"
said Langdale; " and, as for the ducks, they are only four ol a
brood of unfortunate Happer sutnmer-ducks, which I came across
in a little tarn in the middle of a cranberry marsh, which is, in
fact, the source of the ' Stony Brook.' I knocked these overand lelt
a couple to console the anxious mother. But Scipio is quite right;
this is the worst time of the year in wliich for me ;n entertam;
for you m-.-st know we get mighty little butcher's meal here.
Our rods and guns, backed by the pork-barrel, feed us, in the
main. A mouth or two later, I could have given you venison,
ruffed grouse, and, by chance, a turkey or bear- meat. Now the
devil an ounce will you get, unless it be a venison or bear ham.
I believe I'll send Scip. over the hills, one of these days, to
Lanesboro', to s.v if he can't hunt us up a lamb or two."

"You havt a road, then, to some civili/ed resort of man.'"
" If you call it a road. It is the wildest, rocky wood-path,
impassable to anvthing less sure-footed than a Pyrenean mule, or
old, ragged 'Mohawk' yonder. It scales the ridge seven hundred
feet above this, crosses the head of the Clattering Creek on two
pine logs laid side by side, threads an intricate cranberry marsh,
and comes down a regular rock staircase into the ^u.rge of the
' Starucca,' and so fifteen miles off into Lanesboro'."

"And this 'Clattering Creek,' what sort of water is it."
asked Frank; "that I may learn at once the whole lay of the

land."

" A real mountain burn."

.1

92

AMOm. THE MOUNTAINS.

.. r,n t..inUi,„or tryin, it myself -^^^^^^^ ^^ ^,
..Mr Lansdale t.Us me it can only lu- fished vv.t, ba , a.
U.t..Jr.l3e.at. Besides there a. b,^^fi^..

.' Hut fewer " answered Langdale. '• No, Kobins i c

No, no, rLpiic ^^j^,^^^. ,,^^.

^''"■. W,;X"».1..nS U ", I-.«c=.o.r ».^e.. l•,■.n..^

., ,.„„lv wl... .hat c„pl.al ,por..n,.n, Col.|..l.oo.. o 1- •
a„c'iSu'.,;. .KC.n.». booU,,l,. Moor and ,..,=b. ...-Cr
title of the Moorburn." .u„t>"

"'^i ...member," replied Frank. '< Is it as bad - t^ •'

.. Worse; but the tish much larger. I have caught the... up

to two pounds." , J •. . me'"

u 1 should like to hear about that. L an't you -ead .t to me.
asked the Wall-street man, eager for information^

I I've no objection." said Langdale, •' if Frank has not. He
has read it fifty times already." ^.^ ^^.^^

.' I'm convenient," answered Frank, laying uo
and fork, the last duck having disappeared.

>. Well, then, here goes. Now, Scp.o ^o"'' d'^*;; ^^

awav the table; bring us our pipes and coffee; and then we

"^•^d^::r:r^r^C:::S:'aaer tummg ov. a .w
question, with us pcig<- This done he ensconced

:;irL^?:::r.7.:::n:«o:rLM.,.».™a.a.

'°"-Tn mo,, of ...= .n..» HigWanJ fur..., .1.="- » •"""•'"
pass, The greater proportion of picturesque

UNTAlNS.

( toinornnv," said Robin-^.
ly he fisheil with bait, and
ere are bigger fish in it.'
... '• No, Robins, IM advise
n.'ll try a cast of the fly Willi

auqua."

■ indignantly, " none of your
But why do you advise me
ees, bait- fishing and big fish.

„d the most ditVicult fishing

)t.'" asked Frank.

•rtsman, Colquhoon of Kuss,

, Moor and I-och, under the

" Is it as bad as that.'"

rer. I have caught tlie..i up

AMON(< THE \rOUNTArXS.

')?,

at. Can't you read it to me?"

or information.

dale, " if rrank has not.

He

Frank, laying down his knife

appeared.

kv, Scipio, look alive and clear

sandcoflfee; and then we'll to

.reak."

and, after turning over a few
, brought down the volume in
lined, and interlined, and filled
n-es. This done, he ensconced
;hrew on a fresh log, and read as

,land burns, there is a succession

irapet of rock rising perpendicu-

-cely footing enough for a dog to

picturesque-looking brethren ol

,|,c angle uould almost start at the idea of euntmum- then
pasting- under such disadvantages -riuy therefore .nake a
,ireuit and o.me down again upon the burn, where .t is nu.ie
easv to fish, .nd the ground le.s rugged. The trout in these
places are thus left till many of them grow large, and eaeli taking
possession of a favorite nook, drives all the smaller Iry away.
■1-he ditV.cultv of reaching these places is,! admit, otten ,i;real
thean..ler having sometimes to scramble up on his hands and
knees.'covered with wet moss or gravel, and then drag his lishmg
rod after him. These lyns should always b. fished up stream,
otherwise the mon.ent vou appear at the top of the waterlall o>
,ock the trout are very like to see you, and slink into their
hiding-plaee. The burn, however, must always be low, as at no
other time cat. vou distinguish the snug retreat of these httlc
tvrants, which indeed they often leave, during the slightest fiood,
in search of prey. Uv fishing up the stream, your head will be
on a level with tlie dilVerent eddies and pools, as they successively
present themselves, and the rest of your person out ol sight.
Hold the baited hook with the left hand, jerking out the rod,
under-handed, with your right, so as to make the bait (all sottly
at the lower end of the pool. The trout always take the.r
station either tluMe or at the top where the water fiows in, ready
topoun.:e on worms, snails, slugs, etc., as they enter or leave the
pool .Should a trout seize the bait, a little time may be g.ven to
allow it to gorge, whicl' •' will most likely do without much cer-
emonv. If large, care mu,. be taken to prevent it trom gettmg
to the Lop of the lyn, which may probably harbor another
expectant. The best plan is, if possible, to persuade it to descend
into the pool below. 1 laving deposited the half-pounder in your
creel you will now crawl upon hands and knees, just so
near the top ol the Ivn as will enable you to drop the bait imme-
diately below the bubbling foam, nearly as favorite a station tor
an overgrown, monopolizing trout as the other. Except in such
situations, the burn trout seldom exceeds a quarter ol a pound
and may be pulled o... with single gut, without much risk of
breaking it. In these Ivns, however, I have occasionally taken
them upward of a pound, which is easily accounted for. As
soon as the trout grows to a suflicient si>ce to intimidate his

94 A.UONd THE MOUNTAINS.

pi-i„.v iieiKhbors, he falls back into the best pool for feediiiK, nol
.Hxupietl by a ^reakT giant tban himself, and as these lyns arc
almost alwavs in precipices very ilirticult of access, he remains
undistiirbeiland alone, or with a single companion, driving all
others away, until he may at last attain to a pound weight.' "

"Now, I fear, brother angler, that you are in some respect-
what the indefatigable (Jael would call a 'picturesque angler'; so
1 .advise you in good faith, stick to the 'Stony Brook'; fish it IVoni
the long fall carefully down. Scipio shall attend you with the
landing-net and plenty of worms and minnows; the last, hooke.l
through the lip and back tin, will do you yeoman service in the
lower pools; and Frank and I will join you in the afternoon."

" Agreed," said Mr. Robins; " I'll take your advice, I believe;
and now I guess I'll turn in. (iood night."

" -l-ime, too," said Frank, "aughing. " He was beginning to get
a little white about the gills. Could that be his old Ot.ird; he
did not drink so much of it."

'■ Lord help you, no! he'd drink a gallon of itand no hurt. No!
Bu' he will persist in smokmg Cavendish tolwcco and kinnikin-
nic, lu-cause he has seen me do it, and, I believe, imagines that
it confers some special powers of trout-catching. Bat come,
suppose we turn in, too; you'll be tired after your journey, and
a good night's rest will give a steady liand and clear eye to-

morrow."

" I'oloiltirrs."

.So thev incontiiieutly joined the Wall street man, who
declared, half asleep, that the bed was not so very bad, after all;
while Frank, once ensconced in t!ie fragrant sheets, swore, by the
•neat god Fan, patron of hunters, that never had bed so sweet, so
soft, so warm, in every way so excellent, received the limbs of
weary hunter. And so, indeed, it proved; for, until Scipio made
his entree, with his announcement, "Breakfast soon he ready,
Massa; sun he'm 'mose up now," no one stirred or spoke during
the livelong night.

Thereon thev all turned, like the Iron Duke, not over, but out.
Their sporting toilets were soon made ; but Frank and Lancelot,
in their old shepherd's plaid jackets and trews and hob-nailed
fishing shoes, could not but exchange glances and smiles at the

elal

Wlli

hoc
the
col
del
grc
tbi
Chi
ha
tri
in<
wc

bu
wi
hii
fii
ot

CO

th

bl
is
'1'

t^A^r.i//V.s'.

he best pool for feeding;, not
nself, and as these lyns are
Vicult of access, he remains
n,i;lc companion, driving all
ain to a pound weight.' "
it you are in some respects
all a 'pictinesque angler'; so
e 'Stony Hrook' ; fish it IVoni

0 shall attend you witli the
il minnows; the last, hooke.l

you veoman service in the
oin you in the afternoon."
11 take your advice, I believe;

night."
ng. "He was beginning to get
d that be bis old Otard ; be

1 gallon of it and no hurt. No!
endish tobacco and kinnikin-

and, I believe, imagines that
f trout-catching. Uut come,
tired after your journey, and
eadv band and clear eye to-

the Wall street man, who
was not so very bad, after all;
J fragrant sheets, swore, by the
that never had bed so sweet, so
xcellent, received the limbs of
proved; for, until Scipio made
nt, "Breakfast soon be ready,
lo one stirred or spoke during

le Iron Duke, not over, but out.
lade ; but Frank and Lancelot,
ets and trews and hob-nailed
nge glances and smiles at the

AMONd THE AforXTA/yS.

')S

elaborate rig of their friend, which some IJroadwav nrtisi had, if
was evident, eUiborated from a Parisian fashionplale-lbe high
boots of exquisitely enameled leather, the fine doeskin trousers,
the manv-iiocketed, pear-buttoned M.ooting jacket ot lawn-
colored silk plusb, tlie batiste neckerchief and waistcoat, point
device, with green and silver fishes embroidered on a blue
ground, and, to complete the whole, a cavalier bat, in which, but
that it lacked the king's black feather, Rupert might well bavc
charged at Marston Moor or Naseby. He seemed, however, so
bappv, that it would have been as useless as ill natured to indot--
trinate him; for evidently, as an angler, the man was hopelessly
incurable, ibougb, as Frank observed, for Wall street, lie was

wonderfully decent.

His weapon was a right good Conroy's general-fishing roi,,
but without reel, and having its line, an unusually stout silk one,
with a superb salmon-gu» nittom, which in good bands would
have held a twenty pounder, made carefully fast to the top
funnel ; eschewing all use of the riiig.s and destroying all chance
of the rod's reu'ularly bending to its work. JJut again, to
counsel would but have been to ollend; so our friends iield

their peace.

The smoked venison bam, broiled troutlings, dry toast and
black tea, which furnished their morning meal, were soon fin-
ished; and forth Ibey went into the delicious, breezy air of the
quiet 'summer morning, not a sound disturbing the solitude,
except che plash and rippling of the rapid waters, the low voices
of the never-silent pine tops and the twittering of the swallows,
as tbev skimmed the limpid pool.

Up the gorge of the Stony Hrook, followed by Scipio, with
bait of all kinds enough to have kept the kraken fat tor one day
at least, a large creel at his back and gaff and landing net in band,
away went St. Clair Uobins, gay and joyous and confident; and
tiien, but net till then quoth Forester—
" And whither we.'"

" To the other side of the pool. You may see the big fisli

sing under the alders, there, in the shadow of the big hill, from

this distance. That shadow will bang there till noon, while al!

this side of the basin will be in blazing sunshine. Not a fish

96

A MOX(. Iffli ^f<^ ' '■'^' '^'^ ^■^^''■

.. i„ ,, U. ,,...,,., .arnuun^e. till .h..e«'cocUw,U.c in
ou.- basket UK.,v.ith ,00.. ones, certa.n. 1 .-e >- "^ -
pool lies under that rounc.-l.eaded stone ,u- -n tl, ta ot t
strong eddy, .l.ere the 'C'lat.. ing Creek" e<.,.es„ , ,n th , k
.a,e' 1 ;..e l.in. a slx,.ounder, and have ;--"->'
,he snrinu'. As s„„n as tin- sun turns vvestvvard, and the hem
locks' shadows cross the \vh.te xvatei, )( .„ >r..with the

then vs.Ml away to the Wall street man;' a.>d therewith llu

.,n,e .i^her I haye killed well with middle s.ed .and, Uk ■
Hies- but mv favorites, on the whole, are all the r.d, blown
!;;:, ':nd ;eUow hacklcs, and the blue and yellow duns And

'"^My .ayorite of all is a snipe aether and nun.se bodv ; next to
that the black and the furnace hackles."

.' And you will use them to-da.y?"

. , ,vill ; the snipe wing for my stretcher. I .nean to k>ll tac
big chap with him this eyening."

•' V,p it so! to work.''

A ul o »o.k .1.0V ...... b.... .l.o,.»l. ...o.. gU..i-.« ''" -1-

„, :;, „. ..... ;„ .« ^";r:^^r:::>'^ '::t 1;.

described is as little interostmi.; as to cieseiioe

S , .0 «v, ,1,... l.ero.. .1.C ..... !.».• »..»»„ .0 >»■"-•-'<':

the white water.

in

l„i-L' o'clock, while we'll fill
-tain. T.ie best fish in the
tone, juht in the tail of tlu'
'reek' copies in, in the broken
111 have saved him for you all
rn-^ westward, and the hem-
Ucr, you shall kill him, and
,t man;" and therewith the
dleil ^-ently over to the shady
,t twenty-foot water, and thin,
reels t^ecured and the lines
following colloiiuy followed:
here. Lancelot?" asked Frank.
11," answered Langdale. " I"
vith middle-sized gaudy lake-
,hole, are all the red, brown,
e blue and yellow dun. And

ather and mouse body ; next to
kles."

■?"
stretcher. I mean to kill the

hough most glorious the sport
med gnostically, to read of it

as to describe it is difficult,
un had begun to turn westward,
airly brought to basket by our

a halfer, three two pounders,
luler a pound-all smaller were

V tew so small as lUat, all beau-
-headed, high in color, prime i.i

V paddled leisurely back to the
it of bread and a glass of sherry,
hemlock's shadow bhould be on

AMOX(. THE AfOl XT.UXS.

97

Atthemo.nent.tlKV wrre there; and 1»! the big trout was
feeding fiercilv on the natural lly.

- lie rea.lyi frank, and when next he rises droi> your lly nghl
in the middle of hi- bell."' .

.' He easy, 1 mean it." His line, as he spoke, was describing
,n easv eire'le around his head; the fish rose not. The -econd
r.volu.ion .ueeeede.!; the great trout ro.e, nuss.d his objeet, dis-
appeared ;and,<,n iheinaani, right in the cen're of the bell, ere the
inm.,s. circle had .ubsuled, the ^nipe feather fel' and lluttered.
With an arr..wv rush, the monster rose, and as hi. broad t„l -how-
c., abo-e the surface, the merry mu ic of the resonant click-reel
told that Frank had him. W.W struck, he was better played,
killed unexeeptionab.N ; in Ihuteeu minutes he lay tluttering on
the greensward, lacking tour ounces, a six pounder. 1 he snipe
feather and mouse body won the day in a canter. .So oil they
started, up the Stony I'.rook, to admire the feats of I'. St. Clan
Kobins. It was not long ere they found him; he had reached
the lower waters of the brook, lull of beautiful scours, eddies,
whirlpools and basins, and was fishing quietly down it, wadmg
about knee deep, with his bait-he was roving with a minnow-
some ten yards down the stream, playing naturally enoug i m the
clear, swirling waters. Some trees on the bank hung thickly
over 'his head; a few yards behind him was a pretty rocky cas-
cade and above that an open upland glade, lighted up by u
gleam of the westering sun ; and, altogether, with his gay garb,
he presented quite a picturesque, if not a very sportsmarly

appearance. ,

" \fter all," said Frank, as, unseen themselves, they stood

observing him. "he does not do it so very badly as one might

have expected."

But before the words had passed his lips, a good hsh, at least
a pounder, threw itself clear out of the water and seized his min-
now In a se ond, in the twinkling of an eye, by a movement
never before se.n or contemplated by mortal ..ngler, he ran bis
right hand up to the top of t'le third joint of his rod, which he
1 -i perpendicularly aloft, and with his left grasped his line
„ao length, and essaved to drag the trout by main lorce out of
his element. The tackle was stout, the stream strong, the bottom

.iMo.v. TitK Morxr.uw

,.„'.i. .' ""'i "'■" ""'" '"' ■'■ ;: ,' :, tui. . i «"'

Ml- whs M)')n li^h<-il (>"'• "^'1" 11 • , , „ ,„.

,,-?:;::C::;;r:.;,.;-»-|^-:;'--;;.

U..V saia, ana how. in the end. Uk, M- ; ' ' ,,^, ^,

,,,„„„.ous puhlic, in the Masa.-.ncot G..iham.

Ill

any one c<;iiia Hi-e liow it xmi-
e line parted, Hio roil na-lRHl
L- next fall with a joyou- Hi' I
eHH tislu-rman— ineaMiieil lu-
ic Stonv Brook,
i-cl it. a'rv riKKiiiK. eomlorud
,K..iac ; l)v.t lie ^vouUl not W
tlK- IbllowiiiK iii"'"'"«' ""''•
„n's Cabin UcliclJ him never

,wthev fol.eil the Clatlei in-
, anil whirlpools of the C.ila^a
e broa.l reaches of the Dela-
t; anil how they feil anil what
,Jv speil, is it not written in the
appear, wheti calleil for by a
.- of Graham?

A liL. VAE A T JiA /CA'BCiA T.

