Cornell University Library Ithaca, New York BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE FISKE ENDOWMENT FUND THE BEQUEST OF WILLARD FISKE LIBRARIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY 1868-1883 1905 Cornell Uni intl Ornell Unive, ai olin,anx Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http:/Awww.archive.org/details/cu31924031229556 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. if Nh, SUMMER RETREAT. PRAIRIE AND FOREST: A DESCRIPTION OF THE GAME OF NORTH AMERICA, WITH PERSONAL ADVENTURES IN THEIR PURSUIT. By PARKER GILLMORE, “UBIQUE,” AUTHOR OF ‘GUN, ROD, AND SADDLE,” “‘ PRAIRIE FARMS AND PRAIRIE FOLKS,” “ALL ROUND THE WORLD,” ETO., ETO. GOR | NEW YORK. HARPER & BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, FRANKLIN SQUARE. 1874. W TO ARTHUR BURR, ESQ., 3 dedicate this Book, IN REMEMBRANCE OF HAPPY DAYS AND SINCERE FRIENDSHIP. OHAP. XII. xIv. XXII. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION....... abeewdian ainisiaye THE BISON, GENERALLY CALLED BUFFALO.......essceseeees THE MUSK-SHEEP.........cccscessceseceeeeesesescseceesenceseeeeens MOOSELDIER wi icss vec ietcivcnasovseuessseatuvinstcnscteasasisencendenens CARIBOU, ..cccessncerccccesenctavccssceacteetsesesenrncrenne seeneerreenes « WAPITTI DEER, ........cccecceccccnecesseees ona eenneenennece eevenevases VIRGINIAN DEER......cseseee eee veeererecer eerrrreerree se eerneeenee THE PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE....cscccsssscssererecenecseevenes BIG-HORN AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP......... aw eagniiss ri BEARS, ..scseseseseseces eneene see eeee renee eeenseenteeereneeece satececenee GROUSE ...csseeeeeeee seen ceaescenenanens saseenes Sees eRET ee se asee sees rer ORT YX ovesccscesseeceene Ppererrer errr ere reee soeseeccnnee seeeeceneens aoe » WILD TURKEY.........+....056 siesiabeGiinesa: eer eeererer ere reite see » WOODCOCK AND SNIPEL.......csseececneecccesereencecens eioteie one « WADING BIRDS,.......-ceceeeeeeeeeneeeeres sishiewenaireees Peeerererery SWIMMING BIRDS............5 oheweeeans piveie elaeaieuGNaN deen tienisnedagice SALMONID AD... ee ce ceeeeeceeeeeeteeneces eoaaaeet rere tes sa neeeeraseee STRIPED, BLACK, AND COMMON BASS.......... oteseveeuccenees : MUSRALEONGE 0 cusses acyaevn, dacucuvcenebaveneneitecddsenanceces 106 130 148 148 . 174 182 188 193 218 224, 231 245 249 283 857 367 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE SUMMER RETREAT........cccccecsssseeeensescssescsesscssseees sees L Ontispiece. BUFFALO RUNNING .......ceeccccescusesenseeeeeseoseeas Sgdsnuves cnasmaacccines 37 Ay VETB RANG stinsdsieeentichcaneieaesssaes scubeeetejmeansagess Wastennasesouneons ww Al BUFFALO IN SPRING COAT...........sccceeeee ees sisidleesaasendnd Maweteate. U4O MUSK-SHEEP .........0eccscseeeeeseeees can dialed tinlee ob euaeeevawialdeouenievindl saweesn OO: MOOSE) ‘CALLING: i: 0siis sicieosndetcacaveeacbraputeredevedscieeproceagiecwese OD CARIBOU MIGRATING........0c0cccsccsececssececsecetcesssesessarctssteesseees G4 CARIBOU IN WINTER COAT .......ccgeecscesececeseresscctcssececssssaeetes 87 DIFFERENT TYPE OF CARIBOU HORNS........ccssseseccecceeeevecee wae 92 WAPITTI DEER.......0:cesesseeesereeeeeees swegniveeduissinusiieacsrercneeranieess 90 VIRGINIAN DEER.........c00006 sede bib edie Wa vanaenidawdeadenvasenianccivessctenes: LOT PASSENGER PIGEONS.........cccseseceeeetenreveesees deissdcleswerca spiaaageeictn 126 BIG-HORN.........e0000 ddsvaahiendvaneeenacels deen vavlrcurateieves aielestvstevenaets .. 144 GRIZZLY BOARS eacitexeseiidelsgecasccesdhiaveasesteeniiectaieteaearvaeensess « LOL CLOSE’ QUARTERS jvssceses ig ccattsiuisedes sasaceuiasstieasineeavaneseeneaerss LOO CANADIAN PORCUPINE........cscsccecesserssccsscetscaccecsecsssreresescssess 166 GRAY WOLVES.......... aiseuiaasyaouwatear anda y shictivededuacavts eemsatenenestaue sees 175 PRATRIE-WOLVES «.0.s.essesecesereceeeeseeteratesetaeeeeraes veccasusvsesuvewes LUT SWAMP HARES vesvicewseves wrseentiee sed oun acme. 189 MUSQUASH, OR AMERICAN MUSE-RATS, ..--....--eeeeeee sateeneaeaaey we 101 RUFFED GROUSE.......... cea enaubeenudeedeceweseetee eNews coe wnateasevecnars LL PLARMIGAN iss svescsestnnoeensuetseesevensbousea ss ceseueceunedawecsaneeeeeswese B16 WILD TURKEY..........cccecseeeeee duguileweutiecun (ueuislnnhy sue weetneeeienies: 22D 12 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE WELSON (SNEPB pia ccusicticndvnpicctuniow an volan puadenednsleavevewwened seeewaesteueeue te 236 WOODCOCK-SHOOTING, ........sececeeesecserscacevences eaciene ene 242 ANTE RICAN CUR LE Weics sisscia cicancinunacuiedcptciewetiale uutriativeletveieresueiier Se 246 CANADA (GOOB8B ici sigcseicaiseneciind oe ncvainsarlauasesuniseneimareusiesstedcigntanesinsnn 255 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ‘ CHAPTER I. To lay down rules by the observance of which the ma- jority of bad shots may become experts is sufficiently easy ; but the trouble is, however great the determination to fol- low the given precepts, so soon as game is flushed the in- structions are thrown to the winds, and bang, bang go both barrels, with the same hurried unsuccessful results as previously. That more birds are missed by shooting too quickly, I assert as indisputable; and knowing this to be the case, why will it continue to be practiced? For this reason, that many are so fearfully nervous that for the mo- ment they have no control of their actions, or they are so timid that although firing off their gun they consider a duty, they believe the sooner it is got through with the better: neither of such pupils is ever likely to become a crack shot. I have a friend who is, without exception, the most unlucky shot-—I was going to say the worst —that ever I met. We at one period very frequently shot to- gether, and each evening, on our tramp home, he was cer- tain to tell me that he had discovered the reason for his ap- parent want of skill. How various the causes attributed, would be beyond possibility of enumeration; however, he always devised some means of counteracting them—viz., by stuffing cotton in his ears, not to hear the spring of the game! to wear a loose eollar, so that he could the better 14 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. and more rapidly bring the head to the stock; to discard a waistcoat, for the thickness of clothing militated against bringing up his gun. However, he was always wounding birds—at least he said so; for constantly, if near, he would call out, “Don’t you see the feathers fly ?” which, perhaps owing to my less keen vision, I never did, save it were the feathers flying off with the bird. Another peculiarity this gentleman possessed was, that although he might have dis- charged the entire contents of his shot-pouch without bag- ging a single head when separated from me, as soon as we both shot over the same point, one or other of the birds knocked down was due to his skill; doubtless companion- ship re-assured him, or induced him to take more pains. I would advise such, therefore, always to shoot in company, only I would rather be excused becoming the company. Of course occasionally he would knock over a bird, but when this took place it either was lost or took no end of trouble to secure. I remember one instance in a marsh where we were snipe-shooting, a number of mallards flush- ed within easy range: following the report of his gun, one of the greenheads left its companions, sailed round several times, each circle becoming lower and less contracted, till it dropped. Half-an hour was fruitlessly wasted looking for it; my-friend would not give up the search, so I went for- ward alone; some time afterward he joined me, but his per- severance had not been rewarded. All that day he lament- ed over this lost bird, for, like many of our fishing friends, he doubtlessly thought it (because it was not bagged) far larger and far finer than any obtained. The reason for the so frequent loss of the few birds he hit was this: the vic- tims seldom received more than a stray grain outside the disk described by the shot, and therefore were not serious- ly wounded. That there are many like my friend I know, and I fear it will be a hopeless task to endeavor to make THE STOCKING OF GUNS. 15 them good shots ; at the same time I think there are many bad shots who might be much improved. I believe that too much importance can not be attached to the stocking of guns. Occasionally one will meet with men who appear to do equal execution with either a crook- ed, straight, long, or short stock; but such are rare, and when found you may feel certain that they have possessed unusual opportunities for practice. The length of man’s arm, neck, and conformation of shoulder are so various, that seldom will a gun come up alike to different individ- uals: the straight, tall figure wants a crooked stock; the short, stout person, the reverse; and intermediate figures, the bend between both extremes. I once possessed an excel- lent gun, with which I invariably acquitted myself credit- ably. The stock had always been an eye-sore, for it was composed of objectionable wood, and the previous owner had chipped and scratched it so badly that, after length- ened hesitation, I determined to have it re-stocked. How- ever, when it revertéd from the gun-maker to my hands, I was surprised how indifferently I shot with it; but, on ex- amination, I found that the new stock was much straighter than the old. Again: being in the neighborhood where game was abundant, when I did not have one of my own guns with me, I borrowed from a friend, and my execution was so bad that before the day was over I gave up in dis- gust. This gun’s stock was so straight that I doubt if any but its owner could use it. In having a gun made, there is nothing that should receive from the gun-maker more careful observance than the figure of the purchaser; for I feel confident that a very.great deal of bad shooting is made through want of attention to this point. Again: a gun should never possess a superfluous ounce of metal that is not necessary to its safety. When we start in the morn- ing, fresh and vigorous, after a good night’s rest, the weight 16 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. may appear a trifle; but in the evening, if the day’s work has been severe—more especially on grouse moor or snipe bog—you will be surprised how a little extra weight tells, and will induce you to undershoot your game. Still another equally important point is the strength that is required to pull the trigger. After long practice you may get accustomed to either very fine or very heavy; but whatever you are used to, that retain. With the tyro it is different. Through frequent experiment he should find out what weight of pressure he can give without disconcerting his aim at the precise moment that he has obtained the line of sight. By imparting this knowledge to his gunsmith he will commence shooting under great advantage. A deal, we all know, depends upon a good start. It is as applica- ble to shooting as to life. If you begin under advantageous circumstances success becomes probable. Success begets confidence, and with confidence we are certain to shoot well. An habitually bad shot has no confidence. Con- stant failure makes him doubt his abflity, his gun, in fact, every portion of his shooting paraphernalia. Nearly all persons who do not shoot regularly fire their right barrel first. "When such is the case, your left barrel should shoot the strongest, as the second shot is generally at longer range. A good workman, however, will use either indif- ferently, a practice to be commended, so that one barrel may not become more worn than the other. A fault which a great number are addicted to, is using too much shot. An ounce of No. 5, or any of the smaller sizes, is amply sufficient for a twelve or even ten bore gun. However, if you have reason to use a larger grain, a quarter of an ounce more may be added to the charge. The reason for this is that the small packs closer, and thus makes a more formidable resistance to the explosive power. For strong shooting, and therefore long shots, it is the driving force HINTS FOR BEGINNERS. 17 that-is required, which you counteract by surplus lead, as friction is increased and so power wasted. Old hands may smile after reading the above, and justly say, “The fellow has told us nothing new;” but remember we are not all old hands, and that there are many begin- ners, for whose benefit these hints are given. The fly-rod, like the gun, can not be too light, as long as it possesses the requisite strength; for while fishing it is incessantly at work, the respite for loading not even being granted; thus if a heavy gun after a hard day’s work will make you undershoot your game, a heavy rod will have a greater tendency to make you a sluggard at evening in striking your fish, and the result will be about similar in both instances. For the trout fisherman—he, I mean, who fly-fishes burns and rivers—from twelve to thirteen feet is quite sufficient length for his rod to be (lake fisher- men frequently use longer, but what they gain in reach they lose in quickness, a loss, in my estimation, of most serious importance), and such a rod should not exceed in weight eight or nine ounces. I can imagine I see many cast up their eyes and exclaim that. such is impossible to procure, but let me say they are mistaken. I have owned several of that weight, and with them, days in succession, have taken baskets of fish, of not only all the ordinary sizes, but on one occasion killed a trout nine pounds in weight. As I can not help regarding this as a performance to be proud of, I will relate how it took place. A couple of com- panions and myself were encamped on the margin of Mad River, in Oxford County, Maine. Our guns had failed to provide dinner, so taking a hazel wand I essayed to cap- ture sufficient chub to make a chowder, a description of olla podrida stew. Having hooked a small fish, I was about lifting it into the canoe when a large trout rushed- from underneath the birch-bark, seized the chub, and al- 18 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. though I gave him both line and time to pouch what had not been intended for a bait, on taking a pull the chub came away, and I was free from the larger antagonist. Having caught sufficient small fry. I went home, brooding over my misfortune, but keeping the adventure closely locked in my bosom (selfishness again). About the hour that the sun began to dip behind the giant pines, I had made up my mind to the course I would pursue, which was to take my pet rod, mount a cast of two flies, and carefully whip the pool from end to end. As if it were but yesterday, I re- member distinctly the flies. The trail one was ginger-col- ored cock’s hackle, with light corn-crake wing, tipped with silver; the dropper a large-sized, moth. “For work at that hour,” I hear some internally mutter, “the moth did the business.” No, it did not; cock’s hackles of all shades may invariably be backed against the field, and the cock’s hackle on this occasion kept up its reputation. Down on my knees in the bow of the canoe, the camp-keep- er holding her back by a pole in the stern, slowly and cau- tiously I fished the throat, from thence down into the less angry but wider-spread current, when just as my flies passed over an eddy that divided the downward flow from the backwater there was a splash, rapidly responded to by a nervous quick movement of the wrist, which planted the hook firmly home. I doubt if I exaggerate, in fact I think I scarcely state enough, when I say that thirty minutes elapsed before my trophy could sufficiently endure the sight of a landing-net to have it placed under him. Thus was taken the largest river trout (Salmo fontinalis) I ever caught. But to my rod: it was made out of cedar from butt to tip, did not exceed nine ounces, and was the most lively, quick, light casting treasure I ever used. Cedar fly- rods I have heard objected to, because they are brittle; doubtless you may find them so, and your casting-line also, VARIOUS KINDS OF RODS. 19 if you change its use into that of a whip-lash. However much I admire a cedar rod,I do not think it suited for a tyro; but when the beginner has gained experience, and is able to offer an opinion and use a fly-rod as it should be, I doubt not he will perfectly agree with me. A cedar rod can seldom be purchased ready made, as tradesmen dislike the job; so if any reader should wish to possess one, he had better go to the very best workman he knows of, and give him an order. Even then I doubt if he will get it. Next to the cedar rod, but one that will stand any amount of fair work, is the split bamboo; this, I think, can be pro- cured even lighter than the former. There is a firm, the Messrs. Clark, of Maiden Lane, New York, who make this a spécialité. I have had the fortune to use one, and of their good qualities I can not say too much; but their price is necessarily high, from the care with which the cane has to be selected and put together. When I was a boy, I believed Flint and Martin Kelly, both of Dublin, before all other rod-makers. I have used their manufacture over a great portion of England, Scot- land, and Ireland, and did not, until I had a‘cedar rod, be- lieve that any thing was made that could compete with theirs. Old bluff-blowed lumbering packet-ships sufficed our fathers to go to India; now we have the P. and O. Service, with canal and rail across the Isthmus, and it is far from probable that, this means of transit will always suit our children. If Joe Manton was to rise among us, I doubt much if he could hold his own among modern gun-makers. Some persons, particularly Irish fishermen, are attached to double-action rods; that is, rods which have so much elasticity in them that they display two movements, one up and the other down, when suddenly used. I do not like them for more than one reason: the movement of the wrist in striking the fish while raising the butt throws the tip 20 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. down, thus giving quite a contrary motion to what is in- tended. Again: if you have to fish against the wind, they will not only be found most difficult to manage, but excess- ively fatiguing. There is a rod made in Castle Connell (principally for salmon), after the above pattern; it has many admirers, who doubtless through experience have become proficient in its use; still I can speak only from what I know, and my verdict is, leave them to their pres- ent advocates. : A combination-rod has always been my horror. I mean such as fishing-tackle shop proprietors guarantee to be both - a perfect fly and bait rod by only altering the tip. If per- sons will but use their brains they can in a moment see that such is impossible. The two cases are essentially different, requiring the spring and elasticity in totally dif- ferent parts. The act of placing a dull, lumbering tip on the first three joints of a delicate, pliant trout-rod is really absurd. However, some may say, you will find a medium between the two more generally useful. My answer is, what is worth doing is worth doing well; and if your in- tent is fly-fishing, the most perfect rod for that purpose should be selected. If the river is so discolored or swollen that bait has to be resorted to or you must go supperless to bed, for goodness’ sake, go and cut a hazel wand, unless you carry a bait-rod. Hybrids, whether in rod or gun, are to be carefully avoided. I remember being once entrapped into using a hybrid gun, in the township of Markham, Up- per Canada. It was in this way: Going through some brush I flushed a quantity of woodcock. I stated the cir- cumstance when I returned to the farm-house where I was residing. As I had no gun with me the host offered me the use of his, which from his description was worthy of a royal duke; I therefore accepted the offer. On production it proved to be half shot-gun, half rifle—that is, the right. VARIOUS KINDS OF REELS. 21 -hand barrel was smooth, the left rifled. This was my first experience of such a weapon, and most probably will be my last. The game was found, the cover was close, and snap shooting necessary. It was of no use. The gun would not come up, or the game come down. The fact was, that the shot barrel was only half the weight of the rifled, conse- quently the whole fabric was without balance, and do what I would my aim was invariably disconcerted. Of the joints used in fiy-rods the plain sliding’ one is probably the most convenient. If properly fitted it should never jam or work loose; but if I lived on a river I should never make use of any other than the simple splice, for the lashing affects less the action of the spring; and if a few additional moments are lost in putting it together, the re- turn is ample recompense. But I fear the age is too fast for its adoption. Having given my opinions of what a rod should be, I will now go to the reel. Of late years, at least since I was a boy, all kinds of mechanical inventions and appliances have been used to produce a more perfect reel: and there are now to be obtained stop reels, multiplying reels, and reels with as many internal cog and other wheels as would start a clock-maker. Of these complicated apparatuses be- ware, for they are fraught with disappointment and vexa- tion of spirit; the old simple click reel is the only one that deserves the honor of being attached toa fly-rod. Still, too much care and attention can not be devoted to their con- struction. Every screw and joint should be as perfectly finished as those of a gun from a first-class manufacturer. The barrel of the reel ‘should be wide in proportion to its length, for you thus gain power or give line with greater freedom ; nothing is more unsightly or more awkward than a long, narrow - barreled reel. Brass is the metal usually employed for their construction, but the newly - invented 22 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. aluminium bronze is infinitely to be preferred, for it does not corrode or discolor with the action of the atmosphere, and it is less liable to suffer from a blow or fall; mis- chances that the fiy-fisher’s paraphernalia, more particular- ly in a rocky, mountainous country, are especially liable to, when following the course of a trout brook, for stones will be slippery and fishermen have been known to take too much grog. Who among our expert salmon trout fisher- men can not remember having obtained a frightful cropper when precipitously following up or down stream a heavy fish he was fast to? I do not require to tax my memory greatly to recall half a dozen such casualties. There are various methods of attaching the reel to the rod. Of none do I approve so highly as that by which the reel is held fast in a shallow indentation by a movable band. In those cases where the butt is pierced, or the reel held on the rod by a brass band attached to it, which closes with a screw, the nuts are constantly getting lost or loose, through the thread being worn out; moreover, the hand not unfrequent- ly gets chafed by coming in contact with the edges or ter- mination of the screw. On the subject of fly-lines there is great diversity of opinion. Of whatever materials they are composed they should taper. Hair and silk I was at one time much in favor of; but after a lengthened trial I found one great ob- jection — the two materials had not the same amount of elasticity, so that a heavy strain would bear more severely on one material than on the other, ultimately causing brit- tleness. A plaited silk line, which has been submitted to a process of varnishing, rendering it impervious to water, will, I think, do the greatest amount of work, and throw the greatest length of line; but for delicate, light, fine fish- ing, nothing I know of can surpass the old-fashioned line, composed entirely of horse-hair; for they are possessed of CASTING LINES. 23 more vitality, elasticity, and quickness. In the selection of one of these every foot should be carefully examined and tested, for a careless slop-shop maker will frequently work in short and worthless hair, possibly in the centre, which will destroy the whole fabric; for if the line be once broken it is useless, it matters not how much ingenuity and time you spent over the splice. For a day or two it may pass through the rings, but the friction will wear it rough, and it will catch, sooner or later, not improbably when a large fish is on, for then the strain is greatest. Can any thing more disgusting be imagined than taking the last look at eight or ten yards of your line, perhaps more, rapidly dis- appearing in the eddying stream with your casting-line and flies acting as advance guard? The thought of such a catas- trophe is enough to make a man’s blood run cold. Casting-lines should also taper, and, provided the gut is good, can scarcely have too fine a termination. Although a great many disciples of the rod always purchase these ready made, every fisherman should be able to knot one up himself. The process is simple. Select your hairs—coarse ones for the top, fine ones for the bottom—steep them for some minutes in water as warm as the hand can convenient- ly bear, then knot them together, increasing or diminishing gradually in size according to the end you have commenced at. Care must be taken that such a knot be used as there is no slip to. The safest I know of is formed thus: take the ends to be joined, and place them alongside one anoth- er, then take one end and make a single hitch by doubling it back and passing the end through the loop, which pull tight. Do the same with the reverse end, when by pulling on the line both will slip together, the strain having the tenderfty to lock the knot. After cutting off the surplus ends, take a few turns of very fine silk to whip them down, and the smallest quantity of varnish will add much to the 24 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. appearance of the line. There is no amusement that I wot of in which it is so requisite for its lover to know how to inake use of his hands and ingenuity. Bad luck, or what- ever you choose to call it, may, before an hour’s fishing be done, reduce you to the alternative of either ceasing work or manufacturing out of broken fragments a new casting- line. Very possibly this is caused by the fish being more than usually on the feed. How disagreeable to be com- pelled at such a time to halt !—-better far to spend ten min- utes with the dry end of gut in your mouth, the more rap- idly to render the hairs fit for knotting, and to know how to put them together afterward, than be obliged to cease. The rings upon your rod should be large and not too nu- merous; five are sufficient for the lower joints, and about five more for the tip, supposing it to be a rod thirteen feet in length, and in three pieces. In America I lately saw rods ringed on both sides, so that, if after unusual hard work and constant use, a tendency to warp was evinced, you altered your reel to the reverse side and thus counter- acted it. However, the better plan, I should say, would be to use the reverse sides day about. The only objection to this double arrangement of rings is additional weight, but that must be very trifling. Having now described the rod, the reel, the line, and the cast, I approach a subject that I hesitate to touch, viz., fly- tying, for I do not think that any one can become an expert but through constant practice, after having received nu- merous elementary lessons from an adept. I believe I can tie a fair fly; but how long do you suppose it was before I reached my present excellence? Years; and even now I discover wrinkles and new methods of which I was not previously aware; however, one rule may be laid,down: never to take a turn of the silk round your hook without purpose, or without giving it sufficient strength to keep it FLY-TYING. 25 in its place and perform the duty intended. The most im- portant part is the simplest and first, the securing of the gut to the shank of the hook. Unless this is attended to, all your labor is vain and worthless—so much time thrown away and wasted. Here comes all the strain, and a thought- less turn or two will cause naught but disappointment. Some anglers, particularly Irish ones, place the wings on so that the feather points from the hook, then double them back and tie them down. In this method much practice is necessary to form a handsome head; but its advocates claim for it strength. However, I have so frequently found the silk slip, and the feathers consequently point in the re- verse direction, that I unhesitatingly condemn the practice. To make a handsome and serviceable fiy, I have always fol- lowed the method of putting the wings on separately, care being taken not to injure the pile of the feathers; and this should be done last, the most minute drop of varnish being used over the silk when the head is finished off. My first effort to tie a fly turned out a thing like a humming-bird, my second like a humble-bee, and so on, till I have succeed- ed in making a good imitation of a gnat. Patience and perseverance have done this, and none will ever excel in fly-tying without exercising these qualities, so essentially useful in every walk in life. As a rule, the bigger the riv- er, a superabundance of water in a stream, and the more boisterous the weather, the larger can be the flies used; but in summer, when the rivulets and burns have become clear and low, the smallest sizes must be resorted to, thrown with the lightest line, from the most unobservable and most sheltered position. - Three flies, their coloring and component parts, that I have found successful on almost all waters and at every portion of the open season, I will describe; in fact, I have so much faith in them that I invariably use all three in 2 26 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. making my first essay on an unknown ‘river, viz., the red hackle, hare’s ear and yellow, and black hackle. In Amer- ica, on the small trout brooks, I found them equally attract- ive, evidence of a similarity of taste in fish on the Eastern and Western Continents. Fly No. 1, the red hackle, body composed of rufous wool, twisted in with tying silk, lower portions of body to be fine, gradually increasing in thick- ness till the shoulder is reached. Shoulder of bright red cock’s hackle, the color that is obtained in a natural state from the domestic fowl, game-fowls generally producing the finest; but if those from the East Indian jungle-cock can be obtained, you will possess the very best. Wings put on separately, and obtained from the wings of the corn- crake, shot immediately previous to their autumnal migra- tion. Fly No. 2, hare’s ear and yellow; this has a tail composed of two strands from the larger feathers of the guinea-fowl, body composed of the fine mottled hair off the ears of a hare, mixed with fine mohair, of any of the inter- mediate shades from straw color to olive. The mohair should be cut short, so that it will the better mix with the hare’s ear. This dubbing must also be tied in with the silk, and the fly should be large at the shoulder. No hackle in this specimen is required. The wings from the large wing- feathers of the fieldfare, each placed on separately. Fly No. 3, black hackle; body of blue wool or mohair, finished at termination with a couple of turns of silver tinsel, black hackle from domestic fowl for shoulder, with the wing composed of the feather either from tail or wing of the water-hen. The angler had better be provided with vari- ous sizes of these, as rivers are not always in the same con- dition, and weather is variable. For me to say that other flies will not kill better on some rivers, or at least equally well, would be absurd; but those described I have found most generally useful. A handsome and frequently very FISHING RODS AND FLIES. 27 killing fly at times, particularly in blustering weather, is made of the following material: Body of two of the long- est and most rufous strands of a feather from a brown tur- key ; these strands to have the fingers pulled up them, so as to cause the fine edges to stand out before being wrap- ped on. Shoulder of brown cock’s hackle, with brown grouse feather for wing. In autumn, particularly if the stream should be clearing after a flood,.I have known this fly to be most effective. However, it is no bad plan, if you are a stranger in a neighborhood, to get hold of an honest disciple of Izaak Walton, who will give you information, and if he be poor very probably sell you some of the con- tents of his book. Except for sea-trout fishing, the brill- iant and many-colored macaw-like compositions are gen- erally useless’ in American inland streams; so let not love of gaudy coloring or the advice of inexperienced persons induce you to spend your time and money on such fabri- cations. We will suppose the novice accoutred with all that mon- ey and judgment can obtain in the shape of tackle and rod —at the same time hoping that his garments are composed of those sober, quiet colors that are least observable; for whether in shooting, deer-stalking, or fishing, attention to this is all important—to be on the river’s margin, at a spot free from bush, rock, or other impediment. The rod is carefully put together (I hope it is a spliced one, for I shall have more hope for the beginner’s ultimate success from this choice), the reel attached, the line drawn through the rings, and the cast and flies are carefully taken off his hat, round which they have been wrapped (to make them more subservient and less obstreperous on commencing work), and made fast to the line. Ere an attempt at the first cast is made, take one word of advice. Englishmen are so horsey in their proclivities that they invariably consider a rod, 28 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. when first they handle it, an instrument to be treated and used in exactly the same manner as a carriage-whip, From boyhood upward they have been used to the latter, and the Englishman’s hand has obtained wonderful cunning in crack- ing the same. Now the uses of whip and rod are essential- ly different; the one is performed by the quickest possible jerk, the other by making the widest possible sweep, as free from angles as the turns on a race-course. Get this in- formation, whatever your nationality, so grafted into your brain that you will not forget yourself, for on each occasion you do, you will pay a penalty by losing.a fly, probably the trail one. JI have known some persons so skilled in snap- ping off flies, even although possessed of considerable ex- perience, that their custom must have been of no small ad- vantage to the tradesmen who supplied them with tackle. Supposing the angler is facing a river which he is desir- ous of throwing across. The rod being held in the right hand, gradually, but with increasing velocity, raise your vod from left to right; when the line is straight out from you, make a sweep, and bring the flies down upon the wa- ter with a half-circular motion of the hand. This last move- ment will raise the slack of the line and cause the trail fly to strike the water first, which should always happen. When this first lesson is thoroughly learned with the left hand, it should then be practiced up and down stream: when, with perseverance and attention, such precision may be gained that the fisherman can place the flies at every effort within an inch or two of the desired spot. After having said this much, it will not be deemed out of place to mention those tradesmen who supplied me with the important portions of my outfit; for so much of your pleasure and comfort depends upon them, that a sportsman intending to prosecute a distant and lengthened tour through the American wilds, would be guilty of committing a great SHOOTING CLOTHES. 29 and serious injustice to himself, if he did not obtain the very best that the English market could afford. I am not foolish enough to believe that no others than the individu- als I mention would have served me equally well; but, of course, those I know, and have not found wanting, are the persons I must introduce. For fire-arms, ammunition, etc., I would, as formerly, go to J. D. Dougall, of 59 St. James’s Street, or his late assistant, A. G. Willison, now doing busi- ness at 9 Railway Approach, London Bridge; a farther ad- , vantage in dealing with them also deserves notice, viz., that they are both so well acquainted with North America and its inhabitants that information of a valuable description to the sportsman, on nearly all subjects connected with his in- tended tour, can be obtained from them. Messrs. Strickland and Son, of 14 Clifford Street, New Bond Street, I can confidently recommend as perfect in the production of shooting clothes almost impervious to wear and tear, at the same time gentlemanly in appearance, and fitting with such exactness that the figure wiil not suffer from restraint, but permit the arms and limbs ever to be free for prompt action. Although armed and clothed, I must not go farther without alluding to your foot-gear, for nothing will militate more against your pleasure and pow- ers of endurance than a blistered heel or pinched instep. To avoid these inconveniences go to Waukenphast’s, 10 Pall Mall East, and if he does his duty by you, as he has by me, you will be more than satisfied ; and as loss of time is not unfreqnently to be regretted, in half an hour from the time you crossed his threshold you will be in posses- sion of all you require. As water-proof clothing and ground sheets are absolutely necessary for camping out, as I have done in a former work, I recommend Messrs. Woolgar and Co., of Ludgate Hill; their bark-tanned fishing stockings are perfection, while their deer-stalking and fishing - coat 30 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. can not be too highly prized for rough and hard service. Another commodity they furnish, although receiving its name from me, I would strongly reconmend no person going in for roughing to be without, viz., the Ubique bag, for it possesses all the convenience of the ordinary sailor’s bag, can be turned into a pillow at night, or, if necessity compels you, if in a canoe or open boat that: leaks, you can place your feet in it, and thus be thoroughly protected from damp of every description. Of course there are numerous other things you may advantageously add to your kit, but do not forget that every superfluous pound of baggage is to be avoided, for long marches on tired horses have to be made, and rough and weary portages to be traversed, across which every ounce of unnecessary luggage will add to the fatigue of the bearers, and not unfrequently produce grum- bling and lack of discipline, two objectionables to be given a wide berth to, for they destroy much of the pleasure at- tached to roughing beyond the boundaries of civilization. CHAPTER II. THE BISON, GENERALLY CALLED BUFFALO. Tuer habitat of this powerful and gigantic animal ex- tended from the Gulf of Mexico on the south to the 62d degree of north latitude, and from Kentucky and Indiana on the east to the higher ridges of the Rocky Mountains on the west: however, this range is now much contracted, and in a corresponding ratio their numbers diminished. Al- though buffalo at the present day can be found in the State of Kansas, yet the wholesale butchery they have there been lately submitted to has caused the few survivors to be ex- tremely wild and difficult to approach; therefore I should advise the sportsman to direct. his steps farther toward the north-west, to the valley of the Yellowstone or upper forks of the Missouri, to the Saskatchewan or the large plains lay- ing to its north. From the increase of settlement and of travel across the continent, this game, which formerly was migratory, has comparatively speaking ceased to be so; thus the sportsman will not now be compelled to follow them over an extensive range of country, but will probably be able to enjoy the pleasure of their pursuit aJl the year in one locality. The legitimate methods for their pursuit are by running them on horseback, when they are shot with a very large-bored pistol as the sportsman ranges alongside, or to stalk them, a rifle of great power and cal- ibre being then necessary. The shoulder-shot is the best, unless the animal happen to front you and expose his chest. Shooting at the head is a useless expenditure of ammunition, and, unless to turn a charge, should never be attempted. 32 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. When studying on the distant and far-west plains of America the habits of the buffalo (for though this name is erroneous, still it is the appellation by which I knew them and daily heard them called), or pursuing them to supply our camp with food, I never, in the retrospect of a long and adventurous life, enjoyed such perfect health, for the air on these distant plains is the purest I have ever breathed. Frequently on a knoll I have stood, after some unusually hard run, inhaling and enjoying its freshness as the thirsty traveler does a cup of clear cool water drawn from a mount- ain stream. Each day you perform your allotted work, and no cares are sufficiently weighty to be dwelt upon or procrastinated till they return with redoubled force. Your horses are your companions; hardy and enduring you have proved them to be; and between master and steed a bond of sympathy springs up, the animal being all reliance, the owner determined that the confidence shall not be mis- placed. With the true-hearted sportsman, who loves hunt- ing for the pleasure it affords, and the opportunities of studying nature as it emanates from the Creator’s hands, carnage when useless is detestable: unnecessarily taxing the endurance of his steed, or paining it with uncalled-for punishment, is a crime he would no more be guilty of than the honest man of despoiling his friend. Again, your gun or rifle, ever a willing servant when properly taken care of, requires no small amount of attention; to no other hands than your own trust it to be cleaned. However high your birth, delicate your nurturing, or boundless your means, to do without the assistance of hirelings, and rely entirely on yourself, is far from derogatory; on the contrary, it is de- serving of commendation, and the benefit that will result in after-life from such lessons can not be too highly esti- mated. I have known a few months of wild Western life do more good in forming a character than years passed in PRAIRIE SCENERY. 