…people like Tony Wright become outlaws. Two things strike me about this report. First, though it is not explicitly mentioned, the p[olice are still rather unwilling to make criminals out of violators of this unjust law. And this is because the “criminals” are people like this: “Tony Wright followed his father Sam into huntservice. He …
Gunblogging: French Design 2
As most readers probably know, I love French shotguns! Perhaps even prettier than the Darne is the Manufrance Ideal (say “ee- day–ahl”, not “eyedeel”). Round- actioned like the Scottish Dixons and McNaughtons which cost ten times more (though mechanically, because of their coil springs, more like the early side- lever Grants), light, strong, elegant, and …
Animal toys
Blame Darren for starting this thread. I suspect many naturalists, as part of their childlike delight in the diversity of creatures (a GOOD thing) secretly or not- so- secretly collect animal toys. He has inspired us to put up a selection of our odd bunch. From the left rear: warthog, Snowy owl, Patagonia’s Penguino (Libby …
Guest Post: Jacob Sewall on Fast Pigeons
Writes Steve: My friend Jacob Sewall is a climatologist, pigeon fancier, and born (Maine)Yankee among other things. He writes some of the most fascinating stuff on pigeons and domestication in general– one of our perennial subjects here–that I know of. In a just world I would be an editor that could commission abook from him. …
Around the Blogosphere..
Still busy, but still collecting tidbits… Weird– and ominous. The Chinese are modelling Indian mountain ranges. I keep saying this: drinking is good for you! Hantavirus strikes in California. It has been dormant in New Mexico recently, probably because of the drought– but the rains will likely bring it back. Nothing is simple. Apparently some …
Pup and Other Updates
Even a pessimist like me must admit that after years of drought we now are in the midst of a real monsoon. Which as been known to bring the puppies inside. So we are relieved that they have now figured out how to use the doghouses to stay dry.
What’s Good For The Goose…
Frozen Dinner (Harrier and Duck Carcass) by Barry van DusenOn terrierman Patrick Burns’s blog today is reprinted an editorial from the Renfrewshire Paisely Daily Express (which seems to be a UK tabloid), entitled “Sky-dancing hen harrier is a truly spectacular sight.” The author, Derek Parker, is a kind of ranger charged with protecting moorland raptors, …
Insurgents, Sectarian Violence and….Camel Spiders?
My friend and neighbor Tyler Williamson (introductory posts here and here) has been serving in Iraq for about a year. During that time he has been shelled and shot at, sunburned and sand-blinded, overworked, underpaid and much too far from home. But he’s the kind of guy who can handle this sort of thing. For …
“The Perfect is the Enemy of the Good”
The headline in the Albuquerque Journal for Thursday, July 27, says: “Falcons set for Return to Wild”. But the subtitle adds “Lack of Protection Angers Activists”. As many as 150 individual Aplomado falcons will be released this year in NM under a hack program not unlike the one that restored the Peregrine. But because they …
Rifles: Of Roosevelt and Russians…
Winchester recently closed its doors, an event that some slightly overwrought gunwriters have likened to the end of our civilization. I am not quite that depressed, but I am glad I own one of their more obscure products: a Model 1895 rifle in .405 Winchester: Introduced in (of course) 1895, it was the first lever …