I Ti. a will' .hive frotn Key I'ort, -m New York I?ay, through
I the L'reat pine v.oo.is of New jersey, to llarneuat ; at.il we were,
„„ the whole, a wililish partv who set ont on it on a dark Oecenv
,,er niKht of tS,., after the sun had set. Two wagons, w.th
brisk teiuns am) roHiekh,- drivers, carried us, our traps, our
,,rovetuler, and, last bnt not least, our heavy Butts and atntnu-

""'lollv 'Lishe •!■ u, mine host ..ahe old Paviliot, -..ever was

„.,"re a better heart, seldotn a belte, shot than thou wert, Rood

-, i,ht^ T ti! Manv a day's fun have we had in i^ood old

limes, tnanv a ni-hfs frolic, but shall ttever have any tnore; lor
tbat war.ni.earl is cold, and thou art ^one where, at least, there
is no more shooting Hut not the less for the ll,oui;ht ot what
should or miKht be, were we on that ni«ht ,ay and joyous; these

.„„, isiii T r. and one more who shall he nameless, for he

"is-worse than dead-altered, estranged, a living friend no longer
At Monmouth we stopped, bailed our t.ags with that tnnst
ran,ous of all veterans of the turf, Uncle Tom Laird, and moder-
atelv liiiuored with our friend Gentleman joev, the p.lot <^ the
nnrivalLl Fashion ;-then on, on again, through '•- ' "" «hnd-
and the tall pines, onward-until toward morning, cold, ch.llei ,.
the bone, vawning, half asleep, half awake, we stopped tn he
verv heart'of the pines, at a low-browed ways.de hostelry, w.th a
large pair of stag antlers above the door, and there warmed our

NoTK.-w,-e,. s swan -f;,;-;-:; -t:,;' :'";:,ir:::::;;;:

he,: tJe' vc named. '• The Spirif and its Eait,,--,' ...d ■• A Day w,th t^,c
r.i.>.aUe.ncapa,.■^.,...r..lathe^C.^^^^^^

::tr::.';^:::^arr3r;. .i^^i.i.. ^.. "--pe- e.cet.e.

little worl<, '• UoK and Gv.n."-KDiTo...

.1 HL.\/.i: A J liA/yMH.M ■

(till

fvlcrior, ami ifjitii-cil our intirior lunn with iDpioii- liliations i>i
hot spiiiil nini, 'iv »>uc-h a tin' an (lopDiiciil lu-ver >-rtw, -nvi' in
Ihi' |>iiu> wodils .,1 NfW Ji'isi'v, or III th.' liaikwooil- of tin

l'l'Mol)'*C(lt,

Dawn toiiiui ii- al Toin'h Uivor, anil tlii'ii, whili'lhc ii'>t of 111'
p.iitv ifvi'lli'd in yin I'oiktaiU, liic iiairator snoozi'il liixuriantiN
in a soft-arimil ihaii until l)iiMkf.i»t was on llio tahk', nor-a.
some of thr i-oiiipnnv avci roil— fairly awoUc IIkii. I"oi it is on
ri'i-oril that ii portion of tlu- ri'past— ami it was a >,'ooil om, anl
iiistii-f was ilone to it— coiisislini,' of saiisai,'i- moat, artfiil'v
sliapiii into Hat laki'h, fasliioniHl liki' pork-fhops, wilh sonim-nls
of hoiii' altathuil- -111', the narrator, i'rank. altor liMisnniiir^ si\
ami lH)lilin« out his plah- for llio si'vmith, tiuiilly ninarkuil thai
poik was vorv tiiiiliT at rom's Kivor— no pork heinj; to the fonv
Ho that as it may, ho woko hclbrc thov roaohoil HarnoKat viUano,
at noon, ami tolil ami listonoil to honio passahly «ooil yarns,
iliM ini; Iho I iilo ami lUiriiiK tho nin across the bay to I'orrino's
.Shocilor's Parailiso^-anil, as it aftorwaril appoaroil, a jjontool suiii-
nior waloriiiLjplaoo for Now Jersey fashion ami hoauly, iliniiiH
tho hathiiii; isoaKon,— in a last-KuilinB, hloop-ri^jijeil sail boat.

Tho mansion stands on a bleak, barren saml bank, beiiiK the
luaoh helweoii the ocean surf and the famous Hay of Barnegat—
not a tii'o ooulil exist on it, not a brush, not a thistle, nothinf; hiii
salt rib-f<rass, musquitocs, tiddler-crabs and sandpipers. Yet a
fashionable waterin<;-place it is and shall bo, as aforesaid, for the
brave and lair of the jerseys. Tliis fact was discovered, and
now duly recorded for tho first time, by Frank Forester, tinis:
When that worthy, havini,' tinished his supper ami his pipe,
having selecteil his boatman, the redoubted Jesse .Sprag^s, seen
to his f;uns and amiiumitioii. tilled shot pouches, powder-horns,
provision-baskets and liquor flasks, as the law directs, was on his
way to his dormitory, bo observed chalked on the door thereof, in
white char.tctors of a loot long, these hieroglyphics :

4 .S t A G s—

\\ horeat, being of an enquiring mind, he demanded an expla
nation of the chamber-/w>'— for the maid was in this instance
represented by a tow-headed, brown- visaged, guernsey-shirted,

ler

hi'l
lioi

oh
wi

an
kn
thi
im
oh

an
hi
I.i
II;

foi
wi
fu
th
of
th
Fi
th
y;i
sv
tk
di
le

ol
w

It

OI

l/i'V/t'-.l /.

inn with i.-opiini^ liliations ol
li'poncnt never i-rtw, cave in
r 111 tlio 1);u4>\v<)ihI'> dI' iIh

itul tlicn, while Uu- ii'>t «>!' Ihi'
iiinriitor Mioozi'il liixuriiintlv
t wii". nil IIh' tahio, nor— a-
Iv iiwolM' Ihin. l"i)i' it i" >'ii
-anil it was a jjooil oiu', aril
; of saii--ai,'f moat, aitl'iil'v
L' poi k-('hi)p>, with M'^mi'iiK

I'rank. alUT iDTiMiniin'^ si\.
'VL'iith, quiilly riinarkeil thai
■r — ill) piifk heinj; to the lore
ifv nachiil narni'^at villam',

Minii' |>assal)ly yooil yarn'-,
1 aiioss the buy to PcniniV
kaiii apjifarcd, a {^cnti'cl Min\-
y lasliion anil beauty, duriiin
j4, hloop-ri^'s^eil *ail boat.
, barren Kami bank, i)eiii)f the
he famous Hay ol' Harnej;at—
iisl), not a thistle, nolliiiif; hui
rabs anil sandpipers. Yet a

siiall be, as aforesaid, for the
'Ills fact was discovered, ami
ne, by l''rank l^'orester, thus:
leil bis supper and bis pipe,
edoubted Jesse Sprag^s, seen
1 shot pouches, powder-horns,
as the law directs, was on bis
L-halked on the door thereof, in
se hieroglyphics ;

mind, he demanded an expla
he maid was in this instance
wn-visaged, guernsey-shirted,

.1 Hl..\/I-. 1/ l{MiXK(,.\T

lot

ten-booted urchin of thirteen or fourteen vear». The intellim'iil
being turned on hi-, heel and pointed to the opposite door, uliiili
bore the eoi re-ponding inscription ;

4 \Vi M m I Ng I ol K .S,—

observed, with an astute grin, " We keeps 'um apart, you see,
with sepiit bathin' rooms, the gals in here, aiul the -tags In Ihar."

From which Frank liist discoveied that in South jersey all
animals of the male Rex, ipiailruped or biped, are promiscuously
known as sfdjrs; and Becoiully, that in the same literuiy region,
the symbol "4" does not represent, as i- elsewhere vainly imag
ini'd, the I'ourth numeral, but the preposition governing the
objective case.

lie made no reply, but ensconced himself in the bedclothes
and slept until three o'clock iii the morning, when, after a
hurried breakfast, they were oil" to the bay, in two squads.

Lishe T 11 and Hill T r, with two baymen, I'our Egg

Harbor pig-boats, and any given quantity of stooN, nuule tracks
for I.ovelady's Island, near the outer or upper inlet, and I'rank,
with his partner, Jesse Spraggs, and Jim Oakley, proceeded
further down the bay to the westward, wiiere they enscoiu'ed
their pig-boxes in a contiguous concave arc, in the slips dug out
of the lee side of a sedge hassock, in the following order: To
the extreme left, or windward, lay Jim Oakley; next to him
Frank's partner; then Frank; and last, not least, to the leeward,
the mighty Jesse Spraggs; while without them, at about eighteen
vards distance, rode bol)bing and ducking at their anchors, a-, the
swell lifted them and now and again broke over them, a whole
flock of wild geese— brant, broad-bills, red-beads, black ducks,
dippers and the like, deftly carved in wood and balanced with
lead, so as to skim the water duck- like.

It was deathly cold, and deathly silent, too, all save the whistle
of the wind overhead — for it blew great guns froin the northeast-
ward— and an occasional flap of the wild waves against the shore.
It was not yet sunrise, although the skies were beginning to put
on a paly yellow— and it was dead low water.

.Smoking was strictly prohibited, motion no less so — saving to
Jesse Spraggs alone, captain and lookout-man at once of the

J

,0j A liLAZE AT BARN EG AT.

con^pany. Ther-.bre, as closelv as might be under the circum
stances, we .nuggled ourselve. down, each nUo h,s own pecu
pig.box, atop of the salt hay wh.ch made our beds and undo th.
drab.colored oiled-cloth and sedge which covered our decks-
needful concealment against the keen oyes oi the fowl, untd tin
Lord and the turn of the tide should give us luck, and Jess.

.Spraegs the signal.

To tl-se who know the trick, we speak not, but to those
who Co not, a word is needed: therefore, in season, it shall be

'"'re modu. operand is this: Tl>e boat lies, with the head
sligh>'v elevated and inland, stern to the bay and the decoys. n
the boat ti.. shooter lies feet to the stern, flat on his back, w.tb
,,is jun han.lv to his grasp, ready to spring to a sitting posture
and let dnve'so soon as the fowl, coming down before the wmd,
„. the mounting tide overflows their feeding-places, and forces
them to change their ground, espy his stools and e.ther hoNU
over them or alight among them. On,- thing n,ore remams to
be stated-when the fowl, skating before the w,nd, enter the
defile, or run, as it might be called, the gauntlet, between a hue o
boats, stranded as ours were on that mornmg, and the fleet o
decoys, it is absolutely a rule that not a shot must be fired unt.l
the headmost bird has crossed the leeward shooter, and he has
t;iv.n the signa- for the volley by his .,penmg shot.

On this eventful morning, all the company, except I'rank,
shot each svith a heavy, double-barreled, fourteen-pound ten-
gauged gun. He, with two sixteen-pound single-barrels, of five
Lrl carrving each a quarter of a pound of BB; .-l-reiore they
laughed at him in the beginning-who laughed m the end this

historv relateth. ,

A^on, the sky grew amber, roseate, red; the sun ros fi ry
the wind rose with him. it grew colder. I^ rom t.me to t.me
the noisy, oft.repealed cry, ou-ou-otherly, otherly! ou-ou-otherly
\tHerly, ^t,.ri/o.ouf from a distance, told where a flock o
long-tailed ducks, the old wives of the Jersey shore, were at h.gh
jinks; but who cares for them?

I

BARNEGAT.

IS might be under the circuni-
wn, each into his own peculiar
li tnatle our lieds, and under tlu>
jre wliicli covered our declis—
keen eves of the fowl, until tlu'
ihould give us luck, and Jesse

•k, we speak not, but to those
therefore, in season, it shall be

: Tlie boat lies, with the head
n to the bay and the decoys. In
the stern, flat on his back, willi
y to spring to a sitting posture
1, coming down before the wind,
; their feeding-places, and forces
;spy his stools and either ho\er
n. Oii.' thing more remains to
iting before the wind, enter the
led, the gauntlet, between a line of
n that morning, and the fleet ol
at not a shot must be fired until
1 the leeward shooter, and he has
[)y his i.,pening shot,
all the company, except Frank,
ble-barreled, fourteen-pound, ten-
xteen-pound single-barrels, of five
)f a pound of BB; wherefore they
„g_vvho laughed in the end this

.roseate, red; the sun rose fiery,
;rew colder. From time to time
'■ou-otheyly, otherly! ou-ouotherly !
a distance, told where a flock of
;s of the Jersey shore, were at high
1?

A BLAZE AT HAi EC AT.

10%

Once, crc-iuinhcrc-cr,'-<innk-aunk-crcr, a gaggle i brani
massed us wild and high, but nought came near our stools. Noon
was appr<jaching and not a shot. We ate hard-boiled eggs, we
.jHnUficd, as Jesse calls it— we grew sulky, desperate.

"Down' every mother's son of you," came Jesse's hoarse
whisper, -Close't for the lives of you-aunk-aunk-aunke-e-
aunk!" And far to the windward, out of the clouds, came a
faint " rcmmk " in answer. Nearer and nearer it came still, as
Jesse Almost rived his throat will, the damor-nearer and
quicker, and more evidently responsive.

Now it was like a pack of hounds in full cry-now we could
hear the mighty sweep of their ei.cling pinions— and now their
crowded phalanx drove into the perilous defile, sweeping right
along over our decoys. That morning, like Nelson's crew atTralal
gar, every man did his duty, not a head was raised, not a trigger
drawn until the leading gander sailed past Jesse Spraggs, and seem-
ed doubtful whether to circle or alight. " Aunk-aunk-e-aunk ! " It
was his last honk in this world, for Jesse's concentrated charge struck
him under the pinion and he went down at a long tangent, not
striking the water within a hundred yards, and then throwing up
the spray as if a stone had cleft it. Two geese feli to his second
barrel. Then up sprang Frank, and up went his first single-
barrel— a flash— a roar! the air was full of feathers and falling
geese— five coming down instantly killed, to the shot. Before he
got up his second, something the heaviest piece, his partner and
Jim Oakley got in three barrels, one of Jim's missing, and three
geese told that their light pieces were aimed truly. But now
Frank had seized his second, and at the very moment, tor con-
fused by the close reports, lots of them wounded, and bothered
with their falling kindred, the flock were twirling upward, in a
great spiral cloud, like a waterspout— his shot could not but rake

them.

Ba-a-ng! and the distant hills re-bellowed to the roar, and
Frank, knocked clear out of his pigbox, was landed high and dry
on the sand-bank, but little cared he for that; for ere he keeled
over, he saw the air filled with birds and a smoke of feathers,

A lil.A'/.E A"- RAJ{\E(iAT.

to4

.„„ „ he Wo„gh. „„ ■« » *«"S I--- '■» '■""> J""='' ■""""■

snow them, indcocl, to. l .aiK ^^ ^^^^

birds, and six more IVII to the o.hcMs. Such sv.

HT.AZK at BARNI-'iAT'

BAHNEGAT.

osture he hoard Jesse's joyous

joses !

ail

d it did well nigh
o barrels brought down twelve
,,s. Such %v., -the result olim

THE AMERICAN BirTERN.

IN the old days of chivalry and knighthood, wiien the glory of
1 falconrv liad not yet faded from earth, like several of hir-
congeners.'the heron, especially, and the curlew, which, according
to tlie old rhyme,

'• Be she wliite or be slie black.
Carries twolvepence mi lier back"'—

an enormous price at a time when a sixpence was the value ol
a fat wether >heep,— tiie bittern stood high, if not highest, in the
estiniiitiou both of the epicure and the gentle falconer.

Loud was the dierry whoop, and heartfelt the gratulation,
when from some reed bed in the oozy meadow, beside the silver-
winding Trent or royal- towered Tliames, flushed by the yelping
spaniels, the long-necked hermit fisher would display his broad
vans, mottled like the richest tortoise-shell, with bands and wavy
lines and variegated blotches of black and chocolate brown, and
bright ferruginous and cinereous gray, and yellow ochre; and
stretching his long green legs far behind him, soar with his harsh,
discordant, clanging cry, into the empyrean, a worthy quarry for
the bravest hawk that ever fleshed his singles in the fowl of game,
and one to test his power of wing, his valiant courage, were he
the bravest peregrine that ever built his eyrie amid the rocky
fastnesses of I Icy, or the bes^ jerfalcon that was ever brought
from Norroway, to minister to the sports of cb.ivalry and beauty.
Loud was the clank of flagon and of beaker, and prodigal the
red wine flowed, when at high noon, where peers and paladins
and princes feasted, even at Arthur's table round, where Lancelo
de Lac looked love into the sympathizing eyes of peerless

THE AMERICAN HITTER X-

themselves

- p „pry«s of cruit pill' ami mnmot."

.,„, ca- ..«■..■ ,.U.<.BC. down, ^^^ "'- -»"" "'■'°" •"'■

,,. fallen, to.- the most part into d>-P" ^ ^,^^,„_ ,,, ,,„

snipe and wo.dcock "' '' =^ ° Ln treams and rivulets, which
penetrable mar,.ns otthunir .en ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^^,

remain open all the ^v.nte, '""- produces, with a grin ol

there is rejoieing when the ^-^-^^ ? J^^. . i„,„n,inently
„,„,,,„, the far.ta.ned .'hog-bumper an h .^^^^ ^

.manufactured, with other ^^^"^^^^^ ,, p„rposelv
.igh,,past,.manducatedbyapp.c^-.^^^^ ^^J^^^ ^^

invited guests, and washed down bv api i

Heaune or Clos N^^ugeot ^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^.^ ^^^,^

,, .^n o-cene and d.gustmg^p^.a.on. .t . ^^^^^^^ ^
and wantonly by the tow le. , i reason-and

ilis then cast awax. like tnc ^^.^^^ ^^^,

who .>as the rare judgment to --^ ;";';,,' 'wfne, and lime-
eaten, like wild fowl, with cayenn pePP ;P ^^^ ;^^ ^^,^^,^

.,f the .^.««.' ""'.;;;„;,, " r*; choice dainty, and to luxuriate
clergyman on his siOeDoam, j»

in ,1,'c .kllglils of (o»4'-#>S-* , |„ followed

„,„„„ .„o„U„g can -™'^;;,;j;;"L ..«: a. aroce...d,

rcor::,r ":"»:::.: ■.pe»w.»i n^™™.,.. ... o„,

* Cannibal for hunmn flesh.

i..l;l
ext

she
rui

loll
Ian

Mil

;is
pu
II u
he
an
ce
fo'
thi
of
lie
Kr

\Vl
es
ar
til
th

In
w

til
yi
tl
o

Cl

ai

ai
g

N lilTTERN

peacock, cy>.ncl and v.nisnn.
.e, and valiant kniylUs took on

pith ami moment,"

ighling tbeir vows bcroro ' St.

ic--."

r lirstratc dainty and delicacy.
,is congener. tl>e heron-though
V wise and judicious f;otiymrt^-
) disrepute.

i.-time especially, when, like tl.e
,ntry, the bittern feeds along the
:„en streams and rivulets, which
n.' and becomes extremely tat,
eTkeeper produces, with a grin ot
umper"; and he is incontinently
edients known to the wise, into a
pprocialive grinders of purposely
own by appropriate libations ol

o sav wherefore, this fine bird is
,just'prej"dice;itisknowngener.
,g appellation; it is shot mercilessly
he meets it in the marshes. I say
or object of utility or reason-and
vilest carrion; and the sportsmen
to insist on its being cooked and
venne pepper, port wine, and hme-
",eeder,atleast,ifnotasthevar.ety

mposed habitually to keep a cold
,s a choice dainty, and to luxuriate

elv, as a general rule, be followed
;, for, although the bird, as aforesaid,
ally speaking, numerous; the only

THE A.ME/ifCAiV RlTTF.liX.

wj

exception to thi^ iiile l)eing, in -'> lar a> I know, the marsh
islands in the great MHith hay of Lung l>hiiul, wlieie it is
extremel} ahiuidant.