33 cities or continental tour; for here the fop forgets his folly, and the timid and nervous becomes self-reliant. Imagine spread hefore you an immense plain; in what- ever direction you look, the same expanse of level country stretches before you. Such is the prairie. The dear old ocean, as viewed from the deck of a vessel, is the nearest simile I can think vf. In both an almost level horizon in each direction is met by the sky. Nothing in either is to be seen to break the stillness, save it be the animal life that _.have these elements for their home. Although this may be applicable, as a general rule to prairie scenery, there are portions less monotsnous; in places, heavy belts of timber mark the margin of streams that ultimately help to feed some of the giant rivers of the American continent; while as you approach the great vertebra of the country—the Rocky Mountains —hill after hill rises, overtopping each other; again frowned down upon by lofty mountains, beau- tiful in coloring, soft in their distant outlines, and grand in their irregular and picturesque shape. Moreover, between these hills, almost impassable at first glance, through cafions and gulches you can thread your way, perhaps for many, many miles, when, perchance, a beautiful meadow,* thou- sands of acres in extent, opens before you, rich and.bright in the abundance of its grasses, while the slopes that gird these retired retreats are covered with the densest and love- liest of indigenous trees. Such spots as these are a natural- ist’s elysium, for game of every variety select them for re- treats. The buffalo cow comes to them frequently to calve; the worn-out fierce-looking bull, over whose head so many years have passed that he no longer has strength to keep pace with the migratory herd, and struggle in its dense phalanx for female favor or choice croppings of pasture, *In America termed park. 9% 34 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. retires to them to spend in abundance the winter of life; while the graceful deer, the timid hare, and the sagacious beaver here pass their lives in peaceful, happy contentment, except some adventurous white man or snake-visioned red- skin should pay.it a visit, destroying, as man ever does, the serenity that reigned around previous to his advent. But come, the morning has broken clear and invigor- ating, breakfast has already been discussed, and the horses have got a rough rub over. The neighborhood is well suit- ed for a gallop; for, from the slight shower of the previous evening, the soil is springy, and-fewer of the indefatigable little burrowers—the prairie-dogs—have undermined our vicinity. Meat is wanted, and as we start our minds are made up that, unless successful, the sun must dip the west- eru horizon ere we return. Each attending to his own nag, and giving an extra pull upon the girths ere getting into the saddle, at a sober, steady pace we start. An old practiced buffalo-runner (for so the Western man terms his favorite and experienced horse) will quietly settle to his master’s will, for from experience well he knows that prob- ably a hard day’s work is before him, and all his strength will be required; while the youngster or griffin at this work frets and prances, almost pulling his rider from the pig-skin. Forbear, rider; curb your annoyance; give and take a pull upon your snaffle; soon the youngster will set- tle down, and this day’s work will probably teach him a lesson that will act advantageously on his future conduct. Discussing subjects suitable for such occasions, miles are passed; so far, with the exception of numerous bleached bones or an occasional deer or antelope track, no indication of game has been seen. From a knoll a survey is made; a fresh hole or two is taken up in the girths, and the scarcity of animal life commented upon. To the Indian, of course, the blame is laid; war-parties or moving villages of redskins A BUFFALO DROVE. 35 are always saddled with being the cause of every disap- pointment and annoyance in wild life. But look there! What is that? A distant cloud of dust. Buffalo for a thousand, and advancing toward where the hunters are sta- tioned. How is the wind? is inquired. One wets his fin- gers with his saliva, and holds it up. In a few moments the position is declared untenable, and both, vaulting on their horses, hurry off to get more to leeward, availing themselves of a swell in the prairie to keep perdu. Having marked well the direction in which the herd is advancing, keeping as much out of sight as possible, scarcely speaking a word, and then not louder than a whisper, the distance between the hunters and game is rapidly diminished. From the nature of the ground, no longer can they remain hid; so, taking their horses well in hand, forward they dash, and, in a few strides, what a sight is before them! Cows, bulls, and calves, all intermingled, forming a straggling drpve of thousands, heading in the same direction, and feeding as they progress. Occasionally this harmony of action is disturbed. Two ragged, clumsy-looking, veteran bulls approach each other: perhaps they have been former rivals for some dusky-hided beauty’s favors. ‘With a deep bellow one throws down the gauntlet, which the other is not loath to take up; and, with fire flashing from their par- tially hid eyes, each rushes at the other. But the herd have become alarmed—a foe equally dreaded by both bulls is at hand; their rencontre will brook delay to be settled at a future date; and, with a startled stare and toss of the head, both turn and rush off after the herd, which is already making a most hurried stampede. However, when the hunters are old hands, the bulls might have saved them- selves the trouble; while young cow-beef is to be obtained, none but the veriest novice would think of wasting ammu- nition on their rough and rugged old carcasses. No time 36 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. is now to be lost. These animals, unwieldy as they appear, for a mile or so are wonderfully swift, and, if they should gain rough ground, will beat an indifferent horse. Sitting well down in their saddles, nags in hand, at a grass-country speed, both push for the sleekest and squarest-looking cows they can mark. The pace commences to tell; the distance that separates sportsman from quarry is rapidly diminish- ing —a few strides more, and one ranges alongside; the heavy pistol, which has till now been secure in the holster, is taken in the right hand, its barrel depressed; low down, and eight or ten inches behind the shoulder, is the spot, if shooting forward. A puff of smoke is seen, followed by a report. The coup de grace has been administered by a master-hand; for the huge animal loses the power of its fore-feet, comes down on its shoulders and head, and naught of life is left but a few spasmodic struggles. But where are the hunters? Look well among the retreating herd, and you may occasionally catch a glimpse of their hunting- shirts. A few moments more, and another shot is fired— this time not so successfully. Again the report of fire-arms; still the quarry retains her legs, but blood is already pour- ing from her nose, an indication that surely tells of speedy demise; so stop, let the poor creature die in peace; aggra- vate not her last moments. The scene which I have tried to describe took place about ten miles to the south side of the Yellowstone Riv- er, An old and tried friend from Germany was my com- panion, and on this occasion we each killed two cows. Double this number, or even more, could have been shot without trouble; but the requisite amount of beef had been obtained, and I was jealous of husbanding the strength of my horse, for then, as now, but little reliance could be placed on the professed peaceful intentions of the Indians. The range of the buffalo, I have said, was at one period BUFFALO RU} "! !G. THE BUFFALO. 39 much more extensive than at present. The same reasons that have decreased, and in some instances almost annihi- lated, other genera, can be safely urged as the cause of this —the cultivation of wild lands and the unprecedented in- crease of inhabitants on the American continent. On the eastern limit of the Grand Prairie, in Illinois, I have fre- quently found bones of the buffalo, telling too plainly that this had once been his home. At the present day, at least twelve hundred miles farther westward must be traversed before the sportsman can hope for a chance to use his rifle on this game; and year after year farther distances will re- quire to be journeyed to accomplish this purpose. Their southern limits are Northern Texas and New Mexico, while the intermediate expanse up to sixty-five degrees of north latitude, according to the season, contains them in more or less abundance. Of late years their range north has been increased between three and four degrees, so that Indians who formerly had to come two hundred or more miles, if desirous of obtaining a supply of beef for winter use, have the animals now on their home hunting-grounds. Iam dis- posed to believe that this is caused from their finding these northern regions less disturbed — for this is far north of where the constant tide of emigrants crosses the plains— and that the poor, persecuted creatures prefer suffering from the cold of these inhospitable localities to facing the dangers that always are connected with a rencontre with the pale-face. Although the buffalo can endure a great amount of cold, and find food even after a thick covering of snow lays upon the earth, yet he is not provided like the musk-sheep for an Arctic winter, and from his greater bulk requires so much sustenance, that a protracted sojourn in the northern barrens must ultimately have the result of re- ducing his strength, and therefore his fitness to copé with the severity of the climate. Again, he has other enemies 40 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. as well as man. The wolves seldom leave him alone. Day and night they bestow upon him the most devoted atten- tion. However, as long as he is in good health he has lit- tle to fear from the marauder; but the moment that acci- dent, sickness, or loss of strength from starvation occurs, the buffalo’s unhappy position is known, and half a dozen of these robbers will remain night and day watching for an opportunity to complete the wreck; and should this not oc- cur as soon as desirable, not unfrequently they will make a simultaneous assault, one pretending to fly at the victim’s head, while another attacks in the rear, using every arti- fice to cut the buffalo’s hamstring, in which they invariably succeed, unless the presence of man should disturb them. On one occasion, while hunting, I obtained an excellent opportunity of witnessing one of these encounters. At the distance of half a mile I perceived an old bull going through a variety of eccentric movements, which were at the mo- ment perfectly incomprehensible. To know what might be the cause, as well as perhaps to learn something new re- garding this.race, I left my horse and made a most careful stalk without once exposing myself, retaining the advan- tage of wind till within a hundred yards of the old gentle- man. The ground in the vicinity was much broken, and, before attempting to obtain a survey of the situation, I en- sconced myself behind a boulder. I had been eminently successful, the first glance told me. There was the bull pretending to feed, while four prairie-wolves were lying around him on the sparsely covered soil, tongues out, and evidently short of breath from some excessive exertion. None of the dramatis persone had seen me,and I chuckled in my shoes as I grasped more firmly my double barrel, knowing how soon I could turn the tide of battle. By-the- way, the prairie-wolf has always been a favorite of mine, as well as his half-brother, the coyote. Their bark has oft- ‘NVUGLGA V PRAIRIE-WOLVES ATTACKING A BUFFALO. 43 en recalled pleasant memories, and their services have sev- eral times recovered a wounded deer. In a few minutes the apparent ringleader of the quartette got up and shook himself. This was the signal for the others to get upon their pins. Prairie-wolf number one walked quietly toward the bull, occasionally stopping (after the manner of dogs to pluck grass); then, with a sudden spring, made a feint at the persecuted buffalo’s head. The buffalo, in his turn, low- ered his head, and advanced a few steps to meet him; but this was unnecessary. Now the rest of the fraternity rush- ed up. Another took the post of teaser, while our friend number one dropped in the rear; and when a second feint at the head was made by his comrade, number one, watching his chance, left a deep scar over the bull’s hock. Again and again this game was played, the same wolf always re- taining his rear position. Is not the instinct of animals most similar to the reason of man? Here each wolf had his allotted work, doubtless that which was best suited for his capacity. The rear assault was the most dangerous; for a kick well directed would unquestionably have caused instant death to the adventurous assailant; but the most experienced and expert had selected the post of danger and honor. The flashing eyes and foaming month of the bull told plainly the result; so I stepped from my concealment. However, all were so oceupied that until I awakened the echoes with a loud “ war-whoop” I was unseen ; but man’s voice always has its effect in cases of this kind. The ver- min, with startled stare, plainly asking what the deuce right T had to interfere, sulkily trotted off as I advanced; while the persecuted, in return for my kindness, lowered his head, and pushed rapidly for me, compelling me to seek safety in flight. Such conduct in the buffalo was scarcely commend- able, and very unusual. I accounted for it by the harass- ing his temper had suffered, as well as his feeling how in- 44 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. adequate his strength was for escape by flight. Poor old creature, his days were numbered ; for as soon as my back was turned, and a safe distance intervened between us, the wolves returned, and as I rode homeward, occasionally turn- ing and halting to watch the gradually more indistinct bel- ligerents, the victim was still employed in battling for life. After all, was he not paying the debt of nature, and dying as his ancestors for generations had died before him? Man yields his spirit to the source from whence it emanates, on a luxurious couch or humble straw bed,.after frequently suffering from protracted and painful illness. The veteran buffalo, effete from age, after a long and happy life, when unable to keep with his companions, dies in a gallant and short struggle, overpowered by his too numerous enemies, a death worthy of a hero. The cow calves in spring, although I have, on several oc- casions, met with a mother as late as the end of July with a youngster by her side, not over a couple of weeks old. The attachment shown by the parent for her offspring, and the solicitude she evinces for its safety, impart a touching lesson, which even the human family would do well to fol- low. Iremember on one occasion I had been setting traps in a small stream with abundant signs that beaver were numerous in the vicinity. I had waded up this water- course for upward of a mile, all the time being hidden from the view of the animals on the prairie by the bluffness of the banks. Having performed my task, I left the stream and ascended to the level of the country. The first glance I took disclosed a beautiful and interesting picture, for a young cow, with her calf almost between her legs, stood determinedly facing several wolves. The baby was evi- dently sick, and the instinct of the party of prowlers told them so. My sympathies, of course, were not with the ag- gressors; and, the better to prove it, I picked out the ap- INHABITANT OF THE PLAINS. 45 parent ringleaders, doubling one up with the first barrel, and accelerating the retreat of another with a second ; for, al- though he did not drop, an ominous “thud” gave me the information that he had received a hint that the neigh- borhood was dangerous, and that he had better leave it while he had the power. In September the rutting season commences, and furious encounters between the bulls take place; their actions on these occasions remind the specta- tors very much of domestic cattle. The combatants at first stand apart, eying each other with flashing orbs, while they paw up the soil with their feet, throwing it frequently over their withers; their short tails lash their sides, their horns are dug into the soil, and the vegetation scattered to the winds; occasionally bellowing in a low guttural voice, ap- parently using every effort to work themselves into a fury. At length they rush at each other; the shock sometimes brings one or both to their knees; this is repeated again and again; for over thirty minutes frequently, when well matched, the struggle will be protracted. At length the weaker commences to give way, first slowly, always keep- ing his head to the foe, till with sudden energy he wheels and leaves the victor triumphant. All this time the cow has stood by, an inert spectator, waiting for the hero of the hour to claim her love. These battles seldom or never ter- minate fatally. They occur at the period when the coat is in the greatest perfection, and the almost impenetrable mane, which densely covers the brows and fore - quarters, is un- questionably of the greatest service as a protection. It is my belief that, when the sexes thus mate, the male remains faithful to his spouse, for up to within a month of the cow’s confinement both keep together. Early in autumn the bulls are in good condition; but after the rutting sea- son they gradually lose flesh, and by midwinter become so poor that they are scarcely fit for food. The cow, on the 46 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. other hand, keeps fat, and even in spring fat may be found along the vertebrz and lower portion of the carcass an inch thick. ‘With the advent of the first mild weather, even be- fore the snow has disappeared, they commence to shed their rough coat, first from between the fore-legs, then the prom- inent parts of the body, and later from the forelimbs and hump. This long hair—or, as it is frequently called, wool —comes off in patches, trees and rocks being used to rub A \ ity. BUFFALO IN SPRING COAT. against; the result is, that by March a more ragged, tatter- ed, weather-beaten creature can scarcely be imagined. The horns of both bull and cow are about the same length; those of the former are thick, blunt, and clumsy, those of the latter sharp, slim, and trim-looking. Both sexes much resemble each other; at the same time the figure of the fe- male is more delicately formed, and not within a couple of hands as high at the shoulder, nor is she clothed with such a quantity of the rough, coarse covering over the fore-quarters. BUFFALO SINKING IN QUICKSANDS. 47 When a herd of buffalo are alarmed by the approach of the hunter, the cows, in a few seconds, head the retreating herd, closely followed by the yearlings and calves, while the lumbering old bulls, from incapacity, drop in the rear. When not disturbed, in lying down or rising, they exactly resemble others of the Bos family; but if they be come upon ‘unawares by an object of fear, the velocity with which they gain their legs and break into a gallop is truly surprising. They are excellent swimmers, and have no hes- itation to enter water; nevertheless, annually, great num- bers are drowned ; but this generally occurs in spring, when the broken ice is clearing out of the streams. Throughout the Western country there are numerous quicksands, and frequently unfortunates get imbedded in them. It appears in such cases that, without exerting themselves, they submit to their fate. I have formed this conclusion from having, unseen, perceived a bull get into such a scrape. I watched him. Inch by inch he kept sink- ing; still I felt convinced that a protracted, energetic strug- gle would take him across to terra firma, yet no such effort did he make. Thoroughly believing that his earthly course was run, I advanced to have a closer survey of the finale. The unfortunate did not see me till within a few yards ;, but when he did, his habitual fear of man predomi- nated over all other feelings; again and again he plunged forward. Dread of my proximity had given him strength and endurance; for, after a few minutes, his feet got on soundings, from which the margin was gained, and the brute was once more free. I think this apathy to death in certain forms is common to the majority of animals. The dangers attending the chase of this noble game are very much overrated. True, a horse may put his foot in the burrow of a wolf, swift fox, or prairie-dog, and send his rider sky-rocketing. The result may be a broken neck, or, 48 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. if such a fall took place when in the centre of a large herd, trampling to death might be possible; but I am convinced, from long personal experience, that, so long as the game can keep going, they will seldom or never turn on pursuing man, At the same time, if you fire at a buffalo as you ride past him, without much changing the direction they are pursuing, he or she may slightly deviate toward the pursuer. However, your bridle-hand should invariably sheer your steed from the quarry, not only to avoid this deviation, but to clear the animal if it drop to shot. The majority of horses accustomed to this work do so of their own accord. At the same time, I should particularly caution the tyro that on himself and his own nerve he should invariably rely, not on that of his dumb companion. To be a good horse- man, of course, is particularly desirable; and the person who can ride bareback will often come in for a run when a saddle may not be at hand. Many of us, of course, can ride in this primitive manner; but there are very few Americans or Europeans who can compare in this respect with the Indians—they appear so perfectly at home on their horses: anywhere and everywhere they place them- selves, and but seldom get a fall. However, the paces of horses are very different; some I used for running buffalo I preferred riding with blanket and a surcingle; on others I did not feel sufficiently at home without the saddle. For some months I had an un- der-sized chestnut, very little over fourteen hands. My associates called her a mustang. In some points she much resembled one; but there was a well-bred look about her small head, narrow muzzle, broad forehead, and lean neck, that told of aristocratic lineage. Moreover, she was very fast and high-couraged, as well as easy in her paces. Her back, while in my possession, was seldom crossed by a sad- dle, although she was the favorite mount, and as such was THE BUFFALO AT BAY. 49 more frequently used. I purchased her for a trifle from a fellow with “villain” plainly written on his countenance, and, as might have been expected, she was recognized and claimed. To part with her was a great trial; but I had the satisfaction of learning that my surmises of her parentage were correct, her sire being thorough-bred, and her dam a mustang. When buffalo are so severely wounded as to feel in- capacitated from further flight, they will then occasionally turn to bay. When this takes place, unless the animal be an old bull, you may safely conclude the wound mortal, and that but an hour or two will elapse before death comes to their relief; but if you be desirous to terminate the final sufferings, when dismounted, be very cautious how you approach to deliver the coup, for, with velocity al- most marvelous, they will dash at their tormentor, gather- ing all their energy for the occasion. A bullI had disabled stood at bay, and, judging from appearances, was within a few moments of expiring; blood flowed profusely from his nose, and already he had commenced to straddle his legs to support his towering carcass. Carelessly I approached. The manner of the rider was infectious on the steed. When twenty yards distant from me, down went his head, and at me he sprang. The activity of the horse alone saved me; and the shave was so close as to be far from pleasant. It was a cleverly executed charge, and a fitting finale to life. The impetus of his motion he was unable to control. The strength of the body was unequal to his courage of heart; for, ere he could halt, over he rolled to rise no more. In hunting, as in civilized life, it is danger- ous to trust in appearances—we know how often they are deceptive. But there are other dangers to be apprehended on the buffalo range—viz., the Indians, who are so cunning and treacherous that the hunter must ever be on his guard. 3 50 PRAIRIE AND FOREST The following reminiscence will illustrate how even over- caution might prove dangerous to friends. For some days I had had a terribly hard time of it. The ground had drunk its full—and to spare—of snow-water, game was scarce and wild, and the scanty herbage that my horse and mule were able to obtain since we entered the plains was barely sufficient to keep them alive; still good seventy miles more had to be traversed before I could reach the friendly shelter of the belt of timber that sur- rounded the Forks. If it had been autumn, I dare not have chosen this route, for it is a debatable ground of the Co- manche and Arrapaho, to whom a solitary white man would be so tempting a morsel that he could not fail to be caught, and we will not say what done to; the very conjecture is disagreeable. The severity of the late weather, therefore, was my safety; for redskins, no less than white men, dis- like unnecessary exposure. Still, I was convinced some stragglers must have lately visited the neighborhood, for the occasional head of game I saw was so wary that I con- cluded hunters had lately disturbed them. One thing was very much in my favor—I was in the lightest of marching order: no pack of peltries or well-stocked kit had I; for a few pounds of bullets,a pound of powder, and my buffalo robe were all my beasts had for a load. How independent a fellow feels when all his worldly goods can be summed up in so few words, unless he be in Bond Street or Broad- way! To keep as much in the nags as possible, in case speed might be required, ever on the lookout for any thing suspicious, with cautious, slow steps, I pursued my route to the eastward. Nothing occurred to increase my watchful ness; in truth, I commenced to believe that I had unneces- sarily alarmed myself, when, crossing a small water-course, on the edge of which was a sandy margin, plainly I saw prints indicating that three horses had lately passed. The AFRAID OF INDIANS. 51 fore-feet of one of them was shod—a good sign. Still, they might have lately been stolen from distant white set- tlements; so all my previous alarm and caution were again reverted to. Half an hour afterward, I heard the report of a rifle; but, as there was a roll in the prairie between me and the direction the sound came from, I could not see who had fired the shot. In ignorance of what was to be seen be- yond, it would have been madness to have ridden to the top of the bluff; so, turning off to the right into irregular, broken ground, the effect of the previous year’s heat, I hobbled my animals, and started cautiously to stalk my way to some elevated ground, from whence I might obtain a view of the surrounding country, taking, at the same time, care to keep myself between the*suspicious direction and my beasts. Ihad not traversed over one hundred and fifty yards, and was halting, the better to notice the most avail- able cover for future progress, when first the head and shoulders, then the entire figure of a man, loomed over the top of the swell. Comanche or Arrapaho I knew at once he was not — perhaps Osage or Pottawatomie; but what the deuce would bring them so many hundred miles from ’ their own hunting-lands? - However, as every thing in the shape of redskins is to be dealt cautiously with, I changed my caps and got into most convenient and unconspicuous shooting attitude, determined not to throw away a shot, or, much less, give my supposed foe a chance of returning the compliment. That he was alone, being dismounted, I knew could not be the case; and as he was coming in the very direction of my fresh trail, which, if he was permitted to cross, he could not fail to discover, and, with the discovery, bring his whole party in pursuit of me, there was but one alternative to adopt. Last year, in this very locality, the Indians had been unusually active; scarcely a gang of emi- 52 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. grants or traders who had taken the southern route but had lost members of their party; in several instances nei- ther sex nor age had been spared by these blood-thirsty marauders; so what could I expect if alone I fell into the hands of a party of braves on the war-path? True, my scalp—for it has long been ignorant of a scalpy lock— would scarcely be worth lifting; but then I did not want to knock under yet; and, if so, I preferred making a fight for it, as, I think, under the excitement, the process of be- ing wiped out is less painful. By this time my stalwart apparition had approached within eighty yards: he was a noble-looking figure, with- out the slouch of the red man when hunting, with a step as free and independent as if he had been shooting over a pri- vate manor. It is the habit of sportsmen and naturalists to praise the appearance of the moose. My own impression is that there is no animal more ungainly, awkward-looking, and appar- ently disproportioned. That he is admirably constructed for the part he has to play in life, there is no question; but the very requisites with which he is endowed give him such an unusual appearance, that prejudice alone can call him handsome. The Virginian deer, the fallow deer, the Wapitti, and the red deer are to me perfect in shape, graceful in their movements, and ornamental to the landscape; but the moose, on the other hand, with his short, thick neck, asi- nine head, protruding eyes, heavy broad ears, tremendous antlers, long, awkward, powerful legs, and disproportionate withers, looking even higher than they are from the mane that surmounts them, can never be considered by an im- partial judge but an awkward and clumsy-looking brute. Of all the ruminants on the American continent, the moose is the tallest. I doubt not that a stall-fed ox can be made to weigh as heavy, but not to attain the stature; and on this account, as well as many others, it is really a duty that the Legislatures of the various States of which he is an inhabitant owe to the country at large to pass and enforce such laws as will prevent his ultimate annihilation. THE HORNS OF THE MOOSE. 67 Probably it may never again be my good fortune to re- visit these scenes of my youth; but can I ever forget the happy days and nights I have spent in the dense swamp, sparsely covered, barren, tangled woodland, or over the brilliant camp-fire, when, miles and miles away from civil- ization, I have been on an expedition to hunt moose? No! Though I have shot in all parts of the world, gone through scenes exciting, both as soldier and hunter, Northern Maine, with all its glorious lakes, rivers, and mountains, will stand paramount: for there my experience of moose-hunting was gained; there I made my maiden effort, which was a fail- ure, to return years afterward and awake the echoes with the war-whoop that proclaims success. In December moose-deer cast their horns; by April the successors commence to sprout; by the end of June full form is developed, but not till many weeks later are they denuded of velvet; when that takes place, the antlers are perfectly white; but exposure to the atmosphere soon gives them a tawny shade, which deepens with the lapse of time. The cow, of course, never bears these ornaments, but the young bull-calf at one year throws out a brace of knobs an inch in length; in the second season these are about six inches long; the third year they increase to nine or ten inches, with a fork; in the fourth season palmation is ex- hibited with several points. From this age there is a grad- ual increase in the palmation and number of points till the animal attains its greatest vigor, from which period the horns decrease in width and weight, at the same time be- coming more elongated. Twenty-three is the greatest num- ber of points I have seen on one head, and the weight of the “horns just exceeded seventy pounds. I doubt if larger has ever, of late years, been found. The young moose-deer, that is, those under five years, frequently do not show their new head-dress till March. 68 ' PRAIRIE AND FOREST. Instances have been known —still, I have no doubt that such were great exceptions—of young males bearing the former year’s horns as late as the calving season, which is in the end of April, and in Labrador and far northern local- ities, May. In September the rutting season commences. Then is the period to see this great animal in all the magnificence of his strength. Reckless and furious, he rushes about, bellowing forth defiance to his own sex, and what is ac- cepted as notes of love by the other. Woe betide the trav- eler, the unarmed or inexperienced man who should then meet him, if no place of safety is at hand, for naught but their total destruction would be the result! I knew an in- stance where a French Canadian nearly lost his life by one of these furious beasts. He had gone with his pony and sledge to bring a boat across a portage, and on his return, while threading the intricacies of the bush-path, a moose, excited with rage and lust, rushed past him. Indiscreetly he fired a charge of small shot after the retreating terma- gant, which brought him to the rightabout, and caused him to charge. Into the boat jumped the Canadian; but the thin ribs and planks afforded no protection from such an assailant. The frail craft was soon knocked to pieces, and our friend took to a tree, when, from his perch, he wit- nessed his pony gored and trampled to death. Moral: Don’t fire small shot at moose if you have any regard for your life. During the rutting season many bull-moose are annually killed; for the hunters, taking advantage of their then com- bative disposition, secrete themselves, and imitate, by means of a roll of birch-bark, the challenge note of an excited male. Some gallant lord of the wilderness hears the false, decep- tive call; and believing that his demesne has been invaded by a rival, towering with rage, he rushes in the direction VISIT TO ST. FRANCIS. 71 whence the sound proceeds, intent on repelling the intruder. Listening to the repeated calls, again and again the bull an- swers, till at length he is drawn within the range of the rifle of the secreted hunter. My maiden effort at moose- shooting was made in such a manner. As if it were but yesterday, the whole adventure is written plainly on my memory. I had only been in America a few months. The attractions of Saratoga I could not avoid, and when there became acquainted with a family of St. Francis Indians, earning a precarious subsistence by basket-making. Before this I had never met any of the aborigines of the American continent, and hour after hour I passed idling around their encampment, listening to stories of the chase, and more es- pecially of moose-hunting. The dark-skinned race got my spare pocket-money, and J, in return, all their knowledge of wood-craft that could be theoretically imparted. The spirit of adventure had become excited within me, and ere I left Saratoga I had faithfully promised to visit St. Francis in autumn, to join one of my new acquaintances in a moose- hunt. The beautiful tints of an American fall were in their greatest brilliancy when I reached the termination of a long and tedious journey to accept the proffered hospitalities. My reception was not so enthusiastic as I expected ; in fact, my ardor was a little damped by the marked coolness of my host. Yet, after coming’ such a distance, I was deter- mined to carry out my project, and a well-stocked purse en- abled me to do so. Starting at early morning, on a beauti- ful, clear day, we descended a tributary stream of the Pe- nobscot River, for eight or ten hours. The easy motion of the birch-bark, the grand scenery, and the brilliant-colored foliage recalled many a vision I had formed of what fairy- land must resemble. About four o’clock we disembarked, our birch-bark was shouldered, and a portage of a mile or ° 72 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. two traversed, when the margin of a clear, calm lake was reached, surrounded with beautiful green hills. Again we launched our canoe on the bosom of the waters, arriving at a second halting-place as the sun in glorious splendor dip- ped the western horizon. Hiding our frail birch-bark craft in some brush, with my attendant leading, we started up an acclivity; after an hour’s rough and difficult walking, the Indian stopped, and sounded a note on his calling-horn. To this there was no response, but my friend assured me, “ Plenty moose by-by.” The night was as beautiful as the day preceding it. The hunter’s moon was at its full, and near objects could be seen almost as distinctly as when the sun was high in the heavens. Several efforts with the call had been made; dis-_ appointment and failure began to appear certain, when a distant and unknown sound struck my ear. At the same moment the redskin seized my arm and- whispered, “Old bull.” We both placed ourselves in a hemlock-tree, and numerous were the injunctions I received of the necessity of silence. Afraid to move, cramped in an awkward posi- tion, for near a mortal hour I endured the torments, cer- tainly not of the blessed; still move I would not, ultimately could not, as the answering voice of the bull in response to the Indian’s call told that the giant was rapidly approach- ing. At length—oh, how glad I was!—the noblest game I had ever set eyes upon broke into the opening at a cautious trot, hesitated, stopped, and impatiently stamped his foot. The distance that the moose was from us could not have been more than thirty yards. Slowly and imperceptibly the Indian’s gun was getting into shooting position. I at- tempted to do the same with mine, when—oh! what ex- cuse can I offer ?—bang went the right barrel, and, but for a vigorous effort, I should have fallen from my perch. I had better draw a veil over the recriminations that en- A MOOSE IN THE FOREST. 