The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-11-30

ern exile OF those orange-groyes and fra.
grant magnolias, those moss draped live
oaks and towering Expresses. which he can
never forget to love; while the bobolink and
robin awaken in the mind Of the Northern
settler memories of the blooming buck
wheat and the odorous hay fields of his
boyish days. BY night the latter hears the
familiar, mournful call of the whIp-poor-
will and the omnous moan of the great
horned owl; by day the former listens to
the mellow cadence Of the wood thrush and
the plaintive cooling of the Carolina dove.
Perhaps n word or two concerning this
latter bird may not be unacceptable by way
oil conclusion. Although it is found breed
ing in New York and Massachusetts. have
never met a northern man who was familiar
with 1t, the name " dove = being usually
applied by the residents of the States men.
toned TO the domestic pigeon. 1t is a gen
tie, timld bird, soft in voice, in look and in
plumage, and is very nearly allied in every
particular to the favorite ring dove, or
"mourner." II possesses, however, Ger.
among game birds. and it affords fine spor,
At a season when there Is no other shooting.
In the latter part of August the young
birds begin to flock, seeking the stubble
fields, the threshing ground and the sandy
fields where the teHtdurea, or blue bot
tie, iiourishes. Here they are walked
up by the gunner, and shot as they rise,
their flight under these circumstances he
ing almost precisely that of the trap pigeon
at shooting match. AS they cut by with
extreme velocity On a cross shot, it takes a
sklllful aim and a good allowance of head
way To bring them down. Another method
is 10 find pond or ditch where some water
lies during very dry spell. The doves
are very thirsty, aud will fly for miles to
drink before roostiug, sometime dipping
IN rapid flight for a biIlful from some broad
stream. The gunner hides himself under
some convenient cover, and shoots as fast
as he can load. Dogs are useless, and only
Brighten the game. The best way of all.
though perhaps the least sportsmanlike, is
To lind a dead tree on their feeding ground,
and make "blind y near il of grass and
bushes. The bird has all invariable habit
rGf alightlng for a moment on such a perch
to surveying ground before beginning to
feed, and the monfs-ss-, to shoot is when it
settles, or a wing shot is in -urlSscr when 1t
leaves the tree. Very large bags are 0ftrsa.
made, though the birds are quite uncertain.
and will often abandon their haunts FOR
others at great distance with no appar
ent reason. The dove is a choice table deli
cacy, superior, in my Judgment, to the par.
fridge, and fully equal To the woodcock
Indeed, have seen very large aud select
party Of 6ons ricIHts served to their com.
rlets satisfaction with wooicocks on
toast, when not solitary woodcock had
been in the market for weeks Cut off the
head and feet, and few could discover the
imposition.
In regard TO other birds it is scarcely
nec' ssary to speak particularly. Under
the Influence of iudicious legislation the
various species of hawk and falcon have
been greatly Trimmed out, and correspond
sectivorous birds This Is a matter in which
the farmer here, as else here, has vet very
much to learn and it is in this direction
that he must look at last for the remedy
against the moths and larvie which are now
the most dreaded enemies To his success