In these liassocks, as tluy are often called, it is not easy to
shoot them, as they will not readily or willingly take wing,
running with great speed in a crouching posture among the
long coarse .t^rass, and not exposing any portion of tlieir long
lanky forms to the aim of the gunner.

At any high tides, however, when tliese island meadows are
submerged, tliey may be successfully hunted, in the same manner
as tile great clapper-rail, or big meadow hen, by means of boats
pulled or, in very shoal water, shoved with pushing poles over the
Hats, liefore these they cannot avoid rising, and as they do so,
heavily, with a slow and laborious Happing, they present an easy
and obvious mark, even to tyros; and by good marksmen arc
certainly slaughtered with No. ^ or 5 shot, iVom an ordinary
Ibwling-picce. At the Hivicyc aiix Cniniids, in Ipper Canada, or
the Newark .Salt Meadows, and in the marshes along the margins
of the ll.ickensac river, as also, in former times, at the p:nglish
neighborhood, 1 have occasionally had good sport with these
great aquatic birds, while in pursuit of English snipe; but it
would scarcely pay, even in these favored localities, to go out
especially bittein-shooting. They will lie well to setters, which
arc used to point them steadily, and springers give tongue to
them keenly, and Ihish them with ardor; these two fads marking
them as legitimately gamr.

The bittern is a very beautiful bird, about twenty-seven inches
in length, by three feet four inches in extent from tip of wing to
wing; its upper parts are beautifully mottled and variegated, like
the finest tortoise-shell; its under parts are of a pale, ochreous
yellow, streaked, especially on the long feathers in the front of
the neck, with longitudinal black lines. It has a pendulous crest,
on the nape of the neck, which, when wounded or irritated, it.
erects fiercely ; its eyes are of a clear, fierce golden hue, almost
as bright and dauntless as those of the eagle ; its legs are yellowish
u'leen; the toes armed with long pectinated claws, which our
ancestors, in their wisdom, were wont to carry, when they could
get them, in their w.iistcoat pockets, as a specific and antidote

THE AMERICAN HITTBRN.

. , ,.,,„,u.m ,vhcn shooting in the aguish n,arshesw.mh

^^^o....^^^^^J^^^^^^Z savo., when .at a,.

hoUl a,ul brave as he .. -" ^^_ ^^^^ ^^^^^^ ^^._^ ,

MHokins o,. the boarc. Hence 1 ^^^^^^.^^ ,^^. .. ,,^,^

c.„; ana nevev P-\'-" ::'^;.jt I rfight to the last a,ai,H

,,„,m.-cl off his mortal co.l '^ }°' ^\'\^^^\^,^ and .trong, ana

,nan,aog, or devil; anU h.s beak .both P ^^^^ ^^^^.^^^^^

strikes like a Moorish assagay at .he >

Hence I avoid hinv Verhum sap.

■m

i.

ng in the auuish marshes wlmh

nd his home.

anclsomest -rci noblest o. I h.
lovely snow-vnite egret, and lb-
rlet ibis, of the south; and V .^
.lent and savory when lat an
1 invariably shoot him when 1
till 1 am well assured he " has
,r he will figl>t to the last aga.uM
ak is both sharp and strong, an.l
,y at the eye of the assailani

TJIE DEATH OF THE STAG

OR,

THE TAI.UOTS IN TEVIOTDALE.

The stag at tvc had ilrimk his till.
VVIiere danced the moon on Monan's rill,
And deep his midnight lair had niad«
In lone (Jlenartney's hazel shade:
llut when the sun his hi;acnn led
Had kindled on Benvoirlieh's head.
The hlood-hnund's deep resounding hay
Came swelling up the rocky way.

— I.ADY OF THE Lake.

''pAYIlO! Tayho!"*

And straightway to the cry responded the long-drawn
mellow notes of the huge French horns which were in those d-iys
used bv every yoeman pricker, as the peculiar and time honored
instrument of the stag-hunt, the mots of which were as familiar
to every hunter's ear as so many spoken words of his vernac

ular.

It was the gray dawn of a lovely summer morning in the
latter part of July, and although the moorcocks were crowing
sharp and shrill from every rocky knoll or purple eminence of
the wild moors, now waving far and wide with the redolent luxu-
riance of their amahyst g.irniture, for the heather was in its full

~<^Tayho" is the technical hunting halloa when a stag has broken cover, as
is •• Talliho I " the corresponding cry lor the fox. Both words are corruptions
Irom the French '^Taillis Hon!" "Outot thethicket." French being used
to a very late day as the especial language ot the chase.

no

THE l-tRATII OF THE SIM,.

flush of bloom; although the thrixh and IjJack-birds wure carol-
ing in emulous jov, at the very top of their voices, from everv
brake and thicket which feathered the wild banks of tiie hil
burns, the sun had not lifted a portion of his disc above thehu,L;e,
roundtoppi-'il fells which formed the hori/on to the north and
'vestwari! of inj scene. 'I'liat scene \vas t'le slope of a long liill—

" A (tent''" ''"'•
fJreen an<l nf mild declivity— tlu' last.
As 't WLTC tlu' cape oi" a loni; ricl^fe ol' sucli,
Save Lliat there was no sea tn lave its liase,
Kijt a most living landscape, and the wave
Of woods and ei rn-(ields. and tlie abodes of men
Scattered at intervals, and wreathin); smoke
Arising from such rustic roofs.''

The hills above and somewhat farther ort' to the southwanl
and eastward, are clothed and crowned with oak woods of mag-
nificence and size so unusual, and kept with such marked
evidences of care and culture that no one could doubt, even if it
were not proved bv the gray turrets of an old baronial manor
and the spire of a tall clock-housn shooting up high over the top.
of the forest giants, that they were the appendages and orna'r.cnts
of some one of those ancient homes of England, which, full of
elegancies and graces of the present, remind us so pleasantly of
the ruder, though not less homely, hospitalities of the past.

Tlie immediate summit of the slope I have mentioned is bare,
yet conspicuous for a single tree, the r.'ly one of its kind existing
for many miles in that district— a single white pine, tall enough
for the niast of some huge admiral, and as such visible, it is said,
from points in the lOur northern provinces of England, and the
two southernmost of Scotland — whenc- it is known far and wide,
in many a border lay and legend, as the one-tree hill on Reeds-
wood.* Below the low brow of this inland promontory, for such
indeed it is, which is covered with beautiful, short, mossy grass,
as firm and soft as the greensward of a modern race-course, and
used as one vast pasture of two hundred acres, lies a vast tract of
coppice, principally of oak and birch, but interspersed with
♦In Norlhumberlanu, a few miles from the Scottish border

lh(
\e
thi

CO

it

tei
wl
-ti
w

di

in
■A
ai

p£

Ol
ll

I ■'

tl

sl

C'

b
h

THE Sl'Ad.

and Ijlack-birds wure carol-
I of thi'ir voices, from ovorv

the wild hanks of tlie hil
in of liis disc above tlie hu^',
e iioii/on to the north and
.vas t'lc slope of a lonj; liill —

• A y:i'n;l<' hill.

yr— till' last.

ii; riil^'c of such,

to lavL* its hasu,

I*, ami the wave*

iiid thi'abmlcs of men

vvrcathin^ smoke

lofs."

arther ort' to the southwanl
led with oak woods of mag-
d kept with such marked

0 one could doubt, even if it
:s of an old baronial manor
lootint; up high over tlic top,
le appendages and orn.Tn'.cnts
s of England, which, full of
:, remind us so pleasantly of
liospitalities of the past.

ope I have inentioned is bare,
B r.'Iy one of its kind existing
ngle white pine, tall enough
and as such visible, it is said,
rovinces of England, and the
encf it is known far and wide,

1 the ont-tree hill on Reeds-
s inland promontor}, for such
beautiful, short, mossy grass,
of a modern race-course, and
idred acres, lies a vast tract of
birch, but interspersed with

he Scottish border

riiK PEA in or rim stac. "i

expanses of waving heather, wh-re the soil is too shallow to
support a larger growth, an.l dotted lur. and there w.fh bold,
grav crags w hich have cropped out above the surface, and amongst
these, few and far between, some glorious ..Id, gnarled haw-
thorns, which may well have furnished May-wreaths to the
vellow-h.-.ired daughte. s of the .Sax.m before the n.ailed loot ol
the imperious Norman had dinted the green turf of Kngland. 1 his
coppice overspread tlie wh.I lech-ity and base of the lull, untd
it melted into the broad, rich meadows, which, with a lew scat-
tered woods of small size, and here and there a patch ol yellow
wheat, or a fragrant bean-lield, filled all the bottom ot the great
strath or vallev, down to the b.tnks of a large stream, beyond
which me land rose steeply, flr^t in rough moorland pastures,
divided by drv stone walls, then in roun<i, heathery swells, then
i„ great broadbacked purple feils, and beyond all, lainlly trace-
•tble in the blue haze of distance, in the vast ridges of the Cheviots
and the hills of Tevydale. Along the base of the h.U-sule,
partincr it from the meadows, ran a tall, oak park-pal.ng, made
of rud"elvsplit planks, not anywhere less than five leet m height,
through "which access was given to the valley by heavy gates of
the same material, from two or three winding wood-roads into
the shado-.vy lanes of the lovely lower country.

.Such was the scene, o'er which there arose before the sun,
startling the hil! echoes far and near, and silencirg the grouse-
cocks on the moors, and the song-birds in the bra.e and thicket
by their tumultuous din, the .houts and fanfar..s that told the

h.unt was up.

"Tayho! Tayho!"
i-ara-tara-tara-tantara-ra-taratantara-tantara-ra-ra-rah. Which

being interpreted into verbal dog-talk, is conceived to say-
"Gone away! gone away! gone away! away! away! away!
and is immediately understood as such, not by the well-mounted
sportsman onlv, but by what Scott calls, him-^elf no unskilled
woodsman, " the dauntless trackers of the deer." who rush full-
mouthed to the cheery clangor, Hlling all earth and ether with
the musical discords of their sweet chidings.

The spot whence the first loud, manly shout -Tayho"'
resounded, was almost within the .hadow of the one tree,

run nRATH or- riii- siAt.

;:::i;lw™,u«----,^:r;:;::,:;,-::,;:

I .„nl« erect on tlif gallant sport ol the Hay.

^'"■;;;;';: xx^-n'oaa leavca ..ts a„a ,o^.,^^^^

r:, r „.,- -icoutorfd lor such a cl>a»c as is never heard teil of

r rrs:r;;;i,«..ounasandn,h. t..oro>.....ds,^^

e leot-afoK is .-..unted by the minutes he c.n he ..th a
b e- bilh scent before .he .Ke.^. and the vaU.e ol u hunter by
the'lonUs he can go in the fir.t .light with a do.en horseman s

""T,;r::tli':^e otherwise, the ^x was unUennCed. or the
,,; Irbored at daybreak, and UiUed, if the -■-' W ^ '
r or laer before sunset-runs were reckoned by liours,
r^dVlud lor heir staunchness, not their lleetness, horses
';:: "^t thdr sp..ed, but for their stoutness, and the ion.es.
r liest last rider, not the most darin« or the lore.nost, won tl,e
;::::;tl:: :.l: >vere it bmsh or ant,er. when the «ame tox

„ x^u-, nr the nallant stag turned to bay.
^^•^;r r:;en who .ere 'gathered on the broad, bare brow
o. t one.tree hill were in all twelve or thirteen .n number all,
fir.t slht men of gentle blood and generous educal.on,
It,: h a t,:; everl, ever must be in every compa,,y
^h t le of -n or inferior animals, there ^vas one to whon, every
even of the unknown stranger or the ignorant peasa..t,
''"'td h.ve n uL iv turned as evidently and undoubtedly the
^f the pT ■ both in birth and breeding; he mingled
XX, s^'^itrlh; rest on the most perfect terms not of
eoua only, but of intimate familiar intercourse and fr.enash p.
Nrte'm! of ceremonial, no titles of rank or territorial .nfluence.
Z mp e Christian names passed between those gay and pyou
vou hT nor was there anything in the habit of the wearers, o.
h mount ng of the riders, to indicate the slightest d.fterence m

the

hoi

to I

lor

the

Ilia

at

gri

pe

for

wl

wi

-.o

de

ar

K'
e\
bt
rt
rt
li
d

s'
tl
t:

ii
e

r

I
i
<

77//: .S7V!'.

i.lin« llie whoio view of tin'
r tin- liii.ioiis Talbot blooil-
jrty couple, were in tlie act oi
, .gallantly appareled, ^allnnllv
,ble steeds tliey beHtiDile, eves,

Kport of the liay.
aveil liats and lU)atinj{ plumes,
1' seams with embroideries of
<.bootandtb. kmj,'htlysp>"'>"
m the thirfb, and tlius u ere our
a cbaHC as is never heard tell of
nd tlvinn tlioroiinlibreds, when
c minutes he cm\ live with a
R, and the value of a hunter by

tliKht with a dozen bors.'manV

the fox WU8 unkenneled, or the
,d killed, if the scent lay well,
runs were reckoned by hours,
ness, not their fleetness, horses
r their Rtoutness.and the lonj;est,

daring; or the loremost, won tlie
1 or antler, when the game fox
turned to bay.

iithered on the broad, bare brow
welve or thirteen in number, all,

blood and generous education,
er must be in every company,
lals, there was one to whom every
ranger or the ignorant peasant,
,s evidently and undoubtedly the

birth and breeding; he mingled
, the most perfect terms not of
imili;ir intercourse and friendship.
les of rank or territorial influence,
ised between those gay and joyous
,g in the habit of the wearers, or
indicate the slightest diflerence in

/■///i nKATIl or THE STA<i.

'•1

their positions of social well being and well doing. One youth,
however, who an»wered to the name of (ierald, an.l sometimes
to the patrimonial Howard, was so far the handsomer both in
form and fea'aiie, the Hl,it.lier in stature, the gracefuUer in gesture,
the manlier in bearing, the firmer and easier of seat and hand on
his hunter, that any one would liave been prompt to say almost
at a glance, there is uie man of all this gentle and generous
group, whom, if war wake, its clangor in the land, if external
perils threaten its coasts, or internal trouble shake its state,
foreign wars or domestic strife will alike tind the foremost,
whether in his seat with the senate, or in his smldle on the field,
wielding with equal force and skill llie statesman'-, scholar's
soldier's eye, tongue, sword— all honored him, indeed, and he
deserved that all should honor him.

I have omitted, not forgotten or neglected, to mention as first
and fairest of that fair company, a bevy of half a do/en fair and
graceful girN-not like the gentlemen, all of one cast, but as wa-
evident, not so much from the dilVeience of their grace and
beauty— though in these also there was a difference-as from the
relative difference of positions which they maintained, four
remaining somewhat in the rear of the other two, and not ming-
ling unless first addressed in the conversation, and trom some
distinction in the costliness and material of their attire.

A mounted chamberlain, with four or five grooms, who sio'
still farther aloof, in the rear of the ladies in waiting, and two o
three glittering pages standing afoot among the latter, in full
tide of gallantrv and flirtation, their coursers held by the grooms
in attendance, made up the party. From which must always be
excepted the huntsman, the verdurer, and eight or ten veomen
prickers, in laced green jerkins, with round velvet caps, like those
worn bv the whippers-in of the present day, and huge French-
horns over their left shoulders, who were seen from time to time
appearing, disappearing, and reappearing in the g'.ades and dingles
of the hill-side covert, and heard now rating the untimely and
fallacious challenge of some waywanl and willful puppy, now
cheering the earnest and trusty wl ipper of some redoubted
veteran of the pack, as he half-opene.i on a scent of yester-evcn.
The hounds had been in the coppice above an hour, and two-

, , ^ 77/ A- PEA TH O I- THF. S TA ( . .

ponderous old..a...i...u.d ropcat.r.-and no. ,. 11..

:;;;:,Uon«droopinK,.lun,e.oncac.Md.ora.coc..«
exquisite oval, with a hi«h brow, lonK- J""' •'' '"\;^r ,", f,

II w h a nuu,e of ra... ..n-etry, exquisitely round d,
;;::rl^rhor^aton..ost.nd.n.,,a^n..^^^^;^^^^^^^
without the least indication ol .uanhncss n " « ^ "
,et with a certain uir o( at-houK-nes. ,n her P-' ''"''"; [^
U,at showed she could vide as well, perhaps as boldl, . a^

man amon« them. luiLrhinirlv, as she

.' \|,i (ieraUi, tJerald," said the elder u"'. l-u.^hi. M>,

many n>inutes, all for the P''^^;^ ^^ ^ "'ru. lone hill-side
of our hearts; and here have we been s.tt.n^ on

Uvo hours and upwards to the great c-avng o. ^^'^^^

the raininess of our hearts, yearnu,g-as the ^ -^"; ^

. II 1 „.... it nfic-r creature comtort. Outonjou.

ll. Tc is one horn or hool Irom the east to ne w

: . no not from the ' throstle's nest • to the ' thorny brae,
su • -no, noi iruni i.iv- wairer you

say.oi auc instantly raismg his

a stag a-foot, ay, and a stag ol ten. «•

77/;? ST An.

,.lrawiil)lu<>k-tlu-K.-"tU-men

i,«,ul vvistlul «l,uu-os«'>'l"""
lorc ll.iin (»icc o. UvU-' lUfii
._,uul now tl..- cUIlt, Hl.orl.T
iviiiK ll'i^' whip H«l«llv to li.i-
thf Hide of (ifiaUl 1 Iowa. J,
mo iliirk ri-iUmJaiK-L' of hall-
own from hcnciith a velvet citj),
each M^- of a face of the inoKt
cw, lont,', jet-blai-W cyeUuheH,
her pure, coUmIchh cheeks, lor
prcMion of the highest intelleet,
,:n.rlea with all a womaii'K ten-

s,inutbit.K' "'>"v^ l'»^ '"''''*''•'
iy,nmeti7, exquisitely rounaed,
,t femininely and most tirmly,
,„li„,.,, in her neat or demca.u.r,
ncHS in her position and posture,
■ 11, perhaps as boldly, as the hent

he elder ^irl, lau^hinKly, as she
e silver butt of her riding whip,
es, and especially to this fairest
, our soft beds, at this untimely
,c>r UH a stag of ten within so
re of our eyes, and the delectation

; been sittinj,' on this lone hillside
rear craving of our appetites, and
yearning-as the Mueen's good
creature comfort. Out on you!
s 1 believe not, lor my part, that
the east to the west on the hill-
f's nest ' to the 'thorny brae.'"
ncredulous-bul I will wager you
great grav stone, with the birch
nlMmes, as our bright Kate would
over his cold brow, we will have
f ten." And instantly raising his

77/ fi nnATii or the stah.

ii;

voiii' loa.iuicker and clearer note— " see now!" he cried, " sec
now ! " as a superb, dark colored animal, not lower tlian a yeju ling
colt at the forehand, leaped with a bound an agile as if he was
aided by \\ing-, on th.' cope stone ol the ilry stone wall, whiih
hounded the hither side of the hill coppice, with vast, branching
antlers tossed as if in defiance, and a swan-like neck swollen with
pride and anger, lie stood there an instant, self-poised, sell-
balanced, "like the heraU' Mercury new lighted on a heaven
kissing hill,"— uttered a hoarse, bellowing cry, peculiar lo the
animal in his season, and then sailing forth in a long, easy curve,
alighted on the springy turf, whose enameled surface he scarce
dinted, and then swept up the gentle slope almost toward the
admiring group on the brow, but in a diagonally curved line thai
would carry him in the long run to the south-west of them, at
the distance of perhaps a hundred yards.