73 sued, for homicide was nearly the result, whether justifia- ble or not must be for others to decide; but St. Francis was not long honored with my presence. Of moose-hunt- ing I had seen enough for one season, and for many a year not even my bosom friends knew that I had ever made an attempt to slay the noblest of all the deer family. Tn the close, warm weather of July and August this game is much pestered with flies. To avoid these plagues, the moose almost becomes aquatic in his habits; for hours he will completely submerge himself, with naught but his head above the surface. At this season their principal food is the long, succulent limbs and leaves of the water-lily. In the tributary streams that help to feed Moosehead Lake it is no uncommon thing for the fisherman or tourist, on his aquatic excursions, to come across moose floating, or see them reach the shore in advance of him, alarmed either by the voices or wind of the strangers. Such was my fortune once when fishing in a tributary of Lake Parmacheney. Trout had all day been on the feed; my gun lay carelessly at my feet, half buried in blankets and other hunter’s para- phernalia in the bottom of my canoe, which I had permit- ted silently to drift with the current. Suddenly I heard a splash, as if all the fish in the river had collected to make’ a simultaneous rise; but instead of fin, it was fur, and a splendid. moose, bearing a noble head of antlers, plunged through the weeds, and soon disappeared in the recesses of the forest. If I had been prepared, or even had my gun been obtainable at a minute’s notice, I could almost with certainty have administered the coup de grace. When the season advances, and the sparse advent snows occasionally give warning that winter is at hand, the moose- deer leave the morass and river banks for higher ground. Here they collect in families, previous to yarding, which takes place as soon as the lands of these northern wilds 4 74 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. have received their annual deep and pure white covering. At this time the moose lives in comparative security, his length of limb and tremendous power enabling him to defy all pursuers. Enjoy well thy rest—enjoy it,I say, for it is but for a short season; for when the sun again warms the landscape, and a crust becomes formed through the thaw by day and frost of night, powerful and noble though you be, you will require more than that superhuman power to save you from the persevering Indian or venturous white man. Poor creature! your chance when pursued, after a heavy crust is formed, is indeed small. I know no denizen of the forest that, at any period of life, has the odds so fear- fully against him. As may be imagined, then, the end of February and March are the periods when the greatest havoc among these animals takes place, and I regret to say that frequent. ly the fiendish love of carnage alone seems to occupy the mind of the pursuer. I have known instances—I grieve to say many—when moose have been killed simply for the sake of killing ; for, with the exception of one or two tid- bits, the giant carcass has been left to satiate the appetite of the wild beasts of the forest. If one who has been guilty of such unjustifiable conduct should read this, let his con- science reproach him for the past, and the sting of remorse cause him to resolve never to be again an offender. The exact position of the scene which I am about to de- scribe lies within the limits of the State of Maine, about sixty miles north-east of Moose Head Lake. The days that had heralded the advent of March had been extremely warm, the nights clear, with sharp frost; just such weather as would be pronounced first-class for ” the collecting of sap to make maple-sugar. Two days’ journey had been required to bring us to the desired local- ity; for we had both agreed that no search for moose IN A LOG-HUT. 75 should be made till a favorite neighborhood was reached, alike beautiful in summer or winter. Moreover, here we should find a log-hut, erected two seasons previously, and which we had every reason to believe would be in a thor- ough state of repair. In due course of time we arrived at our rendezvous ; the snow was cleared out of the structure, and, considering all things, the two Penobscot Indians who accompanied us succeeded in making our temporary resi- dence look more than inviting. The first night passed in the usual manner; we each pledged the other’s health more than once, and again and again requited our pipes with tobacco. Still we slept soundly, and day had well broken before either turned out. A burried cup of coffee and a few morsels of cold meat and biscuit sufficed for breakfast, so that ere the sun had risen over the neighboring hill we were en route for the scene of action. The country that we traversed was covered, but not densely crowded, with hard wood—so open, in fact, that a fair shot would severe- ly have punished woodcock which had taken shelter in a similar locality. After tramping three miles, the Indians leading, and I causing much amusement by a succession of catastrophes from one snow-shoe overlapping the other, a halt was made, and the expression of the guide spoke plainly of the vicinity of game; without questioning, we turned off to the left, still following in single file. Stoop- ing low and slowly advancing for some moments, we came upon a yard—but, alas! deserted; but such had not been long the case. Our dark-skinned companions were jubilant ; visions of moose-meat floated before them, and straight they directed their steps to the place of exit, for the occu- pants had winded us earlier than expected. To a novice but one track appeared, yet the Indians held up four fin- gers to indicate that number of inmates. Soon we found their information correct; for, after a pursuit of an hour 76 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. and a half, we perceived our game—a bull, cow, and two calves—going over a neighboring swell. The reason of the deceptive appearance of the trail is caused by the cow and calves stepping as nearly as possible in the footsteps of the bull, who on such occasions invariably leads. Just as we supposed ourselves on the verge of success, the moose passed through a second yard, easily known by the trampled state of the snow and barked sides of the trees. The occupants of this retreat had joined those we were following. This additional force to the pursued add- ed fresh excitement to the chase, and the distress resulting from pace was for the time forgotten. In an hour more we were again in view, and soon afterward among the game. My companions I will leave to themselves, and con- fine myself to my own performance. One of the males had a noble head of horns. These I determined to be possess- ed of ; so, marking him for mine, resolved not to halt till successful. Again and again I thought that but a few minutes would elapse till I could shoot; but either from the snow being less deep, or the animal making extra efforts, at least an hour had elapsed before the quarry was sufficiently close to deliver with precision a fatal shot. - Soon I was joined by one of the Indians, then by the re- mainder of onr party. Four moose had been killed ; so my companion and self agreed that we had reaped enough re- ward for one day’s work. Next day was equally success- ful, more game having been seen than on the first essay. I doubt not, if we had been so minded, for days we might have continued this slaughter; but, as it was, we had as much meat as we could transport to the settlement. A more rapid manner of taking moose when there is a crust, and one much practiced, is to be accompanied by a small, active dog, which, if properly trained to his work, will never lay hold, but only snap at the quarry’s heels. CHANGES OF THE MOOSE-DEER. 77 The poor moose is thus soon brought to bay; for his active pursuer, whose weight is so light that he does not break through the crust, dances in security around the game, snapping at every exposed point, and so engaging the vic- tim’s attention that the hunter can approach the quarry sufficiently close to deliver with certainty an unfailing shot. The flesh of the moose, although sweet, is very coarse. Still, many people prefer it. to any other. I can not say that such is the case with me, good beef being to my idea infinitely superior. The tongue, last entrail, and especially the moufile,.or extremity of the upper lip, are great delica- cies, more particularly when eaten cooked in the primitive style:of the backwoods. It may be the wood-fire, it may be the want of seasoning, or, more probably still, the fresh air and severe exercise of the hunt; but all that I have eaten when snugly housed about a camp-fire has been rel- ished with a gusto unknown in city life. A bonne bouche which must not be forgotten, and which only the moose- hunter can enjoy, or those who live near the haunts of this animal, is the marrow from the shank-bones of the legs, cooked immediately after the animal is killed. This, served on toast, with a sprinkling of cayenne pepper, would make the mouth of the most fastidious epicure water that had previous experience of its excellence. The moose-deer changes much in appearance with the ro- tations of the seasons. In summer ‘the coat is short and fine; in winter, coarse and long. Underneath the hair is found an abundant crop of soft wool, which doubtless en- ables them to endure the great severity of the northern winters. The face hair, different from that of the horse or cow, grows upward from the mouffle, on the termination of which there is a triangular bare spot. “The power of the jaws and teeth of the moose is very great. The facility with which they strip the bark from those trees that con- 78 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. stitute their favorite food is wonderful. Their pace is either a walk or trot, the usual bounding gait of other species being unknown to them. Even if a fallen tree in- terrupt their progress, instead of rising at it like a horse, they manage to clamber over in a most effective manner. Two methods of capturing moose .I have not alluded to —for why? They appear so antagonistic to all those feel. ings that should actuate the gentleman—viz., by snaring and trapping. The minutie of the modes of proceeding by which the unsuspicious game is induced to enter either of the above devices, I am certain would not be interesting to a sportsman. For many years it was a disputed point whether the moose-deer of America and the elk of Europe were the same species; but the most eminent of recent and present authorities agree that they are identical. Captain Hardy, of the Royal Artillery, who was stationed many years in Canada, and devoted much of his time to moose-hunting, as well as studying this animal’s habits, and who is also conversant with the European elk, emphatically asserts that there are not the smallest grounds for any diversity of opinion on the subject. Audubon, an authority on Amer- ican natural history second to none, refuses to give a de- cision, and justly so, for he was not conversant with the European animal. The following adventure occurred to me while sojourn- ing in the habitat of the moose: For some days my fly-rod had been indefatigably and most successfully at work, furnishing not only my own - table, but many of the neighboring families with trout, so that a change of programme was far from unacceptable. One morning as I was deliberating in which direction I would go, my host asked me if I should have any objection to accompany him to lift some traps he had not visited AMERICAN SWAMP-HARE. — 79 since spring. The trip promised an acquaintance with a new beat, and an insight into what I was not as yet conver- sant with in this section of the American continent—viz., the method followed of trapping martens. As the sun was rising over the eastern hills—for these primitive people are early risers—we found ourselves about to leave the sur- veyed road. My friend bore on his back a sack in which to place his long-neglected traps, while I carried my trusty ten-bore double gun, loaded by request with ball in one barrel, and buck-shot in the other. Our route at first was through a dense cedar swamp, exceedingly irregular on the surface, while the undergrowth was so close that it was with difficulty parted; a thick coating of moss was under- foot, so spongy and full of water that if we remained sta- tionary for a few seconds we would be over the insteps in water. Nevertheless, the tracks of the American swamp- hare were innumerable; an animal, by-the-bye, which is very similar to the Scotch blue hare, some authorities going so far as to say they are the same species, slightly changed by climate and different habits of life, resulting from the dissimilar localities in which they are found. A blazed path was all we had for direction; but as both were in the full vigor of manhood, we steadily progressed. Several times we flushed the Canadian spruce grouse; but as my projectiles were not suited to this stamp of game, and my companion continually kept reminding me that larger might be expected, I forbore troubling them. From the swamp we got on drier soil, very rocky, and densely wooded with pine, the trees increasing in stature as we ascended, till we were surrounded with such glorious pines as might one day form, without discredit, the main- mast of a line-of-battle ship. Upward, like the youth who shouted “Excelsior,” we kept ascending; but we had not the maiden to warn us, 80 ‘ PRAIRIE AND FOREST. whose warning I doubt not, unless she had been unusually pretty, would have been disregarded. Soon the walking became climbing, and after an hour’s clambering the sum- mit of the ridge was reached. Here the first trap was lift- ed; and at intervals of two hundred yards or so, according to the nature of the ground, the others were found distrib- uted. As they had been down for nearly two months, whatever had been captured by them was now in a de- composed state. Soon the whole (over a dozen) had been gathered, when we descended to a stream literally alive with fish ; trout of all sizes up to a pound appeared to be actually crowding each other; and so unacquainted were they with man’s presence that they totally disregarded our intrusion. Lunch-time had arrived, and on the margin of the brook we enjoyed our meal; several of the trout, which my com- panion had captured with the most primitive line, attached to a rod cut from the nearest tree, forming no inconsider- able portion of the meal. After a smoke and half-hour’s dawdle, we started on our return, following an entirely different route, equally disad- vantageous for rapid progression. During our homeward tramp I learned that martens could only be taken on the highest ridges, and that the bait used was either a red squirrel, the beautiful little cedar bird, or the heart or liv- er of the swamp-hare. I was not a little surprised at the number of times my companion halted to inquire if my gun was all right, more especially as so far we had seen no in- dications of large game, excepting some decayed stumps and logs, moved where Bruin had been grubbing, or scratch- ed trees, where his race from time immemorial had been in the habit of stretching themselves. As the sun set, we once more regained the path, well fatigued with our rough and protracted tramp, myself not A SKULKING PAINTER- 81 a little disgusted that I had seen nothing sufficiently worthy of being considered fit game for the heavy missiles which both my barrels contained. . In‘fact, I could not help open- ly grumbling that I should have been inveigled into such a useless journey, which elicited the response from my asso- ciate that I might thank my stars we had got back safe. With this answer for the time I had to be satisfied; but that evening the mystery came out, and the selfish motives that had dictated my companionship being sought. I will endeavor to state the story as told by the trapper : “Last April, when the snow was on the ground, I laid out the traps we have to-day lifted. The traveling was very bad. at the time, for it was near the break-up of winter. I got along the ridge all right; but as I thought it better to return as I had come, I determined to retrace my steps. I had scarcely faced homeward when I found, to my surprise, the print of an animal following my old track. I looked in every direction to see where the follower could be, but was unable to detect him. However, I knew well that the skulking villain was no other than a painter (Anglicé, puma); and as I had only my old single-barrel loaded with bird-shot, I became justly scared. All of a tremble, I con- tinued my course, and you may bet I made tracks. The very evidence of the brute following me showed he was after no good, and I was right; for as I drew near the out- side edge of the swamp I saw him right ahead; but I went out of the way to avoid him; and after I left the wood.I heard him howl, doubtless in anger because he had missed - making supper off me.” At the time I could not help thinking that my host had been needlessly alarmed, and told him so, when he inform- ed me that nothing would have induced him to return alone —in fact, that he would sooner have lost his traps than do so; that a painter in those regions, more especially in win- 4* 82 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ter, was much to be dreaded, and in corroboration inform- ed me of a little tragedy that occurred some years past in the same neighborhood. Two friends once trapped the township of Success. They had two beats, running in re- verse directions, while the shanty in which they both lived together was situated at the dividing point from which each radiated. The one who examined the. traps to the north to-day visited those to the south to-morrow, changing their routes with each other daily, and always meeting at night at their common residence... Almost half the season had thus passed away, when one of the companions who had return- ed to the sleeping-place became seriously alarmed at the continued absence of his friend. At length the little cur dog who constantly accompanied the missing man came home alone. There is an end to every thing, and so there is to a long winter night; and with the earliest indications of day the anxious watcher sallied forth to find the missing trapper, whom he, after a long and weary search, discover- ed, dreadfully mangled, and partially eaten. The assassin had been a painter. The tracks on the tell-tale snow spoke correctly. About thirty feet above where the corpse lay, an immense limb ran out at right angles from the parent tree. From this the skulking coward had doubtless sprung upon the unsuspecting trapper. Thus it will be seen that the home of the giant moose is not without other tenants, some of whom are likely to af- ford adventurous hunters more excitement than a hot cor- ner at the side of an English cover. CARIBOU MIGRATING. CHAPTER, V. CARIBOU. AxtHoues occasionally the caribou is killed within the limits of the United States, they have ever there been deem- ed scarce, doubtless from it being the extreme southern lim- it of their habitat, nor can they be found in such numbers as to justify the sportsman going in their pursuit till the northern shores of the great St. Lawrence are gained ; from whence, as the traveler advances into higher latitudes, daily indications of their presence will become more abundant. How far to the north they may be found is doubtful, al- though it is beyond a question that their range extends to the Arctic Circle. The almost unknown interior of the vast island of Newfoundland abounds with them; also the interior of Labrador; while in the uninhabited waste be- tween Hudson Bay and Alaska, late Russian America, their numbers are so great as to form the staple article of food of the inhabitants of these dismal lands. Capable of resisting with comparative impunity the great- est severity of cold, they suffer severely from heat, to avoid which they make two migrations annually—to the north in summer, grazing back to the south in winter. During these journeys the greatest destruction of the species takes place ; for they almost invariably follow the same line of march, with which the natives are acquainted, and where they await for the herd either entering mountain defiles or crossing rivers, when they are surrounded and _ indiscriminately slaughtered. ‘They are also hunted on snow-shoes, after the manner of moose. 86 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. A8 caribou are possessed of great vitality, they require heavy hitting: so a rifle of large calibre ought to be em- ployed by the sportsman. Although there are upon the American continent two very distinctly marked varieties of the reindeer, I can not adopt the idea of many travelers that, so conspicuous is their dissimilarity, they are entitled to be considered dis- tinct species. We are all aware that difference of climate, local causes, and abundance or paucity of food work wonderful altera- tion on animal life—more especially in regulating their stat- ure; for instance, the moose-deer of Labrador seldom ex- ceeds sixteen and a half hands, while that of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick has been known to attain twenty-one or even twenty-two hands (vide Audubon). Now the grounds that are taken for asserting that there are two species of caribou are exactly the same, and would equally justify the decision that there are two species of elk. The woodland caribou leads a life of comparative idleness among the dense swamps and pine-clad hills, where food is constantly to be found in abundance. The barren caribou, on the oth- er hand, inhabits the immense flats or mountain ridges close to the Arctic Circle, where vegetable growth is sparse, and little shelter afforded from the biting cold winds and snows peculiar to so high alatitude. So great often are the straits the latter variety are submitted to from the inhospitable nature of their habitat, that in some districts they are com- pelled to become migratory to obtain the necessaries of life. Is it, then, to be wondered at that there should be a mark- ed difference in size between the inhabitant of the shelter- ed forest and the wanderer upon the barren upland waste ? Another strange circumstance has often struck me— viz., that although the reindeer has for ages been domes-. ticated in Europe and Asia, employed both to draw and CARIBOU IN WINTER COAT. Ue I ! ! i i / REINDEER NOT DOMESTICATED IN AMERICA, 89 carry freights, as well as provide milk for the inhabitants of Lapland and the Siberian wastes, no attempt ever ap- pears to have been made in the New World to utilize their capacities. This is the more surprising when we consider that only a few years back Russia possessed a large por- tion of the north-west angle of the Continent of America, a country literally swarming with wild caribou, from the herds of which no difficulty would be found to make cap- tives. Still, such has never been done with a view of utiliz- ing their labor, although in her possessions across the Behr- ing Sea reindeer are in constant use among the sparse pop- ulation that inhabits the North Asiatic slopes that margin the Pacific. Between America and Asia, up in these high latitudes, for many years an extensive trade has been car- ried on in furs, so that the inhabitants of the one continent must have intercourse with, and a knowledge of the ways of life of the other. Although the reindeer easily becomes domesticated, and when in that state is no more difficult to herd than sheep, still, when in the wild state, particularly if near to the con- fines of civilization, they are of all game the most difficult to approach, even to obtain sight of. Their large, heavy ears enable them to possess most wonderful powers of hearing, and their olfactory organs and sight are none the less acute; so that they are able to distinguish the approach of an intruder upon their demesne long before the sports- man is aware of their presence. Thus, when hunting car- ibou, I have often come across the indentations caused by their tread in the soft, bent moss of the swamp, and so late- ly made that you might observe the pressed stems revert- ing to their original position, still no sight of the quarry could be obtained, although it was impossible they could be more than a second or two in your advance. However, the caribou has a way of stealing off, gliding, as it were, 90 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. out of sight, which in so large an animal appears impossi- ble. To accomplish this, they lower their backs, push their heads far forward, with the antlers laying close along the withers, while each foot is raised, and, with very bended knee, placed far and silently in advance of the other. To observe this done, the action is so slow and measured, that you can not help being astonished at the rapidity of pro- gression that results. The moose, also, will practice this ruse to avoid observation; but it is far from as great an adept in it as the caribou. In summer this animal almost becomes aquatic in its life; for, whether it result from the pestering annoyance of the legions of mosquitoes or black flies that constantly hover around them, or its love for the refreshing influence of the bath, it appears to spend day after day submerged, with little else than its nose, eyes, and horns above water. At this season it feeds but little dur- ing day; but when the sun has set, and the atmosphere be- comes cooler, it sallies off to the woodland and swamps in search of its favorite lichens and ground shrubs. The shooting of one species of deer so much resembles another, and I have already described so many adventures in pur- suit of moose and, hereafter, in the pursuit of the more common Virginian deer, that I will tax the reader’s pa-. tience no further than to add, that to be successful in pur- suit of caribou, unless when they are swimming the great rivers in their annual migrations, the hunter must be cool and self-possessed, have an extensive knowledge of wood- craft, and powers of endurance to bear fatigue of no ordi- nary quality. The peculiar and varied formations that the horns of the caribou assume have been the subject of much controversy among the cognoscenti. Why palmation should occur in oné antler over the brow and in another at the extremities, has been accounted for by individuals doubtless to their DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARIBOU HORNS. THE CARIBOU. 93 own satisfaction, but I fear not at all so to the general pub- lic. For myself, when I have formed a theory in reference to this animal’s antlers, and possibly nursed it for some time, I have had the misfortune or otherwise to kill a cari- bou that annihilated the pretty little structure I had built. Thus the horns here represented, although taken from life, must not be accepted as a stereotyped pattern of the whole family. CHAPTER VI. WAPITTI DEER. Wuart I have said in reference to the habitat of the bi- son may be repeated as regards the Wapitti, with this ex- ception, that it does not roam so far north by some degrees of latitude. Thus the visitor to the district I have recom- mended for buffalo-hunting will have the advantage of en- joying both descriptions of sport. I do not consider this noble game swift when you com- pare it with the other species of the deer family. From this I am led to believe the statement of a well-known sportsman, who holds a commission in the United States regular service, that he and his brother officers have fre- quently ridden them down. Such sport must be eminently exciting, if the ground be good that you gallop over to at- tain such results in such a chase. A heavy pistol or short carbine would be the weapon I should prefer. For stalking the Wapitti, the rifle, and that of heavy cal- ibre, ought to be employed; for so large and powerful an animal requires no ordinary shock to effectually paralyze the system, so as to prevent the victim wandering off to die a lingering death, and ultimately become food for the carnivore. The habit that sportsmen of the United States have of using small-bore arms when in pursuit of large game is much to be deprecated; for the result is, that a great number of the stricken do not fall till they are entire- ly lost to the hunter. é In Scotland the red deer is vaunted, and his praises sung, for he is truly a noble beast, alike trying the hunt- 4 yey ay EMH mon, lay nian ee en, 04 Te WAPITTI DEER. WAPITTI DEER. 97 er’s courage and endurance; but if Caledonia’s rocky glens and heath-covered mountains boast of possessing such a hero, the far-distant plains and central plateaus of Amer- ica have a right to glory, for they feed and shelter a nobler quarry, if size and power constitute such. The New Land surpasses us in the magnitude of its rivers, mountains, water-falls, and trees; in her animal creation, also, she is ahead. Facts are facts; and when such is the case, the Britishers should surrender with a good grace; for to con- tradict, even evince skepticism, would only prove our igno- rance. But a thought arises in my mind, Will the Western World long possess those representatives of animal life of which she has a just right to be proud? I say no, if the work of destruction continues as now; for every border ruffian, every squatter, is allowed to slaughter at his will, and at all seasons, creatures the possession of which any land has a right to be proud. To the old mountaineers and Indian traders this animal was known by one appellation, and that an erroneous one; and so constant has become its use, that even among the educated classes this misnomer will be heard; thus the Wapitti is invariably denominated an elk, the proper name for a moose; so that the sportsman desirous of devoting his time to the pursuit of Wapitti deer, in seeking infor- mation where they are to be found, had better inquire for the animal under his false sobriquet. It is strange how many mistakes of this description have crept into the nam- ing of American quadrupeds, fishes, and birds: thus the buffalo is a bison; the pheasant, a grouse; the quail or partridge, an ortix. Dozens of these errors could be enu- merated, but the previous examples will suffice. The noble horns which the stag Wapitti bears give him & most imposing appearance; for they are wide-branching, 5 98 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ponderous, and covered with numerous points, and not un- frequently, in the case of very old males, semi-palmated. In height the stag frequently stands fourteen hands and a half; and so powerful are their proportions, that the car- cass is as broad and strongly put together as that of a draft-cob. Possibly it may be the knowledge of their strength, but, unlike the majority of their family, they pre- fer open prairie or sparsely treed river-edges to the dense- ly covered wet lands. From this circumstance it is easy to find abundant opportunities to course them with grey- hounds; but, from the strength of the adversary, your dogs must be of great size and courage; even then, if the game be driven to bay, woe betide the aggressor who should come within reach of his powerful fore-feet, for he can deal a blow, or, rather, make a thrust with his sharp- pointed hoofs, that literally would go through the panel of an ordinary door. Well the wolf knows this; and it is of rare occurrence that the blood thirsty robber dares to ap- proach a member of this species, unless he be disabled by wounds or effete from age. I do not think, from the in- formation I have been able to obtain, from searching old authorities who have written on the fauna of North Amer- ica, that the range of the Wapitti ever extended eastward to the Atlantic sea-board, but that their habitat commenced with the prairie country, say Illinois or Indiana. However, these States have long ceased to know them; for, like oth- er large game, they have rapidly retired before the tide of emigration. The upper waters of the Missouri, the plains around the fork of the North and South Saskatchewan are where, at the present day, this mammoth stag will be found most abundant. The adventurer who would follow them to these fastnesses must be a brave, determined person, for it is the centre of the hunting-grounds of some of the most warlike and treacherous of all the Indian tribes; and of late THE STAG OF CANADA. 99 years so many acts of retaliation—yes, and treachery—have been practiced by the white man upon the aborigines, that the aborigines are too apt to regard all pale-faces as their natural-born enemies. Thus, to shoot Wapitti will proba- bly entail shooting savages; for if you are not prepared to do so in self-defense, it is highly improbable that you will return to the land of your nativity to relate your knowledge of their habits, or the success you have had in their pursuit. The stag of Canada—for by this name the Wapitti is sci- entifically known—is essentially gregarious, and sometimes herds amount to hundreds; but as a rule they will be found assembled in coteries of a dozen or more, the females inva- riably performing the duties of sentinels; and although they are less difficult of approach than either the Virginian or black-tailed deer, still it is necessary for the stalker never to disregard wind and intervening obstacles if he desires to get sufficiently close to the game to deal it a certain shot. In very stormy weather, particularly if it be accompanied with snow, however, I have known them possess the utmost indifference to man’s presence, so that even after being wounded they would scarcely move above a few yards from the place where they had been stricken. In fact, under such circumstances, they appear to get confused and afraid to flee, lest the herd should become separated and broken up. On such occasions as these the Indians make great havoc among them; for it is a peculiarity of this race that they never cease from slaughter while a survivor re- mains within their reach. One would imagine that expe- rience would teach them otherwise, for there is scarcely a year that these aborigines are not reduced to the most des- perate straits from famine; but their improvidence is in- herent, and to the end of time they will practice the adage, “ Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” 100 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. I can not leave the Wapitti deer without recording one of the numerous adventures that occurred to me while a resident in the region that they inhabit. As a rule, my con- tretemps in their pursuit were not very exciting, for they are a large animal, and, as I have previously said, far from as wary as many smaller species of the genus; thus, if the first barrel had not effectually done its work of destruction, the second seldom failed, for it was a rare occurrence for me to draw trigger till within fifty yards. I had met in one of the sequestered valleys of the Rocky. Mountains, from whence a tributary of the Yellowstone flowed, a couple of wanderers. Two more objectionable beings it would be difficult to find. The veriest offscour- ings of a jail could not excel them in villainy and repulsive- ness of appearance. Still, they were white men, and, as such, were welcomed as brothers; so we cast lot together, and commenced housekeeping in common. The first night after our meeting a slight amount of disagreeableness oc- curred, through the elder of my new associates being dis- covered ransacking my pack, as he said, for tobacco. Now, tobacco was scarce in these regions; and although I would willingly have shared with a friend, still, I objected to be deprived of what was as important to me as my molars by an individual I knew nothing about, and still more, already had acquired an intuitive dislike to. Happily, next day we were joined by a new-comer, or I believe a row would have taken place, for I could see that an entente cordiale existed between the duo far from amicable to my interests. How- ever, the stranger’s advent acted as a sedative, and the most acute could not have imagined that aught but the most per- fect comradeship existed among us. Some time after the sun went down a game of euchre was proposed. Never having cared particularly about cards, I said nothing; so the movement was carried without opposition. The stran- . A PRETTY CAMPING-GROUND. 101 ger was assigned to me as a partner, and the stakes to be played for were tobacco, lead, or powder ; in fact, any thing we possessed. My antagonists were both miners from the north of England, but a long time residents in the New Land; my partner a regular down-east Yankee. For some time all went on straight and fair, but it was not destined that such should continue. We had been euchred three times in succession, when both my partner and self detect- ed our opponents passing cards to each other beneath the blanket that covered our knees. Hard language immedi- ately ensued, knives and pistols were drawn; but all thought better of it, and peace between the belligerents was pro- claimed for the night. On the morrow, however, we, partner and self, left’ the old camp, and started with the intention of founding a set- tlement of our own. Half an hour before dark we reached one of the prettiest camping-grounds that the eye of wearied hunter ever rested on; and as the night was fine, we satisfied ourselves with a fire, without taking the trouble to erect a wigwam of boughs. Thus far I had not studied my new friend; from his man- ner on the previous evening, he undoubtedly was pluck to the backbone; not insufficiently educated, but crude— deucedly crude. I say this from a habit he had, namely, of expectorating on whatever offered a fair surface for a shot —the piece of birch-bark that had been pinned up. at the corner to make a wash-dish; in fact, any thing smooth he could not resist squirting at. The first time he indulged in this weakness was to deluge the upper of my cow-skin boot. On my angrily remonstrating, he protested that he meant no insult, but simply wished to see what kind of map he made. “Well, what do you make out of it?” said I, half indignant, still partially appeased. “ Why,” returned he, “a map of Asia; and these splashes 102 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. are the Malay Archipelago; don’t you see ?—it is as plain as a pike-staff—there is Sumatra, Java, Borneo, and the Celebes; that is the Straits of Malacca, and those Sunda. Well, I have often thought of going to them parts; for, the oftener I spit, the more frequently I make the self-same show, clearly telling that there is an opening in that coun- try for a man of intellect and energy. You are not listen- ing; but look here, Britisher, just look how quick the Hin- doostan peninsula dried up, showing nairey a doubt that there an’t a show for a Yankee nohow in that benighted land.” From my own experience, I knew there was a deal of truth in what the Massachusetts school-master said; and I wished Old England would only see the necessity of hold- ing in her own hands these self-same Straits of Malacca and Sunda with the same jealous care as she does our In- dian empire, as through them all our most valuable com- merce must pass to the populous north-eastern shores of the Pacific. Pleasant company, yet a great character, was this Yan- kee. Here he was evidently on a hunting tour, yet he could not shoot; and when in search of game, in spite of remon- strance, would frequently produce his tuning-fork, and strike up some doleful psalm through his nose, instead of from his mouth, to let the hills of this heathen land resound, as he said, to the songs of the Lord. Mr. School-master—for I found out he was a dominie; any fool with a grain of sense, except myself, might have known with half an eye that he was something out of the ordinary line—never killed any thing; so the duty of sup- porting two mouths instead of one devolved upon me. From soon after sunrise to sundown I was invariably from camp, leaving my new associate to the bent of his fancies, provided he looked after the horses, and kept sufticient fire- THE NEW-ENGLAND SCHOOL-MASTER. 103 wood for the coming night’s consumption. The day had been dark and gloomy; the season, Indian summer; the hour, as far as I judged, three in the afternoon, when, to my surprise, I heard the report of a gun in the direction of camp. As the school-master, from want of success, had almost given up the use of his gun, the report struck me as ominous of evil, so I hurried rapidly forward to discover what could have induced him to shoot, nor was I long kept in suspense, for in an opening, a few yards in front, I saw a fine stag Wapitti engaged in a determined battle with my comrade. The deer was on three legs, one of the fore ones being smashed below the knee, while my companion, with his gun clubbed, carefully watched his assailant. For- tunately for the school-master, the stag’s agility was seri- ously impeded by the shattered limb, or the contest would have been ere this finished; as it was, he had to display his activity, and rivaled in it any French dancing-master I had ever met. But for the rapid evolutions of assailed and assailant, I could have easily killed the deer; but twice as I was about to press the trigger the wrong object was in the line of fire. The position of this eccentric man was not without danger; yet when I approached the combatants to give him assistance, I was almost rendered incapable of the task by the risibility of the whole affair; for even in his most adroit movements, even when the foe’s antlers were within a foot of his body, he kept chanting through his nasal organ something or other about letting the hills re- sound, only stopping in his vocal exhibition when he struck the assailant a blow with the butt of his musket, when the exclamation, “ One for his knob,” would come from his lips with much emphasis. At length my approach was perceived, when he retreat- ed toward me, expressing his conviction that he had never doubted that the Lord would send him succor. After the 104 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. gallant stag had subsided to a neat shoulder-shot, I was graciously awarded a solution of the situation in which I discovered him. “T was singing the ‘Old Hundred,’ and I was in prime voice ; and didn’t the echoes take it up rejoicingly! for you see it is the first time that this benighted heathen land has heard the voice of a Christian, when that beast— the emissary of the evil one, doubtless— without a bit of provocation, came ramping at me. There was no mistake in his intentions, for his eyes were bleared, and I could see he was panting for my blood. So I thinks of my weapon; but in my hurry to let it off, I forgot to fetch it to my cheek; so you see it was a merciful interposition of Provi- dence that caused the charge to go straight;” and, looking at the carcass, he spoke a soliloquy about the children of darkness everssuccumbing to the children of light. If he had got the weapon to his cheek, our worthy friend would doubtless have missed the stag, which from its ap- pearance was rutting, and, like all the deer family when in that state, exceedingly dangerous. A month’s residence with the New England school-mas- ter gave a considerable insight into his character. He was always trying to be good, very good, unless when temptation came in his way; and one of these, which he could not re- sist, was to cheat at cards. At it I again and again detected him, lectured him in consequence, asserting I would not play further with him if it re-occurred, and in the very next deal he would be guilty of the same malpractices; so at length we both agreed, our stakes being nil, to cheat our darndest; and from that time forth to see how right and left bowers, aces, and kings, used to be turned up in that peaceful, sequestered valley, was something awful, and that often to the tune of the “Old Hundred.” During the rutting season terrific combats take place be-. WAPITTI ANTLERS. 105 tween the claimants for the favor of the fair ones ; and these battles royal are fought with such vim and determination that they not unfrequently result in the death of one or both of the belligerents. Again, the antlers of the contest- ants occasionally get locked together, so that the owners find it impossible to disengage themselves, when death overtakes them in the appalling form of starvation. I was once shown two grand heads of Wapitti horns at Pembena, which had been picked up on a tributary of the Upper Missouri, that had become so interlaced that no effort could disengage them in their entirety. The fawns are produced late in spring, and at two years of age the young bucks exhibit knobs, which in six years become full heads; however, with further years the horns continue to spread aud increase in weight, the very old males exhibiting at the top fork a very obvious palmation. Mr. Hays, a New York animal artist of great repute, showed me a pair of Wapitti antlers which he had picked up in a valley of the Rocky Mountains; they were larger than any I had previously seen, although I have killed a very great number of specimens. If memory serves me correctly, they possessed fifteen points, and weighed fifty- two pounds. What a splendid stag their owner must have been! And the trouble and expense of a voyage across the Atlantic, with the additional fatigue of the land journey to the hunting-grounds of the red men, would not be thrown away if the sportsman was certain to be rewarded by the capture of such a quarry. CHAPTER VII. VIRGINIAN DEER. Tuis beautiful animal, in size, shape, and coloring so near- ly resembles the fallow deer of English demesnes, that the one might be taken for the other, if it were not for the char- acteristic formation of the horns in each, the former hav- ing the tines pointed forward almost in a perpendicular line above the eye, while the antlers of the latter are palmated. Its range is most extensive; being from Canada West to the Gulf of Mexico, and from the Atlantic sea-board to New Mexico, north of which a different variety takes its place, viz., the black-tailed deer. Although the Virginian deer of late years has greatly decreased in numbers, still they are to be found in tolerable abundance in portions of the country within easy access of several of the largest cities: for instance, in the John Brown’s tract, in Eastern New York; in the country north and west of Ottawa, in Upper Canada; and in the Alleghany Mountains ; but, as a rule, in such situations they are very wild and difficult of access, as they are incessantly harassed by every visitor or resident who owns or can borrow a gun. However, good sport with them can be obtained in many of the Southern and Western States, more especially in Texas, and in the country traversed by the upper waters of the Brazos, Red, and Canadian rivers. If driven into open country, they are easily overtaken and pulled down by a strong greyhound. Shot or ball are indifferently used in their pursuit, choice in your projectiles being guided by whether the nature of the country is open or wooded. AY Se VIRGINIAN DEER. PREPARING FOR A DEER-HUNT. 109 The following experiences in its pursuit will give an idea of its habits, and the. localities where the sportsman may find. them. Near Vincennes, Indiana, I once knew a man who was pretty nearly master of the art of deer-stalking, and he could as well discriminate a good day for this purpose from an indifferent one as he could a thorough-bred from a mustang, “No use going out to-day, Cap,” he would say, in answer to an inquiry; “the woodpeckers have got their heads up, and the deer are lying: best stop at home;” and best it always was. It was in the month of December or January, I can not precisely state which; but on rising from my bed, to my surprise I found the ground covered with a few inches of snow, just sufficient, and none to spare, to track a deer with a degree of certainty. Now,I was hungry for venison, and such a chance was not to be let slip. From a very bad habit, which is unaccountable among many when they go from home, I had a morning cocktail brewed, and with a glass in each hand sought the dormitory of my friend, and over this beverage we discussed the prospects and our plan of campaign. The horses were ordered to be in readiness after break- fast; buck-shot and bullets were hunted out, shooting- boots greased, and tobacco and pocket-pistols loaded to the neck and stuffed in our saddle-bags. A hard day we knew to be before us, so ample justice was done to our meal; for, sportsmen, rely upon what I say, nothing so material- ly assists you to withstand fatigue and cold as an ample breakfast. A ride of about five miles took us to our ground; but as our horses were fresh, and we impatient to be at work, the distance was soon traversed, and we dismounted in a grove of saplings, well suited to hitch our nags to and shelter them from the wintry blast. 