THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND 
 MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID 
 
THE 
 
 Companion; 
 
 A description of POINTERS and 
 SETTERS, &c. as well as of 
 those Birds which arethe objects 
 of pursuit. 
 
 Of the Breeding of Pointers and Set- 
 ters, the Diseases to which they 
 are liable, and the modes of cure. 
 
 Of Training Dogs for the Gun. 
 
 Of Scent ; and the reason why one 
 Dog's Sense of Smell is supe- 
 rior to another's. 
 
 The Fowling Piece fully considered, 
 particularly as it relates to the 
 ute of Percussion Powder. 
 
 Of Percussion Powder, and the best 
 method of making it. 
 
 Of Gunpowder. 
 
 Shooting illustrated, and the Art of 
 Shooting Flying simplified ami 
 clearly laid down. 
 
 The Game Laws familiarly explain, 
 ed, and illustrated by a variety 
 of cases. 
 
 Of Wild Fowl and Fen Shooting; 
 as well as every information con- 
 nected with the use of the Fowl- 
 ing Piece. 
 
 BY T. B. JOHNSON. 
 
 SECOND EDITION, 
 
 IMPACTED, AND VERY CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED. 
 
 LONDON 
 
 Printed for SHERWOOD, JONES, & Co. 
 PATERNOSTER ROW. 
 
 1823 
 
JOHNSON, PRINTER, LIVERPOOL. 
 
VALUABLE SPORTING BOOKS, 
 
 Printed for Sherwood, Jones , (J- Co. Paternoster Row, London. 
 
 1. SCOTT'S HORSES AND DOGS. 
 
 Beautifully printed in Quarto, and embellished with Forty hignly- 
 finished Copper -plate Engravings and numerous Wood Cuts, price 
 Three Guineas in boards, 
 
 THE SPORTSMAN'S REPOSITORY; comprising a 
 Series of highly-finished Engravings, representing the HORSE and 
 the DOG in all their varieties, executed in the Line Manner, by Mr^ 
 JOHN SCOTT, from original Paintings by Marshall, Reinagle, Gilpin, 
 Stubbs, and Cooper ; accompanied with a comprehensive historical and 
 systematic Description of the different Species of each, their appropriate 
 Uses, Management, and Improvement ; interspersed with Anecdotes of 
 the most celebrated Horses and Dogs, and their Proprietors ; also, a 
 Variety of practical Information on Training and the Amusements of 
 the Field. 
 
 By the Author of " BRITISH FIELD SPORTS.'* 
 S* It may be had in Six Parts, price 10s. 6d. each. 
 
 2. THOUGHTS on FOX and HARE HUNTING: in 
 
 a series of Letters to a Friend. By PETER BECKFORD, Esq. With 
 numerous Cuts. 14s. 
 
 3. AN ESSAY on HUNTING ; in which a great variety 
 of most important Information is communicated under the Heads, Hunt- 
 ing, Lawfulness, Benefits, Pleasure, Pastime, Game, Scent, Hounds, the 
 Horse, Huntsman, Sagacity, fyc. In 8vo. 7*. In 4to, 12. 
 
 4. BRITISH FIELD SPORTS; embracing Practical 
 Instructions in Shooting, Hunting^ Coursing, Racing, Fishing, #c. ; 
 with Observations on the Breaking and Training of Dogs and Horses ; 
 also, on the Management of Fowling Pieces, and all other Sporting Im- 
 plements. By W. H. SCOTT. Second Edition ; with' upwards of Sixty 
 highly- finished Engravings. 1. 18s. demy 8vo. or, on royal paper, 
 witk Proof Plates, 3. 3s. 
 
 5. A PRACTICAL ESSAY on BREAKING and 
 TRAINING the ENGLISH SPANIEL and POINTER: with 
 Instructions for SHOOTING FLYING. B v V. DOBSON, Esq. Second 
 Edition. 10s. 6d. 
 
 6. THE SPORTSMAN'S PROGRESS; a Poem, 
 
 descriptive of the Pleasures derived from FIELD SPORTS : with Thirteen 
 Wood Cuts. Is. 
 
 7. SOMERVILE'S celebrated Poem of the CHASE ; 
 to which is annexed, his Poem of FIELD SPORTS : with Memoirs of the 
 Author, and an Essay on the Chase, by EDWARD TOPHAM, Esq. Thu 
 Engravings, by Mr. John Scott 6s. 
 
8. THE ANGLER; a Poem, in Ten Cantos; comprising 
 proper Instructions in the Art, with Rules to choose Fishing Rods, 
 Lines, Hooks, Floats, Baits, and to make Artificial Flies ; Receipts for 
 Pastes, &c. By T. P. LATH*, Esq. With upwards of 20 Wood Cuts. 
 10s. 6d. 
 
 9. SPORTING ANECDOTES, Original and Selected ; 
 forming a complete Delineation of the Sporting florid. By PIERCE 
 EG AN, 9s. 
 
 10. THE SPORTSMAN'S VOCAL LIBRARY; 
 
 containing nearly 400 Songs relating to Hunting, Racing, Shooting, 
 Angling, Hawking, Archery, &c. 9s. 
 
 A New Work on SPORTING SUBJECTS^ published Monthly, 
 
 entitled 
 
 npHE ANNALS of SPORTING, and FANCY GA- 
 ZETTE; a Magazine entirely appropriated to Sporting Subjects 
 and Fancy Pursuits : containing every thing worthy of Remark on 
 Hunting, Shooting, Coursing, Racing, Fishing, Cocking, Archery, Pu- 
 gilism, Wrestling, Single Stick, Pedestrianism, Cricket, Billiards, Rowing, 
 Sailing, fyc.; accompanied with striking Representations of the various 
 Subjects. 
 
 This interesting work is regularly published on the first day of every 
 month, price 2s. 6d. ; and, it is intended, by a decided superiority in 
 Paper, Printing, and Illustration, to continue to place the ANNALS of 
 SPORTING far above the reach of competition, and to render it an appro- 
 priate ornament for the Library of the Country Gentleman and the Man 
 of Fashion. The Drawings are made from life by the most esteemed 
 Artists ; and, from their superior style of execution, have the effect of 
 so many "Animated Pictures ," the work is further illustrated with 
 numerous Engravings on Wood. The Subjects will include the best 
 Jareeds of Horses and Dogs used in the Field: also every species of 
 known Game in the habitable world. 
 
 ^* s Three Volumes of this interesting work, price 17s. each, neatly 
 half bound, are now before the Public; and they record every thing 
 connected with FIELD SPORTS since Jan. 2, 1822. 
 
 A Volume is completed every six months, and will be found a most 
 valuable present to Friends abroad as comprising a complete register 
 of Sporting Subjects. 
 
DEDICATION. 
 
 To HANS FRANCIS, EARL OF HUNTINGDON. 
 MY LORD, 
 
 I am perfectly aware that Dedications are but too 
 frequently prefixed to a volume for the purpose of ushering it 
 into the world under the sanction of exalted rank, in order to 
 obtain that patronage which generally results from high birth 
 and pre-eminent distinction. Under the present circumstances, 
 my Lord, when we are separated by an immense expanse of 
 ocean, it is not possible that such motives could have influenced 
 my conduct on this occasion. Accept, therefore, this tribute of 
 sincere regard for that candour and generosity which have always 
 distinguished your Lordship, from your old Schoolfellow and 
 
 Obedient Servant, 
 
 T. B. JOHNSON. 
 
 Liverpool^ \ 
 Aug. 1, 1823. J 
 
As custom seems to demand a Preface, so I 
 shall comply with the imperious mandate; but the 
 reader need be under no alarm, as I shall not ex- 
 haust his patience by the length, nor excite his 
 disgust by the prolixity, of my prefatory obser- 
 vations. 
 
 In the first place, I acknowledge the obliga- 
 tions I feel for the very handsome manner in 
 which several Reviews noticed the first edition 
 of the present work, particularly the Literary 
 Chronicle, a publication, as much distinguished 
 for the independence and candour of its criticisms, 
 as for the ability with which it is conducted. 
 
 To the present edition (the second) very con- 
 siderable additions have been added. The first 
 edition, in fact, was, in its observations, confined 
 to Game, strictly speaking, and the accompani- 
 ments indispensible for its pursuit j in the present 
 
VI. 
 
 volume, it will be found, that, in addition to every 
 possible information on this subject, all those 
 birds which come under the general denomina- 
 tion of Wild Fowl, and which; during the winter 
 season, occasionally occupy the Sportsman's at- 
 tention, have also been dulynoticed,and the diver- 
 sion of Wild Fowl Shooting considered in all its 
 varieties : indeed, every attention has been be- 
 stowed, in order to render " the Shooter's COUK 
 panion" as clear and as complete as possible. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 OF SHOOTING 1 
 
 THE DOG 2 
 
 The Setter 14 
 
 The Pointer 18 
 
 The Russian Pointer 21 
 
 The Springer 22 
 
 THE GROUSE 23 
 
 The Grouse & its Affinities Ib. 
 
 The cock of the wood 24 
 
 The black cock 27 
 
 The red grouse or moorgame 28 
 
 The ptarmigan 31 
 
 THE PARTRIDGE 34 
 
 THEPHEASAN1 ;... 42 
 
 THE QUAIL 39 
 
 THE BUSTARD 46 
 
 The great bustard. Ib. 
 
 THE WOODCOCK 48 
 
 THE SNIPE 52 
 
 THE HARE 54 
 
 THE WILD DUCK 58 
 
 Breeding Pointers & Setters. .. 60 
 
 DISEASES OF DOGS 66 
 
 Distemper 16, 
 
 Worms 70 
 
 Convulsions or Fits... 73 
 
 Bleeding 75 
 
 Cold and Cough 76 
 
 Scab in the Ears...., 77 
 
 Canker in the Lips 77 
 
 Swellings in General Ib. 
 
 Films in the Eye 78 
 
 Sprains Ib. 
 
 Wounds, and to stop an Ef- 
 fusion of Blood 79 
 
 Inflammation 81 
 
 For the Bite of another Dog Ib. 
 When wounded with Shot 82 
 
 Sore Feet : Ib. 
 
 For Extracting Thorns. ... Ib. 
 To bring hair upon a Scald. 
 
 ed Part '. 83 
 
 To destroy Fleas, Lice,&c. Ib. 
 To recover the sense of 
 
 Smell 84 
 
 For Dogs that have taken 
 
 Poison Ib. 
 
 Sickness, er Foul Stomach 86 
 
 The Common Mange 87 
 
 The Red Mange 89 
 
 For the Bite of the Adder, 
 
 &c 91 
 
 Burns and Scalds 94 
 
 The Hydrophobia 95 
 
 TRAINING DOGS FOR 
 
 THE GUN 113 
 
 OF SCENT, &c 137 
 
 THE FOWLING PIECE 149 
 
Vlll 
 
 Of Gun Barrels 151 
 
 Boring of Barrels 153 
 
 The Length of the Barrel 154 
 
 The Elevated Breech 156 
 
 The Patent Breech and 
 
 the Touch Hole. . .. . ib. 
 
 For the Touch Hole 157 
 
 The Lock ib. 
 
 The Stock t* ib. 
 
 The Recoil 158 
 
 The PERCUSSION GUN 159 
 Of PERCUSSION POW- 
 DER, and the best 
 
 method of making it 163 
 
 Cleaning the Fowling Piece 167 
 Of Oil, and the best mode of 
 
 clarifying it ib. 
 
 Bursting of Barrels. ;... 168 
 
 General Observations re- 
 specting the Fowling 
 
 Piece.. 170 
 
 OF GUNPOWDER, its 
 
 component parts, &c.. 173 
 
 The Powder Flask 194 
 
 Shot 195 
 
 Force of Percussion Priming 
 compared with Gunpow- 
 der ib. 
 
 Proportions of Powder and 
 
 Shot 196 
 
 Wadding 197 
 
 OF SHOOTING THE 
 VARIOUS KINDS 
 
 OF GAME 198 
 
 Pheasant Shooting 225 
 
 Woodcock Shooting 227 
 
 Snipe Shooting 231 
 
 OF the FOREST LAWS 240 
 Of the Forest Laws in 
 
 General 247 
 
 Forest Courts, &c 250 
 
 Of Hunting, &c. within 
 
 the Forest 253 
 
 Of the Purlieu or Pour- 
 
 allee of the Forest 256 
 
 THE GAME LAWS, Ob- 
 servations on 263 
 
 Trespass 270 
 
 Inferior Tradesmen 271 
 
 Form of Notice not to 
 
 trespass 272 
 
 Qualification 280 
 
 Adjudged Cases 287 
 
 Certificate 291 
 
 Laws to prevent the de- 
 struction of winged 
 game, &c. at improper 
 seasons of the year, 
 Christmas day, Sun- 
 day, &c , 293 
 
 Buying and selling game 298 
 Tracing hares in the snow, 
 
 &c.. 300 
 
 Appointment of a Game- 
 keeper and his author- 
 ity 301 
 
 Statutes relating to Rab- 
 bits 306 
 
 Pigeons 309 
 
 Mutiny Act 311 
 
 Dog Laws 312 
 
 Of destroying the eggs of 
 wild fowl and winged 
 game....... ^^j 
 
LIKE most other sciences, shooting has experienced the effect 
 of the superiority of modern knowledge; and, since the applica- 
 tion of percussion powder, has perhaps attained the acme of 
 perfection : but, though great attention has been paid to the 
 breeding of setting dogs, it is, nevertheless, doubtful whether our 
 present variety of these animals is superior to tke dog which 
 was formerly used for the net. At all events, the pursuit of 
 feathered game has assumed a very different character ; and the 
 old diversion of hawking and netting has been superseded by 
 the fowling-piece, and almost forgotten. However, while we 
 admit the progressive improvement in the pursuit of the feathered 
 tribe, the same remark appears by no means so applicable to 
 another fascinating department of British field sports : I allude 
 to hunting. I believe (and much regret the circumstance) that 
 the old English talbot is no where to be found : the modern 
 fox-chase is rapid and dashing, and partakes more of the charac- 
 ter of the steeple-race, than of real hunting : the exquisite scent, 
 steady pace, and delightful music, which distinguished the deep- 
 flewed hound are no longer to be met with : thenoble talbot has 
 been superseded by a fleet, unsteady, yelping mongrel, with 
 olfactory organs immeasurably inferior to his predecessor, and 
 utterly inadequate to the pursuit of the fox without almost con- 
 stant assistance from the huntsman. 
 
 That a passion also existed for extraordinary speed in the set- 
 ting dog must be admitted ; but the experiments for this purpose 
 have been generally attended with such ill success, that the idea 
 seems, in some degree, to be abandoned. However, before r a 
 
2 THE DOG. 
 
 particular description of the various setting dogs is given, I will 
 just sketch the general history of the dog principally from the 
 celebrated BufFon: 
 
 THE DOG. 
 
 The dog, independent of the beauty of his form, his vivacity, 
 force, and swiftness, is possessed of all those internal qualifications 
 that can conciliate the affections of man, and make the tyrant a 
 protestor. A natural share of courage, an angry and ferocious 
 disposition, render the dog, in its savage state, a formidable 
 enemy to all other animals : but these readily give way to very 
 different qualities in the domestic Jog, whose only ambition 
 seems the desire to please ; he is seen to come crouching along 
 to lay his force, his courage, and all his useful talents, at the 
 feet of his master ; he waits his orders, to which he pays im- 
 plicit obedience : he consults his looks, and a single glance is 
 sufficient to put him in motion ; he is more faithful even than 
 the most boasted among men ; he is constant in his affections, 
 friendly without interest, and grateful for the slightest favours ; 
 much more mindful of benefits received than injuries offered ; he 
 is not driven off by unkindness ; he still continues humble, sub- 
 missive, and imploring ; his only hope to be serviceable, his only 
 terror to displease ; he licks the hand that has been just lifted 
 to strike him, and at last disarms resentment by submissive per- 
 severance. 
 
 More docile than man, more obedient than any other animal, 
 Joe is not only instructed in a short time, but he also conforms 
 to the dispositions and manners of those who command him. 
 He takes his tone from the house he inhabits ; like the rest of 
 the domestics, he is disdainful among the great, and churlish 
 among clowns. Always assiduous in serving his master ; and, 
 only a friend to his friends, he is indifferent to all the rest, and 
 Declares himself openly against such as seem to be dependent 
 
THE DOG. 3 
 
 like himself. He knows a beggar by his clothes, by his voice, 
 or by his gestures, and forbids his approach. When at night 
 the guard of the house is committed to his care, he seems proud 
 of the charge : he continues a watchful sentinel, he goes his 
 rounds, scents strangers at a distance, and gives them warning of 
 his being upon duty. If they attempt to break in upon his ter- 
 ritories, he becomes more fierce, flies at them, threatens, fights, 
 and either conquers alone, or alarms those who have most inter- 
 est in coming to his assistance ; however, when he has con- 
 quered, he quietly reposes upon the spoil, and abstains from what 
 he has deterred others from abusing ; giving thus at once a les- 
 son of courage, temperance, and fidelity. 
 
 The dog, thus useful in himself, taken into participation of 
 empire, exerts a degree of superiority over all animals that re- 
 quire human protection. The flock and the herd obey his voice 
 more readily even than that of the shepherd or the herdsman ; 
 he conducts them, guards them, keeps them from capriciously 
 seeking clanger, and their enemies he considers as his own. Nor 
 is he less useful in the pursuit ; when the sound of the horn, or 
 the voice of the huntsman, calls him to the field, he testifies his 
 pleasure by every little art, and pursues with perseverance, those 
 animals, which, when taken, he must not expect to divide. The 
 desire of hunting is iradeed natural to him, as well as to his mas- 
 ter, since war and the chase are the only employments of sav- 
 ages. All animals that live upon flesh, hunt by nature ; the 
 lion and the tiger, w r hose force is so great that they are sure to 
 conquer, hunt alone and without art ; the wolf, the fox, and the 
 wild dog, hunt in packs, assist each other, and partake the spoil. 
 But when education has perfected this talent in the domestic 
 dog ; when he has been taught by man to repress his ardour, 
 to measure his motions, and not to exhaust his force by too sud- 
 den an exertion of it, he then hunts with method, and always 
 
 with success, 
 
 A2 
 
4< THE DOG. 
 
 " As the dog is of the most complying disposition; so also it 
 is the most susceptible of change in its form ; the varieties of 
 this animal being too many for even the most careful describer 
 to mention. Climate, food, and education, all make strong 
 impressions upon the animal, and produce alterations in its 
 shape, its colour, its hair, its size, and in every thing but its 
 nature. The same dog, taken from one climate and brought to 
 another, seems to become another animal ; but different breeds 
 are as much separated, to all appearance, as any two animals the 
 most distinct in nature. Nothing appears to continue constant 
 with them, but their internal conformation ; different in the 
 figure of the body, in the length of the nose, in the shape of the 
 head, in the length and direction of the ears and tail, in the 
 colour, the quality, and the quantity of the hair ; in short, dif- 
 ferent in every thing but that make of the parts which serves to 
 continue the species, and keeps the animal distinct from all 
 others. It is this peculiar conformation, this power of produc- 
 ing an animal that can reproduce, that marks the kind, and ap- 
 proximates forms, that at first sight appear in no degree calcu- 
 lated for conjunction. 
 
 From this single consideration, therefore, we may at once pro- 
 nounce all dogs to be of one kind ; but which of them is the 
 original of all the rest, which of them is the savage dog from 
 whence such a variety of descendants have come down, is no easy 
 matter to determine. We may easily indeed, observe, that all 
 those animals which are under the influence of man, are subject 
 to great variations. Such as have been sufficiently independent, 
 so as to choose their own climate, their own nourishment, and 
 to pursue their own habitudes, preserve their original marks of 
 nature, without much deviation ; and it is probable, that the first 
 of these is even at this day very well represented in their des- 
 cendants. But such as man has subdued, transported from one 
 climate to another, controlled in their manner of living, and 
 
THE DOG. 5 
 
 their food, have most probably been changed also in their forms ; 
 particularly the dog has felt these alterations more strongly than 
 any other of the domestic kinds; for, living more like man, he 
 may be thus said to live more irregularly also, and, consequently, 
 must have felt all those changes that such variety would naturally 
 produce. Some other causes also may be assigned for this 
 variety in the species of the dog ; as he is perpetually under the 
 eye of his master, when accident has produced any singularity 
 in his productions, man uses all his art to continue this pecu- 
 liarity unchanged ; either by breeding from such as had those 
 singularities, or by destroying such as happened to want them ; 
 besides, as the dog produces much more frequently than some 
 other animals, and lives a shorter time, so the chance for its 
 varieties will be offered in greater proportion. 
 
 But which is the original animal, and which is the artificial or 
 accidental variety, is a question which, as was said, is not easily 
 resolved. If the internal structure of dogs of different sorts, be 
 compared with each other, it will be found, except in point of 
 size, that in this respect they are exactly the same. This, there- 
 fore, affords no criterion. If other animals be compared with 
 the dog internally, the wolf and the fox will be found to have 
 the most perfect resemblance ; in fact, there is no perceptible 
 difference : it is probable, therefore, that the dog which most 
 nearly resembles the wolf or the fox externally, is the original 
 animal of its kind : for it is natural to suppose, that as the dog 
 exactly resembles them internally, so he may be near them in ex- 
 ternal resemblance also, except where art or accident has altered 
 his form. This being supposed, if we look among the number 
 of varieties to be found in the dog, we shall not find one go like 
 the wolf or the fox, as that which is called the shepherd's dog. 
 This is that dog with long, coarse hair on all parts except the 
 nose, pricked ears, and a long nose, which is common enough 
 
 Among us ; and receives his name from being principally used in 
 A3 
 
O THE DOG. 
 
 guarding and attending on sheep. This seems to be the primi- 
 tive animal of his kind : and we shall be still more confirmed in 
 this opinion, if we attend to the different characters which cli- 
 mate produces in the animal, and the different races of dogs 
 which are propagated in every country ; and, in the first place, 
 if we examine those countries which are still savage, or but half 
 civilized, where it is most probable the dog, like his master, has 
 received but few impressions from art, we shall find the shep- 
 herd's dog, or one very like him, still prevailing amongst them. 
 The dogs that have run wild in America, and in Congo, ap- 
 proach this form. The dog of Siberia, Lapland, and Iceland, 
 of the Cape of Good Hope, of Madagascar, Madura, Calicut, 
 and Malabar, have all along nose, pricked ears, and resemble the 
 shepherd's dog very nearly. In Guinea, the dog very speedily 
 takes this form ; for at the second or third generation, the ani- 
 mal forgets to bark, his ears and his tail become pointed, and 
 his hair drops off, while a coarser, thinner kind comes in the 
 place. This sort of dog is likewise to be found in the temper- 
 ate climates in great abundance, particularly among those who, 
 preferring usefulness to beauty, employ an animal that requires 
 very little instruction to be serviceable. Notwithstanding this 
 creature's deformity, his melancholy and savage air, he is supe- 
 rior to all the rest of his kind in instinct ; and, without any 
 teaching, naturally takes to tending flocks, with an assiduity and 
 vigilance that at once astonishes, and, at the same time, relieves, 
 his master. 
 
 In more poiishfid and civilized places, the dog seems to par- 
 take of the universal refinement; and, like man, becomes 
 more beautiful, more majestic, and more capable of assuming 
 an education foreign to his nature; The clogs of Albany, of 
 Greece, of Denmark, and of Ireland, are larger and stronger 
 than those of any other country. In France, Germany, Spain, 
 and Italy, the dogs are of various kinds, like the men ; and this 
 
THE DOG. 7 
 
 variety seems formed by crossing the breed of such as are im- 
 ported from various climes. 
 
 The shepherd's dog may, therefore, be considered as the primi- 
 tive stock from whence these varieties are all derived. He makes 
 the stern of that genealogical tree which has been branched out 
 into every part of the world. This animal still continues pretty 
 nearly in its original state among the poor in temperate climates ; 
 in the colder regions, he grows less and more ugly among the 
 Laplanders; but becomes more perfect in Iceland, Russia, and 
 Siberia, where the climate is less rigorous ^ and the people more 
 civilized. Whatever differences there may be among the dogs 
 of these countries, they are not very considerable, as they have 
 all straight ears, long and thick hair, a savage aspect, and do not 
 bark either so often or so loud as dogs of the more cultivated 
 kind. 
 
 The shepherd's dog transported into the temperate climates, 
 and among people entirely civilized, such as England, France, 
 and Germany, will be divested of his savage air, his pricked ears, 
 his rough, long and thick hair, and from the single influence of 
 climate and food alone, will become either a matin, a mastiff, or 
 a hound. These three seem the immediate descendants of the 
 former; and from them the other varieties are produced." 
 
 How far this last assertion of BufFon, that the shepherd's dog, 
 " from the single influence of climate and food alone, will be- 
 come either a matin, a mastiff, or a hound," may be founded on 
 fact, 1 am unable to decide ; but I am much inclined to doubt it. 
 All animals feel the influence of climate ; and we have abundant 
 proof that the very same species, even in latitudes not very 
 widely dissimilar, exhibit marks of the difference of their situa- 
 tion : the lion, for instance, which is never found so high as the 
 temperate latitudes (unless in a state of captivity) to whose very 
 existence a burning sun, or a great degree of heat, seems indispen- 
 sable, and whose form and manner appear little susceptible of 
 
8 THE DOG. 
 
 change, is nevertheless, marked like a graduated scale, with the 
 varied effect of latitude. The lion of Mount Atlas is a small, 
 dark tawney-coloured animal, and, as he approaches the torrid 
 zone, his colour not only becomes much lighter, but he increases 
 in size, strength, and fierceness. The difference is still more 
 manifest between the Esquimaux and the inhabitant of more 
 southern latitudes. On this principle of reasoning, therefore, it 
 requires no great strength of imagination to suppose, that the 
 wild dog assumes various forms and colours according to situa- 
 tion ; and that " the influence of climate and food alone," were 
 not sufficient to produce those varieties above-mentioned, but 
 that the natives of remote countries were also resorted to for 
 this purpose. 
 
 It is a generally received opinion, that the wolf and the dog, 
 as well as the fox and the dog, will engender, and, that the off- 
 spring of such a conjunction is capable of procreation ; which, if 
 true, would clearly prove that these animals are merely accidental 
 ramifications of the same stock : but I am almost equally inclined 
 to doubt on this head ; nor would any thing short of ocular de- 
 monstration remove my infidelity upon a subject, which, however 
 first appearances may seem to favor it, I am perfectly convinced 
 has in general been inconsiderately asserted, and handed from one 
 to another without experiment or reflection. 
 
 All the endeavours of M. Buffon to make them engender, as 
 he assures us, were ineffectual. For this purpose, he bred up 
 a young wolf, taken in the woods, at two months old, with a 
 matin dog of the same age. They were shut up together, with- 
 out any other, in a large yard, where they had a shelter for 
 retiring. They neither of them knew any other individual of 
 their kind, nor even any other man but he who had the charge 
 of feeding them. In this manner they were kept for three 
 years ; still with the same attention, and without constraining or 
 tying them up. During the first year the young animals played 
 
THE DOG. 9 
 
 with each other continually, and seemed to love each other very 
 i juch. In the second year, they began to dispute about their 
 victuals, although they were given more than they could use. 
 The quarrel always began on the wolf's side. They were 
 always brought their food, which consisted of flesh and bones, 
 upon a large wooden platter, which was laid on the ground. 
 Just as it was put down, the wolf, instead of falling on the meat, 
 began by driving off the dog ; and took the platter in its teeth 
 so expertly, that it let nothing of what it contained fall upon 
 the ground, and in this manner carried it off; but as the wolf 
 could not entirely escape, it was frequently seen to run with the 
 platter round the yard five or six times, still carrying it in a posi- 
 tion that none of its contents could fall. In this manner it 
 would continue running, only now and then stopping to take 
 breath, until the dog came up, when the wolf would leave the 
 victuals to attack him. The dog, however, was the stronger of 
 the two, but as it was more gentle, in order to secure him from 
 the wolf's attack, he had a collar put round his neck. In the 
 third year, the quarrels of these ill-paired associates were 
 more vehement, and their combats more frequent ; the wolf, 
 therefore, had a collar put about its neck, as well as the dog, 
 which began to be more iierce and unmerciful. During the two 
 first years, neither seemed to testify the least tendency towards 
 engendering ; and it was not till the end of the third, that the 
 wolf, which was the female, shewed the natural desire, but with- 
 out abating either in its fierceness or obstinancy. This appetite 
 rather increased than repressed their mutual animosity ; they 
 became every day more untractable and ferocious, and no- 
 thing was heard between them but the sounds of rage and 
 resentment. They both, in less than three weeks, became 
 remarkably lean, without ever approaching each other, but to 
 combat. At length, their quarrels became so desperate, that 
 the dog killed the wolf, which was become more weak and 
 
10 THE DOG. 
 
 feeble ; and he was soon after himself obliged to be killed, for, 
 upon being set at liberty, he instantly flew upon every animal 
 he met, fowls, dogs, and even men themselves, not escaping his 
 savage fury. 
 
 The same experiment was tried upon foxes, taken young, but 
 with no better success, they were never found to engender with 
 dogs ; and our learned naturalist seems to be of opinion, that 
 their natures are too opposite ever to provoke mutual desire. 
 
 A young dog shudders at the sight of a wolf; he even shuns 
 his scent, which, though unknown, is so repugnant to his na- 
 ture, that he comes trembling to seek protection near his mas- 
 ter. A dog that is stronger, and knows his strength, bristles 
 up at the sight, testifies his animosity, attacks him with courage, 
 endeavours to put him to flight, and does all in his power to 
 rid himself of a presence that is hateful to him. They never 
 meet without either flying or fighting ; fighting for life and 
 death, and without mercy on either side. If the wolf is the 
 stronger, he tears and devours his prey : the dog, on the con- 
 trary, is more generous, and contents himself with his victory ; 
 he does not seem to think that the body of a dead enemy smells 
 well ; he leaves him where he falls, to serve as food for birds 
 of prey, or for other wolves, since they devour each ether; 
 and when one wolf happens to be desperately wounded, the 
 rest track him by his blood, and are sure to shew him no mercy. 
 
 The dog, even in his savage state, is not cruel ; he is easily 
 tamed, and continues firmly attached to his master. The wolf, 
 when taken young, becomes tame, but never has any attach- 
 ment : nature ie stronger in him than education; he resumes 
 with age, his natural dispositions, and returns as soon as he can 
 to the woods from whence he was taken. Dogs, even of the 
 dullest kinds, seek the company of other animals; they are 
 naturally disposed to follow and accompany other creatures be- 
 sidei themselves ; and even by instinct, without any education, 
 
THE DOG- 11 
 
 take to the care of flocks and herds. The wolf, on the con- 
 trary, is the enemy of all society ; he does not even keep much 
 company with those of his kind. When they are seen in packs 
 together, it is not to be considered as a peaceful society, but a 
 combination for war ; they testify their hostile intentions by 
 their loud howlings, and, by their fierceness, discover a project 
 for attacking some great animal, such as a stag or a bull, or to 
 destroy some more redoubtable watch dog. The instant their 
 military expedition is completed, their society is at an end ; 
 they then part, and each returns in silence to his solitary retreat. 
 There is not even any strong attachment between the male and 
 female : they seek each other only once a year, and remain but 
 a few days together; they always couple in winter; at which 
 time several males are seen following one female, and this asso- 
 ciation is still more bloody than the former : they dispute most 
 cruelly, growl, bark, fight, and tear each other ; and it some- 
 times happens, that the majority kill the wolf, which has been 
 chiefly preferred by the female. It is usual for the she wolf to 
 fiy from them all with him she has chosen ; and watches this 
 opportunity when the rest are asleep. 
 
 In a state of nature, I am of opinion, the different species of 
 quadrupeds continue faithful to their own particular tribe, and 
 that various kinds never approach each other for the sake of 
 conjunction ; nor were the mare and the ass ever known to pro- 
 duce in a wild state, though in a state of domestication nothing 
 is more common- Were it possible to reduce the wolf or the 
 fox to that decree of subordination or civilization which so 
 
 o 
 
 superlatively distinguishes the domestic dog, a race of mongrels 
 might in all probability be obtained. But to accomplish such 
 an object, infinite trouble would be indispensable, as well as per- 
 haps ages of time ; for wolves and foxes must be bred in a tam 
 or domestic state before they could be expected to couple with 
 the dog; and, ehould the tedious experiment eventually be 
 
12 THE DOG. 
 
 crowned with success, it is very doubtful whether the mongrel 
 race thus produced, would repay a thousandth part of the 
 trouble. 
 
 " With regard to the dogs of our country in particular, the 
 varieties are very great, and the number every day increasing. 
 And this must happen in a country so open, by commerce, to 
 all others, and where wealth is apt to produce capricious predi- 
 lection. Here the ugliest and most useless of their kinds will 
 be entertained merely for their singularity ; and, being imported 
 only to be looked at, they will lose even that small degree of 
 sagacity which they possessed in their natural climates. From 
 this importation of foreign, useless dogs, our own native breed 
 is, perhaps, degenerated, and the varieties now to be found in 
 England are much more numerous than they were in the times 
 of Queen Elizabeth, when Doctor Caius attempted their natural 
 history. Some of those he mentions are no longer to be found 
 among us, although many have since been introduced, by no 
 means so serviceable as those which have been suffered to 
 decay. 
 
 He divides the whole race into three kinds. The first is the 
 generous kind, which consists of the terrier, the harrier, and 
 the blood hound ; the gaze-hound, the grey- hound, the leym- 
 mer, and the tumbler ; all these are used for hunting. Then 
 the spaniel, the setter, and the water-spaniel, or finder, were 
 used for fowling ; and the spaniel gentle or lap dog, for amuse- 
 ment. The second is the farm kind ; consisting of the shep- 
 herd's dog and the mastiff. And the third is the mongrel kind ; 
 consisting of the wappe, the turnspit, and the dancer. To these 
 varieties we may add at present, the bull dog, the Dutch mas- 
 tiff, the harlequin, the pointer, and the Dane, with a variety of 
 lap-dogs, which, as they are perfectly useless, may be consid- 
 ered as unworthy of a name. 
 
 " The blood-hound was a dog of great use, and in high 
 
THE DOG. 13 
 
 esteem among our ancestors. Its employ was to recover any 
 game that had escaped from the hunter, or had been killed and 
 stolen out of the forest. But it was still more employed in 
 hunting thieves and robbers by their footsteps. 
 
 " The land spaniel, which probably had its name from Spain, 
 where it might have acquired the softness of its hair, is well 
 known at present." 
 
14. 
 
 THE SETTER. 
 
 THE Setter is the handsomest and perhaps the most generous 
 of the canine race ; but by what peculiar cross he originated, is 
 not well known; and all conjectures on this head, though very 
 interesting to the sportsman, are too much involved in uncertain- 
 ty, to be much depended on. An ingenious friend is of opinion, 
 that the setter was produced by crossing the talbot or blood 
 hound with the small land spaniel or springer ; and certainly the 
 appearance of some of these animals seem to warrant such an 
 idea ; while others, equally good or superior, seem altogether 
 at variance with such a conjecture. Even if we admit this 
 position, we are still unable to trace the primeval stock pre- 
 cisely, as the springer exhibits an almost endless variety, while 
 its origin appears to be buried in oblivion. 
 
 It may be safely asserted that the setter or large land spaniel 
 was known in this country long before the introduction of the 
 present more fashionable dog, known by the appellation of the 
 Spanish Pointer. The large land spaniel or English setter is 
 not more eminently distinguished for the beauty of his form, 
 than for his vivacity, unwearied perseverance, and sagacity, as 
 well as for his generous and ardent attachment to man. His 
 body is formed much like that of the greyhound, his countenance 
 is very expressive, he has large pendant ears, a long, brushy, 
 kandsome tail, and covered all over with long wavy hair; his 
 speed is very great ; and as his feet are small, and much pro- 
 tected with hair, he has thus a decided advantage over his 
 more delicate rival, and will run with indifference on hard 
 
THE SETTER. 15 
 
 ground, whether produced by frost or otherwise, when the Span- 
 ish pointer cannot be induced to move from the sportsman's 
 heels. Also, while the latter, from the tenderness of the skin, 
 manifests the utmost reluctance to enter a thicket, the setter will 
 rush through the brambles with dauntless impetuosity. 
 
 At the commencement of the shooting season, when the wea- 
 ther is excessively hot, the setter is supposed to suffer more from 
 thirst than the pointer ; this is undoubtedly the case, and arises 
 from the long warm coat of the former ; and on the grouse 
 mountains, where water is seldom met with, exposes this gener- 
 ous animal to great inconvenience ; not that the pointer is 
 by any means exempt from that excessive thirst which is uni- 
 formly produced by great exertion under a burning sun ; but, as 
 he is more thinly clad, and generally moves much slower, so he is 
 consequently less in want of water. 
 
 Another supposition, which generally obtains belief, respect- 
 ing the comparative merits of these two animals, is neither so rea- 
 sonably nor so justly founded, namely, that the olfactory organs 
 of the setter are inferior to those of his foreign rival. On this 
 subject, it seems necessary, in the first place to observe, that 
 the best nosed pointers are those which still retain much of the 
 blood of the old English talbot or blood-hound (as no doubt, I 
 think, can exist, that the Spanish pointer when first brought to 
 this country was crossed with the talbot) ; and almost all those 
 pointers of the present day, which have the best noses, are 
 found to approximate in form and appearance the old English 
 blood hound, whose olfactory organs were no doubt superior to 
 those of any other race of dogs which was ever known in 
 these islands. The old English setter, which many years ago, 
 existed perhaps in the greatest possible perfection, has since , 
 undergone various crosses, which have not only injured the 
 beauty of his appearance, but diminished that exquisite sense of 
 
 smell, which is so essential to the delightful recreation of shoot- 
 
 B 2 
 
16 
 
 THE SETTER. 
 
 ing; Dogs, called setters, are now to be met with of all forms, 
 miserably deficient in the most prominent quality, setting, and 
 generally very inferior to the modern pointer in every respect. 
 Not one in a hundred of these mongrels are worth the notice of 
 the sportsman ; many of them it is utterly impossible to Lreak 
 or train, and even of those which are in some measure forced 
 into subordination, very few become sufficiently steady to be 
 fully depended on, or to render their services satisfactory. It is 
 true, sometimes one is met with of approved worth ; but the 
 instances were so few which had come within my knowledge, 
 that I despised what was called the setter altogether. 
 
 Speaking, however, on this subject to a friend, he remarked 
 that he was no sportsman himself, but that his father had a 
 breed of setters, which he believed would alter my opinion ; and 
 that he would procure me a specimen for that purpose. I paid 
 but little attention, aware that promises of this sort are very 
 often neglected ; but I did my friend injustice ; for in the 
 course of a few weeks, I received a whelp about six weeks old. 
 In the course of a short time afterwards, I happened to be walk- 
 ing across some fields near my residence, accompanied by a fav- 
 ourite pointer bitch; the whelp followed and kept close to my 
 heels. As I had not gone out for the purpose of finding game, 
 I devoted but little attention to my canine companions ; never- 
 theless, after walking a few minutes, I missed the whelp, and on 
 looking round, was much surprised and delighted at seeing 
 him abreast of my favourite bitch, pointing, as well as she, 
 with all the steadiness of a veteran. I walked to the spot and 
 was astonished at the earnestness of the whelp's countenance ; 
 and had it not been for his whelpish appearance, from his man- 
 ner no person would have doubted that he had gone through 
 all the requisite degrees of education, and had become a perfect 
 master of the science. I sprung the birds and permitted my 
 whelp to enjoy the scent. He followed me the next day on a 
 
THE SETTER. 17 
 
 shooting excursion ; I lifted him over the ditches, and though 
 he was not able to gallop, whenever the bitch came to a point, 
 he also set as steadily as possible : nor was this all happening 
 to pass a small bush, with the whelp close to me (for he could 
 not run) when the bitch was at a distance, he made a dead set, 
 I regarded him for some time I never saw a handsomer or 
 a steadier point : and when I had satisfied myself with looking 
 at what appeared to me little less than a phenomenon, I kicked 
 the bush and up rose a pheasant. Thenceforward the whelp con- 
 stantly accompanied me, whenever I went out for the purpose 
 of shooting ; as soon as he acquired sufficient strength, he be- 
 gan to run, set, and backed without the least teaching ; he has 
 uniformly manifested an acuteness of olfactory nerve quite as- 
 tonishing ; but, I am sorry to add, that it is only by incessant 
 hard labour he can be kept steady. 
 
 He was bred by a Mr. Harley, who resides near Dumfries. 
 He is liver coloured, about the middle size, and extremely hand- 
 *ome: I am inclined to think that this is the true bred Eng- 
 lish setter, the dog so celebrated when the net was as much in 
 fashion, as the fowling-piece is at the present day. 
 
 Dogs the most distinguished for acute sense of smell hart 
 large broad heads. 
 
18 
 
 THE POINTER. 
 
 The dog which is distinguished by the appellation of the 
 Pointer is of foreign origin, and is known not only in Spain, 
 but in Portugal, and also in France, with but slight difference 
 of form. Those pointers which I have seen direct from Spain 
 are heavy and clumsily formed ; those from Portugal are some- 
 what lighter ; while the French breed is remarkable for a wide 
 furrow which runs between the nostrils, and which gives to the 
 animal's countenance a very grotesque appearance. They all, 
 however, exhibit a very different form and character to the set- 
 ter; they are thick and heavy creatures, with large chubby 
 heads, long pendant ears, and covered with short smooth hair; 
 nor do they possess that generosity of disposition, which is so 
 distinguishing a trait in the character of the setter ; on the con- 
 trary, they are often ill-tempered and snappish ; and, in fact, are 
 good for little in this country till they have been crossed with 
 the more generous blood of these islands. Yet the conjunction 
 of the setter and the pointer is by no means advisable, since the 
 production generally unites the worst qualities of the two with- 
 out any of those requisites perhaps for which the two breeds are 
 most highly prized. Dogs thus produced, are for the most part 
 head-strong and turbulent, require excessive correction, and 
 are rarely brought to that steadiness which marks the distinct 
 breeds. It is true, sometimes a first-rate dog is produced be- 
 tween a setter and a pointer ; but it rarely happens : the cross 
 at best is never to be depended on, and for one good dog thus 
 obtained, there will be found twenty very indifferent or bad ones 
 
THE POINTER. 19 
 
 on an average ; while not the least dependance can be placed on 
 the offspring of the very best dogs thus propagated. Excellent 
 pointers have been produced by the fox-hound and the Span- 
 iard ; and in all probability the fox-hound had much of the tal- 
 bot blood ; nor have I the least hesitation in supposing, that the 
 best pointers would be those bred from the talbot and the Span- 
 iard ; but since the former is nearly, if not altogether, extinct, 
 and as all hounds have been produced from him, and still retain 
 more or less of his blood, the nearer we can approach him the 
 better : therefore the deep-flewed hound is to be preferred ; the 
 kibble, and even lighter kinds of hounds, may answer the pur- 
 pose ; but what is thus gained in speed is not a sufficient com- 
 pensation for unsteadiness and an inferior nose. The Spaniard, 
 however, from having been judiciously crossed, has arrived at a 
 degree of perfection so as to leave little to be desired on this 
 head ; and excellent pointers are to be met with in most parts 
 of England. They differ from the setter inasmuch as when 
 they have approached sufficiently near the game, they stand 
 erect ; whereas the true bred setter will either sit upon his 
 haunches, or lie close to the ground generally the latter. It 
 may be also very justly remarked, that though a particular strain 
 of either the pointer or setter may have arrived at a great degree 
 of perfection ; yet, if continued on the same strain for a length 
 of time, it will degenerate ; in order, therefore, to prevent that 
 dwindling or falling off which would inevitably take place, re- 
 course must occasionally be had to other strains ; that is, to 
 dogs of the same kind, but bred in different parts of the king- 
 dom, taking care to choose animals of undoubted merit from 
 which to breed ; and in order to avoid the possibility of being 
 misunderstood, I must observe, that in thus giving directions for 
 preserving the requisite qualities in perfection, I do not mean in 
 this case, that recourse should be had to the talbot, fox -hound, 
 or any other kind of dog used for a distinct purpose, but merely 
 
20 THE POINTER. 
 
 to procure a pointer (either sire or dam) from a distant part of 
 the country, if pointers are the object ; and the same in respect 
 to setters. 
 
 Pointers often suffer much from sore feet ; considerable dif- 
 ference, however, will be found amongst them in respect to 
 their feet. I have generally found white footed dogs much 
 more tender in this respect than those whose feet are of a dark 
 colour, Black, brown, or any dark-coloured pointers have 
 generally better feet than white or light -coloured dogs ; though 
 the latter, if their legs are brown or dark-coloured towards the 
 feet, are unobjectionable. 
 
THE RUSSIAN POINTER. 
 
 Within a few years, a rough-coated dog, of the water-span- 
 iel breed, has been introduced to the notice of the sportsmen of 
 this country, under the denomination of the Russian Pointer. 
 Whether he be originally Russian is very doubtful ; but he is 
 evidently the ugliest strain of the water-spaniel species ; and, 
 like all dogs of this kind, is remarkable for penetrating thickets 
 and bramble bushes, runs very awkwardly, his nose close to the 
 ground (if not muzzle-pegged), and frequently springs his game. 
 He may be taught to set, and so may a terrier, or any dog that 
 will run and hunt, and even pigs, if we are to believe the story 
 of Sir Henry Mildmay's black sow ; but to compare him with 
 the animals which have formed the subjects of the two preced- 
 ing chapters, would be outrageous ; nevertheless, I am not 
 prepared to say, that out of a hundred of these animals, one 
 tolerable could not be found ; but I should think it madness to 
 recommend the Russian pointer to sportsmen, unless for the pur- 
 pose of pursuing the coot or the water-hen. 
 
THE SPRINGER. 
 
 This beautiful little animal, is too well known to need descrip- 
 tion. There is a great variety of this species, all remarkable, 
 however, for their cheerful activity. They are not calculated 
 for an extensive range ; and are therefore of no use either for 
 grouse or partridge shooting: but are very serviceable in strong 
 covers in the pursuit of the pheasant or wood cock, and give no- 
 tice of their approach to the object by a sort of whimper) which 
 increases to a bark as the game springs. They are affectionate 
 and docile, and easily broken or trained : in fact, their whole 
 system of education consists of nothing more than merely to 
 keep them tolerably close to the sportsman ; since, if they are 
 suffered to ramble out of gun-shot, the game rises at too great 
 a distance, the object is thus defeated which they were intended 
 to promote, and a mortification, much better felt than described, 
 must inevitably ensue. They are evidently of the spaniel spe- 
 cies, and frequently called the small land spaniel. Their beauty 
 and affectionate disposition will always excite attention ; but they 
 are, after all, perhaps better calculated for coursing, than the 
 fowling-piece, as they may be usefully employed in driving a 
 hare from a copse or a thicket, while a pointer, or particularly a 
 setter, will answer all the purposes of pheasant and woodcock 
 shooting. However, if sporting on a grand scale, and the ut- 
 most pinnacle of perfection, are the objects to be attained, let 
 relays of dogs be kept for the moors or grouse alone, others for 
 the partridge, and the pheasant and woodcock consigned to the 
 email land spaniel or springer. 
 
THE GROUSE. 
 
 It lias been already shewn to what an endless variety the 
 breed of the dog may be extended, and the same remark will 
 apply, in a greater or less degree, to all animals reclaimed from a 
 state of nature and domesticated by man ; a pigeon, for instance, 
 may be bred to assume any shape or any colour ; but the case 
 is widely different with all other animals which preserve their 
 native freedom, and thus we find a grouse, a partridge, or a hare* 
 always the same, or at least the deviations are so extremely rare, 
 that they are regarded as phenomena, and are either the effect 
 of disease, or appear as a fantastic whim of nature. Yet, if we 
 are to believe Cowper, hares, when reduced to a state of familiar 
 captivity, are easily recognised by the varied aspect or counten- 
 ance, which each individually offers to minute and constant 
 observation ; but, at all events, nature when left to herself 
 eern* to proceed in one regular course, and wild animals uni- 
 formly exhibit the same general appearance, whatever nice dis- 
 tinctions may be discovered by that minute and repeated obser- 
 vation which can only be obtained by familiar acquaintance. 
 
 The Grouse and its Affinities**" The cock of the wood, the 
 black cock, the grouse, and the ptarmigan these are all birdi 
 of a similar nature, and chiefly found in heathy mountains and 
 piny forests, at a distance from mankind. They might one* 
 indeed have been common enough all over England, when a 
 great part of the country was covered with heath ; but at pr- 
 ent their numbers are thinned. 
 
THE GROUSE. 
 
 The cock of the wood is sometimes of the size of a turkey, 
 and often weighs near fourteen pounds ; the black cock, of 
 which the male is all over black, though the female is of the 
 colour of the partridge, is about the size of a hen ; the grouse 
 is about half as large again as a partridge, and its colour much 
 like that of a woodcock, but redder ; the ptarmigan is still some- 
 what less, and is of a pale brown or ash -colour. They are all 
 distinguishable from other birds of the poultry kind by a naked 
 skin of a scarlet colour, above the eyes, in the place and of the 
 figure of eye-brows. 
 
 It seems to be something extraordinary, that all the larger 
 wild animals of every species choose the darkest and the inmost 
 recesses of the woods for their residence, while the smaller kinds 
 come more into the open and cultivated parts, where there are 
 more food and more danger. It is thus with the birds I am 
 
 n 
 
 describing : while the cock of the wood is seldom seen, except 
 on the inaccessible parts of heathy mountains, or in the midst of 
 piny forests, the grouse is found in great numbers in the neigh- 
 bourhood of corn fields, where there is heath to afford retreat 
 and shelter. Their food too somewhat differs ; while the smaller 
 kinds live upon heath blossoms, cranberries, and corn, the larger 
 feeds upon the cones of the pine tree ; and will sometimes en- 
 tirely strip one tree, before it offers to touch those of another, 
 though just beside him. In other respects, the manners of 
 these birds are the same ; being both equally simple in their 
 diet and licentious in their amours. 
 
 The cock of the wood is, as was said, chiefly fond of a moun- 
 tainous and woody situation. In winter he resides in the dark- 
 est and inmost part of the woods ; in summer he ventures down 
 from his retreats, to make short depredations on the farmer's 
 corn. The delicacy of his flesh, in some measure, sets a high 
 price upon his head ; and as he is greatly sought after, so he 
 continues, when he comes down from the hills, always on his 
 
THE GROUSE. 23 
 
 guard. Upon these occasions he is seldom surprised ; and those 
 who would take him, must venture up to find him in his native 
 retreats. 
 
 The cock of the wood, when in the forests, attaches himself 
 principally to the oak and the pine tree ; the cones of the latter 
 serving for his food, and the thick boughs for a habitation. He 
 even makes a choice of what cones he shall feed upon ; for he 
 sometimes will strip one tree bare before he will deign to touch 
 the cones of another. He feeds also upon ants' eggs, which 
 
 i no ' 
 
 seem a High delicacy to all birds of the poultry kind ; cranber- 
 ries are likewise often found in his crop ; and his gizzard, like 
 that of domestic fowls, contains a quantity of gravel, for the 
 purpose of assisting his powers of digestion. 
 
 At the earliest return of spring, this bird begins to feel the 
 genial influence of the season. During the month of March, 
 the approaches of courtship are continued, and do not desist till 
 the trees have all their leaves, and the forest is in full bloom. 
 During this whole season, the cock of the wood is seen at sun- 
 rise and setting, extremely active, upon one of the largest 
 branches of the pine tree. With his tail raised and expanded 
 like a fan, and the wings drooping, he is seen walking backward 
 and forward, his neck stretched out, his head swollen and red, 
 and making a thousand ridiculous postures : his cry upon that 
 occasion is a kind of loud explosion, which is instantly followed 
 by a noise like the whetting of a scythe, which ceases and com- 
 mences alternately for about an hour, and is then terminated by 
 the same explosion. 
 
 During the time this singular cry continues, the bird seems 
 entirely deaf and insensible of every danger ; whatever noise may 
 be made near him, or even though fired at, he still continues 
 his call. Upon all other occasions, he is the most timorous 
 and watchful bird in nature ; but now he appears entirely absorb- 
 jed in his instincts ; and seldom leaves the place where he first 
 
20 THE GROUSE. 
 
 begins to feel the accesses of desire. This extraordinary cry, 
 which is accompanied by a clapping of the wings, is no sooner 
 finished, than the female, hearing it, replies, approaches, and 
 places herself under the tree, from whence the cock descends to 
 impregnate her. The number of females that, on this occasion, 
 resort to his call is uncertain ; but one male generally suffices 
 for all. 
 