"Tavho! Tayho!" burst in a clear and hearty shout from the
excited" lips of Gerald Howard. And instantly from every part
of the hillside, from the ' throstle's nest ' to the ' thorny brae,' from
ten well-blown French horns burst the wild call. " Tara tara
tara-tanlHra-ra-tara tantara-tantararara-rah— (ione away— gone
away— gone away— away— away ! " and the fierce rally of the
mighty Talbots broke into tonu'ue at once through the whole
breadth and length of the oak coppice, as they came pouring up
the hills, making the heather bend and the coppice crash before
them like those famed Spartan hounds of Hercules and C^idmus,

••When ill tliu wiimis nl Crete tlicy liayeil the bear-
So llewed, so raiuleil, ami their lieails were hung
Willi ears tliat sweep away the iiuiriiiilK 'lew;
Criiok-kiieeil and dew-lappeil like Thessalian hulls;
Slow in pursuit but matched in inoutli like bells

Each under each."

At fifty separate spots they leaped the wall nearly abreast, but
four were in may be a spear's length the leaders, and they laying
their heads right at the noble quarry, which was still full in view,
came straining up the hill, making all ring around them with
their deep-mouthed thunder. The rest topped the wall one by
one, in view too, and on a breast-high scent came steaming up the

„6 THE DEATH OF THE STAC.

rich grass slope on converging lines, so that as they passed the
"ttenHve g.oup tc. the westward, .ithin a hundred yard., t. e
pa k had \o, all together within, perhaps, another hundred yards
r;^: llln^ches, ri;ning so that a large carpet ^^^l^^
.red the whole forty couple, and rav.ng «Uh such '^^^ "^ -
.nonious discords, such shrill and hsavage treb es o 1 e he
bitch hounds, such a deep diapasone o. ' -""'^ \ ^.^.'^"f^^;.
such sweet and attuned chidings ot the - -'^•- " T^^.
but must have listened with delight, not a heart but must have
bounded with rapture at the exulting sounds.

\nd ever and anon there rang up from ll,e w.ldwood Ik
,eep lllow blasts of the French horns, blent with the jangUd
tie's' of Talbots into a strange and indeser.bable clangor and
crepitation, at once most peculiar and most entrancmg.

U the same .non,ent the sun burst into v.ew above the
eastern l^lls. and pouring down a great tiood of golden us..-e
^rL whole glowing scene, Uindled up -eryth,,^ ..Uo
and light-tinging with ruddy light the dappled <^ °', ; -
noble beast as he swept by them, now wthm "' ^-^ '^^"7,
bad circled around then., wantoning and >^ounchng to and o
perfectly unconcerned by the nearer presence ol '- P--^
Ind seemingly desirous to display the mnacles o h,s sp ed
:-i;::uty?o'the ..ir eyes that admired ^'•;;-- -^^ ;
dappled hides of the many-colored, glossy pack-burn.shm„ t. e
Sand satin coats of .he noble coursers, till they glowed w.
a^^ost metalic splendor-tlashing upon the rich laces, the br.ght
b^k sand the polished swordhilts of the hunters, and g.ld.ng
^e brid'bits an'd bra.en horns of the verdurers and yoemen
pck- until the whole hiU-side was glittering with a thousand
r:; lu'I's and salient lights, filling the mind with memor.es ot

'^'irt:t":S:^:;:onthebrowoftheone.^

r T/fF STAC.

les. so that as tl>ey passed the
Nvithiii a hundred yards, tlie
)erhaps, another hundred yards
1 large carpet might liave cov-
raving with Midi a din of har-
\ fisavage trebles of the tierce
sone of the old veteran dogs,
of the whole, that not an ear
ht, not a heart but must have
ting sounds.

^g up from the wildwood tlie
h horns, blent with the jangled
and indescribable clangor and
■ and most entrancing,
un burst into view above the
, a great Hood of golden lustre
kindled -ip everything into life
light the dappled sides of the
n, now within fifty yards-for he
oning and bounding to and fro,
nearer presence of his pursuers
splay the miracles of his speed
at admired him-enlivening the
ired, glossv pack-burnishing the
le coursers, till they glowed with
ng upon the rich laces, the bright
|. hilts of the hunters, and gilding
ns of the verdurers and yoemen
de was glittering with a thousand
ling the mind with memories of

the brow of the one-tree hill had
ay, animated scene had revolved
le wheeling around the stationary
•vants of the chase, huntsmen and
-eamed up the long hill at their best

lee and its gay company, swelling
^ing of their horns, the gallant stag

r///-: DEATH ()/• THE STAd.

117

appeared lo comprehend that a f'-esli hand of enemies were
added to his first pursuers— for he half turned his b.ead to gaze
on them, half pausetl for a moment to snufi" the air, with nostrils
pridefuUy dilated and Hanks heaving, not with weariness as yet,
bur with contempt ami scorn, then with a loss of his antleis, and
a loud snort of indignation, set his head fair to the northwest,
full for the hills of .Scotland, and went away at long, sweeping
bounds that seemed to divide the green slope, by leaps of eight
vards each, soared back again over the rough stone wall, and
wer.t crashing through the thickets, straight, for the tall oak
palings and the river, as if he were bound for some distant well-
known point, oil a ri>;ht line as the crow liies.

And now for tlie gentlemen the chase was begun, and (ierald
Howard led it, like their leader as he was in aU things, :ind the
rest followed him like men as they were, and brave ones— but to
the ladies it was ended so soon as they had breathed their palfries
down the slope to the stone wall and the woodside at an easy
canter; and they returned to the hill-top, where they found
viands and refreshments spread on the grass; and long they
lingered there watching the hunt recede, and the sounds of the
chase die away in the far distance. 15ut it was long ere the
sights and sounds were lost all and wholly to their eyes and ears
— tor the quarry still drove on, as straight as the crow Hies, due
northward — due northward the chase followed.

'J'liev saw the gallant stag swoop over the oak-pales as if they
were no obstacle— they saw the yelpii.,' pack crash and climb
after him ; then th°y saw Gerald Howard on uis tall coal black
barbe soar over it unhindered— but all the rest turned right or
left to gate or gap, or ere they might follow him. 'l"he valley
was crossed as by a whirlwind— the river swam by hart, hound,
and hunter, unhesitating and unheeding— and far beyoid up the
green moorland pasture, over the stone-walls, now ilisappearing
over the hill-tops into the misty hollows, now glinting up again
into the light over some yet more distant stretch of purple heath;
and still the chiding of the hounds, and still the w ild bursts of
the French-horns fell faintly on the ears, as the wind freshened
from the westward — but at length sound and sight failed them,
and when silence had sunk still and solitude reigned almost

I

•iM

,,8 THE DEATH OF THE STAC,

pcrtVct .,v,M- ll.c lale peopled slope of thorny biac a..d the
one-lree hill, the fjav bevy of dames ami damsels returned home-
ward, son.ething -hJ nu,re se> ious it not the sadder lor the partinfr
,o await the galherin«ol their partners to the «ay evemnf,' meal.
I on« thev uaile.l-late it grew-the evenin}; meal was over
-th. close ot ni«ht had come-the li;,'hts in the bower and hal,
were kindled-the gates were locked and barred-lont; ere the
first or the belated foresters return.d soiled and splashed, way-
worn and «earv, with the jaded and harassed hounds, and horses
ahnost dead fr'om the exertion a,ul exhav.stion of the day. At
midnight, of the field all the m.n save one were collected, though
two or three came in on fool, and yet more on borrowed horses-
their own good steeds left in the morass or on the moorland, to
feed the kites and the hill-fo.es_of the pack all save tw..
„u.s,ered at the kennel-gates in such plight as the to.l they had

borne permiUed.

The man miss.ng was .Sir (.erald llowar.l, the n^asler o th.
pack the two hounds were its two le.-^dcrs, Hercules and Hard-
l,cart, of whom no rider had ever yet seen the speed slacken or

the heart fail. ,

The old verdnrer, who gave out the last, reported (.orald Howard

uoing well, when he saw hi.n last, with the stag and two Talbots
of 111 in full view-and this many miles into Scotland within the
pleasant vale of Teviotdale, with the great Scottish hills, gnm
an.l gray, t<,wering up before him, and the night closing last on
those dim solitudes.

It was late on the nextd.ny whe.i Sir Gerald Howard wa.. see,-,
.iding up the road on the same steed he had backed so gallantly,
still wearv and worn, though recruitlng-with Jhe huge antlers at
his saddle-bow, but no brave Talbots at his heel.

He had ridden far into the darkness, still guided by the baymg
of the staunch hounds; and when he could see to ride no longer,
Jnd obtained timely succor and refresh.nent from a stout borderer
of Teviot-side. At daylight mounted a fresh horse, a garron ol
the countrv, to renew the chase; but it was now soon ended.
Scarce had he gone a mile on the straight line they had run
ihrou-hout, ere he found Hard-heart stiff a.ui cold on the moun-
tain heather, and not a hundred yards yet onward, ere the great

■"WIT"

• THE STAG

)|)c of thorny brae and llic
saiul daiiiM'ls rt'turncil lioinc-
t not the saiUier for the parting,
incrs to the i^Ay eveninf,' meal,
iv— the eveninj; meal was over
c li,t;hts in the bower anil hall
ked and barred— lont; ere the
ned soiled and splashed, way-
nd jjarassed hounds, and horses
id exhaustion of the day. At
save one were collected, thounh
vet more on borrowed horses-
morass or on the moorland, to
•s—of the pack all save two
uch plight as the toil they had

•aid Howard, the master of tl:e
vo leaders, Hercules and llard-
r vet seen the speed slacken or

the last, reported (Jerald Howard
t, with the stag and twoTalbots
y miles into Scotland within the
1 the great Scottish hills, grim
in, and the night closing fast on

len Sir Gerald Howard wat. see;.
4eed he had backed so gallantly,
ruiting— with ^he huge antlers at
bots at his heel.

rkness, still guided by the baying
:n he could see to ride no longer,
efreshinent from a stout borderer
ounted a fresh horse, a garron of
c; but it was now soon ended,
the straight line they hnd run
heart stiff and cold on the moun-
I yards yet onward, ere the great

T/fK DEATH OF THE S I A(i.

119

stag lay before him, not a hair of his hide injured, and Hercules
beside him, with his head upon his haunches, where he had
breatluil his last, powerless to blood the brave ipiarry he hatl so
nobly conquered.

Sixty miles had they run on Ihut summer's day from point;
they had died together, and in their graves they were not loti-
founded, for a double tomb was scooped in the eorrie or liullow of
the mountain-side, wherein they were found, and above it w'as
piled a rough, grav eulumn, w hereupon may be seen rudely sculp-
tured this true epitaph,

llcrciili's killcil Hart 0'(!rc;isc,
■\iicl lIartO'Gre;isf killcil lIc.Tciilcs.

For, reader mine, this is a real and true tale, ami I, who tell
it you, have sat upon the stone, and tempered my cup of I'arintosli
from the little rill beside it, with the wild peak of the Maiden's
I'.iss before me, the dark Cheviots at my right, the blue heights
of the (ireat Moor looming away almost immeasurably to the
westward, and lui lompanions near im ~:ive the red grouse of
the heather, and the curlew of the morass, nothing to while away
the time that my weary setters slept in the noonday sun, save
this old-time tradition.

^

THE KED FOX

q^IllS WL-U-knownand widely distributeii animal is one ol the
I few species, whether of birds or quadrupeds, that is not
peculiar to this continent, hut co-exists, identical in all Us char-
icteristics, ill Europe and America.

It is not, indeed, a fact perfectly established that the red Ion
is oriKinallv indij,'enous to this country ; it being well ascertained
that it was'largely imported, as a beast of chase, by the lounder.
ol the Cavalier settlements of Maryland, shortly after then-
arrival in order to minister to their sporting propensities, for
which purposes its craft, courage and endurance adapt it tar
more ban its congener, th. gray fox, which is peculiar to the
western hemisphere.

This circumstance, together with the fact that the red lox ol
America is not to be distinguished, in any structural points,
from the European animal, has induced the belief among many
well-informed persons, that the red fox was unknown in America
before the arrival of the white man, and that the whole race xvith
which the continent, in its northern portions especially, abounds
are all descen.lanf. of those imported by the settlers of Lord
Baltimore, such as were fortunate enough to escape the fox-
hounds of the gallant cavaliers. ...

Without asserting positively that this derivation is true, it
may be well to state that it is by no means, as some persons have
maintained, impossible ; since, notwithstanding the vast increase,
in a comparatively short period, which must be assumed in orde.
to account for the wide diffusion of the race at the present day,
such an increase is by no means incc .sistent with the laws o.
nature as regards the propa-jation of animals, where they are
entirely, or in a great degree, unmolested.

'; FOX.

stiibuteii animal is one ol' the
s or quadrupi'ds, that is not
ixists, identical in all its char-

y established that the red lox
ntry ; it being well ascertained
least of chase, by the founder.
Maryland, shortly after their
heir sportinj; propensities, for
;c and endurance adapt it tar
fox, which is peculiar to the

ith the fact that the red fox of
bed, in any structural points,
duced the belief among many
d fox was unknown in America
n, and that the whole race with
;rn portions especially, abounds,
ported by the settlers of Lord
ite enough to escape the fox-
that this derivation is true, it
no means, as some persons have
jtwithstanding the vast increase,
which must be assumed in ordei
of the race at the present day,
i incciisistent with the laws ot
;on of animals, where they are
molested.

T//K liED FOX.

\2\

It is, moreover, worthy of remark, in this point of view, that
the red fox, though in no respect 'lomesticated, or. perhaps,
susceptible of doinesiication, is yet the attendant and concomi-
tant of man, extending his range as the range of civilization is
extended, and rarely, if ever, occurring in the interior of the
native wilderness.

The iMiglish rabbit lias in tlii- inanner become indigenous to
p;irts of Florida, where, I am informed, they are now abundant,
of all colors, being sprung from a few ]>airs of the domesticated
variety; while it is notorious thai the countless droves of cattle
and ivilil horses xvhieli people the pampas of .South America
are sprung from individuals turiutl loose by the .Spaniards, and
that uKiMv uninhabited islands in the I'acilic ami elsewhere
actually swarm with lOuropean animals, thi' ilescendantsof single
pairs set ashore by benelicent mariners for llie benefit of humanity
at large.

The limits inhabited by the red fox of America are, as 1 have
stated above, very widely extended, embracing all the settleil
parts ol' the United .States, but more especially the central por-
tions along the sea-board, and to the eastward. In IMorida ami
farther south they are far rarer. The red fox is thus ilescribeil in
Dekay's Fauna of the .State of New York: —

" C/ninit/riis/its. — Reddish above, whitish beneath. I')ars
behind, and anterior part of legs, varying from light brown lo
deep black. Length, 3 — 4 feet.

^'■Description. — From a large male kill .1 in Qiicen's county,
Long Island, New York. — Snout, small and pointed. Length
of head, 7.0.

" Color. — Anterior jiart of the head, the flanks, and back,

brii^ht reddish, more particularly along the back and foresboul-

(lers, where the color is more intense. Margin of the chin and

upper jaw, pure white. Thr.)at, breast and a narrow space

along the belly, whitish, niixeil with brown on the latter. Fore

and hind feet black in front, the black on the latter extending up

on the outside of the thigh. Toes margined with fuhous.

Hrush, ample, reddish, composcil of two sorts of hairs, the one
9

li

: \

■""<

_

THE KEO EOS.

Wack at Ih. base- and .e.Kiish at ,1,. tips; tl.e other, -nt.ch longo,
entird, black, giving to th. whole tail a dusl- y a,,pcaru.>c..

Head atul body,
VfilfbriL' ol tail,
Ditto tips of luiirs.

390
I3.0
160

.,,-,,, ,.,, ,bx varies considerably in .e.^ht a,.d m. b
sncchuca above dc.c,ibed ueigbing eleven pounds, and b. c
■ of others vvei,.,in« nfteen ponnd. but ^uch a,e no.
:: L,U.emorevsual.ei«btis..on>ei.h, .oten,^^^^

Mtbougb this .ox burrows well, yet it is n.H uncornn.0,. h. . nd
,hen, takin. possession of the burrows o. the sk. k U- 'h,
f :,.;„.,. their -ounK. Richardson slates that it btn-
purpose of rearm;; then voun^. 1 ... ^ r.,ll..n tree

^ I :., ...inti.r 1-ikes re u lie under a lallen lui-

iiiMs in summer, and m winttr iukcs lemf,

:; i ^s Ibrth .;on> ^ur to six young, abon,^ the latter end^o
M cb^.- first of April, in the state of New VoH.. bese a. e ^
r.rst covered with a smoke-brown fur. In a btter I once saw
a tip" of the tails in all were white, and, Hke the dog. w ,e
b .d L- son.e davs after birth. They teed on the s.nidler q u d -

1 .nd birds' and are accused of dcstroy.n,;; lambs. 1 hty
:::: ;Zlio;;:; i^rays upon t,. bam-yard, but ^^^^^^

,0. so diriuL' as the other species, and, perhaps, in some
::a^ e^,^ ::.^ ^>.- tbeir injuries by destroying fie,d-,n.ce
mtasu.Lcoui ^^j liisaKteeable.

r;tt;::™.:::" ;- li "-...., -.u,„ ..^. «-..

,«ve by some naturalists been treated as species :

. . Tin- Cross Fox-n.russa/.s.-rhe color of the preceding
,^,,, , aark stripe on the neck Irom the head to the back crossed
t i.ht angles by another dark stripe over the shoulders. Th
: • u sometimes only feebly distinct, and at others .e
lied. It has the si.e, .V,rm, habits and fur o. the r^d fox nd
is always considered by the hunters as a variety ^^^,^_^J^^l
of f.sh on has attached a great value to this skm. NS h.le the

;:l skin is valued at about two dollars, ^'^-^ ^ ^^
known to sell for twelve, and somelmies us high as titteen
I;;;;:". U occurs m every part of the state, but more part.cu-
larlv in the northern districts.

-Trnr-

' FO.\.

tips; the other, much longer,
tail II Uusl-) appearance.