110 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. While we are performing the necessary operation of loading, a description of our armament will not be inappro- priate. Will (as I will call him) had an antiquated, un- couth rifle, with the old-fashioned double trigger, the sec- ond to set the hair-spring—an invention I had seldom pre- viously seen and never used, which, although possessed of no finish, could shoot “ plumb centre ;” while I myself had my trusty double-barrel ten-bore, which, from long experi- ence and association, I was aware had only to be held straight to do correct work. A large swamp about half a mile off was a favorite resort for deer, and to it we directed our steps: but before we had gone half the distance we came across numercus tracks, so fresh that we kept a sharp lookout in all directions, hop- ing every moment to be gratified with the sight of some antlered monarch. Failing in this, we changed our tactics, friend Will posting me on the margin of a branch of the swamp, with my back against the butt of a tree, with in- structions to remain still and keep‘a sharp lookout, while he would take a détour, and possibly drive some stragglers across the run which my position commanded. Slowly, after Will started, the time passed; the forest appeared perfectly deserted; not a squirrel or bird showed itself to break the monotony, except an angry, squabbling family of woodpeckers, who appeared to have some serious disagree- ment in reference to the possession of a hole in the trunk of a dead giant tree. Wet feet are never conducive to comfort, and much less so when you are prevented from taking exercise; besides, it was bitterly cold. First I stood on one leg, then on the other, after the manner of geese, which birds I began to consider I much resembled, till at last the inaction became so unendurable that I was very nearly taking up my gun and starting in pursuit of my supposed recreant friend. THE ALARMED BUCK. Jil As I was about to put my resolution in practice, I thought I heard a voice, and, on looking in the direction from whence. it proceeded, I was surprised to see a couple of hunters, with a cur dog, passing my retreat, about a hun- dred yards off. He who has shot much in the timber well knows that, if he remains quiet, the possibility is great that those moving about may make the game start toward his retreat. And well it was I did so; for ere five minutes had passed, a grand old turkey, head down, and going like a race-horse, ran past; but turkey was not deer, so I let him go, preferring to be without turkey to braving the wrath of Will for firing at illegitimate game. How often pa- tience and forbearance receive their reward ! and so it was in this instance ; for scarcely had the gobbler gone when a fine large buck hove in sight. From his manner, he was evidently alarmed; for every now and then he stopped, snorted, and continued his route. Unfortunately, he was heading so as to pass farther off than would afford a good shot, and the ground was too clear to permit me, with any prospect of success, to better my position. I had almost made up my mind not to shoot. However, I changed my resolution ; for so soon as he came abreast of me, he halted, and looked around. The temptation I could no longer with- stand; so, pitching my gun with due elevation, I let drive the first barrel, with no apparent result, for the deer only threw up his head and trotted off. The second charge I quickly determined to put in; and holding well in front and high, had the satisfaction of seeing his lordship make a tremendous bound and drop his tail—a certain indication that some of the shot had taken effect; but the distance was so great that successful results could scarcely be ex- pected. Nothing is so difficult as to obtain a gun that throws buck-shot well. I am inclined to believe that gun-makers 112 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. have not paid the same amount of attention to discovering the proper internal construction of barrels, so as to obtain the greatest range and closeness in throwing this descrip- tion of projectile. Generally, at the distance of one hun- dred yards, the side of a barn would be none too large a target to be certain of hitting; and again, occasionally a barrel will make an unusually good pattern at one dis- charge, while at the next it will be quite the reverse; so that hitting a deer at a hundred yards I consider more the result of luck than good guiding, if charged with buck-shot. After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, I was join- ed by my friend, who at once inquired what I had shot at; but when I told him the distance, he only laughed one of those peculiar, little dry laughs which, as plainly as words, said, “ You’re a fool if you expect to eat any of that car- cass.” Nevertheless, we together inspected the track, and I had not even the gratification to find blood. Well, Will was for giving it up, but I wished to follow it out; so after using all his powers of persuasion and argument in favor of his views, he succumbed, and consented for once to be dictated to. For over a mile we followed our game. The line was straight, and the track distinct; moreover, the gait was steady, if one could judge from the regularity of the im- pressions; and there was naught to indicate that we might not with as great propriety follow any animal in these bot- tom-lands at which a shot had never been fired. “Will was going ahead, leading, and your humble‘servant bringing up the rear, when the former suddenly halted and turned round. From the expression of his face I knew something was up, but was scarcely prepared for the information he gave. “Look here,” said he; “you have hit that deer, Cap, toler- ably badly, and I suspect we shall get him yet; his foreleg is disabled, and he can’t travel far without our overhauling * FOLLOWING THE TRAIL. 113 him.” On inquiring how he gained his information, he pointed to the tracks; and, sure enough, the off fore-foot, instead of making a clean impression, cut the snow for nearly a foot. whenever raised off the ground. “You see,” said he, chuckling, “he don’t use both alike, for it’s all he can do to get this one up.” There was no gainsaying such conclusive evidence; and with renewed ardor we sharpened the pace of pursuit, alternately changing places, one being constantly on the lookout while the other tracked. Once or twice we got sight of the deer, but too far off, or for too limited ‘a period, to shoot; but the view was always cheering. Forward we pressed, exultingly hoping that each minute would finish the hunt; but the deer thought other- wise, for he was of a most unaccommodating disposition. Soon it became apparent that the confounded brute was traveling the same circle, and that, unless we altered our plans, we might be kept going till dark; and as we were not disposed to work harder than necessary, it was agreed: that I should drop behind and take up my stand in the most eligible place, while Will continued the pursuit with the hope of driving our wily foe past my ambush. Though the plan was well devised, it failed in execution; for, after an hour’s tedious delay, my companion rejoined me, dis- gusted and dispirited, heaping anathemas upon the foe, pronouncing him to be one of the very foxiest brutes he had ever come across, After all our trouble, it would nev- er do thus to be defeated ; so I proposed doing the track- ing while he took a stand, at the same time changing guns at his request. Full of hope, and animated with the desire of distin- guishing myself, I pushed forward with renewed energy. At first the trail was tolerably clear, but after some time it led and twisted in every direction through innumerable hog-paths. Never was I so sorely puzzled to keep correct ; 114 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. but with perseverance and care I managed to carry the track almost across to clear ground, where I suddenly lost all signs, and was completely brought to a stand-still. I was aware that all dodges were practiced, more particular- ly when deer feel the effects of increasing weakness and incapacity for further exertion; so, hoping that fortune would favor me, I determined, like a skillful fox-hunter, to make a cast completely round the disturbed ground. After the loss of twenty minutes, I fortunately again struck the trail, which, to my surprise, led in a reverse direction; clearly indicating that the deer had retraced his steps probably in the same track, and thus, by this cunning de- vice, almost succeeded in eluding his pursuer. The trail of the animal now became more irregular, and the tell-tale track of the wounded limb greatly assisted me in distin- guishing his footsteps from those of his fellows, which on every opportunity he selected; but ail having failed to throw me off so far, the deer adopted a new ruse, which under other circumstances would have been eminently agreeable to the sportsman, but in this instance made me so savage that I would have indulged in the amiable weak- ness of breaking the gun-stock over the nearest tree, if it had not been that my friend might not see the joke of his rifle being thus treated. So intent was I watching the tracks, that I did not ob- serve the exhausted deer had halted. Becoming alarmed by my near approach, and deeming it advisable to make a fresh effort to place distance between us, he again put forth renewed energy. The brush, unfortunately, was so remarkably dense, that although I got several glimpses of his tawny hide, still never for sufficient length of time to get afair chance to shoot, and I was unwillingly compelled to keep tracking. About fifty yards from where I stood, a small river, not over ninety feet across, named the Amba- AN OBSTINATE TRIGGER. 115 ras, wound its sluggish, peaceful way toward its parent stream, the Wabash; and direct for the nearest part of this river the deer had gone. Still I could not bring my- self to believe that a buck at this season, with plenty of ice in the water, would hazard an aquatic performance; but my doubts were soon solved; for, on reaching the margin, with surprise I saw the deer upon the ledge of ice attached to the bank struggling violently to keep his footing, the disabled leg, which appeared to hang powerless, evidently now causing serious inconvenience to his progress over the slippery surface. Such an opportunity to finish my work was not to be neglected; so, cocking the rifle, I pitched it forward and drew a bead, but still no report followed. All my power and exertion could not pull the trigger. Again and again I looked at the lock, and essayed another effort, but with the same result. At length, in despair, I desisted ; and the deer, having altered his mind, came ashore and dis- appeared through the tangled brake. Of course, to exam- ine the gun and inform myself what was wrong was my first thought. My surprise may be well imagined when, with all my endeavors, I could not get the hammer down; there it would stand; not a particle of compromise was in the confounded thing. All my skill in mechanism was called into play, all my past experience put to use; and * not until my patience was nearly exhausted did I discover the use of the second trigger. Discouraged I was; but whether most at my own stupidity or want of luck I know not. Still hoping for another chance, I followed on in no very amiable frame of mind. Time fled, and the long shadows of the trees told of the rapid approach of night; still not a sight did I further get of the buck; and to add to my troubles, the tracks a sec- ond time led through ground that hogs had lately fed over. Never was I so sorely puzzled. Backward and forward I 116 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. searched, my eyes nearly strained to bursting, till at length I was compelled to give up the chase. On looking round to find out as nearly as possible my situation, the better and more directly to return to my horse, I espied a splen- did wild turkey busy feeding not over thirty yards off, and still unaware of my presence. Sheltering myself behind a fallen log, I took sight along my barrel, determining inward- ly to have some reward for my labor; but although this time I worked the trigger correctly, nothing but the explo- sion of the cap took place; in fact, the rifle had missed fire. The turkey, frightened at the noise, lowered his head, ran about twenty yards, then stopped, and looked around, still ignorant of the cause of his alarm. Substituting a new cap and again taking sight was but the work of afew moments, but still the gun refused to explode. I now sprung my ramrod and placed on the nipple another cap, but the result was as before; and the turkey having become conscious that he was in a dangerous neighborhood, sought safety in flight. How often a day’s shooting is one tissue of blun- ders from morning till night! and so it was in this case. First, the game had passed too far from my stand; second- ly, changing guns had lost me the deer; and, thirdly, the carelessness of my friend in not sheltering his gun from the damp was the reason of my not having turkey for a future day’s dinner. Tired, hungry, and bad-tempered, I struck off direct for my horse, expecting to have little more than a milé to walk; but with surprise, after having traveled that distance, I found I was turned round and lost. Already it was sunset; half an hour more would make it dark, and the bottom-land which I was now wandering through was as intricate, dense- ly covered a swamp as ever was inhabited by wild-cat. The season of the year, moreover, was not exactly the one to se-. lect for making your couch on the surface of mother earth, A REGISTERED VOW. 117 and visions of a good dinner, comfortable fire, and dry clothes floated before me. Hark! what is that—a dog barking? And so it was. ForwardI pushed to the sound, and, in doing so, came across a road, which, on inspection, I recognized as one we had traversed in the morning. The rest of the programme for that day was plain sailing. I found my pony where he was left, my friend’s horse being gone; so, concluding Will had made tracks for home, I mounted my fiery little nag, and with a sufficiently tight rein to guard against accidents, rattled homie almost at ra- cing pace. It was nearly two hours afterward that Will turned up, wet and exhausted—down upon his luck, and deer in particular — vowing that he would be up with the sun in the morning, and not return till he could boast of not having been beaten by a broken-legged deer when there was enough snow to track. My defeat had similarly oper- ated on myself,so that we mutually agreed to devote the morrow, blow or snow, to re-establish our tarnished honor. The morning was well suited for our task, still and clear, with just sufficient frost in the atmosphere to give zest to traveling. The track was easily found, my back track be- ing taken as the guide. In ten minutes we again had our game afoot, but with- out getting a shot, the animal having doubled round before lying down, and, consequently, rising behind us. The bed where he had passed the night was soiled with blood, and other indications were such as to justify us in hoping early success. Although perseverance is generally rewarded, it was not so on this occasion. Hour after hour slipped by, the game appeared to moderate its pace in accordance with ours—just keeping sufficiently ahead to be out of range. The badness of the walking (for a thaw had commenced), the continued disappointment, and the difficulty of follow- ing through the bush, commenced to operate upon our 118 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. spirits, and, but that we struck a more open range of coun- try, where the traveling was better, doubtless we would have given up. However, being in the vicinity of our ponies, we determined to continue the pursuit on horse- back, hoping to get a view, in crossing some opening, where we could give the buck a run of a few minutes, with the expectation that a sharper gait might break him down; but luck continued adverse. Time was rapidly gliding by, a few hours more would bring on night, and, as far as we could see, the prospect of a termination was as distant as ever. Want of success or fatigue made us careless, and as we slowly wended our unthankful way—first one in front, then the other, talking aloud, deploring our misfortune, and paying but little attention to the surroundings, unsports- man-like on such an occasion—my pony (for I was in-front) suddenly shied, turning almost completely round, and at the same time brought me excessively near getting a spill. And what do you imagine was the cause of this want of propriety in so experienced a steed? Simply this: the deer had lain down, and we had almost ridden over him. To wheel round and try to bring my gun to bear was the work of a few seconds, but all my exertions and rapidity of mo- tion were thrown away. The pony would not stand still; he had evidently been frightened, or perhaps was still in ignorance of what caused the alarm. Moreover, my ma- neuvring so directly intervened between my friend and the game that, for fear of peppering me, he dared not fire. To turn round and look at one another, first sulkily, but afterward to burst into a roar of laughter at the absurdity of the whole thing, was the result, each agreeing that the buck had well earned his safety, and that two such awk- ward devils had no right to a feast of venison resulting from that hunt, and therefore we had better acknowledge that we were beaten handsomely, and that by a buck on three legs. THE BIG BUCK. 119 - On the following occasion the results were different. In the autumn of 186-, when traveling across the Grand Prairie, about one hundred and fifty miles north of where the last episode occurred, I was caught in the first snow- storm of the season. The vicinity was but sparsely settled, and from the thickness of the drift our charioteer lost his way, and after getting mired times without number, and enduring one of the most disagreeable nights out-of-doors it is possible to imagine, we reached the village of Kent. Under ordinary circumstances it would have presented no great inducements, but the large wood-fire that blazed in the bar-room of the diminutive tavern, after our protracted — night of hardship, possessed such attractions, that I deter- mined to lay over for a couple of days. The neighborhood was well stocked with game, I learned the following even- ing, when I presented myself among the habitués, who commonly made this public-house their place of rendezvous after the toils of the day. No small portion of the conver- sation was in reference to a buck, who for years had con- stantly been seen, yet none of the heretofore successful hunters had been able to circumvent him. It was evident that this animal was of no ordinary size, as he was dubbed by all with the sobriquet of the Big Buck; and one regular old Leather-stocking, whose opinion was always listened to with the reverence due to an authority, ventured to assert that he believed the bullet would never be moulded that would tumble him (the buck) in his tracks. This extraor- dinary deer had almost escaped my memory, and I was resting over my next morning’s pipe, and beginning to fear that my visit was longer than necessary, for there was absolutely nothing to do but to eat and sleep, unless the prices of pork, corn, or wheat had possessed interest, when aman from the timber land arrived with a load of wood, and held the following conversation with the mixer of mint- 120 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. juleps, cocktails, ete. ‘Abe, have you e’er a shooting-iron that you can loan this coon ?” Abe having replied in the negative, and inquired the rea- son, was told that the most alfiatest big buck had crossed the road about a mile off, and gone into the squire’s corn. Quietly going to my bedroom, I unpacked my heaviest gun, a ten-bore, in which I have particular faith, and hav- ing noted the route that the teamster had come by, I fol- lowed the back track of his sled, and true enough found the prints of a very heavy buck. The day was still young, myself in good walking trim, and with an internal deter- mination not to be beaten, except night overtook me, and very probably with the hope to show the neighbors that a Britisher was good for some purposes, I followed the track with unusually willing steps and light heart. To get into the corn-field the buck had jumped the snake-fence, and afterward doubled back; and as the wind did not suit for me to enter at the same place, I made a considerable détour. In my right barrel I had sixteen buck-shot, about the size that would run one hundred to the pound, and a bullet in the left. As the corn had not yet been gathered, and the undergrowth of cuckle-burs and other weeds was tolerably dense, I had little doubt but that I should get sufficiently close to make use of the former. An old stager like my quarry, I knew from experience would be desperately sharp, so with the utmost caution I advanced up wind, eyes and ears strained to the utmost tension. I had only got about a fourth of the field traversed, when I heard some voices right to windward encouraging a dog to hold a pig. The noise of the men, dog, and porker I concluded would start the game off in the reverse direction, so hurriedly re- tracing my steps, I regained the fence, got over it, and took my stand at an angle that stretched close to a slough which was densely covered with a growth of various WOUNDING THE BIG BUCK. 121 aquatic weeds and bushes. In about five minutes after gaining my position, I-was greeted by a sight of the beau- ty, who. hopped the fence where there was a broken rail, and, gaining the opening, for a moment halted, then toss- ing up his head, offered me a fair cross-shot nearly eighty yards distant. Pitching my gun well in front, I pulled the trigger, and well I knew not fruitlessly, for he gave a short protracted jump, dropped his white tail close into his hams, and with an increased pace disappeared in the swamp. Unless the wound was mortal, or so severe as to serious- ly incommode him, I was certain he would not be satisfied to remain in such close propinquity to danger, so, after reloading, I made a détour to find where he had left this cover to seek one more retired. My conjecture was cor- rect, for, after traveling nearly half a mile, I found the fa- miliar tell-tale track. The-snow was in pretty good order, both for tracking and walking, and I did not let the grass grow under my feet. As yet I had seen no signs of blood, which the more thoroughly impressed me.that my lead had made more than a skin-wound. In about an hour’s walk- ing, I found myself on the edge of another slough, which I was hesitating whether to enter or go round, when I espied ‘my friend, some way beyond range, going over a neighbor- ing swell of the prairie. Of course.I cut off the angle and cast forward to where the view was obtained, and as I rose the swell, in the distance I saw my friend at a stand-still, evidently anxiously scrutinizing my direction. My cap was of a very light color, so I concluded he did not see me, and my supposition was again correct, for after .a few minutes he relaxed his pace, and turning at right angles, walked into a small expanse of dense rushes, interspersed with an occa- sional stunted willow. In deer-shooting, if you suppose an animal severely wounded, never hurry him; if he once lie down, and you give him time to stiffen, you will. not have 6 122 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. half the trouble in his ultimate capture that you would have by constantly keeping him on the move. So I prac- ticed in this instance; carefully for ten or fifteen minutes I watched that he did not leave the cover; then, having concluded that he had laid down, I quietly lighted my pipe, and dawdled away an hour more. Deeming that I had granted sufficient law, I renewed operations and pushed forward; the track was very irregular in length of pace from where he had reduced his gait to a walk, and several times, from want of lifting his feet high enough, he had plowed the surface of the snow with his toes. An old deer-stalker will know these symptoms; a young one may without harm remember them. Having cautiously fol- lowed the trail three parts of the way across the cover, and almost commenced to think I would have done better by waiting half an hour longer, the buck jumped up within twenty yards, heading straight from. me, when I gave him the contents a second time of the right-hand barrel in the back of his head. The distance was too great to remove him home that day, so, cutting a branch off a willow, I affixed my hand- kerchief to it, and left this banner waving to denote pos- session, also to furnish a hint to the prairie-wolves that they had better steer clear. That night at the tavern bar, in the most ostentatious manner, in presence of the assembled crowd, I ordered a team to be got ready in the morning to bring in the Big Buck; old Leather-stocking, sotto voce, re- marking that I had not been reared on the right soil to be able to come that game. However, next morning, when I arrived with my trophy, the crowd congratulated me, while Leather-stocking remarked that he knew not what the world was coming to, by G—4d, when a Britisher, with a bird-gun, could kill the biggest buck in Illinois. In conclusion, I would say that in skinning we found that at the first. shot one grain SNAKE ISLAND. 123 ‘had gone through the lungs, while two more had lodged farther back. The gross weight of this deer was one hun- dred and eighty-four pounds. Shooting deer driven to water by hounds is a very com- mon method adopted in autumn for their destruction. While visiting in Canada West, I chanced to make the acquaintance of a young Highlander ardently devoted to the chase, and who, when he found that I was also a would- be disciple of the chaste Diana, at once proposed, as the season was suitable and business affairs did not interfere, that we should start for the gigantic and then unbroken woods which covered the township of Oro, lying on the edge of that placid sheet of water, so well known for its lovely woodland scenery, Lake Simcoe. After a long, te- dious walk over the most villainous roads that ever unfor- tunate was condemned to traverse, we arrived late at night opposite Snake Island, then inhabited by a remnant of the once numerous and powerful Chippewa Indians. The dis- tance across to. this island retreat was too far for our lungs to inform its denizens that two benighted travelers were desirous of joining them, and, as there was no boat, a camp- fire and blanket were required to do duty for roof and feather-bed. But, alas! our limbs and bones were demoral- ized from our former life, and absolutely refused to be sat- isfied, so that both tossed, fumed, and fretted till the sun thought proper to make his re-appearance. Nor was this all; a scoundrelly wolf, whose midnight propensities for serenading had taken hold of his thoughts, kept up a most objectionable chant, however pleasing it might have been to his lady-love, till we wished the brute in Jericho, or any other remote district; not only that, but I will not say that fear had not a little to do with my feelings, for I can distinctly remember, as I listened, my blood became exceed- ingly cold and stagnant, my hands clammy, and my throat 124 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. parched. Moreover, all the stories I had ever read of the sanguinary propensities of these scourges of the distant set- tlements, from “Little Red Riding Hood” to “ Robinson Crusoe,” recurred vividly to my recollection. However, quiet came with the sun, and, after a few in- effectual efforts, we succeeded in attracting the attention of a worthy redskin, who, for a trifling remuneration, land- ed us in the precincts of his island domicile. Our business was soon made known, and a hunting-party was organized in an inexpressibly short time. The inner man was still to be satisfied, and, on making our wants known, we were borne off willing captives to the grandest and most capa- cious log-cabin, no less a worthy than a chief assuming the responsibility of providing us with breakfast. I can not help here mentioning a little episode which, although it had not the appetizing effect of Worcestershire sauce, chutney, a squeeze of lemon, or other familiar auxiliaries, still had its influence on our then pleading stomachs. Sun-fish was destined for the standing dish, and as the good old squaw had a very small frying-pan and a large stock of the above finny treasures to operate upon, it behooved her to make several cookings; and, to prevent the results of her first efforts getting cold while the second lot were undergoing culinary operations, the aged matron, with a talent that de- noted great skill in adapting herself immediately to circum- stances, snatched a very battered and greasy straw hat off the head of one of the filthiest youngsters, and made it do duty for dish-cover. Of course, any squeamishness would have been a base return for the anxiety displayed that we should not eat our morning repast cold. An hour after- ward we were all en route, three buoyant, graceful birch- barks transferring the party, which was now augmented to ten, and three half-fed hounds, to the opposite beach. Well, all that forenoon to midday we tramped, tramped, PASSENGER PIGEONS. 125 ’ tramped; the only alteration in the performance being an occasional halt, when an acute observation of some sign would cause comments from all parties, excepting we two pale-faces. First, it would be a broken twig; next, an in- dentation of the ground; and, thirdly, what would not have appeared to the uninitiated a rarity in sheep pastures. Al- though this was all Greek to us, we determined to look knowing, say nothing, and possibly, like many another un- der similar circumstances, get credit for being perfect Nim- rods. A halt was at length called, and old Chief John, no small-bug, spoke like an oracle. The deer had gone to the big swamp, and if we wanted buck we must go there. Off again we started, I having come to the determination that the whole thing was a humbug, and that I would slip off the first available opportunity. The desired chance soon offered, and after half an hour’s walking I struck the mar- gin of the lake where the canoes had been left. Another I found before me at this rendezvous, which helped much to console me for not being the only deserter. We had not long been dawdling and attempting to kill time, when some pigeons came down to drink; so, drawing my buck- shot, and replacing it with No. 6,I came to the conclusion, as I could not have venison, I would try and procure some of them. Nor was I unsuccessful, for soon half a dozen long- tails (the wild pigeons of America have long tails) swelled the voluminous proportions of my pockets. There is an end to all things, and even pigeons got wary of our prox- imity, and a second period of inaction followed. However, the scenery was pretty, the foliage brilliant, the tempera- ture pleasant, and a hunter might be far less comfortably situated. Time was passing rapidly, the sun was fast dipping into the horizon, and consequently our indefatigable friends could not much longer be absent. Thus I thought, when Master 126 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. Redskin jumped suddenly out of a canoe in which he had been lolling, clapped his ear to the ground, exciting greatly my curiosity, and remained in that ludicrous and ungrace- ful position for some minutes. On asking him for an ex- planation, naught but a grunt could I get for an answer, ca us Aha PASSENGER PIGEONS. and a non-describable wave of the hand, as if to invoke si- lence. After manceuvring thus, my nearly exhausted pa- tience received the explanation that one of the hounds was running a deer, and that they were coming this way. Im- mediately afterward I was bundled into a canoe, and al- though I had never previously handled a paddle, was forced AN EXCITING CHASE. 127 to take one of those implements and attempt a trial; but no tise—the obstinate composition of birch-bark would only * spin round and make most indisputable signs of objection to its freight, which were manifested by the gunwale sev- eral times taking in water, so that my now irate companion almost got out of his wits with rage. At length I attained a slight dexterity, and succeeded, assisted by the skillful steering of the Chippewa, in propelling our frail boat un- der a cedar that grew on the termination of a promontory. Whatever might have been my doubts before as to my friend’s assertion that game was afoot, they were now dis- sipated ; for, true enough, the deep voice of a hound could be distinctly heard resounding through the forest, and com- ing toward us; every bound he spoke, till the echoes and his voice were blended in one prolonged, deep, musical note. My pulsation increased as the music approached, my whole . nervous system was in a state of extreme tension; even clasping my gun, setting my teeth, only gave me tempo- rary relief, and never from that day to this has my excite- ment been so intense. “Look! look!” said the Indian, and, following the direction of his hand, I saw a splendid doe- breasting the water and heading for the middle of the lake. Like all green hands, my first prompting was to start in pursuit; but my more wily friend put a veto on that prop- osition, begging me to restrain my impatience till the quar- ry got well out from land. Long—very long—appeared the next few moments. But it was evident I was not boss*— only a deck-hand of very ordinary acquirements. Remon- strance was, therefore, out of the question; so submission, with the best possible grace, was adopted. By this time the doe had got nearly a quarter of a mile oat—for few ‘animals swim so fast as deer—when the signal was given * American for ‘‘ master.” 128 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. to commence the chase. Never did oarsman more ener-, getically pull—never did race-horse more gallantly strug- gle; every thew, every muscle was brought into play, and what I lacked in skill was made up in vim. It, however, . took all the dusky gentleman’s skill to keep the craft’s head straight. For many minutes we did not appear to have gained an inch; the perspiration ran down my face, and , even lodged in my eyes; but there was no time for rest, no desire for respite; each succeeding stroke equaled its pred- ecessor in, strength. At length we commenced gaining— a further inducement to renewed exertion—and the paddle was dipped deeper, and handled still more swiftly. Inch by inch we crept up, at first slowly, then more rapidly, till but twenty yards severed the victim and the destroyer. I was about to drop my paddle and seize my gun, when’ Mas- ter Redskin informed me, “Not time yet!” On we ad- vanced; ten feet at most intervened. Mr. Chippewa gave: the desired permission, and as I pitched my gun to the shoulder he veered the canoe a point or two to the right. A sharp report followed, and the water boiled with the in- effectual efforts of the stricken animal. Quickly the birch- bark was shot up, and just as the deer was disappearing it was grabbed by the ear, and after several ineffectual efforts lifted-on board. Know you, reader, that a dead deer will sink; and although I remembered it not at the time of. drawing the trigger, my double-barrel was loaded with No. 6, which at that short range, and pointed at the back of the head, almost instantaneously destroyed vitality; and, however easy it may be to lift a heavy body into a boat, it is a different thing to bring a dead deer into a birch; canoe. : ; On our way to shore we picked up the hound, which: was taken. on board, and enjoyed himself by licking the blood that trickled from the shot-holes. Feeling fatigued A DELIGHTFUL RETREAT. 129 from my severe exertions, I halted for a few moments, and commenced handling our trophy, when the confounded dog flew at me, inflicting a most disagreeable impression of his ivories on the palm of my hand—a habit, I believe, he had with all, excepting his owner; which peculiarity, doubtless, was much approved of by him, but was far from raising this canine in my estimation. Close to Lake Champlain, in the State of New York, is situated an immense range of wild land, called the Adiron- dacks; here Virginian deer are still numerous. The excel- lence of the fishing to be obtained there, also the beauty of scenery, makes it one of the most delightful retreats for either sportsmen or lovers of nature. 6* CHAPTER VIII. THE PRONG-HORNED ANTELOPE. From the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, and from the Gulf of Mexico to about the fiftieth degree of north latitude, this beautiful animal at one time ranged. Now, however, from the same causes as have restricted the habitats of other large American game, the prong-horned antelope will only be found on the great prairies that lay on the eastern margin of the Rocky Mountains, and in the vast plains of Sonora and North-western Mexico; for, from their wonderful fleetness and extreme watchfulness, horses and hounds are useless in their pursuit. Frequently, how- ever, they are brought within range of the sportsman by waving a colored handkerchief or other unknown object. This must always be done down wind, care at the same time being taken to conceal every part of the person. I can imagine no weapon better suited for killing this game than the new express rifle. In no description of field-sports that I know of will the skill of the stalker be better tried than in pursuit of this handsome indigenous game; and if your shot should be a running one, and you do your work in a clean and workman-like manner, you will deserve all praise, for you have caused to bite the dust the swiftest, in my belief, of all quadrupeds; in fact, their speed is such that the eye can scarcely follow the action of their limbs. Yet their gait is not low and close to the ground, but a succession of rather lofty bounds, and performed with such surprising ease, that it causes the beholder to wonder how the frame of any creature can sustain uninjured such a tre- mendous strain. WIDE AWAKE. 131 The prong-horned antelope is the only species of the genus, and is about the size of Cervus Virginianus, both graceful and elegant in form and action. Well may the Americans be proud of possessing the only representative of the race; for when the antelope is seen on the boundless prairies of the Far West, untrammeled by limit, free to go and return as they choose, the impressions caused will nev- er be effaced, nor a better representation of perfect inde- pendence and freedom beheld. In referring to my diary, I find the following narrative of a day’s shooting: - “Cap, are you asleep?” Such was the welcome sound that informed me that some one else was awake besides myself. Such a night I do not think I had ever previous- ly passed, and trust shall never have to.again. To ask a man nurtured in a Christian land whether he was asleep! —the thing is perfectly preposterous: a gale of wind blow- ing the entire night, with drops of rain as large and so nu- merous that a brick wall would scarcely have repelled them, let alone a flimsy break-wind composed of green boughs, yet these Western companions of mine slept. Half a doz en times I determined to rout them out, and as often gave up the idea: for one was quarrelsome whenever his rest was disturbed; the other had a disagreeable way of telling the most doleful stories, and keeping the listeners in a con- stant state of excitement, for in every shadow, every move- ment of the horses, every unusual sound, he professed to see an indication that a whole tribe of Indians, fully decked with war-paint, and thirsting for scalps, were about to make an onslaught on our defenseless bivouac. Further, I must inform my readers that Cap is an abbreviation of captain, used over the Western portion of the United States for every man who has borne arms, whether in the militia or regulars ; whether he has been a full private or only a camp-follower. 132 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. Yes, I was awake, as wide awake as a pool of water un- der each arm, each knee, and every protuberant portion of the figure, could make me. With an anathema against weather, country, and outdoor life, I sprang up, and will- ingly busied myself in raking together the fragments of. what had been a fire; long and tedious were the efforts to coax a blaze, but at length the reward of patience was vouch- safed, and, in spite of the almost insurmountable obstacles, a sufficient heat was obtained by which to cook the débris of last night’s supper, the sole remnants of provisions the larder could boast of. At the time to which I allude we were on a branch or small fork that flowed from the south into the Pawnee Riv- er. I and my companions had come from the westward, and had experienced as hard a time as it is possible to con- ceive; we had been about two weeks together, and although I am doubtful of the propriety of picking up strange ac- quaintances when beyond civilization, those squeamish ideas never enter the heads of Western habitués; a white man is always a friend until he proves himself to be otherwise, and then it is your own lookout that he does not get the upper hand. Wild life makes you wonderfully wide awake, and although an apparent bonhomie may lay on the sur- face, a constant guarded caution should never be neglected. My new pals, however, were really good fellows, a little ec- centric, for each was in the habit of picking his teeth with his bowie-knife; but they were honest, plucky, and endur. ing, ready to face whatever emergency occurred, and pret- ty certain to get out of it if a bold hand and quick eye could be of avail. . Breakfast ! what a misnomer for a few mouthfuls of half-charred, half-cooked pieces of tough venison! what a contrast with one of our home hunting- feeds that bear the same sobriquet ; still I doubt much whether patés de fois gras, game-pies, and spiced round “BROOMSTICK.” 