a stone, and searching with my finger for the pearls." "Why, Mamma," cried Elsie, "where is your tender heart? You, who would not carry a star-fish yesterday!" "I know it; and I feel now that it was cruel, but I only thought then about the pearls. Here is one almost as fine as an oyster pearl." "Now," said Georgia, "I dare tell my story. You have thought it strange that I would use a gun. I am not hard-hearted. A wounded bird or animal gives me real sorrow, and I never willingly allow a flower to wither; yet my enjoyment of certain studies gives me courage to kill. After working this morning till we were tired at our pictures of the Point, no, you cannot see my painting until it is completed, but Elsie must show you her lovely pencil sketch, — we went out on a reef to investigate. The tide was low, and we gathered abalones from the tiny length of a half inch to almost a foot in size. Some of the meat you will have for breakfast. Of the shells we each made a nest, which we will have polished. We were more interested, however, in gazing into the pools of water, where anemones, sea urchins, and other living things congregate in neighborly home life, looking like beautiful flowers in their vivid tintings. Nothing could be more lovely. The little crawling, thieving crabs I do not like. They seem a deceptive, selfish, nomadic set. Some morning at early low tide I want to search for the olivella; those delicate olive-shaped shells we saw at the cottage. They live under the sand, and are hard to find. "I had carried my shot-gun all day, determined to have some seabirds for my collection from America, but had been too much interested in other things to use it. Before our return, however, I left Elsie with the shells, and continued my work of destruction. I had three cartridges; number one killed a shag, which fell into the water, and Poor bird, I although I waited for the restless sea to give back my dead,' it failed to 'lay him at my feet.' After walking farther, I fired at a beautiful pure white gull, only to see him fly away in a disheartened, fluttering manner. was so sorry. I was also disappointed and desperate, so I walked to the next reef, where I had my choice from a number; but he, too, when killed, rolled into the sea. Turning to go back, I was surprised to see one wounded, on the rocks a short distance away. He was either wounded by the same shot, or by the one fired above. I waded through water to reach him, then carried him in my arms. He died in a few moments, for which I was glad. I cannot forget his piteous looks. You must help me prepare the skin, Jeff." "I would not kill a bird," said Elsie, "but I would not mind shooting one of those sea-lions; they look so gracefully hideous and lazily independent. Did anyone notice the sunset? It was peculiar and unusually beautiful. The afterglow spread to the zenith; dark and rich purples, oranges, and reds, scattered by glistening white and gray flecks. and there much lower in the atmosphere hung misty clouds, like a veil, so thin that the distant coloring could be seen through them." Here "We were exchanging experiences about that time, and under a little excitement perhaps, so I doubt if any of us noticed it," said Uncle John. "Excited! About a few squirrels and a wildcat!" exclaimed Aunt Minnie, rising. "A squirrel story might affect my nerves, so I will go to bed." "O, wait a little," said Uncle John, catching her hand and drawing her down beside him. "Although your opinion is already formed, we place you on the jury, and compel you to remain. We tramped until noon, seeing no game except quail and the scorned squirrels, and no shots were fired as we feared to frighten larger game. While lunching we de cided to separate; Jeff and Doc going "Did we kill a bear with our new gun?" asked Georgia. "We saw neither bear nor deer, but I will tell you first about the fog-horn. It blew all night. I did not think of it while beside the engine, but after the first watch I went to bed, and instead of sleeping spent the night in listening. Not because I liked it, you know, but because its voice had a certain impressiveness, and claims attention. You see it speaks once every minute, beginning with a sudden O-h-h, which was always startling, although I tried to be prepared for it. Then it prolongs and swells in a terrific roar, which dies away at the end of eight seconds in a wild shriek. Fifty-two seconds then for "It was my first deer, as you know; sleep, and truly the silence seemed an but it seems ridiculous now to think of anesthetic, for I would be in a half doze the strange excitement that came over when a sudden recollection would rouse me. I was both hot and cold,- tremb- me, and I would listen-expect — anticiling as with an ague,-yet fortunately pate-look forward to-and dread with for my reputation had nerve enough to an intenseness that was pain, until I level my rifle, and the next instant two would again be startled by that terrific deer lay dead before us." Oh-h-h!!! The horn got the best of "Why John! Did you really kill the fog at last, and it cleared away near one!" cried Aunt Minnie. daylight. The last exhausted, screeching wails were agonizing to hear, while the engine groaned and moaned with every breath, 'Oh-h de-ar!' Fact! "Aften lunch Doc and I had a nice walk, but no game for an hour or more, when Doc surprised both me and that lynx by a shot. He is a handsome fellow, as lynx beauty goes. We tied him up in a shady ravine, until our return, and had resumed our tramp. Just above the trail hung some wild roses, which I reached to pluck, when, only a few feet beyond, I caught sight of something with glaring eyes, crouched on a large rock, ready to spring. I truly had not the slightest sensation like fear, but said to myself quite coolly, 'You'd better be quick now, Jeff !'" "Did you kill both?" exclaimed Elsie, "O no, one was Hank's; and throwing in another cartridge he fired on a third, only wounding him however; but, springing down the slope, he soon had him within range, and brought him low. One of the others disappeared, probably hidden in the brush, while the fifth sprang