,: '. . ■ ^'JO

» • •

i6o

ably hi weij^ht anil size; Hie
jr Jk'ven p()lnul^•, .uul I have
,„ ponnils, hn\ Mich aie not
t is l.om ei-ht to ten pounils.
,et it is not iinconinion to fnul
jurrows of the skii ik for the
Richardson states that it bin-
ikes refuge uuiler a fallen tree,
vonng, about the latter end of
ite of New 1'ork. These are at
1, lur. In a litter I once saw-
white, and, like the dog, were

They feed on the smaller quad-
,ed of destroying lambs. They
i barn-vard, but in this respect

species, and, perhaps, in some
njuries by destroying tield-mice

I'lesh is rank and disagreeable,
strongly marked varieties, which
eated as species :

,,/„.,,— The color of the preceding,
lom the liead to the back, crossed
stripe over the shoulders. This
,ly distinct, and at others well
liabits and fur of the red fox, and
nters as a variety. The caprice
t value to this skin. While the
wo dollars, the cross fox has been
d sometimes as high as fifteen
•t of the state, but more particu-

T//E RED FOX.

'2.^

"2. The lilmk Fi>\. — Godman, vol. I., p. 274, pi. tig. i —
Almost entirely black; the end of the tail and spots on the
breast occasionally white, sonietimes intensely hoarv. This is
very ran- in this state. I have never met witli it, but have been
assured by hunters in the northern counties tiiat they have some-
times killed it. Richardson, page 94, asserts that its fur fetches
six times the price of any other produced in North America. Its
value, doubtless, increases with the intensity and purity of the
lilack color."

It is the existence of these two varieties only — tor it appears
to be conceded by all the best naturalists, that there are no
specific distinctions between the red, cross, and black foxes— that
inclines me to the belief that the American and Englisi;, or
European red fox is not identical ; since no such varieties are to
be found in tlie otlu;r hemisphere, as might be expected, were we
to regard them as mere freaks of nature.

The fox is proverbially cunning, both in his predatory move-
ments, and in the instinct of preservation, which prompts iiim to
stratagems, wlicn closely pursued by hounds and hunters, so
sagacious as to b;itlle the scenting qualities of the finest dog•^, and
to outwit man's penetration.

He is bold, hardy, and indefatigable, whetiier in inirsuit of
game, or in escaping from his enemies. In the latter category I
have myself been in the field more than once, wiien a celebiated
and well-known fox, easily distinguished by the loss of a portion
of his brush, amputated in a steel trap, has stood before a good
pack of hounds from ten o'clock in the morning until it became
too dark to continue the chase, across an open country, without
wood or coppice, covering about forty miles of distance during
that time, and thoroughly tiring out every horse in the field.

It was my fortune to be present at the last run afforded by this
gi'Uant fox, and to assist — as the French call it— at his death. On
being found, he took his usual line from tlie covert which he
haunted, due westward across a line grazing country, consisting
for the most part of forty and fifty-acre pasture-fields, inclosed
by dry stone walls, from fourand-a-half to six feet in height.
There had been a warm rain over night, but not enougli to

THE h'i':i> /•■''■V.

...ulo,- ..u. countrv deep ...• l.c.v v ; a.ui a stron, but mUd west wind

was l.louin^ directly in ,hc tu.lh of tUo U.x : c.nnnst.n. .s ,h

,, „v..--ablo that .an W conceived t.. tl>c bounds, and :..<■ r-o,,

, uarrv-sincc tbo sun.c gale wbicb in.,edes b.s progress

: ve s bis'.muviun, .Vesb and .eeUing -o the oHaCory o.^ans

ir.!;: pursuers, lendin, .ben> redoubled stin.ub.s o. speed an.i

"^'c^nsec.uen.lv, in n,any years of tox luuUinu, I never saw

,.,,„,. . un so last .. tbey did on tbat morning, - . pu.g .be walls

en r twelve a breast, and unable to ,ive tongue, beyond an

;:;:ill wbin,per, owing to .be tremendous pace tbey we,e

"^Thirteen nules were done in one bour and seven n.inu.es.

„„•. re tbe gallant ..>x was run in.o, witbout a cbecU. a turn or a

;l.,inLwbole.ine,intbendddleoraa..gegras^^^^^^^^^^^

„nlv tUe borse-, out of .l>c seventy or n.ore wb.eb slatted hon>
"u -e r. side, being on tbo spot wben tbe wbo-wboop was g.ven
^.l.e rental uler bad come to a stand still, son.e .artber, sonu
„;!' along tbe entire course of country traversed, and ^uM
^L were ,'ndered entirely useless by tbe exert.ons o. tlu. d=^^
Tbis is one of tbe most remarkable runs w..b tox-bounds on
so fnr .s speed is concerned; twelve miles an bour be.ng
: ::; ::^M , M^st rate of speed attainable even ..r sbort
^^ . bv eitber bounds or borses, across an inclosed count,,.;
t^ ."n ai'uenance of tbat pace for tbir.een consecut.ve mdes
: i;: circutustunce almost unparalleled in tbe annals o. spor .n^
n^fences were, n.oreover, unusually severe, us, bcMUg o. s.. 1
t ne .bev afforded tbe bounds no oppor.uni.y o. 1>— « '-«
i . ,:,.„„., tbem, as it is .ecbnieally tern.ed. bu, --Pe^ed t .
to scratnble over tbeir tops, as it did tbe borses to take Ibe.n

'^''"."'i^oduction of nnely bred and flee, bound, and of
, , 11 . i,wi,-i.l of tbe slow, stauncbold Soutbein

■ nt lasUe^tury. bas e.Vected as con^plete a revolu..on n, be
lie oltilisb L.bnnting, as tbe introduction o. steam bas
done witb tbe system of travel.

FOX.

run u/:/> /■(> \

a n strong' hilt milil west wiiul
r ilio Uiw ciiciiinsliini-cs tlu'
to tliehounils, and :'/<r :■.;■.«.(
whicli iinpcilos his pro^rL'ss
■kinj; to tho oltaL-tory ornaiis
jubleil stimulus of spiTil uiul

of fox lumtiuu, I ncviT saw

at morning, i . l''"S ""■" w:'""'

L- to j{ive tongue, lic^onil an

truitiendous pat-o itii^y wi'io

mc hour anil seven niinnles.
,, without a check, a turn, or a
inickllc of a lar,t,'e j;russ ficUl ;
y or more which slartcl from
rhen the wlio- whoop was given
stand still, some farther, some
f country traversed, and not
ss hy the exertions of the day.
kahl'e runs with lox-hounds on
id; twelve miles an hour heinj;
leed attainable, even for short
ses, across an inclosed country ;

for thirteen consecutive miles
•alleled in the annals of sportini^.
,uaUy severe, as, being of solid
opportunity of passing Ihrou^di,
lly termed, l)ut compelled them

did the horses to take them in

,red and fleet hounds, and of
the slow, staunch old .Southern
eled, punchy, half-bred hunters
as complete a revolution in the
the introduction of steam has

lii'-teailol meeting hi the gr.i\ ol' a chill Nnvetnher niormn^
ImIihi' llie sun lias risen, llie luiideni Niiiiiods inusler ,il the
I'ovei 1 >ide al l;:ilf-ii.i-.| ten or eleven n'eloik ; and. if llie mciiI
lie good aiiil till' sport in propoi lion, tlie ilay i^ over hy luo or
tlirei', and both hounds and liur-.e-. have an ample ~ii(Vicieiie> nl
work, aiul the i ider^ ol' e\cilriiieMl, in the death ol' a hr.iii' ol
llyiiig foses, in a couple ol' sharp, short and decisive huisls, with
a kill at the t'lid, each of foil\ minutes' to an hour's duialion.
While ill the ila\s ol' old, sjx or seven hours' slow tracking ^fud
lulling, in which the fox was fairly wearied ami worn oul. ami
badgered lo death, was the order of the day. The length of time
oiiupied \\as tlien the test of a good run; siaimiliiir>s and
endiiraiiee the crowning praise ol a pack; ami the pri/i' ol spoil-,,
maiisliip helongeil lo the man who, after trotting about lanes and
by wa\s, nicking the turns of the chase, and cutting oil' corners,
wilhoiit perhaps ciossjuj^ one Held In company with the hounds,
or leaping a single fence, came in at the death after all.

The number of miles run in a niiniinum of time, a burst with-
out a check, and a kill in the open, ,ire now ihe gr.uid disiderala;
extreme lleetiiess, su|)eradded lo high scenting i|ualilies, is Ihi'
chief merit of hounds ; ami the best rider is he ulio //:c\, as it is
!.;iios|lcally leiined, from the beginning to the end of the run. in
the same liekl with Ihe pack, riding nearly abreast, and taking
every fence in his stroke, as it occurs, without craning or lalleriiiL;.

In the Morthein and eastern slates of Ibis countrv, fox. hunting
is not pursued generally as a sport, but rather as a method of
de.-lroyinga noxious animal, and the gun is I'm the most p:n I
called in aid of a brace or two of slow, old-l;.shioned southern
hounds.

In the southern slates, however, Maryland, Virginia, both the
Carolinas and Georgia, fox-hunting is pursueil with much eager-
ness and delight, if with less system and accuracy of appointment,
as in Knglaiul.

Many regular packs of hounds are kept by individual gentle-
men in these states, and scarcely any planter is without his well-
blooded hunter whereon to join the chase.

In the less thickly settled states of (Georgia, Florida, Ala-
bama, and Mississippi, the favorite sport is deer-luinting; anil in

Mi<

12^'

THE liHI) f-'<>\

,„v of .lus. it .s .carc.lv poKsible to Uavcl a .lav's -icW, wilhou.
Zuu, .lu- jocund chorus of.lu- l.o.nul. a,ul .lu. n.cr,, sl.ou. o.
thf luinlcr rfcclioiii« tlnouuli Hie lorcst.

A vc. n.orc «c,unU nu.hocl is the .brnmil.M. ... sub>cnp..on

„,..u/oacl, ucn.lcnan m> a n. i«l,l,orl..>o.l kc.,.i"« tuo or nu..c

:„:....■ i..H..uls a. vvalU. wl.icl. .culi.v .all, ,o ,l.c l.u.lc 1- -vn

.a.l-, -.cr. on lu.n.in, .no.nin^s, an.l. in .lu- «>U. w.>o.i Ian..

;,,.„U.s.' which constitute the ..-.ate, M.r.ac o. t he huntn «

.,oun.ls. do their work as sa.is.actorilv as nu.e re«ularlv cn.t

u,.e.i packs, wher... tVoni Hk- nature of the land, c.,ual> v o s,,e... ,

il . aid svnunetvv are less needrul-since i. is rare that hounds

;;;„ ,un ab,east-than in the clear and cultivated chan,pa.,ns o.

old iMiiiland.

To this cause, n.oreover. i. is to be ascribed, that here, as n,
,.„,land of the oldc-n .lav, staunchness and endurance arcqunht.es
,„on. den,anded th.n cN.retnc speed; for the character ... tlu
,.,„,,,, and nature of the soil «ives the fox every opp....-n..v
.„■ ,o,;«in.. runnin, his own back-trail, and otherw.s. baObn^
„H. houn>K. .hile the «real extent of woodlands, a.ul the extra-
crdinarv -. veri.v of the .iense, tan.led, and th.,rny coverts, prevent

ihe spo;-,sn.en fn.n, ridin., up to the hounds, and make >t neces-
sarv for .lu.u U. follow often by hearing' rather than by v.ew.

■(Mall sports there is none so fascinating, none so ma.l y
cxcitin,, as fo.-huntiu,, with a full cry of hounds makn.g th..
ere woods crash with the .nelody of their woodland chorus-
bo nds, horses, men alike r.joicin^ and exul.in, in the hot chase
\„; ,,,„ aevelopn.ent it calls into existence of then- power and
pride. Long life to it wherever it exists, and health and happ-
ness to all who honor it!

•^

f(>\:

) uavil .1 Jav'- li'li'. withoul
,nulb, ami llu' men v hliciut ol
rest.

he Ibriiiaiioii (>rt-\ib>ciipli<'ii
irliootl kcu|)in« l«o or inori'
idilv rallv lotiR' biinlc 1)1')nmi
jinaml, in llu- wild wooiilaml
atL'r Mirlaii- nl' tlio hunting
irilv Us more ri'K»l»>l> loii^ii
of the land, i-quiilitvol^iKiil,
— shice il is ran- that houiuls
aiul tultivatfd i-liampai<;ns ol

^ be afcrihid, thai here, as in
LSK ami eiuhiraiu-e arcqualtlies
■ed; for Iho character ol the
les the Ibx every opportimilv
k-trail, and olherwiBC balllinn

ol woodland.-, and the extra-
ed, and thorny coverts, prevent
he hounds, and make it neces-
arin^' rather than by view.
) fascinating, none so madly
ull cry of hounds making the
V of their woodland chorus—
\ and exuUin>,'in the hot chase,
ito existence of their power and

exists, and health and happi-

. I /ViV/' TO ( II. I '/'AM // RICllEh'.

OR,

sxiric sii(>()/i.\(; ox the st i..\\viu:xce.

''pill'; time had arrived when, as must he the ea-e with the best
• friends, Harry and I were doomed to part, thoiii;h hiil lor a
biief season — the special aim ami object of my trip across the
broad Atlantic (beinj; no other than to see .\meriea in all its
len^jth and breadth), though Ion;,' delayed at llarr\'s strong
solicitation, and the majjnificont sport I had enjoyed under his
auspices on the broad marshes of New Jersey, and in the devious
wooillands of fair Warwick, was now to be accomplished — ,'ind
one cold winter's at'ternoon I stepped on board the steamboat
Mohican, for Sloninglon am) l!i)-.toii, whence I intended to visit
in detail tlve eastt rn portion of I he New ICnyland stales; and
crossm^ by the K'"'^'-"' "' •'"-' l^ennebec, to p.iss the spriiij; and
summer in the rich provinces of Caiuida. It was my firm intent
on leavint; my iVietul's liospitabl ■■ roof, to lia\e ;4one (juite up to
Aroostook, and taken there a snow shoe tramp al'rer the nmose
and cariboo, lint many causes fell out to the prevention of mv
plan, not the least of which was the exceeding mililness of the
winter, and consequent want of snow sulViciently deep to render
the sport either profitable or exciting. The cold inon'hs of this
year were therefore passed in absolute inaction, at least a.s regards
Held sports. 'I'he double gun ;ind Yager rille which honest
'I'imothy had with his own hands packed in double cases, duly
secured by painted sail-cloth covers, saw not the light of dav !
The brace of clean-lind)ed, active setters (which, af'.er much
debate and consultation, I had al length picked up— my choice

Hi

,^5 .1 Ih'/I' 7" (If \Ti: \l! U'K IIHh'.

Ha>i. ii...u..l l.v llarrV- .no.l oriuM.Iar a,>l""l'.""-' """ '""" "'"'
par,.no,H.ri.K.»k.T., Mik.' S>,.,tu..l -H,r...ul..ril.«t ..a.no rrn..wn..l
thnn.ulu.u. Sou .|rrs...v - th- other from ..in Kn«liKl. nva ,
Dllkc-trulv. tl.ou«l. OilV.ri„K in ll-cir nuMho.!., l.oll, A.ra.t.an.),
,,aa M.. in.»n- ul"ri>'u- .-xci.iH. than t...tlii.i,' -"".ly a ".■•iv miU'
,,,,,i,„i ,1.0 uc-ll-homa .nailHoltho N-'W KnKl'Uut ••t"'^-- ^•"«;""
Nvhich plcasurahl. inlcrn.pti..,.H t„ Ih.ir hvlK-rnal shunlKTH. Ihf.v
vvoul.l u,ulor.ht.cllv havo rivalU.l KaMalV .>,• r'al T..... \n ma«n..
,.,.1., hHorc Iho hrcakin^ up ..i wn.Ur. Thouwh .uuhvc•r^>ru.cl bv
,„v hclov.-a fu.Uisp.Ml.. the Nvinter wor.- a«av. h..wovi-r-n.ul
Ihal, ho it ^aill. not l0ih..u.l.v-th.- . ar.lv sprin;;, Wsk lar.ly m this
i,..ta.uv than it. wont, did hroak; an.! o>, iho tourlo.M.th .lav o.
Apvil I start.'.! on n.v rout.- I..war.l .<• o. r-MK-un-rahlc IUM«hl.
of Ahrahan.-thf sanu- routo, t..o, hv whi.-h th.- th.-n rcnowno.i
•,n.l Kailaut Ar....Ul U.l his .Iclachnifnl of ha.kw..o.lsnK-n n.to a
|,.,stil.- .'ouutrv. Grcath ha.l I he.-n .niHinlbn.K-il conccrmnH
,hat sa.n. r..a.i, lor hoaulilul althou«h it bc-yua! hoaut.tul
cNCColinKlv-runninK alon^ tho >^il.l a.-! wo-ad ^.-r^.- ol tlu-
,„.oa.l, hrighl Konn.'hc-c-. up to itK jur.cl.on will. Dca. r.v.r 1
„„„l .av. that a. a roa.l it is .nost txccrable. Th.-ugh barely
ciKhtv n^ilos iVo.n my startinj; post, it ...-.•upicl ..,.• tw., lull .lavs
totcaVhthelbrksorthc Konnolnx-tiKMue I a.lvau.c.l anoth..
.Un, Ibrtv tnilcs further thn,.,.4h pin.' .orests. „ver n.ounla.n
Ueijihts, skirting fair w..od cnbosonu.l lakes, .Iraggcl m a shMgh

"^'^"" ^ Ihroiiiili Inisli, lliKMiyl. lirinr.