133 of beef, were ever relished with more gusto than was that meal. After the viands had disappeared, over the consoling, soothing pipe, our course for the day was discussed, and, as the rain had ceased and clouds lifted, giving every pros- pect of fine weather, it was decided that we should remain another night where we were, and in the mean time each start in different directions to seek for a supply of game, to prevent our going supperless to rest, and resuming our journey on the morrow with empty stomachs. I had a horse. From his wonderful formation and ‘in- tense ugliness, I dubbed him “ Broomstick ;” he was truly a doleful beast, to look at; no amount of food seemed to do him any good; he always looked in the last stage of con- sumption, although his capacity of stowage of forage was immense; nor did he ever lose a chance to get a cow-kick at the unwary, or make his teeth meet in the flesh of the too confiding. Broomstick, from having lately had an eas- ier time than my other mount, was selected for the day’s work, and with expressions of grief that would break the heart of the most obdurate, he submitted to be saddled; I returning every few minutes to take an extra‘pull upon the girths, for the villain would expan himself on such occa- sions like a pouter-pigeon, so that when you imagined you had got safely seated, and ready to start, by a succession of the most mulish and awkward buck-jumps, the saddle would get forward beyond where his withers ought to have been, and naught but wonderful skill in the laws of equita- tion or fortune would prevent the rider from kissing moth- er earth, Now Broomstick could go, if you knew how to take it out of him, and that was accomplished by com- mmencing with a high hand from the start, and giving him “the brumagems” every pace or two, and twice as often if you felt his back getting up (which he used to roach after 134 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. the manner of a half-starved sow), or at.any attempt to put his head down. After a few ineffectual efforts which my steed made, showing an inclination to differ from me in opinion, we jogged on comfortably for several miles along the edge of prairie and timber, the usual markings of water - courses. The sun was near midday, and still no game was to be seen. In quiet, retired situations like this, such is an un- healthy sign; for game is not in the habit of leaving a favorite feeding- ground without reason. Discouraged at want of success, I dismounted, fastening up Bucephalus, and took my pipe again into confidence. On an old rotten limb of a partially decayed button-wood a family of red- headed woodpeckers were busily at work, making the woods echo with the violence of their tapping. Watching: the sprightly movements of these active little beauties, I became totally absorbed in their energetic pursuits, when a half-snort and uneasy movement on the part of my horse caused me to look round; and well I did so, for about forty yards off, leisurely feeding, were about thirty full-grown wild turkeys. My smooth-bore had ball in each barrel, but as I had two or three loads of buck-shot. in my pouch, I determined to substitute it. To the shelter of a log, like a snake, I glided, to perform the change of missiles, and was about to draw the last fragment of myself out of sight, when the confounded warning of a rattlesnake sounded so close, that I involuntarily gave a jump to avoid the threat- ening danger, thus exposing myself to the turkeys, who took wing, without affording me a chance of a shot; so turkey- less I was compelled to remain; but you may bet that snake never scared any one afterward. He was one of the largest and most venomous of his family, being quite five feet long, as yellow as gold along the abdomen, and possessed of six- teen rattles. _He belonged to the variety which generally. DROVES OF ANTELOPES, 135 goes by the name of timber-snake, much larger and ‘totally different in color from the prairie rattlesnake, or massa- sauga, which is always black, and never exceeds eighteen or twenty inches in length. Having found no game in the timber, I struck out for the open land, and, riding several miles, I saw two small droves of antelopes. This beautiful animal is very difficult to stalk; but as there appeared to be no other means of get- ting on intimate terms with them, I hobbled my horse, and taking advantage of all intervening obstacles, managed un- seen to get within five hundred yards. Farther. approach now looked impossible, and I had almost relinquished the idea, when it struck me that, by making a slight détour to leeward, I could find shelter from a dip that appeared to lead in the direction of the game. On hands and knees, slowly I crossed the open, my stomach almost on the ground. The antelopes still continued feeding; so far they had not been alarmed. Twenty yards more would again place me under cover. He who wishes successfully to stalk game must never deem precaution thrown away. On the care with which you pass over an open space depends often the success of your labor. With a feeling of gratification I re- gained shelter, and such shelter as I was able to take the “twists and knots out of my legs and arms with the con- sciousness that I could do so without imperiling success. A few moments’ inspection of the game sufficed. With renewed care, slowly but steadily, I made for the shelter of an unusually high prairie-dog’s earth. From the back of it I would be within eighty or a hundred yards of my prey. The antelopes, perfectly ignorant of my presence, were quietly feeding, while occasionally one or two of the young- sters, like kids, would shake their heads at each other, rear up, or stamp with their feet, and make other grotesque threatenings of attack. The prospect of venison was now 136 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. in the ascendant. I commenced to believe my eggs near enough hatched to count them chickens, when a confounded prairie-dog, who doubtless had been watching all my strat- egy, uttered his shrill, quick whistle, and took a header into. his burrow. This was enough; the antelopes simultane- ously closed into a bunch, and with every sense strained,’ looked eagerly around for the cause of alarm. A closer stalk was impossible—the movement of a mouse could not escape their notice; so, springing on one knee, I pulled both triggers almost simultaneously, taking sight for the near- est of the ruck. As the smoke lifted, with satisfaction I be-: held two victims, one apparently dead, the other making vio- lent efforts to get upon his pins; while the remainder of the drove were scampering across the prairie at such a pace as these animals only are capable of going. As quickly as possible I reloaded my gun, and on advancing to bleed my victims, the wounded buck got his legs under him, and had I not given him the right barrel—a nice clean shot at fifty yards tumbling him all of a heap—I should have been left with only a single prize. After bleeding my trophies, I went after Broomstick, who, like all. perverse beasts, had grazed off at as rapid a pace as possible, in exactly the reverse direction to that wanted. Oh, Broomstick, you provoking brute! was ever an unfortunate sportsman so tortured by having to endure the vagaries of so ugly and obstinate a steed? Venting my indignation on his sparsely-covered ribs, and giving him every second stride a reminder that his owner was on his back, I hurried back to my quarry, in the hope of mak- ing camp at an early hour, and having a good fire before my comrades returned. Nor was I too soon, for already a coyote had scented blood, and was about to whet his sharp: tusks on the results of my labor. With considerable hoist-' ing, and not until I had blindfolded my mount, I got both. SHOOTING ANTELOPES. 137 antelopes on my nag’s back, where I lashed them fast with the lariat to the cantle of the saddle. Swinging myself into the pig-skin, congratulating myself on the success of my stalk, for camp I headed, and already had commenced in im- agination to enjoy a hearty meal on some of the tidbits. Humming possibly the old regimental march, and my thoughts wandering to far-off scenes, I was surprised, on issuing from a dip in the prairie, to see several antelopes feeding undisturbed about a hundred and fifty yards off. Throwing my head forward over the saddle-tree, in a mo- ment I was on my feet, and, hurriedly hobbling my beast, I made a cast to the right to obtain a better leeward posi- tion. Prairie-dog earths were numerous, and apparently. untenanted, or else the. whole population had turned in for their afternoon siesta. These irregularities of the surface. afforded an abundance of shelter. A few minutes’ crawl ing, and I was within easy range, when, springing to my feet, the game commenced their succession of buck-jumps, which they invariably practice before settling to their reg- ular stride. Pitching my gun to the shoulder, I drew sight upon the leader 3 over he went; while my second shot, fired too hurriedly, sent its bullet harmlessly ricochetting, its course being marked by a puff of dust where the missile bounded each time it hit the soil, The fall of the leader turned the remainder of the flock, and with the velocity of falcons they rushed past Broomstick; up went his tail and down went his head; half a dozen violent struggles, and the hobbling broke. For a moment he stood, then threw his mane recklessly about, turned round and gave his dead load a sniff, and breaking into a succession of buck-jumps, finishing’ with a shower of kicks, divested himself of his: burden, and, in spite of all I could shout, with the most per- fect disregard for consequences, started for home at a pace so unusual and corky that I vowed if ever I had leg over 138 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. him again he should give me a specimen of the same gait for my gratification. I do not think I ever felt more savage in my life. Twa or three times I hesitated whether I would try the effect of a leaden messenger after him. If so long a journey to ciy- ilization had not been before me, I believe I should, but finally concluded that cutting off your nose to spite your face was at the best an unsatisfactory performance. After spending half an hour in dragging the game together, and possibly as much longer in ruminating over the awkward- ness of my position, and the mutability of human and horse affairs, debating the pros and cons whether to return to camp or remain where I was, to my intense satisfaction I saw one of my comrades coming toward me with the now submissive Broomstick captive, and looking as if any pace faster than that of a funeral procession was entirely beyond his powers of exertion. My friend had spied the truant making straight for camp. After an exciting chase, he had succeeded in capturing him, when, by taking the direction from which he was seen to come, he happily tumbled across me, much to my relief; for, after all, the little shelter afford- ed by timber, where you can always have a good fire, is in- finitely preferable to a smouldering smudge of buffalo-chips, with the wind playing at hide-and-go-seek round your shirt- tails. The following will give the reader some idea of the hard- ship and danger to be run by the sportsman who deter- mines on visiting the home of the prong-horned antelope. Circumstances had caused me to attach myself to a trader, who, with about twenty teamsters, was en route for North- ern Mexico. My duties were to hunt and supply the party with game, a pleasant enough occupation, but not without danger, for the greater portion of the country we traversed - belonged to the. much-dreaded Comanche, the most reck-: THE MARE AND. THE MULE. 139. less race of freebooters and horsemen probably, on the face of the earth, who are at war with every one, and prize noth- ing so much as a white man’s scalp. Knowing such to be the case, it behooved me to keep my weather-eye open when separated from my newly-formed acquaintances ; but for all my watchfulness I several times had narrow escapes. Still, time fled pleasantly onward, and as I write this I look back with delight to the happy, free, thoughtless hours passed either in the saddle or watching the movements of the wild animals that knew no bounds to their demesne. The In- dians seldom troubled my thoughts, for I had a mare that I daily rode, handsome as a picture, and as game, flect, and enduring as any animal I had ever thrown a leg over; thor- ough-bred, I believe, and as sagacious as a dog; also a bat mule, between both of which existed a most extraordinary affection. I had but to go ahead, and the latter was certain to follow; so if I did not fall into an ambuscade, I knew full well I could distance most Comanche braves till I re- gained camp, where,behind the wagons, backed by the stal- wart Missourian teamsters, who knew well the use of their rifles, I would be safe. Unfortunately the principal of the expedition was a most unpleasant and unpopular person, so that between his bullying and unpleasant manner, a mutiny arose among his retainers, and the consequence was that the majority started en masse on their own hook to seek another employer, or find their way back to their native State. My education and antecedents had been such as to give me a horror of mutiny; moreover, up to this date, I had nothing to complain of, so I determined to stick to the wagons, and use every effort in my power to save the owner from the only alternative that appeared left, desert- ing his property in the wilderness. Ere long, however, I was compelled to change my resolution, for no one could 140 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. submit to his irascible temper and constant insulting lan- guage; so, with no companions but my mare and mule, I left the camp one bright morning in the month of February, with the determination of returning eastward alone. The step was full of danger, but I preferred running the risk rather than remain to be further insulted, or seek redress by recourse to weapons, too often done in this lawless por- tion of the world. As the teams were being hitched up I started in the re- verse direction to their route, little aware of the trying or- deal that was before me. My animals were in good condi- tion and spirits. For a week I traveled north-east, in the hope of finding a suitable halting-place to remain in till spring fairly commenced. At length I came upon a spot which took my fancy—a small table-land, well sheltered from the northern wind, underneath which was .a valley that the snow had partially disappeared from, and where there was a fair quantity of bunch-grass, the most desirable food for the quadrupeds. Under a projecting rock I made my camp, for the spot was so inclosed that I hoped the lighting of a fire would not attract attention. Weeks roll- ed by, and the mare and mule lost little of their condition, although the weather was frequently pinching cold. The cajions in the neighborhood supplied me with abundance of game, and each day I expected that a break in the weather would justify .a start for the Eastern settlements. Of course one day was only in outline a repetition of the other, but how widely different in detail! In the morning the horses were taken to the bottom, breakfast was cooked, the enjoyable pipe lighted, and the direction settled in which ~*J would hunt, returning earlier or later, according to success. The afternoon would pass mending moccasins or clothes, cleaning arms or arranging camp, procuring fire-wood, till it was time to hunt up the nags, which being accomplished, PRESENTIMENTS OF EVIL. 141 and the evening meal dispatched, on a bed of leaves I would smoke myself to sleep, painting, till no longer conscious, ‘pictures of distant home. A hunter’s camp always becomes a rendezvous for some wolves, and two of these scoundrels -were seldom beyond sight. Latterly they became so tame that they would come close enough to pick up a bone if thrown to them; and one night, when the cold was more rigorous than usual, on awaking to add fresh fuel to the fire, I saw one of them sitting beside the warm embers, nodding his head like a sleepy listener to a prosy sermon. Every day I expected to be able to set out. The appear- ance of the sky denoted change as I turned in on the last evening of my stay in this remote corner of the earth, but whether it was anticipation of the good things to be ob- tained when civilization had been reached, I know not, or an unaccountable consciousness that danger was not far distant, I could not sleep. First I tried one side and then the other, but without effect. As it was not cold, the fire had gradually decayed, till only a few embers remained, making the surrounding darkness more intense. While I was hesitating whether the rebuilding of the fire or a fresh pipe would induce sleep, uneasiness seemed to have taken possession of my animals. The mule was as watchful as a dog, and as I knew he would not leave his friend, I invaria- bly left him untied. Several times he uttered that short, quick snort so peculiar to the species, and always indicative of alarm; while the mare kept moving as far as her lariat rope would permit her. It might be any thing, from a deer to an Indian; so, as my arms were at hand, I quietly laid hold of them, and crawled out of my lair, taking special caution that no momentary flicker from the fire should dis- close my movements, and by a short détour got beside the nags, and soon had the soft, silky muzzle of Becky in the palm of my hand. 142 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. * The greatest disaster a man can suffer in such a situation is the loss of either his ammunition or of his horses. If there were any hostile redskins in the neighborhood, by the step I had taken a stampede of my animals was now im- possible. A few of the longest hours I thus sat,my pres- ence re-assuring the beasts; and when day broke, so still had all become, that I doubt not I should have been asleep, only that the hour preceding day is well known to be invariably the time selected by Indians to carry out their machina- tions. In the morning, quietly moving about camp, as if ‘pursuing unsuspiciously my usual avocations, I particularly examined the locality, when, among the remaining scatter- ed patches of snow, the easily-distinguished moccasin track, -of. an Indian was discovered, doubtless made by a brave, who in search for game had got benighted, and chance had caused to stumble across my hiding-place. My camp was, therefore, no longer safe; the coming night he, with his companions, would be back, when woe betide the solitary white man! My horses in the morning I accompanied to their feeding-ground, not permitting them to get beyond control, and as soon as their appetites were sufficiently sat- isfied, I returned to my little home for the last time. The few trifles I possessed were soon packed, and nothing re- mained further to cause delay. Still I waited a quarter of an hour longer, for the purpose of building a pile of wood, in which I placed some smouldering embers, in the hope that it would not blaze up till several hours after dark—an indication that I doubted not the redskins would construe into a certain evidence that I was still ignorant of being discovered. On arrival, my mare had been a little tender in front, from her hoofs having been worn very close; the period of rest had rectified this, and, full of hope and an- ticipation, I pushed my way eastward, the only regret that passed, like a cloud over my mind, occurring as I took the last, ay, and long look, at my wilderness home. CHAPTER IX. BIG-HORN AND ROCKY MOUNTAIN SHEEP. Tue big-horn and Rocky Mountain sheep are to the Con- tinent of North America what the ibex and chamois are to Europe. However, there is no great similarity of appear- ance between these representatives of the Eastern and West- ern world, although the differences are no greater than can be found between races of sheep and goats. From what I have said, the reader will be prepared to learn that both these interesting animals are inhabitants of mountain districts, searching for their food and enjoying their gam- bols upon the verge of the precipitous sierras, where mor- tals’ tread dare not touch, where the slightest false step, the slightest hesitation, would hurl them down to inevita- ble destruction. The elevation of the situations they select for their rest- ing-places is doubtless governed by temperature: thus they ascend to greater altitudes in summer than in winter; at the sume time, if compelled through alarm, they will un- hesitatingly retire into regions covered with perpetual snow, and nature seems to have so well provided for such occasions that they appear to do so without suffering in- convenience. From my own experience, I have formed the conclusion that both the above animals are partially noc- turnal; by this I do not wish it to be understood that they wander about when it is impenetrably dark, but that when starlight or moonlight occurs, they avail themselves of its use to descend from their mountain fastnesses into the valleys beneath in search of favorite food, a performance 144 : PRAIRIE AND FOREST. which they never attempt during daylight, except in such regions as their enemy, inan, seldom or never intrudes. Although this game is far from scarce, the traveler through their habitat would imagine that such was the case, from the few opportunities offered of seeing them alive; but if attention be paid to all that surrounds his BIG-HORN. path —and who that is a hunter does not do so when in regions where danger ever besets him ?—he will discover such quantities of skulls, horns, and bones that tell as plain- ly as words can express, that he is traversing the feeding- grounds of numerous invisible herds. I have occasionally been vouchsafed a shot at the big horn when least expect- ed; but so seldom has this occurred, that such episodes STALKING THE BIG-HORN. 145 have become ingrafted in my memory. However, if will- ing to bear fatigue and exposure, the person desirous of adding them to the list of game that has fallen to his rifle can easily do so by following the advice I am about to give. Being satisfied, from tracks and other evidences, that they frequent a neighborhood, endeavor to discover by their trail from what portion of the mountain sides they descend into the valley to make their nocturnal foray. This is not difficult to find out, for this game always travels in single file, and generally through the same passes; their path thus is as easily distinguishable as that of sheep over heather- clad hills. Hours before break of day—for many may be » the weary miles of climbing before you make a détour to leeward, so as not to give the quarry your wind—push silent- ly for the most elevated ridges. If you possess a keen eye for locality and tracking, you will find little trouble in dis- covering where the game you seek most frequently resort. On this point being satisfied, ensconse yourself in some sheltered nook and wait for day, for.the sun will have com- menced to tint with gold the eastern sides of the hills ere the prey you seek will reach, from the feeding-grounds be- low; the elevation of your position. It is strange these children of the mountain only dread danger from beneath: thus it is that to successfully hunt them you must ascend into the heights they would fly for if alarmed; to follow them from beneath would simply be needless waste of time; to stalk them from above almost certain to produce success. At length the desired-for time is come: silently and well secreted, search with keen eye every ridge that will command a view of the valleys be- neath. Your careful survey of the country is at length reward- ed, for far beneath you, so far off that their outline it is almost impossible to define, you perceive a family party, 7 146 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. probably a buck, doe, and pair of kids, ascending leisurely to more elevated ground. Slowly plucking the tender grass at each step, they graze upward; but ever on guard against danger, the male or fe- male pause to watch, or not unfrequently post themselves on some rocky excrescence to note what may be occurring in the lower world. At length their slow approach has brought them within range of your rifle; but be not impa- tient; rest a little longer if you wish to make certain work, for the bullet must be well and strongly placed, or else your labor will be fruitless, for few animals possess greater vi- tality ; and unless, in Yankee parlance, you tumble the quar- ry in his track, the wounded game will struggle upward with speed lent by fear, or fall headlong over the nearest ravine into some rugged cafion impossible to descend into, or where, even if successful in reaching its bottom, the car- cass would be found pounded and torn into a shapeless mass of flesh, only fit food for the loathsome vultures who proba- bly have already commenced to congregate, in expectation of a feed on their beloved carrion. In the days of De Bonneville, and Lewis and Clark, big- horns and Rocky Mountain sheep were very abundant in the mountain ridges that encompass the upper waters of the turbulent Columbia River; but the tide of emigration which has flowed into Oregon and British North-western possessions has had the effect of lessening their numbers, and driving a large proportion of the survivors from what at one time must have been one of their chief habitats. However, both these species are not likely soon to be- come extinct, for the nature of the country they inhabit is a safeguard which the poor buffalo unfortunately does not possess; ay, and what will the undulating prairie be to the Indian and hunter when you deprive it of the ‘ordly bull, who in times gone by caused each tree, rock, MORALIZING. 147 and ravine to reverberate with his deep voice or heavy tread ? The time may come—I do not wish to see it—when these broad acres will possess mills and factories, daily disgorg- ing their inky smoke into the pure azure heavens, or their thousands of unwashed mortality over what now is a flower- studded prairie. Manchester doubtless is charming to the factory owner, for well is he aware that every throb of its machinery, every grunt of its boilers, tells the constant tale: money, money, money. Possibly, not being a recipient of the lucre these never-tiring engines coin, I prefer the landscape when free from such evidences of man’s industry. LOLS CHAPTER X. BEARS. . Grizziy (Ursus ferox).—The ambition of every Ameri- can sportsman is to shoot a grizzly, and he who has per- formed the task is justly entitled to wear his spurs, for un- questionably he is one of the most dangerous antagonists that man can cope with. Their habitat at the present time extends from about the twenty-fifth degree of north lati- tude to Oregon, following along the sierras of the Rocky Mountains. At one time they were found eastward as far as Kansas and Missouri, but that is many years ago. Nearly all the accidents that have occurred while hunting the grizzly have originated through the assailants being armed with small-bore rifles—weapons almost as much out of place with such an antagonist as they Would be in shoot- ing elephants. The curl upon the chest, the base of the ear, and the shoulder rather far back and low down, are the most vital places to aim at. If the ground be suitable for riding, a steady horse will be found of great service to the hunter, and materially lessen the danger he would oth- erwise run. There are very few—and thank goodness for it!—who rise from their bed in the morning as unrefreshed as when they stretched their weary limbs upon it to crave for rest. It was exactly in this unenviable state I felt when I pulled myself together to turn out as the sun was breaking on a misty morning. Dozed I might have—rested I had not; but day had broken, and I felt thankful; for, although weary, thirsting for rest, in whatever position I lay, on A FOREBODING OF MISFORTUNE. 149 whatever side I reclined, sleep obstinately refused to come to my eyelids. True, twice I had to turn out of my warm and snug blankets to see what disturbed my mare and mule, but this was a nightly occurrence; nevertheless, a load seemed settled upon my spirits—in fact, I had a fore- boding of misfortune. But daylight at length came. How blessed is its appearance to the storm-tossed mariner, the invalid on a sick-couch, ay, and to the wanderer who is far beyond civilization—a sojourner in a land where savage brutes and doubly savage man surround him, craving for the darkness of night to accomplish his destruction! At the period I speak of, I was among the Black Hills, at that time, although not many years since, the favorite retreat of the grizzly bear, and the frequent lurking-place of the young brave, or war party of Indians, craving for an op- portunity to shed an enemy’s blood. To win honor they had left their tribe, and to return with a scalp was to reap the reward. When day became sufficiently advanced, and the mists that wrapped the valley in their impenetrable shroud had rolled up the hill-sides, I sedulously searched around my solitary bivouac to find if there were grounds for my un- easiness. In gradually increasing circles I walked around the camp, and until I had gained the distance of a hundred yards from it, no impression on the fast-disappearing snow, no broken twig, nor disturbed rotten limb, indicated that I was not far from animal life. By degrees I increased the diameter of my circling search, and was all but returning, satisfied that my own excited imagination had been playing me tricks, when I came across the wide-spread, deep im- pressions of an immense bear. Whatever others might think, in such utter desolation and loneliness, it was pleas- ing to learn that Bruin was my foe instead of a stealthy redskin. 150 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. After turning my nags loose that they might graze upon the bunch-grass, which was abundant in the bottom-lands beneath my encampment, I examined the stock of food in the larder, and found, as I almost could have foretold if I had thought upon the matter, that it was reduced to one rib of venison, and that but poorly provided with meat. Submitting it with hungry eyes to the smoke and ashes, I observed with any thing but gratified look that the eatable portion rapidly diminished under the effects of the fire. When it was sufficiently cooked to become eatable, there was not more left than would have satisfied the appetite of a hungry tabby. Nevertheless, I ate and was thankful, con- soling myself with the hope that ere the sun reached the meridian I should shoot something sufficiently substantial to afford a good meal. But no such fortune was in store for me. I tramped over fell and valley, through bush and over open valleys, and naught rewarded my search but in- numerable tracks, so old and stale that it would have been madness to follow them up. Weak from want of food, and anxious to know whether I was doomed to die of starvation, I returned to camp dis- satisfied, more than angry with myself that my love for adventure and wandering had reduced me to such straits. Of course I could have killed either my mare or mule; but no, I would not slaughter the good, faithful animals that had stood by me in all adversity, who had before this saved my life, and now at the present time returned to me at my call with the confidence of children in their parent. Fie upon me! why should I permit such a thought for an in- stant to hover through my brain? I had got sufficiently close to my sleeping-place to per- ceive the white smoke circling from the gradually expiring . fire, when again I came across the grizzly’s track, and so fresh that I felt sure its maker had been at the camp dur- IN A STRAIT. 151 ing my absence. In a moment I came to a resolution: the intruder must pay the penalty of his rashness, or I perish “in the attempt. What would that matter ?—only one more unknown to be added to the thousands whose eyes have GRIZZLY BEARS. closed in unknown lands, although their mothers pray un- ceasingly for them, and day by day look for their return. Reaching the camp, I found my conjectures had been correct: the bear had been there during my absence, turn- 152 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ed over the pack, and tried the flavor of both flaps and stirrup leathers of my saddle. To obtain water to wash my gun out with, I melted a quantity of snow in my soli- ‘tary cooking-dish; for the foe I was about to encounter, I was well aware, would fight me with tooth and claw till death separated us, and on a miss or hang-fire depended my life. I can not say I liked my task. I was not strong or well enough to court such an encounter, and several times I thought, as I followed the tell-tale impressions in the snow, how much rather I would prefer it to be a deer. How- ever, it appeared to me to be kismet, destiny, or aught else you choose to call it, that I should meet the grim giant of the forest in deadly strife. About a mile and a half from home—so camp is ever called, however humble its appurtenances—I came to a place where the grizzly had halted and scratched up the wild cranberries, which, through all low-lying lands in this portion of the country, are abundant; but it was evident that they were not sufficiently numerous or attractive to detain him long. Again striking the trail, I persistently followed it till I reached some thick timber, much cov- ered with windfalls. Through such obstacles progress is naturally slow, and difficulties to your advance numerous. Moreover, in such a place one has to be doubly guarded, for on every side, in front, in rear, the upturned roots or labyrinth of semi-decayed limbs can be formed into an am- buscade. But Bruin was not a rifleman, and did not avail himself of these natural lurking -places, so I reached the farther side of the belt of timber without seeing a foe, for which I was heartily thankful; but as I straddled the last log which intervened between me and the open land, not twenty yards to my front I perceived the object of my search reared up to full length against a dead tree, as if ENCOUNTER WITH A URIZZLY. 1538 endeavoring to ascertain how high he could reach. I had not a clear shot, for, although my quarry was facing me, the trunk of the deceased monarch of the woodlands was between me and him.- From my foe’s manner, I felt con- vinced that he was unaware of my presence; this I could have turned to advantage had a vital part been exposed. Long I stood in my awkward position, hoping that he would slew himself round; but such a movement seemed foreign to his intention. At length the grizzly lowered his hold of the tree till his fore-paws were beneath the level of his head, when, turning to the left, he rested the jaw upon his foot, at the same moment obtaining the first view of me. Not a muscle of the bear’s body moved, while the small pig-like eyes momentarily increased in the glow of their in- tensity. In that gaze there was no mistake; it clearly said, “I will brook no intruder in my demesne, and the life of him who is guilty of it shall pay the penalty.” It was a fool-hardy: or precipitous course to pursue. I would not do it now, no, nor even then, if starvation had not stared me in the face. I raised my gun and took sight, hoping the ball would penetrate the neck near the junction of the head; but my eye and hand failed me; the bullet glanced off the weather-beaten tree-trunk, smashed a paw,. ultimately glancing through the thick skin at the base of the quarry’s ear. My foe fell, but in a moment after was on his legs, and;-before I had time to think, came at me with headlong speed. His lower jaw interfered with the breast-shot, for his mouth was wide open: still I fired, for. I felt that only an instant existed between my being in his grasp; but the result was only a momentary recoil. I raised my gun to save my head; but it was sent flying into the brush, and I was prostrated. My sheath-knife, how- ever, was at hand. One, two, three stabs, a spasmodic gasp and shudder of frame, and the gounded monster, try- Vie 154 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ing to encircle me with his paws, sank slowly by my side. His left fore-foot was smashed to pieces, and his lower jaw splintered, or I believe I never should have lived to narrate the death of the grizzly of the Black Hills. CINNAMON BEAR. This bear, which is cinnamon in color, and doubtless the connecting link between the grizzly and Arctic species, has considerable resemblance to both, but, smaller and slighter built than the former, still possesses all its vindictiveness of character and powers of vitality, combined with greater activity. Although existing chiefly on vegetable diet, it will greed- ily avail itself, whenever opportunity offers, to gorge on flesh; and to so great an extent has it been known to in- dulge in gluttony, that, on discovery by the hunter, it has been found alike incapable of defense or escape. On the first settlement of Oregon and British Columbia, the farmers suffered such serious losses among their valua- ble newly-imported herds of horned cattle and sheep that a war of extermination was declared against the red bears (as they are frequently there called), which did not terminate in those neighborhoods till the race had there almost be- come extinct. In the vicinity of the Caribou gold mines they now are occasionally to be found, and doubtless will frequent that locality for many years to come, as the sur- rounding country is very rugged, covered with dense tim- ber, and totally unfit for cultivation. Many and many are the stories I have heard related by trappers and miners in reference to their adventures with these savage animals; but as one bear story is so much like another, I desist here, as my personal knowledge of the species is limited, only. adding that I have heard it uni- versally affirmed that the activity of the cinnamon bear BLACK BEAR. 155 makes it a more dangerous foe than even the much-dreaded grizzly. BLACK BEAR. None of the ferw nature are better known in a state of captivity than the black bear. What village school-boy, however remote the hamlet in which he resides, can not remember poor Bruin being led round by some half-wash- ed, uncombed foreigner, or his forming a portion of the at- tractions which drew the gaping crowd to enter the strong- smelling precincts of the annually-visiting erratic menage- rie? Alas! hard is the poor bear’s life when he is thus a prisoner. In summer he is kept om half-diet, and shut up in a miserable den; in winter he is stowed away in a cellar, and possibly, at least once a week, baited with curs, that the blackguard owner may raise enough funds to carry on his vagrant life. How different this from the life the bear enjoyed in his native woods, wandering about at pleasure, enjoying every luxury of nature that the seasons produce, and, if in a country subject to a severe winter, quietly sleep- ing through that portion of the year when the winds, load- ed with frost and snow, whistle round his snug retreat! The black bear at one period was very widely distributed over the North American continent. Its range now, on _ account of the advance and increase of population, has been much restricted; still, wherever there are large tracts of uncultivated ground, representatives of this species will be found, whether in Canada or Labrador, Florida, Georgia, or. the Far West, until you reach the Rocky Mountains, beyond which I have never heard of the black bear being seen, the cinnamon bear and the grizzly bear there supplying his place. So numerous still are the black bears in some parts of Arkansas that a portion of each year is set aside by the squatters and farmers for their capture, and large packs of curs, specially trained to assist, are kept for this purpose; 156 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. and nuimerous instances are on record of thirty, or even forty, bears having in a couple of months fallen before one hunter’s rifle. The flesh, which is with justice much prized, is either salted down or smoked for future use; while the pelt furnishes a bed, or is sold to the traders, ultimately to be made into rugs for sleighs, or the coarser kinds of furs for women and children. The different sizes that black bears attain in various sec- tions of the country are somewhat remarkable; so much so that I have often been induced to believe them entitled to be considered different species; but otherwise they are so similar in habits of life, choice of food, and residence, that it would only be opening a path that might lead to innu- merable intricacies without the probability of resulting in benefit. The black bear of Michigan, Wisconsin, and the regions bordering on these States, never exceeds two hun- dred and fifty pounds — these are generally denominated hog bear; but when you descend the Mississippi and get into the canebrakes of Arkansas, numbers are annually killed that reach four hundred-weight. Coming eastward, you find a still larger animal; and I have heard from un- doubted sources that in the State of Maine, and along the edges of New Brunswick, bears have been known to attain six or even seven hundred pounds’ weight. Doubtless these differences are occasioned by varieties or abundance of food that the different regions produce, not temperature or cli- mate, as Wisconsin and Maine are almost in the same lat- itude. Without further preamble, I will attempt a description. The black bear is short in carcass, with an unusually bag- gy, slack look; the legs are long and powerful in their sweep, and the animal can handle them with the skill and profi- ciency of a professed pugilist; the head is very nearly an equilateral triangle, with the nose for an apex; the ears are THE BLACK BEAR TIMOROUS. 157 small and rounded, the same distance in situation behind the eye that the eye is from the nose; the measurement in circumference close in front of the shoulder is almost as great as behind, which gradually increases as it ranges back- ward till the loftiest point of the spinal vertebra is reach- ed; while the hind limbs, from their immense muscular power, as well as abundance of flesh, appear like the ex- tremities of a man encased in peg-top trowsers. In walk- ing, the toes of the fore-feet are turned in, while the use of the nether limbs is so human as to appear like a burlesque on genus homo; but if a casual observer be thus struck, the anatomist recognizes in this exaggerated formation the means supplied the animal by nature to ascend trees, escape enemies, or earn its support. The color, when the pelt is ptime, is glossy black; but in early spring a rufous tint is strongly developed ; this is assisted by the undergrowth of wool becoming elongated, and showing through the coarser black hairs that at other seasons are the only visible cover- ing, unless a close and minute inspection be made. From the eyes, in a straight line almost at right angles to the nose, the fur is brown, with a tip of the same color fre- quently over the eyebrow. At the same time, exceptions, more particularly among those of the North-western States, are to be found, which are black to the nostrils. As a general rule, when this bear is in a state of nature, he is extremely timorous of man, flying from him with a stealth and rapidity almost marvelous; but wound him, hurt him, even insult his dignity, and the huntsman must be prepared for a conflict that will only terminate in death; for, once enraged and drawn into hostilities, his combative- ness increases, never lessening till life is extinct. However, instances have been known where Bruin has not had these excuses for becoming aggressor; but generally these belli- cose individuals have been an old lady engaged. in impart- 158 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ing to her progeny her extensive knowledge of the world, some gallant lover worshiping at the shrine of his devotion, or possibly a half-starved unfortunate desirous of gaining some retreat where appetite could be gratified. The first bear I ever shot was doubtless suffering from the last. I will narrate the circumstance. In the State of Wisconsin, near Green River, there are situated some beau- tiful retired sheets of water. These spots had long enchant- ed me with their attractiveness, for game abounded in their vicinity ; the scenery was beautiful, and, above all, you were entirely free from man’s intrusion. Could it be wondered, then, that seldom a week passed that I did not find time to visit them? Summer had unconsciously glided into au- tumn, the dark, dense covering of the trees had changed to all the gaudy hues of the rainbow, and the enlarged ripples on the water, and occasional sighings of the wind, predict- ed that at no distant period another shroud than the green grasses would cover the surface of the earth. x On the day in question, when I left my couch, immense numbers of wild fowl were migrating southward—evident signs that cold weather had made its appearance north. So, hyping possibly to kill a swan, or a scarce specimen of wild duck, I determined to visit my lakes once more ere they were frozen up. At noon, when J started to fulfill my purpose, large flakes of snow were noiselessly descending, but not in sufficient numbers to obliterate the trail. The water reached, the first glance exposed a sight only seen by those who reside beyond the verges of civilization, where the wild denizens of the air or inhabitants of the land reign supreme. The surface of the lakes was covered with ducks of every variety—moving room even looked scarce; still phalanx after phalanx came swooping down before the wind with the well-known velocity that a wild duck’s wings command. Quack, quack, quack, went the AN UNWELCOME VISITOR. 