 The female is much less than her mate, and entirely unlike 
 him in plumage, so that she might be mistaken for a bird of 
 another species : she seldom lavs more that six or seven eggs, 
 which are white and marked with yellow, of the size of a hen's 
 egg ; she generally lays them in a dry place, and a mossy ground, 
 and hatches them without the company of the cock. When she 
 is obliged, during the time of incubation, to leave her eggs in 
 quest of food, she covers them up so artfully, with moss or dry 
 leaves, that it is extremely difficult to discover them. On this 
 occasion, she is extremely tame arid tranquil, however wild and 
 timorous in ordinary. She often keeps to her nest, though 
 strangers attempt to drag her away. 
 
 As soon as the young ones are hatched, they are seen run- 
 ning with extreme agility after the mother, though sometimes 
 they are not entirely disengaged from the shell. The hen leads 
 them forward, for the first time, into the woods, and shews them 
 ants' eggs, and the wild mountain-berries, which, while young, 
 are their only food. As they grow older, their appetites grow 
 stronger, and they then feed upon the tops of the heath and the 
 cones of the pine tree. In this manner they soon come to per- 
 fection : they are a hardy bird, their food lies every where be- 
 fore them, and it would seem that they should increase in great 
 abundance. But this is not the case ; their numbers are thinned 
 by rapacious birds and beasts of all kinds ; and still more by 
 their own salacious contests. 
 
 As soon as the clutching is over, which the female performs 
 
THE GROUSE. 27 
 
 in the manner of a hen, the whole brood follows the mother for 
 about a month or two ; at the end of which the young males 
 entirely forsake her, and continue in great harmony together till 
 the beginning of spring. At this season they begin, for the first 
 time, to feel the genial access ; and then adieu to all their form- 
 er friendship ! They begin to consider each other as rivals ; and 
 the rage of concupiscence quite extinguishes the spirit of so- 
 ciety. They fight each other like game cocks ; and at that time 
 are so inattentive to their own safety, that it often happens that 
 two or three are killed at a shot. It is probable, that in these 
 contests, the bird which comes off victorious, takes possession of 
 the female seraglio, as it is certain they have no faithful attach- 
 ment.'* 
 
 The above account is copied from Goldsmith, nor will I 
 pledge myself for its accuracy. What he calls the cock of the 
 wood is certainly unknown in England : the bird to which he 
 alludes is occasionally met with, I believe, in some parts of Scot- 
 land ; but whether so large as to weigh fourteen pounds is 
 doubtful. It is a lamentable circumstance that little dependence 
 can be placed upon our natural histories, as the historians them- 
 selves appear to have no more knowledge of the subject than 
 what they gained in their study from the perusal of anterior 
 works upon the same subject ; therefore, their descriptions can 
 only be relied on, where they happen to be corroborated by prac- 
 tical knowledge ; while, strange as it may appear, some of the 
 most important subjects (to the sportsman at least) are noticed 
 in so slight and confused a manner as to afford little or no in- 
 formation upon the matter. Such is precisely the case with 
 that beautiful bird, the black cock, or black grouse, also fre- 
 quently distinguished by the appellation of black game. The 
 black cock is one of the finest birds offered to the attention of 
 the sportsman : he is the first of' the game species known in this 
 kingdom, and is to be met with only in a few places in England, 
 
^ THE GROUSE. 
 
 and not in great abundance. The male bird generally weighs 
 about four pounds, of a beautiful black colour, with the tail 
 forked in a peculiar manner. The female is much less than 
 the male, and altogether different in plumage ; her colour is 
 brown, and from her appearance she might be easily mistaken 
 for a bird of a different species. These birds are found in toler- 
 able abundance in some parts of the Highlands of Scotland, as 
 well as on the borders of that country ; and are also to be met 
 with on the hilly parts of Derbyshire and Staffordshire, in De- 
 vonshire, and also in the New Forest, in Hampshire. They 
 breed on the heathy moors : but are generally found in the vi- 
 cinity of woods and corn fields, where they frequently feed. The 
 shooting season for black game commences on the 20th August. 
 They he remarkably well at the beginning of the season, but 
 soon become very wild, and will often fly to a great height. 
 
 Their food is various, but principally consists of mountain 
 fruits and berries, and in winter the tops of heath, as well as 
 the cones of the pine tree, and corn where they can procure it. 
 It is somewhat remarkable that cherries and pease are fatal to 
 these birds. They perch and roost in the same manner as the 
 pheasant. 
 
 The red grouse > or moor game, is found in most of the moun- 
 tainous districts of the united kingdom : I will state a few par- 
 ticulars respecting them : 
 
 The grouse is a bird which is found Jn different parts of the 
 globe, and of which there are various kinds. However, as this 
 volume is intended not for the naturalist, but the sportsman, it 
 will be necessary to describe only those which breed in Great 
 Britain, and that kind Jn particular, which is the general object 
 of pursuit, and which is known by the name of red grouse, or 
 moor game. 
 
 These birds are larger than the partridge ; the male weighing 
 about nineteen to twenty four ounces. The bill is black, the 
 
THE GROUSE. 29 
 
 ins orange -coloured, the throat red, the plumage on the head 
 and neck a light tawny red, each feather being marked with 
 several transverse bars of black; the back and scapulars are a 
 deeper red, and on the middle of each feather is a large black 
 jspot ; the breast and belly are of a dull purplish-brown colour, 
 crossed with narrow dusky lines; the quill feathers are dusky ; 
 the tail consists of sixteen Wack feathers, the four middlemost 
 of which are barred with red ; the thighs are a pale red, ob- 
 scurely barred with black ; the legs and feet are clothed down 
 to the claws with thick, soft, white and brown feathers ; the 
 outer and inner toes are connected to the first joint by a small 
 membrane. The female is considerably less than the male, 
 weighing only about fifteen ounces. Her colours in general are 
 less vivid, and she has more of the white and less of the red fea- 
 thers than the male. 
 
 The heathy and mountainous parts of the northern counties 
 of England, are in general stocked with these birJs ; but they 
 abound in the Highlands of Scotland, and are very common in 
 Wales and Ireland. They feed on mountain berries and the 
 tender tops of the heath. 
 
 Grouse pair very early in the spring, and the female lays from 
 eight to twelve or thirteen eggs, in a very simple nest, formed 
 on the ground. The young leave the nest almost as soon as 
 hatched, and continue to follow the hen till the severity of the 
 winter sets in, when they unite in packs of twenty or thirty- 
 brace; They continue together in the greatest harmony till the 
 approach of spring, when they feel the access of genial desire ; 
 the old females then, contrary to what is generally supposed, 
 drive off the young cocks, and a general dispersion takes place : 
 the males view each other with a jealous eye, and furious battle* 
 are the consequence. 
 
 Grouse are very difficult to be netted, owing to the straggling 
 c3 
 
30 
 
 THE GROUSE. 
 
 manner in which they lie, and their scattering on the approach 
 of the sportsman, or the least noise. 
 
 The care .and stratagem of the hen for the security of the 
 young is wonderful, and similar to those of the partridge, to 
 which we refer the reader. 
 
THE PTARMIGAN. 
 
 The Ptarmigan is somewhat larger than a pigeon. Its bill is 
 black ; and its plumage, in summer, is of a pale brown colour, 
 elegantly mottled with small bars and dusky spots. The head 
 and neck are marked with broad bars of black, rust colour, and 
 white. The wings and belly are white. 
 
 These birds moult in the winter months, and change their 
 summer dress for one more warm ; and, instead of having their 
 feathers of many colours, they then become white. Dy a won- 
 derful provision every feather also, except those of the wings 
 and tail, becomes double, a downy one shooting out of the base 
 of each ; which gives an additional protection against the cold. 
 In the latter end of February, a new plumage begins to appear, 
 first about the rump, in brown stumps : the first rudiments of 
 the coat they assume in the warm season, when each feather is 
 single. In answer to enquiries made by Sir Joseph Banks, Dr. 
 Solander, and some other naturalists, from Captain George 
 Cartwright, who resided many years on the coast of Labrador^ 
 on the subject of the grouse changing their colour, he says, 
 " I took particular notice of those I killed, and can aver, for a 
 fact, that they get at this time of the year (September) a very 
 large addition of feathers, all of which are white ; and that the 
 coloured feathers at the same time change to white. In spring, 
 most of the white feathers drop off, and are succeeded by col- 
 oured ones ; or, I rather believe, all the white ones drop off, and 
 they get an entirety new set. At the two seasons they change 
 very differently : in the spring beginning at the neck, and spread- 
 
32 THE PTARMIGAN. 
 
 ing from thence ; now they begin on the belly and end on the 
 neck." 
 
 Their feet, by being feathered entirely to the toes, are pro- 
 tected from the cold of the northern regions. Every morning 
 they take a flight directly upwards into the air, apparently to 
 shake the snow from their wings and bodies. They feed in the 
 mornings and evenings, and in the middle of the day they bask 
 in the sun. 
 
 About the beginning of October they assemble in flocks cf a 
 hundred and fifty or two hundred, and live much among the wil- 
 lows, the tops of which they eat. In December they retire 
 from the flats about Hudson's-bay to the mountains, where in 
 that month the snow is less deep than in the low lands, to feed 
 on the mountain berries. 
 
 Some of the Greenlanders believe that the ptarmigans, to 
 provide a subsistence through the winter, collect a store of moun- 
 tain berries into some cranny of a rock near their retreat. It is, 
 however, generally supposed, that by means of their long, broad, 
 and hollow nails, they form lodges under the snow, where they 
 lie in heaps to protect themselves from the cold. During win- 
 ter they are often seen flying in great numbers among the rocks. 
 
 Though sometimes found in the mountains of the north of 
 Scotland, the ptarmigans are chiefly inhabitants of that part of 
 the globe which lies about the Arctic Circle. Their food con- 
 sists of the buds of trees, young shoots of pine, heath, and fruits 
 and berries which grow on the mountains. They are so stupid 
 and so silly, as often to suffer themselves, without any difficulty, 
 to be knocked on the head, or to be driven into any snare that 
 is set for them. When frightened they fly off; but immediately 
 alight, and stand staring at their foe. When the hen bird is 
 killed, it is said that the male will not forsake her, but may then 
 also be killed with great ease. So little alarmed are they at the 
 presence of mankind, as even to bear driving like poultry : yet, 
 
THE PTARMIGAN. 33 
 
 
 
 notwithstanding this apparent gentleness of disposition, it is im- 
 possible to domesticate them ; for, when caught, they refuse to 
 eat, and always die soon afterwards. 
 
 Their voice is very extraordinary ; and they do not often ex- 
 ert it but in the night. It is very rarely that they are found in 
 Denmark : but by some accident one of these birds, some years 
 ago, happened to stray within a hundred miles of Stockholm, 
 which very much alarmed the common people of the neighbour- 
 hood ; for from its nightly noise a report very soon arose, that 
 the wood where it took up its residence, was haunted by a ghost. 
 So much were the people terrified, that nothing could tempt the 
 post boys to pass the wood after dusk. The spirit was, how- 
 ever, at last happily removed, by some gentlemen sending their 
 gamekeepers into the wood by moonlight, who soon discovered 
 and killed the harmless ptarmigan. 
 
 Ptarmigans form their nests on the ground, in dry ridges ; 
 and lay from six to ten dusky eggs with reddish-brown spots. 
 
 The usual method of taking these birds is in nets made or 
 twine, twenty feet square, connected to four poles, and propped 
 with sticks in front. A long line is fastened to these, the end 
 of which is held by a person who lies concealed at a distance. 
 Several people drive the birds within reach of the net ; which is 
 then pulled down, and is found to cover fifty or sixty of them. 
 They are in such plenty in the northern parts of America, that 
 upwards of ten thousand are frequently caught for the use of the 
 Hudson's-bay Settlement, between November and May. 
 
 They are taken by the Laplanders by means of a hedge form- 
 ed with the branches of birch trees, and having small openings 
 at certain intervals with a ssare in each. The birds are tempted 
 to feed on the buds and catkins of the birch ; and whenever 
 they endeavour to pass through the openings, they are caught. 
 
 They are excellent food ; being said to taste so like the com- 
 mon grouse, as to he scarcely distinguishable from it. 
 
S4> 
 
 THE PARTRIDGE. 
 
 The partridge is an inhabitant of all the temperate parts of 
 Europe. The extremes of heat and cold are unfavourable to its 
 propagation ; and it flourishes best in cultivated countries, living 
 principally on the labours of the husbandman. In Sweden 
 these birds burrow beneath the snow ; and the whole covey 
 crowd together under this shelter to guard against the intense 
 cold. In Greenland the partridge is brown during summer; 
 but as soon as winter sets in, it becomes clothed with a thick 
 and warm down, and its exterior assumes the colour of the snows. 
 Near the mouth of the river Ol, in Russia, the partridges are 
 iu such quantities, that the adjacent mountains are crowded 
 with them. These birds have been seen variegated with white, 
 and sometimes entirely white, where the climate could not be 
 supposed to have any influence in this variation, and even 
 among those whose plumage was of the usual colour. 
 
 Partridges have ever held a distinguished place at the tables 
 of the luxurious, both in this country and in France. We have 
 an old distich, 
 
 If the partridge had the woodcock's thigh, 
 'Twould be the best bird that e'er did fly. 
 
 They generally pair early in February ; and sometimes after 
 pairing, if the weather be very severe, they collect together again, 
 and form into packs. The female lays her eggs, usually from 
 fifteen to eighteen in number, in a rude nest of dry leaves and 
 grass, formed upon the ground : these are of a greenish-grey 
 colour. The period of incubation is about three weeks. So 
 
THE PARTRIDGE. 35 
 
 closely do these birds sit on their eggs when near hatching, 
 that a partridge with her nest has been carried in a hat to some 
 distance, and in confinement she has continued her incubation, 
 and there produced young ones. The great hatch is about the 
 middle of June ; and the earliest birds begin to fly towards the 
 atter end of that month. The young brood are able to run 
 about as soon as they are hatched, and they are even sometimes 
 seen incumbered with a piece of a shell sticking to them. The 
 parents immediately lead them to ant hills, on the grubs of which 
 they at first principally feed. 
 
 At the season when the partridge is produced, the various 
 species of ants loosen the earth about their habitations. The 
 young birds therefore have only to scrape away the earth, and 
 they can satisfy their hunger without difficulty. A covey that 
 some years ago excited the attention of the Rev. Mr. Gould, 
 gave him an opportunity of remarking the great delight they 
 take in this kind of food. On his turning up a colony of ants, 
 and withdrawing to some distance, the parent birds conducted 
 their young to the hill, and fed very heartily. After a few days, 
 they grew more bold, and ventured to eat within twelve or four- 
 teen yards of him. The surrounding grass was high ; by which 
 means they could, on the least disturbance, immediately run 
 out of sight, and conceal themselves. The excellence of this 
 food for partridges may be ascertained from those that are bred 
 up under a domestic hen, if constantly supplied with ants' grubs 
 and fresh water, seldom failing to arrive at maturity. Along 
 with the grubs it is recommended to give them, at intervals, a 
 mixture of millepedes, or wood lice, and earwigs, to prevent 
 their surfeiting on one luxurious diet ; fresh curds mixed with 
 lettuce, chickweed, or groundsel, should also be given them. 
 
 The affection of partridges for their young is peculiarly in- 
 teresting. Both the parents lead them out to feed ; they point 
 out to them the proper places for their food, and assist them in 
 
36 THE PARTRIDGE. 
 
 finding it by scratching the ground with their feet. They fre- 
 quently sit close together, covering their young ones with their 
 wings ; and from this situation they are not easily roused. If, 
 however, they are disturbed, most persons acquainted with rural 
 affairs know the confusion that ensues. The male gives the 
 first signal of alarm, by a peculiar cry of distress ; throwing 
 himself at the same moment more immediately into the way of 
 danger, in order to mislead the enemy. He flutters along the 
 ground, hanging his wings, and exhibiting every symptom of de- 
 bility. By this stratagem he seldom fails of so far attracting 
 the attention of the intruder, as to allow the female to conduct 
 the helpless, unfledged brood into some place of security. 
 "A partridge (says Mr. White, who gives an instance of this 
 instinctive sagacity) came out of a ditch, and ran along shivering 
 with her wings, and crying out as if wounded and unable to get 
 from us. While the dam feigned this distress, a boy who at- 
 tended me, saw the brood, which was small and unable to fly, 
 run for shelter into an old fox's hole, under the bank." Mr. 
 Markwick relates, that " as he was once hunting with a young 
 pointer, the dog ran on a brood of very small partridges. The 
 old bird cried, fluttered, and ran tumbling along just before the 
 dog's nose, till she had drawn him to a considerable distance ; 
 when she took wing and flew farther off, but not out of the 
 field. On this the dog returned nearly to the place where the 
 young ones lay concealed in the grass ; which the old bird no 
 sooner perceived, than she flew back again, settled just before 
 the dog's nose, and a second time acted the same part, rolling 
 and tumbling about till she drew off his attention from her 
 brood, and thus succeeded in preserving them," 
 
 The eggs of the partridge are frequently destroyed by weasels, 
 stoats, crows, magpies, and other animals. When this has been 
 the case, the female frequently makes another nest and lays 
 afresh. The produce of these second hatchings is always a 
 
 
THE PARTRIDGE. 37 
 
 puny, sickly race ; and the individuals seldom outlive the rig- 
 ours of the winter; 
 
 It is said that those partridges which are hatched under a 
 domestic hen, retain through life the habit of catting when they 
 hear the clucking of hens. 
 
 The partridge, even when reared by the hand, soon neglects 
 those who have the care of it ; and shortly after its full growth, 
 always estranges itself from the house where it was bred. This 
 will almost invariably be its conduct, however intimately it may 
 have connected itself with the place and inhabitants in the early 
 part of its existence. Among the very few instances of the 
 partridge's remaining tame, was that of one reared by the Rev. 
 Mr. Bird. This, long after its full growth, attended the par- 
 lour at breakfast arid other times, received food from any hand 
 that gave it, and stretched itself before the fire and seemed 
 much to enjoy the warmth. At length, it fell a victim to the 
 decided foe of all favourite birds, a cat. 
 
 On the farm of Lion Hall, in Essex, belonging to Colonel 
 Hawker, a partridge, in the year 1788, formed her nest, and 
 hatched sixteen eggs on the top of a pollard oak tree* What 
 renders this circumstance more remarkable is, that the tree had 
 fastened to it the bars of a stile, where there was a footpath ; 
 and the passengers in going over, discovered and disturbed her 
 before she sat close. When the brood was hatched, they 
 scrambled down the short and rough boughs, which grew out all 
 around from the trunk of the tree, and reached the ground in 
 safety. 
 
 In the year 1798, the following occurrence took place at 
 East Dean, in Sussex, which will tend to prove that partridges 
 have no powers of migration. A covey of sixteen partridges 
 being routed by some men at plough, directed their flight across 
 the cliff to the sea, over which they continued their course about 
 three hundred yards. Either intimidated or otherwise affected 
 
38 THE PARTRIDGE. 
 
 by that element, the whole were then observed to drop into the 
 water. 
 
 It has long been a received opinion among sportsmen as well 
 as naturalists, that the female partridge has none of the bay 
 feathers on the breast (forming a kind of horse shoe) like the 
 male. This, however, on dissection, has proved to be a mis- 
 take ; for Mr. Montagu happening to kill nine birds in one day, 
 with very little variation as to the bay mark on the breast, he 
 was led to open them all, and discovered that five of them were 
 females. On carefully examining the plumage, he found that 
 the males could only be known by the superior brightness of 
 colour about the head ; which alone, after the first or second 
 year, seems to be the mark of distinction. 
 
THE QUAIL. 
 
 The Quail is an inhabitant of nearly all the countries of the 
 world, and in all is esteemed excellent food. In appearance it 
 is so like the partridge, as sometimes to be called the dwarf par- 
 tridge ; and in the manners of the two species there is a great 
 resemblance. They feed, form their nest, and rear their young, 
 nearly in the same way. They are, however, in many respects 
 very different. Quails migrate to other countries; they are 
 always smaller ; and have not a bare space between the eyes, 
 nor the figure of a horse shoe on their breasts. The eggs too 
 are less than those of the partridge, and very different in colour. 
 Their voices are unlike. Quails seldom live in covies ; except 
 when their wants unite the feeble family to their mother, or 
 some powerful cause urges at once the whole species to assem- 
 ble, and traverse together the extent of the ocean, holding their 
 course to the same distant lands. They are much less cunning 
 than the partridge ; and more easily ensnared, especially when 
 young. 
 
 The females lay about ten eggs, in the incubation of which 
 they are occupied three weeks. The eggs are whitish ; but 
 marked with ragged, rust-coloured spots. 
 
 These birds usually sleep during the day, concealed in the 
 tallest grass, lying on their sides, with their legs extended, in the 
 same spot, even for hours together. So very indolent are they, 
 that a dog must absolutely run upon them before they are 
 sprung; and when they are forced upon wing, they seldom fly 
 far. Quails are easily drawn within reach of a net, by a call 
 
 D2 
 
40 THE QUAIL. 
 
 imitating their cry, which is not unlike the words whit, whit, 
 whit : this is done with an instrument called a quail pipe. 
 
 They are found in some parts of Great Britain, but no where 
 in any great quantity. They are supposed to winter in Africa, 
 and return early in the spring. If to the circumstance of their 
 generally sleeping in the day, is added that of their being sel- 
 dom known to make their first annual appearance in the day 
 time, it may be inferred that they perform their journey by night, 
 and that they direct their course to those countries where the 
 harvest is preparing, and thus change their abode to obtain a 
 subsistence. On their arrival at Alexandria, such multitudes 
 are exposed in the markets for sale, that three or four may be 
 bought for a medina (less than three farthings). Crews of mer- 
 chant vessels have been fed upon them ; and complaints have 
 been laid at the consul's office by mariners against their cap- 
 tains, for giving them nothing but quails to eat. 
 
 With wind and weather in their favour, they have been 
 known to perform a flight of fifty leagues across the Black Sea 
 in the course of a night ; a wonderful distance for so short- 
 winged a bird. 
 
 Such prodigious quantities have appeared on the western 
 coasts of the kingdom of Naples, in the vicinity of Nettuno, 
 that a hundred thousand have been caught within the space of 
 three or four miles. Most of these are taken to Rome, where 
 they are in great request, and are sold at extremely high prices. 
 Clouds of quails also alight, in spring, along the coasts of Pro- 
 vence ; especially in the lands belonging to the Bishop of Fre- 
 jus, which border on the sea. Here they are sometimes found 
 so exhausted, that for a few of the first days they may be caught 
 
 with the hand In some parts of the south of Russia they 
 
 abound so greatly, that at the time of their migration they are 
 caught by thousands, and sent in casks to Moscow and Peters- 
 burgh. 
 
THE QUAIL. 41 
 
 Quails are birds of undaunted courage ; and their quarrels 
 often terminate in mutual destruction. This irascible disposition 
 induced the ancient Greeks and Romans to fight them with each 
 other, as the moderns do game cocks. And such favourites 
 were the conquerors, that, in one instance, Augustus punished a 
 prefect of Egypt with death, for bringing to his table one of 
 these birds which had acquired celebrity for ite victories. 
 
THE PHEASANT. 
 
 The characters of the pheasant tribe are a short, convex, and 
 strong bill ; the head more or less covered with carunculated 
 bare flesh on the sides, which, in some species, is continued up- 
 wards to the crown, and beneath so as to hang pendant under 
 each jaw ; and the legs, for the most part, furnished with spurs. 
 
 The females produce many young ones at a brood ; which 
 they take care of for some time, leading them abroad and point- 
 ing out food for them. These are at first clad with a thick, 
 soft down. The nests of the whole tribe are formed on the 
 ground. 
 
 THE PHEASANT. 
 
 This beautiful bird is very common in almost all the southern 
 parts of the old continent, whence it was originally imported 
 into our country. In America it is not known. 
 
 Pheasants are much attached to the shelter of thickets and 
 woods where the grass is very long ; but, like the partridges, 
 they often breed also in clover fields. They form their nests on 
 the ground : and the females lay from twelve to fifteen eggs, 
 which are smaller than those of the domestic hen. In the 
 mowing of clover near the woods frequented by pheasants, the 
 destruction of their eggs is sometimes very greatt Poultry hens 
 
THE PHEASANT. 43 
 
 are often kept ready for sitting on any eggs that may be exposed 
 by the scythe ; and with care, numbers are thus rescued from 
 destruction. The nest is usually composed of a few dry vege- 
 tables put carelessly together ; and the young follow the mother 
 like chickens, as soon as they break the shell. The pheasants 
 and their brood remain in the stubbles and hedge-rows, if un- 
 disturbed, for some time after the corn is ripe. If disturbed, 
 they seek the woods, and only issue thence in the mornings and 
 evenings to feed in the stubbies. They are very fond of corn : 
 they can, however, procure a subsistence without it ; since they 
 often feed on the wild berries of the woods and on acorns. 
 
 In confinement the female neither lays so many eggs, nor 
 hatches and rears her brood with so much care and vigilance, 
 as in the fields out of the immediate observation of man. In 
 a mew she will very rarely dispose them in a nest or sit upon 
 them at all. Indeed, in the business of incubation and rearing 
 the young, the domestic hen is generally made a substitute for 
 the hen pheasant. 
 
 The wings of these birds are very short, and ill adapted for 
 considerable flights. On this account, the pheasants on the 
 island called Isola Madre in the La-go Maggiore, at Turin, as 
 they cannot fly over the lake, are altogether imprisoned. When 
 they attempt to cross the lake, unless picked up by the boat- 
 men, they are always drowned. 
 
 The pheasant is in some respects a very stupid bird. On being 
 roused, it will often perch on a neighbouring tree ; where its at- 
 tention will be so fixed on the dogs, as to suffer any person 
 to approach very near. It has been asserted, that the pheasant 
 imagines itself out of danger whenever its head only is concealed. 
 Sportsmen, however, who will recount the stratagems that they 
 have known old cock pheasants adopt in thick and extensive 
 coverts, when they have found themselves pursued, before they 
 could be compelled to take wing, will convince us that this bird 
 
44 THE PHEASANT. 
 
 is by no means deficient in at least some of the contrivances ne- 
 cessary for its own preservation. 
 
 As the cold weather draws on, the pheasants begin to fly at 
 sunset into the branches of the oak trees, for roosting during the 
 night. This they do more frequently as the winter advances, 
 and the trees lose their foliage. The male birds, at these times, 
 make a noise, which they repeat three or four times, called by 
 sportsmen, coc&eting. The hens, on flying up, utter one shrill 
 whistle, and then are silent. Foxes destroy great numbers of 
 pheasants. 
 
 The males begin to crow the first week in March. This 
 noise can be heard at a considerable distance. They will occa- 
 sionally come into farm yards in the vicinity of coverts where 
 they abound, and sometimes produce a cross breed with the 
 common fowls. 
 
 It has been contended that pheasants are so shy as not to be 
 tamed without great difficulty. Where, however, their natural 
 fear of man has been counteracted from their having been bred 
 under his protection ; and where he has almost constantly ap- 
 peared before their eyes in their coverts, they will come to feed 
 immediately on hearing the keeper's whistle. They will follow 
 him in flocks ; and scarcely allow the pease to run from his bag 
 into the troughs placed for the purpose, before they begin to 
 eat. Those that cannot find room at one trough, follow him 
 with the same familiarity to others. 
 
 Pheasants are found in most parts of England ; but are sel- 
 dom seen in Scotland ; while in Ireland, I am not certain that 
 there are any in a state of freedom. Wood and corn lands 
 seem necessary to their existence. 
 
 The general weight of male pheasants is from two pounds and 
 twelve ounces, to three pounds and four ounces. That of the 
 hens, is usually about ten ounces less. 
 
 The female birds have sometimes been known to assume the 
 
THE PHEASANT. 45 
 
 elegant plumage'' of the male. But with pheasants in a state of 
 confinement, those that take this new plumage always become 
 barren, and are spurned and buffeted by the rest. From what 
 took place in a hen pheasant, in the possession of a lady, a 
 friend of Sir Joseph Banks, it would seem probable that this 
 change arises from some alteration of temperament at a late 
 period in the animal's life. This lady had paid particular atten- 
 tion to the breeding of pheasants. One of the hens, after hav- 
 ing produced several broods, moulted, and the succeeding fea- 
 thers were exactly those of a cock. This animal never after- 
 wards had young ones Similar observations have been made 
 respectinglhe pea nen. Lady Tynte had a favourite pied pea- 
 hen, which at eight several times produced chicks. Having 
 moulted when about eleven years old, the lady and her family 
 were astonished by her displaying the feathers peculiar to the 
 other sex, and appearing like a pied peacock. In this process 
 the tail, which was like that of the cock, first appeared. In the 
 following year she moulted again, and produced similar feathers. 
 In the third year she did the same, and then had also spurs 
 resembling those of the cock. The hen never bred after this 
 change of her plumage. She is now preserved in the Leverian 
 Museum. 
 
THE BUSTARD. 
 
 The bustards have a somewhat convex bill, with open and 
 oblong nostrils. The legs are long, and naked above the 
 knees. The feet have only three toes, all placed forward. 
 
 There are about twelve different species, all of which are con- 
 fined to the old continent. 
 
 THE GREAT BUSTARD. 
 
 This is the largest land fowl produced in our island, the male 
 often weighing twenty-five pounds and upwards. The length 
 is near four feet, and the breadth nine. The head and neck are 
 ash-coloured. The back is transversely barred with black, and 
 bright rust colour. The belly is white ; and the tail, consisting 
 of twenty feathers, is barred with red and black. The legs are 
 dusky. On each side of the lower mandible of the bill, there is 
 a tuft of feathers about nine inches long. 
 
 The female is not much more than half the size of the male. 
 The top of her head is of a deep orange, and the rest of the 
 head brown. Her colours are not so bright as those of the 
 male, and she wants the tuft on each side of the head. There 
 is likewise another very essential difference between the male and 
 the female : the former being furnished with a sack, or pouch, 
 situated in the fore part of the neck, and capable of containing 
 
THE BUSTARD. 47 
 
 above two quarts of water ; the entrance of which is immedi- 
 ately under the tongue. This singular reservoir was first dis- 
 covered by Dr. Douglas, who supposes that the bird fills it with 
 water to supply its thirst in the midst of those extensive plains 
 where it is accustomed to wander : it likewise makes a further 
 use of it in defending itself against the attacks of birds of prey ; 
 on these occasions it throws out the water with such violence, as 
 not un frequently to baffle the pursuit of its enemy; 
 
 This bird makes no nest ; but the female lays her eggs in 
 some hole in the ground, in a dry corn-field ; these are two in 
 number, as big as those of a goose, and of a pale olive brown, 
 marked with spots of a deeper colour. If, during her absence 
 from the nest, any one handles or even breathes upon the eggs, 
 she immediately abandons them. The young follow the dam 
 soon after they are excluded from the egg, but are not capable 
 for some time of flying. 
 
 Bustards are, I believe, confined to the old continent, and a 
 few of its adjacent islands; and feed on green corn, the tops of 
 turnips, and various other vegetables, as well as on worms ; but 
 they have been known to eat frogs, mice, and young birds of 
 the smaller kind, which they swallow whole. They are remark- 
 able for their great timidity ; carefully avoiding mankind, and 
 being easily driven away in whole herds by the smallest dog. 
 
 In England they are now and then met with in flocks of fifty 
 or more : they frequent the open countries of the south and 
 east parts, from Dorsetshire as far as the wolds in Yorkshire, 
 and are often seen on Salisbury plain. They are slow in taking 
 wing, but run with great rapidity ; and the young ones are even 
 sometimes coursed and taken by greyhounds. 
 
THE WOODCOCK. 
 
 This bird has a long, slender, straight bill. The nostrils are 
 linear, and lodged in a furrow. The head is intirely covered 
 with feathers. The feet have four toes, the hind one of which 
 is very short, and consists of several joints. The female wood- 
 cock may be distinguished from the male by a narrow stripe of 
 white along the lower part of the exterior veil of the outermost 
 feather of the wing. The same part in the outermost feather of 
 the male is elegantly and regularly spotted with black and red- 
 dish white. In the bastard wing of both is a small-pointed, 
 narrow feather, very elastic, and much sought after by painters, 
 as it makes a good pencil. 
 
 The woodcock, during summer, is an inhabitant of Norway, 
 Sweden, Lapland, and other northern countries, where it breeds. 
 But when winter approaches, the severe frosts of those northern 
 latitudes, by depriving it of food, force it southwards to milder 
 climates. These birds arrive in Great Britain in flocks ; some- 
 times as early as September, but not in great numbers till 
 November and December. They generally take advantage of 
 the night, being seldom seen to come before sun' set. The time 
 of their arrival depends much upon the prevailing winds ; for, 
 as they are unable to struggle with the boisterous gales of the 
 northern ocean, they wait for the advantage of a favourable 
 wind. When they have had bad weather to encounter on their 
 passage, they are frequently so much exhausted on their arrival 
 as to remain on the same spot many hours, almost helpless, and 
 much reduced in flesh, by the fatigue of their voyage. In very 
 
THE WOODCOCK. 49 
 
 stormy weather, we are told, they occasionally take refuge in 
 the rigging of vessels at sea, and that numbers are frequently 
 lost in their passage. 
 
 They feed on worms and insects, which they search for with 
 their long bills, in soft ground and moist woods, flying and 
 feeding principally in the night* They go out in the evening, 
 and generally return in the same direction, or through the same 
 glades, to their day retreat. 
 
 The greater part of them leave this country about the latter 
 end of February, or the beginning of March. They retire to 
 the coast ; and, if the wind be favourable, set out immediately ; 
 but if contrary, they are often detained for some time, and thus 
 afford good 'diversion to those sportsmen who reside near the 
 sea. 
 
 Very few of them remain in England during the summer ; 
 though instances of this kind occasionally happen, and the 
 female has been known to make a nest and lay eggs. But even 
 these instances have most likely arisen from the birds having 
 been so wounded by the sportsman in the winter, as to be dis- 
 abled from taking their long journey in spring. They build 
 their nests on the ground, generally at the foot of some tree, and 
 lay four or five eggs, the size of those of a pigeon, of a rusty 
 colour, and marked with brown spots. A single bird was ob- 
 served to remain in a coppice, belonging to a gentleman in Dor- 
 setshire, through the summer. The place, from its shady and 
 moist situation, was well calculated to maintain it ; yet, by 
 degrees, it lost almost all its feathers, so that for some time it 
 was unable to fly, and was often caught ; but in the autumn it 
 recovered its strength and feathers, and flew away. 
 
 Woodcocks generally weigh from twelve to fourteen ounces, 
 and are chiefly found in covers, particularly those with wet bot- 
 toms, and underneath holly bushes ; they are not, however, fond 
 of covers where there is long grass growing in the bottom, and 
 
50 THE WOODCOCK. 
 
 at the roots of the trees. In mild weather they are to be met 
 with chiefly in the open country, in hedge-rows, &c. but a severe 
 frost forces them to the thickest covers, and to springs and small 
 running streams that are sheltered with trees or underwood. 
 
 The sight of the woodcock is very indifferent in the day time, 
 but he sees better in the dusk of the evening and by moonlight ; 
 and it may also be remarked, that woodcocks will lie much better 
 the day following a moonlight night, thaa when it has been pre- 
 ceded by a very dark one : the reason is obvious the bird has 
 been enabled, by the light of the moon, to make a plentiful re- 
 past, and the next day is lazy and unwilling to fly ; whereas, 
 when the darkness of the night has rendered it impossible for 
 him to satisfy the calls of hunger, he is constantly uneasy, and 
 on the alert in search of food, which he never attempts to seek 
 but when necessity compels him. 
 
 Shooting woodcocks is a very pleasant amusement in woods 
 which are not too thick ; and, if they are cut through in several 
 places, it renders it more easy to shoot this bird in his passage 
 when he rises, and also to mark him with greater certainty ; and 
 woodcocks will generally be found near the openings or roads 
 through the woods, if there are any. In this diversion a good 
 marker is of essential service ; for with his assistance it will be 
 difficult for a woodcock to escape, as he will generally suffer 
 himself to be shot at three or four times, before he takes a long 
 flight. 
 
 The woodcock is a clumsy walker, and rises heavily from the 
 ground, which, I believe, is the case with most birds that have 
 long wings, and short legs. When a woodcock is found in an 
 open field, in a hedge-row, in the pass of a wood, or an un- 
 frequented lane, he skims the ground slowly, and is very easily 
 shot ; but it is occasionally otherwise, particularly when he is 
 flushed in a tall wood, where he is obliged to clear the tops o. 
 trees before he can take a horizontal direction ; at which time 
 
 
THE WOODCOCK. 51 
 
 he frequently rises very high, and with great rapidity,a nd it be- 
 comes very difficult to seize the moment of shooting, by reason 
 of the turnings and twistings which he is obliged to make, in 
 order to pass between the trees, 
 
 In this diversion a person is often employed as a beater, which 
 is highly necessary, and may be very useful at the same time in 
 marking. 
 
THE SNIPE. 
 
 Having given a particular description of the woodcock, it 
 will only be necessary to observe, that the plumage and shape of 
 the snipe are much the same ; and indeed its habits and man- 
 ners bear a great analogy. But there are three different sizes 
 of snipes, the largest of which, however, is much smaller than the 
 woodcock. The common snipe weighs about four ounces, the 
 jack snipe is not much bigger than a lark ; the large snipe weighs 
 about eight ounces, but is seldom met with. Some have sup- 
 posed that the common snipe is the jack's female ; however, the 
 contrary is now too well known to need a refutation in this 
 place. 
 
 Snipes are to be found all the winter in wet and marshy 
 grounds, particularly where there are rushes ; they are frequently 
 to be found on mountains and moors among the heath, but a 
 severe frost forces them to the springs and running streams. 
 Numbers of these birds remain with us all the year, and breed 
 in our marshes, laying generally six eggs the latter end of May. 
 In saying this, I wish to be understood as meaning the common 
 snipe ; for I am of opinion the jack snipe, like the woodcock, 
 goes to a more southern latitude to breed ; though he is some- 
 times seen here in the summer, which may arise from similar 
 causes to those which have induced the occasional stay of the 
 woodcock. But numbers of the common snipe are found to stay 
 and breed from choice, though by far the greater part migrate 
 for this purpose. 
 
 The snipe is generally regarded as a difficult shot ; and it must 
 
THE SNIPE. 53 
 
 be allowed that it requires practice to surmount this difficulty, 
 which arises from the zig-zag manner in which the bird flies 
 immediately after rising. The best method to pursue in this 
 diversion, is to walk down the wind, as snipes generally fly 
 against it ; and if a snipe rise before the sportsman, it will not 
 fly far before it turns, and describes a sort of semi-circle, which 
 will afford more time to take aim, by thus remaining longer 
 within gun-shot. If, however, the bird should fly straight for- 
 ward, it will be highly proper to let it get some little distance, 
 as its flight will become much steadier. The slightest wound is 
 sufficient to bring these birds to the ground. 
 
 An old pointer is the best in snipe shooting. To accustom 
 a young dog to snipes, slackens his mettle, and renders him of 
 little use for partridge or grouse, owing to getting a number of 
 points with little exertion. However, when these birds are 
 plentiful, a dog is unnecessary > as walking them up will answer 
 equally well. 
 
THE HARE. 
 
 Strictly speaking, this animal is an improper object for the 
 shooting sportsman ; in fact, there is an act of parliament which 
 subjects any person to a penalty for shooting a hare ; but this 
 act is superseded by a posterior one, and the practice of shoot- 
 ing these animals has become very general. 
 
 The hare is one of the most timid animals in nature ; fearful 
 of every danger, and attentive to every alarm, it is continually 
 upon the watch ; and being provided with very long ears, which 
 are moveable at pleasure, and easily directed to any quarter, it 
 is warned of the distant approach of its enemies. As the hare 
 is destitute of the means of defence, nature has endowed it with 
 powers of evasion in a superior decree : every part and member 
 of this animal seems peculiarly formed for celerity, and it is con- 
 sequently one of the swiftest quadrupeds in the world. Its hind 
 legs are much longer than the fore ones, and are furnished with 
 strong muscles, which give it a singular advantage in running 
 up a hill ; and of this it appears very sensible, as it is generally 
 observed to fly towards rising ground when first started. 
 
 The colour of this animal is another great means of preserva- 
 tion, as it often so much resembles the ground on which it sits, 
 as not to be easily distinguished. In cold countries, near the 
 pole, where the ground is covered the greatest part of the year 
 with snow, the hare becomes white, which consequently renders 
 it less conspicuous in those frigid regions. 
 
 Thus formed for escape, it might be supposed the hare would 
 enjoy a state of tolerable security ; but, although harmless and 
 
THE HARE. 55 
 
 inoffensive in itself, it has no friend. Dogs of all kinds, as well 
 as foxes, pursue it, seemingly by instinct; wildcats, weasels, &c. 
 catch and destroy it ; birds of prey are still more dangerous 
 enemies ; while man, more powerful than all, makes use of every 
 artifice to obtain a creature, which constitutes one of the numer- 
 ous delicacies of his table. 
 
 According to naturalists, the hare lives six or seven years, and 
 attains its full growth in one. It engenders frequently before it 
 is a year old. The buck seeks the doe principally from the 
 month of December to the month of April* The female goes 
 with young thirty or thirty- one days, and brings forth generally 
 two young ones, though they have been known to produce 
 three or four, and deposits them in a tuft of grass or heath, or 
 in a little bush, without any apparent preparation. 
 
 The ridiculous assertions which some writers on natural his- 
 tory have made, viz. of hares being generally hermaphrodites, 
 or of their changing their sex every month, as well as of pos- 
 sessing the power of superfetation, are too glaringly absurd to 
 need a detailed refutation in this place. The circumstance which 
 seems to have given rise to the first of these notions is the forma- 
 tion of the genital parts of the male hare, whose testicles do not 
 obviously appear, especially when he is young, being contained 
 in the same cover with the intestines. Another reason is, that 
 on the side of the penis, which is scarcely to be distinguished, 
 there is an oblong and deep slit ; the orifice of which, in some 
 measure, resembles the vulva of the female. The male and 
 female are known to the sportsman by the following distinctions: 
 the head of the male is more short and round, the whiskers 
 long, the shoulders more ruddy, and the ears shorter and broader 
 than those of the female ; whose head is long and narrow, the 
 ears long and sharp at the tip, the fur on the back of a grey 
 colour, inclining to black, and in point of size she is frequently 
 found smaller than the male. There is also considerable differ- 
 
56 THE HARE. 
 
 ence in the feet. In the male, the feet are small and pointed, 
 and the nails short ; whereas, in the female, they are much 
 larger and more spread ; the nails also are much longer. 
 
 Two species of hares may be distinguished : those of the wood, 
 and those of the plain. The hares of the wood are in general 
 much larger than those of the open ground : the fur is not of so 
 dark a colour, and they are better covered with it ; they are also 
 swifter in the chase, and their flesh has a better flavour. Among 
 the hares of the plain, those may be distinguished which inhabit 
 marshes : they are not so swift of foot, are less covered with 
 fur, and their flesh is not so fine flavoured and delicate. 
 
 A young hare, that has attained the full growth, may be known 
 from an old one by feeling the knee joints of the fore legs with 
 the thumb nail. When the heads of the two bones, which form 
 the joints, are so close, that little or no space is to be perceived 
 between them, the hare is old. If, on the contrary, there is a 
 perceptible separation, the hare is young ; and is more or less so, 
 in proportion to the separation of the bones. It may also be 
 known whether a hare is old or young, but without pretending 
 to ascertain the precise age, by compressing the under jaw- 
 bones : if they break at the point immediately under the fore- 
 teeth, upon a slight degree of pressure, the hare is certainly a 
 young one ; but if considerable force is required, the contrary 
 may be inferred. 
 
 The hare is very prolific, and I believe the female will some- 
 times take the buck the latter end of the same season the early 
 part of which gave it birth. In fact, were it not for its surpris- 
 ing fecundity, the species (in England at least) would soon 
 become extinct* To say nothing of its other numerous enemies, 
 this animal appears the peculiar object of the poacher. There 
 are various methods of taking them, and so little skill is required, 
 that any bungler is able to execute tis purpose. The wire 
 snare is most commonly employed by poachers ; though I be- 
 
THE HARE. 57 
 
 lieve it is not generally known, that hares may be covered on 
 their seats in the day time with a net, much easier than a covey 
 of partridges. 
 
 Those who are desirous of having hares very numerous in 
 their parks, or warrens, should destroy some of the buck hares 
 before the rutting season ; as, if the latter are left in great x num- 
 bers, they will prevent the does breeding properly, by their 
 incessant teazing. 
 
 
58 
 
 THE WILD DUCK. 
 
 Wild ducks are very artful birds. They do not always build 
 their nest close to the water ; but often at a good distance from 
 it ; in which case, the female will take the young in her beak, 
 or between her legs, to the water. They have been known 
 sometimes to lay their eggs in a high tree, in a deserted magpie 
 or crow's nest ; and an instance has likewise been recorded of 
 one being found at Etchingham, in Sussex, sitting upon nine 
 eggs, in an oak, at the height of twenty-five feet from the 
 ground : the eggs were supported by some small twigs, laid 
 cross way s, 
 
 Wild-duck-shooting appears to be a diversion by no means 
 calculated to promote health, since these fowls are chiefly to be 
 found in marshes and other wet places. 
 
 The dog best calculated for this diversion is a water-spaniel, 
 which ought to be taught to fetch a duck out of the water. As 
 to a dog setting this kind of game, it is quite out of the ques- 
 tion. The places where the ducks are known to resort, should 
 be beat with as little noise as possible, and the sportsman must 
 take his chance of their rising within gun-shot. 
 
 These birds may be shot in winter at the dawn of day, and 
 also at the dusk of the evening, when they fly in search of food. 
 In very severe frosts, they are compelled to seek those springs 
 and running streams that do not freeze, in order to find aquatic 
 
THE WILD DUCK. 5Q 
 
 herbs, which, at this period are their only food. The shooter 
 should then follow the course of these streams at any time of 
 the day. Coracles or small boats are useful on large pieces of 
 water. 
 
 Wigeon and Teal are found in the marshes. The former is 
 nearly as large as a duck, the latter much smaller ; both resemble 
 the duck in form and manners. 
 
60 
 
 
 BREEDING POINTERS & SETTERS. 
 
 This subject has been already noticed under the head Setter, 
 as well as under that of Pointer, but in what may be called the 
 outline only : it will therefore be necessary, in this place, to 
 descend to those particulars, without which, I should regard the 
 present volume as incomplete. 
 
 In the first place, I would wish it to be fully impressed upon 
 the mind of the sportsman, that, whenever, by judicious crosses 
 or otherwise, he has obtained a breed of first-rate excellence, 
 he must, nevertheless, in order to preserve such excellence, call 
 in the assistance of other breeds of repute ; since, if he confine 
 the propagation to the same family, the strain will degenerate, 
 and in the third or fourth generation become literally good for 
 nothing. Relationship should be as much as possible avoided 
 in breeding, nor can any better plan be adopted than procuring 
 either the dog or bitch from a distant part of the country. 
 Thus by crossing the Norfolk and the Yorkshire blood, the 
 two best greyhounds (Snowball and Major) ever known, were 
 produced. 
 
 The ill consequences of breeding in and in, to use a sports- 
 man's phrase, are now tolerably well known, and the remark is 
 not confined to dogs only, but would seem to apply equally per- 
 haps to the whole circle of nature. The judicious farmer, aware 
 of the evil, spares neither expense nor pains in crossing his 
 horses, cows, and sheep ; his pigs and poultry. Even the hu- 
 man species, by the intermarriages of families strikingly exempli- 
 fies these observations degeneracy of mind as of body is thus 
 
BREEDING POINTERS, &C. 61 
 
 produced ; scrofulous diseases are the certain result ; and hence 
 scrofula is less frequent in large towns ; but is uniformly found 
 to prevail in all secluded villages, where the continued inter- 
 course of the same families has existed for a few generations. 
 
 If, therefore, the object of the sportsman be to procure and 
 maintain a good breed of pointers or setters, let him have re- 
 course to other breeds of pointers or setters of undisputed merit, 
 if from a distant part the better perhaps ; but if his neighbour's 
 dogs stand in no degree of affinity, he need not be at the trouble 
 of seeking for greater strangers. 
 
 The foregoing remarks are not exclusively applicable to ani- 
 mated nature, but may be very justly extended to the vegetable 
 world : hence the farmer never sows corn on the land where it 
 was produced ; and hence seed potatoes grown in Scotland are 
 imported into Lancashire, where this useful vegetable attains the 
 utmost possible perfection. 
 
 The best modes of crossing have been already pointed out 
 under the articles setter and pointer in a great degree ; but I will 
 take the liberty further to observe, in addition to the remarks 
 made in the last paragraph, that a pointer from Spain, Portugal, 
 or France, crossed with a deep-flewed hound (I believe the true 
 talbot is no longer to be found in Great Britain or Ireland) will 
 produce excellent dogs ; or they may be crossed with a pointer 
 already naturalized as it were in this country, and the result an- 
 ticipated with confidence. But there cannot be a worse cross 
 than the pointer and setter see the article Pointer >, page 18. 
 
 If the opinion be correct, that the setter was originally pro- 
 duced by the conjunction of the talbot or blood-hound and the 
 springer (and I have no objection to believe it), for want of the 
 former a reproduction of this sort seems out of the question, 
 unless recourse be had to Denmark or Norway, where I am told 
 the talbot is still to be found. The blood-hound of Cuba and 
 the West Indies is a very different animal, and no way calcu- 
 
62 BREEDING POINTERS, &C. 
 
 lated to improve the breed of dogs in this country, however it 
 may be admired by the Spaniards : it is employed for a horrible 
 purpose, and is extremely fierce and courageous its master is 
 still more ferocious. 
 
 However, there are, I believe, to be met with, particularly in 
 Sootland, setters of first-rate excellence, probably superior to 
 the best breed of pointers. At all events, if setters be the ob- 
 ject of the sportsman, let him select the sire and dam from families 
 of repute, and let the individuals, if possible, be remarkable, not 
 only for goodness of nose, but beauty of form, good temper and 
 the middle size. No better rule can be adopted in breeding 
 pointers, or indeed any other kind of dogs. 
 
 A bitch will become proud very frequently before she is 
 twelve months old, the first symptoms of which are the red ap- 
 pearance and swelling of the vulva; but she will not, for some 
 days suffer the dog to ward her : however, as the heat advances, 
 she will play and dally with him, and manifest every inclination 
 to copulate. But as these animals grow generally till they are 
 nearly two years old, they ought not to be suffered to breed 
 before that period. 
 
 To breed from either an old dog or bitch is improper. How- 
 ever, when two animals are chosen for this purpose, they should 
 remain together for some time, one night, for instance, is suffi- 
 cient ; but where the dog is only once admitted, the bitch will 
 sometimes prove barren. Nor is it a little remarkable, that, if 
 you suffer a bitch to receive several dogs, such as a terrier, a 
 greyhound, a bulldog, &c. she will produce puppies of all the 
 different kinds. 
 
 Young dogs should be tied up or confined as little as possible, 
 as it spreads their feet, and they become out at the elbows, and 
 bandy legged. The same effects will be produced in a full 
 grown dog, but in a much less degree. Dogs of all ages should 
 have free access to good clean water, a clear stream if possible. 
 
BREEDING POINTERS, &C. G3 
 
 The period of gestation in the bitch is about sixty-three days, 
 and she produces from four to ten at a litter. The young are 
 brought forth blind : the two eye-lids are not merely glued to- 
 gether, but shut up with a membrane, which is torn off as soon 
 as the muscles of the upper eye-lids acquire sufficient strength 
 to overcome this obstacle to vision, which generally happens 
 about the tenth day. At this period the young animals are 
 extremely clumsy and awkward. The bones of the head are not 
 completed ; the body and muzzle are bloated, and the whole 
 figure appears ill-designed. Their growth, however, is rapid ; 
 and in about six weeks they acquire the use of all their senses. 
 When four months old, they lose their teeth, which are quickly 
 replaced, and are never afterwards changed. 
 