, ;ir(ni;jli iiuiil, tliri>iij;h iiiirc.

to the Lines, where, in a miserable hovel, 1 was cnstraine.l t.>
linger siK-an.l thirty tnnst in.tnortal hours, with no l.,o.l save
Hom- bread and s.noke.l tish stewed in ran.i.l oil, till horses sh....k
an-.ve to take .ne onward Iron, :.. franeis. An -hen they dd
anive. heavens! what a cor..,-. Wc procec.-d. No less tun
three clunrU.., or sn,all tw....heele.l Canadian carts, dragg..! by
bree lamentable carcases, at which the ,uu,^n.sl pack <,. hounds
on earth woul.l have turned ..p their noses, conveyed me and my
baggage twelve miles in six hours to the mail-house. Ihere,
thanks to the kind Ibresight of a friend in C^i-ebec, was met by
a capital relay of lleet, st.ong horses, .ith a good saddle-horse

.1// /,•/(///■:/>'

A I nil' in ( i/,\n:.\f iin iiEii

\i<t

ii|)|iic>li.itiiMi mil' iKim lliiii
riiiinlol Unit imnu- riliowiit il
or iVom iiitt F.iiKlixh rival,
ir im'llioil*, l)i>lli Ariiiitiiuis),

trotliiis; maiiv ii wi'arv iiiili'
New Knxlamt tttalcn, willioui
|>,ii- livluTiial stiimbiTH, llif.v
iMalV or Fal Tom i" i"a«iii-
cr. Tlimiuli iindiviTNifnil 1),\
r woif a«ay, howoviT— ami
inlv spriii;;, li-*!* tiirtlv in tlii-
11.1 oil \\\<! t'ourk'iMilli ila> ol
u- I'vir-moiiioiaMu lU'iulil''
l)v wl\ii-ti till' tluMi rcnowiKil
iHMit of bav Uvvooilsiiii'ii into a
con inisiiiloinii'il i-oiictiniii;;
luiiiiili it l>f — voa! iKMiitiliil
iUl aiMl woculcil noiKf ol llii'

iur.c-lion willi Di'ail liMT, 1
St txic-rable. I'liougii barclv
I, it oii-iipicil nil' two TiiU ilav^
•_tiu'iu-e I ailvaiK'i'ii aiiotlici

|)iiic loii-sts, over mouiUaiii
iiua lakes, iliaggcil in a slvi^li

niimli tirhir.
-c>iij;h iiiirc.

lo liovol, I was constraiiieii to
rial lioiiis, witli no Iboil have
I in ramiil oil, liH Horses shouki
. rraiu'is. And when they did
We proccev'.ed. No less than
U(! Canadian carts, draf,'f,'ed by
h the //«H4n7V.s7packolhonnds
.■ir noses, conveyed me and my
rs to the mail-house. There,
friend in (^iiebec, 1 was met by
irses, with a good saddle-horse

lor irn-,ir, runiiHliitl jiy Mr. V.'olway -the |irince ol" piutmaslers
Nsliiiji.iviiin xellled many yearn at(<> al the tlnii desolate M.
losei'h'-, has now loiii; reaped tliehiiils ol' hit iiidiistrions energy
a happ\ home, a thiivitiK farm, the K<><>d-will and respect ol
all aioiiiMl him; and, more than all, the uraiel'iil love ol the
l''retirli /idhiliiiils, who look np to their A/ii/isniirr 'y>l>i with
leeliiii{s iiikI' »l»in h» the olil leiidal loyalty, better ileserved,
too, by the kind-hearted, sturdy and frank l'!ii){lishman, than by
llie t out iliesi Traiik that i\ er owned a si ijuneuiy . Ileaveiis! how
ileliiioii-- sfi'iiHil that simikiii;,' sirloin which ;;raci(l his hospii
,ilile board ; plii ii puddiiit;, loo, for it was Enstvr Monday; and a
I ipe V'lu shire chet'se, with no I'oiitiinptible comiiioilily ol' oKI
lani.iii.i lo hold tlu'se solids In solulion. Dinner eoiicludeil, my
nood liosi inloriiied inc lli.il eanoi's were readN ; I'oi lol the .;ieal
C'haiuliere. ,ulow ii whose broad and eullnrid vale I luul loi
some mills past been joni ney ini;, swollen by the iilinsn;illy eaiiv
Ibaw. bad laid the whole road under water. The wind was liesli
,iiid eolij, and dead aiL^ainst us, and I was ^lad to wrap my box coal
clove about me, to pull my I'lir cap over my sluM-rinn ear--, and to
cronch down lie-.iile the doj^s in the boat's bottom. Anon a ileiise
snow Mpiall came on, hilling the banks on eithei hand, and peltinj;
us unmercil'ully with its sliarj), sleety arrows; still, with lluir
measureil cliani, limtd lo the dip of their slurily paddle-, the
boalinen plied their arms; and the sun had not yet sniik behind
Ihc western hills, when gl'idly I iiualVed in the clean, comfortable
tavern .it ,St, Mary's, a jornm of hot brandy tiiddy, and -peedily
thereafter turned into a sweet, well-aired bed, the first I had skpt
ill lor many a nighi, which weariness alone had reiulend vsake-
less. On the next inorniiifj brii,'ht were we up and early, ami yet
sO b;'d was the hit4li road, the snow ivin^ tlieieon in places live
feet deep, with ruts ent down ipiile to the level of tin; soil, that
lliouyli but thirty miles of distance, it was live hours alter noon
before 1 reached I'oiiit Levi, ami saw the battled bei;;hls of that
superb C'ape Diamoiul, which years will not etVace from my
remembrance, towerini^ ;ibove the mist which shrouded the
irregular gables, the narrow streets, and busy (piays of the lower
town, with the gigantic flood of the St. Lawrence, turbid ami
vexed by isles of lloating ice, wheeling in soletnn majesty beneath

,1 /•/.•//' TO CHATEAU RICH Eli

,U..vM l-.r.suk., and l.carty wclco.no, tho k.iu.m.o "11..",!.^
no IS u,>.eon for n>anv a day, but unf.n-«otton, .'.laced al
: : io ^ a twinUHn. of the ..tigues and disa«,ce.ne.Us o.
: 1 . iournov by th. Kennebec, .vl.ch has become now-
, , it WIS -U the time, and toilsome-one ol the nKU.s ,

...hous as ,1 .a. ;.';'^^J ,^,^ ^^,.i,, ,,, fe,, ,he deep truth
man V passages in hie concerning
a,Hl phiiosopl>y of th.e sweet Mantuan's seutnnent,
Oliiii ct hac iiR'iiunssc juviibit.

Wl,ere all was new and beautiful and famous-and oh, how

^n ' nt V toward neld-sports. Many delightful days were pven
instanti> i „,„l,tv— a thousand times more

U, socielv, many to visU.ng the m.ghtN a tn
,„i,,hlv ihan 1 had fancied them-fort.hcat.ons ot the sf.on, 1 U
Ip^' ,tthe citadel, with its unrivalled panoramic v,ew-th
'; of Abraham, rich with the n.enu,ries oi those whose

' re historv-and all the sublime scenery around them.

r:;::n:Li;wereinthe.winUlingofaneyethe^.u.v

.hich lav so deep when 1 arrived in every vale and Irollo..
: n hedasif bvn^agic-, when the trees, which not three da>s
, "re had been bare and dry and sapless, burst out as . str.cKen
h so me beneficent enchanter's wand, nto bright, tender green-
V Ihen the incessant chorus of the vernal frogs was blen d
th the weak but cheerful strain of the American robm ; wl n
h w nds began to breathe with a soft, balmy whisper, and the
un U ax v'-v warn, at mid-day ; then did the mnate passion
. : „p the inward luan, and I began to c.uery -"«;-;; ^
spring sports of Canada. Not much, however, did lea n o
nco!rage me in the pursuit-a few unhappy woodcock-whici,
b 1 '.hile I write, the Canadian sportsmen lush no o
laughter, when they should be most safe irom violence ,us u
,' e act o mating, and some rare, scattered snipe to be tound at
■intervals by some land-runnel or snow-swollen streamlet ,n
e bl e open fields, were all the hopes held out to me by the sage
.dsof he auebec sporting world. "Had you been three
Lth later "X all held to the same tale--' we could have

/■:.\ir RICHER

.1 r/iV/' TO CHATEAU RICHER.

c uuiii^ioii <>l' '">■ iVieiul, the
Jino, the Kti>"''>" "''' Kns?Ush
, but unforKotton, oUaceii all

latigiifs ami clisafrreL-intMUs o\
;c, which has become now—
J toilsome— one of the maii.v,

wiiich we feel the deep truth
nan's sentiment,

insse juvabit.

iful and famous— and oh, how

0 environs of that American
ined that my thoughts turned
my delightful days were given
ilyhtv- a thousand times more
-fortifications of the strong Hill
irivalled panoramic view— the
Ihe memories of those whose
sublime scenery around them.

(winkling of an eye, the snow
,.cd in every vale and hollow,
he trees, which not three days

1 sapless, hurst out as if stricken
wand, nto bright, tender grcen-
Df the vernal frogs was blended
n of the American robin; when
1 a soft, balmy whisper, and the
.y; then did the innate passion
began to query concerning the
much, however, did I learn to
few unhappy woodcock— which,
nadian sportsmen blush not to
most safe from violence, just in
c, scattered snipe, to be found at
lel or snow-swollen streamlet in

hopes held out to me by the sage

world. "Had you been three

, the same tale—" we could have

:.hown \ou such snipe shoothig as the world cannot sln)w besides.
Vou may kill sixty couple any day in July or August, at Chateau
Richer, on Crane island; but now it's ot no use at all; you may
walk all day and get a wretched couple, or two couple at the
best!'" •• Mut why.' " I still persisted, "Why.' Oon't the birds
come on here in sprinir Hocks.'"' "Only in straggling whisps,
live or six at a time, wild, watcht'ul, scattered, making no stay
among us." "True, in the lields I can believe you readily; but
in the marshes, at this Chateau Richer, which \ou speak of.'"
" None are ever killeil there in the spring." " But whv not.' Did
von ever go there in spring.' Did anybody ever go.'" " No; no
one ever goes in spring; it was no use," etc., and so in all the
plentitude of my self-wisilom, a>'.d, as I fancied, of experience, I
convincid myself that the reason no birds were killed in spiin;^'
was simply that no one went to kill them; and that I should fiml
all the marshes full, and do great things. To this tioiable con-
clusion I partially succeeded in bringing a young friend of mine,
a good shot and staunch walker, and highly promising, although
voung sportsman. So we two — very ([uietly determining to give
the old shots a lesson — set torth one lovely alternoon to introduce
spring snipe-shooting o;i the St. [..awrence. .\fler a heartv
luncheon on nuittonehops and right good ale, we chartered a
m(iychcdo>H\ a two wheeled vehicle not much unlike to a New
ICngland chaise or New "^'ork gig, save that it has no hea;i, .ind
in lieu of a dashboard a horizontal strip of wood six or seven
inches wide, whereon the driver sits, encouraging his active, stout
and docile cob by the two talismanic words whence comes the
title of the vehicle. Into this we ensconced ourselves, with gun-
cases and carpet-bags, and due provision of tea, sugar, brandy
and bottled porter; and then — my two setters and I'riend .Meck's
spaniels, 'Pop senior and Top junior, trotting along behind us,
followed by a most heterogenous group of turnspits, mastifts,
terriers and curs of low degree — through the sweet suburb of
.St. Roche, ?.way we wen: across the long bridge over tlie .St.
Charles river, through IJeaufort, with its handsome church mid-
way the opposite hill, toward the sublime fal! of the Montmorenci.
Here, for a while, we paused to gratify ourselves with a sight
never too often to be seen, of that most lovely cataract, and to

it'

,ii

,,, .1 7V.7/' TO illMKM' h'/illEh'

,,.„vsl, o», .'oo>l. i-lnn.kv liUle l.ois., wl.o luul IroU.aal.-K nu,.t
„M,v>,.itlin-lv, will. U..VC sK.ut .nrn a.ui ll..-i. l.auga^. at a vaW
.„■ ,.,,1 lo./nul.s tlK- hour. AIUm a litllo May wo starl.ci -ami 1
shall .u.l inlli.V upon ...,■ .vadrr, if l.api'il.v 1 l-.ul one, ll.c hun-
.l,v>l ti.no. a.>>iTibcci ck-c.i|.ti..n of llu- falls-atui tor iW sketch
whicl. 1 took on the spot, it pc.lains iu nowise to snipe shooLn^,
so pa.s it-.ntenton reaehinK Chateau Richer in lime to «el an
,,„„, „, ,wo of shooting hefore Mni^et. The road was very
lovelv the r-eaM)u and the eveniuL; es.ii.isite. Ten miles we
.,,,,ve alo..« ll.e mar^e of the ,na;;nit>een. St. Lawrence, lus
l„oad a.ul s-alike waters rippling and sparklin- to our riKht,
w.lh a fair verK'e of cultured llelds, n.eadows a.ul garden -grounds,
n.d here a,ul there an orchard lyinn ''o.ueen the.n and the road;
while to onr left a sleep and abrupt hat.k, frinucd with dense
underwood. overhun>; us, a thousand small, transparent torrents
hrawliuK and u>'-«lin« down its tlanks, were lost in the n"K>'tv
, iver Hundreds of whitewashed cotta-es, yahle-end to the road
looked out upon the meadows and the .^^orj-eous strea.n and
,„ ,nv an elm tree, centmies old, droope.l with its newly-buddn.j;
,.;,,UuKls over the winding wheel-track. In short, th. n> hole
roac' is a village, a long, long, strangling village; every house
clean atul tidv to a wonder, with whitewashed walls .nd white
blinds to the" well gla/.ed casements, and neatly-painted stands
xvith llowe.s moss roses and li.ie clove carnations adornmg every
uMulow; and peasant maids, with their black, roguish eyes atul
hroad-leafed hats of home made straw, and short, full petticoats
of lunnespun, laughing and courtesying to the strangers Iron,
overv open door. And this is the country, this the peopb',
which a few demagogues among them-.lves, and a lew Inntors
in the councils of the mother country, would make us hchevo--
would make the.nselves helieve-to be oppressed and wretched
The merriest, the happiest, Ihc most contented, the most qmet-
minded people whom the sun looks on in his whole career ol
Plorv Without a tax to pay, without a want which their own
Hud supplies not, almost an illustration of old Arcadian pas-
torals-spinning their own cloth from the wool shorn from then-
own sheep, tanning their own leather, weaving their own hats,
grinding their own grain, raising every article they wear, or eat.

"W''

M! h'/ 1' II Eh'

I who liati UolHilaloiin mo^t

ami llK'i' haugam', at a lalc
Hull- stay wc starlcil— aiul I
lapiiilv 1 riiul one, llic luin-
lu' falls- -ami for tin' skL'ttli

in nowise lo sniin- sliuoliiifi,
■ail RiiluT in lime to t;el an
ni-et. 'I'lie loail was very
il; esqnisite. Teti miles we
a-nilieeni St. Lawrence, his

and sparkling to our right,
neadows ami garden ijronnds,
; helween them and the road ;
ipt hank, frin'j;ed with dense
ul small, transparent torrents
niks, were lost in the mighty
ottages, gable-end to the road,
nd the gorgeous stream, and
ooped with its ncwly-hndding
Itraek. In short, tlu whole
■aggling village; every liouse
whitewashed walls iuid while
ts, and neatly-painted stands
love earnations ailorning every

tlieir blaek, roguisli eyes and
raw, and short, full petticoats
tesving to the strangers from
tlie country, this the people,
them-elves, and a few /niilois
intrv, would make us believe—
to be oppressed and w retched !
ost contented, the most quiet-
oks on in his whole career of
hout a want which their own
istration of old Arcadian pas-
from the wool shorn from their
ather, weaving their own hats,

every article they wear, or eat,

A TRIP TO CI I A] EM' h'ICIIEE.

I. '^3

or use— brandy and tea alone excepted— their laws, tiieir language,
their religion guaranteed them, they can he lashed into rebellion
only by their worst enemies, the agitators, under most specious
lies! Tlu; loudest clamorers ilarc not assert to these poor, harm-
less, liappy peasants that they nrr iiijun'd or oppressed-hut
only that they -.I'ill Ih\

Now, the lie runs, that i:ng!and is about to overthrow the
Roman Catholic Church; now to explode the language; and
with a people — few of whom read, few of whom visit the' large
towns, none of whom are capable of understanding England's
policy or the state of all'airs on an extended scale— the lie becomes
a current truth, and the good, honest iieasaat sutlers, to pander to
the demagogue's ambition.

Hut to return to our siiooting. At about four o'clock we reaclu^l
the beginning of the marshes. The road swejit olf toward the
hills, which here receded tVom the river, enclosing a witie tract
of Hat alluvial land, a mile or two in length by perhaps hall
that width— the inner edge of this area fenced otV and cultivated;
the outer, next the river, unenclosed, intersected by many
creeks and streamlets, now full and glittering to the sunshine, lor
the llood tide was running, and overllowed at times — being the
famous snipe ground. At the far end of this our driver told us
wr shouM find easily the house of Pivrre Dubois, with whom wi'
wi ■ to pass the night, and we resolved to beat it faithfully
to-iiight, that so we might learn the best spots ;nnl choicest
haunts of our predestined victims against to-morrow's dawn.
Well, out we jumped and loadetl, pulled up our fen boots to
mid-thigh, whistled our dogs to heel, climbed the Canadian
palings (no easy iask, by the way) which intervened between the
high road and the marsii ; and strode on, conlident of sport, and in
anticipation gloriously triumphant over the old slow-coaches of
(.^lebec.