159 ducks on the water; a prolonged note from those in the air answered. ‘The three notes were an invitation, the one note a hearty response, as willingly accepting the invitation as the most hospitable host could desire. A few shots filled my bag, and I seated myself on a rock, regardless alike of snow or wind, to admire and learn the instinct of the animal world. Hour after hour glided on, and night was near as I returned my pipe to my pocket, unfolded my covering from around my gun-locks, and rose to depart. The snow had in the mean time obliterated my path; still the familiar trees and the ever-true-speaking mosses told with certainty the direction. Indolently and self-satisfied I broke into the bush on my homeward route; the weight of the game told heavily on my shoulders. When half of the journey (which I had long wished had been the whole) was reached, I heard a rustling in the brush, evidently caused by large game. Such a warning instantly aroused me, and, on the alert for further sport, I took all the surrounding visible objects in at a glance. In front was a bear. A monster to my vision he appeared, for I was uninitiated at that time—and I believe the eye has a trick of dealing in the marvelous with unaccustomed objects—and, to my horror, Bruin was coming directly to- ward me. My first feeling was to fly; next, to ascend a tree; thirdly, to disappear into my boots. The second glance gave me more assurance. Mr. Bear was evidently on urgent private affairs ; his whole manner bespoke this; and he did not see me; so I determined to stand still, hop- ing he would remain ignorant of my presence, or, at least, give me a fair show, if compelled to fight. Onward ad- vanced Bruin; closer and closer he came, and the nearer he approached the farther my heart came into my mouth. Still he was fifty yards off, and had plenty of time to change his course; but no such change took place; for if he had 160 PRAIRIE AND FOREST been a ball bowled at a wicket the precision of his course could not have been truer. Twenty yards could not have CLOSE QUARTERS. intervened between us when my presence became known, and the manner of welcome I received was far from en- couraging, for he halted, sniffed in the air, and gave an an- DEATH OF THE BEAR. 161. gry growl. I wished myself at home in bed, or at the an- tipodes, or in any place but my present stand-point; for remember, reader, my gun was only loaded with duck-shot ; and I was young, and, I fear, very soft. It was evident _ that my appearance was not intimidating, for my adversary neither swerved to right nor left, and his wicked eyes blazed forth flashes of malignant hate. Eight or ten yards more the distance was diminished, when, whether from fear, cer- tain that my last moments had arrived, or knowledge of the animal’s habits, I gave a shout—a feeble one, of no dis- tinct note, I believe; but the result was fortunate, for the foe halted, and really seemed uncomfortable, occasionally. glancing around, as if he believed retreat, if possible, would be advisable; but second thoughts are not always best. The irresolution was fatal, and the bear found it so ulti- mately, for he again advanced toward me. When scarcely eight yards divided us, a second shout brought him again to a halt, and, as he sat up, displaying his teeth—symptoms that too truly said, “I will teach you a lesson ”—I let him have the contents of the right barrel, aimed for the nose, well knowing the shortness of range would throw the pro- jectiles up. And so it did. At so short a distance the concussion was irresistible; both eyes were destroyed, the forehead up to the apex of the crown fearfully cut up, and the poor bear rolled over, clawing the injured parts in life’s last agony. Without hesitation I delivered the coup de grace by discharging the second barrel at the butt of Bruin’s ear, thus surely putting a finishing touch to his earthly ca- reer. This bear weighed about two hundred and twenty pounds, and was, in the vicinity where killed, deemed a very large one. When in the State of Maine, I was called from my writ- ing by the landlord of the small road-side hotel at which I was residing. He informed me that a bear had entered 162 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. the clearing,* evidently with the intention of attacking his drove of sheep. Seizing my unloaded gun, and hastily charging both barrels with bullets, I rushed down to join him, in the state of deshabille I had been sitting. From an eminence a few yards from the house we took a survey: no bear could be seen; but the timid sheep were huddled in a fence corner, evidently having suffered no ordinary fright. With anxious gaze we scanned the inclosure; several times a blackened, charred stump, the memento of some giant monarch of the forest, was supposed to be the bear. Again and again our mistake was found out, and a new ob- ject was metamorphosed into Bruin. Ten minutes were thus spent, the flock of sheep became, if possible, more un- easy, when, with sudden energy, they made a simultaneous dash and crossed to the far side of the field; still no bear was visible, but that he was close at hand was evident. Loss of time or prolonged suspense began to make us care- less; an advance into the field had even been proposed, and was about to be executed, when the sheep made another start, evidently intent on returning to the position we found them in; but as they passed a log out rushed Bruin, and cut off the retreat of the hindermost. The poor victim made two or three feeble efforts to regain his fellows, then turned and looked his enemy in the face, and from that mo- ment succumbed to fate, at the same time retaining the use of his legs. Nor did Bruin rush up and seize him. He only headed him off when inclined to turn out of the prop- er direction, driving him all the time toward the right side of the field, which edged on a piece of swamp. Soon the fence was gained; here the sheep’s fortitude forsook him, and as both landlord and self had followed as close in rear * Where the forest has been cut away for cultivation. A GOOD SHOT. 163 as advisable, we were witnesses of a procecding almost in- credible. Bruin was evidently in a magnanimous frame of mind, or was overcome by his natural politeness, for, without worrying or mauling, never for a moment using his teeth, he picked up the poor sheep between his paws, placed it on the top of the rails, then pushed it over, and with the agility of a greyhound cleared the fence himself. The shock had roused the victim and re-animated him, for both walked off into the bush, the one satisfied to be driven, the other apparently a not overexacting shepherd. Fol- lowing up the duo as rapidly and silently as circumstances would permit, We again came on both; but the bear had been annoyed, or the sheep could or would not do what was wanted, for Bruin had seized the unfortunate, and dragged him on a log, and was using both teeth and claws with animosity and purpose. Making a stalk, I got within twenty yards of both; the sheep’s head had already been al- most severed from the body, and the hot and liquid gore was evidently giving intense satisfaction to the slayer. With a long, steady aim I covered the white horseshoe on the bear’s breast; the gun was a large and heavy one, the necessary pressure of the trigger was given, and without a moan, almost without a kick, the would-be despoiler and his prey fell to the earth together. The shot was a good one; the results, on dissection, proved with what precision and force a solid bullet can be fired from a common shot-gun. This bear weighed four hundred pounds, and, from the de- cayed and worn teeth, must have been an old stager; in fact, I think age is wanted to give black bears the courage to attack and kill cattle. The white shoe on the breast is commonly, in some sec- tions of the country, the spot which the trapper waits to be exposed, to shoot at. A ball entering there, and going either upward or horizontally, always proves fatal. How- 164 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ever, behind the shoulder, very low down, is the favorite aim with me. In these cross-shots, if obtainable, you al- ways have more to shoot at, and the regions of the heart are reached nearer the surface. The butt of the ear, a lit- tle backward, if close enough to make certain, is another deadly point; but the size of this delicate and mortal place is small, and should never be chosen beyond thirty yards. The head-shot can, with conical bullets, easily be perform- ed; but a spherical bullet, especially from a small-bore rifle, from the wedge-shape of the cranium, is very apt to glance off without injuring more than the skin. In hunting bears with dogs, the commonest cur that has pluck enough to snap at his heels is the best animal for the purpose. The bear gets worried, then cross, and ultimate- ly ascends the first tree that his judgment tells him is suit- able, resting most frequently on the soonest-reached branch, unless the hunter be seen or heard; if so, then the highest foot of timber sufficiently strong to support him will be selected. On such occasions it has been known for him to ascend too high for the strength of the limb, when, the bough breaking, both came tumbling to the earth. Al though such a rapid and lofty descent would certainly de- stroy a man, Bruin will arise uninjured, shake himself, and trot off as if nothing had happened. The vitality of the bear is immense. His powers of de- struction when wounded are equally so. So, gentle reader, if it should be your fortune to go bear- hunting, pray be careful in your approach to them when wounded. A sports- man’s maxim, that should never be forgotten, is, “Always load your gun before you move from where it was dis- charged, and never let the excitement of the moment per- mit you to hurry when performing this useful duty.” A great many bears have been killed with the knife only, but the person who performs so dangerous a feat must HABITS OF THE BLACK BEAR. 165 truly be fool-hardy and reckless of consequences, and in my belief such conduct is, except in cases of emergency, most unjustifiable. For one who returns safe in limb and skin from such a contest, the majority who attempt it get fear- fully mauled, or very possibly disabled. The black bear in a state of captivity is extremely rest- less, and, when old, bad-tempered and treacherous, more especially should he have been teased in his youth; but when he roves the forest, free, he is the laziest and most luxurious fellow, sleeping the greater portion of his time, feeding on nuts or luscious fruits, playing in the sun’s heat with comrades, and seldom quarreling with his brethren. When passages of arms take place, love is the cause, and the battle is waged more in words than blows. Two or three years ago, in the autumn, about midnight, I was passing through a chain of lakes in the State of Maine; the night was lighted by an occasional star, strug- ‘ gling through the rapidly fleeting dark clouds for an op- portunity to show the earth its brilliancy. I was alone, and, save the splash of my paddle and the occasional un- earthly call of the loon, all was still as the grave. A nar- row passage I traversed, to avoid the weeds, made me hug the land so close that occasionally the limb of a tree would brush against my birch- bark canoe. With a suddenness that made my heart’s blood run cold, a yell from some un- known beast, loud, shrill, and unearthly, so close that I al- most believed for a2 moment that the cause was within reach, echoed from tree to tree, and died away, reverbera- ting in the distance. Again and again it was repeated. For a while I remained motionless, till the cool breeze re- called me to myself, and I proceeded homeward. Next morning I returned to examine the place.. A veteran hunt- er was my companion, and we found such convincing proot that bears had been there, that one of them, I feel certain, 166 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. produced the weird-like sound that had caused me so much alarm, my companion assuring me that at the period the sexes came together, if rivals are in the way, the call or note of defiance is quite dissimilar from their general voice. Early in spring the young are born. At first they are very small. In six weeks they are able to accompany their mother, who cares for them with the greatest solicitude and attention, hauling the logs on one side for the cubs to alti CANADIAN PORCUPINE, obtain the coveted grubs and larve underneath, pulling down the uppermost branches that: produce fruit ; and if by accident the young should be placed in a position of danger, her life is always willingly sacrificed in their defense. Walking across a portage in Maine, close to the borders of New Brunswick, in front of the party of which I was a member, my gun loaded, in the hope of killing a grouse or two, I perceived a small animal, about the size of a King Charles spaniel, running along the track a hundred or more A BEAR’S WINTER RETREAT. 167 yards in front of me. Without troubling myself to look closely, I concluded it was a porcupine, animals which were extremely common in the vicinity. Soon after a dog be- longing to one of my companions passed me; stooping to the trail he gave tongue, and went in pursuit at his best possible speed. In a few moments I knew he had brought something to bay, and, proceeding to his assistance, I found a young bear, the size of a badger, treed in a six-inch sap- ling. Where was the mother? Answer says, “Don’t know ;” for young Bruin, after a vixenish fight, was secured, and, although half an hour elapsed in the operation, the old lady still remained non est. It is very common for bears to be killed after they have retired to their dormitory for the winter sleep. When liv- ing near Lake Couchachin, in Canada, I assisted on such an occasion. An Indian from Rama came to me in great haste, with the hope I would sell him some ammunition. From his earnestness and anxiety I knew that he had made a valuable discovery, which after a little higgling was dis- closed. He had found a bear’s retreat in a hollow log, nearly imbedded in snow, and the ammunition was for poor Bruin’s destruction. Stipulating that I should have a share of the sport, I sup- plied the ammunition, and we started. The distance was short. Mr. Chippewa Indian knocked on the log, and the writer stood at the entrance. Poor Bruin at length forsook his snug retreat, yawning and looking stupid as he emerged into daylight, when a bullet at less than five yards settled the matter. When a bear is thus housed in a log a heavy vapor of steam, should the weather be calm, perceptibly hangs over it. A friend, in the true sense of the word, and myself heard of a small lake on the edges of New Hampshire and Maine, that was reported to swarm with trout, and, as a tramp 168 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ' through the wild timber lands was never objectionable, we determined to make an effort to find it out. An old lum- berman, long superannuated, gave us our instructions thus: “First go through the wood two miles north, then incline a little to the westward, and after about half an hour’s walk- ing through a swamp you will strike a small brook, which follow up, and you will certain sure make the pond.”* To those who have not wandered through an American for- est such instructions will be perceived to be far from defi- nite; to the thorough woodsman, however, they would be sufficient. Before we left the township road where we were to branch off, there stood a shanty, at which we halt- ed to put up the horse and buggy in which we had thus far traveled. From the head of the establishment we made inquiries, who, calling to his son who was within, gave the following directions: “Bub,t take the gents, and show them the pond.” Now “Bub” was a most communicative youngster, about fourteen years of age, and, scenting a dol- lar in the distance, hopefully undertook the job. A cow- path we, the trio, followed for more than a mile, then we continued on what is familiarly designated a blaze road—id est, a path marked out by a tree at every hundred yards, more or less, having a piece scooped out of its bark. The walking was as bad as possible, for constantly we were de- layed by giants of the forest who had been prostrated by the gales of preceding winters. At length, tired and fright- fully worried by musquitoes, we reached a brook eight or ten feet in breadth, but deep and sullen as a canal; down this we pursued an erratic course till, between two lofty bluffs, we came upon a beautiful sheet of water of an area of about forty acres. To fish it from the bank was impos- * Small lakes in Maine are always called ponds. + A Yankee father’s familiar way of addressing his son; daughters, af- ter the same manner, are called ‘‘ Sis.” TROUT-FISHING. 169 sible, for the sumac and cedar grew to its margin, so that ’ no other resource was left but to cut a number of cedar logs and form a raft. An hour or more was lost in this operation; and when we had launched out, we found that nothing but the smallest fry could be taken, although these were in such quantities, that frequently we would have three or four rises to a cast. For an hour or more we fished in- defatigably, still nothing over a quarter of a pound reward- ed our labors; and when we landed for our picnic lunch I determined to fish the stream with the hope of obtaining some heavier specimens. My friend, who felt indisposed, either from the effects of the sun, or some State of Maine whisky (warranted to kill as far as a six-shooter) which he had been imbibing, refused to accompany me; so, with the youth who had acted as Palinurus, I left him to ruminate over his transgressions or misfortune. As I had supposed, large fish were to be found in the stream, and my: basket began to groan under its weight, when I hooked my flies in the top of a larch that leaned over the water close in my-rear. With all my efforts I could not get them free, so, sending the lad aloft, I waited patiently for him to cast them off. The place where I stood was hummocky, such lumps as you come across in the bogs of Ireland when snipe-shooting, only a great deal larger. With care and precaution the hummocks could be traversed without wetting a foot, but hurry would certain- ly get you between them, when over the boot-tops would be the consequence. I had stood for several minutes for the youngster to get the line loose, when, across the stream; but a short distance off, I heard an animal grunt; the spot whence the sound issued was a large clump of whortleber- ries, where some fallen timber lay. Not being quite cer- tain that my ears had not deceived me, I waited, when the noise was repeated. By this time my line was free, and 8 170 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. my juvenile companion was descending, when I asked him to listen to the noise, for I felt convinced it emanated from no other than a bear feeding, enjoying his favorite bonne bouche, the blue-berries. Young America listened; Bruin gave another grunt of evident satisfaction, when the for- mer, exclaiming “ Bear!” slid down the tree with such agil- ity as would have put in shade the majority of monkeys. As soon as he reached the ground, off he started down stream; but the funniest part of all was that my guide, in the precipitancy of his movements, must have tripped over the hummocks at least half a dozen times in a dozen strides. When we had got thirty or forty yards off—for I followed, though scarcely as rapidly—my amour propre asserted it- self, and I halted; not so my companion; soon he disap- peared through the labyrinth of shrubs, and I remained alone. To my relief I found no bear was in pursuit, so, placing my rod against a stalwart hemlock, I ascended its branches to take a survey of the situation: for a long time I could not discover Bruin, but at length detected a large mass of black fur, accompanied by two smaller ones, busily employed feeding. They had quitted the wet ground and were on the edge of an acclivity, where the mother was most industriously drawing the broken fragments of shat- tered logs on one side, while her hopeful progeny feasted upon the beetles and ants thus exposed. The old lady had neither winded nor heard us, and she remained sedulously pursuing her avocation, perfectly ignorant that her indus- try and strength were forming a subject of admiration to a ‘son of Adam. At length their search for insects took them out of sight, and I descended to join my companions. The day by this time was far spent, and neither of us having arms suitable for an assault upon the happy family, we determined to seek the settlement and revisit the scene on the morrow. Next day, at an early hour, with quite a A BEAR-HUNT. 171 re-enforcement, all armed with most formidable fire-arms, from the Spencer rifle to the old smooth-bore, and accom- panied by a well-tried bear-dog, we sallied forth. For miles we tracked Madam Bruin by the broken fragments of de- cayed timber and the numerous logs she had disturbed from their original resting-place. Finally, we thought she could not be far distant, and the dog was untied; off he went like a thunderbolt, and in a quarter of an hour we heard him baying vociferously. Guns were looked to, the men most energetic previously now dropped behind, doubtless to ex- amine their trusty rifles, and see that the powder was up in the nipples; but when we reached Watch, what was our disgust to find that he had treed a covey of Canadian grouse? Unwillingly we went to work and decimated this unhappy and unconscious brood, nor could all our efforts afterward induce the unfailing bear-dog to take up the desired track. The scene of the subsequent narrative was between Lake St. John and Mud Lake, near the most northern extremity of Lake Simcoe, Canada West, in which my efforts for Bruin’s destruction were more successful. In following a flight of ruffled grouse, which had risen so far beyond range as to have prevented my getting a shot at them, I came across a perfect brake of wild grape-vines loaded with fruit. I could not withstand the temptation of halting for a feed, for they had been touched with frost, which changes them from the most unpalatable to the most delightfully flavored fruit. The day had been warm for the end of autumn, and I suppose the fatigue of my tramp, together with the delightful shade afforded, induced me to lie down, and, as might be expected under the circum- stances, I fell asleep. How long I might have been in a state of oblivion I can not say, but I was awaked by my companion, a mongrel English terrier, barking vociferously 172 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. at some intruder. After a stretch, a yawn, and the usual awakening actions, I turned in the direction of Prince to see what on earth had raised his ire and disturbed my si- esta, when—judge my astonishment !—I beheld a large bear erect, pulling down the vines, not twenty yards off, ignorant of my presence, but occasionally casting a furtive glance back at his angry assailant, who took precious good care to keep beyond arms-length. Men become cool in such sit- uations, either from association or the power of controlling their feelings. My gun lay at my side loaded with No. 6; if Bruin found me out and became aggressive, at close quar- ters, say eight or ten yards, I was prepared to risk the is- sue; if he would only move off a little way, still keeping to windward, I thought I might improve my opportunity by substituting a brace of bullets. Under any circumstances ° my gun would be required, so watching the first opportuni- ty when the bear’s back was turned, I brought my double- barrel close by my side and cocked each lock. Many may laugh when I say I did not feel nervous; but I did not, and remained watching with special pleasure the enjoyment that my. foe appeared to take in crunching up whole bunches of the luscious fruit. As he worked farther from me my dog became less demonstrative, only occasionally giving way to a suppressed growl, which his feelings were unable to con- trol. Deeming myself comparatively safe from the distance that intervened between us, I uncocked my gun; then first one barrel was unloaded, and the heavier missile substi- tuted, then the next underwent the same operation, Bruin being now out of sight, still within hearing; but the tables were turned: if formerly I was prepared to leave him alone, I now felt equal to acting on the aggressive. Giving Prince ‘a little encouragement, he again rushed to the attack, and it is wonderful with how much more ardor, knowing that A BALD-HEADED EAGLE. 173 his master’s eye was on him. Soon I knew the dog had nipped him, for I heard a rush—and dogs will retreat to- ward their masters—which brought Bruin in full view. As the distance was greater than I liked,I hesitated to fire, but the bear had seen me, and disliking my appearance turned to make off; but the brave little cur was at his heels, and as T cheered him to the attack, he never lost an opportunity of pinching Bruin’s stern, who at length treed to avoid the persecuting little pest which hung in his rear, the most de- sirable course for me he could have adopted. By the time I reached the spot the enemy had gained the first fork, not twenty feet overhead, and is it to be wondered at that at such a short range, with not a twig to intervene, and with a clear view of the quarry’s shoulder, one barrel brought him to the ground with no more action in his carcass than the usual death struggle? My trophy was not large, but well fed, and his hams afforded me, for many a subsequent morning, a bonne bouche worthy of a hunter. But poor little Prince got into trouble before he reached home. As I struck the margin of a river which lay in my route, I observed a large bald-headed eagle sailing about. _Keeping under the shelter of some brush, I waited for a chance. My right-hand barrel I had reloaded with heavy shot, and, as the bird passed about seventy yards off, I gave him a portion of its contents, which was responded to by his immediately reaching the ground with a broken wing. Prince, plucky with the issue of his late engagement, made a dash at the bird, but caught a Tartar, for he was seized by both talons, and, but that I came to the rescue, would have been rendered useless for any other purpose than bait- ing a wolf-trap. As it was, after I had killed the bird I had some difficulty in unloosening its claws, and I doubt if my faithful little mongrel had lived to the age of Methuselah, he ever would have been induced to tackle another eagle. CHAPTER XI. WOLVES. THERE are certainly three distinct species of wolves on the American continent, many persons say more, but I am inclined to believe that from a desire to increase the fauna of a country, varieties are frequently transferred to the re- sponsible places of species. My opportunities of studying the habits and appearance of the wolf have been very great; still, although my ideas are not in accordance with Audu- bon and Bacheman, and other accepted naturalists, I have no hesitation in stating them. First, on account of the greater size and nearer resem- blance of the animal to the European race, we will take the common, familiarly-called gray wolf. At one time it was scattered all over the North American continent to the Gulf of Mexico; but now, with few exceptions, is not to be found until the great prairies of the West or the slopes of the Rocky Mountains are reached, or the immense timber lands to the north of Canada entered. But still, although their habitat has become restricted, owing doubtless to differ- ence of latitude, great varieties of color are to be found among this species, but neither in habits, voice, nor shape are they in the least dissimilar. I am aware that at one time I possessed a different idea, but farther experience and study of the subject caused me to change. Thus on the Rio Grande and in Southern New Mexico and Sonora, the wolf is most frequently black; as you advance north- ward red is the preponderating color, gradually changing into gray as you get into higher latitudes, that changing to WOLVES. 175 white as you approach the Arctic Circle. The texture of the hair in the black wolf is coarse, and his covering scant —that of the red animal similar, but not so much so, while the gray is well provided with an abundant fur, but not equal in quality or texture to the Arctic variety. Here, as ul Eo aoa GRAY WOLVES. in many other races, is to be observed the wonderful pro- vision of nature to enable the animal kingdom to be suita- bly clothed for the climate they live in, whether they have to combat with almost tropical heat or hyperborean win- ters. Thus what is generally called the gray wolf is one and the same race with the black, brown, and white, the change of color being to adapt them to the prevailing tem- perature of the latitude they live in. The two other species are the coyote and prairie-wolf, both much smaller than the aforementioned species, in fact bearing the same relative position to the New World as 176 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. the jackal does to the Old. They are essentially prairie an- imals, and invariably live in burrows, while the larger race, although found in the open country, is partial to forest, and generally sleeps in a nest or den upon the surface of the soil or in a crevice of the rocks. The prairie-wolves and coyotes are timid little fellows, living and hunting in com- munities, and if captured young are easily tamed, becoming much attached to their owner, and when in that state not unfrequently display sagacity worthy of the dog; while the larger wolf becomes sullen and treacherous with age, ever evincing an unconquerable dislike to his domesticated re- lation, the dog, and if at any time able to recover his liber- ty will at once return to the modes of life of his ancestry. In courage the gray wolf of America materially differs from the Old World race, it being of very rare occurrence for them to attack human beings; still such have happen- ed, but never, I believe, in the powerful bands trooped to- gether that scour the steppes of Western Siberia and East- ern European Russia. It may be that game being more abundant in North America the animals do not get reduced to the same straits from hunger; but this I doubt, for tray- elers of authority generally advance the opinion that finer hunting-grounds than those that margin the Ural range are nowhere to be found. No, the ferocity of those of the Old World is in my belief attributable to this: Europe and Asia have ever been the scenes of intestine wars, dead and wound- ed have been deserted and left to perish — naturally, the wild animals have preyed upon them, and thus become so familiar with our race as to know their helplessness and want of powers of resistance. Of course the Indians have carried on wars among themselves, and the white man has constantly been in the habit of invading the territories of the aborigines, but the slaughter in these forays has been trifling, the victims on either side seldom left without inter- EXCITEMENT OF A GALLOP. ‘177 ment, thus depriving the carnivora of an intimacy with the human family; which leads to contempt of our powers of resistance, or possibly a relish for our flesh. Few of us have not experienced the excitement of a gal- lop over a good grass country, with the spotted beauties Jeading the way, getting over the ground at a racing pace, while your mount is nearly hauling you out of the saddle PRALRIE-WOLVES. with enthusiasm and inclination to make himself on still more familiar terms with the pack. By Jove, how reckless such excitement makes you feel! Fear is banished for the time being—all sense of danger is dispelled to the winds, and sooner than be thrown out you would ride at a canal, or charge any height of timber. You may be old—yet for the time feel young: you may be blasé—yet you feel as buoyant’as when you made your début. But it is far from g* 178 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. the grass countries, across three thousand miles of water and fifteen hundred of land—far beyond the giant Missis- sippi, to the illimitable prairies of the Far West I wish you, in thought, to travel. Imagine a boundless expanse of un- dulating land, covered with grass; here and there a sparse scattering of brush, with perhaps one or two lines of timber that mark the margin of tributaries of some mighty river, and you have the landscape without entering into detail. What a place for a gallop! what a place for a buffalo run, or any other kind of run that will give your mettlesome nag an opportunity of showing his pluck and endurance. But take care; don’t ride with a slack rein; keep your eyes open; all may look plain sailing from the distance, but on closer inspection you may come upon a densely popu- lated dog town, or collection of coyote earths, each hole of which is big enough to use a Newfoundland in for a fox terrier. Wolves of each species are found numerous all over this elysium; game is abundant, and the marauder is always on its track looking out for the feeble or unfortunate. Skulk- ing scoundrels are these members of the canine fraternity, and cunning withal; keen and successful hunters if neces- sary, but addicted to idleness; for if they can obtain their dinner at others’ expense, they are always ready to sacrifice their principle, and sponge upon the first acquaintance. If you go out for pleasure, or with the desire of replenishing your larder, you are certain to be attended; you can not get away from camp without their watchful eyes detecting you. As you rise one knoll you may observe the escort topping the last, and intently keeping all your movements under their observation. Full well do they know that if buffalo or deer fall before your rifle, on the refuse that you reject they will find a bounteous repast; or if your hands and eyes forget their cunning, and a wounded unfortunate THE USE OF GREYHOUNDS. 179 goes off, then the chances are that the whole carcass will fall to their-share, and a gorgeous feast on tidbits ensue, for Master Lupus has wonderful scenting powers, and, with the trail spiced with blood, he grudges no amount of exertion. Again, the wolf is generally in disgrace; for he steals your game if deserted by you for a few hours to procure assistance to transport it to camp;-he eats your lariat ropes, untying your animals, nibbles the flaps of your sad- dles, and keeps up an unearthly serenade through those hours that the tired sportsman is most disposed to rest. Is it any wonder that he is unpopular, that he has few friends, and that he is considered a vermin of the first magnitude ? Tn all shooting excursions you will have idle days, a lay-off for the more serious duties of the morrow, when guns are cleaned, bullets cast, powder-flasks replenished, and wet and dirty clothes dried or washed. The forenoon having sufficed to perform these labors, a run with a wolf will be found not a bad appetizer for your evening meal, or re- mover of your little stiffnesses and ailments, in the same way as a little exercise is necessary to the hunter the day after a:long or hard run. To enjoy this pleasure to per- fection you must be provided with dogs, and there are none so suitable as the strongest stamp of greyhounds; more powerful ones that are addicted to grappling with the foe will get fearfully mauled, for the jaws of a wolf are almost as powerful as a hyena’s and consequently your limited establishment would be half the time on the sick-list; with the greyhound it is different. As soon as you get a view at him they go, and although the game is swift, still his ad- versaries are not long in ranging alongside, when a snap in the hams or loins immediately brings him to bay. De- termined and numerous are his efforts to catch the nimble antagonists, who take precious good care to keep beyond reach. After a few moments. of such skirmishing, the 180 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. closer approach of the sportsman admonishes the wolf to be moving, and off he goes, best foot foremost; but his persecutors are in attendance. A hundred or two yards may be traversed, and again he is brought up standing from a similar cause; thus the game is played till the wolf is ex- hausted, and the sportsman gets sufficiently close to end the episode by a well-directed pistol-bullet through the grizzly marauder’s cranium. Spearing the wolf on horseback is also capital sport; but it takes a great deal out of your nag, for the scoundrel, while fresh, will double almost as sharply as a hare, and from his wonderful lasting powers take you over an im- mense distance, he invariably choosing the roughest ground. In this mode also you must constantly be on the gui vive, for if opportunity offers he will make either your horse or yourself acquainted with his grinders, and a snap from him will be a memento. In the neighborhood of Fort Riley an accident of this kind almost occurred to me. A large gray wolf jumped up before me, and as my horse was fresh and the afternoon cool I made up my mind for a run. Draw- ing my revolver, and taking my nag in hand, we were soon skimming the prairie at a slashing pace. After a mile of this work I ranged alongside, but on several occasions when about to press the trigger the wolf wheeled sharply to the right or left, once very nearly throwing my nag on his head. More determined to draw blood from the trick practiced on me, I was soon again at his tail; but the foe tried a new and quite unexpected ruse, viz., suddenly slackening his pace, and as I overshot him, making a most wicked snap at my off foot, which fortunately was protected by a heavy cow-hide boot; but the indentation showed that a lighter covering would have caused me to regret my prow- ess. If ever you visit the Western prairies you will not re- THE SCOTCH DOG. 181 gret the trouble of taking with you some good strong grey- hounds; the rough Scotch dog I should prefer, for you will not only find them great promoters of your sport, wolf-hunt- ing, but useful auxiliaries in pulling down wounded deer, as well as most watchful and trustworthy camp guardians and companions. wake CHAPTER XII. FOXES. TuE varieties and even species of foxes are so great on the North American continent that I doubt much if they have ever been properly classified by the naturalist. Go where you will they are to be found. Of the commoner species, I may safely state that I have killed hundreds. So in the following I will allude only to the principal of them. For a long period I had resided in a part of North- ern Canada that probably supplies as many of those ex- tremely rare animals—the Black or Silver Fox—as any por- tion of the American continent, and during the entire length of my residence was constantly associated with trappers, fur-traders, et hoc genus omne,; so a few remarks on this scarce and valuable animal may not be out of place. The fabulous sum that a prime black fox skin is worth causes this animal to be universally sought after; the tawny redskin or the swarthy half-bred hunter, when he discovers the haunt of one of these beauties, never ceases day or night to ponder over schemes for his capture; the marten and mink traps are for a time neglected, and every artifice, ev- ery trick and ingenuity that ever entered trapper’s brain, is at once put into practice. Nor is this fox less wary than his confréres, but quite the reverse; and I believe in the current opinion that there is no animal more difficult to circumvent. Often of an evening I have listened to the broken English of the snake-eyed aborigines, or the curious patois of the Canadian habitant, recapitulating how they all but succeeded on such and such an occasion, or were re- INTRODUCTION OF THE RED FOX. 183 warded with success upon another. By the bright glow of a wood -fire, illuminating the unhewn long walls, rough chinking, and shingle roof of a frontier cabin, the cold and bitter night being made doubly severe by the howling blasts that impetuously rush with angry noise through the disturbed trees, these narratives of perseverance and hard- ship form a pleasant way of passing the long wintry night. The cup goes round, the pipe is smoked, and the company, although illiterate and unpolished, possess one great qual- ity—sincerity. If they quaff your health or shake your hand, it is not an empty form, but one which emanates from genuine friendship and unselfish feelings. There are no distinct differences between the black and red fox excepting color, save it be that the fur of the for- mer is much finer; but this can satisfactorily be accounted for by his residence being always in much colder latitudes ; in fact, his chief resorts appear to be the intermediate space between the homes of the red and Arctic representatives. Nevertheless, I claim that he is of different species from either of the aforementioned. My reason I will state. The black fox has been known in North America since the first settlement of the country. We hear of one of the Indian chiefs presenting some of the earliest settlers with a skin of this species, as a mark of the high estimation placed on the white man’s friendship. Not so with the red fox of at least the eastern portion of the North American conti- nent. In searching over some old works among the admi- rable writings on natural history emanating from the pen of Postmaster-general Skinner, now dead many years, we learn that the red fox was introduced into the State of Maryland from England considerably over one hundred years ago. The importer was no other than the gallant and loyal old soldier, Colonel Guy Carlton, whose name so conspicuously appears associated in all the efforts made by 184 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. the royal troops to suppress the Revolution. This noble veteran was doubtless a hard-riding and enthusiastic fox- hunter. The little gray fox indigenous to the country did not suit his exalted ideas, from having enjoyed the noble sport at home, and to remedy the evil he went to the trou- ble, and doubtless, in those days, great expense, to import the larger, gamer, and more lasting animal. The result was the success he so eminently deserved. The first arri- vals were turned down in Maryland, not far from Balti- more. From there they have gradually extended north, south, and west, marking their advent by the gradual an- nihilation of the gray species. I have had the pleasure for some years of enjoying the friendship of Colonel Skinner, son of the old postmaster-general; from him I learn that he frequently heard his father speak on this subject, and that he has often visited the spot where the first English, or red foxes, were released. From my own personal experience I can state a circumstance corroborative of the fact, that with the entrée of the red fox into any section of country the gray species either migrates or-perishes. Some years since I lived in a hilly portion of Southern Illinois. On my ar- rival the little gray foxes were so numerous that with a moderate pack of hounds two or three could be killed daily. I had not been there over a year when, to my surprise, I jumped up a noble specimen of the red, while deer-shoot- ing. From that date the gray commenced to diminish, and I am informed by reliable authority that at the present time not a single representative of ‘the smaller breed is to be found in that district. Audubon, an authority on whom generally the greatest reliance can be placed, regards the black and red fox as simple varieties of the same species. Doubtless he never heard of the red fox being a foreigner, or he would probably have agreed in the decision I have come to—knowing the truth of the red fox’s introduction ANXIOUS FOR BLACK FOX. 185 —that the black and red fox are entitled to be regarded as representatives of different species. Nor has the red fox belied his ancestry or deteriorated by his emigration. The keen and persevering fox-hunters of Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Carolina, and Georgia, give him the credit of being the most lasting and difficult animal to run down that the forests produce. From the natural differences be- tween England and America, fox-hunting is not only a very dissimilarly conducted sport, but in the latter associated with more labor and hardship. The woods are so immense that it generally results in cover-hunting from start to fin- ish; consequently slower hounds require to be used, and every advantage of Pug taken. At dawn the field assem- ble, so as to catch their quarry with a full stomach, and it is no uncommon thing for the sun to have reached the west- ern horizon, and the hunters to be thirty miles from home ere the death wo—whoop be sounded. But to the black fox. I had often longed to capture one of these beauties during my boyish residence on the Amer- ican continent. The price that the pelt would bring was a supply of pocket-money that I could see no end to; but once, and only once, during that visit, had I the fortune to almost realize my wish. I had been hunting all day by the margin of a distant lake. Tired and unsuccessful, about the hour of sunset I approached a clearing of a few acres in the forest, where Indian corn had been grown and just gather- ed into shocks. My companion was a little half-bred ter- rier, who had endeared himself to me from his sagacity and obedience. ‘As I neared the brush fence which surrounded the opening, with the habitual caution that residents in wild lands learn, I secreted myself behind a stump, and took a careful survey; for deer are fond of corn, so are bears, as well as all the small varieties of game. I had not remained thus hidden for many minutes when what I had taken for 186 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. a charred stump suddenly became animated, and remarka- ble were the movements that heralded this transformation. One more glance told me it was a fox of the long-coveted species; but what the mischief was he about? mad surely, and for this reason, no creature in his senses could other- wise make such a fool of himself. First he took hold of his tail, and spun round like a kitten; next moment he was turning somersaults, or struggling on his back, kicking his legs in the air; then the tail-trick was reverted to again, and so on. For several minutes I stood transfixed; Pug was too far off to shoot at, and any attempt at a stalk was too dangerous to put into practice. But my patience was not severely taxed. With a sudden spring the,fox dashed forward ; up flew a dozen spruce grouse, and the black-coat- ed gentleman, with a bird in his mouth, quietly trotted to- ward cover, giving me a cross-shot at forty yards’ range— a chance which I was not slow to avail myself of. With the report Pug turned head over heels, but quickly picked himself up, forgetting however his prey, and made for the timber. Hurriedly I gained the bird—small consolation for my disappointment; but my hopes were again revived, for my little cur-dog took up the scent, and waking the echoes with his insignificant bark, went off as if he intended work. At the best pace I could command I followed, singing every few strides a word of encouragement to my trusty compan- ion. Farther and farther into the woods I advanced, but soon it was so dark that, at length, with barked shins and sundry tumbles, I was obliged to give up the pursuit. Sev- eral times in the chase I came to a stand-still, and as often as I did so, Prince’s voice appeared as if he had brought the foe to bay. Halting for the last time the same thing occurred, and as the dog did not appear to be much over a hundred yards distant, I determined to make another effort, which resulted in no better success. This led me to believe FOX-HUNTING. 