 A dog's age may be tolerably well ascertained by the appear- 
 ance of his teeth. A young dog's teeth generally look clean 
 and white ; at an early period of his existence, his front teeth 
 are serrated, and as he increases in age, this saw-like appearance 
 gradually wears out. At four years old, or perhaps sooner, it 
 is no longer observable : the teeth turn yellow, fade, and drop 
 out as the animal grows old ; and if he be fed principally on 
 bones his teeth become short and blunt at an early period. A 
 dog, if worked hard, will turn grey at eight or nine years of age, 
 and exhibit every symptom of decay such as bad sight, loss of 
 hearing, &c. Fourteen years is the general period allotted for 
 the life of a dog ; but if he be kept to hard labour each season, 
 he will seldom live so long. 
 
 The best time for a bitch to take the dog is the month of 
 March, when the whelps will have all the advantages of the sum- 
 mer, and will have become sufficiently strong to endure the 
 rigour of the hardest winter. 
 
 There are various methods recommended to prevent a bitch 
 from taking the dog, if she happens to become proud at an im- 
 proper period, mo&t of which are ridiculous enough : I know of 
 
64 BREEDING POINTERS, &C. 
 
 but two effectual remedies, the first is to keep the bitch under 
 lock and key ; where this is inconvenient, if her shape\*Q touched 
 with a red hot iron, so as to make it sufficiently sore, without 
 seriously injuring the animal, she will not suffer the conjuHCtion 
 of the dog : the reason is obvious, the pain caused, under these 
 circumstances, by his approaches, will induce the bitch to resist, 
 and drive him off 
 
 Dogs, and young ones in particular, should be kept in the 
 country. If when a whelp be taken from its dam, it is fed upon 
 light food, such as potatoes and buttermilk, with a little oatmeal, 
 &c. and seldom or never indulged with carrion, or flesh of any 
 kind, it will scarcely ever be attacked with the distemper, a 
 disease which has been long known in this country, and which 
 makes frightful havoc among dogs bred in towns, highly fed, 
 and which have little exercise: exercise in particular is a very 
 essential requisite to the health of young dogs. 
 
 In selecting whelps for the purpose of rearing, the sportsman 
 will of course consult his own judgment, and will no doubt 
 choose the most vigorous. Whelps may be taken from the dam 
 at five or six weeks old, or so soon as they will lap sufficiently. 
 If the sportsman is desirous of rearing more whelps than the 
 dam can conveniently suckle, he must procure a foster-mother. 
 If another bitch happens to pup about the same time, she will 
 adopt strangers, if her own are taken away, particularly if they 
 are rubbed with her own whelps, or her own milk : indeed a 
 bitch will frequently suffer strangers and her own to suck at the 
 same time. It is a bad plan to keep whelps in ^a stable, as 
 they are very liable to be trod upon ; indeed grown dogs are best 
 out of the stable for the same reason. 
 
 When puppies leare the bitch, her teats should be anointed 
 or washed several times, with warm vinegar and brandy. 
 
 My whelps are always reared in the country, and sleep in 
 kennels in the open air, and I have never had a whelp (thus 
 
BREEDING POINTERS, &C. 65 
 
 treated) even injured by the distemper. I feed them in the man- 
 ner above described, and if they happen to be costive, I give 
 them a table spoonful of syrup of buckthorn. However, with 
 a view to ascertain the effect of a different mode of treatment, I 
 took a whelp into the house, fed him plentifully with bones and 
 flesh, and suffered him to lie before the fire and to take but little 
 exercise. He was attacked with the distemper when he was 
 nearly five months old, and died after lingering several weeks ; 
 but for a week before his dissolution, he became so exceedingly 
 offensive that it was impossible to keep him in the house. In 
 another similar experiment, the animal, by good nursing and 
 medicine, lived through the distemper apparently, but never 
 enjoyed health; it was incapable of much exertion, and was at 
 length attacked with convulsions, the violence of which encreased 
 to such a degree, that I was under the necessity of destroying 
 it, at the age of fifteen months. 
 
 Spaying bitches or castrating dogs is a diabolical practice. 
 The animals, shortly after the operation, grow extremely fat, and 
 very soon become useless. 
 
 Worming puppies is a ridiculous operation ; it will not have 
 the effect, which is erroneously attributed to it, namely, of 
 rendering the animal incapable of biting when labouring un- 
 der paroxysms of hydrophobia. How it ever could be supposed 
 that extracting a sinew which runs longitudinally under a dog's 
 tongue would have the above effect, is a matter of surprise ; 
 and I blush at my own thoughtlessness in adopting in several 
 instances the foolish idea, the offspring of ignorance, and putting 
 an animal to pain, where no possible benefit could ever be rea- 
 sonably expected. 
 
 I have known cantharides given to a bitch, in order to induce 
 her to take the dog. It is an injurious, and consequently a bad, 
 method ; and such as I should not recommend under any cir- 
 cumstances* 
 
 F3 
 
66 
 
 
 IT has been shewn, in the early part of this volume, that wild 
 animals reclaimed from a state of nature and domesticated, are 
 susceptible of great change and variety in form, colour, and cha- 
 racter ; and owing no doubt to being thus compelled to assume 
 in some degree, an artificial mode of life, they are rendered more 
 liable to disorders. Animals in a state of nature are little subject 
 to disease : and though the wild dog subsists on flesh and car- 
 rion, it is more than probable he is never troubled with what is 
 distinguished by the appellation of the distemper, or any of that 
 long catalogue of disorders, to which the dog is rendered obnox- 
 ious after having become the companion of man. However, thus 
 much may be very truly observed, that if a dog be properly fed 
 and exercised, has plenty of good clean water, and his bed kept 
 clean, he will not in general be much troubled with disease ; and 
 this rule will be found to obtain more particularly if he be kept 
 in the country. 
 
 THE DISTEMPER. 
 
 The distemper generally attacks a dog before he has attained 
 his first year. As a preliminary observation, it may be remarked, 
 that the same membrane which lines the nostrils extends down 
 the wind pipe into the lungs ; and the distemper, in the first 
 
THE DISTEMPER. 67 
 
 instance, may be regarded as an inflammation of this membrane ; 
 which, if not timely removed extends down to the lungs, where 
 suppuration will soon be produced ; when the animal's eye will 
 become dull, accompanied shortly after by a mucous discharge, a 
 cough, and loss of appetite. As the disease advances it presents 
 various appearances, but is frequently attended with twitchings 
 about the head, while the animal becomes excessively weak in 
 the loins and hinder extremities ; indeed he appears completely 
 emaciated, and smells intolerably. At length, the twitchings 
 assume the appearance of convulsive fits, accompanied with 
 giddiness, which cause the dog to turn round : he has a constant 
 disposition to dung, with obstinate costiveness, or incessant 
 purging, 
 
 On the first appearance of the symptoms which I have de- 
 scribed, I should recommend the dog to be bled,* and his body- 
 opened with a little castor oil : this will sometimes remove the 
 disease altogether, if applied the moment the first symptoms 
 appear. If, however, this treatment should not have the desir- 
 ed effect and a cough ensues, accompanied with a discharge at 
 the nose, give him from two grains to eight of tartar emetic 
 (according to the age and size of the dog) every other day. 
 Also a seton or blister on the side will be serviceable, if adopted 
 prior to suppuration of the lungs taking place. When the ner- 
 vous symptoms ensue, which I have already described, external 
 stimulants (such as sal-ammoniac and oil, equal parts) should 
 be rubbed along the course of the spinal marrow, and tonics 
 given internally, such as bark, &c. 
 
 There are few game-keepers, who will not tell you, that they 
 can cure the distemper; and assume an air of mysterious secrecy 
 if questioned as to the remedy ; but they so frequently experi- 
 ence the inefficacy of their own receipt, as to place its infalli- 
 
 * The quantity of blood taken to be regulated by the age and size of 
 the dog; 
 
68 
 
 THE DISTEMPER. 
 
 bility out of question, and even to induce doubt as to its most 
 remote propriety. Of the various remedies, the following was 
 given with success to a dog, so afflicted as to be scarcely able to 
 
 stand : 
 
 Tiirbeth's mineral, six grains, 
 
 mixed with sulphur, and divided into three doses, one given every 
 other morning. Let a few days elapse, and repeat the course. 
 
 Another : 
 
 Calomel, one grain and a half 
 rhubarb, five grains 
 given every other day for a week. 
 
 Another : 
 
 Antimonial powder, sixteen grains 
 powdered fox-glove, one grain 
 
 made into four bolusses with conserve of roses, and one given at 
 night, and another the next morning for two days. 
 
 I have known whitening administered for the distemper, a 
 table spoonful every morning, with a little opening physic occa- 
 sionally. 
 
 I am not aware of any other remedies worth notice, though 
 a great number might be added, if we could give credit to the 
 stories retailed by dealers in dogs as well as game-keepers. Of 
 the recipes given, I prefer the last but one ; but much will be 
 found to depend on good nursing, and particularly to prevent 
 the animal from taking cold. From what I have witnessed of 
 Elaine's medicine I should not recommend it. 
 
 It is very adviseable to inoculate for the distemper. If you 
 can meet with a dog already afflicted, take a little muscous from 
 his nose, and insert it up the nostrils of your whelp, after having 
 prepared him by a dose or two of syrup of buckthorn ; if the 
 animal does not take the disease, repeat the operation. By in- 
 oculating for the distemper, the disease will be as much less 
 severe, as the inoculated small pox compared to what is called 
 the natural mode of taking it. 
 
THE DISTEMPER. 69 
 
 A dog never has the distemper twice, nor does it ever attack 
 him after he has attained the age of two years ; but generally 
 makes its appearance before the animal is twelve months old. 
 A notion became prevalent a few years back, that by inoculating 
 a dog with the cow pock, the distemper would be prevented. 
 
 The Cow Pock. Dr. Jenner has asserted that by inoculating 
 dogs for the cow-pock, a " disease similar to that which is called 
 the dog's distemper is produced, but in a very slight degree. 
 What is most remarkable (adds Dr. Jenner) this inoculation 
 renders them afterwards unsusceptible of that affection." Dr. 
 Jenner is certainly no mean authority; but, having tried the 
 experiment a number of times, from what I have witnessed, I 
 can assert, that unless much more than ordinary pains are taken in 
 the operation, no disease whatever whatever will be produced ; 
 and when at length, pustules have been raised, they have not 
 been attended with symptoms any way resembling what is called 
 the distemper. 
 
 The catalogue of dog diseases is extended in some publica- 
 tions to a puzzling length, where the various ramifications or 
 different stages of each disease receive a new name, in direct 
 violation of that clearness and perspicuity so preferable, indeed 
 so essentially requisite, in a statement of cases, many of which 
 are frequently doubtful even to the skilful and experienced. 
 Young dogs are very subject to worms, and appearances thus 
 produced are too often mistaken for other disorders, receive vari- 
 ous appellations, and are treated in the most injudicious manner. 
 I shall finish this article by mentioning what I have been in- 
 formed will cure the distemper ; but I have never tried it ; and 
 am rather sceptical as to the fact : 
 
 One clove of garlic given every or every other day, or accord- 
 ing to the violence of the disorder. 
 
70 
 
 WORMS. 
 
 Dogs, like human beings, are subject to worm diseases of 
 various kinds. A disorder, generally distinguished by the ap- 
 pellation of lank madness is produced by short thick worms, 
 which occasionally breed in prodigious quantities in the animal's 
 stomach and intestines. This, and what is denominated sleep- 
 ing madness, appear to be merely two names for the same disease. 
 When a dog is thus afflicted he will become lean, though he 
 will feed voraciously ; as the disorder increases, his appetite in a 
 great degree forsakes him ; his eyes appear dull and drowsy, 
 and he will manifest an almost continual inclination for slumber, 
 without being able, however, to sleep soundly : 
 
 Take of calomel, six grains 
 
 common soap, two scruples 
 
 made into two bolusses, one of which to be given at night, and 
 the other the following morning : after two days, the same to be 
 repeated, and in four days more, give the following : 
 
 Extract of coloquintida, two scruples 
 
 made into three bolusses and one given every morning ; on the 
 fourth morning, give the animal a table spoonful of syrup of 
 buckthorn. If the worms should not be entirely destroyed in 
 a little time, repeat the course. 
 
 Dogs are often troubled with large worms, which, without 
 medicine, are occasionally voided singly or in clusters. Their 
 existence may be known by the dog's voracity and leanness. 
 
WORMS. 71 
 
 The best remedy is the preceding, though the following may 
 probably answer the purpose : 
 
 Calomel, three grains 
 
 jalap, twenty grains 
 
 golden sulphur of antimony, four grains 
 
 mixed up with butter or lard into one dose. Three of these 
 doses to be given one every other morning. 
 
 A table spoonful or two of linseed oil given the first 
 thing in a morning will frequently bring away a quantity of 
 worms : but it can never be depended on as an effectual remedy 
 for the following reason : upon the linseed oil being swallowed, 
 those worms with which it comes in contact, that are not fas- 
 tened on the intestines, but loose as it were, in expectation of 
 food, will be brought away ; but such as are fast to the intestines 
 (and many will be always found so situated) stick like leeches, 
 and thus prevent the effects of the oil. There is nothing so ef- 
 fectual as calomel. Calomel administered externally, in toler- 
 able plenty, upon the human subject, will destroy worms in the 
 stomach. If the worms are situated near the anus, the calomel 
 may be so completely absorbed, when taken inwardly, as to lose 
 its effect before it reaches that part ; some tobacco smoke blown 
 up the anus (which may be easily done by inserting the thin end 
 of a pipe) will most completely destroy these noxious vermin, 
 and they will be voided most likely, in prodigious numbers. 
 
 The remark which was made on the last article would equally 
 apply in this place, respecting the numerous remedies prescribed 
 for the same disease. What are mentioned throughout are 
 sucji as will be found to answer the purpose ; and to give a 
 number of doubtful and ineffectual recipes, for the sake of mak- 
 ing a long list, or giving a false air of importance to the subject, 
 would be as perplexing to the reader, as it would be contempt- 
 ible and even dishonest, in the writer. 
 
 However, for uorms, generally speaking, the following may 
 
72 WORMS. 
 
 be regarded as a sovereign remedy, and there are few cases 
 which it will not effectually cure take 
 
 Linseed oil - 9 half a pint 
 
 oil of turpentine, two drachms* 
 
 repeat the dose, if necessary. 
 
 The leaves of the walnut tree, General Hanger informs us are 
 an effectual remedy for worms. " In summer, when the leaves 
 are green, they must be dried and baked on a plate before the 
 fire, then rubbed to a fine powder with the hands. In winter, 
 when dry, you must buy them at the medical herb shop, Covent 
 Garden. I gave my dog two largish tea-spoons full, heaped 
 up ; first boiling half a pint of milk, letting it cool, and putting 
 the powdered leaves into it : the dog will take it well ; but he 
 will not take it in grease, for the leaves have a very strong 
 taste and smell. By the bye, I caution all sportsmen never to 
 give dogs milk, which has not been boiled, for it will purge them 
 as much as a dose of physic. I gave my dog, eight days follow- 
 ing, one dose ; after which, for above two months, he never 
 voided one single worm. 
 
 There is a peculiar excellence in these leaves ; they never, in 
 the least, purged my dog : his body was in the same state, as 
 if I never had given him any thing. This is a vast benefit ; 
 for, as it does not purge the dog, it may be given him even 
 when he hunts. I am told by medical men, who have studied 
 botany, that walnut leaves are a positive poison to worms, but 
 by no means detrimental to man or beast. 
 
 You may observe, in the autumn, when the caterpillars and 
 grubs eat the leaves of trees, and destroy the garden stuff, you 
 will never see the leaves of walnut trees eaten by them : no 
 caterpillar nor grub will approach a walnut tree. Besides, I 
 will give you another proof of their abhorrence of walnut leaves : 
 
 " I am supposing a full grown dog. 
 
CONVULSIONS OR FITS. 73 
 
 in summer, when the ground is so dry that you cannot dig for 
 worms to go fishing with, fill a pail, about one-third full, of 
 walnut tree leaves, and pour a large kettle of boiling water on 
 them ; cover the pail over with a thick cloth, and let them 
 stand till cold ; then go to a bowling green, where you observe 
 many worm casts ; spread the water over the grass, and the 
 worms will immediately come up above the ground. This I 
 have tried" 
 
 CONVULSIONS OR FITS. 
 
 Complaints of this nature are sometimes caused by an accum- 
 ulation of worms in the stomach, which in the first stage create 
 giddiness, and end in violent convulsive paroxysms. When the 
 complaint is to be attributed to worms, the animal will have an 
 itching at the nose and fundament, and will sneeze frequently. 
 In this case, the best treatment is what has been already pre- 
 scribed for worms. When convulsions proceed from other 
 causes, which will be generally known by a wild appearance in 
 the animal's eyes, frothing at the mouth, when labouring under 
 the most violent paroxysm of convulsion, the dog may be re- 
 covered by being thrown into the water, perhaps a bucket of 
 water thrown over him might answer the purpose : but this is 
 merely a temporary relief; and to eradicate the disease, recourse 
 must be had to something more effectual. In the first place, 
 the animal should lose a few ounces of blood (from three to six 
 
7 t CONVULSIONS OR FITS. 
 
 ounces, according to his size and strength) when the following 
 should be administered : 
 
 Jalap, one scruple 
 
 cream of tartar, half a dram 
 
 water, one ounce, 
 
 mixed ; half taken the morning after the dog has been bled ; 
 the other half in two hours after, well shaken : a rowel should 
 afterwards be put in the neck, and kept open for a considerable 
 time : the following should then be given : 
 
 Peruvian bark, half an ounce 
 water, half a pint 
 
 boiled for a few minutes and strained ; then add, sweet spirit of 
 nitre, one dram : a table spoonful to be given every two hours, 
 the animal afterwards to be kept on a mild nourishing diet. 
 
 When convulsions arise from indigestion, the following has 
 been generally found efficacious : from two to eight grains of 
 tartar emetic (according to the age and size of the dog) and in 
 two days after, give the following : 
 Calomel, six grains 
 Barbadoes aloes, half a dram. 
 
 Divide into six doses, and administer one every or perhaps 
 every other morning, as you may judge the patient can bear 
 it : when you may give tonics, as recommended under the head 
 Distemper. 
 
 What is called the megrim or giddiness in the head is a 
 species of fit, and may be removed by bleeding. The same 
 disease is, by some, denominated falling madness (a ridiculous 
 name certainly) from, I suppose, the animal occasionally falling 
 from giddiness. When thus afflicted, the dog will frequently 
 rub his feet against the sides of his mouth, and appear as if he 
 had a bone in his throat. Any of these symptoms will give way 
 to the treatment just described : and where the disorder is 
 
BLEEDING. 75 
 
 not very violent, it may generally be removed by bleeding ; 
 which, as it has formed a principal feature for the last few pages, 
 it may not be amiss to say a word or two on the best mode of 
 performing the operation, under a distinct head. 
 
 BLEEDING. 
 
 In speaking on this subject, I am not supposing that the 
 sportsman is a member of the medical profession in any of its 
 branches, but sufficiently skilled in anatomy to know a vein from 
 an artery, which is all the knowledge requisite for performing 
 the operation of bleeding a dog. A vein* maybe distinguish- 
 ed from an artery by its having no pulsation ; if an artery of 
 any consequence should be divided, the blood will flow in irregu- 
 lar gushes, it will be difficult to stop (for I know of no other 
 method than sewing it up) and may cause the death of the dog. 
 However, there is little danger of such an unpleasant circum- 
 stance happening, and an ordinary degree of attention is quite 
 sufficient to obviate it. The most convenient, and the best place 
 to bleed a dog, is to open a vein (the jugular vein) in the side 
 of the neck, round which a cord should be tied ; and if the 
 sportsman is not expert at handling a lancet, he may purchase a 
 fleam at any of the shops where surgical instruments are sold, 
 which, by means of springs, is so contrived that the greatest 
 
 * A vein carries back the blood to the heart ; an artery brings the 
 blood from the heart. 
 
76 COLD AND COUGH. 
 
 bungler need be under no apprehension. Those who sell this 
 instrument will describe the method of using it, which indeed is 
 so obvious at first view as to render elucidation superfluous m 
 this place. 
 
 If, after the vein is opened, the animal should not bleed 
 freely, pressure a little below the orifice will cause the blood to 
 flow. Where sufficient blood has been taken, the bleeding will 
 generally subside ; should this not be the case, a little fur from 
 a hat will stop it ; or, if the sportsman be very anxious, he 
 may draw the lips of the orifice together with a needle and 
 thread. 
 
 COLD AND COUGH. 
 
 A cough arises from an irritation of the lungs, and may be 
 produced by a cold or otherwise ; it is generally the effect of 
 cold, and may be removed by 
 
 Antimonial powder, five grains 
 calomel, four grains 
 
 made with honey into two bolusses, and given in the evening 
 for two nights successively. 
 
 If a dog should be afflicted with a cough, in the first place, 
 examine his throat, in order to ascertain if any pieces of bone 
 are lodged there, as such a circumstance will cause a dog to 
 cough for weeks. If the cough arises from cold, administer a 
 dose* or two of syrup of buckthorn. Should the cough still 
 continue, give tartar emetic as described under the head 
 Distemper. 
 
 * A table spoonful is a dose for a common sized dog. 
 
77 
 
 SCAB IN THE EARS. 
 
 A little mercurial ointment rubbed upon the affected parts 
 every two or three days will very soon effect a cure. 
 
 CANKER IN THE LIPS. 
 
 Rub the affected parts with alum-water two or three times a 
 day. 
 
 Or, rub with bole ammoniac and burnt alum two or three 
 times a day. 
 
 SWELLINGS IN GENERAL. 
 
 See Inflammation) page 81. 
 
 GS 
 
78 
 
 FILMS IN THE EYE. 
 
 Bathe the affected part twice a day with water in which a 
 little vitriol has been dissolved (the size of a large horse bean to 
 a pint of spring water) and in a minute or two wash it in clear 
 water. 
 
 Or bathe with the following lotion twice a day : 
 Sulphate of copper, one scruple, 
 water, four ounces 
 
 SPRAINS. 
 
 Sprains are painful swellings of the ligaments and tendons of 
 the joints, and are caused by too great exertion of the limbs, of 
 which the tendons become relaxed. They should be well rubbed 
 with the following twice a day : 
 
 Camphor, two drams 
 brandy, one ounce 
 
 when the camphor is well dissolved, add one ounce of sweet oil, 
 and shake them well together. Should not this have the desired 
 effect, try the following : 
 
 Spirit of hartshorn, two drams 
 sweet oil, six drams 
 
 well shaken, and applied as the other. Give a spoonful or two 
 of syrup of buckthorn. 
 
WOUNDS > &C. 79 
 
 N. B. As sprains are attended with inflammation,* which 
 should be got rid of in the first place by fomenting with warm 
 water four or five times a day, and the following lotion applied : 
 
 Extract of lead, two ounces 
 water, one pint. 
 
 Should any stiffness remain after the inflammation has totally 
 subsided, apply a blister. 
 
 WOUNDS, AND TO STOP AN EFFUSION 
 OF BLOOD. 
 
 If an artery is wounded, it may be known (as before observed) 
 by the blood gushing out (riot flowing regularly) and assuming 
 a florid appearance. If a vein is wounded, the blood will be 
 darker coloured and flow regularly. 
 
 Wounds may be divided into two classes incised, or those 
 cut with a sharp instrument ; and contused, or those inflicted 
 with any thing blunt or heavy, 
 
 Slight wounds require little or no attention ; but supposing 
 a serious incised wound, the first opperation should be cutting, 
 or rather shaving, the hair from around the wound, when, if the 
 blood continues to flow, it should be stopped by filling the 
 wound with bits of sponge or dry lint ; if the wound be in the 
 limbs, a bandage tied very tight just above the wound will ma- 
 terially assist in stopping the flow of blood, should not the 
 
 See also the article Inflammation," page 81. 
 
80 WOUNDS, &C. 
 
 sponge or lint be found sufficient. The edges or lips of the 
 wound should afterwards be stitched, or drawn close together 
 with adhesive plaister cut into slips long enough to extend three 
 or four inches on each side the number of slips must of course 
 be regulated by the size of the wound : plenty of lint or soft 
 rag should be laid on, over which a roller or bandage must be 
 applied to confine the dressing, which should not be removed 
 for four or five days. The wound should afterwards be dressed 
 with Turner s cerate sparingly spread on rag, and the bandage 
 as before, and great caution used not to remove the adhesive 
 plaister till the third or fourth dressing. A table spoonful of 
 syrup of buckthorn may be occasionally given to keep the ani- 
 mal's bowels open : and he must be muzzled or otherwise so 
 secured as to prevent his tearing away or disturbing the band- 
 age. 
 
 Contused wounds are more painful than incised ; always 
 swelled, ragged, and not attended with much haemorrhage or flow 
 of blood : no attempt should be made to bring the edges toge- 
 ther, but a cold poultice applied, made with oatmeal and the 
 following lotion : 
 
 Goulard's extract of lead, one dram 
 
 vinegar, two ounces 
 
 water, one pint 
 
 the poultice should extend over the swelled parts surrounding 
 the wound, and be renewed three of four times during the day. 
 When the wound begins to suppurate or discharge, unaccom- 
 panied with blood, the cold poultice should be changed for a 
 warm one, consisting of oatmeal and water in which there is a 
 little grease, and renewed three times a day as warm as the dog 
 can bear it. In a few days the matter will be completely dis- 
 charged, when the wound should be dressed daily with yellovr 
 basilicon spread on rag, and a long roller applied tightly over. 
 
 N; B. Whenever fungus or proud flesh appears, it should 
 be touched with blue stone. 
 
81 
 
 INFLAMMATION. 
 
 Inflammation arises from various causes ; but is distinguished 
 by the part affected becoming swoln, dry, and hot. A slight 
 degree of inflammation will generally subside without the aid 
 either of medicine or external application. Bleeding in the neck 
 will frequently remove an inflammation ; or the application of 
 leeches to the affected part, having previously shaved the hair 
 off. If the swelling or tumour becomes larger, soft, and shining, 
 matter is forming, when warm poultices should be applied as des- 
 cribed under contused wounds, and the same treatment adopted. 
 When the matter is completely formed (which may be known by 
 the fluctuation of the fluid upon a slight pressure) if the skin is 
 very thin, a deep opening or incision should be made with a lan- 
 cet on the prominent part ; but if hardness is felt the tumour must 
 remain till it breaks itself. After the tumour is emptied care 
 should be taken that the air does not penetrate, or the wound 
 will be much more difficult to heal. 
 
 When a dog's eyes become inflamed and assume a red and 
 fiery appearance, bleeding will generally relieve him. 
 
 Dogs, however, are not very subject to inflammation ; and, 
 generally speaking, will be troubled with few diseases if pro- 
 perly dietted and exercised. Dogs kept in towns are much 
 more subject to disorders, than such as are kept in the country. 
 Confinement is always injurious to dogs. 
 
 FOR THE BITE OF ANOTHER DOG. 
 
 See the article Wounds, &c. page 79. 
 
WHEN WOUNDED WITH SHOT. 
 
 Extract the shot if possible, and rub with a little mercurial 
 ointment. At all events, use the mercurial ointment. 
 
 SORE FEET. 
 
 Styptic tincture ; or, if this cannot be procured, salt and 
 water.* 
 
 FOR EXTRACTING THORNS. 
 
 Thorns may be generally extracted with the thumb and fore 
 finger nails ; or recourse may be had to the assistance of the 
 pen-knife in the same way as the sportsman would extract a 
 thorn from his own finger. The dog will frequently perform 
 the operation with his mouth. If the wound festers, the thorn 
 may be squeezed out. 
 
 * It will be necessary here to observe, that what is recommended 
 above is generally for sore feet ; but the matter requires elucidation : 
 In the heat of summer, when after a hard day's shooting the dog is foot 
 sore, his feet should be well washed with soap and water, for which warm 
 water is perhaps preferable to cold : if the skin is rubbed off, or the foot 
 lacerated, styptic tincture or salt and water should be applied. 
 
83 
 
 TO BRING HAIR UPON A SCALDED 
 PART. 
 
 Fresh hog's lard rubbed frequently upon the affected part, will 
 reproduce hair ; indeed, I am inclined to think that animal fat 
 in general will have the desired effect. Fresh goose grease, or 
 the fat of fowls, unmixed with salt, will answer the purpose equally 
 well. Vegetable oils are of too dry a nature, and their effects, 
 as applied to the growth of hair, pernicious. Yet there are not 
 wanting quacks who daily advertise the sale of oil for the growth 
 of hair on the human head ; and by way of the strongest possible 
 recommendation, specifically state, that it is extracted from vege- 
 tables ! This is lamentable, but it is still more so, that such 
 numbers of the unthinking become the dupes of these ignorant 
 pretenders, whose existence is a stigma on the liberality of the 
 public. 
 
 TO DESTROY FLEAS, LICE, &r. 
 
 Take of white arsenic, one (Irani 
 water, one gallon 
 soft soap, one quarter of a pound 
 
 boil for ten minutes ; then take it off the fire and let it stand to 
 settle, then pour it off into another vessel, leaving about half a 
 pint at the bottom, which throw away, and dress with the water. 
 A certain remedv. 
 
84- SMELL, POISON. 
 
 Linseed oil, or Scotch snuff, rubbed well all over the body 
 is a temporary remedy. A good washing with common soap and 
 water will perhaps answer the purpose. In hot weather, dogs 
 are much troubled with fleas ; and if the sportsman is anxious 
 for the comfort of the animal, he will find it necessary to use the 
 above several times during the summer. Clean beds and clean- 
 
 o 
 
 hness in general act as preventives. 
 
 TO RECOVER THE SENSE OF SMELL. 
 
 When the dog's olfactory organs become affected, it will fre- 
 quently be found to arise from colds, costiveness, or other 
 causes, which a dose or two of opening physic seldom fails to 
 remove. A little sulphur or syrup of buckthorn will have the 
 desired effect. 
 
 FOR DOGS THAT HAVE TAKEN 
 POISON. 
 
 For all vegetable poisons, vinegar has been supposed to be a 
 specific. At all events, whether vegetable or mineral poison has 
 been swallowed, the sooner it is discharged from the stomach 
 the better. 
 
 Take of sulphate of copper, half a drachm 
 water, six ounces 
 
 Give two table spoonfuls every five minutes till effectual 
 
POISON. 85 
 
 vomiting has taken place ; when a strong dose of castor oil 
 should be administered, followed by nourishing diet. 
 
 Whatever will cause instantaneous vomiting may have the 
 desired effect. If a dog has swallowed poison, and no better 
 remedy happen to be at hand, almost any kind of oil, (rancid or 
 otherwise) poured down the throat is adviseable. The poison 
 will most likely be either nox vomica, arsenic, or corrosive sub- 
 limate ; however, let the poison be what it will, the best remedy is 
 the following : 
 
 Ipecacuanha, fifteen grains 
 water, two tablespoonfuls, mixed 
 
 Should it not operate in fifteen minutes, repeat the dose; 
 After the operation 
 
 Take of prepared kali, three drams 
 water, one ounce 
 
 give a table spoonful every fifteen minutes, which will most likely 
 produce vomiting and purging. Afterwards nourishing diet. 
 
 " Antidote for vegetable poisons. M, Drapiez has ascertained, 
 by numerous experiments, that the fruit of the fewillea cordifolia 
 is a powerful antidote against vegetable poisons. He poisoned 
 dogs with the rhus toxicodendron, hemlock, and nox vomica. 
 All those that were left to the effects of the poison died, but 
 those to whom the fruit of the fewillea cordifolia was adminis- 
 tered, recovered completely, after a short illness. M. Drapiez 
 also took two arrows which had been dipt in the juice of manchi- 
 nelle, and slightly wounded with them two young cats. To the 
 j one of these he applied a poultice, composed of the fruit of the 
 fewillea cordifolia, while the other was left without any applica- 
 tion. The wound of the former speedily healed; while the 
 other, in a short time, fell into convulsions, and died." 
 
 It is very difficult however to save the life of a dog that has 
 taken poison. Nox vomica is what the base minded generally 
 
 H 
 
80 SICKNESS. 
 
 use for the purpose. If recourse can be had to the process before 
 described the moment the animal has swallowed the baneful drug, 
 I should have no doubt of success ; but if only a few minutes 
 elapse, the cure is extremely doubtful. I have witnessed several 
 instances, in all of which the animals died, though every exertion 
 was used for their preservation. 
 
 SICKNESS, OR A FOUL STOMACH. 
 
 Dogs are very liable to a foul stomach ; but this is more par- 
 ticularly the case with such as are tied up or confined. If you 
 tie a dog to a kennel for a few days, the moment you loose him, 
 he will run in search of grass to eat, the broad blades of which 
 he prefers ; this will frequently cause him to vomit : whenever 
 the animal is troubled with sickness or a foul stomach, he will 
 uniformly have recourse to eating grass, though vomiting does 
 not always follow. 
 
 A foul stomach proceeds from indigestion ; therefore eight 
 or ten grains of tartar emetic may be very beneficially given, 
 followed, in a day or two, by a purge of syrup of buckthorn. 
 
 A dog never perspires ; but whenever he IB unwell, his eyes 
 very strongly exhibit the change, are a certain index of the state 
 of his health, and assume a languid, a dull, or a fiery appearance, 
 according to the nature of the disorder with which he is afflicted. 
 The powers of digestion in a dog do not appear to be promoted 
 by exercise. If you take a dog into the field to hunt with a full 
 stomach, he will throw up the contents of it in a few minutes, 
 
THE COMMON MANGE. 87 
 
 or at least in a short period. If you suffer him to sleep after -a 
 hearty meal, the digestion is rapid and healthy. Give a dog a 
 good supper on the evening prior to hunting, and the next 
 morning, he will require little or nothing. I generally give my 
 dogs a crust of bread in the morning when going out, which, 
 however, they will not always stop to eat, so great is their anxiety 
 for the expected diversion. Little food and that of a light nature 
 will be found to answer best upon violent exercise hence a man 
 walks or labours much better after a breakfast, composed prin- 
 cipally of tea or coffee, than after a heavy dinner. Cows, horses, 
 and animals in general retire to rest after filling their bellies ; a 
 full stomach, I have no doubt, is the best to sleep upon ; and I 
 therefore differ very widely with those physicians who represent 
 a good supper as injurious to repose. 
 
 THE COMMON MANGE, 
 
 This disorder is very infectious, and originally proceeds from 
 dirty beds, bad food, and filth in general. It has a loathsome, 
 scabby, dirty appearance, somewhat similar to the itch in human 
 beings ; and, like that disease, contains animalcula in [each of 
 the pustules. It may be cured with the following : 
 
 Oil of tar 
 
 sulphur vivurn 
 
 train oil, of each an equal quantity, 
 
 with which the dog should be well rubbed several times, a day or 
 
 H 2 
 
THE COMMON MANGE. 
 
 two elapsing between each rubbing. Sulphur given internally 
 will be of service. 
 Another: 
 
 Flowers of sulphur, half an ounce 
 hog's lard or butter, one ounce 
 
 well mixed and rubbed completely over the animal twice a day, 
 giving a tea spoonful of the flowers of sulphur every evening in 
 a little molasses. Keep the animal confined alone, and the 
 moment the cure is effected, give him a clean bed. As the 
 disease is very infectious, without great care, all your dogs will 
 become disordered. 
 
 Mercurial ointment rubbed on the parts affected will remove 
 this disease ; but it is rather a dangerous remedy, and will kill a 
 weak animal, if not carefully administered : muzzle the dog. 
 
 An infusion of fox-glove leaves, I have reason to believe, will 
 answer the purpose : it is the cleanest remedy ; and though I 
 have not had sufficient experience to pronounce its infallibility, I 
 have no hesitation in recommending it: -put a handful of fox- 
 glove leaves into a quart or three-pint jug, pour boiling water 
 upon them ; and, when cold, rub the dog every day for three or 
 four days. The dog need not be muzzled as soon as dressed 
 he will attempt to lick, but will not take a second taste. 
 
 The following I have seen successfully used : 
 
 Sulphur, two ounces 
 mercurial ointment, two drams 
 hog's lard, four ounces 
 
 well mixed ; with which rub the dog every other day three or 
 four dressings will generally be sufficient. Two -drams of aloes, 
 mixed up with the above, will not injure the composition, and will 
 probably prevent the animal licking himself otherwise, muzzle 
 him. 
 
89 
 
 THE RED MANGE. 
 
 The disorder called the RED MANGE does not appear to be 
 nearly allied to what is so well known by the common appel- 
 lation of MANSE, but to be a species of disease within itself, 
 seated in the skin, and not always infectious amongst dogs lying 
 together, but almost invariably communicated by a bitch to her 
 litter of whelps, particularly if she had it upon her during the 
 time she was in pup. This disorder is most malignant in its 
 effect ; the incessant and severe itching, which, from all obser- 
 vation, seems accompanied by a burning heat, and this too in- 
 creased by the perpetual biting and scratching of the tortured 
 animal, gives such parts of the frame as are severely affected, the 
 appearance of having been scalded by some boiling liquor, with 
 a consequent loss of hair. Tt is this distinct kind of mange that 
 so constantly baffles dog-doctors and dog-mongers of every de- 
 scription, and reduces them to their ne plus ultra, where the fer- 
 tility of invention can go no further, It is, perhaps, the most 
 deceptive disorder to which any part of the animal world can 
 become unluckily subject ; for when it has (seemingly and re- 
 peatedly) submitted to, and been subdued by, some of the com- 
 bination of combustibles before described, it has as suddenly, as 
 repeatedly, and as unexpectedly, made its re-appearance with all 
 its former virulence. Great care, nice attention, and long ex- 
 perience, can discover but one infallible mode of perfect eradi- 
 cation. Let half an ounce of corrosive sublimate be reduced in 
 a glass mortar to an impalpable powder ; to this, by a very small 
 quantity at a time, add two ounces (half a gill) of spirits of wine ; 
 and, lastly, one pint of rain or river water, and, with a sponge 
 
 H3 
 
90 THE RED MANGE. 
 
 dipt in the solution, let every part palpably affected be well 
 washed, every third day, till thrice performed ; then leave three 
 clear days, and repeat the former ceremony of thrice as before ; 
 letting three mercurial purging balls be given at the equal dis- 
 tances of three or four days, and not the least doubt of cure 
 need be entertained, if the mode prescribed is properly and judici- 
 ously attended to. 
 
 Of the red mange General Hanger thus speaks : " My dog 
 had the mange ; not very bad, but something much worse with 
 it ; he had eight or ten large blotches on his body, as big as 
 large hazle nuts. I sent for an old man who made a livelihood 
 by curing dogs : he took a bottle out of his pocket, and first 
 dabbed the blotches with a bit of tow, each two or three times. 
 He then stopped about five minutes, for that to dry in and pene- 
 trate ; after which he took a pot of ointment, and rubbed the 
 dog in well, for at least ten minutes, under the fore legs, and en 
 the belly, but particularly on the back bone. He then desired 
 me not to wash the dog, or let him go into the water ; telling 
 me, that he would call in about five days. When he called, the 
 dog was apparently well : so much so, that he said he did not 
 think it necessary to rub the dog again : however, I made him 
 dab the blotches again, and rub once more in. When he called 
 to be paid, I told him that, upon my honour, if he would dis- 
 cover how the liquid and ointment were made, I would give 
 him two guineas, and never discover it till after his death. He 
 consented. The liquid is thus made: Half an ounce of quick- 
 silver is put into a bottle, with half an ounce of oil of turpentine, 
 for about eight hours before using it : shake the bottle fre- 
 quently, and shake it always when you use it, for there will be 
 a sediment at the bottom. The ointment is thus made : 
 Take half an ounce of quicksilver ; put it into a bottle, with 
 half an ounce of oil of turpentine ; let it stand for eight hours, 
 shaking the bottle frequently : then take four ounces of hog's 
 
ADDER BITE, &C. 91 
 
 lard, and by degrees, mix both together, a little of each at a time, 
 till the whole be incorporated. He told me, that he always 
 carried two pots of ointment with him, one stronger than the 
 other, in case of a dog being very bad with the mange. The 
 strongest ointment was made with only three ounces of hog's 
 lard, but with the same quantity of the quicksilver and turpen- 
 tine." 
 
 FOR THE BITE OF THE ADDER, &c. 
 
 . 
 
 The adder is not uncommon in some parts of England, and 
 is occasionally met with, in the heat of summer, among sedges 
 and in marshy places. It differs from the snake in not being so 
 long, the latter being found from three-quarters to a yard long; 
 the former seldom, or never, reaching three-quarters of a yard : 
 there is an appearance of malignity in the countenance of the 
 adder, which does not obtain in that of the snake, the head of 
 which is not so blunt as that of the adder ; while the tail of the 
 latter tapers more abruptly, and is generally found of a more 
 dusky colour. There is, however, another very essential diffe- 
 rence : the snake is destitute of teeth ; while the adder is not 
 only prepared in this respect, but has one particular tooth, in 
 the side of the jaw, which has a communication with a sort of 
 alembic, situated in the reptile's head, and which contains the 
 venom : in this tooth, there is a slit ; and when the creature be- 
 comes irritated and bites, the pressure thus occasioned upon the 
 
92 ADDER BITE, &C. 
 
 tooth, causes the venom to ooze through the slit, and it is thus 
 injected into the blood. 
 
 I have heard of a reptile, called the slow worm, the bite of 
 which is said to be venomous ; but I never saw one. The snake 
 is perfectly harmless ; the bite of the adder or viper will be at- 
 tended with serious consequences, if a remedy is not speedily ap- 
 plied. The remedy, however, is simple the immediate appli- 
 cation of a little sweet oil rubbed upon the affected part, 
 counteracts the effect of the venom most surprisingly : as I have 
 witnessed it, I speak with confidence. Indeed, I am of opinion, 
 that any vegetable oil (or animal either, perhaps) will answer the 
 purpose ; and have little doubt, that what will cure the bite of 
 the adder will cure the bite of the slow worm also. Yet, for a 
 further illustration of this subject, I will borrow the account of 
 a favourite author. I am aware the same account has already 
 appeared in various publications ; but, from a conviction that 
 much good may result from its becoming generally known, I 
 shall transcribe it without hesitation : 
 
 "One William Oliver, a viper catcher, of Bath, was the first 
 who discovered this admirable remedy. On the first of June, 
 1735, in the presence of a great number of persons, he suffered 
 himself to be bit by an old black viper (brought by one of the 
 company) upon the wrist and joint of the thumb, so that drops 
 of blood came out of the wound ; he immediately felt a violent 
 pain both at the top of his thumb and up his arm, even before 
 the viper was loosened from his hand : soon after he felt a pain, 
 resembling that of burning, trickle up his arm ; in a few minutes, 
 his eyes began to look red and fiery, and to water much ; in less 
 than an hour, he perceived the venom seize his heart, with a 
 pricking pain, which was attended with faintness, shortness of 
 breath, and cold sweats ; in a few minutes after this, his belly 
 began to swell, with great gnpings and pains in his back, which 
 were attended with vomitings and purgings ; during the violence 
 
ADDER BITE, a 93 
 
 of these symptons, his sight was gone for several minutes, but 
 he could hear all the while. He said, that in former experiments 
 he had never deferred making use of his remedy longer than he 
 perceived the effects of the venom reaching his heart ; but this 
 time, being willing to satisfy the company thoroughly, and 
 trusting to the speedy effects of his remedy, which was nothing 
 more than olive oil, he forbore to apply anything, till he found 
 himself exceedingly ill and quite giddy. About an hour and a 
 quarter after the first of his being bit, a chaffing dish of glowing 
 charcoal was brought in, and his naked arm held over it as long 
 as he could bear, while his wife rubbed in the oil with her hand, 
 turning his arm continually round, as if she would have roasted it 
 over the coals : he said the poison soon abated, but the swelling 
 did not diminish much. Most violent purging and vomitings 
 soon ensued ; and his pulse became so low, and so often inter- 
 rupted, that it was thought proper to order him a repetition of 
 cordial potions : he said he was not sensible of any great relief 
 from these ; but that a glass or two of olive oil drank down, 
 seemed to give him ease. Continuing in this dangerous condi- 
 tion, he was put to bed, where his arm was again bathed over a 
 pan of charcoal, and rubbed with olive oil heated in a ladle over 
 the charcoal, by Dr. Mortimer's direction, who was the physician 
 that drew up the account. From this last operation he declared, 
 that he found immediate ease, as though by some charm; he 
 soon after fell into a profound sleep, and after nine hours' sound 
 rest, awaked, about six the next morning, and found himself very 
 well ; but, in the afternoon, on drinking some rum and strong 
 beer, so as to be almost intoxicated, the swelling returned, with 
 much pain and cold sweats, which abated soon, on bathing the 
 arm, as before, and wrapping it up in brown paper soaked in 
 the oil." 
 
BURNS AND SCALDS 
 
 Assume a very different appearance according to the degree 
 of heat or violence by which they are occasioned; if slight, and 
 the skin only irritated, they are easily cured by instantly dashing 
 the part affected in cold water, or constantly applying it till the 
 pain and irritation have ceased ; if slight blisters rise they should 
 not be opened at first, as is generally recommended ; for if the air 
 penetrates it frequently produces an ulcer or sore. When a burn 
 or scald is more severe, it must be constantly kept wet with rag 
 dipped in the following lotion : 
 
 Goulard's extract of lead, two drams 
 
 water, half a pint 
 
 and the part kept as quiet as possible. Strong spirits, or oil of 
 turpentine is also serviceable when immediately applied, but 
 the lotion is the most successful treatment either in scalds or 
 burns. After the third or fourth day the blisters should be 
 opened, but the skin not removed, and then dressed with the fol- 
 lowing ointment : - 
 
 Olive oil, half an ounce 
 
 Goulard's extract of lead, one ounce 
 
 well mixed together, and spread on lint or soft rag with a bandage 
 over moderately tight. 
 
 When burns or scalds are so severe as to destroy the flesh 
 from the bone, warm poultices of oatmeal and water should be 
 applied, and then treated as suppuration. See the article Wounds, 
 &c. page 79. 
 
95 
 
 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 This is a dreadtul disease, and has received a very appropriate 
 name, as not only dogs, but human beings, when afflicted with 
 this little -understood malady, uniformly testify an abhorrence of 
 water, and, I believe, of fluids in general. 
 
 The hydrophobia affords a striking instance of successful 
 quackery in the avidity with which the Ormskirk Medicine was 
 purchased, till within these few years that the imposture has been 
 exposed. This compound of calcined oyster shells, elecampane, 
 roach alum, and bole ammoniac, was originally administered gratis ; 
 but no sooner was it discovered, that the medicine was eagerly 
 sought after, than the sale of it was advertised ; agents were 
 appointed in different parts; and many hundreds purchased and 
 took the medicine who had been bitten, but not by mad dogs. A 
 dog accustomed to the country, is generally alarmed when he ap- 
 proaches a town or village the shaking of a cobler's apron, or 
 some such thing, is frequently resorted to, by the lower orders 
 the terrified animal takes to his heels, and will most likely snap 
 at any person who attempts to impede his progress. Nothing is 
 heard but the cry of mad dog ! and many who have been bitten 
 under such circumstances, have called in the assistance of the 
 Ormskirk medicine, and have thus been willing to suppose a dis- 
 order prevented, which did not exist in the dog, and which, of 
 course, could not be communicated. 
 
 The venders of the Ormskirk medicine, however, made the 
 most of the matter its infallibility was puffed upon the, public 
 in the most barefaced manner ; and it was even publicly stated, 
 that such was the virtue of the medicine, that even after the 
 
96 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 hydrophobia had made its appearance, the disease could be re- 
 moved by taking it. Cases, with fictitious names, were stated, 
 and the grossest falsehood resorted to, in order to levy contri- 
 butions with more plausibility upon the credulity of the unthink- 
 ing. I believe, at present, no person who wishes to preserve 
 even an appearance of character, will attempt to palm the medi- 
 cine upon the world ; but it has still its supporters, and a num- 
 ber of old women, in various parts of Lancashire, still practice 
 the deception ; and shew considerable dexterity in propping its 
 falling reputation. 
 
 The recipe was obtained by the late Mr. Hill's father, who 
 resided near Ormskirk, from an itinerant tinker, in the year 
 1704- ; the medicine is thus prepared : take one tea spoonful 
 of prepared (calcined) oyster shells, one knife point full of roach 
 alum, as much elecampane, in powder, and half a tea spoonful 
 f bole ammoniac ; all to be powdered finely, and given to the 
 patient in the morning fasting, in a little wine and water, or 
 small beer : at the same time the wound is to be dressed with a 
 preparation, varying from that just described, only in a greater 
 portion of roach alum. 
 
 Not one dog in twenty, reputed mad, is so in reality the 
 cure, or rather the prevention, therefore, is certain in many in- 
 stances ; and where it happens otherwise, and the dog was 
 labouring under the hydrophobia, the result is most melancholy: 
 but then it is immediately and unblushingly asserted, that the 
 medicine had not operated in a proper manner it had not re- 
 mained upon the stomach, or been taken in sufficient quantity ; 
 and thus the cheat continues, though on a much more circum- 
 scribed scale. 
 
 The fact is, that the only certain remedy hitherto discovered 
 for this dreadful disease, is the application of the knife : the 
 blood becomes infected by the saliva from the dog's teeth ; and 
 wnleis the bitten part can be immediately cut out, death will 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 9? 
 
 most likely be the result, though the precise time will be very 
 uncertain ; for so capricious is this malady, that, after infection, 
 it sometimes lies dormant, as it were, in the system for months, 
 sometimes for weeks ; while instances, I believe, are not wanting, 
 where it has appeared, in all its terrible symptoms, in the course 
 of a few days. 
 
 It is possible that a person might be bitten by a mad dog, 
 and yet escape the hydrophobia : if, in the act of biting, the 
 animal's teeth pass through a thick woollen coat, or other gar- 
 ment, so that his teeth in passing through are wiped dry, he 
 might inflict a wound without any of the infectious saliva or fluid 
 reaching it. 
 
 Respecting the bite of a mad dog Dr. Vandeburgh very 
 judiciously observes : " not a moment should be lost to destroy 
 the poison from the wound (even if only on supposition of the 
 animal being mad) ; many remedies are recommended but should 
 not be trusted to ; the only effectual method is to destroy the 
 foundation of the poison and give the following course of medi- 
 cine : the part bitten must be entirely cut out with a sharp 
 instrument, and the edges of the wound seared with a red hot 
 iron, to prevent the smallest particle of poison remaining ; 
 afterwards, warm poultices of oatmeal and water to be applied 
 as warm as the patient can possibly bear, to produce a quick and 
 copious discharge of matter or suppuration : the following pills 
 should be given : 
 
 Calomel, one scruple 
 opium, half a scruple 
 
 well mixed and divided into ten pills of equal size, one pill to be 
 taken every four hours ; two drams of strong ointment of quick- 
 silver to be well rubbed in on the thighs and arms morning and 
 evening, which, with the medicine, must be continued till the 
 mouth becomes sore and spitting is produced : when matter dis- 
 charges from the sore, it should also be dressed with strong oint- 
 
98 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 ment of quicksilver thickly spread on lint and the poultice con- 
 tin ued over it : this treatment must be pursued for the space of 
 one month, then the wound healed with Turner s cerate spread 
 on lint, but the mouth kept sore and slight spitting prolonged 
 for at least two months, as hydrophobia has been known to make 
 its appearance five and six months after the bite of the animal : 
 sea bathing is strongly advised, but I would always recommend 
 the foregoing treatment in preference, a trial of which should not 
 be omitted, if the poison was destroyed at first by cutting, neither 
 if the bite has happened some time, nor even when the following 
 symptoms have taken place : the part bitten becoming tender 
 and inflamed, uneasiness and stupidity, frightful dreams, convul- 
 sions, eyes red and watery, pain all over the body, difficulty in 
 swallowing, great thirst, and when liquid is only brought before 
 the patient he appears choaked, accompanied with trembling 
 and shivering over the whole body; vomiting bile frequently 
 occurs, attended with great thirst and fever : the last symptoms 
 are raging and foaming at the mouth, spitting at the bystanders, 
 aad strong convulsions, as if drawn double ; no patient should 
 be given over till the last moment : the mercurial friction should 
 be tried, and the prescribed medicine given while he exists, as 
 there is hope of recovery by perseverance in the foregoing 
 method. 
 
 The patient should be kept on very low diet, and no spirits or 
 wine be used." 
 