.Scarcely, however, had- I made three steps across the last
fence ere 1 saw that tiie laugh was against us. From the very
nature of the ground, it was at the first glance self-eviilent not
only that there could be no snipe on it now, but that it never
could be ipiiiig snipe ground. It is, as T liave said, a tlat alluvial
swee|) of land, Intersecteil by innumerable streamlets, tilled to

ii

' •!!,,

1

,3., .4 TRIP TO CHATEAU RICHER.

the brink and over it at high tides, but at low -.vate. forniiuK
deep cliannelled gulleys through .l>e soft greasy m"^'- t^'" "'■
twelve feet at le'.st beneatii the level of the u.eadows. 1 his llat
is covered during the summer by a luxuriant crop ol sott and
tender gras-. rarely rising above six inches from the soil-watered
by all the runs of wluch I have spoken, and overflowed m the
vicinitv of these, and all along the beach, at every tide. In
consecpience the snipe, which come on from the remote north
immediatelv after getting olf their young, alight on tins and
similar levels bv mvriads at a time toward the latter days oi
Julv, and remain tliere in swarms, fat, la/,v and reluctant to get
up," till the autumnal frosts, uhich begin early in September, drive
them down to more southern latitudes. During the winter, on
the contrary, these meadows are covered with snow, which
tha.ved partiallv at every rising of the tide, is again congealed
bv the excessive cold, the moment that the ebb commences, into
a sheet of solid ice. The grass is utterly killed down, and the
roots are so much alYected that it recp.ires a more than ordinary
degree of heat and sunshine to regenerate the stricken verdure.
At a glance, then, when I set foot on it, and .aw the whole wide
ran-e of meadow overspread with the dead yellow t.lament>
whU-h had been grass last summer, without one blade ere.t, or
covered enough anvwhere to have shielded a grasshopper, 1 sau
that our cake was'dough. There was, however, nothing lor it
but to persevere. Our route bedward and supperward lay
straight ahead, and having come, I thought it .luite as well to see
the thing well out; so on I strode, most manfully, bearing my
uun half cocked in the hollow of my arm, with the forefinger ol
my right upon the .rigger guard, as if I had expected at each
stq, to hear the shrill "skeap! skeap!" NVuving my setters o
the right and left, as heads up and sterns down they scoured tlie
ureasv flat, and whistling to them cheerily when they stood stil
and s'tared in my face, as if to ask me why the devil I had
brought them there, bye and bye I reached one of the channeled
runs which I have described, full and flooded, for the tide was
„„w well up. Knowing nothing about the nature of the ground,
seeing all around me a dead level, and quite forgetting the great
rise and fall of the tide, I never suspected above eighteen inches
o. water, and confident in my fen boots in I strode fearlessly

CAC RICHER.

i, but at low -.vatei torniiug
liL- soft gn'iisy niviii, ton or
1 of tlie iiieadows. This Hat
a liixiiriaiU crop of soft ami
inches from the soil — watered
|ioken. ami oveitloweil in the
e beach, at every tide. 1"
e on from the remote nortli
• young, ali^h! on this and
le toward the latter days of

fat, lazy and reluctant to get
legin early in September, drive
udes. During the winter, on

covered with snow, which,
r the tide, is again congealed

that the ebb commences, into
s utterly killed down, and the
requires a more than ordinary
•generate the stricken verdure.

on it, and ^aw the whole wide
th the dead yellow fdament>
.•r, without one blade ere.t, or
; shielded a grasshopper, 1 saw
; was, however, nothin;; for it
jedward and supperward lay
I thought it ((uite as well to see
ie, most manfully, hearing my
mv arm, with the forefinger of
, as if I had expected at each
seap!" NVuving my setters to
.1 sterns down they scoured the
1 cheerily when they stood still

ask me why the devil I had

I reached one of the channeled

II and Hooded, for the tide was
about the nature of the ground,
1, and quite forgetting the great
suspected above eighteen inches
en boots in I strode fearlessly

"W'

A TRIP TO CHATEAU RICHER. \y^

For about ten oi- twelve ii/iees it was (piite shallow, not at the
most above my ankles, but very dark and muddy. Well, I had
not a thought of danger, and on 1 was just stepping, when by
strange luck one of the setters, which so far had been following
steadily at my heals, sprung forward, and turning com|)letely
head over heels, disappeared for a few seconds, then rising to the
top swam a dozen strokes or two and landed, whereat 1 sagely
turned about, walked .ij) the runnel, ciossed it with ease two
hundred _. ards above, and proceeded with my beat. The follow-
ing morning, however, gi ing over the saine beat when the tide
was out, I found to my astonishment my foot-steps at tlit ' ink
of the ravine (lor such it was) twelve leet at least ii\ depth, and
twice that ili^tanee over. Had I got in I must have U)st my gun,
aivd not imjirobably my lile; for though a light and active swim-
mer, I had on huge fen boots, which would have draggeil mo
down, and the soil was so slippery and gioasy as to yield neither
hand nor ibothoUl. Of this I knew not anything, and I accoril
ingly strode on, beating the outer margin of the meadow with all
ddigonce, while Aleck, with his spaniels, was making good the
landward side, until I reached the broader channel of the .St.
Anne's, which does not cut itself a gorge like all ilie smaller
rivulets, but bringinL;- down a copious limestone deposit, has
actually overspread the mud with a shelly coat of petrifaction,
and spreads out over a broad bed with a hard bottom, making a
loud and brawling murmur as it crosses the nearly level marshes.
Having thus finished our beat, we hended up to the road, weary
enough, and anxious for our supper. On reaching the main roail
wc asked the first liahitant we met for Picrrr Dubois, and were
directed half a mile aiiead to Pierre Dubois Ic petit. We reached
the house and cursed our stars to find that no marehe-done was
there, and that we must hark back again to a mile beyond the
spot where we had first enquired, to find the residence of Pierre
Dubois le grand. Away we went again, and this time went too
far, and found that we had got to the house of Dubois /its instead
of Dubois /'ere; and in the end, when utterly worn out ami dead,
we got to the right place, were pleased to learn that all the
people for two miles along the road— or twenty for aught [ know
— were called />ubois; and that instead ol holding ourelves
\inlucky, we ought to have been marvelously thankful that we had

iii.i

I .

r

,3^, A rniV TO CHATEAU RlCllElt

,„, two or three .u,«e lon,.b.cked eha.rs co.nplelcc, ' -

iC ^ve except su.ulrv strips of rag carpet, a dozen ta^^ci, pr.n ■
f . i U. crueif.; at the head of either bed, and a s.na 1 pot.
' , w.ter in a narrow niche beside the door. Ue.ore the latticed
W Iw Jto^d the eternal .lower stand, with its choicest fre.ght
•o^s and carnations, and on the table, before tnany nunutes
ind d apsed. was laid a snow-white cloth wi.h boiled and poach d
it d,:, toast. .Vied bacon and .Vesh bntter ; tl.e tea,., d.. ,
sSc^ed waslought next, and we ourselves, w.th »■ ' - ^■"^
learned at Catnbridge, prepared the h.ghlv tlavored u^
snp,,ed, snu.ked our cigars, discussed a jorun, o. ho b and
nunch and, havng seen our quadruped comp^in.ons we 1 suppul
'"r, ;.v^ d with^lean straw, turned in. Be.V,re we closed our
"os owev •- we settled our proceedings .br the n.orrow ; o. sn.pe
J; nu,st e • there was no hope ; duck, however. ,. w as s ul.
vX; of creeping through the gnHe.s, -night ^^ ^Z
.hore; we resolved, therefore, to take an --ly br.^ . ^ ^^
along the verge of the St. Lawrence lor ten .n.les ta. lur, k.lhng
waf ducks i. .night, and then to mount our ,narc„. ,lo.c, v.sU
Til of the St. Anne's, a splendid cataract, .ar -"^^;^-
,he hills and little known-comparatively j'P-'^'j-^-;"^ '"^p
t„ hurrv home .or a late dinner! Our plan ^'-'-'l^-^; '
upon it" rose early and fed heartily, started upon our hnal t an^.p
w th the first peep of dawn, picked up a duck or t wo-but no.h.ng
o nl> up .o' o tr delinquencies-drove onward, and saw wba
sTl no natne here, nor pretend to describe, for ha h .t n
J;:written in the thirty-second book of the 'J'^;--- ^
Frank Forester's Experience by Field and l" l-^/-; / ^'^'^^ ;;
,lK. United Slates and British Provu^ces.' Su.hce it, tha
hol..> we killed no game, although we got n.arvelously qu....d
an gibed in Q,.ebec, 1 have not yet regretted my tr.p to Chatea
RichlM-, although I there learned that there was ,.o sprung sn>p.
shooting on the St. Lawrence.

'iAU HIGHER.

X our quarters, wo lost no time
placing tl'<--m anil our luavv
and loose dressing; gowns-
low, while washed room, with
irtains, festooned to huge posts
ble in the middle of the room,
chairs completed the furniture,
L;arpet, a dozen tawdry prints
• either bed, and a small pot of
e the door. Before the latticed
land, with its choicest freight
tie table, before many minutes

cloth with boiled and poached
J fresh butter; the teapot duly
ourselves, with all the skill we
he highly Uavored brew. We
ussed a jorum of hot brandy
luped companions well suppeil
ined in. Before we closed inn-
;edings for the morrow ; of snii)e
,pe; duck, however, it was said,
gulleys, might be slain on the
take an early breakfast, to beat
ice for ten miles farther, killing
to mount o\ir imiirlh' ilouc, visit
iidid cataract, far embosomed in
.aratively speaking-and thence
! Our plan devised, we slept
ly, started upon our final tramp
d up a duck or two— but nothing
i_drove onward, and saw what
:end to describe, for hath it not
d book of the third volume of

Field and Flood and Forest of
h Provinces.' SulVice it, that
ough we got marvelously quiz/.id
yet regretted my trip to Chateau
1 that there was wo spring snipe

.SVVi'AVY/ SA7/'/£: A RAMHLLXd IWrjiK.

BY FRANK FOR KST F.K

Solvilur <icn> Itytms (irato vice tfris I I'avoiii,

THE signs of the season begin to justify us in looking forward
to the early arrival of our much esteemed spring visitor
i,'alliHtig-o, better known, though not, as Audubon informs us,
cor>ec/l\\ as the English snipe.

lie will soon be winging his way high in midair from I he rice
fields and mild climate of Georgia and the Carolinas, toward his
summer retreat and nestling places among the cool waters and
willow swatnps of icy Labrador. But on his way he will tarry
with us for weeks, periiaps, if the season fiivor, for months —
artbrding tlie best of sport to our sportsmen, the most dcMeious
of delicacies to our epicures; and, as I have said, dear " .Spirit,"
the signs of the season justifying us in believing that his advent
is near at hand, I will add further, that many prognostications
lead me to think that he will come to us this year in greater
numbers than in past seasons, and that he will give us a fairer
chance than he has given us of late, of perpetuating his slaughter
pleasantly, and lu.xuriating U[)on the fruits of our prowess; in
other words, it bids fair to be a devilish good snipe season.

Now you will ask me, peradventure, what are the signs of
the times upon which I rely as sure tokens of his approach.' The
signs are man. .old, and for the most part simultaneous; the

appearance of shad abundant in our streams, mav be held as an
10

1'

'i

(5

f.

%i\

If

.'

Nil

fi

■38

srRiNC s.wirE

almo.1 inlallible token of the pre.cn.-. of snipo .n our ,neado^.
-7c Pipin. of the bluebird, like bimsdr a passen.er ,n,n. tbe
„u , outb. is UK-lodious to tbe sport.mauV ear, as tlu- b.e svb.cb
Ta bi ,ger. bis ,narcb-tbe croaU of tbe vernal tro,. tb# .ke
r'e cea.es to be to bi.n unnu.sieal-.be Mvellin« o. tbe .yellow
„uas on the waterside willows, and tbe sprou.in,^ ot the tender
,reen n.ush grasses, all speak elear tidings to .be eve o. tbe
true sportsnum; a..d of these n.anv are even now about us.

A^out ten davs ago. as I was sitting before break.ast toastn,g
...v u,es at the :tove, and wishing earnestlv that the Ir.sbn.an
would descend-befor. whieb no black tea or buttered toast-
"uienlv heard a faint chirrup out of doors. 1 started o n,v fee
e raptu;ed, verv nearly upset the bewildered chess plaver, who
Is un.inating on Hn, problen,, the first idea of w nch dawn d
„pon hi.n at the bottom of the I'assaic the day he bah drown
,ne, and rushed out to tbe little esplanade at ,he lop o. n,y t
terraces. I was looking about me earnestly and bstenmg xMth
all mv ears; Checkmate had joined nu. yawning nnd -om ermg,
„nd somewhat disgusted. Again it fell v.po" <">■ ear and ollow-
"the sound mv eve caught the small stranger, sb.venng b,s
wi',gs in the early sunshine on tbe top of a feathery ce.ar, and
whistling his merry greeting to the northern morning.

\'V\L be is! there he is! I thought I could not be nus.aken!
Hv George! lam right glad to see him."
•\.A.ab!" dnawled Checkmate, -'tha. d-d dirty hltle bud!

What is it?" , , , ,,

u A bluebird, Checkmate ; the bluebirds have come .
.>A-ab! I suppose they have, if that's one; but Id nu.ch

,Uher breakfast had come. D-n the bluebird! what the devl

have vou got to do w ith bluebirds? "

"Thev are a sure sign of snipe— that's all."

.. A-aii' " And Checkmate relapsed into bis problem, and 1
went to mv sanctum to take tbe plugs out of my gun-barrels and
see how the mainsprings worked after a winter's d.suse^ Ihat
verv afternoon the hrst ban. of shad was drawn on the Pas^. c
and the next morning a sporting neighbor, a ,olly Yorkslnre
former, by the wav. called-or as he would have termed U
SL ./ in-to inform me that he had flushed an o.Ul b.rd,

1

rii'E

If of MiiiH' ill our meadows
imsflf a passenger from llie
rtsmaii's car, as tlic fife which
of the vernal frogs, th# liVie
l_-the swelling of tlie yellow
1 the sprouting of the tender
.■ar tidings to Itie eve of the

are even now ahout us.
iiig before lireakfast, toasting

earnestly tiiat the Irishman
ilaek tea or buttered toast— I
)f doors. 1 staited to my feet
bewildered chess player, who
le first idea of which dawned
isaic the day he half drowned
planade at the lop of my turf
; earnestly and listening with
1 me, vawniiig find wondering,
I fell upon "iy ear, and follow-

small stranger, shivering his
e top of a feathery cedar, and
L- northern morning,
lought I could not be mistaken I

him."

•'that d— d dirty little bird!

)luebirds have come! "
if that's one; but I'd much
the bluebird! what the devil
p "

!_thafs all."

■lapsed into his probletn, and I
ilugs out of my gun-barrels and
1 after a winter's disuse. That
ihad was drawn on the Passaic,
^r neighbor, a jolly Yorkshire
' as he would have termed it
lie had flushed an odd bird,

SI'NiXi, SXII'E

no

meaning thereby a single bird, in u little s|)rlng run near his
house. Thereafter, post followeil jiost, hot with tiilings; a wliisp
had been seen wild and wai \ on the lOlizabethtowii meadows;
two or three had been Ihisjied on the lloboken marshes; and last,
a couple had been killed on Tr.iin's meadows — in all seasons the
earliest ground.

The yellow buds h.ive swollen on the watersiile willows — the
gnen marsh grasses are sprouting wherever warm rains have
trickled over the soil.

Therelbre the snipe are coming. Hut, gentle " .Spirit," t'lev
have not yet come— lor one sign is still wanting, without which
all the others are nothing worth, although by itself insulVnienl.
The frogs have not yet begun to attune their /'/'<Xv/-, XvXvX', Xvx/v,
ko(ik-y as old .Aristophanes interprets their delectable music to
written words— proving thereby that the frost is not sulliciently
o/// ()////(• 4' /(<//«(/ to allow them to bore their way u|)ward from
those deep subterranean dormitories into which they burrow-
beyond the reach of weather, to return with returning April to
the upper sunlight.

The tVogs and the worms ascend together to the surface, and
until they do ascend, vainly shall you look tor master (idlliiiujsfo
on inland marshes, or on wet upland tallows, vainly shall you
pursue him anywhere, unless, like a friend of mine, from whom
1 derive much curious sporting information, you should have the
luck to find and kill him in great numbers on tin: biticli at
lioikii-.-ay! :!

Joking ajiart, however, depend upon it, the snipe are coming.
There have been three consecutive white frosts, and it tried hard
to rain, and diil make out to drizzle a few, yestertlay — the clouds
arc mustering gray and northeasterly, and there is that delecta-
ble salt water rawness in the air, which defies dreadnaught pea-
jacket or rain-proof Mackintosh, making its way clear through
skin and muscular llesh to the very bones, portending a north-
easter.

It will rain :his evening or to-morrow like sticks-a-breaking —
it will rain, '• Spirit," days three at least, peradventure seven.
Then will the sun shine out genial; the wind will come out of

t

'II

4i

'itf'

k'
i

m

n

r

I-jn

sru/ya SNIPE.

the wcHt.^oftniul balm.'; llu' IVok- will 'To^k far a.ul near ; and
ll.on on with y..ur fu«lian jairkct aiul away to tl.o scoueol actio..,
lor thi'.i you will be sure tha' ««//»■ (/»'• .««/</

So much lor the spee.lv adve.,!. Now lor the Kood season,
wlK-rcon I will not so ion« detain you. I have watched the
weather "Spirit," somewhat clonely during the three hi.^tni
which I have spent in thi- vast .epublic, watched it as behoove
a sportsman to watch, curl-.u^ly ; and 1 have noted that an early
spring is invariably a cold, variable, uncertain, fitlul, d-n-ble
spriuL'-a very step.nother of the year, and :iV^ trr.sw. Now,
snipe do not 'love variable weather. They will pitch, indeed,
and rest and feed for a day or two, but the., they are up and away,
no one knows whither: and even while they do tarry, they are
.o wide awake, so wa.y and so wild, that the.c is little chance ot
making a tolerable bag.

In mild, soft weather, on the contrary, they stay w.th us lor
two or three months, and sometimes even breed here. It is on
sunny days, when the herbage is sulV.ciently dry to adm.t ol
their squatting dow.i with their breasts pressed closely up....
the g.ass or rushes, that they lie the hardest and allow dogs
to point them, which thev will rarely do when the foliage is wet,
walking about at such times a tip-toe, with their necks stretched
to the utmost, listening for every sound, a.ul springm- on the
least alarm, with their sharp, shrieki.ig whistU-.

On their first arrival snipe are found for a day or two otte.i-
times on the salt meadows, a.id so.netimes. i.i ve.y dry seasons
for a longer ti.ne, but such places are not con-enial to them, and
the food which they find tl-.ereon is apt to re.uier the.r lKsh./,.s//..—
or as it is perhaps mor.- correctly termed, sedgy.

After this pause thev remove to the inland or fresh .neadows.
and are to be found most abundantly, especially i.i w.ld and
blustering weather, in warm and sheltered situations, under the
southern-skirts of woodlands, where such are to be found on the
meadow edges, where living springs, or, as the country folk call
them, warm springs, boil out of the ground, for there the herb-
age is always the greenest and most succulent, and food the most
abundant.

,NIPE

< will iTOftk lar anil near ; and
111 awav to till' Ki-cne of action,
(;;■(• lOlHcI

Now for the «"'"' •'L-ason,
n you. I liave watcheil the
iHcly during; the thrc' lintiii
[uihlic, watched it as hchoovc^
and 1 have noted that an early
lie, nncertain, litful, d— n— hie
i year, and vkf xirM. Now,
icr. They will pitch, indeed,
, but then they are up and away,
while they do tarry, they are
id, that there is little chance of

contrary, they stay with us for
les even breed here. It is on
is sulViciently dry to admit of

■ breasts pressed closely upon
ie the hardest and allow dogs
relv do when the foliage is wet,
)-toe, with their necks stretched
y sound, and springini,' on the
leking whistU-.

e founil for a day or two oflen-
ioinetiines, in very dry seasons,
i are not coni^enial to them, and
is apt to render their tUsh //.'</n—
• termed, svilu^y.

■ to the inland or fresh meadows,
indantly, especially in wild and
I sheltered situations, under the
here such are to be found on the
in,>;s, or, as the country folk call
the ground, for there the herb-
ost succulent, and food the most

si'it/Nd sxh'e

1(1

In weather of this kind, especially easterly weather. Ihev are
at times found in great numbers among briars and bushes,
where the ground is springy or even splashy, and I remember
one occasion in which in three day's shooting I bagged, with
the aid of a frietul. above a hundred snipe, while two other
sportsmen, as good shots as ourselves, or ni'arly so, who were
shiM)ting the whole time within sound of our guns, haggeil but
eleven in the same time, simply in eonseiiuenee of tl,' tact that
they persisted in beating tlie open meadows, while we shot
among the bi\ishwood a'ld briars on the wooil eilges. This was
at I'ine lirook, on the Long Meadow, which I consider as
decidedly the best rurlv ground in thi' counlrv. At Chatham 1
once bagged twelve coupU' ol' snipe in thick covert, among high
timber, precisely on tht: ground which in summer is the best
cock ground, hut on thai ilay it was blowing a positive gale,
with tinrries of snow ami haii, and I was led to beat the wood
almost accidentally, by observing several snipe which rose wild
and out of distance to pitch \\\ that direction.