up the mountain, followed by the dog. It was an exciting scene and a fine picture. I think I shall never lose the image of that poor pursued creature, leaping up among the rocks, stopping occasionally to look and listen; then, hearing the ringing youp-youp of the dog, with a wild, frightened shake of the beautiful antlers, he would again spring upward. We tied our meat in a tree, and will go for it with horses, in the "And he was quick," interrupted I, morning.' "for sooner than I can tell it there was "Now, Jeff," I said, "tell them what a flash, a report,- a wild spring, and we did." a California lion lay dead before us." "A lion! O Jeff, what an escape. Don't go again!" and Georgia moved closer to him. Nonsense," laughed Jeff, with a little caress, "no danger while I carry my new gun. You may have the skin, and Miss Elsie, I have pressed the roses for you.” Two weeks passed before we broke camp,- and with what regret only those can know who love nature and her solitudes. Bessie Taylor. SUMMER. FIERCE summer throbs along the veins of Spring, The smothered air too languid seems to stir; Far eastward, snow-clad mountains rear their heads, Cold streams of purest water flow adown The wily trout within the rapid's glide, Alert and watchful, heads the rushing stream; The tawny deer beneath the chaparral, Fierce Summer, haste; we fear thy heat no more, RABBIT DRIVING IN THE "THE largest rabbit drive of the season is to take place at Traver on the 8th," so said the San Francisco papers early in April, and the Artist and I agreed to see this peculiar institution, praised by some as exciting and interesting sport, and shuddered over by others as barbarous and cruel. SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY. lives in warrens or burrows, while the hare has no such refuge, but makes a form, a nest of grasses or low bushes. The rabbits that are the pest of Australia are descendants of some brought from England under the impression that thus a valuable addition would be made to Australian larders. They are true rabbits, Lepus cuniculus, and a fortune is said to await the man that can destroy them. Our jack rabbit is much more easily taken care of. About four thousFirst, the rabbits. The jack rabbit of and of these by actual count were killed California is properly a hare. His scien- at the single drive here to be described, tific name is Lepus Californicus. The more are often claimed, and Mr. difference between a rabbit and a hare Jenkins, of the Traver Advocate, told us for driving purposes is, that the rabbit that where three or four drives were The rabbit drive is, so far as I can learn, confined to the San Joaquin Valley. It requires a combination of conditions: UNIVERSITY! held in a season over a given range, a very noticeable thinning out resulted, though he hardly thought that complete extermination would be possible by such means.1 1 The Tulare County ordinance, under which the Traver drive was held, reads thus: ORDINANCE No. 46. If it be inquired how it is that the rabbits, dwellers in this plain from time immemorial, have only of late years become a pest from their numbers, the answer is a reference to another interference with nature's careful balances. The coyote is the prime enemy of the jack rabbit. He forms with his fellows The board of supervisors of the County of Tulare, carefully organized rabbit hunts, and State of California, do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. [Provides for a bounty of 2%1⁄2 cents on ground squirrel scalps.] SEC. 2. That a bounty of one and one-half ($ .01%) cents be paid by this county on each and every scalp taken from a jack rabbit, containing both ears of said dead animal, killed or destroyed by any person or persons in this county, upon the said person or persons so killing or destroying said animal depositing said scalp or scalps with any notary public, justice of the peace, or any officer authorized by law to take affidavits and certify claim with said affidavit, together with affidavit of such officer, that said scalp or scalps have been destroyed by fire, to this board. SEC. 3. That said bounty shall be paid by the county until such time when the funds set apart for that purpose shall be exhausted, or until this ordinance be repealed and rescinded by this board. SEC. 4. That this ordinance take effect and be in force from and after the 31st day of October, 1891. SEC. 5. [Provides for publication of the ordinance.] Replying to a note of inquiry, Mr. John G. Knox, County Clerk of Tulare, writes under date May 5, 1892, that the bounty paid in one year has been $831.50; the largest number deposited by one person at one time is 5391 that there is $4.003.21 in the bounty fund; and that in his opinion the system is a good one, but the bounty should be at least $5.00 per hundred to rouse a greater interest. This, he thinks, would result in complete extermination. Mr. N. R. Packard, County Clerk of Kern County, writes that now no bounty is paid in Kern; that the largest number of scalps as the result of one drive has been 15,000, and that no drives have been held for the past year in the county, as "the drives of two years ago very near wiped them out." rarely fails in bagging his game. But the farmers say truly that he steals sheep. So a bounty of five dollars has been placed on coyote scalps and the great slaughter of coyotes has allowed the rabbits to multiply enormously. Second, there is needed an open plain, nearly free from gullies, hills, or fences of any kind. This the San Joaquin offers abundantly, and in the present case the drive was over country that could be traversed in wagons over its whole extent, though in places with some danger to springs and axles. In the third place, there is needed an enterprising population, capable of congregating by the thousands, and of cooperating intelligently. One bad break in the line after the drive is well under way results in the loss of many hundred rabbits. And, last, it needs some person to take the lead, to construct the corral, advertise "THREE CHEERS FOR THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE." |