 The following are the progressive symptoms of hydrophobia : 
 when a dog becomes melancholy, droops his head, forbears eat- 
 ing, seems to forget his former habits, and as he runs snatches 
 at every thing : if he often looks upwards, and that his tail at 
 its setting on be rather erect, and the rest of it hanging down ; 
 if his eyes be red, his breath strong, his voice hoarse, and that 
 he drivels and foams at the mouth, you may be satisfied of the 
 approaches of hydrophobia ; and the only thing that should be 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 99 
 
 done is instantly to despatch him, however great a favourite he 
 may be. If at this period he should remain at liberty, he will 
 certainly leave his home : he goes as fast as he can ; and the 
 mischief that may happen, owing thus to a mad dog breaking 
 away, and running over an extent of country, is incalculable, as 
 he spares no living creature. 
 
 There is another still very distinguishing feature by which this 
 disease may be known, which is the animal's aversion to water 
 and liquids in general. At the sight of water, not only a mad 
 dog, but a human being who has the hydrophobia, will shudder 
 and turn from it with abhorrence ; and this, undoubtedly, is the 
 most certain sign that a dog is mad. These animals are liable 
 to other diseases, the symptoms of which, in some degree, re- 
 semble those of madness, and are frequently mistaken for them ; 
 but in no other disorder will the dog manifest that utter aversion 
 to water ; as, in other cases, if he will not drink, he will in gene- 
 ral smell of it ; and uniformly appears no way alarmed ; on the 
 contrary, a mad dog seems agitated, and will be almost con- 
 vulsed, at the very sight. 
 
 In the very last stage of the disorder, when the animal is 
 nearly exhausted, he has been known to fall into the water, or 
 even to cross a brook. 
 
 When the human species become unhappily the subjects of 
 this calamity, though in particular instances some variation may 
 be observed, yet the first symptoms are generally the same ; 
 these are a torpid disquietude in the wound (or seat of injury), 
 attended with slight intervening itchings, ultimately amounting 
 to pain, and much resembling rheumatic affection. It con- 
 tinues to extend itself to the surrounding parts ; and, at length, 
 from the extremities it expands its poisonous power to the viscera ; 
 the cicatrice, if there has been a wound, begins to swell, inflam- 
 mation hourly increases, till, at length, a serous bloody ichor is 
 
 discharged, and this alone may be considered the primary and 
 
 12 
 
100 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 invariable prognostic of certain hydrophobia. These leading 
 symptoms soon become progressively general, bearing with 
 them every appearance of confirmed rheumatism ; they are 
 fluctuating, quick, acute, and of the spasmodic, convulsive kind; 
 they suddenly attack the patient, severely affecting the head, 
 neck, and principal joints ; a dull, drowsy pain often seizes the 
 head, neck, breast, abdomen, and even vibrates along the back 
 bone. The patient is gloomy and inclined to solitude, murmurs 
 much, seems lost in reflection, is forgetful, inattentive, and 
 prone to sleep ; at times agitating starts denote the mind to be 
 disordered ; by turns he is attentively watchful ; his slumbers 
 become disturbed, and suddenly awaking from those, convulsive 
 appearances soon follow. 
 
 A deafness is sometimes complained of, the eyes are watery ; 
 the aspect sorrowful ; the countenance pale, and the face con- 
 tracted ; sweat breaks out about the temples ; an unusual flow 
 of saliva, slimy and viscid, at length comes on with a dryness 
 of the fauces, a foulness of the tongue, and a disagreeable smell 
 (or rather fetid effluvia) from the breath. As the symptoms 
 already recited increase, the second stage advances : a fever com- 
 mences, which, at first is mild, but makes with gigantic strides 
 the most rapid advances to extremity ; it is accompanied with 
 hourly increasing horrors, and all the alarming concomitants of 
 mental derangement. Wakefulness becomes perpetual ; violent 
 periodical agitations ensue ; the mind is evidently more and 
 more disturbed ; a delirium follows, at which critical moment an 
 invincible aversion to jftuid, glass, or any polished or shining 
 body is plainly perceived. A constriction of the gullet takes 
 place, and an incredible difficulty of shallowing ensues ; liquids 
 are offered, and are attempted to be taken, but the disgust and 
 loathing become so predominant, they are most violently de- 
 clined : and this symptomatic dread and aversion so wonderfully 
 increases, that, upon the very appearance of any watery fluid, 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 101 
 
 the greatest horror comes on, and the most shocking muscular 
 distortions ensue ; if the liquor is attempted to be forcibly pres- 
 sed upon them, the experiment is rejected by an instantaneous 
 succession of the most horrid gesticulations, and convulsive dis- 
 tortions, in which every ray of reason seems to be absorbed. 
 Upon a temporary cessation of so serious and distressing a par- 
 oxysm, the poor unhappy patient now murmurs, groans, and 
 mourns most miserably ; loses, by degrees, all knowledge of 
 his dearest friends and most familiar acquaintance : and their 
 presenting themselves before him, is the very critical moment 
 when all of this description give proof of their desire to bite, 
 which, in the attempt, bears no ill affinity to the similar snap- 
 pings of a village cur. 
 
 Awful to relate, reason returns at intervals, and he feelingly 
 laments his own calamity, and deplores his own incapacity. A 
 consciousness of an approaching dissolution is perceptible even 
 to himself, and he seems truly resigned to the singularity of his 
 fate. Severe pain and consequent heat producing thirst, a de- 
 sire to drink is displayed, but nature shrinks from her office ; in 
 vain the patient raises his hand to touch the vessel, it almost 
 magically produces instant tremor the hand recedes, and the 
 patient sinks into the most afflicting despondency. Conscious, 
 likewise, of his constantly increasing inclination to bite, he in 
 his rational moments, makes signals to warn his friends of the 
 danger, and keep themselves at a distance. Towards the con- 
 clusion of this dreadful and most melancholy scene, the fever 
 and parching thirst increase, the tongue becomes swelled and 
 protruded, foam issues from theinouth, strength fails, cold sweats 
 come on, the stricture upon the breast increases, as well as the 
 other predominant symptoms, until, in a long succession of con- 
 vulsive struggles, all-powerful death closes the scene. 
 
 The cause of the hydrophobia is utterly unknown ; and its 
 
 effects hitherto appear to have baffled every remedy which has 
 
 I 3 
 
102 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 been tried for its removal. Copious and repeated venesection 
 was, a few years back, announced to the world as a cure for the 
 hydrophobia, and instances were given in order to confirm it: 
 it is true, they came in a questionable shape on account of the 
 distance which they had to travel, being chiefly from the East 
 Indies : however, the method just mentioned has been tried in 
 this country and found unavailing, as the following will show : 
 
 Henry, son of G. Rix, a waterman, of Southsea, was bitten 
 in the cheek, and over the eye, by a mad dog, on the 25th of 
 March, 1813. He continued very well until Friday morning, 
 the 13th of the following month, when he complained of being 
 indisposed. His friends gave him a cordial, with the hope of 
 relieving his pain ; but he grew worse, and complained of great 
 thirst. It was with great difficulty he was prevailed on to take 
 medicine. He complained exceedingly of violent pains in the 
 chest and throat ; and, on his seeing water that was brought into 
 the room, his agony greatly increased. He foamed at the mouth 
 sufficiently to wet many cloths, and would frequently exclaim, 
 " O, Father ! is that from the dog ?" He was copiously bled, 
 but without any good effect. He retained his senses until 
 within a few hours of his death, when the effects of this disorder 
 were extremely violent ; but the paroxysms abated an hour before 
 he expired. 
 
 James Sharp, glassman, son of Alexander Sharp, Queen- 
 street, Newcastle, on Wednesday morning last, when he returned 
 home from the Northumberland glasshouse, complained of being 
 unwell, and told his parents that he had been vomiting throughout 
 the night, while at work. On Thursday he was much worse, 
 when an emetic was procured for him, but he could not bear the 
 sight of it when made into a liquid. On Friday a medical man 
 was brought to see him, who, after examining the youth, and 
 trying the effect the sight of water produced on him, gave it as 
 his opinion that it was a case of hydrophobia. Enquiry was 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 103 
 
 then made whether he had ever been bitten by a dog ; the young 
 man said that a pup of his had bit his thumb three weeks ago 
 last Sunday, and that the dog died soon after. A powder was 
 now given him, which he swallowed with the greatest agitation, 
 not being able to bear the sight of the water in which it was 
 mixed. la the afternoon of Friday, he was bled in both arms, 
 and in the temple, not to hasten his death, as the ignorant are 
 currently reporting, but as the only means likely to lead to a 
 recovery. It had not, however, the desired effect ; for from 
 that time he continued excessively ill till about half-past three 
 o'clock on Saturday morning, having only about ten minutes' 
 respite between each paroxysm. A few minutes before expiring, 
 he expressed a wish for a drink of warm water about two tea- 
 cupsful were given him, when he appeared something easier. 
 Shortly after, he had a desire to rise up for some purpose, but 
 no sooner did his feet touch the ground, than he threw himself 
 back into his father's arms, and expired without a groan. 
 Newcastle Paper, Dec 7th, 1814?. 
 
 The alisma pJantago was also introduced as a remedy ; but, on 
 repeated trial, has proved ineffectual, 
 
 " HYDROPHOBIA. Alisma Plantago ineffectual. We last 
 week announced the death of Matthew Lay cock, a common car- 
 rier of Bradley, near Skipton, of the above calamitous malady. 
 He was bitten by a dog of his own, about two months previous 
 to his dissolution. He went to the sea, as directed by those 
 whom he consulted, and took the usual medicines administered 
 on such occasions: after which, he rested in perfect security, 
 apprehending no future danger. On Monday the fifth instant, 
 he was at Bury, following his occupation of carrier ; andfiaving 
 got exceedingly wet by driving in the rain, he complained of very 
 unpleasant sensations, and symptoms of the above complaint 
 manifested themselves. Having been conveyed to his residence 
 at Bradley, every possible attention was paid him by Mr. Abbot- 
 
lOi THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 son, surgeon, Skipton; and among other medicines the pulver- 
 ized alisma plantago was repeatedly given him on bread and 
 butter, to the amount of five drams at a dose ; but all to no pur- 
 pose. On the ninth he died, leaving a widow and three small 
 children to deplore his melancholy and premature death. Leeds 
 Mercury, Oct. 31, 1818.1 
 
 Another remedy has been introduced. This ne\v remedy 
 comes from a distance ; but let us not reject it merely on that 
 score. The account has appeared in several medical works, 
 and was first published, it seems, by Dr. Muller^ of Vienna, a 
 scientific physician, now resident at Paris. The German phy- 
 sician says, he received the particulars from M. Marochetti, a 
 Russian surgeon, who informed him, that, during his residence 
 in the Ukraine, in the year 1813, he was called on to attend 
 Jifteen persons who had been bitten by a mad dog, when some 
 old men requested him to treat the unfortunate people according 
 to the directions of a neighbouring peasant, who had acquired 
 a great reputation for curing the hydrophobia. M. Marochetti 
 allowed the peasant to attend fourteen, reserving one to himself, 
 a female of sixteen, who was cauterized and treated in the usual 
 way, and expired eight days after ike attack ! The peasant gave 
 to the fourteen persons placed under his care a strong decoction 
 of the tops of the flowers of the yellow broom (a pound and a 
 half a day). He examined twice a day the under part of the 
 tongue, where he had generally discovered little pimples, con- 
 taining, as believed, the hydrophobia poison : these pimples 
 really followed, and were observed by Marochetti himself. As 
 they formed, the peasant opened them, and cauterized the parts 
 with a red hot needle ; after which, the patients gargled with the 
 decoction mentioned above. The result of this treatment was, 
 that the fourteen patients were cured, having only drank the 
 decoction for six weeks. Marochetti then states, that, five 
 years afterwards, he himself had an opportunity of giving this 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 105 
 
 treatment another trial. Twenty-six persons who had been bit by 
 a mad dog, were put under his care, viz. nine men, eleven women, 
 and six children : he ordered the decoction of the tops of the 
 flowers of yellow broom to be given to them as soon as possible ; 
 and upon an attentive examination of their tongues, he discov- 
 ered pimples on five men, three children, and all the women. 
 Those who were most wounded were afflicted on the third day ; 
 the others on the fifth, seventh or ninth. One of the women 
 who had been slightly bitten on the leg had no appearance till 
 the twenty-first day. The seven who were free from pimples 
 took the decoction of broom for six weeks, with success. M. 
 Marochetti thinks that the hydrophobia poison, after having 
 remained in the wound, fixes itself under the tongue, in the 
 orifices of the ducts of the submaxillary gland, which are situated 
 on the sides of the frsenum. The inflammation, of which the 
 little pimples are the resull, has a peculiar appearance. The 
 time in which these pimples appear, is generally between the 
 third and ninth day after the bite. If they are not opened be- 
 fore twenty four hours after tkeir appearance, the venom is 
 absorbed and the patient is lost. 
 
 I shall be extremely anxious, to hear of the success of this 
 mode of treatment nearer home : for I must confess I cannot 
 place implicit confidence in the narrative. Medical men, 
 will, however, I trust, soon be able to submit this mode of 
 treatment to the test of experiment, till which time I shall sus- 
 pend my further judgement upon this Russian statement. 
 
 The following account of the progressive stages of hydro- 
 phobia is too interesting to be omitted in this place : with it, 
 therefore, I will close this long chapter : 
 
 Thomas Mason, aged 36, a porter of muscular frame and 
 sanguine temperament, on Thursday evening, 2d of August, 
 1794, after much fatiguing work, complained of pain in his 
 arms and shoulders, but chiefly in his left arm : the pain was of 
 
106 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 a rheumatic kind, with a feeling of tension ; and he passed the 
 night without sleeping, and at times he was observed slightly in- 
 coherent. On Friday, added to the pains in his arms, shoulders, 
 and chest, he complained of violent pain in his head. On Friday 
 night he continued restless, walked about the house all night, 
 but was rather more composed ; but it was in the course of this 
 night that he first complained of difficulty in swallowing, and 
 expressed his abhorrence at the sight of every sort of fluid. Al- 
 though extremely ill with the pain, his restlessness carried him 
 out on Saturday, but he was very irritable and uneasy ; he 
 thought he saw objects double ; and the same spasmodic mo- 
 tions which were produced by the attempt to swallow, were 
 also occasioned by an acquaintance accosting him suddenly, by 
 a gust of wind upon turning a corner, or any similar impulses. 
 On Saturday night he still continued equally restless and uneasy ; 
 his other sufferings were lost in the severity of a throbbing pain 
 in his temples : he was again more incoherent, and the throbbing 
 pain at both temples impressed him strongly with a notion, which 
 he could not banish, that he had two heads : the hydrophobia 
 was dreadful. On Sunday he again went out, but he was so 
 confused, and at times vertiginous, that as he walked upon the 
 quay, he would have fallen over, had it not been for a friend's 
 assistance. 
 
 Monday, August 6th, 11 o* Clock, Forenoon. 
 The pulse was 100, breathing 32, tongue white, and heat 
 of skin rather increased ; his pain severe in his arms, chiefly in 
 his left arm and in his shoulders ; intense throbbing pain in his 
 temples, and painful tightness in the upper part of his chest and 
 neck ; his hearing rather less acute than usual, and thinks that 
 he often hears discordant sounds as if from a bagpipe : his vision 
 rather impaired ; and when looking at a fixed object, it often 
 appears to move ; and small specks on the wall or floor appear 
 like insects moving : his left arm is numb, and the feeling very 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 107 
 
 imperfect ; the right arm and hand, as to feeling, are in their 
 natural state, excepting that when put into water, there is this 
 in common to them with the rest of the body, that the dreadful 
 convulsion immediately takes place. He is quite collected in 
 answering any question, but his sentences are uttered in a rapid 
 and ardent manner : he has no unaccountable sensation of anx- 
 iety, his uneasiness is entirely respecting his family should he 
 die. When he has to look about, he turns his whole body, his 
 neck being constantly stiff from the pain and straitness deep 
 seated in the larynx and upper part of the chest and shoulders: 
 he thinks that his illness arises from a glass of spirits of bad 
 quality which he drank on the first of August. I. now ordered 
 his wife to bring in some water ; he had scarcely caught a glance 
 of it, when, with a slight spasm of his mouth, he was thrown 
 back on the bed upon which he was sitting, violently convulsed ; 
 he then started up and staggered to the door, and then back to 
 the bed, his breast heaving violently all the time, his eyes and 
 countenance wild and infuriate ; and when he returned, he 
 grasped the bed post in his arms, stood for some time loudly 
 panting, and then, exhausted by the violence of the exertion, 
 he again sunk upon the bed. When a little composed, I asked 
 him if he had seen the water ; he said he had just caught a 
 glance of the tumbler, but that he would have been as ill had he 
 not seen the water, from knowing that his wife had it in her 
 hand ; and he said, that when I was talking about bringing in 
 the water, he had with the utmost uneasiness been struggling 
 to keep down the fit : I had indeed seen a spasm pulling down 
 the angles of his mouth, at the same time that he drew a con- 
 vulsive inspiration, but I did not know that this was the begin- 
 ning of the convulsion. Immediately after a violent fit, he can 
 look at the water without much dislike, and even swallow it, 
 although with pain and difficulty. The spasm of his lips and 
 the convulsive breathing are produced by any one suddenly 
 
108 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 entering the room, or taking hold of him rudely, but, unless he 
 has been long without a fit, he seems immediately to subdue 
 these threaten! ngs. 
 
 I now ordered him to bare his left hand and arm, and while 
 I was examining with great earnestness, I found a scar on the 
 back of the hand between the root of the thumb and fore finger, 
 round which I thought I saw a slight blush of inflammation : he 
 acknowledged that he had been bitten by a mad dogin December 
 last, while he was assisting to kill it ; but he said that the bite 
 was of no consequence, his hand having soon healed ; he even 
 wished me to believe that it was in December 1792, instead of 
 last December, and was extremely displeased that his wife should 
 contradict him in this statement ; and on Sunday evening, when 
 he was interrogated by Mr. Cheyne upon this subject, he de- 
 nied that he had ever been bitten by a dog. The manner in 
 which he addressed Mr. Cheyne, shewed how little his imagina- 
 tion had to do in this disease. 
 
 The subject seemed irksome to him, and therefore I got his 
 wife out of the room and questioned her. She said that he was 
 called to assist in killing a mad dog on the 9th of December, 
 and that the dog bit him as he attempted to seize it by the neck ; 
 the dog kept its hold till another man stabbed it; that he went 
 to an apothecary, who dressed the bite, which was deep and 
 lacerated, with traumatic balsam. She said he came home in 
 very bad spirits ; when she asked what had hurt his hand, he 
 said the splinter of a log of wood had tore it up ; next day, how- 
 ever, he told her how it happened ; he continued very unhappy, 
 and anxious about the issue of the bite, but when in a fortnight 
 he found the wound healed, he recovered his cheerfulness. 
 
 3 o'Clock. 
 
 He has had only one severe convulsion since I saw him at 
 eleven ; he was sitting on the side of the bed with his elbows 
 resting on his thighs, yet he was under restraint, was restless, 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. 109 
 
 and, unless asked to sit, had a perpetual desire of traversing the 
 room : he was neither pale nor flushed, yet his face was glazed 
 with perspiration : this appeared symptomatic of the state of 
 circulation, and not from the unceasing motion, as he himself 
 explained it : he says he is very feeble, but that a pain in his 
 loins and back is the cause of his unwillingness to sit. 
 
 It was simply asked, if he thought he could now admit a lit- 
 tle water into the room ; but, quick as electricity, he was again 
 thrown back, and immediately after he flung himself to the other 
 side of the room, and clung to a chest of drawers ; then he re- 
 turned with the same velocity to the bed post, to which he 
 clung with both his hands, sobbing all the while loudly. To 
 soothe him, he was assured that the water should not be 
 brought ; but this, by recalling the idea, renewed his suffering : 
 he begged, nay, he commanded, in an agonizing, hurried man- 
 ner, not to speak of it ; to address him on another subject was 
 to give him relief. He said that he was glad to grasp at any 
 thing near him, lest he should hurt us, for he was not himself 
 during these fits. 
 
 His hand is hot, his pulse quicker than it was in the forenoon ; 
 he passes his urine in very small quantities, white and turbid. 
 
 Half past 7 
 
 There were several messages for me, saying, that he was out- 
 rageously mad. I found him lying on the bed delirious, some- 
 times praying earnestly, sometimes crying that he was the 
 cause of his own death. He .frequently started up to spit out 
 the saliva ; and when I wished him to lie quiet, he said he could 
 not, if he did he would be choaked : he said that some one was 
 blowing chaff upon him, and suffocating him. His speech was 
 now more than ever hurried, and often quite unconnected. 
 His pulse was 112, and very full. Immediately after one of 
 the convulsions, he had swallowed two cupsful of tea. 
 
 K 
 
110 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 10 o'clock. 
 
 I found him standing at a corner of the room quite delirious ; 
 but his delirium was not of a mischievous kind, not that of 
 fierceness or passion, it was rather of alarm and trepidation : it 
 was much of that kind which we see in the worst kinds of con- 
 tinued fevers, where there has been constant watching with 
 severe pain in the head : he was jealous of every one, and said 
 that I had joined the combination to kill him ; however, when 
 I desired him to put out his tongue, he obeyed me ; it was white 
 and I thought rather swelled, and covered with a slime or very 
 viscid saliva ; this he was spitting, or rather hawking, inces- 
 santly and with great violence, and this hawking might easily be 
 thought, by a warm imagination, to be a kind of barking. I 
 had a strait jacket put on before I left him, and ordered him to 
 be tied down in bed. 
 
 August 7th, 11 o'Clock. 
 
 He fell fast asleep at twelve, and slept (for the first time) six 
 hours ; but when he awoke, he still retained the worst symptoms 
 of his disease ; the character of his delirium was changed, he 
 was quite sullen ; he was leaning over the side of the bed with 
 his eyes fixed on the floor, and constantly spitting out the viscid 
 saliva with great violence. Still I retained more influence with 
 him than any one, he even expressed a regard for me ; and at 
 one time, as he was struggling to get his hands out of the jacket, 
 he suddenly recollected that J had ordered it on, and became 
 quiet, observing, that I should not have ordered it had it not 
 been for his good. He had a little time before that taken 
 several draughts of tea, and swallowed some bread rather greedily, 
 immediately after a severe expression of the hydrophobia. 
 About half past ten he became very sick, and after retching a 
 ropy saliva, his attendants described him as becoming quite livid, 
 the affected arm quite stiff, and the rest of his body gently agi- 
 tated for about ten minutes, since which time he has been quiet 
 
THE HYDROPHOBIA. Ill 
 
 and insensible. He is now lying in the arms of a friend, who 
 is now wiping away the glary poison which he is salivating ; 
 his eye is suffused ; his breathing is quick and short ; he is still 
 sick at times : he has lost the hydrophobia since he became zw- 
 sensible, and has swallowed some fluids without any struggle. 
 
 2 o'Clock. 
 
 He died at one o'clock, in the way of those whose nervous 
 system has been in a state of violent excitement ; his struggle 
 was not unlike what we see at the last in nervous fevers. The 
 face sunk, the eye glazed, the breath short and laborious, slight 
 sub sultus. A little before death he became quite calm. 
 
 I had neglected to place a mirror before him, but I under- 
 stood that he had several times during yesterday surveyed him- 
 self in one which hung in the room. He had nothing of the 
 hydrophobia when passing his urine : and I have reason to 
 think, that the fluids in producing the convulsion had always a 
 reference to the act of swallowing : at one time, as I sat beside 
 him, I saw the spasms, or rather a trembling about the lips, and 
 was apprehensive of a convulsion ; he saw me eyeing him with 
 earnestness, and told me, that his uneasiness arose from his ap- 
 prehension that he should not be able to swallow the medicine 
 which I was recommending. 
 
 N. B. The man was bitten on the 9th of December, and 
 the disorder first shewed itself the 2d of August, an interval of 
 nearly eight months. 
 
 What follows is a minute description of the symptoms that 
 appeared upon dissecting the body of Mason ; and which inves- 
 tigation unquestionably proves, that much inflammation in vari- 
 ous parts accompanies the progress and is discovered at the 
 fatal issue of canine madness. 
 
 BRAIN. The blood escaping from the longitudinal sinus, 
 black as ink. The surface of the brain^ a great effusion under 
 the membrane anachnoides. The veins on the surface of the 
 
 K2 
 
1 I 2 THE HYDROPHOBIA. 
 
 brain as if injected with blood, and minutely so to their utmost 
 extremities. When a section is made, a great quantity of black 
 blood escapes from the points in the medullary matter, and the 
 cineritious matter is in a strong contrast with the medullary, 
 being darker than usual. No intermediate lines to be observed. 
 Substance not particularly firm, rather soft ; about an ounce of 
 Jlmd in the ventricles. Choroid plexus of a purple colour. The 
 striated parts of the brain particularly distinct. Observe the 
 general state of congestion of the cerebellum. Dura mater par- 
 ticularly dark. 
 
 INTESTINES. Intestines distended with flatulence : the con- 
 volutions near the pubis, natural ; towards the upper part, con- 
 siderable inflammation. The small intestines all forced towards 
 the left side. Omentum rather vascular. The colon much 
 distended on the right hypochondrium. 
 
 STOMACH. Little points of extravasation in the inner sur- 
 face of the stomach. The cardiac orifice somewhat inflamed. 
 
 NECK. Lymphatic glands, under the base of the jaw, par- 
 ticularly large and livid. Salivary glands, nothing particular. 
 Membrane of larynx very much inflamed, and perfectly black. 
 Membrane of pharynx also perfectly inflamed, and quite black. 
 
 The above account was furnished by Mr. Charles Bell, of 
 Edinburgh. 
 
113 
 
 Under this head I shall first observe, that, by proper atten- 
 tion to breeding, the sportsman will have very little trouble in 
 training. A well-bred dog, either setter or pointer, will gene- 
 rally require very little instruction, as he will, particularly if taken 
 out young, set arid back of his own accord. For an illustration 
 of this remark I refer the reader to what has been said under the 
 heads of Setter , page 14 ; and Pointer, page 18 
 
 I know it is a received opinion that those dogs which are very 
 difficult to reduce to the required subordination, prove, when 
 thoroughly subdued, superior to all others. From experience, 
 I will venture to pronounce this a hasty opinion : These 
 hardy, untractable animals are chiefly the offspring of the 
 pointer and setter ; and are, after all the painful flagellation, 
 and endless trouble in training, no better than a good dog 
 of a milder and more pliable disposition indeed, after repeated 
 trials of dogs of this description, I have become so disgusted 
 with them, that I would not on any account take the trouble 
 of another experiment- 
 However, in order that this chapter may be complete, it will 
 be necessary to detail the regular progressive mode of trainings 
 
114 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 dog under the supposition that many will be found amongst the 
 very best bred animals, which require every instruction from the 
 sportsman. 
 
 In the first place, then, it is indispensably necessary that the 
 sportsman should procure dogs whose breed is unexceptionably 
 good ; as well-bred dogs are more than half broke the moment 
 you take them into the field. The dog is an animal possessed 
 of an uncommon degree of sagacity ; in short, he has reason- 
 ing powers to a very great extent, whJch may be converted to the 
 pleasure or the service of his master; yet, in this respect, dogs 
 will be found to vary very much ; and while some will appear to 
 exhibit instinct merely, others will be found to evince a degree 
 of acuteness very similar to reason. There is a countless variety 
 of the dog tribe, many of the non-descript ramifications of 
 which, with an ugly and diminutive form, seem to sink much 
 below the general level of the canine tribe in sagacity, while 
 the nobler kind appear to rise in the scale of importance in 
 proportion as they are judiciously bred, and afterwards cherish- 
 ed by the fostering care of their human protector. 
 
 The most sagacious of all the varieties of this highly inter- 
 esting animal is, without dispute, the Newfoundland dog. His 
 olfactory organs are of the first order ; yet, as from his heavy, 
 long, and loose form he is unable to support the fatigue of a day's 
 range, he, on this account alone, is ill-calculated for the shooting 
 sportsman. Similarly important disqualifying observations would 
 apply to most of the other varieties of the dog, till we come to 
 the pointer and setter, which appear altogether most admirably 
 adapted to the purpose for which they are so generally used. 
 We may, however, remark that the mere pointing or setting is 
 by no means confined to these two particular kinds ; on the con- 
 trary, terriers, hounds, and all dogs inclined to hunt, may be 
 easily taught \ '} point or set, or, in other words, to pause or stop, 
 on their approaching game. Indeed, there are few dogs given 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 115 
 
 to hunting but will point naturally, in the course of a little time, 
 which arises no doubt from the following reason : as a young dog 
 ascertains his proximity to game by his sense of smell, so, on his 
 near approach, he is eager to seize it ; but finding, after repeated 
 trials, that he is unable to accomplish his purpose, he becomes 
 more circumspect or wary, and will be observed to pause for a 
 short space, and then make a sudden rush to secure his object. 
 This pause is, no doubt, for the purpose of ascertaining, by his 
 olfactory organs, the exact spot where the game is seated ; and 
 the observation of this very circumstance, there is not a doubt, 
 originated the idea of the setting dog ; the sportsman carefully 
 improving, by education, a quality which he easily discovered 
 would so essentially conduce to the pleasures of the field. 
 
 Taking it for granted, therefore, that all dogs which will 
 range for game will naturally pause or set, yet none of the var- 
 ious kinds seem so quickly to adopt this sagacious manoeuvre as 
 the pointer or setter ; nor is any one of them every way so 
 admirably adapted as an auxiliary to the fowling piece. Next 
 to the Newfoundland dog, on the score of powerful instinct, or 
 animal reasoning, may be ranked the pointer ; his countenance 
 is open, intelligent, and expressive ; while his speed, strength, 
 and persevering spirit enable him to continue the chase for a 
 length of time almost incredible. 
 
 The pointer and setter, though used for the same purpose, offer, 
 individually, a very different object for contemplation, either as 
 regards their external appearance, or their mode of questing for 
 game. The setter is fleeter than the pointer ; and, as his feet 
 are small and much protected by hair, he has a decided advantage 
 on hard ground, or in frosty weather ; but, at the commencement 
 of the shooting season, when the weather is oppressively hot, 
 he suffers more from thirst than the pointer, arising, no doubt, 
 from his long, thick, and warm coat of hair, which, though ex- 
 tremely convenient in cold weather, nevertheless, exposes this 
 
1 16 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 generous animal to great inconvenience during the intense heat 
 of the month of August, particularly on mountains where water 
 is seldom to be met with. On the whole, the setter is a hardy, 
 high-spirited animal; but he is often found troublesome to 
 break, and can only be kept steady by incessant labour, backed, 
 but too frequently, by severe correction. For those who follow 
 the diversion very ardently, and are out almost every day, the 
 setter will generally be found a valuable acquisition ; but those 
 who enjoy the fascinating amusement of shooting only occa- 
 sionally, will find greater satisfaction in the more steady and 
 better regulated exertions of the pointer. 
 
 The pointer is of foreign origin, and is known, with but 
 slight difference of form, not only in Spain, but in Portugal, and 
 also in France. The pointers that have been brought imme- 
 diately from Spain are heavy and clumsily formed ; those from 
 Portugal are somewhat lighter ; while the French breed is re- 
 markable for a wide furrow which runs between the nostrils, and 
 which gives to the animal's countenance a very grotesque ap- 
 pearance. All the pointers, however, exhibit a very different 
 form and character from the setter : they are thick and heavy 
 creatures, with large chubby heads, long pendant ears, and are 
 covered with short smooth hair ; nor do they always possess that 
 generosity of disposition which is so distinguishing a trait in the 
 character of the setter; in fact, they are of little value till cros- 
 sed with the generous blood of these islands. Yet the conjunc- 
 tion of the setter and pointer is by no means adviseable, since 
 the production generally unites the worst qualities of the two, 
 without any of those requisites, perhaps, for which the two 
 breeds are most highly prized. Sometimes, indeed, a first rate 
 dog is produced between a setter and a pointer ; but it rarely 
 happens ; the cross, at best, is never to be depended on ; and 
 for one good dog thus obtained, there will be found, on an 
 average, twenty very indifferent or bad dogs ; while not the least 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 117 
 
 dependance can be placed on the offspring of the very best ani- 
 mals thus obtained. The most valuable dogs are, unquestionably, 
 those produced between the Spanish pointer and the deep-flewed 
 fox-hound or deep-flewed harrier, particularly if the progeny in- 
 cline much to the pointer ; unless, indeed, speed be more the ob- 
 ject than acute olfactory nerves, when the lighter kind of hounds 
 will be found to answer best. The Spanish pointer has been 
 already so judiciously crossed, and is arrived at such a degree of 
 perfection, as to leave little to be desired in the way of experi- 
 ment ; good pointers are now to be met with in all parts of the 
 kingdom. Pointers are very susceptible of education, are easily 
 broke or trained, and not so apt to forget their lessons as the 
 setter. 
 
 Having offered these preliminary remarks on the varieties of 
 the dog, I will now proceed to a consideration of the subject more 
 immediately under discussion. A very mistaken notion (as be- 
 fore observed) has obtained currency, namely, that those dogs 
 which it is difficult to reduce to the required subordination, ul- 
 timately prove, when thoroughly subdued, superior to all others- 
 How such an idea could have become prevalent 1 am at a loss 
 to conjecture ; but I have not the least hesitation in pronouncing 
 it erroneous. That there have been good dogs of this descrip- 
 tion I am willing to admit, one, perhaps, out of a hundred ; 
 but it must be acknowledged, after all, that the steadiness of the 
 very best of these hardy, headstrong dogs is seldom to be de- 
 pended on ; they are always apt to spring the game, particularly 
 when hunted in company ; and it is only by hard labour, or ex- 
 cessive correction, or both, that their mischievous impetuosity 
 can be restrained. 
 
 The first object to be considered in training a dog is the anz- 
 maTs temper : some dogs require frequent and severe correction, 
 while, with others, mild treatment, and even encouragement, are 
 indispensable. The most philosophic patience is an admirable 
 
118 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 quality in a dog-breaker ; as many otherwise excellent dogs have 
 been ruined by ignorance and brutal passion. 
 
 Well-bred dogs generally begin to hunt at an early period, 
 though it will sometimes happen (but not often) that a dog will 
 continue so long before he manifests a disposition for hunting, 
 as to induce a suspicion that he is good for nothing. Let no 
 sportsman be too hasty in forming this conclusion. At the age 
 of five or six months, or even earlier, you should allow your dog 
 to accompany you when you walk out, supposing it to be in the 
 lanes or elsewhere ; and, occasionally, lead him in a cord, or 
 couple him with another dog. He may be allowed to ramble to 
 a certain distance, so as not to be out of call ; occasionally, 
 making him come behind you at the word back. The fewer 
 words that are used in each lesson the better, which should be 
 always the same, of the plainest sound, as well as the most dis- 
 tinct from each other, as the dog is guided by the sound alone ; 
 any meaning beyond what the sound and tone convey is, of 
 course, above the capacity of a quadruped. At this period, it 
 will not be amiss to teach him to crouch at a piece of bread, or 
 any thing else you may think proper, and not to stir till he is 
 ordered : this may easily be done by gentle correction when he 
 does wrong, and by rewarding him when he has done right. A 
 good time for this introductory lesson is before you feed him, 
 and he should never be allowed to eat till he has performed his 
 task in a satisfactory manner. The word down is short, and 
 sounds well from the mouth, and is all that is necessary to make 
 the dog crouch, except when he shows any unwillingness to 
 execute what you desire, when sirrah ! spoken in an angry tone, 
 may perhaps produce obedience ; if not, the whip should bead- 
 ministered with moderation. Further, it may be as well to teach 
 him, at the same time, words of caution, such, for instance, as 
 take heed ; as well as of encouragement, as good boy ; the latter 
 should not be used profusely, but applied in the most judicious 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 119 
 
 manner, as encouragement is very apt to induce a dog to commit 
 errors. A plurality of teachers should, if possible, be avoided; 
 one instructor being amply sufficient; 
 
 Whenever a dog is corrected, either at this period or after* 
 wards in the field, he should not be suffered to leave you till he 
 is satisfied that you intend him no further chastisement : for ex- 
 ample, if a dog be guilty "of so great a fault, when hunting, as 
 to render a severe flogging indispensable, you should not allow 
 him to run away immediately after the flagellation, but compel 
 him to remain at your feet for some seconds or a minute, other- 
 wise, you will not be able to catch him, perhaps, should he re- 
 quire a second chastisement. When a severe flogging is necessary, 
 it is adviseable to put a cord round the neck of the dog, by which 
 means the punishment may be administered more effectually. 
 
 After the dog has been thus brought under subjection, or re- 
 duced to the requisite obedience, at any period, from the age of 
 eight to eighteen months, according as he is strong and healthy, 
 he may be taken into the field, either with or without another 
 dog, and suffered to hunt whatever he pleases, (except sheep or 
 domestic animals,) and, in fact, to run riot. Larks, as they so 
 frequently present themselves, will, most likely, be the first ob- 
 ject of his attention ; these he will spring and chase very eager* 
 ly ; if partridges come in his way, he will do the same, with this 
 difference only, that his eagerness will much increase ; it will be 
 still greater should he come in contact with a pheasant ; and if a 
 hare happen to rise before him, he will not fail to chase, with all 
 imaginable ardour, and will, most likely, open in the pursuit. In 
 this way he may be indulged till such time as he has become so 
 attached to the sports that he may be checked without the least 
 danger of his being overfaced, and thus induced to blink his game, 
 or be otherwise rendered shy. 
 
 In a short period you will perceive him draw more cautiously 
 upon the scent ; on approaching his object, he will pause even 
 
120 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 at a lark ; but when a partridge happens to be before him, his 
 pause or stop will be more steady, and his manner altogether 
 much more earnest ; and the difference of the object will be very 
 clearly manifested in his countenance.* He should now be 
 taken out with an old steady dog, and whenever he comes to a 
 point, the word toko ! should be used, and afterwards the whip, 
 should the word prove unavailing. Whenever he sets, approach 
 him at your regular pace, but seem not in a hurry, (as, if you 
 run, he will be very apt to do the same) and stand by him for a 
 few seconds ; if the birds do not rise he should be allowed to 
 advance, by saying hold up ! be mindful, however, that he does 
 not advance too rapidly, and in order to effect this, make use of 
 words expressive of caution, as take heed! When the old dog 
 points, the young one should be taught to back, which may be 
 accomplished in the following manner : As soon as the old 
 dog settles to a point, supposing the young one happens to be 
 at a distance, he must be stopped, as the moment he perceives 
 the point, he would, if left to himself, rush eagerly up : how- 
 ever, he must be prevented from so doing, by calling out toko / 
 at the same time, holding up your hand. If he obey not by 
 gentle means, recourse must be had to the whip. By these 
 means he will, most likely, soon become very steady ; for dog- 
 breaking, if attended to at a proper period, and in a proper 
 manner, does not give half the trouble that is generally suppos- 
 ed. Holding up the hand is the signal for the dog to back ; 
 and, in a little time, whenever he sees it, he will immediately 
 stop, though he may be at the other end of the field, or at a 
 considerable distance. 
 
 * If, contrary to expectation, he should manifest no disposition to 
 pause or stop, after having been taken into the field half a dozen times, 
 every time he springs the game, he must be brought back to the spot 
 whence it rose, and compelled to crouch; the word toko / must be 
 angrily spoken, and the whip used, if, after repeated cautions, he should 
 pay no attention. 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 121 
 
 At the same time, he should be taught to quarter his ground 
 in a proper manner, as well as not to break fence. In beating 
 a field, care should be taken to give him the wind ; or, at least, 
 he should never be suffered to run directly with the wind : if it 
 blow in his face, so much the better, but a dog will hunt very 
 well with a side wind. The dog should cross about twenty yards 
 before the shooter, and if, after running down the field, he should 
 not cross up again at about the distance just mentioned, he should 
 be called to or whistled, and a wave of the hand should direct 
 him across the field ; unless indeed he catch scent, when he 
 should be suffered, of course, to follow it. In case of attempt- 
 ing to break fence, he should be instantly whistled to or called by 
 name, in an angry tone, using at the same time the words 'ware 
 fence ! This will, in all probability, soon produce the requisite 
 obedience ; but should he refuse to obey the whistle or call, the 
 whip must produce what more gentle means are unable to effect, 
 If he refuses to pay attention to the whistle, he should receive a 
 few stripes, (more or less, according to the disposition of the ani- 
 mal) the whistle occasionally used during the operation ; and con- 
 tinued to be so corrected, should he not return implicit obedience 
 when called to. Thus, he will soon become pleasingly tractable. 
 
 However, as some young dogs, are alarmed at the report of 
 the fowling piece, it will not be amiss, on the game rising after 
 having been properly set, to fire a pistol, which will render him 
 familiar to the sound. If his terror should increase on the firing 
 of the pistol, so as to frighten him from the field, the experi- 
 ment should be entirely abandoned till the shooting season, 
 when he should be coupled to another dog, or otherwise pre- 
 vented from running away till a few birds are killed and shown 
 to him. If a bird be winged, he should be induced to foot it, 
 and even suffered to mouth it, which is by far the best method 
 of reconciling him to the discharge of the fowling piece. 
 
 We will suppose that the dog is already steady at partridge ; 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 vet if he happens to approach a hare, he will scarcely fail to 
 rush at her at all events he will chase when she rises. In 
 this case, he must be brought back to the place from whence he 
 run, and made to crouch as before described, using the words, 
 'ware hare ! or 'ware chase ! 
 
 Hitherto, I have supposed that the dog breaker has been 
 engaged with a mild, good tempered animal, which will be 
 eaaly rendered tractable by the means just described ; there 
 are, however, dogs of a very different description, which re- 
 quire an excess of flogging, aided by other coercive measures, 
 in order to enforce that indispensable degree of subordination, 
 without which, shooting, so delightful with well trained pointers, 
 is rendered irksome and vexatious. 
 
 If repeated severe flogging fail to accomplish the object of 
 the sportsman, recourse must be had to the trash cord, or rather 
 drag-cord. This is a cord something like a clock line, about 
 twelve or fourteen yards in length, to be fastened round the 
 dog's neck, if in the fields ; on the moors the dog will run with 
 twenty yards, while twelve or fourteen will soon tire him in en- 
 closed grounds :* the greater the length of the cord, however, 
 that can be used with propriety, the better : the cord may be 
 shortened as the dog becomes fatigued. By the help of this 
 cord, you will be able to stop him whenever you please. We 
 will suppose that he makes a point : should he attempt 
 to run in, you must check him as smartly as possible, mak- 
 ing use of the word toho / and the whip also if you think 
 proper. This cord will be very useful should the dog not come 
 in when called, &c. If, after some little practice with the drag 
 cord, the dog perseveres in springing his game, or continues 
 otherwise refractory, the spiked collar must be used. The spi- 
 
 * On moors, the cord is drawn over the top of the heath in a great 
 measure, and therefore runs light ; in stubble fields and rough grounds 
 many obstacles render the dragging of the cord very hard labour. 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 123 
 
 Iced collar is merely a leathern strap, through which are inserted 
 a dozen or more small nails, the points of which should extend 
 half an inch beyond the surface of the inside. On the outside 
 a piece of leather must be sewed over the heads of the nails, to 
 prevent their starting back when the dog presses upon their points. 
 This is to be buckled round the dog's neck, the points of the 
 nails inward, and the drag cord attached to it. Thus, when it 
 becomes necessary to check him on his attempting to run in, or 
 behaving otherwise unruly, the admonition, or rather correction, 
 will be much more impressive ; in a little time, his neck will be 
 very sore; and he must be contumacious beyond measure if this 
 mode of punishment dees not produce the desired effect. 
 
 The most difficult part of dog-breaking is, perhaps, the re- 
 ducing of the animal to perfect obedience in respect to hares. 
 In the first instance, a young dog will eagerly pursue larks or 
 thrushes, or in fact any of the feathered tribe which he happens 
 to meet with ; the partridge being a larger object, and making 
 considerable noise when taking wing, will be pursued by him with 
 much more ardour ; a similar remark will equally apply to the 
 pheasant, which he will still more eagerly pursue : but very soon 
 discovering the attempt to be hopeless, he will shorten the dis- 
 tance of his pursuit, and ultimately abandon the chase altogether. 
 Not so, however, with the hare ; for perceiving that it does not 
 leave the ground, but runs like himself, he will not very easily 
 relinquish the hope of overtaking her, but will rush forward with 
 ungovernable ardour, and, even when lost sight of, will continue 
 to follow the chase by the nose. But there are few dogs which 
 may not be rendered steady in respect to hares by the means 
 which we have pointed out ; and that where hares are numerous 
 much sooner, of course, than where they are seldom met with. 
 There is one effectual mode of reducing a dog to obedience in 
 this respect, should the whip, the drag-cord, and the spiked collar 
 
 fail of the desired effect. For this purpose a living hare should 
 
 L2 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 be procured, to the neck of which a cord should be fastened : 
 to the other end of the cord (which "may be six or seven yards 
 in length) should be attached a wire, which wire should be thrust 
 through the snout or cartilaginous part of the dog's nose. The 
 hare will, of course, spring forward at the sight of the dog, which 
 will not fail to cause the most acute pain to the latter ; the whip 
 should be applied at the same time, accompanied with the words, 
 'ware Jiare!* This may be regarded, perhaps, as the excess of 
 severity, and should never be resorted to but when all milder 
 means have been repeatedly tried in vain. To prevent an ob- 
 stinate dog chasing hares, I have sometimes seen the fowling- 
 piece used as a remedy. It may be regarded as a desperate one, 
 which, though it will generally have the desired effect, should be 
 used with the utmost circumspection. If a dog is to be shot at, 
 care should be taken that he is at a sufficient distance, as well as 
 to hit him about the rump, otherwise you run great risk of //- 
 ling him. 
 
 In the earlier part of these remarks, I have mentioned mild- 
 tempered dogs. It will be requisite here to observe, that well- 
 bred dogs are occasionally met with so very shy as to require 
 encouragement rather than correction: dogs of this description 
 may sometimes prove excellent ; but I must confess I do not like 
 to see a shy dog. Animals of this sort should never be taken out 
 with dogs that need much checking or flogging, as the very sight 
 of the whip alarms them to such a degree that they will not stir 
 from behind you. Nothing is more difficult than to manage very 
 shy dogs : they must be encouraged to hunt ; and if they commit 
 an error, the means of correction are difficult, and sometimes 
 impossible : the least severity will most likely make them blink f 
 
 * On all occasions of correction, the requisite word should uniformly 
 accompany the punishment. 
 
 f Blinking is when a dog finds game, and, on being spoken to, draws 
 off, and runs behind you, and frequently without being spoken to. 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 125 
 
 their game ; and when once this habit is contracted, it will re- 
 quire more than ordinary pains to eradicate it. Many young 
 dogs will be much alarmed at the report of a gun ; and yet, 
 when reconciled to it, prove excellent. Few shy dogs are very 
 prizeable ; 1 never saw a good one. 
 
 As I have spoken of the various methods to be employed to 
 render a dog steady at the point, to range, and also to 6ack, I 
 must observe, in this place, that a dog should never be suffered 
 to break fence ; or, in other words, to leave the field till you are 
 ready to accompany him, as much mischief may ensue from his 
 being suffered to ramble out of sight, or to a great distance. On 
 his attempting to break fence, the whistle should be used, the 
 dog should be called by his name, (in an angry tone,) followed 
 by the words, 'ware fence ! the whip, &c. to be resorted to, 
 as in other cases, if necessary, to procure obedience. 
 
 Generally speaking, as little noise as possible should be made. 
 Tbe voice or the whistle should never be used, but when abso- 
 lutely demanded : the dog will thus hunt steadier ; and if you 
 accustom him to the motion of your hand, he will regularly look 
 for the signal whenever he is at a loss. 
 
 It is thought by some, that dogs broke on the grouse moun- 
 tains are superior as to ranging : this is doubtful, if not a mis- 
 taken notion altogether. In this respect, much will depend upon 
 the animal himself. 
 
 Young dogs in general hunt with their noses closer to the 
 ground than old ones, and are apt to puzzle on the scent a con- 
 siderable time after the game has left the spot. A little practice 
 will, however, most likely remedy these defects : if not, recourse 
 must be had to the muzzle-peg, an instrument very well known 
 amongst sportsmen, but which I will, nevertheless, describe. 
 The muzz!e~peg is merely a piece of wood hollowed out and 
 formed at one end so as to fit or receive the under jaw of the 
 
 dog. From the dog's nose to the other end, projecting about 
 
 L3 
 
126 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 nine inches, it is merely a round stick rather thicker than a man's 
 thumb ; though some persons, instead of one of these round pro- 
 jecting sticks, prefer two, forming an angle with the dog's nose. 
 At the upper end of that part which is placed under the dog's 
 nether jaw, two longitudinal holes or slits are made, through 
 which a strap is inserted, which is buckled behind the animal's 
 ears ; while the other end of the thick part of the muzzle-peg, 
 or that which comes under the canine teeth, or fangs, is per- 
 forated with two holes, through which a leather thong is drawn, 
 and tied immediately behind the fangs just mentioned. With 
 this instrument, so fastened, the dog may be hunted without the 
 smallest injury. At the first putting on, however, he will use 
 every effort to rid himself of so disagreeable a companion, nor 
 will he hunt till he has satisfied himself of the inefficacy of his 
 utmost exertions to get free from this unpleasant restraint. At 
 length, he will become familiar with the instrument, and run with 
 it as unconcernedly as possible ; and it will make him carry his 
 head well up, as well as prevent him chopping young hares, or 
 mouthing in any way. A dog that rakes (that is, runs with 
 his nose close to the ground), and follows his game by the track, 
 will generally spring it. Whenever, therefore, a young dog is 
 seen to follow the track of a partridge (down wind in particular) 
 he should be colled to in an angry tone, hold up! he will then 
 become uneasy, going first to one side and then to the other till 
 the wind brings him the scent. If, after a short period, he 
 should persevere in keeping his nose to the ground, and in fol- 
 lowing the track, recourse must be had to the instrument which 
 I have just described. 
 
 Grouse, partridges, or any kind of game, lie much better to 
 a doo- that winds them, than to one which approaches by the 
 track. The dog that winds the scent approaches the game by 
 degrees, and that more or less as he finds it wild or otherwise, 
 which he is enabled to discover by the scent which is emitted ; 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 127 
 
 and though grouse or partridge see him hunt round them, they 
 will be much less alarmed than when they observe him follow- 
 ing their track, and suffer his near approach ; or, in other words, 
 lie well. The reason seems evident : the dog, I apprehend, 
 is seen by the birds (generally speaking) as soon as he enters 
 the field ; or, at all events, at a very considerable distance ; and 
 the moment they perceive him approach by the track, they take 
 the alarm, supposing themselves discovered, or, at least, very 
 likely to be discovered ; but watching, as they assuredly do, the 
 motions of the dog, and observing that he does not follow the 
 track along which they have run, they conceive themselves un- 
 discovered, and thus allow the dog to come to a steady point. 
 It may, moreover, be further remarked, that a dog which car- 
 ries his head high will always find the most game, to say nothing 
 of finding it in a handsome style. 
 
 A YOUNG dog should be kept regularly to his work, if possi- 
 ble, until he become quite staunch. Great care should be taken 
 with him the first season he is shot over, as it seldom fails to 
 determine his worth: at this period, numbers" of otherwise val- 
 uable dogs are ruined by improper treatment, particularly by 
 ignorant, passionate game -keepers arid dog breakers: no fault, 
 however, should be allowed to escape correction or reproof. I 
 do not mean that the dog should be flogged for every trivial 
 mistake, but that the most trifling error should be noticed by 
 sounds or symptoms of displeasure ; and, proceeding in this 
 way, you should administer correction according to the degree 
 of crime. 
 
 We will suppose the young dog broke, and taken out to be 
 put into effectual practice all his previous instruction. On the 
 first shot, particularly if the dog see the bird fall, he will be very 
 apt to break away, in which case he should be brought back to 
 the spot whence he had run, and there making him lie down, call 
 out, down charge! He should be compelled to remain in that 
 
128 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 position till the gun is re-loaded ; and the disposition and temper 
 of the animal should be the rule and guide of correction. A 
 well-bred dog will generally become perfect in this lesson in a 
 very short period. 
 