187 that my dog came up with the fox, and brought him to bay, but as the latter was the larger, Prince was afraid to lay hold, and on my advancing too close to the belligerents Pug would make off again, to stop when he thought him- self out of harm’s way. Next morning I instituted a search, which was unsuc- cessful; but a week afterward, when shooting wood grouse in the same vicinity, I accidentally came across the carcass of a dead black fox, partly immersed in a pool of stagnant water, which had utterly destroyed what must have been a most perfect and prime pelt. Those fond of fox-hunting can have it to repletion in all parts of the country ; for when the red is not to be found, the gray fox, kit or cross fox, and swift fox take their place. CHAPTER XIII. HARES. ALTHOUGH it is common in America to hear different species of hares designated by the name of rabbit, this is one of those extraordinary mistakes in nomenclature, in reference to the fauna of the American continent, of which T have previously spoken; for no true rabbit is to be found there, except in a state of domestication. In other words, they are not indigenous to the land. The little wood hare, so very abundant on the verge of cultivation that adjoins prairie land, might well have been confused with the other rodent, but when we find the Townsend hare and jackass hare, both remarkable for their size and strongly-marked characteristics of race, also called rabbits, such obviously erroneous misnomers appear intentional, and therefore cul- pable. The little wood hare is to be found in large numbers in all those States whose rivers are tributaries of the Missis- sippi, their favorite haunts being neglected—overgrown old clearings or uncultivated land that the heavy timber has been cut off. With beagles they would afford admirable sport, but for their habit of seeking shelter when pursued in decayed logs or hollow trees, their claws being so sharp that they can ascend the cavity in the interior of a perpen- dicular girdling from ten to twenty feet, and it is no unu- sual occurrence to find a dozen, or even more, of these pret- ty little creatures in the same retreat. This species is al- most unknown in Canada. The sportsman, wishing to make a bag of them, should THE LITTLE WOOD HARE. 189 use very small shot, say No. 7, for they require but slight injury to prevent their escape. The season of the year in which the greatest reward for his exertions will be obtain- ed is in early spring, particularly if the ground retains a covering of snow, with a bright warm sun overhead. In the valley of the Wabash on such a day I have frequently killed over fifty in an afternoon. In the State of Missouri, SWAMP HARES. near Brookfield, I have been equally successful. In fact, so great are their numbers in the prairie countries, margin- ing timber land, that any ordinary shot can do the same in almost any portion of their habitat. The changeable, or swamp hare, is also abundant; but does not frequent the same localities as the last mentioned, being partial to thick, low-lying woodlands. Its southern range commences about the fortieth degree of latitude, terminating about the fifty- 190 PRAIRIE, AND FOREST. fifth, cedar and hemlock swamps being its favorite retreats. In summer this animal is a beautiful bright chestnut, while in winter it becomes almost entirely white, rendering it ne easy object to see when the landscape possesses its snowy covering. With hounds it affords good sport, for it is ‘fleet and enduring, and invariably prefers being run into, to taking shelter in tree-stump or rocky fissure. This spe- cies has frequently been confounded with the blue hare of Scotland, but both are so essentially dissimilar in their hab- its of life and in choice of haunts, that there can be no rea- son to doubt that they belong to separate species. How- ever, there is another species of American hare found upon the barren lands about the sixtieth degree of north latitude, in Labrador and Newfoundland, which I would not be sur- prised if discovered to be identical with the white hare of Northern Europe. The jackass hare and Townsend’s hare are very similar in appearance and habit, the former being larger than the latter; the habitat of the first being to the east of the Rocky Mountains; of the second, to the westward, and upon the plains, verging on the Apache country, in Lower California. Where the country is sufficiently clear for coursing, doubtless good sport could be obtained with greyhounds, as they are remarkably swift and enduring. When among the chaparral or wild sage they have so little dread of man’s presence that they will almost permit them- selves to be kicked out of their form; from this circum- stance, for shooting them, small shot, say No. 6, can be used to the greatest advantage. The aquatic hare is alone found in America, the savannas of Georgia and South Carolina being its favorite habitat; Kentucky, Southern Indiana, Illinois, also Tennessee, pos- sess them. However, they are nowhere sufficiently numer- ous to make them a special object of pursuit. THE AQUATIC HARE. 191 My introduction to this animal I will relate. A little be- fore sunset, on a fine calm evening in March, I took my stand upon a bridge crossing a slough in the southern por- tion of Illinois, with the hope of killing a few wild ducks. The atmosphere was so clear and still that the birds were very late in visiting their feeding- ground. While impa- tiently trying to kill time, I saw something swimming in the water, and supposing it to be a common American musk-rat, and being desirous of a new tobacco-pouch, I, MUSQUASH, OR AMERICAN MUSK-RATS. well hid in the flags, stealthily stole along the margin of the water, to endeavor to obtain a closer shot, for the musk-rat requires a tremendous deal of killing. Having knocked over my game, in a few minutes my retriever laid it at my feet; but imaging my surprise when, instead of a rat, I found it to be a hare. I could scarcely believe my senses, but seeing is believing. Of course I thought that the poor creature had been driven to water to avoid a foe, but before many days I shot several, and all in similar 192 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. situations. The habits of this new variety I now made a study, and ‘found that they were amphibious, sleeping in forms on the edge of the morass during the heat of the day, and feeding before sunrise and after sunset.on the dif- ferent descriptions of water-plants. Whether this hare was able to dive or not I did not ascertain, but that he is a most expert swimmer there can be no doubt. His size is the same as that of our common wild rabbit, but from his build being thicker, he may possibly be heavier. His legs are short, feet large, ears small, and head very full and round; color dark grayish-brown, with scarcely any white upon the scut, and the fur exceedingly soft and fine. I fre- quently tested his qualities on the table, and can speak in the highest approval of the delicacy and delicious flavor of his flesh, which is much lighter in shade than that of any other of the same family with which I am acquainted. The * skin, remarkable for its thinness, is easily removed from the carcass; but great care must be taken to prevent it get- ting torn. On inquiring, I found that this hare was well known by the residents, and from them learned that it bred once a year, generally producing two at a birth; and that the young at a very early age follow their mother in her sundry aquatic excursions in search of those delicate water- plants that form their staple food. CHAPTER XIV. GROUSE. THERE are supposed to be upward of twenty species of grouse upon the continent of North America. However, they have never been strictly classified, so I will confine my remarks to those best known, commencing with the pin- nated grouse, prairie-chicken, or prairie-hen, for by all these names this noble bird is recognized in different localities. During my sojourn across the Atlantic I recognized three distinctly marked varieties of this species—two only differ- ing in color of plumage and size; the third having a tail longer by some inches than its con/‘réres, and terminating in a point. This last has its habitat in higher latitude than the others, being found in the greatest abundance on the plains that surround the Saskatchewan River, while the former are common to all the prairie country of the States of Indiana, Illinois, lowa, Minnesota, and Michigan, even as far south as Texas. The flight of all is swift, powerful, . and prolonged, so that late in autumn, when the young birds have reached maturity, a mile or even more distance will be traversed from the place where they are flushed till they think proper to alight. On the contrary, early in the shooting season, they will lay with such persistency that many efforts of both dog and sportsman will be required before they can be induced to take wing. Their pursuit is followed in the same manner as that of red grouse upon Scotch moors, for their time of watering, dusting, and feed- ing are almost identical. At the commencement of the shooting season (which I believe is now on the Ist of Sep- 9 194 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. tember), No. 7 shot will be found heavy enough to do ef- fective work, but later on, when cold nights, accompanied by rain and wind, have taken place, No. 5 should be used. The first pheasant I killed in China I thought the noblest game bird that ever I had pulled a trigger upon, and truly he was a beauty; the plumage was in the most perfect state —the neck of the greenest emerald, the ring of the purest white, the tail the longest, and the different shades and tints of wings and body the very brightest I-had ever seen in one of the species; moreover, he weighed nearly one-half more than any of the same family I had killed at home, and, to add additional appreciation, the shot that brought him to the ground was a difficult one, and at long range. For years the pheasant of the southern portion of China reigned paramount in my opinion; but a change has come over my ideas, and now, superlative before all others, I place two descriptions of American game birds, and this species is one of them. What days of pleasure have I had in the pursuit of pinnated grouse! What splendid bags have I made, and on such ground as gave my darling com- panion setters the very best opportunities of showing their sagacity and careful education to the greatest advantage ! In alluding to the ruffed grouse, I have stated that I do not believe this bird (the pinnated grouse) so worthy of ac- climatization ; and why? he disregards distance in his late autumnal flights; and, therefore, where shooting ranges are limited by bounds, unless the proprietors on every side would mutually agree for their protection, I fear that the labors of the introducer in the cause of acclimatization would be fraught with dissatisfaction. But for all that, the pinnated grouse is deserving of attention; for he is truly a most noble bird, and affords the best of sport, till the cold winds preceding winter cause them to pack, in the same manner as our red and black game; when their weariness THE PINNATED GROUSE. 195 becomes so great that naught but quick shooting and Ely’s green cartridges are likely to help the laborer to produce a bag remunerative for his toil. That this bird could be ac- climated here in England there is no doubt, for he is capa- ble of withstanding great changes of temperature; is not particular as to choice of ground, as long as it is open, and a sufficiency of food can be obtained. Although its range now is confined to the prairie country of the United States, not being found, with two exceptions, till the edge of the Grand Prairie is reached, yet formerly it was equally abundant all over the open lands, on the edge of the Atlantic sea-board ; still, however, Long Island and Martha’s Vineyard possess some remnants, who long since would have disappeared but for the protection and care of the land-owners, who have endeavored to prevent, if possible, their extinction. I can not well imagine any place so bleak in winter as the scrub uplands of the two aforementioned islands, unless perhaps Mull and Jura on our Scotch coast. The bird that could with impunity with- stand the rigors of the cold in the former, could doubtless do the same in the latter. The pinnated grouse pairs in March, and generally produces from twelve to fourteen young at a brood; the chicks very early take to the wing, but their flight is weak and short until they are more than half-grown. During the infancy of the family, the courage and artifice of the parent bird to intimidate or draw off in- truders is worthy of notice. At first she will fly toward you as if intent on doing you battle, but when this course has failed, she will retire, droop her wings, struggle on the ground, only just keeping beyond your grasp, always mov- ing in a direction contrary to where her brood are hid until parent instinct tells her that the children are safe, when suddenly, on strong wings, she will start for a dis- tant flight. The facility with which the young secrete 196 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. themselves is most surprising. Frequently have I got un- expectedly into the centre of a family, when up they would rise, like a flight of bees, and as rapidly drop again; certain- ly you see the exact spot on which they have alighted— that tuft of grass, you believe, most surely contains one, but search as you will, turn over carefully every blade, look well about the roots —all is useless, for no fledgeling will you discover. At the commencement of the pairing season, particularly if the weather is calm and cloudy, the male birds call all day; thei: note resembling the lowing of a cow, which can be heard distinctly for over a mile. As the spring ad- vances they confine this habit to evening and morning, but by the time the brood is hatched, cease it altogether. The peculiarity of the call of the males of this species is such, that once heard, it is difficult to forget, particularly when softened by distance. It is produced by forcing the air out of two orange-colored receptacles placed on either side of the throat, and which, when inflated, are as large in cir- cumference as a man’s finger, perfectly free from feathers upon their surface, but hid when in a state of quiescence by fan-shaped bunches of hackles that completely cover them.* The pinnated grouse is about the size of our pheasant. However, they differ considerably, those birds that inhabit Southern Illinois being at least one-fourth larger than those obtained in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the North-west prai- ries. They are ofa beautiful mottled brown and fawn color, frequently with white finger-marks on the upper portion of the wings and back, are feathered down the legs to the feet, have beautifully set-on small heads, with a slight crest, and bright yellow iris. When standing, their attitude is very erect, but graceful. On being flushed, they invariably * The most killing hackles for tying trout-flies, PRAIRIE-CHICKEN SHOOTING. 197 cackle, and the flight, except of young birds, is very long. In the commencement of the season, and in fact as long as the weather is bright and mild, they lie remarkably well to dogs; but severe and cold weather causes them to pack and become wild. However, late in October, or even in November, if you should hit upon a warm, summer-like day, the birds will become so disinclined for exertion between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. that marvelous bags can be made. As food this bird can favorably compare with any of the grouse family, but is dissimilar in one respect from all the others—that the sooner it is cooked after being killed, the more delicate and savory it will be found. Even the skill of Delmonico, of New York, the justly-celebrated restaurant proprietor, with all his knowledge of cuisine, can not impart the delicate flavor that the same bird would have from the hands of the most ignorant cook, provided it were served a few hours after being killed. This grouse can easily be domesticated. Mr. Audubon, the naturalist, for some time kept quite a number in a wall- ed garden, where they became as tame as domestic fowls; from this circumstance I do not believe there would be any difficulty in transporting them across the Atlantic. To gen- tlemen stocking preserves, or desirous of being able to show a great variety of game upon their estate, this magnificent member of the grouse genus ought to receive attention. The best prairie-chicken shooting I have ever had was in the month of October; and although September had been both wet and boisterous, yet the birds had not pack- ed, and lay well. Day after day I killed from twenty brace upward, and this in the northern portion of Illinois, with a fourteen-bore, light-made, twenty-six-inch-barreled gun. I have little hesitation in saying that, if I had had a ten-bore, which I now always use for general shooting in America, 198 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. my score would have been at least double. As it was I saved nearly every bird, for in the numerous shipments which I made to a wide circle of acquaintances I did not hear of one arriving at its destination unfit for the table. Now, in September this would have been impossible, though hours had been spent over each packing-case, and the expected hamper contained at starting as much ice and a little more charcoal than game. Some knowing hands profess that by immediately drawing the fowl upon being knocked over, and stuffing a wisp of grass in the cavity, putrefaction will be delayed; but what an agreeable opera- tion to have to perform! Fancy stopping in the middle of a covey, with dogs standing, to perform the functions of the kitchen-maid !—the humanity or refinement of the pro- ceeding, the afterward loading and handling your handsome breech-loader with your well-daubed hands! or, perhaps, in a fit of desperation, caused by the attack of some blood- thirsty mosquito, giving your nose or forehead the benefit resulting from your labor! But it is too horrible to think of. All these drawbacks can be warded off or prevented by not shooting till the weather is suitable; or, better still, not permitting shooting till such a date as we have reason to expect a sufficiently cool temperature; making it action- able for game-dealers to expose for sale the temporarily for- bidden treasures before the termination of the close season. Gentlemen of America, if you wish to keep game abundant, and near home, and to increase and preserve the fine feel- ings that should imbue the breast of every true sportsman, devote a little attention to this important point. Like the deer, bear, and sundry varieties of American game, which once were to be found in abundance in almost every section of the country, so was the prairie-chicken ; but as civilization and population have increased, in such a ratio their numbers have diminished. In Kentucky, forty ERRATIC HABITS OF PRAIRIE-FOWL. 199 years ago, they abounded; it is more than doubtful that one can now be found in that State. The pinnated grouse has abandoned its old haunts, like the Indian, and removes every season farther to the westward, to avoid the society of the pale-faced interloper. Fortunately, all game does not thus dread the stranger’s presence, for as civilization increases so does the partridge, and the familiar call of “Bob White” will soon entirely supplant the deep, musical, but strange booing of the prairie-fowl east of the Mis- sissippi. To get sport nowadays, the ultimate western edge of In- diana and the State of Illinois, for the Eastern sportsman, are undoubtedly the nearest points. Buteven after having traveled thus far, if you desire results commensurate with your trouble, rest not near the track of the iron horse, but pursue, to the right or left, your course till you find people who still talk of the cars* as seven-day wonders, and re- port as a marvel, that one still night, 2 month ago, Hans or Jaques heard them whistle. When such originals have been found, if heavy bags are desired, till then, and not till then, call a halt. The prairie-fowl are very erratic in their habits, and the situations in which they abound one season may be almost entirely deserted the next. It has often puzzled me to ac- count for this strange uncertainty in their choice, and I have thus far failed to satisfy my mind, unless the burning of the grass, or inundations, to which the Western country is particularly subject, can be accepted as a reason. A few years ago a low prairie close to my dwelling was most am- ply stocked with prairie-fowl, so much so that I used to limit my bag to one dozen, and seldom did it take more than an hour to obtain this number. Next year, on the * Railroads, 200 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. same land, not one solitary bird was. to be found. Now, this prairie had not been burned, although others in the vicinity had undergone the operation. Early in the season, before the young have attained maturity, and ere the cold and boisterous winds of autumn have caused them to pack, the sportsman must indeed be a bad shot who can not tum- ble them on nearly each discharge, for they are easy of ap- proach, lying very close, and rising and flying slowly, with- out making much of that disconcerting disturbance so ap- parent in the flushing of partridge and of ruffed grouse. Again, the ground in which they are found is open and clear from interruptions, affording an abundance of time for the most precise and formal to take aim; but after the autumnal equinoctial gales have whistled over the unpro- tected landscape, and the sharp night-frosts have changed the verdant leaves to a vermilion or golden hue, rapid and precise shooting is required, for not only will they rise at long range, but take hard and fair hitting to bring them down; and instead of finding the quarry on the sun- warmed, open, grassy slopes, the dense tall corn will be more frequently selected as their chosen retreat. Of course, the farther you proceed West, the nearer you reach the ultimate extremities of civilization, the greater will be your prospects of heavy bags, and more particular- ly so late in the season, as the population being sparse, and the intrusion of cattle, sheep, and dogs less frequent, the birds still continue comparatively tamer than in the more densely settled quarters. However, it is not convenient for all, nor even would many choose to sacrifice every comfort for the sake of slaughter, and turn a pleasure into a labor and a pursuit of discomfort; for living in a squatter’s hut is scarcely, as an old friend used to say, “ what it’s cracked up to be;” besides, what can you do with the results, a very - small portion of which will satisfy your own demands. For NECESSITY FOR GAME LAWS. 201 my part, give me from eight to ten brace daily, with means of using them, to the most tremendous bags, if they are to be thrown away. Not many years since, when traveling through a remote and unfrequented section of the State of Illinois, I came across a party of young men who were dai- ly destroying from twenty to thirty couple per gun; and as the season was warm, and the connection with the railroad difficult and uncertain, when asked by the tavern- keeper what they intended doing with their game, they laughingly responded, “Throw it in the hog-pen;” and for upward of a week they continued this dastardly behavior. Can it, then, be wondered that game rapidly diminishes, when per- sons are to be found capable of such disgraceful conduct? The only check that I can see, is the organization of prop- er game-laws, and putting their enforcement in the hands of honest, reliable men, who will see them carried out to the very letter, the violation of which should be punishable by heavy fines, the greater part to go to the informer. Pinnated grouse are very capricious in choice of sites on which to place their nests; solitude and vicinity to favorite food or other causes, of which an outsider can know but little, must be accepted as the probable reasons. However, I have generally observed that a preference is shown for those places where the prairie is covered with bunch-grass, particularly if the subsurface is moist, and the neighborhood not overstocked with cattle. This bird is easily caused to desert her nest, whether the intrusion be committed by man or beast. On such occasions a new nursery is chosen, and a second lot of eggs laid; but if misfortune should deprive her of her brood after the young have left the egg, all idea of raising a second family is laid aside, and the chickless mother joins company with the first similarly situated un- fortunate she may chance to meet. Odd hen-birds, when found by the sportsman, are frequently supposed to be 9* 202 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. barren, but in nine instances out of ten, I am satisfied that some luckless cur-dog, mink, or weasel deserves the onus for the poor bird’s broodless lot. About the end of March the large flocks begin to break up and divide into parties of twenty or thirty, each detach- ment selecting a knoll on which to exhibit their fascinations to the fair sex or select partners. On the first glint of dawn the males utter their war-cry, and either wait to receive their rivals in love, or swiftly wing their way to accept the chal- lenge of some distant gallant. The fiercest battles now en- sue.* Nor is it only between two, for sometimes a dozen may ba observed engaged in the méée, each fearlessly attacking his nearest neighbor, rising and striking with the wings and feet much after the manner of domestic poultry, when feath- ers fly and severe and numerous injuries are received, till the weaker, finding their strength inadequate to the trial, reluctantly retire, and some old veteran alone remains, ex- hausted and war-stained, to make selection of his future mate. Often have the birds been found, after these con- tests, so exhausted that they were scarcely able to rise off the ground or avoid the traveler’s feet. And well do the hawks know their enfeebled condition after such tourna- ments, and are not slow to avail themselves of the advan- tage, and pounce upon the unfortunate conquerors, who, but for their now exhausted condition, resulting from their prowess, could easily have avoided the relentless destroyer. As soon as the victor has made his choice he retires. The same scenes are again and again enacted till all are mated. Like the turkey-cock and domestic pigeon, when making * Until a late date I believed these battles were a description of tourna- ment, in fact, all for show. However, this is not the case, and numbers of the combatants get severely injured. - NEST OF THE PINNATED GROUSE. 203 love they ruffle their feathers, drop their wings and tails, and strut about with more pomposity than ever did city beau. The nest, which is generally placed upon the top of a hillock among the long grass, in shape is irregular, but on examination it will be found carefully constructed of leaves and interwoven grasses. The eggs are a trifle smaller than those of the domestic fowl, and are of a dull, yellowish col- or, much resembling those of the ruffed grouse. In eight- een or nineteen days they are hatched, and the chicks leave their nest immediately afterward. From this period the female is deserted by her mate, and until severe weather causes them to pack, the old males and females are not found again together. By the first week in August the young are capable of short flights, although not exceeding our partridge in size; and if shot thus early, which is too frequently the case, it is difficult to imagine more delicious food. But they will not bear keeping, and sooner taint than any other game bird I am acquainted with. Although the. pinnated grouse seldom leave the open country, yet if winter be excessively severe they will fre- quent the edges of the timber, roosting on the tallest trees, more particularly girdlings, or those destitute of small limbs. Under such circumstances they are exceedingly wild, and the most successful deer or turkey hunter may practice all his cunning and most cautious methods of approach with signal failure in getting even within rifle range. However, in a snow-storm, by putting white clothes on, or a night- gown over your attire, and tying a towel around your head, with facility the gunner can get within ten or fifteen yards of them. When flushed, prairie-chicken invariably utter several separate clucks, but after they have succeeded in placing 204 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. a safe distance between themselves and the intruder they continue their course in silence; nor, if when on the wing they should chance to fly over a sportsman, do they repeat their note of alarm. Their favorite food is buckwheat, corn, oats, wheat, and grass-seed, the buds of fruit-trees, and the seed of the sumac. Their size is eighteen inches long by twenty-seven inches across the wings: bill short, stout, and curved, with the upper mandible considerably overlapping the lower; legs feathered to the ankle; feet of ordinary size; toes covered above with numerous small scales; hind toes very short; claws moderately long, curved and concave beneath; feath- ers compact, those of the head and neck long and flexible, with a continuation tapering to a crest on back of head; on either side a tuft of fine long hackles, covering a bare portion, which is orange-colored in the males and dull brown in the females; the wings short and much rounded; pin- feathers hard and short; tail short and composed of eight- een broad feathers; bill dusky ; iris yellow; toes dull yel- low; claws bluish ; the neck and upper portion of back dark brown, mixed with gray, getting lighter beneath ; tail dirty brown, tipped with white, except the middle feathers, which are mottled with a deep brown; and a dark line from man- dible to eye, thence back to neck, and a beautiful patch of soft slate-colored feathers under each wing, invaluable to the fly-tyer—is a correct description of their appearance. The following are the events of a day’s shooting on the Grand Prairie, which occurred a few years since, and may be considered as a sample of the average sport to be en- joyed in the month of October: , On rising from the breakfast-table we found the team waiting. But few minutes were necessary to stow our traps, and get under way. Near the confines of the village (Kent, Indiana) we found birds; but our driver (who aas A MERRY CHARIOTEER. 205 a regular Tom Draw) would not allow us to alight, insist- ing that we must go first to our intended sporting-ground. About forty minutes took us there, our charioteer beguil- ing the time with innumerable anecdotes and songs, never being silent for a moment. One ditty he was particularly attached to, which I can scarcely forget, he having sung it at least a dozen times: ‘¢ My health and wealth declining, The doctor was called in; He spoke to me so serious— He spoke to me so plain— ‘You've racked your constitution By getting drunk again.’” However, the warning that the medical attendant appears to have given him seemed to be thrown away, for he drank more spirits, with more gusto, and that without showing the effect, than any representative of the genus I ever pre- viously met. Arriving on the ground, we determined to hunt Beau and Belle, and keep Jock and Fan for the afternoon. Leav- ing our wagon by the side of an Osage orange hedge sepa- rating the prairie from a large corn-field, and, having insert- ed cartridges in each barrel, we commenced work. The ground we intended first beating was rolling prairie, with a sufficiency of grass on it to make the walking good, and the cover tolerable. My companions and self stretched into line and started with the wind in our faces. Before progressing a’ hundred yards Belle set dead as a statue, and Beau immediately backed. Steadily we walked up to the dogs, expecting immediately to commence fire upon a pack of grouse; but what was our disappointment to find that the dogs were standing to a covey of partridge scarce- ly half-grown; so we let the young ones go without mo- lestation, and continued our range. Our previous forbear- 206 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. ance was soon rewarded, for a hundred yards farther our setters again drew on game, Beau now having the lead. Up we went, and although alongside the dogs, nothing showed. By coaxing they advanced farther, and lay down. There was no mistake now; this indication I seldom knew to fail. Short was the period of suspense, for up the grouse commenced rising, not all together, but by twos and threes. Each gun killed two birds at the first fire, and not being delayed in loading, our dogs were soon ordered to retrieve. Belle had not gone five paces to perform this duty when she again stood, and bang, bang, from all our guns fol- lowed; in five minutes we had fifteen birds on the ground, ‘aud more flushing every moment. What luck we were in! We had evidently got out of bed on the right side that morning, and were in for a big day’s work. While retriev- ing the birds two more fell to our aim, making seventeen out of the covey—a pretty good account; and, better still, those that had not been shot at did not continue their flight more than two hundred yards, when they, lit.on the brow of a sunny bank. Having bagged our game, and handed them to Hank (for that was our charioteer’s name) we hunted up the survivors, and soon were at work again; the dogs struck them off at once, and, save that two escaped, who were out of bounds, and took a lengthened journey out prairieward, we bagged all. * Our charioteer now returned, and gave us the satisfactory information that there were plenty more, but at the same time adding, “Look you here, jist leave some to breed.” - We found that our fat friend was correct, for before ten minutes we were again enfilading a second covey. I must. tell you how splendidly Beau found this pack. When rang- ing two hundred yards off, at his usual swinging gallop, he stopped, and sticking his old, knowing head perpendicularly in the air, commenced walking straight forward, with a del- A BIG DAY'S WORK. 207 icate, careful step, well suited for progression over eggs. As I had seen him do so previously, I knew what was com- ing, and called my friends’ attention, so that they might gradually close up toward the keen-nosed setter. Belle soon saw what Beau was up to, and followed him with equally cautious, gingery steps. H. , who was off on my right, flushed a bird, which he cleverly cut down with his first barrel, making a very pretty cross-shot. But where were the dogs? Both down in the grass waiting for us to come, nor could they be persuaded to leave the game they were on to find the victim first killed. After looking for a few moments, we gave it up, I marking the place as near as I knew by dropping my white pocket-handkerchief, intend- ing to return as soon as I had learned what the dogs had found. As we advanced, Beau and Belle rose, and contin- ued drawing for near a hundred paces more, when they stood. Oh, that some artist had been there to sketch them on the spot! Nothing would I grudge for the picture. The attitude of setter or pointer, when standing, is to me the personification of grace and beauty; and these were two of the handsomest of the breed that ever gun was fired over. Well, the old story: the birds were put up, so packed that we all had difficulty in singling them; five more fell to our lot; the others, after going about sixty rods, dropping, scattered among a thick growth of iron- weed. The dogs must, on this occasion, have winded their game at least several hundred yards off, so strong is the ef- fluvium emitted by this game and noble bird. The majority of the last brood we killed; so, ere noon had arrived, our bag consisted of seventy head of prairie- chicken fairly bagged. Hank sélected a well-suited place for our meal, and with otium sine dignitate we passed the meridian hours of the day, happy and contented, at peace with all men, and con- 208 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. scious of the pleasure of suécessfully following an innocent pursuit. We remained under the hedge till after two o'clock, eat- ing, chatting, and smoking, our irrepressible driver relating, in the most facetious manner, several most amusing anec- dotes of his previous career; but, as the western sun com- menced to elongate its shadows, and the afternoon breeze ‘to cool the atmosphere, a start was agreed upon, and with one accord each rose.and shouldered his gun, intent on do- ing good shooting and farther swelling the capacity of our already distended game-bags. The fresh brace of dogs were uncoupled, and, amidst the discordant notes and piteous whining of our discarded morning favorites, we started for the beat. The ground we were about to hunt exactly resembled in appearance and vegetation what we had traversed in the morning, and our anticipations of sport, from former expe- rience, were up to the boiling- point. However, we must have walked quite an hour before either obtained a shot, although the slut ran up two birds, for which she got a severe rating. In prairie-chicken shooting I have frequent- ly observed, and on this occasion it was a corroboration of the fact, that during the heat of midday, or immediately afterward, pinnated grouse are seldom or never to be found: near cultivation; why, I can not say, but they always ap- pear in an unaccountable manner to have transferred them- selves to the uninterrupted prairie. Our lengthened tramp had now brought us to ground more irregular, with vegetation more rank, and sparsely sprinkled with dwarf osier and willow, the surface being damp, and occasionally intersected with rivulets. Our spirits were all becoming depressed from our want of suc- cess, and even a new beat had been proposed, and was on the eve of being accepted, when both dogs stood, not ten THE RUFFED GROUSE. 209 yards apart, and each, apparently, on different birds. This pleasing incident revived our drooping spirits, and with steady, regular stride we approached them. When we got - up three birds flushed, which were immediately cut down; still another, and another, met the same fate; and in less than five minutes nine were on the ground. These were without difficulty retrieved, and the dogs ordered on to find more; scarce a hundred yards had they ranged when they a second time found game, the slut leading and the dog, just at her shoulder, backing. It was perfectly evident that we had discovered the retreat of the prairic-chickens. Water or solitude had undoubtedly caused them to assem- ble here. Soon we got to the dogs, and never in the course of my experience did I see a sharper half-hour’s work. Bird after bird rose, and was knocked over; scarcely had we time to thrust into the breeches fresh cartridges before we were called upon to deliver our fire; not less than a hundred and fifty birds must have been flushed in that space of time, out of which number nearly half fell to our guns. At one mo- ment, over twenty were on the ground, waiting to be pick- ed up; and, better than all, we did not lose a single cripple, although one old cock, which had only been pinioned, cost us some minutes’ labor before being bagged. RUFFED GROUSE. Contrary to the last described species, this worthy mem- ber of a noble family loves the woodland glades and rocky hill-sides. The verge of the prairie he may occasionally visit, but let him be disturbed, his fears excited, like arrow from bow he will wing his way direct to the friendly shel- ter of the forest. But all woods do not suit the fastidious taste of this beauty; for when there exists only the fat, damp, slimy 210 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. bottom -lands that margin so many of the South -western rivers, he is not to be found. No, rolling country and hilly spurs are his home, where, deep in the shelter of the laurel, cedar, hemlock, hazel, and birch, he can laugh at his pursuers, unless they are the very quickest and best of shots. But I allude to where he has known man, and learned to dread his presence as ominous of evil; for when such is not the case, if flushed, they are often satisfied to settle upon the first tree in the neighborhood, regarding the intruder with looks of wonder, and remain gratifying their excited curiosity till the whole covey have been shot in detail. Throughout Canada West they are numerous. At the northern end of. Lake Simcoe I found them very abundant, also on the hill-sides that cradle in the lovely, ‘peaceful Lake Umbagog, in Oxford County, Maine; but Western Maryland and Virginia are also favorite haunts—in fact, it may be found everywhere where wood, water, and hill-side combine to form for it a suitable haunt, between thirty-two and fifty degrees of north latitude. No.6 shot I prefer for shooting ruffed grouse, as from the nature of the ground on which they are found, more birds are killed at short range than at longer distances. The characteristics of the ruffed grouse make them bet- ter adapted for a residence in England then the prairie-hen ; and so strongly am I disposed in their favor, that I believe if once introduced they would, as soon as known, outrival the pheasant in popularity, being much hardier, swifter on the wing, lying better to dogs, disinclined to run before flushing, requiring the quickest and straightest aim to bring them to bag: moreover, independent of these sport- ing perfections, they are not much inferior to the Oriental favorite in beauty of plumage. The ruffed grouse a little exceeds the red grouse of Scot- land in size, being almost eighteen inches in length, is very HABITS OF THE RUFFED GROUSE. 