At the ICnglish neighborhood, likewise, which used to be
excellent spring ground, until it was completely overrun and
devastated by cockney shooters from the citv, 1 have had good
sport among the thick brushwood to the let't of the turnpike road
on this side of the toll-gate, where the coppice is intersected by
numerous muddy cowpaths, in which the birds can bore easily
and procure an abundance of their favorite nutriment.

I remember on lliis ground many years ago, when I was but
a novice in .'Vmeri-m shooting, to have bagged I'ourteen brace of
birds without a dog. My pious reader will, I tear, be horrified at
hearing this deed was done on (Jood Friday; but I was at that
time engaged in a business which kej.t me closely fettered to the
city, and it was only on holidays that I could make my escape
from duraiHi' vilr to the tree wilds and waters.

Later in the season the birds resort to the open meadows,
and frequent in vast numbers the hollow places ori the inland
marshes, which having been filled with stagnant water in early
spring, by the process of evaporat-on and absorption have been
covered with a rust-colored, and nr.iddyscum, through which the

Ak

k

f

II

%

142

,S77.VAV, S\//'l':

"!■ Jv aro cullol '• slank..- and it will W well .or .!>. spor.Mnan
wl...is not ac<,uain...a with localitifH, a.ul wIu.ko -y. .- not kuI1>-
cic'ntly prac.i 'c.i ... .l.to.. .lu-, l.v ,1.. lav .,f .l-o la.ul .o in.orn,
,;i,„sH|- oncc-rninu then l.y .-"l-rin, of tlu- co.n.ry folks, a-, n
war.n w.alhur, in April and May.hin spor, will depend n. a «rca,
.ncasure on hi. heatinK' then,, the birds frequently deser n.K tht
pen ground entirely and eon«.e.a,in« in vast tl.u-ks .n these
, ,oiee situa.ions. I an, satisfied that I onee tU.shed .wo hundred
„irds from a .lank of .his kind .,n the ni« Meadow, .1 I'.ne I rook
„ nuHleratelv si.ed prairie enclosed by tall woods. ... the westwa.d
„f the tavern, whieh is ex.eedin^ly «ood late .eedu,^' and ly.n,'
.round. 1 had heat Hk' whole -neadow blank, whe., one o. n.y
tett.rs eanu. .o a dead point, but too near his bird, wh.ch rose
under his nose, llutiered a few yards, fat and buy, and ah«hted
a.ain without observing the doK, which held his po,n.. On .ny
wdkinu' up so.ne tbi.tv bird., rose together, out ol vshuh I kdled
„ doulie shot, some twenty or thirty rising at the rep..r. o.
„,. uun. After loadiuK I ti.oved forward a pace or .wo. when
,„;. dogs aga.n stood sti.V, and, as I could plainly perce.vo, on
/„.,. birds, the san.e thing happened a second and to make
a long storv short, a third thne. I killed three double sl.ots-
no gr:.at feat, bv the way. .or the bird, were as tat. and , ew
almost as heavv as chickens-witho-.t n.oving ten steps, and a
tbe last shot fuil a hundred birds rose at the sound, and sca.tered
then.selves all over the tneadow wluch I had previously heaten^
How numerous they were may be judged from tins tact, hat
I had no sport, up to that thne. and that it was nearly tour o clock
in the afternoon when 1 can.e upon these btrds, and thata.tu-
wards I ba^-ed sixtv-threc snipe otVmy gun, for I was alone. U
is true that I shot 'till it was so dark that I could not see any
longer, but the tneadow was positively alive with .hen, to the

''"'a ielv easy rules and bits of light advice to learners and \ have
done-, and here I hope that accomplished shots will not sneer at
,nv dignifving bv mentioning little tnatters vshich are well-ktiown
to them, re.netnbering. perhaps, that they acquired the knowledge

«iU

MI'li.

itui tL-n.kT. I'li.'HO pla'P- i"
^■ill !)>• well lor tho spoiiMiuiii
fs, iuul wlioite ••vf !■* n«l "*"'''■
111,' lav of the laiul, lo inl'orin
■ill'' ol' till- i-oiiiilrv folks, ut. in
iH sport will cicpeiul ill a «ri'at
lirdh frfqiieiilly dfsiitiiiK the
;;it'mK in vn-f tlocks in tlieso
int I oni'f lUislii'ii twoluMulrcii
If Ui« Meailow.al I'inc lli..ok,
bv tall wooils, lo the wc-twanl
y nooil late iVcilinK' anil lyinR
•adow blank, wlicn one of inv
too near lii'- Wril, •vliicli rose
irds, fat anil la/y, anil alii;lilt.'il
vliicli liclil bis point. On my
togetlur, out of nnIhiIi I killed
thirty rising at the report of
forward a i^aee or two. when
IS I eould plainlv perceive, on
lened a second and, to make
I killed three double shots-
he bird^ were as fat, and tiew
thiv.t moving' ten steps, and at
rose at the sound, and scaltered
wiiich I had previously beaten,
be iud^'ed from this fact, that
d that it was nearly four o'clock
ipon these birds, and that after-
otVmy gun, tor I was alone. It
, dark that I could not see any
)sitively alive with them to the

ight advice to learners and I iiave
inpHshed shots will not sneer at
le matters which are well-known
hut they acquired the knowledge

Sl'RlXa SN/PK

«43

of such niceties only by long ixperlrnee, and that a word spoken
in season miyht have eii.d)leil thrni to rettii n home a« they do
now with a welUftlled game-bng, instead of a beggarly account of
empty pockets.

In the first place, then, rather a windy day is the best tor snipe
shooting, though it sli:)iild be a sinith<Tly or weslwardly wind, by
no means an easterly wind; and contrary to the lule for any other
kind of game, the gr.iimd should In- beaten ilinvn wiiij, and the
do'^' in case he should point it/< iviiii/ should be invariably linitlfil.
The cause of this once told is very simple. The snipe cannot
rise except up wiiul, and if forced to Hush by a person going
./(;:(/; iijion bin), will lie harder and closer, and will ultimately
rise crosswise to the right hand or the left, atVoriling an easy and
close shot; whereas by suHering them to rise up in/n/ he will go
olV wild and at a long distance— presenting but a small tarj;et to
the shot, and often balking the sportsman's aim by his sharp
twistings.

And here I will l>»erve that for a second or two the snipe
hangs n little on the wind before he gathers way, after which he
goes oil" with prodi:,'ious velocity, twisting to and fro at eveiy ten
or twelve pices with gieat rapidity. Many shots of the old
school have recommended yoimg sportsmen to wait until he has
done twisting before liring, but this is, in my opinion, very inju-
dicious, as the bird rarely or never ceases to twist until thirty or
forty yards distant, when of course the chance of killing him is
greatly diminished.

I have found it the best and by far the most killiiii,' way to
shoot him as tiuickly as possible al"ter he rises, and if possible
during the moment in which he hangs on the wind; this is done
most easilv by fixing the eye upon the object steadily as the butt
comes to the shoulder and the barrel to the line of vision.

Dogs are not much needed in sjiring snipe shooting, as the
birds rarely lie so hard as to admit of their being pointed, although
a good retriever is useful. The best dog is an old, slow, steady
pointer, when the weather is warm ; although I prefer the setter
as a steady. working, all-weather dog, from his great ability to
endure cold and face ice, which sets the pointer whimpering and

ii

;:ii

ill

U

M4

srnrxr, snipe.

shivering painfully, and from his great love for water and his
aptiliKle for fetching.

I xvill onlv add that No. S is by far the best shot for snipe, as
indeed I think for all game, and that with Curtis & llarvcv's
powder, and Starkey's waterproof caps, a sportsman may be
deemed well found for the field.

After the rain, dear " Spirit," I shall take the field steadily; d,
therefore, vou have any friends who desire a hard day's tramp, a
chance of a good dav's sport, and a certainty of a leg of mutton,
why-send them to the Cedars; iH all events, you shall have a
dozen couple of spring snipe.

March 9, iS.(;.

IPE.

real love for water and his

ir the best shot for snipe, as
lilt with Curtis & Harvey's
caps, a sportsman may be

all take the field steadily; if,
desire a hard day's tramp, a

;ertainty of a leg of mutton,
all events, you shall have a

DOMESTICATION OF GAME BIRDS.

MY DEAR SIR : — Your letter of the seventeenth iiist. reached
me yesterday morning, and I hasten to give you whatever
advice I can toward the accomplishment of your interesting
project.

First, I have no doubt of the success in hatching the eggs
after so short a transportation as one of a hundred miles or two,
since I have succeeded with the eggs of the wood-duck — which
becomes as tame or tamer than common poultry — brought from
even a greater distance. The question is of time.

The best material in which to pack them is very dry bran, and
great care mviot be taken to prevent their being shaken. The
great thing is to have them taken before the grouse begins to
sit, and to have a hen ready under which to put the eggs without
delay.

Now, as to the complete domestication of the bird — I confess
I regard it as quite hopeless. I have seen the experiment tried
with the English partridge, perdix cinere.a, the European and
American quails and the Scottish moor-fowl, but the young, to
the sixth generation, will escape when they can.

Thus far only I feel sure of success: If a person having
sufficient range of land, would devote ten acres or more solely to
this object, surrounding it with a picket, lattice or wive fence fully
ten feet high, and place his broods with the old hens when just

Note. — Through the courtesy of John H. Beardsley, formerly of Cleveland,
Ohio, the editor of the present volume is enabled to present the I'ollowing
original and hitherto unpublished letter from the pen of " our Frank,'' upon a
subject which renders it especially entertaining and valuable to the fraternity
oJ American sportsmen. Though last, it is by no means least in value, of the
articles comprising this work. It is to be hoped that the experiment may be
tried by some eastern sportsman, and in case the instructions are fully carried
out, the success of the project might be almost assured.

!

r

Sj:

if

I

t

II

,4f, DOMESTICATION OF UAME-BIIWS.

able to flv, therein, having previously neatly amputated the lower
wing joint of one wing-tho ground heing o.' a proper nature-
I have no doubt that they would breed there and become com-
paratively tame; and that the broods produced by them would
hauni and ultimately stock the neighborhood.

The ground should be as irregular and of as broken surlace
as possible, little hillocks and depressions, and, if possible, havmg
a small stream through it, although this is im>nater.ul, as 1
believe the pinnated grouse drinks only the dews or ramdrops

on herbage. .

Part of it should be covered with low brush, such as winter-
greens, sheep-laurels, scrub-oak or the like, and with ragwort and
other tall weeds to give the birds shelter-and part should be
cultivated with corn and buckwheat in patches.

There should be very few trees, and these trimmed up to ten
feet from the ground, to prevent the birds from climbing up to
get an elevation whence to fly over the barrier.

Besides the cultivated ground it would be necessary to feed
them, and that might be done so as to bring them to traps where
they could be taken when required.

If it could be so arranged as to clip the feathers of ihe wings
of the first broods raised to this state of half domestication,
without shortening the bone, so as to compel them to remain
incarcerated until after the second moult, it would of course
facilitate complete domestication.

This might be arranged by baiting them into log pens similar
to those used for taking wild turkeys, leaving them entirely
unmolested except once or twice a year, when they might be

secured by a downfall. , , »,

No dogs or guns should be allowed near the place, but the

oftener the master should be among them, appearing to pass

casually, without noticing them, the better.

The soil should be light and sandy, the exposure warm

and sunnv, and broken oyster shells, lime and gravel should be

furnished; as also at times fresh meat cut fine and scattered widely

as if sown broadcast.

The lon-er the first brood could be kept about the premises

before turning them out into the enclosure the better, for the

'til

TuAME-nilWS.

y neatly amputateci the lower
i being or' a proper nature—
oed there and become corn-
ids produced by them would
hborbood.

lar and of as broken surface
ssions, and, if possible, liaving
ifrb this is immaterial, as I
; only the dews or raindrops

Ih low brush, such as winter-
he like, and with ragwort and

shelter— and part should be
t in patches.

and these trimmed up to ten
10 birds from climbing up to

the barrier,
t would be ne>-essary to feed
^ to bring them lo traps where

clip the feathers of the wings
, state of half domestication,
IS to compel them to remain
id moult, it would of course

ing them into log pens similar

jrkeys, leaving them entirely

a year, when they might be

lowed near the place, but the
nong them, appearing to pass
he better.

d sandy, the exposure warm
lells, lime and gravel should be
eat cut fine and scattered widely

uld be kept about the premises
le enclosure the better, for the

nOMESTlCATlON OF CAMElUliDS.

•47

tanuT they can bo rendered early, the tamer they will remain.
Of course a smaller space than ton acres would sullice for a -wyaW
scale oxporiment, but the great object is to give them an oppor-
tunity of hiding away their nests.

.Siioukl this first oxperiment succeed on a large scale, a second
trial might bo had of amputating tho wing bono of the hen birds
onlv, in or 'er to see whether the cocks, though at liberty, would
remain in co.npany w ith them. Should this prove to be the case
a groat step would he gained toward total domestication, and
should one succeed until the fourth or fifth generation witli birds
hatched in this qmm domestication, the experiment might bo, in
time, perfectly carried out.

I thank you for your obliging otVor of procuring mo tho moans
of making the trial, but I have not the space of land, and am
too near large towns to ha.e a chance of success; besides that I
fear the great additional distance would greatly incrf.'a>o the
ditliculty.

I have made about all the suggestions that occur to mo, as
likely to promote your views, and can only add that I shall look
anxiously to hoar the result of your endeavors, which I hope you
will from time to time communicate lo me. as I fool a lively
interest in all matters relating to tho production of wild animals,
and stocking or restocking tho wastes with the species which
have boon so ruthlessly and injudiciously extortr.inated.

Allow mo to add that an excellent way of introducing any new-
winged game into any section of the country is the substituting
their eggs in the nests of those species which abound — such as
the pinnated grouse in those of the ciuail or rufled grouse, or of
hens which have the habit of laying out in the woods, etc.

I think I could procure a few pairs of the gray Knglish and
the French red-legged partridge, both of which varieties would
I am sure succod in Ohio, should you care to try them.

Should you fail o( getting the eggs safely in -Mlieat bran, have

them each covered with a thin coat of gum aiabio, which romovo

with a sponge and tepid water before setting them.

I remain, vorv truly vours,

IIkxrv W'm. IIeuhert.
Thb Cedars, March jh, 1S57.

?5

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Milwaukee. Wis.

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AK'riculture, Art, Science, Literature, Cliess, Draughts
Hilliarils, Veterinary. .Slu)(.tin«. Kishini,', 'I'rap-
ping, Atiiletic I'asliiues, Natural His-
tory', Music, and the Drama.

CLUH AGKNTS, I'OSTM ASIE R-S CANVASSERS,

Any ONE accustomed to obtaining ^'''''^^'il;^''-^' "%7'' "' |';."'f,
ntr'ons who have had no experience, and who would Uke to . arn
riixTd^ . Prcmiun,, ^.th'a little exertion, should send In a
cop'o o roll" nuule'.otlu..e who solidt -l>ser,vt,ons tor^U^e
7VV FhU iiud l-.nm, and the attractive and pnutical books
pvlblUhed and supplied by the TnrJ, Fuhl „n,l iann Msonatwn.
Subs. mi-TioN-Ycnrly in Advnnco. Pofl-pulU.

•.MKI I Five Copli'S 'S^w

Onecoi.y » " Ten CoPiCH =*'•'*"

One copy til Kuroi>f " '"' I '^"* ''

A..VKimsiN.. lUTKs-N.inimrcil s,.aco, por line.

siMHnsertion .^ -ts | ■^^^^^::::: ;:::;..:: .\x^

""^ "" Specini notice^: «.Vcen.f per lil>e. Uculin, notice, 81 per line.
SPECIMEN NUMBERS,

''^S3'dTt?oS."may be ,™clc to a club at .n.» time, at cl,,b r.tes^
0.i' oS,7a>^b^e'^l Se^S^'' RTi^ca^no^bfobtS

the letter should be registered.

I'ubHetied every Friday, by the

TURF, FIELD AND FARM ASSOCIATION,

Office 37 Park Row, New York.
For sftlo by all Newsdealers tliroughout the world.

r

AND I'ARM.

VND ellKONICI.K

.^UAT/c sro/rrs,

rature, Cliuss, DraughtK.
)tinK, I'istunij, 'I'rap-
t's, Natural His-
Ihi- Drama.

iTKRS, CANVASSERS,

• Mil)sciil)ers, aK well as tliose
;e, and who wonUl like to inrn
e exertion, hhoulil send lor a
lo solieit subseriptions lor the
Utrat-tive ami practical books
/, Fnlil iiiitl l-'iinn Assocuttwn.

Advnnco. I'ofl-pttlU,

Klvc (:o|>li'S S»J-'JJ!

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iiiicil sipBCP, per line.

■riirec inonthB *-■;*'?

SU imiulliH • ■■• ■ •'•""

Ueiiiliii^ notice, «1 per lln«.

W UMBERS,

talogue of the most desirable
ttle, Farniinii, Fishinj^, Field
The reallv valuable inforin-
ineclion with the book list are
of almost daily reference by

ub at anv time, at club rates.
, if pos-iible, bv Draft or Post
■k. If these cannot be obtained,

FrlilRy, by tho

ARM ASSOCIATION,

low, New York.
lout the world.

\vinciiusti:r

REFHAT1N(; RIFLES

T II K

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All' Kin xirllid lor

UAl'IDi TY AND ACdKACV Ol" I'IRE,
KASE f)F MANIPULATION,

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AM>

siRi:N(i'!-n OF toNsiRrci'ioN.

For 1 1 his (rated Paiuphlct,

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M 1: T A 1. 1 C A M M U N 1 T 1 0 N

or nil kindH.
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WINCHESTER

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t i I

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n

Ai-iKLi) AND Afloat,'

DI-\ OIK I) TO

FIKLI) AM) ATllLliriC SPORTS,

Yachting, UoatiiiK, Kishinn, StaKC Kenne!, and all
Topics of Interest to vSportsmen.

SUNl) STAMl' VOR Sl'l'ClMUN COPY,

A valuable and entertaining -crial, an nnpulilisheil Man-
uscript from the pen of the late

^'FR AN K FO R E S T E R,"

Will be issued through the first volume of "Afield
and Atloat"

Terms, $2.00 per Annum.

A D D R E SR

WM. C HARRIS, Editor "Afield and Afloat,'

607 Sansom Strekt, Phii-adelphia.
vi i i

DkJ

fOVRSAL

Afloat,'

TO

I:TIC Sl'ORTS,

Slanc Kenne!, and all
() Sportsmen.

IM'CIMUN COPY.

rial, an unpublished Man-
en ot the late

R E S T E nr

lust volume of "Afield

at."

ER Annum.

L "Afield and Afloat,'
, Philadelphia.

I