 It sometimes happens, however, that a young dog will testify 
 every symptom of alarm on the firing of the fowling piece : 
 will, perhaps, run home, and be with difficulty brought again to 
 the field. When this occurs, I consider it a very unfortunate 
 circumstance, as it will frequently require no ordinary pains to 
 free the dog from this unnecessary fear. There is no better 
 mode of effectually remedying the evil, than by convincing the 
 animal that the discharge of the fowling piece is intended for a 
 very different purpose than to create alarm. He must there- 
 fore, be brought back, and compelled to remain in company with 
 the sportsman : he must, in fact, be led in a cord, to prevent 
 his running away again ; and if an attendant be not in the field, 
 the sportsman may tie the cord round his own body. A few 
 birds should be killed over him as quickly as possible, which should 
 be shown to him. and he should be allowed to mouth them, if 
 he appears inclined to do so: if a bird happen to be winged, he 
 should be enticed to foot it ; thus he will very soon compre- 
 hend the true intention of the fowling piece; his fears will sub- 
 side ; and he will shortly manifest as much anxious joyful ex- 
 pectation at the sight and sound of a gun, as he previously 
 testified alarm and terror. 
 
 Some persons accustom their young dogs to the report of 
 fire-arms at a much earlier period than when taken into^the field ; 
 in fact, when they are very young. Certainly, if they endure 
 the report of a gun or pistol at this early period, there can be 
 little dread of their taking alarm when brought into the field; 
 but if a very young dog or whelp takes fright on the report of 
 a pistol or gun, his fears will become so rooted that much greater 
 difficulty will arise in completing his education than in the case 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 129 
 
 I have before stated. In fact, all firing of guns or pistols near 
 him should be cautiously avoided, as a practice of this sort will 
 but increase his alarm, unless, indeed, it were daily, and almost 
 incessantly, resorted to. The dog must be regularly broke, and, 
 when taken into the field with the fowling piece, treated in the 
 manner I have described above. It is highly important to con- 
 vince the dog that the fowling-piece is for the purpose of killing 
 the game, which he is to find; and this cannot be done when 
 shooting merely to accustom him to the sound, as no object is 
 thus placed before him. For the same reason, I do not strongly 
 recommend the practice of teaching dogs, when very young, to 
 crouch in the lanes, &c. when you happen to be walking out, as 
 the animal cannot be thus aware of the ultimate intention of his 
 master, or conscious of the object for which he is compelled to 
 become prostrate : this method, in fact, teaches the dog to 
 crouch too much, and, on that account, I never practise it, or, 
 in other words, force my pointers to endure such abject and un- 
 meaning servitude. 
 
 Having thus gone, as plainly as possible, through what, for 
 the sake of distinction, I will call the regular rules of dog-break- 
 ing, I will finish this long essay by a few desultory or general 
 remarks, which will, I trust, be equally useful, and, at the same 
 time, serve the purpose of collateral illustration. 
 
 In the first place, then, I would advise gentlemen to break 
 their own dogs, wherever such a plan is easily practicable, and 
 agreeable to the taste of the sportsman. Dogs thus broke, and 
 never suffered to go out but in company with the person who 
 trained them, will infallibly be superior to all others. They are 
 thus accustomed to obey one person only ; they become perfect- 
 ly familiar with his mode and manner, and, after being shot over 
 one season, never afterwards give the least trouble. If dogs are 
 lent from one to another, or become subject to many masters, 
 they cannot be expected to be perfect. For instance, I will sup~ 
 
130 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 pose I kave trained a dog, have shot over him several seasons, 
 and he has, at length, become perfectly master of his business ; 
 I lend him to a friend for one day, as good a sportsman, too, as 
 myself; the dog, on being taken into the field, and perceiving a 
 stranger, is unwilling to acknowledge his authority ; the mode 
 and manner of my friend, too, are different from mine, and, con- 
 sequently, unlike that which the dog has been accustomed to ; in 
 fact, the sportsman and the dog do not perfectly understand each 
 other, and a quarrel ensues : the sportsman succeeds, perhaps, in 
 reducing the dog to obedience ; but the latter returns home, in 
 some measure, a different animal ; he has committed various 
 mistakes in the course of the day, most likely, and, on next going 
 into the field, his own master will not fail to perceive that his 
 dog is not the same, but requires, in some degree, training 
 anew. 
 
 The less a dog is spoken or whistled to, the better. When- 
 ever a wave of the hand or a motion will answer the purpose, 
 the silent signal is to be preferred to noise ; and those who are 
 well acquainted with grouse shooting will feel the force and pro- 
 priety of this remark. I have often been surprised at the dis- 
 tance at which the human voice, in common conversation, may 
 be heard on the moors, down the wind : grouse will bear noise 
 less than any other game. 
 
 A well-bred pointer seldom requires excessive correction, 
 Setters, on the contrary, are more unruly ; and, generally 
 speaking, render severe and frequent flogging indispensable ; 
 they are, however, valuable where plenty of employment can be 
 given ; but where incessant labour is not called for, the pointer 
 is far preferable. However, no dog should be corrected in a 
 passion ; nor, after being flogged, should he ever be suffered to 
 run away or leave the sportsman, till he and the dog become 
 reconciled to each other. I have seen foolish, passionate men 
 let their dogs run away immediately the flogging is over, and 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 131 
 
 aim another blow at them as they are going away ; nothing can 
 be more censurable ; for, when the dog next commits a fault, 
 and you wish to chastise him, he will not suffer you to approach 
 sufficiently near to lay hold of him. Therefore, after correction, 
 he should not be suffered to move, till by a word or two of cau- 
 tion, spoken in a mild tone, his alarm is dissipated. If a dog, 
 either from strength or disposition, becomes difficult to chastise, 
 by first tying his legs together, the sportsman will have a per- 
 fect command over him. 
 
 The best dogs may sometimes make mistakes on bad scent- 
 ing days, for instance ; or if they happen to run down wind, 
 particularly when it is blowing strong. On such occasions, it 
 would he cruel to flog them, though the words expressive of 
 caution may be used, spoken in an angry tone. 
 
 Well-bred pointers, as I have before observed, if taken into 
 the field at a proper period, will, in general, require little break- 
 ing ; they will often point and back of themselves, and, in fact, 
 give the sportsman much satisfaction with little trouble. 
 
 The dog that first finds the game should always go up to it ; 
 and on no account should another be suffered to pass or run be- 
 fore him. It is like snatching his well earned reward, to say 
 nothing of the confusion which must ensue from such a culpable 
 practice. 
 
 I have seen dogs shot at for the purpose of rendering them 
 steady, and particularly to prevent them from chasing hares ; I 
 cannot say I admire this method, though I have seen it used 
 with effect : it can only be had recourse to with hardy, head- 
 strong animals ; as to shoot at a young timid dog is to ruin him 
 at once. It is a dangerous method at best, nor should it ever be 
 resorted to but when the dog is at a considerable distance. 
 
 A pointer or setter should never be named Carlo, Sancho, or, 
 indeed, any name ending in o, as the word TOHO is so frequently 
 indispensable, and, ending in the same sound, is apt to cause 
 
132 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 misunderstanding and confusion. A dog's name should consist 
 of one expressive syllable, which comes forcibly from the mouth, 
 such as Nell) for instance, and, where more than one dog is used, 
 their names should sound as differently as possible. 
 
 It but too frequently happens that young dogs manifest an 
 inclination to hunt and worry sheep, which must be instantly cor- 
 rected. If a severe flogging have not the desired effect, the dog 
 should either be tied to a strong ram, leaving a sufficient length 
 of cord to allow the ram to make a run ; or they should be con- 
 fined together in a barn or some building. Flog the dog till he 
 cries out, making use of the words 'ware sheep! The ram will 
 not fail to commence a furious attack upon him, and will butt 
 him most violently. They should be kept together for twenty 
 minutes ; the ram will not fail to continue his butting, and it 
 may not be amiss to flog the dog several times during this period, 
 making use of the words just mentioned at the same time. This 
 will, most likely, prevent the dog ever looking at sheep after- 
 wards, unless, perhaps, where he has absolutely bitten them be- 
 fore this system of correction was put in practice, in which case, 
 I am not aware of any mode of punishment or correction that can 
 be depended on ; for, although the dog may not even notice 
 sheep in your presence, yet he will, nevertheless, be very apt to 
 steal away, as opportunity may offer, for the purpose of depre- 
 dation : when once dogs have tasted mutton, they are never to 
 be trusted. Indeed, I have seen an instance or two, where the 
 dog, after being a little butted, has fiercely turned upon the ram,* 
 
 * On this subject, BECKFORD relates the following anecdote : 
 A late lord of my acquaintance, who had heard of this method, and 
 whose whole pack had been often guilty of killing sheep, determined to 
 punish them, and to that intent put the largest ram he could find into 
 his kennel. The men with their whips and voices, and the ram with 
 his horns, soon put the whole kennel into confusion and dismay, and 
 the feounds and ram were then left together. Meeting a friend soon 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 133 
 
 which he would have torn to pieces had he not been prevented ; 
 but a circumstance of this sort rarely occurs, and, in the instances 
 to which I allude, the dogs were grown rather too old to be 
 cured by this or any other mode short of confinement or death. 
 If a young dog look earnestly at, or set, a sheep, he should 
 be corrected ; and, if you find him repeat it, have recourse to 
 the ram, as by far the most effectual mode that can be adopted. 
 A dog should be corrected, in fact, the moment he is observed to 
 manifest the slightest inclination even to notice sheep ; as he 
 will, if not checked, first look and set, then chase, and, ultimately, 
 worry them. 
 
 As to poultry, the evil is not of so much magnitude, nor the 
 disposition to worry it so difficult to subdue, as when sheep are 
 the object ; besides, poultry, by being generally about the house 
 or premises, afford better, as well as more frequent, opportunities 
 of observation. Young pointers are very apt to make their first 
 essay, as it were, by worrying chickens, or pigeons, where they 
 happen to be very tame. Early and severe flogging will, how- 
 ever, generally remedy the evil : if not, tie a fowl (a living one 
 is the best, on account of its fluttering,) to the dog's tail, and tie 
 it in such a manner, either by a cleft stick or otherwise, that it 
 may give the dog considerable pain. Take him to a place some 
 distance from his kennel, and, after giving him a few smart strokes 
 with the whip, let him loose, and he will seldom fail to run home, 
 
 after, "come," says he, "come with me to the kennel, and see what rare 
 sport the ram makes among the hounds ; the old fellow lays about him 
 stoutly, I assure yoa egad he trims them there is not a dog dares look 
 him in the face." His friend, who is a compassionate man, pitied the 
 hounds exceedingly, and asked if he was not afraid that some of them 
 might be spoiled?" No, d a them," said he, " they deserve it, and let 
 them suffer." On they went all was quiet. they opened the kennel 
 door, but saw neither ram nor hound. The ram by this time was en- 
 tirely eaten up, and the hounds having filled their bellies, were retired 
 to rest. 
 
 M 
 
134> TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 howling all the way, (just as if a tin kettle were tied to him,) 
 and terrified beyond measure. He should, however, be followed, 
 dragged from the farther end of his kennel, in which he will, no 
 doubt, endeavour to hide himself, and be again well flogged ; 
 and the fowl, being taken from his tail, should be buffetted about 
 his head. 
 
 I have met with sportsmen who teach their pointers to fetch 
 the dead bird : I must confess I am not fond of this method ; as 
 the dog, thus accustomed to fetch the bird, is very apt to break 
 away, on the shot, whether a bird be killed or not. 
 
 The Russian Pointer. In concluding these observations on 
 dog breaking, I must once more revert to the animal distin~ 
 guished by the name of the Russian Pointer, though it has al- 
 ready been slightly noticed under a distinct head : The Rus- 
 sian Pointer, which has of late years attracted the attention of 
 the shooting sportsman, is one of those animals which, from ex- 
 ternal appearance, is by no means calculated to excite a prepos- 
 session in its favour. The dog in question may or may not 
 have come originally from Russia ; his thick covering of hair 
 would seem to indicate, however, that he is well calculated to 
 endure the rigours of a northern climate ; therefore, as far as 
 relates to the word Russian, the idea and the appearance seem 
 perfectly in unison. But while I admit the word Russian to 
 be appropriate to the nature of the dog, I feel much inclined 
 to dispute the specific and particular application of pointer. 
 That this rough thickly clad dog may be taught to point, there 
 is little doubt, and the same remark may, with propriety, be 
 extended to almost every ramification of the dog : any dog that 
 will run and hunt may be taught to stop or point. Take a 
 young terrier, for instance, into the field, and hunt him several 
 days ; he will be found, at first, to chase every bird that he 
 meets with ; but, after having been on the scent of partridges 
 repeatedly, he will be seen to pause, and, after a few seconds, 
 
TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 135 
 
 rush to the spot where he supposes, from the scent, the birds 
 are situated. The fact is, that almost all dogs hunt the tenants 
 of the air from inclination or instinct, but particularly partridges, 
 pheasants, &c. which are much given to running, and thus afford 
 their four-footed enemy a far better opportunity of following 
 them than such as take to immediate flight, at once convincing 
 the dog of the hopelessness of the pursuit. 
 
 In following birds, all dogs are actuated by a strong desire to 
 seize them ; and, after repeated ineffectual attempts, at length 
 cunningly adopt the mode of stopping for a few seconds, in or- 
 der to ensure the object by a sudden rush to the identical spot, 
 which the information of their exquisite olfactory organs enables 
 them to do with tolerable precision. It has been stated, that 
 an earl of Surrey was the first who taught a dog to set ; this 
 certainly may have been the case, and I have no doubt that the 
 observation of the pauses which the animal instinctively makes, 
 first gave rise to the caution in pointing) which the dog now 
 receives from the sportsman. 
 
 As I have just stated that all dogs that will hunt will set also, 
 I shall, for the sake of elucidation, exhibit a comparative view 
 of the subject ; or in other words, attempt to show that some 
 dogs testify greater inclination for those instinctive pauses than 
 others. The greyhound we omit altogether, as he manifests 
 no disposition to hunt by the nose. The lurcher^ which will 
 hunt by the nose, and possesses the quality above described, is 
 not a good example, as his olfactory nerves are of a very inferior 
 description, and he is more apt to depend upon the eye than 
 the nose. The terrier has already been mentioned as pausing 
 to prepare for a rush ; the same inclination will be found to pre- 
 vail in most of the mongrels, which it is impossible to classify, 
 but which will be generally found to evince a similar disposition; 
 while all dogs of the spaniel kind, as they have better noses, and 
 
 are more inclined to range, exhibit the quality of pointing in a 
 M 2 
 
136 
 
 TRAINING DOGS FOR THE GUN. 
 
 still greater degree ; at the same time it must be admitted, that 
 the pointer, by possessing still superior olfactory organs, being 
 much inclined to range, and of a docile and tractable temper, is 
 a better subject than any of those just enumerated for improv- 
 ing the instinctive pause into the regular, steady, statue-like set, 
 so essential to the pleasures derived from the fowling piece. 
 
 The Russian pointer is merely the ugliest specimen of the 
 water spaniel, with a trifling cross perhaps of the setter ; and 
 from what has been stated, it will be easily perceived that he 
 might be taught to set. Chance, in all probability, first intro- 
 duced the Russian pointer to the notice of some fanciful sports- 
 man : to see a dog of this description set steadily would appear 
 strange ; and from this very circumstance the animal might ob- 
 tain credit for other qualities which he did not possess. How- 
 ever, though the Russian pointer was much spoken of a few 
 years ago, its introduction was very limited, and attended, for 
 the most part, with unqualified dissatisfaction. 
 
 The writer once accompanied a gentleman on a shooting ex- 
 cursion, who had procured three of these Russian pointers ; and 
 from seven o'clock in the morning till eleven, the dogs ranged 
 the fields in an unruly manner, without even making a handsome 
 steady point, though it was in the early part of September, the 
 scent good, and plenty of birds : the impression left on the 
 writer's mind was, that the dogs possessed a headstrong disposi- 
 tion, and a bad nose. It is clear that the Russian pointer 
 would require incessant correction, and, after all, be good for 
 nothing. They are low rangers, >and on this account would 
 always be apt to get too near their game. Under all these 
 circumstances, therefore, of uncouth appearance, bad nose, and 
 refractory disposition, these dogs may be safely pronounced 
 utterly unworthy of the notice of the sportsman. 
 
137 
 
 AND THE REASON WHY ONE DOG'S SENSE OF 
 SMELLING IS SUPERIOR TO ANOTHER'S. 
 
 Scent is an effluvium which, in a greater or a less degree, is 
 continually issuing from the bodies of animals, and other sub- 
 stances ; but, as these remarks are intended more for the sports- 
 man than the philosopher, I shall confine myself merely to the 
 nature of that animal exudation by which a dog is enabled to in- 
 form his master of his approach to game. The effluvium con- 
 stantly issuing from the pores of all animal substances, consists 
 of minute particles, or corpuscles, which, driven by the wind or 
 otherwise, and coming in contact with the olfactory nerves of 
 the dog, enable him to discover the proximity of the object of 
 pursuit, and, after having ascertained the direction of the vapour, 
 he cautiously ascends, as it were, the stream, and, by practice, 
 becomes a proficient in pointing out the identical situation of 
 the source whence the effluvium or scent issues, and thus prepares 
 his master for the springing of the game. 
 
 Thus sings Somerville : 
 
 " The panting Chase grows warmer as he flies, 
 And through the net-work of the skin perspires; 
 Leaves a long steaming trail behind, which by 
 The cooler Air condensed, remains, unless 
 By some rude storm dispers'd, or rarefied 
 By the Meridian Sun's intenser heat. 
 To ev'ry Shrub the warm Effluvia cling, 
 Hang on the grass, impregnate Earth and Skies. 
 M3 
 
138 SCENT, &C. 
 
 With nostrils op'ning wide, o'er hill, o'er dale, 
 The vig'rous Hounds pursue, with every breath 
 Inhale the grateful steam, quick pleasures sting 
 Their tingling Nerves, while they their thanks repay, 
 And in triumphant Melody confess 
 The titillating Joy. Thus on the Air 
 Depend the Hunter's hopes.'* 
 
 But to the air only, Somerville ought not to have attributed the 
 origin or difference of scent, it depends also on the soil, and doubt- 
 less is most favourable to the hound, when the effluvium constantly 
 perspiring from the game as it runs, is kept by the gravity of 
 the air to the height of his breast, for then it neither is above 
 his reach, nor need he stoop for it ; this is what is meant when 
 scent is said to lie breast high- Experience tells us that differ- 
 ence of soil alters the scent; When the leaves begin to fall, 
 and before they are rotted, scent lies ill in cover, a sufficient 
 proof that it does not depend on the air only. Scent also varies 
 by difference of motion, the faster the animal goes, the less scent 
 it leaves ; when game has been ridden after, and hurried on by 
 imprudent sportsmen, hounds will with difficulty pick out the 
 scent, and one reason may be, that the particles of scent are 
 then more dissipated ; but if the game should have been run by 
 a dog) not belonging to the pack, very seldom will any scent 
 remain. 
 
 Scent frequently alters in the same day ; it may be said to 
 depend chiefly on two things, the condition of the ground, and 
 the temperature of the air, which should be moist without being 
 wet ; when both are in this state, the scent is then perfect, and 
 vice versa, when the ground is hard and the air dry, there seldom 
 will be any scent. It scarce ever lies with a north, or an east 
 wind ; a southerly wind without rain, and a westerly one that is 
 not rough, are the best. Storms in the air seldom fail to destroy 
 scent. A fine sunshiny day, is not often good for huntingj 
 
SCENT, &C. 139 
 
 but a day warm without sun, is generally a perfect one ; there 
 are not many such in a whole season. In some fogs, scent lies 
 high, in others not at all, depending probably on the quarter the 
 wind is then in. It sometimes lies very high in a mist, when 
 not too wet ; but if the wet continues to hang upon the boughs 
 and bushes, it will fall upon the scent and deaden it. When 
 the dogs roll, and also when cobwebs hang on the bushes, there 
 is seldom much scent. During a white frost, the scent lies 
 high, as it also does when the frost is quite gone ; at the time 
 of its going offl scent never lies. In heathy countries, where the 
 game brushes as it goes along, scent seldom fails ; yet from the 
 Jnclosures of poor land surrounding them, the scent is at times 
 very difficult for hounds ; the sudden change from a good to a 
 bad scent confuses their noses; a scent, therefore, which is less 
 good but less unequal, is to hounds more favourable. When 
 the ground carries, the scent is bad, for an obvious reason, 
 which hare-hunters, who pursue their game over greasy fallows 
 and dirty roads, have great cause to complain of. A remark 
 has been generally made, that scent lies best in the richest soils, 
 and those countries which are favourable to horses, are not so 
 to hounds ; and it has likewise been observed in some particular 
 spots, in almost every country, let the temperature of the air be 
 what it may, tPMt hounds can never carry a scent across them. 
 
 The ingenious author of Observations on Hare-hunting, in 
 speaking of scent, says, the qualities of those portions of matter 
 that discharge themselves from the bodies of beasts of game, 
 would much better suit the experiments of a philosopher, than 
 a huntsman. Whether considered as an extraneous stock of odo- 
 riferous particles given them by Divine Wisdom for the very 
 purpose of being hunted ? Whether they are proper identical 
 parts of the animal's body, that continually ferment and perspire 
 from it? Whether these exhalations are from the breath of 
 the lungs, or through the skin of the whole body ? are queries 
 
HO SCENT, &C. 
 
 that deserve the subtilty of the virtuoso. His opinion is next 
 given upon it, and possibly the recital may tend to reconcile the 
 various and jarring sentiments that prevail amongst sportsmen, 
 respecting this first article in all their pursuits of the field, where 
 the dog is called in as an auxiliary. 
 
 The author contends that the particles of scent evaporated 
 must be inconceivably small, as he has taken many hares after a 
 chase of two, three, four, or five hours, without being able to 
 perceive the least difference in weight from those that have been 
 killed on their forms ; nor from gentlemen who have hunted box 
 hares, could he learn, that they discovered any visible waste in 
 their bodies, further than might be supposed to arise from the 
 effect of discharging their grosser excrements. But admitting 
 a loss of two or three drachms after so long a fatigue, yet how 
 minute must be the division of so small a quantity of matter, 
 when, (deducting the number of those particles that are lost upon 
 the ground, dissipated in the air, and extinguished or obscured 
 by the foetid perspirations of the dogs and other animals,) it 
 affords a share to so many couple of hounds, for eight or ten 
 miles successively. To a sportsman it is needless to observe, 
 that scent depends on the state of the weather, and is affected 
 by its vicissitudes; a storm will in an instant destroy it, nor is 
 this to be wondered at, if we consider these , ^articles of scent 
 are of an exactly equal specific gravity with those of the air, 
 and which always fall and rise in just proportion to it. Hunts- 
 men who are hasty, rate and curse those hounds, (which yes- 
 terday were the best in England,) for galloping with their noses 
 in the air, as if their game was flown, when in fact it is in vain 
 for them to seek the scent in any other place, the increasing 
 weight of that fluid element having wafted it over their heads. 
 The most terrible day for the hare is, when the air is in its mean 
 gravity, tolerably moist, but inclining to grow drier, with a mild 
 breeze ; the moderate gravity buoys up the scent as high as the 
 
SCENT, &C. 
 
 dog's breast, the vesicles of moisture serve as canals to carry the 
 effluvium into their noses, and the gentle wind so much helps to 
 spread it, that every hound, even at eight or ten paces distance, 
 especially with the wind, may have a due portion. 
 
 That the same hare will, at divers times, emit finer or grosser 
 particles, is equally manifest to every one observant of the fre- 
 quent changes in a single chase. The coursing of a cur dog, 
 is ever the occasion of a fault, and after such an accident, the 
 hounds must be again and again put upon the scent, before they 
 will acknowledge it for their game; the reason is, the change 
 in the motion causes one in the perspiring particles. The altera- 
 tions of scent in a yielding hare are less frequently productive 
 of faults, because they are more gradual and insensibly grow 
 smaller; but that alterations there are, every dog-boy knows, 
 by the old hounds pressing forward with greater earnestness as 
 the hare is near her end. 
 
 Motion, continues this author, is the chief cause of discharg- 
 ing these particles of scent, because a hare is very seldom winded 
 whilst quiet in her form, although the hounds are so near as 
 even to run over her ; sometimes indeed she is chopped upon 
 her seat, but this probably is the consequence of her own 
 curiosity, in moving and rising up in it, to watch the proceed- 
 ings of her enemies. It is very plain, the slower the hare 
 moves, the stronger and grosser are the particles of scent she 
 leaves, which is one reason that the morning walk will yield 
 scent so much longer than in flight when hunted. 
 
 It is diverting to hear country fellows, on sight of a hare, 
 cry out, she is all over in a sweat ; the most indifferent sports- 
 men know to the contrary, and that on the nicest examination, 
 no proof has ever been found, any more than of the sweating 
 of a dog or cat. Another prevailing notion is, that the longer 
 a hare has been hunted, the weaker the scent grows. But, con- 
 tinues this author, I never found such an alteration, and if any 
 
SCENT, &C. 
 
 judgment is allowed to be formed from the action of the hounds, 
 the old staunch dogs will be found to rate on, towards the con- 
 clusion of the chase, with additional vigour, surely not from 
 decay of scent, but the contrary, and from whence they become 
 every yard they go, more sensible of their near approach to the 
 hare, than all the hunters in the field. Yet, should it be still 
 maintained that the scent does really decrease the more a hare 
 is pressed, what can it be owing to ? To lay it down as fact, 
 without offering some reason, is certainly a very arbitrary deter- 
 mination. Is it because she is run out of wind ? If that is 
 allowed, those who insist that the hounds hunt the foot, must 
 give up the argument ; for what reason can be assigned why a 
 hare's feet, immediately preceding her death, do not leave as 
 strong and equal a scent as at first starting from her seat ? 
 
 Hares or other creatures, hard run, perform their inspiration 
 and expiration very quick, at least in the proportion of six times 
 to one, supposing them not urged beyond their natural pace, or 
 to remain perfectly cool and quiet. If therefore six expirations 
 under severe pursuit, are equal to one when a hare is just started, 
 what difference can there be in the scent ? 
 
 It may be alleged, the scent lies stronger at first, because it 
 makes its return from a full stomach, or that at starting, the lungs 
 having not suffered much distention, she breathes freer, which 
 by running low to the earth intermixes better with the herbage. 
 On the other hand, that a hare long hunted runs high, and of 
 course emits her breath further off from the surface, therefore 
 more liable to be sooner separated, and overpowered by the 
 wind. 
 
 To the first part it is answered, the faster a hare runs, the 
 longer she stretches, therefore the lower she lies to the ground ; 
 but the further the hounds are behind, and her breath (although 
 expired ever so free,) remains a long time, in proportion to the 
 distance, before the dogs come up to enjoy it. 
 
SCENT, &C. 143 
 
 In the second place, the hard pressed hare makes her stretches 
 shorter, which brings her body naturally more upright and high 
 from the surface, and the scent is hereby more likely to suffer 
 from wind and weather ; but then as she breathes quick in pro- 
 portion, and shortens her pace in a sensible degree, the hounds 
 so much as she shortens, so much do they hasten, being urged 
 on by an increasing scent. The only natural -reason why a hare 
 towards the end of the chase is often difficult to be killed, is, 
 that she confines her works in a much shorter compass, doubles 
 here and there, over and over, shifts, redoubles, and tries all 
 places for rest and security, making very much joiling'm a little 
 space, which variety of equal scent puzzles the hounds exceed- 
 ingly ; and if the dogs are not thorough masters of their busi- 
 ness, or if the air be not in due balance, the difficulty will be 
 the greater. 
 
 It is also to be remembered, that there is no small accidental 
 difference in the very particles of scent, which are more dis- 
 tinguishable at one time than at another : that there is a differ- 
 ent scent in other animals of the same species is evident, from 
 the hounds formerly used for tracing and pursuing thieves and 
 deer-stealers, and likewise from any common cur or spaniel, who 
 will hunt out his master, or his master's horse, distinctly from all 
 others ; and that it is the same with the hare, is no less visible 
 from the old beagles, which will not readily change for a fresh 
 one, unless she start in view, or unless a long fault happen, 
 which puts them in confusion, and inclines them in despair to 
 take up with the next scent that presents itself. 
 
 Of the influence which frost has upon scent, this author ob- 
 serves, that he has been often disappointed in the hounds hunt- 
 ing the trail of a hare up to her seat, and frequently been able 
 to hunt her walk in one part of a field, and not in another ; that 
 at ten or eleven o'clock, the same walk which gave the least 
 scent at seven in the morning, has afforded the best ; but what 
 
144 SCENT, &C. 
 
 has been more perplexing, the hounds have only been able to 
 hunt it at the wrong end, or backwards, and after many hours 
 expectation; the fact is, that the hounds are never so far from 
 their game, as when they hunt it the warmest. All these acci- 
 dents are only the effect of the hoar frosty or very gross dew 
 (for they never happen otherwise), and from thence must the 
 miracle be accounted for. At the going off of a frost, the mer- 
 cury is commonly falling, and by consequence the scent sinking 
 into the ground. The earth is naturally on such occasions, 
 fermenting, stinking, and very porous, so that it is impossible, 
 but that most of the particles of scent must then be corrupted, 
 buried, or destroyed by stronger vapours : it is common to hear 
 it said, the hare carries ; but that is not all, for by what has been 
 alleged, it is plain she is not so eagely pursued by the scent of 
 her feet only. Thus having ascertained that a thaw tends to 
 corrupt the particles of scent, it leaves a fair reason to maintain, 
 that thefrost fixes, covers, and preserves them. Whether this 
 is done by intercepting their ascent, and precipitating them to 
 the ground by the gross particles of frozen dew, or whether by 
 protecting them from the penetrating air, is not professed to be 
 decided; but the facts are certain, confirmed by experience. 
 
 It is a very well known fact, that the sense of smell varies 
 very much in dogs ; or, to speak as a sportsman, some of them 
 possess better noses than others. In dogs with broad heads, the 
 os aethmoides, or sive 6one, is much larger than in narrow headed 
 dogs ; the lamina cnbrose, or the sive itself, is therefore more 
 capacious, and contains more openings ; so that the olfactory 
 nerves, which pass through it, are divided more minutely, and 
 thus that exquisite acutene-S of smell is produced, which is found 
 to obtain in the old English blood hound, and all dogs with 
 broad heads : this excellence or superiority of the olfactory 
 organs is further assisted by the largeness and flexibility of the 
 lips and skin about the nose, which thus admit of a much greater 
 
SCENT, &C. 14-5 
 
 extension of the olfactory nerves, and render them more sus- 
 ceptible of external impressions. The olfactory nerves resemble 
 a bunch of small white cords, one end of which is connected 
 with the brain, while the other, descending the head, spreads 
 into numerous ramifications, reaching to the edges of the lips 
 as well as to the extremity of the nose. 
 
 Hence the inferiority of the greyhound's sense of smell will 
 be easily perceived : his head is narrow, while his lips are thin 
 and compressed ; and in consequence of this inflexibility, and 
 the contracted structure of the head, that breadth and extension 
 of nerve are inadmissible, and to make up, as it might seem, for 
 this defect, nature has endowed him with a celerity which is not 
 to be met with in any other species of the dog. 
 
 All dogs, therefore, with broad heads must possess superior 
 organs of smell ; but it does not appear that a narrow or sharp 
 nose presents any obstacle, as the main bulk of the olfactory 
 nerves are situated in the head ; but I think it is abundantly 
 evident, that a very long nose (like the greyhound) must always 
 be detrimental, since the impression of scent, externally caught, 
 must have farther to travel to the brain The wolf and the 
 fox have both sharp noses ; but their heads are remarkably 
 broad and capacious : their olfactory organs are unquestion- 
 ably exquisite. Experience, in fact, fully verifies these con- 
 jectures : the dogs most remarkable for exquisite sense of smell, 
 are equally distinguished for brood heads ; and the gradations 
 are easily to be traced : the talbot,* the original of all our mod- 
 
 * To try whether a young blood hound was well instructed, a noble- 
 man (says Mr. Boyle) caused one of his servants to walk to a town 
 four miles off, and then to a market town three miles from thence. 
 The dog, without seeing the man he was to pursue, followed him by 
 the scent to the above-mentioned places, notwithstanding the multitude 
 of people going the same road, and of travellers that had occasion to 
 cross it. When the hound came to the chief market town, he passed 
 
 N 
 
14<G SCENT, &C. 
 
 ern hounds, exhibits the outward characteristics of superior 
 olfactory nerves in a very obvious and striking manner : by 
 crossing the talbot with something of the greyhound breed, the 
 stag hound was produced : the speed of the talbot was thus in- 
 creased ; but as the head became more compressed, the sense of 
 smell suffered accordingly. The fox- hound is a still farther re- 
 move, and his olfactory organs are inferior to the stag-hound ; 
 and the reason, in fact, why well-bred stag-hounds distinguish 
 the blown or hunted deer from the herd, is intirely owing to 
 their proximity to the talbot; while the fox-hound, by being 
 
 through the streets, without noticing any people there, till he got to the 
 house where the man he sought was, and there found him in an upper 
 room. 
 
 Blood hounds were formerly used in certain districts lying between 
 England and Scotland, which were infested by robbers and murderers; 
 a tax was laid on the inhabitants for maintaining them, and there was 
 a law in Scotland, that whoever denied entrance to one of these dogs in 
 pursuit of stolen goods, should be deemed an accessary. This peculiar 
 property of discovering the nightly spoiler by the unerring accuracy of 
 the dog's smell, Somerville thus beautifully notices : 
 
 -Soon as the morn 
 
 Reveals his wrongs, with gha&tly visage wan 
 The plundered owner stands, and from his lips 
 A thousand thronging curses burst their way : 
 He calls his stout allies, and in a line 
 His faithful hounds he leads, then with a voice 
 That utters loud his rage, attentive cheers ; 
 Soon the sagacious brute, his curling tail 
 Flourished in air, low bending plies around 
 His busy nose, the steaming vapour snuffs 
 Inquisitive, nor leaves one turf untried, 
 Till, conscious of the recent stains, his heart 
 Beats quick; his snuffling nose, his active tail, 
 Attest his joy ; then with deep op'ning mouth 
 That makes the welkin tremble, he proclaims 
 
SCENT, &C. 147 
 
 farther removed, is unable to distinguish the hunted or blown 
 fox, when another fox happens to come in the way during the 
 chase. 
 
 I have frequently thought, that the size of the ears is a cri- 
 terion, in some degree, of the sense of smell. The talbot has 
 amazing large ears ; the stag- hound's are smaller ; the fox- 
 hound's, the smallest of the three. 
 
 The pointer is remarkable for a broad, capacious head, as well 
 as for large pendant ears ; and those setters distinguished for the 
 goodness of their olfactory powers, will be found to possess a 
 
 Th' audacious felon ; foot by foot he marks 
 His winding way, while all the listening crowd 
 Applaud his reas'nings. O'er the watry ford, 
 Dry sandy heaths, and stony barren hills, 
 O'er beaten paths, with men and beasts distain'd, 
 Unerring be pursues ; till at the cot 
 Arrived, and seizing by his guilty throat 
 The caitiff vile, redeems the captive prey : 
 So exquisitely delicate his sense ! 
 
 The above description is faithful and highly picturesque, presenting 
 a curious picture of the blood-hound's use in ancient times, when the 
 word police was almost unknown. 
 
 In speaking of the pursuit of Robert Bruce by Edward I. an old 
 manuscript says : 
 
 " The king Edward, with horn and hounds him sought, 
 With men on foot, thro' marshes, moss, and mire, 
 Thro* woods also, and mountains where they fought." 
 
 In 1803, the Thrapston Association for the prosecution of felons in 
 Northamptonshire, procured and trained a blood-hound, for the detec- 
 tion of sheep stealers. To prove the utility of the dog, a man was 
 dispatched from a spot where a great concourse of people were assem- 
 bled, at ten o'clock in the forenoon, and at eleven the hound was laid 
 on the scent ; after a chase of an hour and a half, the hound found 
 him secreted in a tree, many miles distant from the place of starting. 
 
 N2 
 
148 SCENT, &C. 
 
 very considerable expansion of the head, though their noses may 
 taper more than the pointer. Thus, at first glance, a bull-dog 
 will be supposed to excel in this respect ; but, on examination, 
 it will be found that his head is rather chubby than broad, while 
 the skin about the mouth is comparatively inflexible and com- 
 pressed, his under jaw projected, and his nostrils thrown so far 
 back as to prevent that immediate contact with external objects, 
 which is seen to obtain in the dogs before mentioned ; yet, not- 
 withstanding all these objections, the bull-dog's sense of smell is 
 of the superior order, which arises, no doubt from the capacious- 
 ness of his head. 
 
 The sense of smell, like most other faculties, is improved by 
 practise. Dogs which are kept in towns, and but little exer- 
 cised, will always be found inferior to such as are quartered in 
 the country. 
 
Of all the engines that were ever produced by human genius, 
 not one has experienced a greater variety, or more improve- 
 ments that the gun. It is asserted that Edward, the Black 
 Prince, was the first who introduced great guns or cannon, at 
 least into England ; but this is doubtful. 
 
 There perhaps is nothing, says a brother sportsman, in which 
 persons have more faith, than in the excellence of their own 
 gun. The distance it kills, and the closeness of its throwing 
 the shot, are inconceivable ; striking a card with ten or twenty 
 pellets of shot at sixty yards is nothing uncommon, and the 
 merits of the shooter and his gun bid defiance to rivalship. It 
 is no easy matter to change the opinion of such persons respect- 
 ing their guns ; but when a gun is said to be sure at three or 
 fourscore yards, the measure may be safely asserted to be of the 
 proprietor's own making. The circumstance of knocking down 
 a partridge at eighty yards may happen, but very few barrels, of 
 those that are generally used for the shooting of birds on wing, 
 will throw shot compact enough to be certain of killing at sixty 
 yards : one or two grains of shot are not sufficient so to strike a 
 bird as to bring it to the ground ; for when stript of its feathers 
 a partridge is a much smaller object than it appears to be, and 
 possesses many parts not vital. It is the weight of iron properly 
 disposed in a barrel that can alone produce such an effect,* and 
 
 * So well apprised are the best gun makers of this, that they now 
 recommend a weight of metal in the barrel, which a very few years since 
 they used to denounce as a needless incumbrance. 
 N3 
 
150 THE FOWLING PIECE. 
 
 in double guns the stoutness of the barrels is indispensable if 
 the shooter has any regard to his own safety ; for, in light double 
 barrel pieces, the firing of the one will frequently loosen the 
 charge in the other barrel, and should the shot be shaken, so as 
 to leave the powder a few inches, and the second barrel be fired 
 with the muzzle pointing downwards, most likely it bursts. 
 
 Some time after the introduction of the fowling-piece, the 
 Spaniards became celebrated for the manufacture of the barrels, 
 and Spanish barrels were eagerly sought for many years. It is 
 possible, certainly, that Spain, at the period alluded to, might 
 excel her neighbours in making gun barrels ; but at present she 
 is by no means equal, in this respect, to either England or 
 France. Spanish barrels are fallen into disrepute ; nor is it a 
 matter of surprise, as cunning fellows, in various parts of Europe, 
 taking advantage of the rage for these articles, poured abroad 
 what they denominated Spanish barrels in profusion ; and some 
 considerable time elapsed before the cheat was discovered. 
 
 The French make beautiful fowling-pieces ; but the English 
 are the neatest in the world. At Birmingham, all descriptions 
 of guns are manufactured in the greatest perfection ; what are 
 called the best military muskets are-made complete, with bayonets 
 included, for fifteen shillings each : and there are very few gun- 
 makers in any part of the kingdom, (London included) who do 
 not receive every part of the fowling-piece from this place, in a 
 rough v state, which they polish and put together. 
 
151 
 
 OF GUN BARRELS. 
 
 Barrels, it has been asserted, forged from steel, are lighter, 
 safer, and shoot stronger than all others ; but a barrel maker, 
 whose superior excellence renders him a very competent 
 judge, and whose practice is not to dupe his customers, has 
 declared that he has wrought a great deal of Spanish iron, 
 has forged barrels from old scythes, from wire, needles, and many 
 other articles suggested by the whim of his employers ; has 
 raade barrels with a lining of steel, and formed others with a 
 double spiral of iron and steel alternately : yet, so far as he can 
 determine from these numerous trials, the stub iron wrought 
 into a twisted barrel is superior to every other. Wherever steel 
 was used, he found that the barrel neither welded nor bored so 
 perfectly as when composed of iron alone. 
 
 The first object in a fowling piece is safety. Gunsmiths 
 prove their barrels whilst in their rough state, and this is done 
 with the idea that if they burst, the ex pence of further work- 
 manship is saved ; the consequence is, that a single barrel, 
 weighing nearly five pounds, is reduced to three pounds nine or 
 ten ounces : this reduction is confided to the workman, who, if 
 careless or in haste, may take it from the breech, or that part 
 of the barrel where the greatest strength is requisite; and when 
 the barrels are laid together, and the rib soldered on, it is im- 
 possible to discover whether the filing has been too deep. The 
 barrels undergo no second proof, and thus the gun too often 
 becomes a masked battery to him who shoots with it. 
 
 So many barrels have burst, and occasioned permanent mis- 
 fortunes, after having sustained the ordeal of the company's or 
 Tower proving-house, and received their marks as a pledge of 
 
THE FOWLING PIECE. 
 
 their safety, as evidently to shew that a barrel may bear that 
 one shock) and still be very unworthy to be put into the hands 
 of any one. The only mode of ascertaining whether a barrel 
 is perfectly secure is, by water-proving, after it returns from the 
 proof-house, and has apparently withstood that of fire. 
 
 There are various kinds, or rather qualities, of barrels, which 
 pass under various denominations, such as twisted-stub barrels, 
 wire-twisted barrels, Damascus barrels, and common barrels. 
 Twisted-stubs are old horse -shoe nails twisted together ; there are 
 also iron-twisted^ inferior to the former. Wire-twisted are stubs 
 drawn into wire, and then twisted and formed into the barrel. 
 Damascus barrels are iron and steel curled together, which give 
 the barrel a beautiful appearance. Wire-twisted barrels are the 
 best. Damascus barrels are inferior even to common twisted 
 stubs ; though, as they bear a foreign name, and as the peculiar 
 curling of the iron and steel give them a pleasing appearance, 
 they have of late been in request ; and as the English gun- 
 makers found it inconvenient to import a sufficient number, they 
 did not hesitate to manufacture Damascus barrels, and not more 
 than one real Damascus barrel out of a hundred is to be met with. 
 Whether they are originally from Damascus, I am not certain, 
 but I am willing to believe so ; at all events, several of what were 
 called real Damascus barrels, which reached this country through 
 Russia, are much superior to the English Damascus barrels. 
 
153 
 
 BORING OF BARRELS. 
 
 I shall not attempt to describe the process of boring gun- 
 barrels, as this work is intended not for the mechanic, but the 
 sportsman ; besides, in every thing of this and a similar descrip- 
 tion, five minutes' inspection would do more than a volume of 
 words ; yet, as the well-shooting of the fowling-piece materially 
 depends upon the boring of the barrel, I shall not hesitate to 
 state what kind of bore or cylinder I have found to throw the 
 shot with the greatest force, as well as with the greatest regu- 
 larity. Many gun-makers, when speaking on this subject, as- 
 sume an air of importance, and by mysterious nods and^broken 
 sentences, give you to understand, that the true and correct 
 method of boring gun-barrels is a secret, which remains with 
 them alone ; but the fact is, that the art and mystery of boring 
 barrels is imperfectly understood, and it not unfrequently 
 happens, that a gun upon which every possible care has been 
 bestowed in the boring, will not shoot so well as an ordinary or 
 common barrel : even the African guns, which at the time of 
 the slave trade were furnished to the merchant, complete, for 
 six shillings and sixpence, have been known to throw the charge 
 remarkably well. 
 
 Some time ago, a fowling-piece came into my hands, the 
 cylinder of which, for several inches from the breech, was a trifle 
 wider than the remainder of the barrel. This gun shot remark- 
 ably well, better, in fact, than any I had ever before met with ; 
 and, conceiving this superiority must arise from the peculiarity 
 of the bore, and having another very indifferent fowling piece, 
 I had the latter re-bored in the manner just described, and was 
 
154 THE FOWLING PIECE. 
 
 pleased to find it answer the desired purpose in a manner that 
 far surpassed my most sanguine expectations. Under these cir- 
 cumstances, I have no hesitation in recommending the above 
 plan of boring barrels : the increase of width at the lower end 
 should be but a trifle, just sufficient to be perceived when put- 
 ting in the wadding, which will, of course, slide rather easier in 
 that part. 
 
 THE LENGTH OF THE BARREL 
 
 Is another matter, which is still involved in doubt, though 
 abundant evidence has been obtained to prove that the antiquated 
 notion of long barrels carrying the farthest, is completely erro- 
 neous. After a great number of experiments, I have found that 
 a barrel twenty-two inches long, of the common fowling-piece 
 caliber (five eighths of an inch diameter) shoots full)* as strong, 
 if not stronger, than any other greater length, though the differ- 
 ence between twenty-two and twenty-eight, or even thirty inches, 
 is not very great ; but for any increase of length beyond thirty 
 inches, the difference, or the decrease of force, would very much 
 surprise any person who had never witnessed the experiment. I 
 have shortened five different barrels, gradually, inch by inch for 
 instance, and the result has invariably been the same ; and in 
 these experiments, great pains were taken in regulating the 
 charge, so that in this respect, no perceptible variation could take 
 place. Nevertheless, though a barrel twenty-two inches long 
 (I have never tried one shorter) may impel the charge with more 
 
THE FOWLING PIECE. 155 
 
 force than a greater length, yet I prefer a barrel somewhat longer, 
 as it is pleasanter to load, and the aim may be much better taken 
 with it : yet, for my own choice, I never would exceed thirty 
 inches. I would not recommend a very light barrel, not from 
 any fear of its bursting, since, if a gun is kept clean, there if 
 not the least danger^ supposing it to be properly loaded ; but on 
 account of the recoil, which will always be much greater than 
 in a stout barrel. 
 
 At first sight, it may be asked how it happens that a long 
 eighteen-pounder carries farther than a shorter cannon ? To 
 which, it may be answered, that it is possible, an increase of 
 length might be added with advantage to the longest eighteen- 
 pounder in the service ; since, on comparison, taking into con- 
 sideration the difference of the caliber, a fowling piece barrel 
 twenty-two inches in length is proportionably longer than any 
 cannon whatever. 
 
 If the bore or caliber of the fowling piece be made extremely 
 wide, it will require a greater charge, and will of course admit of 
 a greater length of barrel. 
 
156 
 
 THE ELEVATED BREECH 
 
 Is a modern invention ; and consists of a sort of broad rib which 
 runs along the top of the barrel, thicker at the breech end and 
 tapering to the muzzle : by this contrivance, the muzzle acquires 
 an elevation, and the shot is consequently thrown higher ; for 
 those, therefore, who are apt to shoot under or below the object, 
 the elevated breech is to be recommended. 
 
 THE PATENT BREECH AND THE 
 TOUCH HOLE. 
 
 On the patent breech, a great number of trifling variations 
 have been made ; which, however, are called improvements by the 
 inventors. The difference between the patent and the common 
 breech is, that in the former, the powder in the breech lies much 
 looser, and is brought more nearly in contact with the priming, 
 and the discharge is of course more instantaneous. Also, the 
 patent breech does not require so much powder as the common 
 breech ; for, as from the reason just stated, the ignition of the 
 powder in the barrel is quicker, so also it kindles better, as it 
 \rere ; and the whole charge, or very nearly so, becomes ignited ; 
 whereas, in the common breech, a much greater quantity falls 
 from the muzzle of the fowling-piece unexploded. 
 
157 
 
 FOR THE TOUCH HOLE 
 
 PJatina is superior to any thing ever made use of for that pur- 
 pose it resists the action of the fire better than gold. 
 
 THE LOCK. 
 
 Gun locks appear to have arrived at that degree of perfection 
 as to bid defiance to improvement* A good lock can always 
 be obtained for a good price. 
 
 THE STOCK. 
 
 As to the stocking of a gun, much will depend upon habit ; 
 but, generally speaking, a person with a long neck will require 
 a stock much bent, a short-necked person the contrary. But, I 
 must confess, I am by no means partial to much bend in a stock, 
 as it appears to give the muzzle too great a declination, and on 
 this account will be apt to throw the shot below the object. 
 
158 
 
 THE RECOIL 
 
 Arises principally from improper management. Very few guns 
 indeed will recoil much if they are kept clean, and properly loaded. 
 See Proportions of Powder and Shot A light gun is more in- 
 clined to recoil than a heavy one. 
 
159 
 
 &f)e Remission (Sun. 
 
 Some years ago, Forsyth procured a patent for the applica- 
 tion of what is called percussion powder to fire arms. Sports- 
 men regarded with astonishment the pompous advertisements, 
 which announced the discharge of the fowling-piece, " without 
 flint, flash, or smoke" The percussion powder was used merely 
 as the priming. The invention, fyowever, did not at first meet 
 with great encouragement, for two reasons, namely, the price 
 appeared exorbitant; and an idea of danger naturally enough 
 attached itself to the use of the percussion powder, which, at 
 first sight, appears so calculated to produce accidental mischief. 
 
 Forsyth's invention for containing the priming, consists of 
 what he calls a magazine, which is attached to the outside of the 
 lock, and contains a chamber large enough to hold powder for 
 a number of primings. By a slight movement of the magazine, 
 a sufficient quantity for one priming is thrown into a cavity, 
 where it receives the stroke of the hammer, becomes ignited, 
 and thus discharges the gun. Forsyth has the merit of being 
 the first to apply percussion priming to fire arms ; but, it was 
 evident, that his magazine was susceptible of great improvement. 
 The priming powder, too, concerning which he assumed an air 
 of mysterious secresy, deposited so great a quantity of feculent 
 matter, and was so excessively corrosive, that much more fre- 
 quent cleaning than usual became indispensable : under these 
 circumstances, therefore, I was content to pursue the old method 
 of priming with gunpowder. 
 
 o2 
 
160 THE PERCUSSION GUN. 
 
 Sometime ago, a percussion gun was put into my hands by 
 Mr. R. Gill, of Richmond, in Yorkshire, of which I made a 
 trial, and found that it shot remarkably well I found it, in fact, 
 much superior to the ordinary fowling piece, and this superiority 
 arose not intirely perhaps from the use of percussion priming, 
 but from the excellence of the bore and firmness of the work- 
 manship ; yet, the indescribable rapidity of the discharge, the 
 increase of force, with little more than half the common charge 
 of gunpowder, were advantages too tempting to be abandoned ; 
 and I, therefore, resolved to adopt the percussion gun. 
 
 Manton contrived a method of firing with percussion priming 
 very different from Forsyth's, and perhaps on the whole inferior, 
 as the primings were made into small cakes, one of which being 
 fixed in an iron plug, the latter was placed in the mouth of the 
 cock, as it were, and by striking on the touch-hole (made in the 
 end of the breech, which is in the form of an inclined plane), 
 discharged the gun. Manton accommodated his customers with 
 fifty of these iron plugs, which were understood to be sufficient 
 for the day's amusement ; and being primed before setting out, 
 were carried in the pocket, and used as occasion required. Car- 
 rying these plugs was obviously an inconvenience ; in fact, the 
 contrivance altogether bore no marks of extraordinary genius. 
 Forsyth brought an action against Mr. Manton in consequence, 
 for an infringement of his patent, and succeeded in putting a 
 stop to Mr. Manton's sale of these guns. 
 
 As the application of percussion powder to the fowling-piece 
 excited so much surprise, and appeared so advantageous, it was not 
 lono- before a number of inventions made their appearance, each* 
 professing to be the best mode of adopting it. To say nothing 
 of Forsyth's magazine, Manton's pegs, or Webster's wire, twenty 
 other plans at least might be enumerated many of which had 
 a very neat and even a beautiful appearance ; but which were 
 generally found defective in the field either from a hazy atrno- 
 
THE PERCUSSION GUN. 161 
 
 sphere or other incidents to which the shooting sportsman is 
 peculiarly liable. At length what is called the Copper cap plan 
 made its appearance,;which I have used throughout three seasons, 
 under the disadvantages of wet weather and every other unto- 
 ward circumstance attending this fascinating recreation : I have 
 made a great variety of experiments upon the subject, and have, 
 in fact, tried it in all possible forms ; and feel not the least hesi- 
 tation in asserting, that the copper cap plan is superior in every 
 point of view to any other which has made its appearance. 
 
 Copper cap guns will unquestionably become general ; and 
 will no doubt be manufactured by all the pretenders in the trade: 
 1 would, therefore, advise those who may feel an inclination to 
 procure fowling-pieces on the above plan, to be careful whom 
 they apply to, as the very best system may be brought into dis- 
 repute by ignorance and incapacitv ; and, perhaps, of all other 
 businesses, none is more replete with those baneful qualities 
 than that of gun making. 
 