211 handsome and upright in form, of a beautiful rich chestnut- brown color, variegated with gray and dark spots, and pen- cilings on the back, breast, and neck. The tail is gray, with a black bar across it near its termination, and is gen- erally carried open, like a fan. On the top of the head there is a slight crest, and down each side of the neck are curious fan-shaped tufts of glossy black velvet-looking RUFFED GROUSE. feathers, In April these birds pair, but I should imagine, from the seasons in the northern portion of the United States and Canada being more backward than ours, if they were introduced here they would do so a month earlier. They lay from ten to sixteen eggs, their nest, which is a very primitive one, being generally secreted in brush or under the shelter of a fallen log. They are most affection- ate parents, and use the same artifices as the wild duck to draw away the intruders from the vicinity of their youth- ful progeny. This grouse has two distinct calls, one a soft, 212 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. mellow, prolonged note, generally used in gathering after the covey has been broken up; the other an extraordinary drumming sound, made by the cocks in the pairing season, and capable. of being heard in still weather a great dis- tance. The latter noise is caused by the rapid vibration of the wings when the male is perched on a fallen tree or stump. Indiscriminately they live on a great variety of food—ants, grubs, alder-berries, wild-cherries, and grain be- ing their favorite diet. Early in autumn, when the weath- er is fine, particularly in the morning and evening, they will be found in the open cultivation, more especially if there be rough ground with brush in the vicinity; but as severe weather approaches, the woods will become their constant resort. In shooting the ruffed grouse, great difficulty is always experienced in marking them. Their flight, as I have previously said, is wonderfully rapid, and they have a method of doubling back in the reverse direction to which they started ; however, as they do not generally go far (about three or four hundred yards), with patience and a selection of the nearest irregular ground which has young timber upon it, or the densest brush that is in the neigh- borhood, a second opportunity will probably occur of bring- ing more of the family to bag. In many portions of the United States and Canada they are known by the misno- mers of partridge and pheasant. Frequently, when trout- fishing in the wilds of the State of Maine, I have come sud- denly upon them, when they would rise into the nearest tree, and remain with unconcern watching me; from evi- dent curiosity they would stretch their necks and get into all kinds of grotesque attitudes; and so little would they then regard the report of a gun that I have known pot- hunters kill quite a number of the same family by always shooting the lowest birds first. But when the ruffed grouse becomes familiar with man he is perfectly cognizant of the RUFFED GROUSE AS FOOD. 213 danger of being in his proximity. Although before dogs they lie close, their color harmonizes so well with that of the ground, that it is next to impossible to see them before they are on the wing. ‘In the undergrowth which springs up in that portion of the country where the timber has been destroyed by fire, I ever found them very abundant, it being almost impossible to wander half a mile through such openings without flush- ing a covey. As these generally occur in the lumber re- gions, where the winters are particularly long and rigor- ous, far exceeding in severity those of Scotland, the hardi- ness of this bird can not be doubted. In the Alleghanies _and all the southern ranges of hills of the United States it is also abundant, where, if the winters are less severe, the heat in summer is sometimes excessive, proving that the ruffed grouse is capable of enduring great varieties of cli- mate. The palate of the most fastidious epicure can not fail to be gratified with the appearance of this game on the table, the flesh being extremely delicate, with a strong flavor of our red grouse. I have eaten it cooked in every conceiva- ble manner, and whether it be simply roasted over a camp- fire, or form a portion of an omnium gatherum stew, it will be found alike acceptable. Although scarcity of food may compel this grouse to change its beat, still it is not migra- tory, as stated by some naturalists. This supposition has arisen from their being found in great numbers during summer and autumn on the scrub barren land, which they leave as soon as the more severe weather commences, for the shelter of the dense timber. A family of these birds I was acquainted with for a year. On their range there was an abundance of food and water, and during that period I could always find them, their home being a little hilly isl- and in the prairie, covered with timber and brush, and 214 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. detached from any irregular land by several miles of grass. Some authorities have placed woodcock-shooting first in the list, and called it the fox-hunting of those pleasures in which the dog and gun form the chief accessories. As far as present British field-sports are concerned, I believe they are correct, but should the ruffed grouse be introduced, and Englishmen experience the suddenness of their rise, the ve- locity and irregularity of their flight, the uncertainty of their movements, and the beauty and size of this game when bag- ged, they would assuredly insert a saving clause. I doubt not many—lI believe all—of the warm admirers of shooting will agree with me that there is a superior pleasure in mak- ing a mixed bag—now a mallard, next a woodcock, per- chance thirdly a partridge, and so forth—loading your dis- charged barrel, scarcely knowing at what description of game it will be used: thus a reason for their introduction to England. If the inhabitants of the British Islands can boast of their pheasant and grouse, the Americans can in equal jus- tice laud their ruffed grouse and Virginian ortyx. CANADIAN OR SPRUCE GROUSE. Even to the red iris around the eye, so much does this bird resemble the red grouse of Scotland that it would be pardonable for any one who had not well known the lat- ter to confuse it with the former. Although the Canadian grouse and ruffed grouse are occasionally found upon the same range of country, the habitat of the former commences where that of the latter ceases, and extends up to almost the sixtieth degree of north latitude. Although occasion- ally flushed in packs, they are more frequently seen in pairs, and the denser the cover and more swampy the soil, the more abundant will they be found. So little do these birds THE PTARMIGAN. 215 dread a human being, that they will often remain perched upon a limb till a snare on the end of a rod can be passed over their heads. This trustfulness of man’s good inten- tions toward them seriously militates against the amuse- ment they would otherwise afford the sportsman. By the residents of the localities this bird inhabits they are not considered good food, for the reason that their back and thighs strongly possess that peculiar game flavor for which epicures value the Scotch bird. No. 6 or 7 shot will be found the best suited for their destruction. Sacre Grovuss, or Sacz Hay, is a gross, heavy, awkward, but handsomely plumaged bird; it is almost unedible from living upon the buds of the wild sage plant, and can only be found where this shrub grows, viz., on the vast plains on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, for several de- grees north and south of the thirty-eighth degree of lati- tude. PTARMIGAN. I remember asking a true representative of the Indian brave, a member of the Sioux tribe, what he thought the “happy hunting-ground ” was like that he hoped to go to when he left this world: his answer was, “ One vast coun- try without limits, divided into prairie, meadow, and tim- ber land, where all the wild game teemed, and was so reck- less of man’s presence that the hunter had but to slay and eat.” How much more admirable would this description be, if eating had been considered unnecessary, and that we could return the confidence of the inferior animal life with kindness—not death! The Indian, doubtless, had his im- agination controlled by the memory of some of the choicest hunting-grounds within the limits of his tribe’s extensive range of country, for theirs 7s a game country par excel- lence. But if my informant had been from some of the tribes that lay far off to the north, where the snows lay 216 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. deep half the year, and the spring flits into summer, and the summer into winter, as rapidly as the changing scenes of a drama, he would possibly have described the happy hunting-ground similar to the great lone land, the home of the ptarmigan. What eye hath not seen, the mind seldom can conceive ; and I have no doubt the aborigines of these far-off, desolate regions, with their cutting north winds and interminable winter nights, if asked to picture what they deemed a perfect paradise, would describe their own land; thus contentment springs out of ignorance. PTARMIGAN, But to the country Mr. M‘Donald describes as back of the north wind, lonely as it is—for it is but sparsely pop- ulated —if visited at the proper season, is not without its beauties; for arid mountain, verdant swamp, and rocky crag mingle together, intersected by innumerable dancing brooks or grand pellucid rivers, forming a landscape ever grand and impressive. Here ‘the ptarmigan is to be found in abundance, even without the aid of a dog; but should the sportsman be ac- PTARMIGAN. 217 companied by so useful an auxiliary, I have no doubt that he could make a bag which for numbers would rival any formed of the grouse of the more southern prairies, or of the nut-brown beauties that love our English stubbles. One drawback exists to ptarmigan-shooting in America: the country the sportsman is compelled to seek them in is far beyond the borders of civilization, and freedom from intrusion has rendered them recklessly tame. Time after time I have seen them sit upon some bare, exposed piece of rock and refuse to be flushed, even after hurling stones at them from less than a dozen yards’ distance. Again, their flight (in contradistinction to those of Scot- land) is so short, that if the unfortunate bird have the luck to be missed, it can again and again be put up, till even the very worst of shots must ultimately bring it to bag. They are beautiful birds, either in their summer or winter plumage, and the confidence which they exhibit in man’s good intentions toward them can not fail to endear them to him. Thus, I have never shot the ptarmigan but with regret, for here you have no crafty game, to accom- plish whose destruction you must call into play all the cun- ning of your nature. They unquestionably rank among the game of America, or I should have left them unnoticed. So if the sportsman, through my instructions, should visit their habitat, pray de- sist from useless slaughter. 10 CHAPTER XV. ORTYX. (Ortys.) Tux Virginian ortyx is to be found from the Gulf of Mexico to Upper Canada, and from the Atlantic sea-board to the confines of the Western settlements eastward of the Rocky Mountains, its vagrant habits occasionally causing it to stray so far north as to cause thousands to perish through the severity of the winter; for although so reck- less of consequences they are far from hardy. They are sought for in the same manner as partridges are in En- gland, viz., with setters and pointers; but from their being a smaller bird, and lying closer, it is desirable, when in their pursuit, to use smaller shot. If justifiable to envy your neighbors the possession of any thing, I think the “sportsman who has killed this game must often have wish- ed in his heart that it was abundant in England. Tf all who have traveled abroad or sojourned in foreign lands had done so with their eyes shut, or if, not keeping their orbits closed, they had refused to give their country- men the benefit of their experience, a useless lot they would have been, and England, as far as progression is concerned, would have been far behind her present advanced position. He who first introduced the idea of crossing our native horse with the foreigner did an immense public service; he who introduced the old Spanish pointer deserves the grati- tude of every sportsman, for doubtless our present beauties, with all their speed and sagacity, have much of the blear- eyed, bad-tempered, pottering old scoundrels’ blood in their veins. And still further, to foreign climes we trace the THE VIRGINIAN ORTYX. 219 pheasant, the turkey, and so many more valuable animals that to enumerate them would be tedious. However, I be- lieve that there are quadrupeds, birds, and fishes, still strangers to England, that require only to be known to be appreciated ; and by placing their merits before the public, some one may be found sufliciently patriotic to make the attempt to naturalize them. Without more preamble, and to come at once to the point, let me say that in my humble opinion there is no bird more worthy of attention, and more deserving of the honor of introduction to any land, than the American ortyx. Its numerous good qualities, together with its description, I will to the best of my knowledge give, hoping it may be the means of our yet seeing this little beauty ornamenting European fields, and adding brilliancy and variety to the game-bags of its numerous enthusiastic sportsmen. The American ortyx varies in weight from eight to ten ounces, is erect in his walk, very handsome in plumage, strong upon the wing, feeds principally upon grain, grass-seed, and ants, frequents indifferently brush, timber, or open coun- try, is capable of standing cold, is not quarrelsome with ‘other game, and is very prolific, frequently hatching two broods in a season. Moreover, an advantage which can not be too highly estimated, is that it never gets so wild as to rise so far from your dogs as to be out of gun-shot, a nuisance that all are so well aware of in our home-bred bird toward the end of the season. In fact, who that shoots regularly can not remember instances of our partridge dis- appearing over the far side of a field as soon as the sports- man had entered it? Now, in years of experience in America, I never saw an instance of this kind; up to the commencement of the close season they would remain al- most as tame as they were at the termination of the pre- vious one. A reason for this may be that they seldom 220 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. pack; only once or twice have I seen more than the usual number of a covey together, and then remarked that the weather had been unusually severe and stormy. A peculiarity, however, this bird possesses is that in wet and slushy weather it will frequently when, disturbed take shelter on the limbs of trees, from which if flushed they af- ford the hardest possible shots. In the open it is by no means easy to hit, for its flight is very strong and swift, and frequently irregular, but it does not go far, so that a good marker seldom has much trouble to re-find it. Some persons are under the impression that this ortyx is migra- tory; however, this is a mistake, for, although they may wander from their breeding-place, from constant attention I am convinced that the change of quarters is caused from scarcity of food. On the edges of the dry prairies in South- ern Illinois, in early autumn, this bird abounds; in winter they disappear into the neighboring thickets and brush—for why ? the prairies are constantly burned at the end of the season, and consequently starvation or change of residence are their alternatives. In one section of the country that I resided in, a great portion of the prairie-land was too wet to burn, and many a heavy bag I obtained late in the sea- son, even when the roots of the grass were submerged in ice. My dogs, which I invariably broke upon them, seldom made mistakes, and never do I remember a covey depart- ing (except the pointer or setter had run into them coming down wind) without getting at least a barrel into them. With other varieties of game they appear to agree well, for I have on several occasions killed the ortyx with one barrel, and the ruffed grouse with the other over the same point. They are universally scattered over the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, where cultivation exists, al- though possibly most abundant in Maryland and Virginia. THE CALIFORNIAN ORTYX. 221 As a table delicacy I know no greater; for weeks I have constantly had them at both breakfast and dinner, still with- out becoming satiated, and there are very few varieties of game could stand a more severe test. Their note or call is remarkably melodious, and in the spring or pairing time, when they are numerous, you can hear their sweet voice all day long, and in every direction. I have always regretted that no one introduced this little stranger, in sufficient quan- tities to guarantee the experiment a fair trial. CALIFORNIAN ORTYX. This bird is a little smaller than the Virginian. It is strictly confined to the Pacific slopes, and wherever culti- vation exists the sportsman may be satisfied that his ex- ertions in their pursuit will be rewarded. No. 8 will be found the most suitable sized shot for killing this game. This bird is particularly one of those that the Americans have reason to be proud of, for not only is it possessed of brilliant plumage, but is gifted with a plume remarkable alike for its beauty and grace. This head-dress is a row of eight or ten feathers, commencing on the top of the head and gradually diminishing in size as they grow down the neck. In cases of excitement, or at the breeding sea- son, the cocks raise this, the upper portion of the plumes pointing forward over the forehead after the manner of the crest of a cockatoo. On the hill-sides that inclose the Val- ley of Sacramento at one time they were very abundant; and although their numbers have been greatly diminished of late years, still they are sufficiently numerous in that lo- cality to afford abundant amusement to the sportsman. Unlike the Virginian ortyx, they do not lay well to dogs, not that they are wild, but from a preference they have for running instead of taking wing. This peculiarity will oft- en be found a great source of annoyance when the cover is 222 ; PRAIRIE AND FOREST. thick, and be most injurious to the well-broken, highly-bred’ dog. However, when flushed, their flight is swift, although not protracted, and no small amount of skill and practice is necessary for the shooter to become a certain shot at this description of game. Like the Virginian bird, they frequently breed twice in the year, and at each sitting, if no accident occur, or wet weather supervene, which in their habitat is unusual, hatch from eight to ten young; thus it is easily understood how they are so abundant. Although not migratory, they are very erratic in their habits; the same cause as in the Virginian ortyx being doubtless the reason. From a custom they possess of sunning and dusting themselves in very exposed and bare situations, immense numbers fall victims to the birds of prey; in fact, in Cali- fornia, I believe they form the principal food for the numer- ous species of Falconide that infest its mountain ranges; report also states that the snakes have a penchant for them, and prefer them to all other articles of food. This is scarce- ly to be wondered at when we consider how defenseless they are when seized, their excessive tameness, and last, not least, their delicacy of flesh, if the taste of birds of prey and snakes is to be judged of by that of the human family. In Sonora and the south-western boundary of the Apache range of country they are captured, with nets and snares, in immense numbers by the Indians, it being no unusual thing for hundreds to be taken in a single day. While residing in China, at Hong Kong, the idea struck several friends and myself, from the constant communica- tion there was between the Celestial Land and San Francis- co by ship, that we might import these little beauties and acclimate them there. After some delay we received about twenty couple, eight of which we turned ont in Ty-tan Val- THE CALIFORNIAN ORTYX. 223 ley, Hong Kong, and the remainder in Shang-moon Valley, in the opposite main-land. Although next shooting season they were diligently searched for, I am unaware that any of them were after- ward found—climate, soil, or food, individually or collect- ively, being doubtlessly unsuited to them. CHAPTER XVI. WILD TURKEY. Two species represent this family, viz., the common wild turkey, so well known in nearly all the States composing the Union, and the ocellated, common to Honduras and portions of Central America. Although this race are not migratory, still they are great wanderers; thus a locality where they have been abundant one month, may be entirely deserted by them the next. It is found in the province of Ontario, in Canada, which I am led to believe is the most northern range of its habitat: here it was at one time tolerably abundant, but the cultiva- tion of the wild lands, and constant persecution by the set- tlers, have very much reduced their numbers. Pennsyl- vania and Ohio at one time swarmed with them, but there, as in Canada, they have suffered much diminution; how- ever, in the adjoining States of Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin they can be found in sufficient numbers to remunerate the sportsman for the time and labor passed in their pursuit. All the Southern States possess them in greater or less abundance, but their range does not extend westward beyond the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mount- ains. The early settlers, when this game was far less wary than now, were in the habit of shooting them with the rifle, the head invariably being the object fired at, but quickness of aim being now a desideratum, the shot-gun has usurped the place of the other weapon. On damp hazy moonlight nights in autumn, if the roosting-place be THE WILD TURKEY. 225 discovered, several in succession may frequently be killed, before the others become sufficiently alarmed to seek safe- ty in flight. WILD TURKEY. This noble bird, the parent stock from which our domes- tic race has-sprung, should be seen in the free untrammeled state of nature, unsubdued by domestication, to have a just 10* 226 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. conception of his grandeur and consequence. No pasha with many tails, no Mongol mandarin with obsequious fol- lowers, struts about with greater consequence, while the la- dies of his harem gaze with meek and submissive admira- tion on all their liege lord does. In his domestic arrange- ments he is truly an autocrat of the first water, caressing one, sharing his food with another, or punishing a third; however, he is not a brave gallant, for let a note suspicious of alarm be heard, down will go his head, and, forgetful of all his family ties, he will seek safety in the most precipit- ous flight, not with wings, unless compelled, but on foot, and at a gait that would astonish an ostrich. When hu- man inhabitants are scarce and brush abundant where wild turkeys inhabit, they are not remarkable for their cunning; but if an old bird should remain sole survivor of his race in the neighborhood of land newly settled, I doubt much if a more crafty, suspicious animal can be found in the world; for his whole life seems to be spent in a state of uneasiness, seeing and dreading danger in every breath of wind or moving object. Not unfrequently this very watchfulness leads to his destruction, for to avoid an imaginary danger he runs into a real one. Again, although this bird may be accredited with an unusual amount of cunning, some of his actions are so extremely stupid, that it causes astonishment in the mind of a reasoning being how qualities so dissimilar can be found to exist together. As an instance, in some portions of the United States where settlements are becoming daily more numerous, wild turkeys still exist in considerable numbers, but the sports- man who would go in their pursuit with the hope of ob- taining a shot, will find his efforts fruitless and his labor thrown away; but the settler—more probably one of his young children—will go into the uncleared land, search till he discovers evidence where turkeys frequent, and then MODE OF CAPTURING. 227 commence his plans for their capture. His first proceed- ing is to make a circle, on the margin of which he scatters a few grains of Indian corn; this being accomplished, he sprinkles from the ring to its centre more grain. Here is erected a small edifice of poles, laying sufficiently close upon each other not to obstruct the light, at the same time to prevent the prey from escaping when inside. Under- neath the foundation of this structure a passage is cut, with a gradual incline of sufficient size for the game to force it- self into the cage, the incline and interior of the trap being abundantly supplied with grain. This generally wary bird, in his wanderings through the woods in search of food, dis- covers the corn laid along the outer circle: feeding along he follows it, till the line is reached which leads to the trap; this he also pursues, and ultimately squeezes him- self inside the cage, whence, as long as any thing remains to eat, he never thinks of retiring. At length all is con- sumed, when the captive raises his head for an examination of his prison; after a time he endeavors to force his way through between the poles, but this is impossible, for they are firmly pinned together. Restraint now makes the pris- oner reckless; headlong he dashes against the bars, till ex hausted, frightened, and with disordered plumage, he re- signs himself to his fate, never for an instant thinking of lowering his head to seek for the spot that afforded him admission. As many as a dozen wild turkeys have been caught by this means at one time. Curiosity is another of their besetting failings, and a knowledge of this weakness in their character is often employed to bring the noble bird within gunshot. While residing in Southern Illinois, I had a, favorite kitten, which, unless I shut it up, would invaria- bly follow me into the woods when shooting. On one oc- casion, with this strange shooting companion at my heels, I came across deer-tracks so fresh and regular that I felt 228 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. convinced their producers were not far off. What to do with Pussy first occurred to me, and, as I neither wished to lose my pet or have her company, a thought struck me—why not tie her up with a long piece of string I had in my game-bag? Very few of us have not tied up a dog, and found he had slipped his collar on their return; a little ex- perience and care will obviate this as far as the canine race go, but to tie up a cat is quite another kettle of fish. At length, however, I succeeded, by not only placing a collar round her neck, but also around her shoulders, at the back of the fore-legs, which, connected by an inch of cord, retain- ed each in its place without Puss having the power to slip them. To this connecting link I attached six feet of string, which I made fast to a long horizontal branch, about five feet from the ground. Thus the cat could lie down or stand up, but not go sufficiently far to lay hold of any thing with her claws to assist her to tear from her moor- ings. Pussy soon found that escape was impossible, so sat- isfied herself by expressing her feelings of disappointment by giving vent to low, piteous cries. Off I went after the deer. From the woodland they had crossed a small inclosure of tobacco, proceeded through a belt of brush-wood, and entered my corn-field. Making a circle to get the wind, I carefully entered the maize, and after half an hour’s diligent search, during the greater part of which I was crawling on my hands and knees, I viewed the dusky hide of a well-fed doe, which I brought down at the first shot. Having secured my prey I returned for Pussy, and, as chance would have it, I approached up wind the place where she was tied. If I had forgotten her exact position, I could easily have found it by her piteous mewings. When with- in fifty yards of where she was, on looking to my front, to my surprise, I saw nine full-grown wild turkeys around her, AMUSING INCIDENT. 229 and so remarkable was their conduct that I halted to wit- ness it. The ringleader of this coterie was a very large old cock- bird, his companions young males and hens. In a circle of a few yards in diameter they stood around my pet, their necks either stretched forward to their greatest length, or their heads hoisted knowingly on one side. The leader, who seemed the bravest of the party, slowly would advance till he was almost within pecking distance of the cat, then Puss would make a struggle, and the intruding bird would precipitately retreat several paces. Being ambitious to fol- low the example of their leader, a younger bird would now advance, to be frightened off in the same manner as his predecessor. The turkeys seemed to regard this as great fun, for as soon as one would retire, all would commence gobbling together, as if chafling the coward, immediately after which all would bristle up their feathers and com- mence a mimic attack upon each other. Half an hour I spent watching the strange vagaries of these noble birds, till-I considered I had learned all their performance by heart, or witnessed all the tricks that the mountebanks in- tended putting into practice; so, waiting my chance when the turkeys were aligned, I killed two with my left barrel and one with my right. Pussy’s release now called for my attention; with the aid of my knife in a moment she was free, but true to her tiger instincts, the first use she made of her liberty was to fly upon one of the dead birds, and attempt to rend it in pieces with teeth and claw. In fact, five minutes of her vindictive wrath would have soon mu- tilated my game to such an extent as to render it unfit for human food. I afterward made trial of this discovery, but never with the same success, although it invariably afford- ed me a shot. If domestic turkeys are kept where wild ones abound, 230 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. they constantly associate together, although apparently al- ‘ways engaged in quarreling. This may be caused through jealousy, for report states that the tame hen-birds much prefer the attentions of the wild cocks, and that if they are not carefully watched they will stray off with their para- mour, regardless of the ties that connect them to their le- gitimate protector. A half-bred Frenchman residing on the banks of the Em- baras told me that whenever he wanted a wild turkey, he tied a piece of scarlet cloth around the neck of his domes- tic male bird and turned him loose, when every unreclaim- ed turkey in the neighborhood was certain to come and at- tack him, fearlessly affording the easiest shots. I have occasionally shot them over setters, but in each in- stance the victims were not full grown. When hounds are running deer in a neighborhood this description of game frequents, they appear to lose their habitual caution, and ex- pose themselves to the hunter in the most reckless manner. CHAPTER XVII. WOODCOCK AND S8NIPE. TuEsr woodcocks are undoubtedly migratory, passing the winter in the genial South, and the summer in the North; they are also nocturnal, doing all their traveling by night. From the peculiar formation of the eye, their sight is much better after the sun has declined. Strong light is their detestation, for, judging from their conduct when flushed in the noonday glare, their optics are then of little use; hence the idea that is so frequently. current that this bird is stupid. Such is not the case, but quite the reverse, experience having taught me that they are as capable as any other of availing themselves of artifices and hiding- places that are likely to throw out the dog, or shelter them from molestation. This bird, although undoubtedly of the same family, must not be confounded with the European, which is colored differently in plumage and much larger in size. The woodcock killed in England generally measure about fourteen and a half inches in length, and weigh from fourteen to seventeen ounces, although one is reported to have been killed at Narborough of the enormous weight of twenty-seven ounces. I do not here give all the minutiz of the English bird, for it is not of it that I wish to speak, but only sufficiently to show that there is a marked differ- ence between it and its namesake of the American conti- nent, whose peculiarities I will, so far as memory serves me, attempt to describe, for the benefit of the young sports- man. Length, from point of bill to end of tail, eleven to twelve inches; across the wings, nine and a half inches; 232 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. weight from six to seven ounces. The females generally exceed these measurements by about one in ten. In shape they much resemble the Wilson snipe (Scolopax Wiilsoni), only they are more round and compact, the eye larger and more prominent, and wings shorter but fuller. In color the bill is a yellowish brown; legs and feet of a pinkish flesh color; claws, dark olive or brown; iris, brown; forehead, dirty yellow, with two black bars across the back of the head, and two narrow ones in front on the neck, a finely- penciled dark line running the whole length of the head, the eye dividing it into two parts, with another similar line un- derneath, and marking the termination of the lower mandi- ble. Three broad bands of brownish black pass lengthways and parallel from the shoulder to the tail, divided from one another by a narrow line of bluish gray. The stomach and breast are of a warm fawn color, becoming deeper in shade as it approaches the tail and termination of the wings. This description, I am aware, is far from perfect, or such as the naturalist would demand; still, I think it is suffi- ciently clear to enable the novice to distinguish what he has got when the first American woodcock falls to his com- panionable gun. Although this bird resembles, in many respects, the snipe, in point of character it is essentially different. For instance, snipe will, in the middle of the day, without any perceptible reason, be seen taking long and erratic flights, ascending so high that the keenest sight fails to trace their course, and again wheeling about in the heavens, as if they were creatures of extraordinary moment- ary impulses; one instant with speed dashing off to the right, and in the next moment returning with equal veloc- ity. Not so with woodcock; they very seldom take flight during the glare of daylight unless disturbed, and then it is short, and only sufficient to avoid, if possible, the in- truder a second time disturbing their privacy. When on THE AMERICAN WOODCOCK. 233 the wing unalarmed they rarely elevate themselves above the tops of the neighboring trees, and are seldom seen be- fore sunset or after sunrise, unless driven from their bow- ery, shady retreats. The descriptions of ground which they prefer are moist bottoms, close covered woods of second-growth timber and evergreen shrubs, or dry ridges of maple, oak, and beech, where they turn over the decay- ing leaves in search of insects. Although, as I have stated, these birds have a strong dislike to taking flight in the” glaring light of day, yet, in searching for them, you will al- ways find more success attend your pursuit upon those declivities that receive the warm, genial rays of the sun. In spring, when the woodcock are on their migratory jour- ney north from their winter residence, they travel singly, but are followed in rapid succession by others; consequent- ly, where one day not a single specimen could be seen, the day after they will abound. This has given rise to the erroneous impression that they go in flocks; but during many years’ experience I never saw over two or three on the wing at the same time, and then it occurred through the birds having paired, or two or more being flushed from a favorite haunt. From what I can learn, I am led to be- lieve that Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Maine are their principal breeding-places, although annually numbers take up their temporary quarters in the Middle States of the Union. I have even heard of their nests being found in Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama; but these are only stragglers, and unimportant, numerically, when you compare them with those that are to be found in their more northern retreats. The nest of the woodcock is very primitive, composed of grasses and leaves, placed in some secluded spot near the root of a:bush, or under the shelter of a fallen log. They commence to lay early in April in the State of New York, 234 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. and sooner or later as they happen to be farther south or north; four eggs are the usual number, although occa- sionally five may be found. These are about the size of the domestic pigeon’s, smooth, of a yellow clay color, and prettily marked with irregular patches of puce or brown. The young, as soon as hatched, run about like the plover, snipe, and the majority of waders, and at the age of four weeks are able to fly. The mother-bird, during the infancy * of her progeny, is a most attached and solicitous parent, frequently permitting herself to be captured rather than desert her offspring. What a beautiful example the human family may frequently learn from the insignificant inferior animals ! For shooting woodcock, a sport that nearly all are par- tial to, I prefer the setter to the pointer, for the reason that the former are better protected by their thick coats from the thorns of the briers; again, I have found them less liable to become footsore, with a stronger relish for hunt- ing through damp and sometimes wet ground; besides, they are more easily taught to retrieve, and are, in my be- lief, more intelligent. A gentleman who has frequently shot with me across the Atlantic, uses with great success a pair of cocking spaniels, which answer admirably, and make an extremely lively and pretty team, but they are rather too quick for a veteran; ten years ago, I should have enjoyed nothing better than such companions. One thing I would recommend, that for woodcock-shooting your dogs have plenty of white in their color, for unless such is the case, you will frequently lose a point and shot by walking past them, an annoyance to yourself and a disappointment to your setter. Before concluding, I would call the attention of all good and true lovers of the dog and gun to a practice that exists in Louisiana, and doubtless elsewhere, of killing woodcock THE WILSON SNIPE. 235 with poles at night in the corn-fields, with the assistance of a brilliant torch. Like the noble salmon, the woodcock be- comes fascinated or stupefied by the brilliancy of the glare, and falls a ready victim to the club of the midnight prowl- er. America is now coming to that age that it is absolute- ly necessary to insist on the laws being enforced for the protection of game and fish. If not, half a century hence, the haunts which now abound with game will be as thor- oughly divested of it as the Hudson or Connecticut rivers — are of the princely salmon. Once extermination takes place, it will be too late to do aught but repine. SyirE abound throughout the prairies of Western Amer- ica, far outdoing all other game in their abundance. The Wilson snipe, for such is its proper name, is truly a splen- did bird, so nearly similar to our own home beauty that the skillful naturalist is alone able to distinguish the one from the other; in size, habits, flight, and even call, they are es- sentially alike. Spending the winter months in the Southern States, prin- cipally in those that border the Gulf of Mexico, as spring advances they follow up northward the line of demarkation between frost and thaw, ultimately arriving in that bound- less expanse which stretches northward from the great lakes to the Arctic Ocean. Up in this remote haunt is their principal breeding-ground, although occasionally a nest may be found much farther to the south ; but in such instances I have been induced to believe that either the male or the female bird had met with an accident, and thus been prevented following the migration of his or her com- panions. What a beautiful lesson all may learn from this! How it should speak home to the human heart, this attach- ment of the mate, who, sooner than desert a companion, forsakes for the time being his whole race, save one, and 236 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. foregoes even following the journey almost necessary to life ! In Southern Illinois, where I had the greatest amount of experience in killing this game, the advance heralds of mi- gration generally arrived about the 10th of March. Much, WILSON SNIPE. of course, depended upon whether the winter was late or otherwise; but if a thaw had taken place, and a moist southerly wind had been blowing overnight, the ground that yesterday you had tramped over in pursuit of wild duck without seeing a single snipe, on the morrow would harbor thousands. Their journey being a continuation of short flights, they are seldom out of condition on arrival; and as they do not take up a permanent residence, little compunction is felt in shooting them. Out of the large number that I have brought to bag, I do not remember a single instance of an egg, or other indication that pairing AMERICANS EXCELLENT SHOTS. 237 had taken place. The prairies of this State (Illinois) are generally burned late in the fall or early in spring, to im- prove the succeeding year’s grazing, leaving the surface of the soil entirely denuded of grass, except where moisture has prevented the burning taking effect. Over this, espec- ially in the vicinity of sloughs, dwarf persimmon-bushes abound, and there the snipe much frequent. A dog is not necessary here, for the game is so abundant, unless, per- haps, a good retriever, who must be under such control as never to attempt to leave heel, except when ordered by his master to recover a cripple.