 The copper cap plan is very simple; is less liable to be out 
 of repair than any other ; and is, at the same time, much more 
 easily rectified, should any casual accident occur. Indeed, its 
 superiority is obvious at first sight, in every point of view. 
 
 I had nearly forgot to mention, that, independent of the cop- 
 per caps used for priming, my gun has also double leaded prim- 
 ing pins, as well as patch pins, which may be substituted for 
 them, at the will or the whim of the sportsmen. 
 
 The advantages of percussion priming are, the instantaneous 
 discharge, which is indescribably more rapid than with the 
 common-priming, and, of course, reduces the science of shoot- 
 ing (particularly at flying or moveable objects) to a degree of 
 precision unattainable by any other mode hitherto adopted. 
 Very little more than half the common charge of gunpowder is 
 sufficient to load the percussion gun ; for the strong flame from 
 
 the priming is driven with uncommon force through the touch- 
 o3 
 
162 THE PERCUSSION GUN. 
 
 hole, and not only ignites the gunpowder much more completely, 
 but appears to assist its force, as the percussion gun drives the 
 shot with a degree of strength scarcely to be believed by those 
 who have not witnessed it. In fact, the strength of the percus- 
 sion priming is driven into the barrel of the fowling-piece, as 
 there is no other way for much of the expansive fluid to escape ; 
 whereas, in the common lock, the hammer, being driven up by 
 the stroke of the cock, suffers the elastic force, or strength of the 
 priming, to escape ; nor is this all no doubt can exist, that part 
 of the force of the charge is expelled through the touch-hole, 
 and this rule will, in all probability, be found to obtain in a 
 greater degree when the wind blows strong. It follows, there- 
 fore, that the percussion, compared with the common method, 
 will produce a more instantaneous discharge, superior force, and 
 greater precision, with a much less charge of gunpowder. 
 
 Waterproof.- Percussion guns are much more susceptible of 
 being rendered waterproof than guns upon the old method. 
 Nevertheless, waterproof, as far as relates to the fowling piece 
 is not of that importance as a superficial observer might imagine. 
 Shooting is always unpleasant in rainy weather in heavy and 
 incessant rain it is out of the question. In a slight drizzling 
 rain, or for a shower, the sportsman may keep the field with a 
 percussion gun, and will experience no hanging fire ; but the 
 scent will be indifferent, nor will game lie well unless in hedges 
 and strong- covers 
 
163 
 
 OF PERCUSSION POWDER, 
 
 AND THE BEST METHOD OF MAKING IT. 
 
 Percussion powder differs from common gunpowder inasmuch 
 as it ignites with a blow, or, in other words, with excessive fric- 
 tion ; and contains so great a proportion of elastic fluid, that, 
 on explosion, its expansive force, compared with gunpowder, is 
 at least in the proportion of twenty to one, perhaps much greater. 
 
 How long the composition of percussion powder has been 
 known amongst able and experimental chemists, I will not pre- 
 tend to decide ; but its discovery is not of a very recent date ; 
 and some years past an attempt, which was made in France to 
 introduce oxymuriate of potash into the manufacture of gun- 
 powder, was attended with fatal effects. 
 
 Percussion powder may be made of oxymuriate of potash, 
 sulphur, and charcoal ; and these are probably the component 
 parts used both by Forsyth and Manton. I tried a number of 
 experiments on the above ingredients, and after varying the pro- 
 portion of each in every possible way, it appeared that the fol- 
 lowing were the best calculated for the purpose : 
 Oxymuriate of potash, nine parts 
 sulphur, one part and a half 
 charcoal, one part 
 
 But I was surprised at the variations which might be made 
 in the proportions or parts, without any perceptible difference in 
 the result. One effect, however, I uniformly found, namely, 
 excessive corrosion ; and those who have been in the habit of 
 using Forsyth's method are very well aware of the urgent neces- 
 
164 PERCUSSION POWDER. 
 
 sity of cleaning the lock immediately after using, in order to 
 prevent the destruction of the percussion apparatus, as one night 
 only would produce a degree of rust scarcely credible by those 
 unacquainted with the nature of oxymuriate of potash. What- 
 ever advantages were to be derived from the use of percussion 
 priming they were certainly much lessened by the trouble of 
 cleaning, as the feculent matter deposited was much greater in 
 quantity, and adhered with more obstinate tenacity, than that 
 which is produced by the discharge of gunpowder ; I was, there- 
 fore, pleased to find that the following remedied the evil : 
 
 Oxymuriate of potash, one ounce 
 antimony, one ounce 
 
 well pulverized, and made into a paste with spirit of wine in which 
 a little rosin or gum mastic has been dissolved : it may be gra- 
 nulated by forcing it through a hair sieve when it is nearly dry, 
 and will be fit for use without further trouble. If spirit of wine 
 be not at hand, I believe vinegar, without either rosin or gum 
 mastic, will answer the purpose. 
 
 In making percussion powder, 1 would wish to impress upon 
 the mind of the sportsman the strong necessity of caution in the 
 preparation, The oxymuriate of potash should be pulverized 
 separately upon a smooth stone (or a smooth hard board will 
 answer the purpose) but with a wooden mullar, as it would be 
 apt to explode if rubbed with a heavy stone inullar, particularly 
 if great velocity were used. It is of no consequence how the 
 antimony is reduced to powder ; it may indeed be purchased at 
 the druggists in powder, but seldom sufficiently fine for the pur- 
 pose. However, when the oxymuriate of potash and the anti- 
 mony are ground so as to be impalpable, they may be mixed with 
 a pallet-knife (adding the spirit of wine or vinegar) and forced 
 through the sieve as before mentioned. I have generally used 
 spirit of wine in which a little rosin has been dissolved in prefer- 
 ence to vinegar, because I am of opinion, that powder thus made 
 
PERCUSSION POWDER. 165 
 
 up is not so apt to imbibe moisture. Eau de Cologne is sup* 
 posed to be preferable to spirit of wine ; but the difference when 
 using the powder is imperceptible. Excessive friction from iron 
 or steel, or other very hard substances, would, no doubt, ignite 
 this powder ; but it would be a difficult matter, however hard it 
 might be rubbed between two pieces of wood, to produce com- 
 bustion. 
 
 It has been before observed, that if sulphur and charcoal are 
 used with the oxymuriate of potash, a great excess of corrosion 
 will result from the explosion : but antimony corrects or neutralizes 
 the acidity or corrosive quality of the oxymuriate of potash, and 
 renders the powder less injurious, in regard to rust, than even 
 common gunpowder; while it is, at the same time, in every other 
 respect superior. An ounce of oxymuriate of potash, and an 
 ounce of antimony, will make, I should suppose, about 10,000 
 primings. It may be mixed up in the manner before described 
 in a few minutes, without the least danger. The oxymuriate o t 
 potash, when bought at the chemist's, by single ounces, costs two 
 shillings and nine-pence an ounce, and, I have no doubt, could 
 be sold, with a reasonable profit, for much less; an ounce o.. 
 antimony will cost a penny ; so that, including the spirit of wine, 
 the expense of two ounces of priming powder will scarcely amount 
 to three shillings. For an ounce of priming-powder, Mr. For- 
 syth charges ten shillings and sixpence (or, at least, used so to 
 charge.) When the superior strength of percussion powder is 
 taken into consideration, it is much cheaper than gunpowder. 
 Two ounces of the best gunpowder will cost more than sixpence; 
 two ounces of percussion powder will scarcely amount to three 
 shillings, while one-twentieth part will answer the purpose : but, 
 how far it is susceptible of application to fire-arms beyond the 
 priming has not been determined ; yet the present forms of the 
 breeches of guns are not calculated to admit of its use for the 
 charge, on account of the very small quantity which would be 
 
166 PERCUSSION POWDER. 
 
 admissible for that purpose. Nor, for the purposes of safety, 
 would it be adviseable to carry percussion powder in a spring-top 
 flask, unless the springs were altogether made of something 
 much softer than steel. If the sportsman thinks proper to carry 
 percussion powder into the field, independently of what he has 
 already prepared for priming, I know of nothing more safe or 
 more convenient, than a small wooden box. 
 
 From the following paragraph, it would appear that gun- 
 powder may be ignited by percussion : " From experiments 
 made in the Laboratory of the Royal Institution it has been 
 found, that if gunpowder be mixed with pulverized glass, felspar, 
 and particularly with harder substances, it may be inflamed by 
 being struck violently on an anvil, though faced with copper, and 
 struck with a copper hammer." 
 
 For military purposes, I should think percussion powder, for 
 priming at least, an object of the first importance. The method 
 invented by Gill would be an incalculable advantage to the musket, 
 as missing fire could never happen, rain would have little or no 
 effect, while the ball would be impelled with much greater force. 
 To great guns Gill's invention is equally applicable, at a very 
 trifling expence. 
 
16? 
 
 CLEANING THE FOWLING PIECE. 
 
 This operation is so obvious and so well known, that it would 
 appear time worse than idly spent to describe it. Nevertheless, 
 I will take the liberty to say a few words on the subject. Those 
 who wish to shoot with pleasure and precision must keep the 
 fowling-piece always very clean. After returning from an ex- 
 cursion, though I may not have had a shot, and have only 
 flashed the powder off prior to going into the house (a rule 
 which I invariably observe) the first object, to which I dedicate 
 my attention, after having taken a little refreshment, is the 
 fowling-piece, which I clean thoroughly, not omitting the inside 
 of the locks if rain should have overtaken me ; an operation that 
 takes up but a few minutes, and to which nothing more is requi- 
 site in addition to the screw driver, than a spring cramp. There 
 is no difficulty in the matter, and the only introductory lesson at 
 all necessary is merely to look on while a gunsmith performs the 
 operation, twice or three times at most. 
 
 OF OIL, 
 
 AND THE BEST MODE OF CLARIFYING IT. 
 
 All vegetable oils possess a harder quality, and are more apt 
 to become cloggy, than animal oils ; and are, consequently, not 
 so well calculated for the fowling-piece, the locks in particular. 
 Neat'g foot oil, and the oil from sheep's feet, generally contain 
 
168 BURSTING OF BARRELS. 
 
 
 a considerable quantity of feculent matter ; which may be sep 
 rated by the following simple process : drop a few small pieces 
 of lead into the bottle, and hang it in the sun for a week or ten 
 days, when the residuum will sink to the bottom, leaving the oil 
 remarkably pure, and admirably adapted for the purpose just 
 mentioned. If it happens in the winter, when the sun is not 
 sufficiently powerful, hang the bottle near the fire, to keep the 
 oil perfectly fluid, otherwise, the residuum cannot sink. Goose 
 grease, or the fat of fowls in general, will answer the purpose 
 fully as well, if clarified in the manner above described. A 
 profusion of oil is not to be recommended if the locks are 
 rubbed with oily flannel or tow, it will be sufficient ; the inside 
 of the barrel should be wiped with oily flannel or tow, imme- 
 diately after washing, while it is warm. I rub the outside also, 
 as well as the stock, and indeed every part of the fowling-piece. 
 
 BURSTING OF BARRELS 
 
 Arises, in nineteen instances out of twenty, from the gun having 
 been kept in a filthy state, or at least not sufficiently clean. If 
 the inner surface of the barrel is suffered to rust, so as to form 
 specks, in washing the barrel, wet will always remain in these 
 specks, and thus facilitate the corrosion : the barrel, of course, 
 becomes weaker in these particular parts, and must ultimately 
 burst. Nothing is more common among farmers and country 
 people, than keeping guns loaded for months if for the purpose 
 of protection from thieves, loaded guns are necessary, they should 
 
BURSTING OF BARRELS. l6Q 
 
 be fired and cleaned every week, for two reasons, to prevent mis- 
 sin o 1 fire, as well as to prevent the corrosion of the inner surface 
 of the barrel, which will take place from the action of the gun- 
 powder alone. No gun will burst, if properly loaded and kept 
 clean ; not even those African guns, which used to be sent out 
 of the country without proving. All fowling pieces, even the 
 most inferior, are now well proved ; indeed, a severe penalty 
 attaches to any person who sells a barrel which has not under- 
 gone the operation of proving. I am told, but I never tried the 
 experiment, that if clay be forced into a gun barrel, in any way 
 so as to leave a space between it and the charge, the barrel will 
 inevitably burst on firing : the same remark has been by some, ex- 
 tended to snow thus, if the muzzle of the fowling piece hap- 
 pens to fill with snow, in getting over a hedge, or by any other 
 accident to which sportsmen are liable, they say, that on firing, 
 the barrel would burst just under the snow : which will certainly 
 happen supposing the snow is air tight. However, there will 
 be no harm in the sportsman examining the muzzle of his fowl- 
 ing piece, after leaping a ditch, or under any other circumstance, 
 where it might be possible for snow, dirt, or any other matter, 
 to get into it. 
 
 Shot getting loose may cause the barrel to bulge or burst. 
 
170 
 
 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS 
 
 RESPECTING 
 
 THE FOWLING PIECE. 
 
 In the choice of a Gun I would recommend every sportsman 
 first to consider the weight he can conveniently carry, strength 
 being a most essential point as well to the safety as the shoot- 
 ing of the barrels. After the weight of the barrels is fixed 
 upon, I turn my attention to the bore and length, and recom- 
 mend the former not to be too wide, as it has two or three bad 
 tendencies : in the first place, if the bore be wide, and the 
 weight limited, it must weaken the barrel. Seventeen gage ( i. e. 
 seventeen balls to a pound ) is a good size, and I think best cal- 
 culated for general use ; but, suppose the weight of your bar- 
 rels is confined to 4?lb or 4|lb. which is a good and proper 
 weight for 17 gage, if barrels of the same weight are made 
 three-fourths of an inch in bore, they are then not only much re- 
 duced in strength and rendered unsafe, but do not shoot so well 
 for want of a proper proportion of metal according to the bore, 
 (I allude to double barrels only;) besides, a wide-bored double gun, 
 unless made excessively heavy, such as no gentleman would wish 
 to carry, is very unpleasant to use, as it must be loaded accord- 
 ing to its bore, and, for want of sufficient metal, it recoils violent- 
 ly ; when, on the contrary, barrels of a less bore, suppose 17 or 
 1 8 gage,the same weight as the wide-bored ones will shoot well,and 
 be perfectly safe : strength is essential in barrels, but I do not 
 recommend any sportsman to have too heavy a gun, that is, 
 
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 171 
 
 heavier than he can conveniently manage, for if he becomes 
 overpowered with weight or fatigue, I think he will shoot well 
 no more that day. If the weight is limited, the shorter your 
 gun is, the stronger it must be ; and there is no weight that a gen- 
 tleman will carry, that will, in the least be any improvement to the 
 shooting of barrels above 2 feet 5 inches, or 2 feet 6 inches long ; 
 and although many sportsmen will scarcely admit that a barrel 
 2 feet 2 inches, or 2 feet 4 inches, will kill equal to one of 2 feet 
 6, or 2 feet 7 inches, yet a short gun (well manufactured ) will 
 certainly shoot equally well, or perhaps better: I agree that all 
 short guns do not shoot as well as long ones : because there is 
 more judgment required in making a gun under 2 feet 5 inches, 
 to shoot properly, and few gunmakers understand the method. 
 For my own part, I shoot with one made by Gill, of Richmond, 
 only 2 feet 2 inches in barrel, the shooting of which has surprised 
 some of my sporting friends : it fires by percussion, and according 
 to my own judgment on the most simple and best principle* of 
 any I have yet seen : it may be properly cleaned by almost any 
 person in three or four minutes. Of the Locks, I think nothing 
 more need be said than to have them as well made as possible, 
 as much depends on the good workmanship of a gun lock, let the 
 principle of it be what it may ; and, a real good lock will be as 
 perfect with proper care, after twenty years' wear as it was the 
 first hour; while a bad one will w6ar out the first season, and 
 probably cost the owner the price of a good lock in repairs. 
 The next essential points about a gun, are the bend, length, and 
 mounting of the Stock : if the gun is in every respect a piece 
 of superior workmanship, and shoots in a superior manner, it is of 
 little service if it be not stocked exactly to suit the person who 
 uses it ; it is therefore not only a most material thing to have the 
 gun stocked the exact bend and length to suit the owner, but to 
 
 * It is the copper cap plan, with the locks of a peculiar construction. 
 
172 GERERAL OBSERVATIONS. 
 
 have it properly laid off, a circumstance which gunmakers in 
 general seem not to understand, or at least to disregard, and to 
 which the slightest attention is never paid by the Birmingham 
 makers. Every other particular depends chiefly on the fancy of 
 the sportsman. In conclusion, therefore, I caution the purchaser 
 to eaaploy such gun-makers as are in the habit of executing 
 good work and most particularly guns that shoot well, as there are 
 many eminent gun-makers, who either do not understand the 
 particular art of making guns shoot in a superior manner, or will 
 not give themselves the trouble, the latter is equally objectionable, 
 in my opinion, and too often applies to some of the London 
 makers. 
 
r/3 
 
 The first fire that was used in war occasioned as great, if not 
 a more considerable, alarm, than that caused by the explosion of 
 gunpowder. It was called the Greek fire, and is said to have 
 been discovered in very ancient times. Jt was the invention of 
 Callimcus, an architect of Heliopolis or Balbeck, who left the 
 service of a Caliph, and brought the important arcanum to 
 Constantinople in the reign of Constantine Pagonatus. That 
 emperor forbade the art of making it to be communicated to any 
 except his own subjects, and the secret was long preserved : 
 it was, however, at length known among the nations confeder- 
 ated with the Byzantines. It is supposed to have been com- 
 pounded of the gum of the pine and other resinous trees, reduced 
 to powder with brimstone, to which were added naptha and other 
 bitumens, and, according to some, the water of a fountain in the 
 east, which had the property to amalgamate with these -combus- 
 tibles, and to render them more inflammable ; but this last article 
 seems hardly possible to have been included, as in that case it 
 could have been only made where that water was to be had, 
 whereas it was in use both all over Asia and in Europe. Anna 
 Comena says it was composed of bitumen, sulphur, and naptha. 
 
 The Greek fire was employed A. D. 883, by Nicetas, the 
 high-admiral of the eastern empire, who was sent by the Sara- 
 cens of Crete with a navy to assault Constantinople : he attacked 
 and utterly defeated them, burning twenty of their ships by " the 
 Greek fire." 
 
 Procopius, in his History of the Goths, calls it " Medea's 
 p 3 
 
GUNPOWDER. 
 
 oil," considering it as an infernal composition prepared by that 
 sorceress. It is said to have been known in China, A. D. 917, 
 three hundred years after Constantine Pagonatus, under the 
 name of the " oil of the cruel fire;" and was carried thither by 
 the Kitan Tartars, who had it from the lung of Ou. This won- 
 derful and destructive mixture twice preserved the metropolis of 
 the Eastern Romans from the infidel armaments. The Greek 
 fire is much spoken of in all the histories of the holy wars, as 
 being frequently employed with success by the Saracens against 
 the Christians, During the Crusades, and in the reign of 
 Richard Cceur de Lion, we shall find, that it struck with dismay 
 the most intrepid Christian knights, until a method of extin- 
 guishing it was discovered by the French. By the following 
 description of it, given by Joinville^ who was an eye-witness, it 
 has somewhat the appearance of the iron rockets, still used in 
 India : he says it was thrown from the bottom of a machine 
 called a petrary, and that it came forward as large as a barrel of 
 verjuice, with a tail of fire issuing from it as big as a great 
 sword, making a noise in its passage like thunder, and seeming 
 like a dragon flying through the air ; and, from the great quan- 
 tity of fire it threw out, giving such a light, that one might see 
 in the camp as if it had been day. Such was the terror it oc- 
 casioned among the commanders of St. Louis's army, that 
 Gautier de Cariel, an experienced and valiant knight, gave it as 
 his advice, that so often as it was thrown they should all prostrate 
 themselves on their elbows and knees, and beseech the Lord to 
 deliver them from that danger, against which he alone could 
 protect them : this counsel was adopted and practised ; besides 
 which, the King being in bed in his tent, as often as he was in- 
 formed that the Greek fire was thrown, raised himself in his bed, 
 and with uplifted hands thus besought the Lord, " good Lord 
 God, preserve my people !" But the great terrors it occasioned, 
 the effects of this fire do not seem to justify, as a mode had been 
 
GUNPOWDER. , 175 
 
 found of quenching it. We are told, some of their castellated 
 cats, (a covered shed, occasionally fixed on wheels, and which 
 had crenelles and chinks, from whence the archers could dis- 
 charge their arrows ; it was used for covering soldiers employed 
 in filling up the ditch, preparing the way for the moveable tower, 
 or mining the wall ; sometimes under the cover of this machine 
 the besiegers worked a small kind of ram,J were set on fire, but 
 the flames were extinguished. The Greek fire was thrown 
 thrice in the night from the petrary, and four times from a large 
 cros-bow : the blaze lighted by this composition was inextin- 
 guishable by water. Geoff ry de Vinesaiif, who accompanied 
 Richard I. to the crusade, says of it, " with a pernicious stench, 
 and livid flame, it consumes even flint and iron, nor could it be 
 extinguished by water ; but by sprinkling sand upon it the vio- 
 lence may be abated, and vinegar poured upon it will put it out." 
 To these, some add urine, and even oil. 
 
 The following is a translation of some ancient lines, descrip- 
 tive of the general opinion of its properties : 
 
 ** May the fiend fly away with this odious Greek fire ! 
 " Not water to quench it, but sand we require; 
 ' Then vinegar's acid its influence must lend us, 
 " And lye in its turn too must help to defend us. 
 
 " The Pagans alone by this pest are protected, 
 " * Gainst the Christians alone are its perils directed : 
 " By the Pagans 'tis armed by most foul incantation. 
 " Oh ! save us, kind Saviour, from such conflagration !" 
 
 From other descriptions it appears, this composition was of 
 an unctuous and viscid nature, sticking to the objects against 
 which it was directed. In land engagements and sieges, it was 
 projected by the machines of the times, and at sea by hand, en- 
 closed in vessels or phials, in which it was also kept and trans- 
 ported; it was likewise sometimes fastened to the heads of 
 
176 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 arrows : sea water, instead of quenching, seemed to give it new 
 violence and activity. 
 
 Both parties used the Greek fire at the siege of Acre, A. D. 
 1190, and Father Daniel says, "this wild fire was not only 
 used in sieges, but even in battles^ and that Philip Augustus, 
 king of France, having found a quantity of it prepared in Acre, 
 brought it with him to France, and employed it at the siege of 
 Dieppe, for burning the English vessels in that harbour. At 
 several other sieges in France, it was also used ; and an en- 
 gineer, named Gaubert, a native of Mante, acquired the art of 
 making it, which luckily for mankind, has been since lost." A 
 composition something of the same nature was some years since 
 invented by a chymist in this country, and who has an annual 
 allowance so long as it shall remain a secret ; our government 
 being unwilling to increase the destruction and cruelty of war : 
 a like discovery was made formerly in France or Holland, and 
 for the like reason suppressed. It was supposed that this was 
 what Earl Stanhope referred to, when he said in the House of 
 Lords, "that the French were not only in possession of a secret 
 respecting this unquenchable fire, but meant to practise it 
 against our navy to its certain destruction/' Notwithstanding 
 they do not appear to be fond of coming close enough to our 
 fire of common gunpowder, to enable them to apply any of this 
 supposed more destructive material. 
 
 Greek Jlre was used long after the introduction of fire arms, 
 particularly in sieges. When the Bishop of Norwich, besieged 
 Ypres, A. D. 1383, the garrison is said, by Walsingham, to 
 have defended themselves so well with stones, arrows, lances, 
 Greek fire, and certain engines called guns, that they obliged 
 the English to raise the siege with such precipitation, that they 
 left behind them their great guns, which were of inestimable 
 value. A great part of that army was soon after besieged in the 
 town of Burburgh by the French, who threw such quantities of 
 
GUNPOWDER. 177 
 
 Greek fire into it, that they burned a third part of the town, and 
 obliged the English to capitulate. 
 
 Although the invention of gunpowder with its application to 
 fire-arms may be ranked among the most important discoveries, 
 yet the date of that invention, with the name of the person to 
 whom mankind are indebted for it, are both equally unknown* 
 From the number slain in engagements previous to its introduc- 
 tion, what, at first view of its fatal effects, might be deemed an 
 additional and severe scourge, has rather proved beneficial to the 
 human race, by reducing the destruction of the species in battle 
 within narrower limits. Formerly, when men engaged hand to 
 hand, they were so intermingled, that the only criterion of vic- 
 tory was, the having no more of the enemy to kill : the duration 
 of sieges* has also been considerably shortened since the use of 
 gunpowder and artillery, by which the lives of many millions has 
 been saved, who would otherwise have perished by hardships or 
 disease, commonly in sieges more fatal than the sword, and in 
 providing man with increased power over the animal world, and 
 thus multiplying the catalogue of his food, the advantages de- 
 rived from gunpowder are eminent. 
 
 * A numerous train of artillery, with a few barrels of this wonderful 
 powder deposited in a mine, soon batter and throw down the strongest 
 walls ; and indeed the greatest effects towards a victory and capitulation 
 are brought about as much by the terror occasioned by the noise of the 
 cannon, as the real mischief or slaughter, few men having sufficient firm- 
 ness to stand their dreadful thunder ; and it is undoubtedly a fact that 
 many a battle or town is won, more by the flight of those who are ter- 
 rified at the sound of the artillery, than from the actual loss of those 
 killed or wounded by it. At Gibraltar, on the memorable 13th of 
 September, 1782, the casualties amounted only to sixteen officers and 
 men killed, and sixty-eight wounded ; a loss so trifling, as to be scarcely 
 credible, that such a quantity of fire, in almost all its destructive modes 
 of action, should not have produced greater effect with respect to the loss 
 of men. 
 
1?8 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 The common story respecting the invention of gunpowder and 
 artillery is thus related : about the year 1320, one Bartholdus 
 Schwartz, a German Monk, and student in alchymy (a pursuit 
 then much in fashion), having in the course of his experiments 
 mixed saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal in a mortar, and partly 
 covered it with a stone, it somehow took fire, and blew the stone 
 to a considerable distance t thus, by one accident, furnishing 
 the hints for making gunpowder, its force, and a piece of ord- 
 nance for using it ; and it is worthy of observation, that stones 
 are said to have been thrown from mortars long before point 
 blank shooting was attempted : possibly this story may be true ; 
 but it does not at all follow from thence, that gunpowder was 
 not before known^ the same discovery having been frequently 
 made by different persons engaged in the same study. 
 
 Many modern writers carry the invention of gunpowder, and 
 even its application to artillery, back to very remote antiquity; 
 The ingenious translator of the Gentoo Laws, finds fire arms, 
 gunpowder, and cannon, mentioned in that code, supposed at 
 least coeval with Moses. " It will no doubt (says he) strike the 
 reader with wonder, to be informed of a prohibition of fire-arms, 
 discovered in records of such unfathomable antiquity ; and he 
 will probably from hence renew the suspicion which has long 
 been deemed absurd, that Alexander the Great did absolutely 
 meet with some weapons of that kind in India, as a passage in 
 Quintus Curtius seems to ascertain : gunpowder has been known 
 in China as well as Hindostan far beyond all periods of investi- 
 gation." There is also, says Mr. Grose, the following ancient 
 testimony to this point in Greys Gunnery, printed, A. D, 1731. 
 In the life of Appolonius Tyan&us, written by Philcstratus, fif- 
 teen hundred years ago, there is the following passage concerning 
 a people of India, called Oxydracce : u These truly wise men 
 dwelt between the rivers Hyphasis and Ganges; their country 
 Alexander the Great never entered, deterred not by fear of the 
 
GUNPOWDER. 179 
 
 inhabitants, but, as I suppose, by religious considerations, for 
 had lie passed the Hyphasis he might doubtless have made him- 
 self master of the country all round them ; but their cities he 
 could never have taken though he had led a thousand as brave 
 as Achilles, or three thousand such as Ajax, to the assault, for 
 they come not out into the field to fight those who attack them, 
 but these holy men, beloved by the gods, overthrew their ene- 
 mies with tempests, and thunderbolts shot from their walls. 
 It is said, that the Egyptian Hercules and Bacchus, when they 
 over-ran India, invaded this people also : and having prepared 
 warlike engines, attempted to conquer them ; they made no shew 
 of resistance, but upon the enemies near approach to their cities, 
 they were repulsed with storms of lightning and thunderbolts, 
 hurled upon them from above." 
 
 Our countryman, Friar Bacon, whose works were written at 
 Oxford about the year 1270, fifty years before the supposed in- 
 vention by Schwartz, has expressly named the ingredients ofgtm- 
 powder as a well-known composition used for recreation, and de- 
 scribes it as producing a noise like thunder, and flashes like 
 lightning, but more terrible than those produced by nature, and 
 adds, this might be applied to the destruction of an enemy by 
 sea and land : Bacon acquired this composition from a treatise 
 on artificial fire works, written by one Marcus Grcecus ; the 
 manuscript is still extant, and is quoted by the Reverend Mr* 
 Dutens, in order to prove that gunpowder was known to the 
 ancients ; the composition therein prescribed is, two pounds of 
 charcoal, one pound of sulphur, and six pounds of saltpetre, well 
 pounded and mixed together in a stone mortar ; this is a better 
 mixture for powder than many late in use. 
 
 Bishop Watson, in his Chemical Essays, remarks, that the 
 history of the discovery of gunpowder is involved in much ob- 
 scurity ; the most ancient authors differing from each other in 
 their accounts of this matter ; and many of them confounding 
 
180 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 two distinct enquiries : viz. the discovery of the composition of 
 gunpowder ; and the discovery of finding out the means of ap- 
 plying it to the purposes of war. 
 
 Polydore Vergil, who died in 1555, attributes the discovery 
 of gunpowder to some very ignoble German, whose name he 
 wishes might never be handed down to posterity. He further 
 informs us that this German invented also an iron ttibe, and 
 taught the Venetians the use of guru A. D. 1380. This, 
 continues Dr. Watson, is the common account of the discovery 
 of gunpowder : its truth, however, is rendered doubtful by what 
 follows : 
 
 The battle of Ctessy was fought 1346, and an historian who 
 lived at that time is quoted by Spondanus as affirming, that the 
 English greatly increased the confusion the French had been 
 thrown into, by discharging upon them from their cannon y hot 
 iron bullets. Three years before the battle of Cressy, the Moors 
 were besieged by the Spaniards in the city of Algeziras ; and 
 we learn from Mariana the Spanish historian, " that the be- 
 sieged did great harm among the Christians with iron bullets 
 they shot." The same author adds, "This is t\\Q first time we 
 find any mention of gunpowder and ball in. our histories." The 
 Earls of Derby and Salisbury are mentioned by Mariana as 
 having assisted at the siege of Algeziras, and as they returned 
 to England in the latter end of the year 1343, it is not an im- 
 probable conjecture, that, having been witnesses of the havoc 
 occasioned by the Moorish fire-arms, they brought the secret 
 from Spain into England, and introduced the use of artillery 
 into the English army at the battle of Cressy. 
 
 It was to cover the disgrace of the French arms that Edward 
 was alleged to have used gunpowder, and to which was owing his 
 success. This advantage the French might have resorted to, 
 and fought the English by the same means ; for father Daniel 
 cites a record preserved in the Chamber of Accounts at Paris, 
 
GUNPOWDER. 181 
 
 to prove that the French had, and used, cannon in the year 1338. 
 The charge in the Treasurer of War's Account in the above 
 year was as follows : " To Henry de Faumachon for powder 
 and other things necessary for the cannons which were before 
 Puy Guillaume" N. B. Puy Guillaume was a castle in Au- 
 vergne. It is to be remarked that neither Froissart nor any one 
 of the many historians who have described the battle of Cressy 
 has noticed the employment of the artillery there, except Vilani, 
 an Italian author. 
 
 The use of guns in Spain, Anno 134?3, is proof sufficient 
 either that Schwartz was not the inventor of gunpowder, or that 
 Kircher and others are mistaken in fixing his discovery so late as 
 the year 13545. There is reason, notwithstanding, to believe 
 that both gunpowder and guns were known in Germany, at least 
 forty years before the period assigned by the Spanish historian 
 for their first introduction into Spain. In the Armory at Am- 
 berg in Bavaria, there is a piece of ordnance, on which is 
 inscribed the year 1303. This is the earliest account I have 
 yet met with of the certain use of gunpowder in war ; and it 
 seems probable enough, as the Pope and the Duke of Bavaria 
 are thought to have been the first Princes who made saltpetre 
 in Europe. It ought not, however, says Dr. Watson, to be 
 concealed from the reader, that Camerarius quotes a Danish 
 historian as relating, that Christopher, King of the Danes, was 
 killed in battle by the stroke of a gun, A. D. 1280. Upon 
 examining the passage quoted, it is only said that Christopher, 
 the son of King Waldemar, was killed in the beginning of an 
 engagement by a gun, a warlike instrument then lately discov- 
 ered. Now it appears, that Waldemar, Christopher's father, 
 did not succeed to the crown of Denmark until 1332, and that 
 his son was killed in a naval engagement several years afterwards, 
 probably about the time stated by Munster for the earliest use 
 of gunpowder in Denmark. 
 
 Q 
 
182 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 There are passages in the history of the English wars, whicl 
 assert the employment of artillery antecedent to the above 
 periods. For instance, if we are to credit John Barbour, arch- 
 deacon of Aberdeen, Edward III. had artillery in his campaign 
 against the Scots, A. D. 1327, and which were described as 
 
 1 Craky's of war, 
 
 That they before heard never." 
 
 In 1339, at the siege of Stirling, the Scots used battering 
 cannon, which certainly had been sent by their French allies. 
 At the siege of Calais, in 134-7, ^gunners and artillers " appear 
 in a MS list of the English troops in the Harleian collection. 
 The Earl of Pembroke, who commanded a British fleet, A D. 
 1372, was taken prisoner by a Spanish squadron superior in 
 numbers, and which were (perhaps for the first time) provided 
 with cannon. Indeed we are shewn that more than half a cen- 
 tury afterwards the English ships of war had very few guns, 
 seldom more than two, and those not mounted so as to be altered 
 occasionally in their direction, a circumstance, the motion of the 
 sea considered, which must have rendered them of little service. 
 In 1378 is the first authentic mention of the lately invented 
 instruments of death to be found; for then Richard II. sent to 
 Brest great quantities of saltpetre, sulphur, and charcoal, toge- 
 ther with two greater and two lesser engines called cannons, 
 and 6,000 stone bullets. John of Gaunt, who had the com- 
 mand of the army, attempted to take St. Maloes, but was baffled 
 by the conduct of the Great Du Guesclin, although, it is said, 
 he had a train of 400 battering cannon playing upon the town. 
 The Flemings in 1382, had a most dreadful piece of ord- 
 nance : " it was (says Froissart) fify feet long, and threw won- 
 derfully large stones. Its report was heard five leagues by day 
 and ten by night ; and its noise was so immense, that one would 
 have thought that all the devils in hell had a share in it." 
 
GUNPOWDER. 183 
 
 In 1418 iron balls were not used for cannon in England, 
 since in Rymer there is an order from King Henry V. to the 
 clerk of the ordnance, and John Bonet, a mason of Maidstone, 
 in Kent, to cut 7,000 stone shot in the stone quarries there; 
 but there is reason to believe that the French had at that time 
 iron balls in common use, since at the attack of Cherbourg, 
 towards the close of the year 1418, the Duke of Gloucester, 
 who commanded the beseigers, was much annoyed by red hot 
 balls fired from the town : a very singular occurrence, the state 
 of artillery at that period being considered. 
 
 In 1428 the valiant and dreaded Earl of Salisbury fell by a 
 cannon shot at the siege of Orleans, and was, according to 
 Camden, the first English gentleman "ever slain thereby e." 
 Salisbury was reconnoitring the town from a high tower on the 
 bridge, when the son of the master gunner of Orleans, pointed 
 a cannon at the window and slew him ; the ball carried away one 
 of his eyes and his cheek, and mortally wounded one Sir Thomas 
 Gargrave. 
 
 At the siege of Belgrade by the Turks A. D. 1437, they 
 were repulsed by the help of gunpowder, then used for the first 
 time in that part of Europe. But the extreme awkwardness in 
 the early construction of cannon, and the great cost of gun- 
 powder, may fairly account for the preference still given to the 
 old engines for discharging stones. Two pieces of artillery used 
 at Dieppe in 1442, as represented by Pere Monffaucoti, seem 
 ill calculated for service ; nor does there appear throughout the 
 century any contrivance to elevate or depress the pieces ; a de- 
 ficiency which must have rendered them comparatively useless.* 
 
 * Edward IV. had field pieces when he defeated Sir Robert Wells at 
 Stamford 1469, and which was the first time they were employed by an 
 English army. < The King, (says Leland) sparkeled the enemie with 
 his ordnance, slew many of the commons, and thereby gained the vic- 
 tory." At the battle of Flodden, 1515, the Scots were much superior 
 
 Q2 
 
184 
 
 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 It certainly was not for want of bulk that the artillery of the 
 age failed in becoming respectable. We are told by Monstretel 
 of a piece of ordnance which sent a ball weighing 500$* from 
 the Bastille at Paris, to Charenton in 1478. The cannon too 
 used by Mahomet II. at the siege of Constantinople were im- 
 mense both in bulk and power. On the other hand, there was 
 the culverm (a kind of light artillery, sometimes carried by one 
 and sometimes by two men), and which was used by the Switzers 
 at the battle of Morat, where 10,000 of them were so armed. 
 
 This weapon (an entirely different instrument from the long 
 cannons formerly named coulouverines or culvermes) seems to 
 have been the parent of the musquet, and was placed on a rest 
 to be discharged. But to return to the more immediate history 
 of Gunpowder, we find from Camden, in his life of Queen 
 Elizabeth, that she was the first that procured gunpowder to be 
 made in England, that she might not pray and pay for it also 
 to her neighbours. At first, gunpowder was not granulated, but 
 remained in its mealed state ; it was then called serpentine pow- 
 der. In several accounts of military stores during the reign of 
 Edward VI. and Elizabeth, there are large quantities of ser- 
 pentine powder. 
 
 The making of gunpowder after the most ancient man- 
 ner: 
 
 Anno 1380, saltpetre, brimstone, charcoal, equal parts. 
 
 in ordnance : Borthwic, an engineer of eminence, had the direction of 
 it. Lewis of France had sent him to James with a large present of brass 
 cannon, on each side of which was inscribed Machina sum Scoto 
 Borthwic fabricate Roberto.*' This valuable train of artillery fell into 
 the hands of the Earl of Surrey after the battle of Flodden, together with 
 seven " faire culverines," called the seven sisters. To his successful 
 general, Henry restored his father's patrimony, the dukedom of Nor- 
 folk ; and this honourable addition to his arms, that he was permitted 
 to bear on the bend of his arms, the upper half of a red lion, painted as 
 in the arms of Scotland, with the mouth pierced through with an arrow. 
 
GUNPOWDER. 185 
 
 Anno 1410, saltpetre three parts, brimstone two parts, 
 charcoal two parts. 
 
 Anno 1480, saltpetre eight parts, brimstone three parts, 
 charcoal three parts. 
 
 Anno 1520. The making best powder, saltpetre four parts, 
 charcoal one part, brimstone one part. 
 
 Anno 1647. The best sort now made, saltpetre six parts, 
 brimstone one part, charcoal one part. 
 
 The musket powder is now commonly made of saltpetre five 
 parts, brimstone one part, charcoal one part. 
 
 The cannon powder, saltpetre four parts, one part charcoal, 
 one part brimstone. 
 
 The Bishop of Llandaff] in his essay on the Composition and 
 Analysis of Gunpowder, states, " that in the proportion in which 
 they are combined, the manner of mixing, the goodness of the 
 ingredients, and the drying of the powder after being made, 
 its strength and excellency consists. Saltpetre, in its crude 
 state, whether it be brought from the East Indies or made in 
 Europe, is generally, if not universally, mixed with a greater or 
 less portion of common salt : now a small portion of common 
 salt injures the goodness of a large quantity of gunpowder ; 
 hence the very finest saltpetre bejomes necessary to be used in 
 its formation. The purest sulphur is that sold in the shops 
 under the name of flowers of Sulphur ; but the roll sulphur being 
 much cheaper than the former, and being also of a great degree 
 of purity, it is the only sort which is used in the manufacturing 
 of gunpowder. With relation to the charcoal, it has been 
 for the most part believed that the coal from soft and light 
 woods was better adapted than the hard and heavy ones to the 
 making of gunpowder: thus Evelyn says of the hazel, that * it 
 made one of the best coals used for gunpowder, being very fine 
 and light, till they found alder to be more fit.' An eminent 
 French chemist ( M. Baume) has shewn from actual experiment, 
 
 Q3 
 
186 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 that this opinion in favour of coal from light wood is ill founded : 
 he affirms, that powder made from lime tree coal, or even from 
 the coal of the pith of the alder tree, is in no respect preferable 
 to that made from coal of the hardest woods, such as guiacum 
 and oak. This remark, if confirmed by future experience, may 
 be of service ; as it is not always in the power of gunpowder 
 makers to procure a sufficient quantity of the coal of soft wood. 
 " The mixture of the materials of which gunpowder is made 
 should be as intimate and uniform as possible ; for in whatever 
 manner the explosion may be accounted for, it is certain that 
 the three ingredients are necessary to produce it. In order to 
 procure this accurate mixture, the ingredients are previously re- 
 duced into coarse powders, and afterwards ground and pounded 
 together, till the powder becomes exceedingly fine ; and when 
 that is done the gunpowder is made. But as gunpowder, in the 
 state of an impalpable dust, would be inconvenient in its use, it 
 has been customary to reduce it into grains, by forcing it, when 
 moistened with water, through sieves of various sizes. 
 
 " The necessity of a complete mixture of the materials, in 
 order to have good gunpowder, is sensibly felt, when such as 
 has been dried, after being accidentally wetted, is used. There 
 may be the same weight of the powder after drying that there 
 was before it was wetted ; but its strength is greatly diminished, on 
 account of the mixture of the ingredients being less perfect. 
 This diminution of strength proceeds from the water having 
 dissolved a portion of the saltpetre (the other two ingredients not 
 bein^ soluble in water) ; for upon drying the powder, the dis- 
 solved saltpetre will be crystallized in particles much larger than 
 those were which entered into the composition of the gunpow- 
 der, and thus the mixture will be less intimate and uniform than 
 it was before the wetting. This wetting of gunpowder is often 
 occasioned by the mere moisture of the atmosphere. Great 
 complaints were made concerning the badness of the gunpowder 
 
GUNPOWDER. 187 
 
 used by the English, in their engagement with the French fleet 
 off Grenada, in July 1779 ; the French having done much 
 damage to the masts and rigging of the English, when the 
 English shot would not reach them. When this matter was 
 inquired into by the House of Commons, it appeared that the 
 powder had been injured by the dampness of the atmosphere ; 
 it had concreted into large lumps, in the middle of which the 
 saltpetre was visible to the naked eye. If the wetting of gun- 
 powder has been considerable, it is rendered wholly unfit for 
 use ; but if no other foreign substance has been mixed with it, 
 except fresh water, it may be made into good gunpowder again, 
 by being properly pounded and granulated. If the wetting has 
 been occasioned by salt-water, and that to any great degree, the 
 sea salt, upon drying the powder, will remain mixed with it, and 
 may so far vitiate its quality that it can never be used again in 
 the form of gunpowder. However, as by solution in water, and 
 subsequent crystallization, the most valuable part of the gun- 
 powder, namely, the saltpetre, may be extracted, and in its 
 original purity, even from powder that has been wetted by sea- 
 water, or otherwise spoiled, the saving damaged powder is a 
 matter of national economy, and deservedly attended to in the 
 Elaboratory at Woolwich. 
 
 " The proportions," continues Dr. Watson, " in which the 
 ingredients of gunpowder are combined together are not the same 
 in different nations, nor in different works of the same nation, 
 even for powder destined to the same use. It is difficult to obtain 
 from the makers of gunpowder any information upon this sub- 
 ject : their backwardness arises not so much from any of them 
 fancying themselves possessed of the best possible proportion, as 
 from an affectation of mystery, common to most manufacturers, 
 and an apprehension of discovering to the world that they do 
 not use so muck saltpetre as they ought to do, or as their com- 
 petitors in trade i tally do use. Saltpetre is not only a much 
 
188 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 dearer commodity than either sulphur or charcoal, but it enters 
 also in a much greater proportion into the composition of gun- 
 powder than both those materials taken together ; hence there 
 is a great temptation to lessen the quantity of the saltpetre^ and 
 to augment that of the other ingredients ; and the fraud is not 
 easily detected, since gunpowder, which will explode readily and 
 loudly, may be made with very different quantities of saltpetre. 
 
 '* Baptista Porta died in the year 1515: he gives three dif- 
 ferent proportions for the making of gunpowder, according as it 
 was required to be of different strength, the quantities of the 
 several ingredients contained in one hundred pounds weight of 
 each sort of powder. 
 
 %VEAK. 
 
 STRONG. 
 
 STRONGEST. 
 
 Saltpetre 6Gf/6. 
 
 75/6. 
 
 80/6. 
 
 Sulphur 16| 
 
 1*1 
 
 10 
 
 Charcoal IGj 
 
 til 
 
 10 
 
 100 100 100 
 
 11 It is somewhat remarkable that in these three powders the 
 sulphur and charcoal are used in equal quantities. Cardan died 
 about sixty years after Baptista Porta, and during that interval 
 the proportions of ingredients of gunpowder seem to have under- 
 gone a great change. Cardan's proportions are expressed as 
 follows : 
 
 GREAT GUNS. MIDDLE SIZED. SMALL. 
 
 Saltpetre 50/6. . 66J/6. . 83J/6. 
 
 Sulphur 16j . 15f . 8f- 
 
 Charcoal 53j . 20 . 8-| 
 
 100 100 100 
 
 <; For great and middle sized guns, we see a much greater 
 proportion of charcoal than of sulphur was here used : at present 
 it is in most places the reverse ; or at least the charcoal nowhere 
 exceeds the sulphur. The proportions were as under, for the 
 
GUNPOWDER. 189 
 
 best kind of gunpowder in England, France, Sweden, Poland, 
 and Italy. 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 FRANCE. SWEDEN. 
 
 POLAND. 
 
 ITALY. 
 
 Saltpetre 75/6. . 
 
 75/6. . 
 
 75/6. . 
 
 80/6. . 
 
 76^/6. 
 
 Sulphur 15 
 
 94 
 
 16 
 
 12 
 
 m 
 
 Charcoal 10 
 
 15| 
 
 9 
 
 8 
 
 12* 
 
 * 100 100 100 100 
 
 " Several experiments have been made in France to ascertain 
 the exact proportions of the several ingredients which would 
 produce the strongest possible powder, and the result has been 
 in favour of 
 
 Saltpetre . . 80/6. 
 
 Charcoal . . 15 
 
 Sulphur . . 5 
 
 And from hence it appears that in a certain weight of saltpetre 
 the powder would produce the greatest effect when the weight 
 of the charcoal was to that of the sulphur as three to one. On 
 the other hand, experiments are produced from which it is to be 
 concluded that in a certain weight of saltpetre the best powder 
 is made when the sulphur is to the charcoal as two to one. From 
 these different accounts it seems as if the problem of determining 
 the very best possible proportion was not yet solved. 
 
 " In drying gunpowder, after it is reduced into grains, there 
 are two things to be avoided, too much and too little heat. If 
 the heat is too great, a part of the sulphur will be driven off, 
 and thus the proportions of the ingredients being changed, the 
 goodness of the powder, so far as it depends upon that propor- 
 tion, will be injured. In order to see what quantity of |ulphur 
 might be separated by a degree of heat not sufficient to explode 
 it, I took," says Dr. Watson, "twenty-four grains of the pow- 
 
 * These were said to be the proportions of government powder. 
 
190 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 der marked FF in the shops, and placing it on a piece of polished 
 copper, I heated the copper over the flame of a candle ; the 
 gunpowder soon sent forth a strong sulphureous vapour, and 
 when it had been dried so long that no more fume or smell could 
 be distinguished, the residue weighed nineteen grains, the loss 
 amounted to five grains. The remainder did not explode by a 
 spark like gunpowder, but like a mixture of saltpetre and char- 
 coal, and it really was nothing else, all the sulphur having been 
 dissipated. Gunpowder was formerly dried by being exposed to 
 the heat of the sun ; and this method still obtains in France, and 
 in some other countries : afterwards a way was invented of ex- 
 posing it to a heat equal to that of boiling water ; at present it 
 is most generally in England dried in stoves heated by great iron 
 pots ; with any tolerable degree of caution, no danger of ex- 
 plosion need be apprehended from this method. All the watery 
 part of the gunpowder may be evaporated by a degree of heat 
 greatly less than that in which gunpowder explodes, that degree 
 of heat having been ascertained by some late experiments to be 
 about the six hundredth degree on Fahrenheit's scale, in which 
 the heat of boiling water is fixed at two hundred and twelve. 
 There is more danger of evaporating a part of the sulphur in 
 this mode of drying gunpowder than when it is dried by exposure 
 to the sun. 
 
 " The necessity of freeing gunpowder from all its moisture is 
 obvious from the following experiment, which was made some 
 years ago before the Royal Society. A quantity of gunpowder 
 was taken out of a barrel and dried with a heat equal to that in 
 which water boils, a piece of ordnance was charged with a cer- 
 tain weight of this dried powder, and the distance to which it 
 threw a ball was marked. The same piece was charged with an 
 equal weight of the same kind of powder, taken out of the same 
 barrel, but not dried, and it threw an equal ball only to one half 
 the distance. This effect of moisture is so sensible, that some 
 
GUNPOWDER. 191 
 
 officers have affirmed that they have seen barrels of gunpowder 
 which was good in the morning, but which became (by attract- 
 ing, probably, the humidity of the air) entirely spoiled in the 
 evening. To keep the powder dry, by preventing the access of 
 the air, it has been proposed to line the barrels with tin foil, or 
 with thin sheets of lead, as tea boxes are lined. Would it not 
 be possible," asks Dr. Watson, " to preserve powder free from 
 moisture, and from the loss of a part of its sulphur in hot climates, 
 by keeping it in glazed earthen bottles, or in bottles made of 
 copper or tin, well corked ? The disposition to attract the 
 humidity of the air varies in different sorts of powder ; it is the 
 least in that which is made from the purest saltpetre. Pure 
 saltpetre, which has been dried as gunpowder is dried, does not 
 become heavier by exposure to the atmosphere ; at least, so far 
 as my experiments have informed me, not amounting to above 
 one seventy-second part of its weight. I rather think," con- 
 tinues Dr. Watson, " that it does not acquire any increase of 
 weight ; however, in order to judge with more certainty concern- 
 ing the effect of sea salt when mixed with saltpetre, in attracting 
 the humidity of the air, I made the following experiment : five 
 parts of pure saltpetre, in powder, were exposed for a month to a 
 moist atmosphere, but I did not observe that the saltpetre had 
 gained the least increase of weight ; for the same length of time, 
 and in the same place, I exposed four parts of saltpetre mixed 
 with one of common salt, and this mixture had attracted so 
 much moisture, that it was in a state of fluidity." 
 
 Of all the powders which have fallen under my observation, 
 Messrs. Lawrence & Son's, of Battle, is the best. Some time 
 ago, a powder was pompously advertised, with "Sir Humphrey 
 Davy" attached to it, which did not answer the expectation in- 
 tended to be excited by the name of so great a chemist ; and 
 still farther to continue this feeling, the price was doubled. It 
 is probable, that Sir Humphrey Davy had nothing to do with 
 
192 GUNPOWDER. 
 
 the manufacture of this article ; nor is it likely, that either he 
 or any other chemist should be so well acquainted with the pro- 
 cess of making this combustible, as those who are in the con- 
 stant habit of attending to it in all its different stages. Good 
 powder is distinguished by the instantaneity of its ignition, by 
 the clearness of its burning, as well as by its tinging the pan with 
 a gold colour, and depositing little or no residuum or feculent 
 matter; and these qualities Lawrence's powder possesses in an 
 eminent degree.* In damp weather, however, powder will not 
 
 * " The late very fine breeding season had, with me, raised expec- 
 tation to the tip-toe ; and, amongst other preparatory matters, I de- 
 termined to try the strength of different gunpowders, some of which are 
 offered to the notice of the sportsman under high-sounding denomina- 
 tions. I, in the first place, made use of an instrument, called a powder- 
 tryer, specially made for the purpose ; and, after a number of experi- 
 ments, not quite so satisfactory as I could wish, I had recourse to the 
 fowling-piece; and, by weighing the charge, both powder and shot, 
 with all possible accuracy, and firing at sheets of smooth close paper, I 
 at length arrived at a result more satisfactory than that which I had de- 
 rived from the tryer. The powder manufactured by Pigou and Co. 
 and that made by Curtis and Harvey, as well as that made by Lawrence 
 of Battle, are excellent, though, from repeated trial, the last was 
 evidently the strongest, while the combustion seemed to deposit less 
 feculent matter or residuum. Of six different samples of gunpowder 
 which I tried, the three which I have mentioned were so far superior to 
 the rest, that the latter are not worthy of enumeration ; and in order 
 that they all might be fairly tried, I had kept the samples in the same 
 dry cupboard for several weeks prior to the experiments. Powder kept 
 in a damp place, or even exposed to the action of the atmosphere, will 
 lose much of its force, burn comparatively dull, and the explosion is fol- 
 lowed by a greater deposition of extraneous matter or filth. 
 
 From these experiments, I was led to make a trial of percussion pow 
 dcr, in order to ascertain how far it might be applicable for the charge 
 as well as the priming ; and for this purpose I had again recourse to the 
 powder- tryer, fearful lest unpleasant consequences might ensue from 
 prematurely firing it in the barrel of the fowling piece. However, I 
 
GUNPOWDER. 193 
 
 burn so well, nor so clear; while the pan, instead of receiving 
 the gold-coloured tinge from the explosion, will become 4bul, 
 and exhibit strong marks of imperfect combustion. In 'hot or 
 
 derived nothing very satisfactory from my attempts with percussion 
 powder, which not only deposited a very great quantity of residuum, 
 but appeared to operate in a way altogether different from gunpowder. 
 The ignition of the quantity of percussion powder, with which I filled 
 the tryer, produced a kind of liquid fire, which issuing backwards 
 through the touch- hole, in considerable quantities, and emitting sparks, 
 as it were, of the same fluid, repeatedly burnt my hand. I could not 
 ascertain the strength of the percussion powder, so much more, com- 
 paratively, of the fire uniformly re-issuing from the touch-hole, than 
 what is found to be the rase with gunpowder. It is true, it generally 
 moved the wheel of the tryer (though not always), but never drove it 
 nearly so far as the ex plosion of gunpowder uniformly effected. Nor 
 decs the detonation appear either so loud, or so instantaneous. I fired 
 two ounces of percussion powder in the open air, by kindling it with a 
 red hot poker, and the result followed which I have just mentioned, 
 viz. the explosion was neither so loud nor so quick as gunpowder ; while 
 the board upon which it was laid, was much burnt, and a great quantity 
 of feculent matter deposited. If a thimble full of percussion powder 
 be ignited upon a plate, the combustion will break the plate ; the same 
 quantity of gunpowder kindled upon a plate, will explode more rapidly, 
 and without breaking the plate. 
 
 Finally, from the result of my experiments, I felt a perfect convic- 
 tion, that percussion powder (at least in its present state), however 
 admirably it may act as a priming, is by no means calculated for the 
 charge ; unless, indeed, the explosion can be rendered much quicker, 
 as well as the combustion much cleaner. Should any of you*, readers 
 be disposed to try experiments upon this subtle composition, I would 
 strongly advise them to be very cautious in their proceedings. 
 
 N.B. Percussion powder will ignite when brought in contact with 
 highly-concentrated sulphuric acid : I have tried the experiment many 
 times. If the head of a pin be dipped in highly -concentrated sulphu- 
 ric acid, and applied to the priming in a copper cap, it will ignite im- 
 mediately, but not so instantaneously as when struck with a hammer, 
 nor will the combustion be so complete." Annals of Sporting, volt II. 
 
 B 
 
194> r GUNPOWDER. 
 
 dry weather, powder will burn remarkably well ; I make a point, 
 particularly when the atmosphere is hazy or heavy, to air my 
 powder, as well as my gun before going out ; and, for this pur- 
 pose, I never suffer the flask to be out of my own hand by 
 holding the flask (a copper one) a short distance from the fire, 
 the powder will be well aired in one or two minutes. 
 
 For ascertaining the strength of powder, gunsmiths generally 
 make use of an instrument, which, I believe, is called a trier 9 
 and from which may be obtained tolerably accurate results : I 
 prefer the fowling piece for this purpose : by adjusting the charge 
 very exactly, and firing at paper many sheets in thickness, and 
 at given distances, much satisfaction may be obtained, not only 
 as to the quality of the powder, but of the manner in which the 
 gun throws the shot. 
 
 THE POWDER FLASK. 
 
 A copper flask is preferable to any other. 
 
195 
 
 SHOT. 
 
 For general use, I prefer No. 5, as it will answer every pur- 
 pose, snipe shooting excepted, for which I should use much 
 smaller. No. 6 or 7 will be found large enough for the early 
 part of the partridge season ; but I cannot agree with General 
 Hanger, that No. 2 is decidedly preferable for all occasions, and 
 from one end of the season to the other. Upon trial, I found 
 that 1 could scarcely average three shots in a card (four inches 
 by three) at the distance of thirty- two yards, with No. 2. With 
 No. 5, I averaged 8 ; and the latter, too, were driven with a 
 force more than sufficient for the purpose. Upon increasing 
 the distance to forty-one yards, I could seldom put in more than 
 one pellet of No. 2 ; No. 5, at the same distance, averaged four ; 
 No. 6 averaged five. 
 
 FORCE OF PERCUSSION PRIMING 
 
 COMPARED WITH GUNPOWDER. 
 
 At the distance of thirty yards, the percussion gnn threw the 
 shot round and well, and perforated, completely, twenty nine 
 sheets of strong writing paper, with shot, No. 5 : with com- 
 mon priming and patent breech, nineteen sheets were perforated. 
 When shot, No. 2 was used, it perforated two or three sheets 
 more than No. 5, and tore the paper in a slug-like manner. 
 See note, page 192, &c. 
 
 a2 
 
190 
 
 PROPORTIONS OF POWDER AND SHOT. 
 
 If you overload a gun with powder, the shot will scatter 
 amazingly, and but few pellets will strike the object. If an in- 
 sufficient quantity of powder is used, the shot will not be driven 
 with the requisite force. But it is more than probable, that a 
 trifling variation will be found in all guns ; or, in other worde, 
 it will be a difficult matter to find two guns (though of the same 
 length and caliber) which require precisely the same charge. 
 The best method of ascertaining the proper load for the fowling- 
 piece is, by firing at sheets of paper at given distances, and the 
 progressive result will instruct the sportsman whether to increase 
 or diminish the powder or shot, or both The general error in 
 loading guns, I am inclined to think, is using too much powder, 
 which not only scatters the shot prodigiously, but renders the 
 recoil extremely unpleasant it is quite a mistaken notion to 
 suppose, that a distant object is better reached by a large load of 
 powder, or that the force of the shot is thus increased ; for, 
 however paradoxical it may appear, it will be found, on experi- 
 ment, that (to say nothing of the scattering of the shot, by which 
 a small object will generally be missed) those pellets which strike 
 the mark are not so strongly driven as when a reduced, but a cor- 
 rect, portion of powder is used. There is a certain proportion 
 both of powder and shot with which a gun will shoot better than 
 any other ; these proportions are easily ascertainable in the 
 manner just described ; and, when ascertained, can be adopted. 
 
 If percussion priming is made use of, very little more than 
 half the common load of powder will answer the purpose, see 
 page 163. 
 
197 
 
 WADDING. 
 
 Wadding punched from hat or common card will answer the 
 purpose, but these articles are inferior to soft millboard, about 
 the thickness of three cards. If cork were so cut as to fit the 
 caliber of the fowling-piece, there is little question but it would 
 be superior to any other kind of wadding ; but, in this case the 
 assistance of a regular cork cutter will be required, as I think, 
 from some trials which I made, that cork cannot be punched. 
 The thick soft millboard is preferable to any which I have ever 
 used ; though an old hat will make excellent wadding. 
 
 R3 
 
198 
 
 There is perhaps no amusement whatever, where success is 
 so anxiously desired or so confidently anticipated, as by a young 
 shooter on the approach of the 12th of August or the 1st of 
 September. It is a most fascinating recreation ; though the 
 disappointments which almost uniformly attend the noviciate are 
 extremely mortifying ; yet hope sustains the spirit ; every sub- 
 terfuge is resorted to, on which to fix the blame of miscarriage, 
 while the true reason is studiously kept out of sight : the pow- 
 der is bad, or the shot, or perhaps the fowling piece is crooked ; 
 the game rises .00 near or two far off every thing, in fact, 
 will in turn be wrong, or at least be made to serve as a salvo, 
 rather than the real cause candidly acknowledged, namely, lack 
 of skill, or rather, want of steadiness, in the sportsman. 
 
 To acquire the art of shooting flying, poor inoffensive swallows 
 are often put in jeopardy : how far this practice is calculated to 
 promote the intended object, I will not pretend to determine ex- 
 actly ; but very little practice will enable any person, I should 
 suppose, to become a very expert swallow shooter. The flight 
 of these birds is regulated by the winged insects upon which 
 they feed, and the elevation of the latter is determined by the 
 state of the atmosphere. When swallows fly about ten or fif- 
 teen yards from the ground, they are easily shot^ the distance 
 being completely within reach, and as every now and then they 
 turn or become stationary for a moment, a slender share of skill 
 is sufficient to bring them down. Every thing that accustoms 
 the tyro to the use of the fowling-piece will more or less pro- 
 
SHOOTING. 199 
 
 mote the object, and swallow shooting will no doubt assist ; but 
 in preference to destroying these very useful birds, whose ap- 
 pearance associates the beauties of spring and summer to the 
 mind, I would certainly recommend shooting at sparrows and 
 starlings, as they are very mischievous, and their flight, particu- 
 larly the latter, resembles in some degree that of a partridge. 
 But, allowing that practice of this sort will assist, it will not 
 attain, the ultimate object ; nor does, in fact, the secret or skill 
 consist merely in the dexterity of shooting flying the alarm 
 which is caused by the sudden spring of game, and the noise 
 which ensues, throw the young sportsman so completely off his 
 guard, and create such a trepidation, that some practice is at 
 least indispensable, before these difficulties can be overcome ; 
 nor, until the game is approached with the utmost coolness, the 
 sudden spring, &c. regarded with indifference, and the object 
 selected with deliberation, will the sportsman be able to bring 
 down the object with almost unerring certainty. I will suppose a 
 man to be an expert swallow-shooter let him approach a covey of 
 partridges, prepared to fire the birds rise suddenly, with great 
 noise and confusion, and the swallow-shooter will be so com- 
 pletely bewildered, that they are sure to escape ; or if he hit 
 one, it will be merely an accident. 
 
 A young shooter, on the first of September, is prepared for 
 the field almost before the gray of morn will enable him to dis- 
 tinguish any distant object : he directs his hasty steps to the 
 place where he expects to find a covey. The dog sets, and, 
 aware that the birds are under his nose, the tyro approaches the 
 important spot with irregular step and a palpitating heart the 
 dog is motionless as a statue ; his master has advanced one 
 step before him, with such an increase of trepidation, as to be 
 scarcely able to breathe the awful stillness of a few seconds is 
 interrupted by the sudden spring and screaming of the covey, 
 and the shooter becomes so confused as to be incapable of level* 
 
200 SHOOTING. 
 
 ling at any individual bird, and the whole fly away, leaving the 
 sportsman much chagrined at the disappointment. On the re- 
 currence of several of these disappointments, the dog will become 
 uneasy, and will not hunt with his wonted cheerfulness : the fall 
 of the bird gives as much pleasure to the dog as to the shooter; 
 and a capital dog, if no game be killed to him, will become 
 careless, and eventually good for nothing. Practice, however, 
 will soon overcome the obstacles just mentioned ; and with an 
 ordinary share of self-command, no person need despair of be- 
 coming a tolerable shot. By way of illustration, I will, once 
 more, suppose the young shooter in the field, with two dogs : 
 he perceives one drawing on the scent, and settling to a point 
 let him call out toho! holding up his hand at the same time : 
 the word will induce greater care in the first dog, and if the 
 other should not be aware of the game, he will immediately look 
 about him, and seeing his master's hand, will keep his position 
 (no matter what his situation may be, either before or behind the 
 shooter) or, to speak as a sportsman, will back* I will sup- 
 pose both the dogs perfectly steady let the sportsman advance, 
 deliberately, up to the setting dog; and, if the game should not 
 spring, let him go before the dog if the birds should run, in- 
 stead of taking wing, he will be aware of the circumstance, by 
 the dog following ; but if the dog follows or foots too eagerly, 
 he should be checked by the words take heed / These are anx- 
 ious moments, but the sportsman must, nevertheless, summon 
 all his fortitude, and continue as calm as possible, with his thumb 
 on the cock : when the game springs, pull up the cock, select 
 an individual object if the bird flies straight forward, it is a 
 very easy shot ; let the sportsman direct his eye down the barrel, 
 and the instant he perceives the bird on a line with the muzzle, 
 let him pull the trigger; in levelling, however, the aim should 
 be directed rather above, than below, the object ; for the shot, 
 if correctly thrown, will form its centre from the centre of the 
 
SHOOTING. 201 
 
 muzzle of the fowling piece : nevertheless, in this respect, allow- 
 ance must be made for the trim of the gun, or for the manner in 
 which it throws the shot, with which I am supposing the sports- 
 man perfectly acquainted : the elevated breech too will have con- 
 siderable influence see page 156. If the bird should fly directly 
 across, or only partially so, and thus describe the segment of a 
 circle, the aim must be directed before the object ; if with a com- 
 mon gun, four inches ; with a percussion gun, two inches, sup- 
 posing the distance to be about thirty yards. The average of 
 shots is perhaps from twenty to thirty yards, though forty is 
 quite within reach, and even fifty, particularly with a percussion 
 gun see this Article, page 159. When the bird flies in the 
 shooter's face, as it were, or towards him, he should let it pass 
 before he attempts to fire, or he will be almost certain to miss. 
 
 In what manner soever the object might present itself, I will 
 suppose it comes down ; and though it should fall directly in 
 view of your dogs, they must not stir. The sportsman will 
 direct his attention to the covey, and, after marking down, will 
 proceed to re-load. At the commencement of the season, part 
 of the covey will frequently remain ; if, therefore, the dogs are 
 not steady on the shot, mischief must ensue. I would not suffer 
 my dogs to follow a winged bird till I had re-loaded ; I would 
 much sooner lose the bird than injure my dogs ; though very 
 few winged birds will be lost with good dogs. 
 
 Let me caution the sportsman, in loading, to keep the fowling- 
 piece at arm's length, and not hang his face over the muzzle. 
 Also, if he uses a double gun, let him examine, whether by any 
 means the other barrel has become cocked indeed, whether he 
 has fired or not, he ought to see that the cock or cocks are se- 
 cure, before he places the fowling-piece on his left arm for the 
 purpose of advancing, which should be carried with the trigger 
 forward, and as nearly perpendicular as possible. A gun is a 
 dangerous instrument, and therefore care is indispensable. 
 
202 SHOOTING. 
 
 It is not an easy matter to prevent a dog chasing a hare, un- 
 less he is in the constant habit of seeing them. I do not hesi- 
 tate to shoot a hare on her seat, if I happen to observe her, and 
 am in want of a hare, in order to prevent the dogs chasing, 
 which will not fail to make them unsteady for an hour or two 
 afterwards, particularly if she happens to be lamed. In shooting 
 at a running hare, the fowling-piece should be levelled forward, 
 as a hare will carry away a great quantity of shot, if struck about 
 the buttocks : a trifle kills them if hit in the head, or just be- 
 hind the fore-leg. 
 
 c5 
 
 The great secret of shooting feathered game is the attainment 
 of philosophical calmness : a hare even, whose progressive 
 motion is attended with little or no noise, yet starts so suddenly 
 as to disconcert the inexperienced ; but the rising of a pheasant, 
 particularly out of a bush, will not fail to startle any stranger to 
 the diversion: Fabricius of old, who testified no symptom of as- 
 tonishment at the sudden appearance of an elephant, would not 
 have been proof against surprise had a pheasant risen before him. 
 
 In aiming, I have met with one or two gentlemen who do j 
 not shut one eye, and have, nevertheless, been very fair shots. 
 Savages, in some parts of the world, are very expert with the 
 bow and arrow at moving objects the emperor Commodus ex- 
 celled in this respect, and with arrows headed with broad sharp 
 barbs, was able to cut off the head of an ostrich at full speed ; 
 yet, neither the native savages, nor the more savage Roman, 
 shut one eye, or even looked down the arrow, but directed their 
 attention to the object. There is a strong sympathy between 
 the action of the hand and the organs of vision, and I have no 
 doubt, that by practice the union just mentioned will become so 
 perfect, as to produce the effect of almost unerring certainty. In 
 this way I account for good shots, who regard the object with 
 both eyes, without looking down the fowling piece. Neverthe- 
 less, I always shut one eye in aiming, and have not the least 
 
SHOOTING. 203 
 
 hesitation in recommending the practice. But I have met with 
 others, who shut both eyes when they pull the trigger ; and others 
 again, who jerk back their heads at this moment such are not 
 likely to become dead shots ! 
 
 It may not be amiss to observe, that a sort of unconscious or 
 involuntary motion or movement of the arms and body accom- 
 panies the level, which should not be checked till after the piece 
 is discharged if stopped at the moment of pulling the trigger, 
 the bird, most likely, will fly away. Also, for a very long shot, 
 the level should be higher than usual, as the shot will not fly 
 any very great distance before it begins to curve downwards. 
 In levelling, the fowling piece should be held firmly to the 
 shoulder, the left hand placed either close to the trigger guard, 
 or a few inches in advance : the former is perhaps safer, in case 
 the barrel burst ; but I, nevertheless, prefer the latter, in order 
 to prevent the gun becoming point heavy. I always ram well 
 home the powder, in a patent breech, if not more than a pro- 
 per quantity is used, will always lie loose (and thus ignites much 
 better) as the wadding cannot be forced farther than the top of 
 the breech (and the closer the wadding fits the better) ; the shot 
 should certainly be well rammed. The fowling piece, too, will 
 require wiping out once or twice in a hard day's shooting ; also 
 on going out in the morning, it should be aired by firing a little 
 powder: if percussion priming is used, it will be necessary to 
 place wadding over the powder in the barrel, or it will be apt to 
 be driven out unexploded, such is the force of percussion prim- 
 ing, that it drives the atmospheric air with such violence before 
 it, as to expel the powder before the fire reaches it. 
 
 Flints should be changed frequently, to prevent missing fire 
 this is avoided with the percussion priming. 
 
 It sometimes happens, that a sportsman may coek the gun, and, 
 not firing, have occasion to let down the cock in doing which, 
 he should let the cock pass, and, bringing it back to the half- 
 
204 SHOOTING. 
 
 cock, make it tsll well into the tumbler. A gun (particularly a 
 double) is a dangerous instrument, and should be used with the 
 utmost caution. 
 
 For partridges, a brace of good dogs is quite sufficient at 
 once ; but they should be used to hunt together, and perfectly 
 acquainted with each other ; otherwise they will be jealous and 
 commit many mistakes. To beat a country in a sportsman -like 
 manner, a person should not go straight through it : but form 
 circles, as it were, traversing well the ground, and taking care 
 to give the dog the wind as much as possible ; at the same time 
 the sportsman should not be afraid of beating the ground over 
 twice, where there is any reason to believe there is game. He 
 who patiently beats and ranges his ground over and over again, 
 will generally kill the largest quantity of game ; and will be sure 
 to find it where it has been left by others. A. hare will fre- 
 quently suffer a person to pass within a few yards of her, with- 
 out stirring ; and birds will often lie so close, as to suffer them- 
 selves almost to be trod upon before they will attempt to rise. 
 
 It will be proper to observe in this place, that the shooter 
 should never strike either bush or hedge, or indeed any thing, 
 with his fowling-piece. Should he use the butt-end for this pur- 
 pose, it is possible the cock may be caught by some branch, and 
 thus cause the piece to be fatally discharged ; on the contrary, 
 should a bush, &c. be struck with the muzzle-end, the sportsman 
 will be very liable to lose his shot. It is a good method to ex- 
 amine occasionally, in shooting in general, whether by any means 
 the shot has moved. 
 
 If the sportsman use a double gun, and has discharged one of 
 the barrels, he should, after ramming the wadding on the powder 
 in re-loading, put the ram-rod down the barrel that has not been 
 , discharged, which will be less trouble than placing it under his 
 arm, or otherwise ; he can then put in the shot; and on taking 
 the ram-rod out of the other barrel, he can instantly ascertain 
 
SHOOTING. 205 
 
 whether the shot has moved. In discharging one barrel of a 
 double gun, the shot in the other will frequently be loosened, if 
 paper or any such pliable wadding be used ; but with card I 
 never knew this to happen, though I invariably examine with 
 the ram-rod, in the method above described, in order to avoid 
 every possible danger. 
 
 Horses, where they can be used in shooting, no doubt dimm- 
 ish the fatigue ; and if birds fly straight forward, it is very easy 
 to shoot while on the saddle ; the same remark will apply if the 
 birds rise or fly to the left : but the case is very different if they 
 rise and make off on the right the horse's head must then be 
 instantly turned to that direction, or the game escapes. For 
 this purpose, ponies are used, which have been so accustomed 
 to the sport, as to be perfectly reconciled to the firing of a gun: 
 However, on many of the grouse mountains, riding is altogether 
 impracticable. 
 
 On an excursion to the Highlands, the sportsman should 
 provide himself with a case, containing everything necessary, 
 not only to clean his fowling piece, but also to repair those parts 
 which are liable to become broken or out of order, such as break- 
 ing of the cock, main-spring, &c. as gunsmiths, or indeed any 
 person capable of doing these jobs, are seldom to be met with in 
 the Highlands of Scotland. On grouse shooting excursions in 
 general, similar preparations should be made. 
 
 As to the colour of the shooter's dress, green is supposed to 
 be the best in the early part of the season, and when winter ap- 
 proaches, a kind of light brown, resembling stubble : this last 
 colour will be found to answer throughout the season; 
 
 Grouse shooting is very laborious, and requires both judgment 
 and experience, particularly in mountains the sportsman is a 
 stranger to. As the season is frequently very hot, it becomes 
 highly necessary to be clothed accordingly. The lighter the 
 
 s 
 
206 SHOOTING. 
 
 dress the better, taking care at the same time to let the garments 
 next your skin chiefly consist of flannel. A flannel shirt and 
 drawers are the best that can be used for this purpose, and 
 ought, in fact, to be considered as indispensably necessary. Flan- 
 nel, though so capable of administering warmth, is, notwithstand- 
 ing, a bad conductor of heat ; and, therefore, if the sportsman 
 habituates himself to wear it, he will experience but little in- 
 crease of heat in the summer on that account ; at the same time 
 it must be allowed, that nothing will so effectually absorb the 
 moisture which arises from excesssive perspiration, and conse- 
 quently there can be no better preventive against taking cold* 
 Some persons have an aversion to wearing flannel next the skin, 
 and to such I would recommend calico, on account of its pos- 
 sessing a quality of absorption superior to linen. In hot wea- 
 ther, to walk among the heath till violent perspiration ensues, 
 and then to become stationary for a little time (which will un- 
 doubtedly sometimes be the case in grouse shooting) is almost a 
 sure method of taking a violent cold, if a linen shirt is worn 
 next the skin ; to say nothing of the disagreeable sensation it 
 excites, by sticking to one's back, Short boots, that lace close, 
 but which are easy to the legs and feet, are to be recommended : 
 for shoes, when you walk on the mountains, gather the tops of 
 the heath, which will be very apt to rub the skin off your feet. 
 It will be adviseable also to rub some tallow on your heels, the 
 bottoms of your feet, and the joints of your toes, before you go 
 out in the morning, which will not only cause you to walk easy, 
 but prevent that soreness otherwise consequent to a hard day's 
 grouse shooting. It need scarcely be mentioned that the liquor 
 flask is a very necessary appendage ; to the bottom of which 
 should be attached a tin cup, which will enable the sportsman to 
 allay his thirst by mixing water with his brandy or rum : rinsing 
 the mouth will perhaps be found occasionally to answer the de- 
 sired purpose. But on no account drink cold water alone ; the 
 
SHOOTING. 207 
 
 fatal consequences of which, when a person is in a violent per- 
 spiration, are well known. 
 
 In bad weather, the birds will generally be found about midway 
 on the hills ; and in case of very bad weather, the butts of the 
 mountains are the places they resort to : but in fine weather they 
 will be found near the tops. 
 
 Grouse go to water immediately after their morning flight, 
 which is the proper time to begin the day's diversion : from that 
 lime till the extreme heat of the day comes on, good sport may 
 be obtained ; as also from half past three till sun-set. Should the 
 sportsman, however, be inclined to continue in the dead time of 
 the day {which is from about eleven till three) let him be careful 
 to hunt all the deep cracks he meets with, as grouse frequently 
 creep in these to shelter themselves from the excessive heat of 
 the sun ; at this time also, they may frequently be found in 
 mossy places. 
 
 In this diversion, be careful to give your dogs the wind, and 
 also to try the sides of the mountains which are most sheltered: 
 if it blows hard you will be certain to find the birds where the 
 heath is longest ; and when this unfortunately happens to be 
 the case, they generally take long flights, and these too, are for 
 the most part down the wind, which is the very reverse of what 
 most other fowls are known to do. 
 
 On finding a pack of grouse, the old cock is generally the first 
 that makes his appearance, and the first to take wing : if he has 
 not been much disturbed, he will run out before the dogs, making 
 a chucking noise, and will frequently get up and challenge, without 
 seeming to testify any symptoms of fear for himself; but by this 
 he warns the hen and the poults, which immediately begin to run 
 and separate. The hen generally runs as far as she can from 
 you, in order to draw your attention off the poults; and if the 
 poults are strong enough to shift for themselves, she will some- 
 times make off altogether, in which case good diversion will gene- 
 
208 
 
 SHOOTING. 
 
 rally follow. The main object, however, should be to kill the old 
 cock, which will most likely enable you to pick up the young 
 ones, one after another, as in the beginning of the season they 
 lie very close, particularly after hearing the report of a gun, which 
 terrifies them to such a degree, that you may sometimes take 
 them up with your hand from under the dog's nose. When this 
 happens, the ground cannot be beaten too carefully. If the 
 night should have been wet previous to the day of shooting, 
 grouse will not lie. 
 
 Of all shooting, none is so laborious, either for man or dog* 
 as that of grouse ; the sportsman ought, therefore, to be pro- 
 vided with plenty of dogs, in order to rest them alternately ; and 
 one brace, or a brace and a half, of good ones at a time will be 
 sufficient. 
 
 * The most essential point about the dog is a good foot; for, without 
 a good, firm foot, he can never hunt long. I never look at a dog which 
 has a thin, flat, wide, and spread foot ; they are not worth two-pence. 
 
 " It has been a constant custom with me to wash my pointers' feet 
 with strong salt and water after the day's sport. I have found my error, 
 and am convinced that it is a wrong practice. I never altered my method 
 until three years ago. A gamekeeper in Suffolk, seeing that a boy was 
 washing my dogs' feet with strong salt and water, (his name was Cooper) 
 said to me : * Sir, I think you do wrong to wash your dogs' feet in salt 
 and water at this early part of the shooting season, (it was the first week 
 in September) at this time, Sir, when the ground ii uncommonly dry, 
 and as hard as a rock. If you will feel their feet, you will find there is 
 a considerable degree of feverish heat in the dogs' feet, from having 
 hunted all the day on hard and dry ground. A dog, Sir, in such weather, 
 should have his feet suppled and comforted. As long as the ground is 
 dry and hard, I always wash my dog's feet with warm soap and water, 
 and clean them well, particularly between the toes, and balls of the feet; 
 this comforts his feet, allays the heat, and promotes the circulation in 
 the feet. In the more advanced period of the season, when the ground 
 is very wet, then salt and water may be proper.' I approved much of 
 the reasons he gave ; it shewed the sense of his practice, and the folly of 
 mine : since that period I have taken his advico."~ General Hanger, 
 
SHOOTING. 209 
 
 To Insure an abundance of grouse, care should be taken, prior 
 to the pairing season, to destroy a number of the male birds, as, 
 at the close of the shooting season, a preponderance of cocks will 
 be uniformly found. It is well known to sportsmen that the cock 
 bird is always the first to take wing ; he cautiously avoids the ap- 
 proach of the shooter, and hence the reason why so many male 
 birds are always left. If, therefore, at the commencement of 
 the breeding season, more cocks are left than can find mates, 
 furious battles ensue, much confusion is produced, and the nest- 
 ling and incubation suffer in consequence* To this cause may 
 perhaps be attributed the scarcity of grouse last year in par- 
 ticular spots; for as to the epidemic, so much spoken of, it 
 amounted to very little indeed, as I met with neither shepherd, 
 watcher, nor keeper, who had met with half a dozen diseased 
 birds. Nothing of the kind had at all been seen on those moun- 
 tains, which formed the scene of my diversion; on the contrary, 
 birds were abundant, very finely grown, as well as very strong 
 on the wing. On the moors in Durham, however, as well as 
 on some in Yorkshire and Westmoreland, I last year noticed a 
 greater number of hawks than were consistent with the well-being 
 of the game. 
 
 It is a prevalent opinion that a very dry breeding season is de- 
 trimental to grouse ; this I conceive to be a notion hastily adopt- 
 ed, and which will not bear the scrutiny of investigation. And, 
 whilst this opinion is so inconsiderately taken up, it is as strenu- 
 ously maintained that the season cannot be too dry for partridges. 
 Now I should be glad to know the reason, why a wet season 
 should be conducive to the health of young grouse, and yet 
 detrimental to young partridges? They are not exactly the 
 same birds, it is true ; but they are, in some measure, allied to 
 each other, while there is a striking similitude in their habits. In 
 a dry breeding season, partridges are sure to be abundant ; for 
 
 a very good reason, their eggs are not chilled by the wet, nor 
 
 s 3 
 
210 SHOOTING. 
 
 do the young birds suffer, for the same reason ; and it will take 
 something more, in the shape of argument, than an inconsiderate 
 assertion, or the dictum of ignorance, to convince reasonableness 
 that the case is not precisely the same with grouse. The moun- 
 tains distinguished by the name of Westhope-fells, Westmor- 
 land, are remarkably wet, and for this reason, (according to the 
 prevalent notion,) as the season (1820) had been uncommonly dry, 
 they should have produced an abundance of game, or, at least, 
 much more than other mountains, which were equally remarkable 
 forbeingdry. This was not the case; for, on the 13th of August, 
 when we ranged Bollyhope-fells, which are very dry, I found the 
 grouse much more abundant, in the proportion of four to one. 
 
 As grouse, however, are found only in particular parts of the 
 country, the pursuit of these fine birds is by no means so general 
 as partridge shooting. Grouse are out of the reach of Cockney 
 sportsmen : though many tradesmen resident in large towns, con- 
 trive to enjoy, now and then, the pursuit of the partridge, they 
 seldom venture upon a grouse shooting excursion, on account 
 of the distance, perhaps, as well as the expense necessarily at- 
 tendant upon it. The highlands of Scotland abound in grouse ; 
 they are also found on the Wehh mountains, and in Ireland ; 
 in ths north of England, in Lancashire, Derbyshire, Stafford- 
 shire, and other contiguous places, especially among the moors 
 and mountains of Yorkshire, where these birds are found in suf- 
 ficient numbers to afford excellent diversion. For several weeks 
 prior to the 12th of August, dog-carts may he frequently seen 
 on the road to the north, laden with that sagacious animal which 
 so essentially contributes to the success of the chase ; and, as the 
 time approaches, equipages on a smaller scale may be observed 
 in great numbers, all directing their course to the scene of action. 
 About the 10th or 1 1th, the roads become crowded with sports- 
 men and their attendants, who travel principally in gigs, in the 
 bottom of which is generally seen a convenient receptacle for 
 
SHOOTING. 211 
 
 several pointers. The more humble pursuers of the chase seize 
 the opportunity offered to them by numerous extra stage coaches 
 of reaching their destination in time ; and thus by the eve of the 
 1 2th, every one is at his post, palpitating with the eager expecta- 
 tion of to-morrow's sport, and uttering the most fervent ejacula- 
 tions for fine weather. 
 
 Grouse when sent to a distance should be packed air tight, 
 and not drawn. 
 
 I am not aware that I can give those who have never visited 
 the moors a better idea of a grouse shooting excursion, than by 
 sketching one of my own visits to the moors : Myself and my 
 companion reached Bowes, a smalltown in Yorkshire, on the con- 
 fines of Durham, about three o'clock in the afternoon of the 12th 
 (this day falling on a Sunday, in 1821, and the shooting not 
 commencing till Monday) and having mounted ponies, provided 
 for the purpose, we left the high road, and, with but a slight 
 knowledge of the country, set out in search of a small village, 
 called Chapel in Weardale, in Westmorland. In order to reach 
 the point cTappui as soon as possible, by the advice of a rustic, 
 whom we met, we attempted to cross a considerable extent of 
 moorland : for this purpose, we followed a path pointed out to 
 us, and traced it for a considerable distance, till at length, it 
 dwindled into a sort of sheep-walk, and shortly afterwards van- 
 ished altogether. Still we kept onward in the direction that had 
 been pointed out, till, the lowering appearance of the horizon 
 threatening unfavourable weather, scarcely sufficient light remain- 
 ing to enable us to avoid the bogs which frequently obstructed 
 our progress. It was but an indifferent bridle road at best ; and 
 as we became enveloped in the dusk of the evening, we found 
 ourselves in the midst of boundless moorlands, dotted here and 
 there with lead mines, which we could but just discover by the 
 aid of the murky twilight; not a human being was to be seen 
 on this dreary waste. After wandering about for some time in 
 
SHOOTING. 
 
 a state of uncertainty, we discerned through the gloom, at a 
 short distance, two uncouth figures, which appeared to be stalk- 
 ing towards us. They approached, and, like guardian genii, 
 accompanied us to a road (a rough one certainly) by which we 
 ultimately reached our place of destination, at a quarter past 
 eleven o'clock, after a most uncertain and irksome journey. 
 Having made arrangements for the following day, we retired to 
 rest at twelve, and had not been in bed more than an hour be- 
 fore the trampling of horses and the whistling of dogs, &c. suffi- 
 ciently indicated the anxiety of brother sportsmen to be on the 
 mountains at the peep of morn, to see the first rising and flight 
 of a grouse. The mountains in this neighbourhood, which prin- 
 cipally belong to the Bishop of Durham, rise, for the most part, 
 very abruptly, and to great heights ; they are, nevertheless, 
 much inclined to bog? and walking over them is attended with 
 no ordinary fatigue. We rose a little before two o'clock, and 
 after making a hasty, but not a very hearty, breakfast, we mount- 
 ed our ponies, and, accompanied by our guides, directed our 
 steps up a long, winding, steep ascent, which led to the wished- 
 for spot. The weather was hazy, and the gray of the morn 
 enabled us to see the dense fog, which hung, like rolling smoke, 
 in volumes, round the tops of the mountains. No one but a true 
 sportsman can picture to the mind that eager, that impatient 
 anxiety which is felt at a moment like this ; particularly, as from 
 report, we had reason to believe that abundance of game lay be- 
 fore us. But this anxious feeling is not confined to the sports- 
 man : his dog partakes it in a greater degree, if possible, than 
 himself* The motion of his tail, his crouching curves, his im- 
 patient whine, the blandishment of his expressive eye, all confess 
 the delightful anticipations which animate his eager hopes. 
 
 Grouse shooting may be placed at the head of the list of what 
 the French would significantly enough call la chasse au fusil. In 
 fine weather nothing can equal grouse-shooting : in wet weather 
 
SHOOTING. 213 
 
 it is attended with much vexation, as the game will not suffer 
 the approach of either dog or sportsman ; the reason of which 
 is, that the heath being laden with wet the birds will not run, 
 but remain stationary, and take wing on the most distant alarm :* 
 when birds will run they may be approached, otherwise they are 
 extremely shy. 
 
 Our diversion in the early part of the morning did not equal 
 our expectations, for numerous parties were scattered over the 
 mountains, and the ground on which we commenced operations 
 had been already ranged. Several ardent sportsmen had as- 
 cended the hills at midnight, ranging the summits of the moun- 
 tains in order to drive the birds into the valleys, and thus be en- 
 abled, the moment the dawn of day admitted sufficient gray light, 
 to commence their amusement at a distance from the fog, which 
 almost uniformly caps the summits of lofty hills at this time. 
 However, it was not broad day-light by any means, when a 
 solitary fine old cock cheered our spirits by his chattering, and 
 fell to rise no more. In every direction the heath was enlivened 
 by the ranging of dogs, an occasional whistle, and the almost 
 continual firing of guns. 
 
 We had been led to believe that the breeding season having 
 been tolerably fine, grouse would be found in abundance ; and 
 this was strictly true ; but we felt the full effect of coming late 
 upon the ground, and for several hours met with nothing but 
 odd birds. I never recollect traversing grouse mountains where 
 the walking was more unpleasant, more irksome, or more fa- 
 tiguing. The birds were strong on the wing and wild, which 
 consequently rendered the pursuit much more laborious ; in 
 fact, the fatigue was excessive, and at eleven o'clock, we sat down 
 to dine beneath enormous masses of awfully projecting rock ; 
 
 Contrary, however, to general rule, grouse will sometimes lie well 
 when the heath is wet, 
 
SHOOTING. 
 
 and with our heads reclined against one of these soli d, not downy, 
 pillows, we enjoyed a very comfortable nap. And here young 
 sportsmen should be cautioned against lying at full length, or 
 sleeping on the ground, unless it be uncommonly dry, as well as 
 against drinking cold water when heated to excess; it being 
 better to alleviate thirst with a little diluted spirit, or if the flask 
 should be prematurely exhausted, by washing or rinsing the 
 mouth at the first spring or rivulet. The most fatal consequen- 
 ces have often resulted from a disregard of these precautions. 
 Like giants refreshed, we sprung from our slumbers, and pur- 
 sued our sport till we could no longer distinguish the flight of a 
 bird ; better success than we expected to meet stimulated exertion 
 and left us no time to think of fatigue. As the evening closed 
 in, however, we sought our ponies in the valley below, and al- 
 though they were not more than several hundred yards off, we 
 could scarcely reach the spot from excessive fatigue. Arrived 
 at our homely inn, we made a hearty supper, took a cheerful 
 glass, talked over the day's sport, and threw ourselves into the 
 .arms of Mr. Morpheus, who strewed his poppies over us without 
 much solicitation. On demanding our account in the morning 
 from " mine host," we found that his name should have been 
 " Woodcock) by the length of his bill" his charges very much 
 resembling those of Peacock, at the London Tavern, although 
 the accommodations were of a very different description. 
 
 The Bishop of Durham has a great extent of moor-land in 
 this part of the country, and is very liberal in giving permission 
 to sportsmen to range his mountains ; but, at the same time, his 
 hilly domain is overrun by the most audacious and determined 
 set of poachers to be found in any part of the kingdom ; who, 
 when pursued, seek protection in the bowels of the very moun- 
 tains on which they have committed their depredations. The 
 miners are, almost to a man, poachers ; and so desperate are 
 tljey, that the bishop's gamekeeper confessed to me that he was 
 
SHOOTING. 215 
 
 compelled to whik at much of their depredation. The mode 
 adopted by the lead- miners of procuring grouse is with the dog 
 and fowling-piece ; the net, so effective in the destruction of the 
 partridge, being, with respect to these birds, quite out of the 
 question. The poachers frequently sally forth in such bodies 
 as to bid defiance to the united strength of the watchers in any 
 particular district ; and appear to pursue the diversion, not for 
 the sake of profit alone, but with all the eagerness and zest of 
 true sportsmen. Moreover, they generally commence their 
 season a week prior to the 12th of August, and send horse 
 loads of grouse to different large towns, to watering places, and 
 particularly to Harrowgate ; at which last place, the grouse are 
 frequently sold for as much as ten shillings a brace. On the 
 12th of August, and for several days following, the miners 
 abandon poaching and act as guides to the sportsmen ; one of 
 them served me in this capacity, and from him I learned the 
 particulars just mentioned ; he was recommended for the pur- 
 pose by the bishop's gamekeeper, and proved himself an excel- 
 lent attendant. 
 
 The Earl of Darlington's moors are contiguous to the Bishop 
 of Durham's. The earl is much more strict than the bishop in 
 preserving game ; but in spite of all his exertions, the miners 
 frequently sally forth and commit extensive depredations with 
 impunity. I am of opinion, that men of great landed pro- 
 perty adopt in general very erroneous modes for the purpose of 
 preserving their game ; nor have I the least doubt that I could 
 point out and carry into practice a much more effective as well 
 as a much more pleasant method of rendering nugatory the 
 efforts of poachers, and at a much less expense than is generally 
 incurred ; though I am free at the same time to confess, that 
 my plan would apply to enclosures, rather than grouse moun- 
 tains ; and that I should certainly feel no great inclination to be 
 brought in contact with the miners in the neighbourhood of 
 Chapel-in- Weardale. 
 
216 SHOOTING. 
 
 Spittle, near Bowes, in Yorkshire, may be regarded as a sort 
 of general rendezvous for those sportsmen who either do not 
 choose to ask, or are unable to obtain, permission to range 
 more particular domains. At this place, there is a great extent 
 of moor, which is claimed by a number of proprietors, who pos- 
 sess no paramount right, and therefore are unable to prevent 
 a general unsolicited range, which uniformly takes place. At 
 the same time the mountains are much better travelling than 
 they will be found in many other places, and being surrounded 
 by excellent preserves scarcely ever fail to abound in game. 
 Spittle is also a general resort for dog dealers and dog stealers ; 
 and the sportsman who visits this neighbourhood unprovided with 
 this very essential assistant in the chase, may be accommodated 
 exactly according to his means, or the price he is willing to give. 
 But, though this may be a general practice, it is one " more 
 honoured in the breach than the observance ;" and that sports- 
 man who depends upon such suspicious means, will hardly fail 
 to experience disappointment. 
 
 Ten brace of grouse may be bagged on the 12th of August, 
 on the Bowes moors, on which, at this period, a general flashing 
 is kept up from one extremity to the other. At some distance 
 further Lord Stanley occupies some excellent moors, at a place 
 called Mucar (I am not certain as to the spelling of the name) 
 and in the early part of the season generally averages twenty 
 brace per day. His Lordship, however is much annoyed by 
 poachers ; and, as a curious instance of this sort occured three 
 years ago, I will take the liberty of relating it \ his Lordship's 
 watchers had frequently observed a stranger, accompanied by 
 one dog only, who, in defiance of all authority, took the diver- 
 sion of grouse shooting on his Lordship's preserve. The 
 watchers had repeatedly approached this unasked and unwelcome 
 visitor ; but when they came within a hundred yards of him, he 
 uniformly altered his position, or moved on, and moved so 
 
SHOOTING. 217 
 
 quickly too, that be appeared with ease to distance his pursuers; 
 he would also frequently stop, and have the audacity to kill game 
 in their sight ; and then darted forward again with the swiftness 
 of the roe. After many attempts had proved ineffectual, the mat- 
 ter was reported to his Lordship, who desired that he might be 
 informed of the next time the trespasser made his appearance. 
 A very short period elapsed before it was reported to his Lord- 
 ship that the man in the dark-green jacket (the colour he always 
 wore) had again offered himself to observation. Lord Stanley 
 was soon brought in sight of the depredator, and at the moment 
 when he had approached within about two hundred yards of the 
 poacher (whose dog at the moment was pointing), he saw him 
 deliberately bring down a bird. This was too much to be borne ; 
 his Lordship darted towards the spot : the man in the dark 
 green jacket, however, pockettedhis bird, and, in a few seconds, 
 fairly distanced his pursuer, and had no sooner gained a sufficient 
 distance, than he again commenced ranging for game. His 
 Lordship being a good foot-man, determined to make up in a 
 persevering chase what he had lost at starting, and therefore con- 
 tinued the pursuit. Again he approached the poacher, but 
 only to witness the Jail of another bird ; and in this manner the 
 contest lasted for more than an hour and a half, when Lord 
 Stanley acknowledged the superior dexterity of the man in the 
 dark-green jacket, by abandoning all further efforts to come to 
 close quarters with him. 
 
 During the whole of the season grouse are regularly conveyed 
 by the stage coaches to all the large towns, and particularly to 
 Manchester and Liverpool. For this purpose there are certain 
 days appointed, when quantities of these birds are brought to 
 particular houses by the road side, at which the coachmen and 
 guards call ; and this unlawful traffic is continued with as much 
 regularity, if not with as much publicity, as the authorized deal- 
 ings in any other species of marketable commodity. Abundance 
 
218 SHOOTING. 
 
 of game is thus conveyed from Yorkshire and the northern parts 
 of England to places situated at a distance, or more to the 
 southward ; and when the weather becomes cold, and the game 
 \vill keep, immense quantities are brought from Scotland. The 
 quantity of grouse killed in England will not bear a comparison 
 with the numbers annually destroyed in Scotland, where thii 
 game literally abounds. Last year (1820) Sir Thomas Graham 
 (now Lord Lynedoch) bagged seventy brace per day, for the 
 four first days of the season. 
 
 I shall conclude this sketch with some observations a* to the 
 dog best calculated for the pursuit of grouse. Various opinions 
 exist on this subject ; some preferring the setter, and others the 
 pointer. Although excellent dogs of both kinds are to be met 
 with, there are some leading characteristics which eminently 
 distinguish the long and the short haired dog. The setter is a 
 hardy, impetuous, unruly animal ; which, if taken into the field 
 while very young, will frequently set intuitively ; but no sooner 
 does he acquire strength, than he shows a turbulent spirit, and 
 can only be kept sufficiently obedient by constant exercise. On 
 account of their long coat, setters are more affected by heat, 
 and consequently sooner become thirsty than their sleek thin- 
 coated rival ; and, in very dry weather, suffer very much from 
 want of water on the grouse mountains. The well bred pointer, 
 on the contrary, is a docile creature, very easily reduced to obedi- 
 ence, and, when once well trained, requires neither very hard 
 work, nor severe correction, to keep him submissive and tract- 
 able. The pointer, however, is more liable to become foot-sore, 
 either from the wiry lacerations of the heath, or from running 
 upon hard or stony ground ; consequently, in a sharp frost, he 
 is unable to hunt : the olfactory organs of the pointer are un- 
 questionably superior to, and more acute than, those of the set- 
 ter ; which will generally be found pre-eminently conspicuous 
 in a harsh dry wind, blowing from north or easterly directions, 
 
SHOOTING. 219 
 
 at which time the scent will be found very difficult of recog- 
 nition.* 
 
 * The following appeared in the Annals of Sporting, vol. II. page 
 298, addressed to the Editor : 
 
 SIR, "You must know I am but a young sportsman at present; 
 a mere novice in the science of shooting ; till the present season I never 
 saw a grouse on the wing : but, being ardently attached to the sport, I 
 determined on visiting the moors of Yorkshire, though my residence was 
 at the distance of almost two hundred miles. For a month before the 
 12th of August I could scarcely think of any thing but the moors, of 
 which, however, I had formed a very erroneous idea. I thought they 
 must bear some resemblance to Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, and 
 was never more surprised than when, on reaching Yorkshire, I beheld 
 the very different aspect presented by the abrupt and mountainous moor- 
 lands to the plains and gentle ascents of the forest just mentioned. If 
 I saw no " cloud -capt towers," I beheld very plainly cloud-capt hills : 
 for the first time in my life I saw the summits of the mountains envel- 
 oped by the clouds, beneath which the dark and sombre hue of the lower 
 parts of these heathy hills conveyed, at the distance of a mile, a very fal- 
 lacious idea of their real form and appearance. 
 
 " Your correspondent T. in a late number, speaks much of the anxiety 
 felt by sportsmen on the approach of the 12th of August, which, I assure 
 you, was experienced by me in its fullest force. Like him, I ros at 
 midnight, between the llth and 12th, and ascended the mountains be- 
 fore I could discern the flight of a bird : up to this moment I had never 
 seen a grouse on the wing, (as I have above observed,) and I now heard 
 them chatter for the first time in my life. It was the grey of the morn : 
 and I could hear these birds in various directions, and observed several 
 variations in their cry or call, one of which was an excellent imitation of 
 the words "come back ! come back ! come back /" These matters may 
 appear trifling to an old grouse -shooter, but they were quite new to me, 
 and forced themselves on my attention; my situation was altogether 
 novel, nor do I think any thing can be more interesting to a young 
 sportsman who visits the moors for the first time, than to listen to the 
 calling of the grouse a little before day-light. 
 
 Almost up to the knees in ling or heath, I commenced my opera- 
 tions. My dogs, though excellent, were strangers to grouse- shooting as 
 
 T2 
 
220 SHOOTING. 
 
 The best time for partridge shooting is from two hours after 
 sun-rise until eleven o'clock ; and from half-past three o'clock 
 
 well as myself, nor did they at first seem to relish the diversion ; they 
 run in to the first pack or brood, and raised it out of distance ; six dark- 
 coloured birds rose, and, skimming over the top of the heath, were 
 quickly out of my sight ; indeed, in colour they appeared so nearly to 
 approximate the ling over which they flew that they proved a puzzling 
 mark for me when they were completely within gun-shot. More birds 
 were raised in a similar manner ; and I soon discotered that grouse must 
 be approached with much more caution than partridges ; I also found 
 that they rose in a different manner, and that the sport was not at all 
 similar to that of the midland counties. 
 
 ?' I was extremely anxious (as you may suppose, Mr. Editor) to kill a 
 bird : I fired six shots, and had the mortification to see the birds uni- 
 formly fly away ; indeed, when I pulled the trigger I was always in 
 doubt, for I could not discern the object half so clearly as if a partridge 
 had been before me. I met, at length, with several grouse not half 
 grown, and was fortunate enough to break the wing of one of these 
 squeakers ! I seized the prize with eagerness, but it was very young, 
 very small, unsatisfactory in every point of view, and only served to in- 
 crease my vexation. I began to lament that I had visited the moors ; 
 that I had made so long a journey to seek a diversion which now appeared 
 to me so inferior to what might be obtained at home ; and, to add to my 
 ehagrin, while making these irksome reflections, I happened to get in- 
 gulphed in a bog nearly up to my middle ! I could not help venting my 
 grief aloud ; I cursed my own folly for having taken a journey of two 
 hundred miles, which I now conceived could not fail to end in the bit- 
 terest disappointment. With the assistance of my attendant and guide, 
 I got tolerably well cleared from the wet and filth which adhered to my 
 clothes when I emerged from the bog, and I hesitated for some minutes 
 whether or not to quit the mountains, and immediately return home : 
 the idea that my friends would have the laugh against me alone deter- 
 mined me to continue for some time longer upon these dreary and un- 
 cultivated wilds. 
 
 An hour or two elapsed, during which I fired repeatedly, but was 
 not fortunate enough to bring down a bird. Arrived at a spring of fine 
 clear water, I sat down in despair, determined, after taking a little re- 
 freshment, to leave the moors and return home. I had been walking 
 
SHOOTING. 221 
 
 until it is dark. When the weather is very dry, especially at 
 the beginning of the season, as soon as the sun becomes very 
 powerful, the scent is dissipated, and the dog's abilities are put 
 to the test to no purpose. In the middle of the day, partridgei 
 cease to feed or run, and place themselves by the side of some 
 sunny bank in order to bask. 
 
 In general they have their separate feeding and sleeping 
 places ; but it frequently happens, that they remain all day or 
 
 orer broken and boggy ground for some hours, sometimes nearly up to 
 my knees in ling, sometimes up to the ancles in dirt and water, bad 
 crossed a number of deep and yawning ravines, been once nearly 
 smothered in a bog, had ascended a number of steep hills, and was, in 
 fact, become completely fatigued, as well as severely mortified by a suc- 
 cession of unlooked-for disappointments* However, I had scarcely 
 seated myself, when the chattering of a grouse attracted my attention ; 
 I observed the bird approach ; I rose it was crossing me at the distance 
 of thirty or forty yards I fired it fell ! 1 ran to the spot with all the 
 eagerness of ardent expectation. I seized the prize with rapture- 
 viewed it with delight. I instantly felt a full flow of spirits my fatigue 
 had vanished, and I determined on continuing my range, regardless of 
 the fine clear spring, and my late intended refreshment. 
 
 " The bird I killed was a fine old cock ; and, in the coure of some- 
 thing less than an hour, I succeeded in killing three other young, but 
 fine birds. My spirits were now raised to the highest pitch of exulta- 
 tion, and I felt confident that before night I should bag at least ten 
 brace. I did not, however, realize these sanguine expectations ; but, 
 with more than half the number, I quitted the mountains, at seven 
 o'clock, delighted, after all, with my day's diversion. 
 
 " On the second day I commenced my operations with renewed vigour, 
 and was more fortunate than on the first. I had become, in some de- 
 gree, accustomed to the rising and flight of the game I could distin- 
 guish it better; I became, also, in some measure, familiar with the 
 mode of traversing the mountains j and, after spending a few more days 
 in this way, I returned home with this conviction, that grouse-shooting 
 is very laborious, but that it affords, at the same time, the finest diver- 
 sion in the world / " 
 
 T3 
 
SHOOTING. 
 
 all night where they fed the preceding evening or morning ; yet 
 it much oftener happens that they change their ground. At 
 day-break, they call, and, when collected, generally take their 
 flight to the stubbles, which, if high and thick enough to afford 
 them shelter, will most likely induce them to remain there till dis- 
 turbed : however, in dry weather in particular, they are fre- 
 quently to be found at this time among potatoes. After feeding 
 in the evening they again call, and fly to the place where they 
 intend to remain for the night. When they are calling^ they 
 seldom lie well, or, in other words, will not permit the sportsman 
 to approach within gun-shot. 
 
 My pointers stand ; 
 
 How beautiful they look ! with outstretched tails, 
 With heads immoveable, and eyes fast fixed, 
 On fore leg raised and bent the other firm, 
 Advancing forward presses on the ground. 
 
 FOWLING, a Poem. 
 
 Although I have been a sportsman for more than twenty 
 years, I still retain much of that anxious feeling of anticipation 
 in which young shooters indulge themselves on the eve of the 
 first of September, and which arrives at its greatest height when 
 the gray dawn of the next day appears, but which is seldom 
 completely realized by the events which succeed. Young and 
 indifferent shooters, on this occasion, calculate on performing 
 wonders ; and in order to qualify themselves for the sport, they 
 generally, for several preceding weeks, practise at swallows, 
 " a custom more honoured in the breach than the observance ;". 
 for a person may become a most expert swallow shooter, (as I 
 have before observed, and here repeat, as it is a circumstance, 
 which cannot be too deeply impressed on the mind of the 
 tyro) and yet not bring down a partridge once in a dozen shots : 
 and nothing can be more ill advised, or even cruel, than the 
 worse than useless slaughter of these birds, which daily destroy 
 millions of noxious insects. The flight of swallows is quick 
 
SHOOTING. 223 
 
 and capricious, and yet their destruction is easily attainable by 
 the fowling piece. The sportsman takes his station with calm- 
 ness and even non-chalance ; and selecting his object from the 
 number that are fluttering about him, deliberately waits for the 
 precise moment, when his victim may be destroyed with almost 
 unerring certainty. With game the affair is quite different ; 
 the object is larger, much larger, but the exact spot whence it 
 will spring is not ascertainable, while the sudden rush and noisy 
 confusion accompanying the rise, so astonish the tyro, or the 
 bungler, that the fowling piece is discharged not only too soon, 
 but generally at random. Hence it will easily be perceived that 
 little or no analogy can exist between swallow shooting and 
 partridge shooting. The secret of shooting may be easily ex- 
 plained, as it is comprised merely in coolness and deliberation ; 
 these, however, are not so easily attained as the superficial ob- 
 server might be led to suppose. A friend of mine, who has 
 followed this diversion for forty years, still continues a very indif- 
 ferent shot : the rise of a covey never fails to dissipate his pre- 
 vious mental resolves, and he has, nineteen times out of twenty, 
 the mortification of seeing the game go away untouched ; but 
 it must be observed, that, to say nothing of his firing too soon, 
 he has contracted a habit, which must for ever preclude any 
 thing like certainty in shooting : no sooner does his finger 
 touch the trigger, than he shuts both his eyes ! And yet, 
 though conscious of this preposterous defect, and aware that 
 if a bird fall from his gun, it is merely the effect of accident, 
 should he be shooting in company, and happen to ire at the 
 same time as his companion, he will not fail to claim the merit 
 of having killed the bird: indeed, to judge from his conversa- 
 tion over the bottle, a stranger would suppose, that, as a shot, 
 he was equal to Sir John Shelley. I have seldom met with a 
 bad shot who was not extremely anxious to be thought other- 
 wise ; and who would not, in his cups, relate, with much self- 
 
SHOOTING. 
 
 satisfaction and infinite glee, a hundred shooting exploits, which 
 never had existence but in his own prolific brain. 
 
 The moment the light of the morning will enable the young 
 shooter to discern the flight of a partridge, he is impatient to 
 rush to the scene of action, and is all uneasy eagerness, while 
 his more experienced companion finishes his breakfast. The 
 resort of a covey or two is previously known; the sportsmen, 
 therefore, direct their steps to an appointed spot, where the dogs 
 come quickly to a point. The shooters advance the tyro with 
 trepid eagerness and a palpitating heart ; his veteran companion 
 with philosophic coolness. They arrive at the desired spot, 
 abreast of the foremost dog ; and, for a few seconds, in almost 
 breathless anxiety, nearly choked with expectation, the tyro 
 expects the game to spring: the covey rises, with screams and 
 eonfusion, and, at the same instant, the tyro's gun is ineffectually 
 discharged while his companion, deliberately selecting his ob- 
 ject, with one eye shut, and the other steadily directed down the 
 barrel, the bird no sooner appears at the end, than the trigger is 
 drawn, and the partridge falls. This scene is well described by 
 the author of " FOWLING" : 
 
 Full of th* expected sport my heart beats high, 
 
 And with impatient step I haste to reach 
 
 The stubbles, where the scattered ears afford 
 
 A sweet repast to the yet heedless game. 
 
 How my brave dogs o'er the broad furrows bound, 
 
 Quart'ring their ground exactly. Ah ! that point 
 
 Answers my eager hopes, and fills my breast 
 
 With joy unspeakable. How close they lie ! 
 
 Whilst to the spot with steady pace I tend, 
 
 Now from the ground with noisy wing they burst, 
 
 And dart away. My victim singled out, 
 
 In his aerial course falls short, nor skims 
 
 Th* adjoining hedge o'er which tke rest unhurt 
 
 Have passed. 
 
SHOOTING. 225 
 
 I have occasionally met with tolerable shots who have asserted 
 that they do not shut one eye when drawing the trigger, but 
 uniformly direct both eyes to the object ; others, again, will be 
 found who declare that they look directly at the bird, regardless 
 of running their eye down the gun-barrel. With a sportsman 
 of this latter description, I happened to be shooting for several 
 days in the month of August : he shot well, and asserted that 
 he merely kept his eye on the bird, without directing a Cyclop- 
 peep down the barrel of the fowling-piece. Of the correctness 
 of this assertion I could not avoid expressing my doubts, as he 
 shot much better than I conceived it possible for any one to do 
 who followed the random mode just mentioned. I, therefore, 
 determined to ascertain the point from personal observation ; 
 and with this view watched his motions for several successive 
 shots : he was a cool deliberate shooter ; but I had the satis- 
 faction of observing that he had no sooner selected his object, 
 than he bent his cheek to the stock, and maintained that usual 
 position till he had pulled the trigger. This I remarked to him ; 
 and he ultimately confessed that such was the real state of the 
 case, though he was unconscious of the circumstance till it was 
 so clearly pointed out to him. I am of opinion that it is scarcely 
 possible to become an expert or dead shot, without closing one 
 eye, and taking a deliberate aim with the gun-barrel down the 
 other. 
 
 Pheasant shooting is ver laborious, and requires the sports-f 
 man to be properly equipped for a cover ; and, in my opinion, 
 strong woollen cloth gaiters are preferable to leather, as, in wet 
 weather, the latter are very uncomfortable, and the former are a 
 sufficient guard against the briars, &c. 
 
 If the night before you shoot be wet, the droppings of the 
 trees will compel the pheasants to quit the woods ; and in this case 
 the hedge-rows and furze covers should be tried very carefully, 
 and good sport will most likely be obtained. This bird is much 
 
226 
 
 SHOOTING. 
 
 attached to almost all sorts of covers, especially to the sides of 
 pits where alder trees are growing. 
 
 Of all dogs, none are so good for this sport as the setter. 
 Pointers are frequently too tender to follow this bird through the 
 brambles, which is not the case with a good setter ; but care 
 should be taken never to let them range out of gun-shot. The 
 small springing spaniel is frequently used in pheasant shooting, 
 and may answer tolerably well in the beginning of the season, 
 or where the birds have not been much disturbed ; but are by no 
 no means equal to the setter. The springer is too noisy for this 
 diversion* 
 
 In hedge-rows, pheasants lie remarkably well ; and in this case 
 a pointer or a setter will of course make a very steady point, and 
 you must perhaps shake the bush before the bird will rise ; but 
 it is different in covers, where these birds frequently run a con- 
 siderable distance, and it becomes necessary to encourage your 
 dog ; though one a little used to this sport will need no en- 
 couragement. 
 
 Naturalists observe, " Of all game birds, pheasants are shot 
 most easily, as they always make a whirring noise when they 
 rise, by which they alarm the gunner, and, being a large mark, 
 and flying very slow, there is scarcely any missing them." The 
 sportsman cannot but smile at this last sentence. A pheasant 
 is shot easily enough by an old and an experienced sports- 
 man ; but I much doubt whether the tyro stands not a better 
 chance of success when a twiddling snipe rises before him. 
 That the pheasant is a " large mark" every one will readily allow ; 
 that its flight is by no means rapid is equally incontestable ; but 
 the tremendous bustle and whirring noise, which they make in 
 rising, so agitates the inexperienced sportsman, that he not only 
 fires too soon, but, generally without taking aim, and has to en- 
 dure the mortification of seeing the bird fly away unhurt. A 
 cock pheasant, when pushed from a bush or thicket, generally 
 
SHOOTING. 227 
 
 rises perpendicularly, till he has cleared every obstacle, before 
 he goes off horizontally. The moment for shooting is when he 
 assumes the horizontal direction. If a novice in the art fire at 
 the bird while he is rising, he will, nineteen times out of twenty, 
 throw the shot below the bird. With an experienced ihot, the 
 mode of rising is of little consequence. 
 
 " Ah ! what avail his glossy, varying dies, 
 H is purpled crest, and scarlet-circled eyes, 
 The vivid green his shining plumes infold, 
 His painted wings, and breast that flames with gold?** 
 
 The hen pheasant, when pushed, seldom rises so high as the 
 ock, or yet takes so long a flight. A cock pheasant will some- 
 times fly to a considerable distance ; and whenever this happen*, 
 as the act of flying is very laborious to this heavy bird, he is not 
 able to rise again for some time. If the sportsman can mark 
 down a pheasant, after one of these long flights, and hasten to 
 the spot, he will find the bird to rise with great difficulty, and 
 fly to a very short distance, or, perhaps, he will be unable to 
 rise at all. Indeed, pheasants seem conscious of their incapacity 
 to maintain a long flight, and, therefore, prefer running, where- 
 ever practicable, in preference to taking wing ; however, after a 
 long flight they are difficult to find, as, on these occasions, they 
 generally drop into a bush or thicket, and remain for a consider- 
 able time (if undisturbed) without moving. 
 
 Woodcocks arrive in Great Britain in flocks ; some of them 
 in October, but not in great numbers till November and Decem- 
 ber, though they are sometimes seen as early as September. 
 They generally take advantage of the night, being seldom seen 
 to come before sun-set. The time of their arrival depends much 
 upon the prevailing winds ; they are unable to struggle with the 
 boisterous gales of the northern ocean, and therefore wait for 
 the advantage of a favourable wind* 
 
SHOOTING. 
 
 They feed on worms and insects, which they search for, with 
 their long bills, in soft grounds, and moist woods, feeding and 
 flying principally in the night. They go out in the evening, 
 and generally return in the same direction, or through the same 
 glades, to their day retreat. 
 
 An erroneous notion generally prevails that the woodcock 
 lives by suction ; which has probably arisen from the bird's being 
 occasionally observed to thrust his long bill into the earth. As 
 I ara not aware that any naturalist has truly described the mode 
 of feeding of the woodcock, I shall relate a few particulars from 
 actual observation. Most writers observe, that, to obtain food, 
 the woodcock thrusts his long bill into the ground, and thus 
 coming in contact with small worms and insects, he is enabled, 
 by means of his semi-serrated beak, to squeeze the dirt out of his 
 mouth, and then swallow the food. It is possible, certainly, that 
 the woodcock may, by tionng, obtain small worms and insects, 
 and, after cleansing them from the dirt, swallow them ; but his 
 general and regular mode of feeding is as follows : having 
 pierced the ground with his long bill, and shaken the surrounding 
 earth, all the worms in the immediate vicinity make their way to 
 the surface and are greedily swallowed. If a person force a stick 
 or spade into the ground, and move it about, he will quickly per- 
 ceive the worms within reach of the motion appear at the surface, 
 manifesting great alarm and eagerness to escape from danger : 
 instinct, therefore-, no doubt, impels the woodcock thus to pro- 
 cure his food. In a fevere frost, this bird is driven to shades 
 and protected places, where the ground still remains sufficiently 
 soft to admit of the operation of boring. The woodcock appears 
 to crush the worm to a jelly as it passes up his bill ; and, either 
 from this circumstance, or from extraordinary powers of diges- 
 tion, whatever the bird swallows seems to become almost instan- 
 taneously that exquisite table delicacy known by the name of 
 trail. If a woodcock be flushed while feeding, in the very act 
 
SHOOTING. 229 
 
 of swallowing a worm, and be shot, at the distance of thirty 
 yards from the spot whence he rose, the worm will be found 
 changed into a jelly-like substance, the trail I have just men- 
 tioned. The woodcock is seen to feed early in the morning, and 
 at dusk in the evening ; but this must not be understood in a 
 literal sense. This bird is on the wing at the very dawn of the 
 morning, and feeds as soon afterwards as he can discover food ; 
 he will then generally continue in the place where he has fed, if 
 sheltered, or seek the protection of some cover or hedge ; and, 
 if undisturbed, will remain in the same situation till late in the 
 afternoon, when he feeds again, and afterwards takes a short 
 flight or two to his resting place for the night. 
 
 The greater part of them leave this country about the latter 
 end of February or the beginning of March. They retire to 
 the coast, and if the wind be favourable, set out immediately; 
 but, if contrary, they are often detained for some time, and thus 
 afford good diversion to those sportsmen who reside near the 
 sea. 
 
 Woodcocks generally weigh from twelve to fourteen ounces, 
 and are chiefly found in thick covers, particularly those with wet 
 bottoms, and underneath holly bushes ; they are not, however, 
 fond of covers where there is long grass growing in the bottom, 
 and at the roots of the trees. 
 
 The sight of the woodcock i& very indifferent in the day 
 time, but he sees better in the dusk of the evening and by 
 moonlight ; and it may also be remarked, that woodcocks will 
 lie much better the day following a moonlight night, than when 
 it has been preceded by a very dark one : the reason is obvious 
 the bird has been enabled by the light of the moon to make a 
 plentiful repast, and the next day is lazy and unwilling to fly ; 
 whereas, when the darkness of the night has rendered it impos- 
 sible for him to satisfy the calls of hunger, he is constantly un- 
 easy, and on the alert in search of food, which he never attempts 
 
 u 
 
230 SHOOTING. 
 
 to seek in the day time, but when necessity compels him. 
 Shooting woodcocks is a very pleasant amusement in woods 
 which are not too thick ; and, if they are cut through in several 
 places, it renders it more easy to shoot this bird in his passage 
 when he rises, and also to mark him with greater certainty ; and 
 and woodcocks will generally be found near the openings or roads 
 through the woods, if there are any. In this diversion a good 
 marker is of essential service ; for with his assistance it will be 
 difficult for a woodcock to escape ; as he will generally suffer 
 himself to be shot at three or four times before he takes a long 
 flight. 
 
 Springers are frequently used for this diversion see the head 
 Springer ; and give notice when the cock rises by barking : 
 these animals, when well trained, may answer very well ; and, in 
 fact, they are better adapted for this than pheasant shooting. 
 
 The woodcock is a clumsy walker, and rises heavily from the 
 ground, which I believe is the case with most birds that have 
 long wings and short legs. This bird, as well as the snipe, it is 
 said, rises from its bill.* When a woodcock is found in an 
 
 * It frequently happens that an opinion once generally received, 
 however ridiculous its origin or absurd in ijself, if it be not of a nature 
 to excite inquiry, becomes a sort of common law, from the circum- 
 stance of its being handed frem one generation to another with implicit 
 credit, untainted by the most remote suspicion. Thus, in those parts 
 of the country where I have resided, the idea that the snipe rose from 
 its bill, or that in rising from the ground to fly, this bird pushed itself 
 up by its long bill, so as to be able to use its wings, was the uniform 
 and mistaken belief. Indeed, I should never have suspected this opin- 
 ion but for an accidental circumstance, which occurred last winter, 
 when in shooting at a snipe, I wounded it very slightly, merely fractur- 
 ing the extreme end of one of its wings : the bird came to the ground, 
 but made many efforts to rise again, and absolutely contrived to raise 
 itself a yard or more repeatedly. By the time I had re- loaded my gun, 
 the snipe had got to a considerable distance, principally, however, by 
 
SHOOTING. 231 
 
 open field, in a hedge row, in the pass of a wood, or an un- 
 frequented lane, he generally skims the ground slowly, and is 
 very easily shot ; in fact, thus circumstanced, he is the easiest 
 of all shots ; but it is occasionally otherwise, particularly when 
 he is flushed in a tall wood, where he is obliged to clear the 
 tops of trees before he can take a horizontal direction* 
 
 There are three different sizes of snipes, the largest of which, 
 
 running. As I approached, for the purpose of taking it up, its efforts 
 were again repeated, during which I distinctly observed that it did not 
 rise from its bill, but threw itself into the air in the same manner as a 
 crow or any other bird, by springing from its feet : but, in justice I 
 ought to remark, that the circumstance was first noticed by a much 
 younger sportsman than myself, with whom I happened to be in com- 
 pany, and but for him, in all probability, the bird would have been 
 pocketed, sans ceremonie, and the matter (trifling enough certainly) 
 still have remained enveloped in an ignorance equal to the mistaken 
 fancy which originally invented it. However, while I stood watching 
 the bird's attempts to escape, I noticed another peculiarity in it: ex- 
 hausted, as it soon became by its impotent efforts to fly, it then tried to 
 get away by running ; and, when we approached very near, it repeat- 
 edly spread out its little tail like a fan, and erected it after the manner 
 of a turkey cock ; at the same time, I was fully convinced, from the 
 length of its legs when it stood erect, that it was not at all necessary for 
 the snipe to put its bill to the ground in order to rise, had I not wit- 
 nessed its repeated attempts to fly. 
 
 When seen en the ground, the snipe is a very pretty bird; and 
 though its bill, compared with its size, seems out of all proportion, yet, 
 from the manner in which it carries its head, it presents nothing of that 
 grotesque appearance which the enormous length of its bill would in- 
 duce one to expect. 
 
 In the course of all my shooting excursions, I never recollect observ- 
 ing a snipe on the ground prior to its rising, though I have shot some 
 hundreds*. I am inclined to think they are scarcely ever seen till on 
 the wing, and this circumstance, aided by the coincidence of an enor- 
 mous length of bill, has, in all probability, given rise to the supposition 
 Before mentioned. 
 
 u2 
 
232 SHOOTING. 
 
 however, is much smaller than the woodcock. The common 
 snipe weighs about four ounces, the jack snipe is not much 
 larger than a lark, the great snipe weighs about nine ounces, but 
 is seldom met with. 
 
 Snipes are to be found all the winter in wet and marshy grounds, 
 particularly where there are rushes ; they are frequently met with 
 on mountains and moors among the heath ; but a severe frost 
 forces them to the springs and running streams. Numbers of 
 these birds remain with us all the year, and breed in our marshes, 
 laying generally six eggs the latter end of May. 
 
 The snipe is generally regarded as a difficult shot ; and it 
 must be allowed that it requires practice to surmount this diffi- 
 culty, which arises from the zig-zag manner in which the bird 
 flies immediately after rising. The best method to pursue in 
 this diversion is to walk down the wind, as snipes generally fly 
 against it ; and if a snipe rises before the sportsman, it will not 
 fly far before it turns, and describes a sort of semi-circle, which 
 will afford more time to take aim, by thus remaining longer 
 within gun -shot. If, however, the bird should fly straight for- 
 ward, it will be highly proper to let it get some little distance, 
 as its fl'ght will become much steadier. The slightest wound is 
 sufficient to bring these birds to the ground. 
 
 An old pointer is the best in snipe shooting. To accustom a 
 young dog to snipes, slacks his mettle, and renders him of little 
 use for partridge or grouse, owing to getting a number of points 
 with little exertion. However, when these birds are plentiful, 
 a dog is unnecessary, as walking them up will answer equally 
 well. 
 
 In closing this chapter on shooting, I will introduce some 
 judicious remarks upon the subject generally, from Daniel's Rural 
 Sports : 
 
 " In the reign of Charles the First no person shot flying : 
 what is now termed poaching was the gentleman's recreation ; 
 
SHOOTING. 233 
 
 and so late as within eighty years an individual who exercised the 
 art of shooting birds on the wing was considered as performing 
 something extraordinary, and many persons requested to attend 
 his excursions, that they might be eye-witnesses of it. Since 
 that period the practice has been more common, and is at present 
 almost universal ; so that lads of sixteen bring down their birds 
 with all due accuracy. To prescribe any extensive rules for the 
 attainment of this art may now be deemed superfluous, and 
 therefore they will be reduced into a very narrow compass. 
 
 " In shooting, it is to be ever remembered, that the hand is 
 to obey the eye, and not the eye be subservient to the hand. 
 Both eyes should be open,* and the object fired at, the instant 
 the muzzle of the gun is brought up, and fairly bears upon it ; 
 the sight becomes weakened by a protracted look along the barrel 
 at a bird, and it is for this reason that birds which spring at the 
 marksman's feet, and fly off horizontally, are frequently missed ; 
 his keeping the aim upon them so long fatigues the eye, and the 
 finger does not obey the eye so readily as when employed at a 
 first glance. It is not here meant that a bird is to be blown to 
 atoms as soon as it tops the stubble, but that a marksman is first 
 to make himself a thorough judge of distance : with that 
 knowledge in open shooting, he will never put the gun to his 
 shoulder until the bird has flown a proper length, and then fire 
 the instant the sight of it is caught. 
 
 * This I regard as a mistaken notion. I have already noticed the 
 subject. However, let any person point a gun to a fixed object ; by 
 shutting one eye, and directing the other down the barrel, he will easily 
 perceive that the level is true : by directing both eyes down the barrel, 
 he will not only perceive a degree of confusion, as it were, but the aim 
 will be with more difficulty, as well as more uncertainty, directed to the 
 object. Nevertheless, I am willing to admit that there are those who 
 shoot remarkably well, who keep both eyes open. Yet, a rifle man or 
 sharp shooter always closes one eye ; if therefore the latter mode is pre- 
 ferable with a ball, why not in shooting at game with shot ? 
 
 u3 
 
234 SHOOTING. 
 
 " To kill birds flying cross either to the right or left, allowance 
 must be made by the shooter both for the distance he is from 
 them, the strength of the bird, and also the velocity of the object 
 itself. The motion of a partridge, for instance, in November, 
 will be greatly accelerated to what it was two months before. 
 Practice alone can teach these minutiae, which if fixed at any 
 given space, or attempted to be uniformly regulated upon paper, 
 might lead the marksman erroneously in the field. 
 
 " It may however be mentioned that in a cross shot to die right, 
 the difficulty is very much increased if the right leg is first when 
 the bird rises; the gun cannot then be brought but a very trifle 
 beyond a straight line to the right, and frequently gentlemen 
 stand with their feet thirty inches apart when in the act of firing, 
 a position that effectually prevents their bringing their gun to 
 bear upon a crossing object. When dogs point, or when game 
 has been marked and expected to spring, the walk should be with 
 short and easy steps ; the body can then be easily turned upon 
 the legs, as if on a pivot, and the bird commanded even if it 
 should fly quite round the sportsman. 
 
 " The science of aiming accurately will be of little service, 
 except the gun is held steady from all starting or flinching in the 
 action of firing ; it is to small purpose to traverse the gun with 
 the celerity of a bird flying rapidly in a transverse direction, if 
 the person suspends that motion when he touches the trigger to 
 pull it. In this interlapse, between the beginning of the pull 
 and the appulse of the shot to five and thirty or forty yards dis- 
 tance, (be the pull and stroke of the cock as short, and the fire 
 as quick, as possible) any bird of game will, in a serene day, gain 
 progressively in its flight above two yards, and with a rough wind 
 considerably more. Quickness of sight and steady aiming will 
 never constitute a marksman, unless the motion of the gun cor- 
 responds with them, and receives no check whilst in the act of 
 drawing the trigger. 
 
SHOOTING. 235 
 
 " Should different guns be employed, the shooter should have 
 all the locks made, if possible, to require exactly the same pull 
 to bring them to action ; there is nothing deceives or disconcerts 
 him more than shooting one day with a stiff, and the next with 
 an easy going lock : the transition from that which goes off with 
 a slight to that where a hard touch is necessary wil! often cause 
 the most expert to miss his bird. 
 
 " Always hold the gun with the left hand close to the guard 
 (and not forward upon the barrel to strongly grasp it near the 
 entrance of the ramrod, notwithstanding it has been so strenu- 
 ously recommended) : all the requisite steadiness in taking aim, 
 and even of motion, in traversing the flight of a bird, can be 
 obtained by thus holding the heaviest pieces ; and, in case of a 
 barrel bursting, the certainty of having a hand or arm shattered 
 by grasping the barrel is reduced to a chance of escaping the 
 effects of such an accident, by placing the hand close to the 
 guard beneath it.* 
 
 " With double guns a danger arises from the shooter who 
 fires but one barrel, and kills his bird, forgetting to uncock the 
 other previous to his reloading that which has been discharged : 
 to obviate this, let him invariably uncock-)- the second barrel be- 
 
 * In September 1806, Mr. Banister lost the top of three fingers, and the 
 thumb and other parts of the hand were much torn by the bursting of 
 his gun. He had unfortunately placed his hand forward upon the 
 barrel : it is hoped the misfortune to this gentleman may operate forcibly 
 against so dangerous a practice ; for with the hand in that position, should 
 any barrel burst, it is next to a miracle but the party is dreadfully 
 wounded, whereas, by the hand being kept close to the guard, there have 
 been numberless cases where barrels have flows to pieces, without in- 
 jury to the persons who held them. 
 
 f One barrel only should be cocked at a time ; after the first barrel 
 has been fired, the gun should be taken from the shoulder and the other 
 cocked, should a second shot present itself; which would obviate the 
 danger above mentioned. 
 
236 
 
 SHOOTING. 
 
 fore he sets the butt of the gun upon the ground ; a sense of 
 self-preservation will soon render this habitual ; and a man who 
 is so absent or so eager as to disregard this practice, had better 
 confine himself to carrying a cane instead of a gun. 
 
 " After discharging one barrel, be careful to secure with the 
 ramrod the wadding of the other,, which from the recoil usually 
 becomes loose : this is not only needful to prevent the shot from 
 falling out, but is an act of safety, lest there should be a space 
 between the shot and the wadding, that will endanger the bar- 
 rel : it likewise prevents mistakes in loading ; and no objection 
 can be made to it, but the accidental fall of a shot into the load- 
 ed, whilst pouring them into the fired, barrel, and which may 
 occasion some trouble in withdrawing the ramrod : in such a 
 a case, turn the muzzle into the hand, and keep the ramrod 
 home upon the charge, and the stray shot will easily be extricated. 
 
 " When uncocking a gun, never remove the thumb from the 
 cock until after having let it pass down beyond the half bent, and 
 gently raising it again, the sound of the sear is heard catching the 
 tumbler. 
 
 " Carrying the gun in a safe position, and well securing the 
 lock, are the first articles a young sportsman should learn, and 
 never cease to regard : the result of neglecting other observances 
 is, generally, no more than missing the object ; but carelessness 
 in the handling, or position of the gun, are too frequently at- 
 tended with the most melancholy catastrophes : however proba- 
 bilities may be calculated from, a proper attention to the muzzle 
 prevents the possibility of mischief from one source. When a 
 keeper of the Earl of Chesterfield's was preparing for the field 
 in January 1789, and stoopiug to buckle on his spur, as he sat 
 with his gun resting on his knee, and the muzzle close to his 
 cheek, it seemed improbable that a part of the lock should break 
 at that particular point of time ; but his instantaneous death was 
 the terrible effect of his not having guarded against what was 
 possible. The muzzle of the gun pointing obliquely upwards 
 

 SHOOTING. 237 
 
 between the left elbow and left cheek, if the piece fires ever so 
 often by accident, can never do harm ; and from this position it 
 may be presented with more ease, expedition, and correctness, 
 fhan from any other. 
 
 " Beware of the muzzle of the gun being kept hanging down- 
 wards ; when so carried, the shot is apt to force its way from 
 the powder, especially in clean barrels ; if it happen that a space 
 o r sixteen or eighteen inches is thus obtained, and the gun fired 
 with its point below the horizon, it is ten to one but the barrel 
 bursts. There are other perilous consequences besides those 
 that generally accompany the diruption of a barrel, for the men, 
 horses, and dogs, are in perpetual danger of being shot, when a 
 gun is carried in the beforementioned pendent manner. 
 
 " In shooting with a stranger, who keeps his gun cocked, 
 and the muzzle usually pointed to the left, plead for the right 
 hand station, and that you cannot hit a bird flying to the left ; 
 with a gamekeeper, take the right hand without ceremony. In 
 getting over a fence, constantly endeavour to go last, notwith- 
 standing the usual assurance of ' My dear Sir, I am always re- 
 markably careful :" and if a person beats bushes with a cocked 
 gun, get out of his company as a shooter, with all possible 
 expedition. 
 
 " Recollect, both in the house* and in the field, always to con- 
 
 * At Dr. Bennet's, vicar of Chapel- en -le- Frith, a person in 1803 left 
 his gun loaded. A servant girl, unconscious of its being charged, pre- 
 sented it in a sportive manner at another girl, and instantly shot her dead. 
 The unintentional author of this accident was so affected that she has 
 remained in a melancholy state ever since. This is one selected out of 
 the too numerous and fatal effects from wantonly handling fire-arms : 
 and it ought to be recollected, that should any previous quarrel between 
 the parties be brought forward, the laws of the country may bring the 
 unhappy survivor to an ignominious end. 
 
 Two recent instances, (which are mentioned with the wish of in- 
 creasing the caution necessary to be observed in all cases where fire-arms 
 
238 SHOOTING. 
 
 sider a gun as loaded, and never suffer it to be pointed for a 
 moment towards any human being. 
 
 " Never display skill by firing close to the head of either man 
 or beast, whether a companion's or a favourite pointer's. A story 
 is told of two persons shooting together, when one of them, an 
 exhibiter in this way, put several shots into his friend's arm, who 
 made suitable outcries. In the course of the day the compliment 
 was returned, with interest, by the wounded man : ' You're a 
 pretty fellow (exclaimed the man last hit) to be so vociferous 
 about my shooting you this morning ; why, d n me, I have 
 half your charge now in my leg.' ' Very likely, (replied the other, 
 coolly,) but I killed my hare, and your bird was missed/ 
 
 " In shooting alone with a double gun, it frequently occurs, 
 that the attention is taken up by a wounded bird, and the oppor- 
 tunity of a second shot is neglected ; or, upon a second bird 
 being shot at, the first is lost, although, if -observed, it might 
 have been easily retrieved. In company, the marker to a double 
 
 are handled,) occurred in August and September, 1806 ; the first where 
 the son of Mr. Turkin, at Taunton, a young gentleman about seventeen 
 years old, had fired one of the barrels of his double-barrelled gun, and 
 returned to the house, thoughtless of the other being loaded. It acci- 
 dentally went off, and the contents were lodged in the arm and side of 
 his sister, a mostamiable girl, two years older than himself; and although 
 every assistance was immediately procured, a few hours terminated her 
 existence The latter was in the county of Bucks, when Mr. Pincott, a 
 hop-factor at Clapton, was shot in the following manner : he went out 
 shooting with a gentleman at whose house he was visiting; having oc- 
 casion to get over a hedge during their diversion, the deceased, who was 
 a man of agility, first passed over, and in order to assist his friend, gave 
 him the butt end of the piece to help him up the bank : the gun dis- 
 charged, and lodged its contents in the body of Mr. P. who immediately 
 expired. This is a practice very frequently adopted ; but it is to be 
 hoped this accident will operate so as to show the danger, and to pre- 
 yent its being ever again resorted to, 
 
SHOOTING. 239 
 
 gun should keep his eye upon the first bird, if wounded, and 
 leave the second to the shooter himself. 
 
 The marker should however recollect that the harder a bird is 
 hit, especially at long distances, when only one or two grains 
 have taken place, the less visible signs of it are observed, unless 
 the bird drops the legs, or instantly towers; for which reason 
 the marker's eye should be kept on the bird so far as it can be 
 seen : it frequently happens, that a bird falls dead, four or five 
 hundred yards from the place where first struck, and is as fre- 
 quently lost for want of proper attention to its flight. When 
 a bird is seen to drop its legs at the instant of firing, and fly off 
 with an undulating motion, or tower to a great height, both these 
 are certain signs of death, and are generally occasioned by a con* 
 tusion on the vertebrae ; for if the spine is injured, paralytis 
 ensues. If the brain is contused, the bird towers, but the legs 
 are not pendent.'* 
 
240 
 
 t&c JFurtjst 
 
 As we find a passion for the chase was coeval with human 
 existence, so at the earliest periods of civilization, a jealous dis- 
 tinction marked the privilege of hunting ; and, at length, posi- 
 tive laws were enacted, by which the chase became a sort of 
 monopoly, appropriated to the use or the pleasure of those, 
 who, either from birth or fortune, had attained a pre-eminence 
 among their fellow beings. 
 
 The Romans appear to have delighted in a miserable apolo- 
 gy for field sports, viz. they procured great numbers of wild 
 beasts and birds from the East, which were driven promis- 
 cuously into the circus, and exhibited to the view of the people, 
 tearing each other to pieces ; while the Emperor Commodus, and 
 several of his imperial brethren, condescended, on these occa- 
 sions to astonish the spectators by a display of their skill in 
 archery. These masters of the world, however, were specially 
 provided with such situations, that, while they attempted to 
 transfix a panther, the oppressed and infuriate animal could use 
 neither his teeth nor claws in his defence. But Forest or Game 
 Laws were unknown at this period ; and though partridges and 
 hares were most probably in existence, no special statutes were 
 enacted for their protection. 
 
 After a lapse of some centuries, the Roman empire was anni- 
 hilated by the barbarians of the north ; who, emerging through 
 the dark forests of Germany, at length established themselves 
 in the more cultivated parts of Europe, and introduced the 
 feudal system, to which the petty states of Germany bear a faint 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 241 
 
 resemblance. These barbarians were governed by a number of 
 warlike princes, but were, nevertheless, extremely jealous of their 
 rights, and possessed a generous liberty unknown to their civi- 
 lized neighbours, and perhaps incompatible with the extreme re- 
 finements of the most polished state of society. Hunters from 
 necessity as well as choice, with their conquests they introduced 
 a passion for the chase ; and when their subsistence no longer 
 depended upon the pursuit of wild animals, they followed the 
 chase as an amusement, and hence originated laws for the pre- 
 servation of what has since been known under the denomination 
 of game. 
 
 It would appear, that laws were known on the subject of field 
 sports, as early as the times of the Saxon dominion in this country, 
 which were, however, extremely mild compared with those en- 
 acted in after times by Canute, and more particularly by William 
 the Conqueror. 
 
 Canute, the Dane, instituted what are called the Forest Laws, 
 or, at least, I am not aware of any written evidence on the sub- 
 ject farther back than the time of this monarch ; but whatever 
 censure may be due to regulations, which at the present time 
 would be insupportable, must not be laid solely to the account of 
 the Dane, as the nobility were despotic on their own estates, 
 and ruled, not only more absolutely, but more tyrannically, than 
 the king himself. Thus, while various forests were appropriated 
 to the use of royalty, the nobility, in imitation of the monarch, 
 had each either his forest, chase, park, or purlieu, over which 
 he exercised unbounded authority ; in fact, these forest laws 
 appear to have been instituted in compliance rather with the wish 
 of his nobility, than from the spontaneous inclination of Canute. 
 The first charter of the forest, it seems, was granted by this 
 monarch at Winchester, in the year 1062; and, as a few ex- 
 tracts from Manwood's Forest Laws will be both amusing and 
 
 x 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 instructive, I trust there needs no farther apology for their intro- 
 duction : . 
 
 I, Canutus, king, with the advice of my nobility, do make and 
 establish, that both peace and justice be done to all the 
 churches of England, and that every offender suffer according 
 to his quality and the manner of his offence. 
 
 1. There shall be, from henceforth, four, out of the best of 
 the freemen, who have their accustomed rights secure, (whom the 
 English call poegened) constituted in every province in my 
 kingdom, to distribute justice, together with due punishment, as 
 to the matters of the forest, to all my people, as well English as 
 Danish, throughout my whole kingdom of England, which four 
 we think fit to call the chief men of the forest ; (now called ver- 
 derors.) 
 
 2. There shall be under every one of these, four out of the 
 middle sort of men (whom the English call lespegend, and the 
 Danes, young men) placed, who shall take upon them the care 
 and charge as well of the vert as the venison , (now called re- 
 garders.) 
 
 3. Again, under every one of these, shall be two of the 
 meaner sort of men, whom the English call tine men; these shall 
 take care of the vension and vert by night, and undergo other 
 servile offices, (now called foresters, or keepers.) 
 
 4?. Also, every one of the chief men, or verderors, shall have 
 every year out of our ward (which the English call michni) two 
 horses, the one with a saddle, the other without ; one sword, five 
 lances, one head-piece, one shield ; and two hundred shillings of 
 silver. 
 
 5. Every one of* the middle sort of men, or regarders, one 
 horse, one lance, one shield, and sixty shillings of silver. 
 
 6. Every one of the meaner sort of men, or foresters, one 
 lance, one cross-bow, and fifteen shillings of silver. 
 
 7. That all of them, as well chief men or verderors, middle 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 243 
 
 sort of men or regarders, and meaner sort of men or foresters, 
 shall be free and quit from all provincial summons and popular 
 pleas (which the English call hundred laghe), and from all taxes 
 concerning the wars or weapons (which the English call warscot) 
 and from all foreign plaints. 
 
 8. That the causes of the middle sort of men or regarders, 
 and the meaner sort of men or foresters, and their corrections, 
 as well criminal as civil, shall be adjudged and decided by the 
 provident wisdom and discretion of the chief men or verderors. 
 But the enormities of the chief men or verderors, if any such 
 shall be, we ourselves will cause to be punished according to our 
 royal displeasure. 
 
 9. These four (chief men or verderors) shall have a royal 
 power (saving in our presence), and four times in the year the 
 general demonstrations of the forest, and the forfeitures of vert 
 and venison (which the English call mechehunt) where they shall 
 all of them hold claim, or challenge of any thing touching the 
 forest, and shall go to a threefold judgment (which the English 
 call gang fordel) and thus the threefold judgment shall be ob- 
 tained : the party shall take with him five others, and he himself 
 shall make the sixth, and so by swearing, he shall obtain a three- 
 fold judgment or triple oath. But the purgation of fire, or fiery 
 ordale, shall be by no means admitted, unless in such cases where 
 the naked truth cannot otherwise be found out. 
 
 10. Whosoever shall offer any violence to the chief men or 
 verderors of my forest, if he be free, he shall lose his liberty, 
 and all that he hath ; and if he be a villain, his right hand shall 
 be cut off. 
 
 11. If either of them shall offend again, in the like case, he 
 shall be guilty of death. 
 
 12. Jn the like manner, if any person shall contend in suit 
 with one of the chief men or verderors, he shall forfeit to the 
 king as much as he is worth. 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 13. If any person shall break the peace before the middle 
 sort of men, or regarders of the forest, he shall pay to the king 
 ten shillings. 
 
 14. If any person shall be taken offending in the forest, he 
 shall suffer punishment according to the manner and quality of 
 his offence. 
 
 15. The punishment and forfeiture shall not be one and the 
 same of a freeman and one that is not free, of a master and of a 
 servant, of one that is known and of one that is not known ; nor 
 shall the management of causes, either civil or criminal, of the 
 beasts of the forests, and of the royal beasts of the vert and of 
 the vension, be one and the same : for the crime of hunting has 
 been of old reputed (and not undeservedly) amongst the greatest 
 offences that could be committed in the forest ; but that of vert 
 is esteemed so little and trivial, (except as it is a breach of our 
 royal chase) that our constitution of forest laws doth scarcely 
 take notice of it ; nevertheless, he, that offends therein, is guilty 
 of one of the trespasses of the forest. 
 
 16. If any freeman shall course or hunt a beast of the forest, 
 either casually or wilfully, so that by the swiftness of the course, 
 the beast doth pant, and is put out of breath; such freeman 
 shall forfeit ten shillings ; and if he be not a freeman, he shall 
 forfeit double ; but if he be a bondman, he shall -lose his skin. 
 
 17. But if a royal beast be killed by any of them, the free- 
 man shall lose his freedom, the other his liberty, and the bond- 
 man his life. 
 
 18. My bishops, abbots, and barons, shall not be challenged 
 for hunting in my forest, except they kill royal beasts ; and, if 
 they do, they shall make satisfaction according to my pleasure, 
 without knowing the certainty of the forfeiture. 
 
 19. I will that every freeman may, as he pleaseth, have and 
 take venison or vert, upon his own grounds, or in his own field, 
 being out of my chase ; and let all men avoid and forbear taking 
 my venison or vert, in every place where it is mine. 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 A forest is a franchise royal, created by the king, and by him 
 set apart, and appointed for the generation, feeding, and nourish- 
 ment of wild beasts of venery and chase, and also for beasts and 
 fowls of warren ; (no subject can have, or enjoy a forest, with- 
 out special grant from the king, under the great seal of Eng- 
 land) having particular laws, privileges, and officers belonging 
 thereunto, for the preservation and continuance thereof, and of 
 the vert and venison therein. 
 
 2. It is a circuit of ground, stored with great woods, and 
 thickets for the shelter, residence, and safety of wild beasts, and 
 fowls of the forest, chase, and warren ; and is also replenished 
 with fruitful pastures, arid lands for their continual feeding and 
 subsistence ; being privileged to rest, and abide therein under 
 the king's protection, for his royal pastime, diversion, and 
 pleasure. 
 
 3. A forest is circumscribed, or bounded with irremovable 
 and indelible marks, meers, and bounds, known and preserved 
 either by matter of record or by prescription. 
 
 4. It consists of eight things, viz. 1. of soil, 2. of covert, 3. 
 of laws, 4. courts, 5. judges, 6. officers, 7. game, 8. bounds. 
 
 Note, a forest is not a place privileged generally for all manner 
 of wild beasts or fowls, but only of those that are of forest, chase, 
 and warren ; the wild beasts of the forest, or beasts of venery, 
 being these five and no other, viz. the hart, the hind, the hare, 
 the boar, and the wolf. And although the hart and the hind 
 are beasts of the same kind, or species, yet, nevertheless, they 
 are accounted two several beasts, because they are of two several 
 seasons for hunting : the season for hunting the hart being in 
 the summer, and the time for hunting the hind beginning when 
 the season of the hart is over. 
 
 x3 
 
240 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 Of a frank chase, a park, and a free-warren^ what they are, 
 and how they differ from each other, 
 
 1. A frank, or free chase, is a franchise next in degree unto 
 a forest, being an open place for the keeping of game, and in 
 that respect something resembling it, yet with this difference, 
 that a chase hath neither the same kinds of game in it, nor any 
 particular laws belonging to the same, proper to a chase only ; 
 for, whereas the beasts of forest are the hart, hind, hare, boar, 
 and wolf; the beasts of chase are none of them, but other five, 
 viz. the buck, the doe, the fox, the martern, and the roe ; in like 
 manner, all offenders in a chase are punishable by the common 
 law of this realm, and not by the forest laws. Besides, a chase 
 hath no such officers as a forest, viz. verderors, regarders, (or 
 rangers) foresters, or agistors; nor hath it any courts of attach- 
 ments, swainmote, or justice- seat appertaining thereunto, all the 
 officers belonging to a chase being only keepers, as they are 
 called in a park, but such are termed foresters in a forest; 
 
 2. As a chase is next in degree unto a forest, and in some 
 sort resembling it, so is a park to a chase, being in many re- 
 spects the same ; for there is no diversity between them, save 
 only that a park is inclosed, and a chase lies always open with- 
 out Jnclosure. 
 
 3. Lastly, the next franchise, in degree unto a park, is the 
 liberty of a free warren ; the beasts and fowls whereof are four, 
 viz. the hare, the cony, the pheasant, and the partridge, and no 
 other (being such as may be taken by the long-winged hawks, 
 according to Budoeus), for as a forest is the highest and greatest 
 in dignity of all franchises, so it doth surpass them all for extent 
 and comprehensiveness, including in it a frank chase, a park, 
 and a warren ; for which reason, the beasts of chase, and 
 the beasts and fowls of warren, are as much privileged within 
 the forest, as the beasts of forest are ; every forest being in 
 itself a chase, though a chase be not a forest, but a part of it; 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 217 
 
 and so the like may be said of a park and a warren : and there- 
 fore the hunting, hurting, or killing any of the beasts or fowls 
 of chase, park, or warren, within the limits of the forest, is a 
 trespass of the forest, only punishable by the laws of the forest, 
 and not otherwise* 
 
 And because the laws made for the preservation and continu- 
 ance of forests, and purlieus thereof, and the vert, venison, and 
 fowls therein, are particularly applicable unto, and only proper 
 for forests, and no other places ; therefore we shall begin with 
 a brief account of the laws that relate to the king's forest only, 
 and afterwards proceed to discourse of such other laws, as have 
 been since made for preservation of the game of hunting, hawk- 
 ing, fishing and fowling, in the chases, parks, warrens, woods, 
 or other grounds, fisheries, or vivaries, withia England and 
 Wales, belonging to the subject. 
 
 OF THE FOREST LAWS IN GENERAL. 
 
 It is reported by ancient historians, that forests have been 
 always in this kingdom from the first time that the same was in- 
 habited ; and the author of Concordantia Historiarum tells us, 
 that Gurguntius, the son of Belyn, a king of this island, did 
 make certain forests, for his pleasure, in Wiltshire; and that 
 divers other kings have done the like, since his time. Which 
 forests, the kings of this realm have always maintained and pre- 
 served (with divers privileges and laws appropriated thereunto) as 
 places of pleasure and delight for their royal pastime and diver- 
 sion. 
 
248 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 And when it happened that any offenders entered into those 
 privileged places, and committed any trespass thereon, they had 
 very severe punishments inflicted upon them, according to the 
 laws then in force, which were very grievous and altogether un- 
 certain, according to the arbitrary and unlimited will of the king : 
 and thus those laws were executed, and their punishments con- 
 tinued, until about the year 1016, when Canutus, the Dane, 
 became king of this realm ; who, delighting much in forests, did 
 establish certain laws, or constitutions, peculiar only to forests. 
 By which it appears, that before his time, all wild beasts and 
 birds were only the kings, and that no other person might kill 
 or hurt them : the kirigs of England having, by their prerogative 
 royal, a right and privilege in such things as none of their sub- 
 jects could challenge any property in ; and such were then said 
 to be the king's, as wild beasts, birds, &c. in whose lands or woods 
 soever they were found. Whereupon the said Canutus made a 
 law, that every freeman might, at his pleasure, have and take his 
 own vert and vension, or hunt upon his own ground, or in his 
 own fields, being out of the king's chase ; but that all men 
 should forbear to have or take the king's vert or game in every 
 place where his highness should have the same. 
 
 Also, it appears, by the laws of St. Edward, the Confessor, 
 that he did confirm the said laws of Canutus, by a sanction made 
 in his time, to this effect : That it should be lawful for every 
 one of his subjects to enjoy the benefit of his own hunting, that 
 he could any way have or make in his own lands, woods, or 
 fields ; so that he did forbear to hunt the king's game in his 
 highness's forests, or other privileged places, on pain of losing 
 his life for such offence. 
 
 Which laws were afterwards confirmed by William the Con- 
 queror, as appears in the 27th chapter of the book, wherein his 
 laws were collected and digested ; and so were continued by him 
 all his time. 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 After whose death, William Rufus, his son, in like manner 
 continued the same laws during his life. 
 
 And after his death, king Henry the first, his brother, suc- 
 ceeding him to the crown, by his charter, confirmed all the laws 
 of the forest made by St. Edward the Confessor, as appears by 
 the book kept in the Exchequer, called Liber Rubrus, cap. 1. 
 Legum Suarum : which laws of the forest so continued during 
 all the life time of the said Henry the first. 
 
 After whose decease, king Stephen, by his charter confirmed 
 all the said laws, privileges, and customs granted by St. Edward 
 the Confessor, and Henry the first, and continued the same 
 during his life. 
 
 After whose death, king Henry the second succeeding him, 
 did, by his general charter, confirm the aforesaid laws of the 
 forest in many particulars, but not without great alterations and 
 additions. For he doth, in and by his said charter, recite and 
 declare the nature of the laws of the forest, and in what sense 
 they were taken and used, or how interpreted or construed in 
 times past, and wherein they do differ from the common law of 
 the kingdom ; and that the kings of England, before that time, 
 and he himself, even then, might make a forest in any place of 
 the realm, where they or he pleased, as well in the lands and 
 inheritances of any of their or his subjects, as in their or his own 
 demeasn lands. Which unlimited and unaccountable power, 
 claimed by the kings of England in those times, by colour of the 
 forest laws, over the birth-rights and inheritances of their sub- 
 jects, was a mighty and insupportable grievance to those whose 
 lands were so afforested ; their pastures and the profits of the 
 lands being then devoured by the king's wild beasts of his forests, 
 without any recompense for the same. 
 
 The punishments for offences against the forest laws were 
 often exceeding great for a small offence, and the forfeiture ac- 
 cording to the king's pleasure, not regarding the quantity of the 
 trespass, nor according to the course of the common law. 
 
250 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 Which rigorous execution of the forest laws continued during 
 the life of Henry the second, and both the reigns of Richard the 
 first and king John ; every one of which kings did daily increase 
 those oppressions, by making more new forests in the lands of 
 their subjects, to their great impoverishment. 
 
 And this mischief was not at all remedied until the making of 
 Charta de Foresta by Henry the third, published in the ninth 
 year of his reign, which was afterwards confirmed and enlarged 
 by Edward the first, his son ; whereby it is provided, that all 
 forests that Henry the third, Richard the first, and king John 
 had forested and made of the land, meadows, pastures, or woods 
 of any of their subjects (being not the demeasn lands of the crown) 
 should be disafforested again. For those three kings last men- 
 tioned, had (in their times) afforested so much of their subjects' 
 lands, that the greatest part of the kingdom was then converted 
 into forests. 
 
 FOREST COURTS, &c. 
 
 There be three principal courts usually kept for matters of the 
 forest, viz. the court of attachments, the court of swainmote, and 
 the high court of the lord justice in eyre of the forest, called the 
 justice-seat ; being each of them of a several and different nature. 
 
 The court of attachments is the most inferior of them all, for 
 therein the officers do nothing but receive the attachments of the 
 foresters, and enrol them in the verderors* rolls, that they may be 
 in readiness against the time that the court of swainmote is kept ; 
 and for that this court cannot detennine any offence or trespass, 
 if the value thereof be above 4d. 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 251 
 
 Next in degree above the court of attachments, is the court 
 of swainmote, though much inferior to the justice seat of the 
 forest : for when the presentments of the court of attachments 
 and the court of swainmote have had their proceedings, accord- 
 ing to the assizes and laws of the forest, yet cannot the court of 
 swainmote determine the same, or assess fines for any offences 
 contained in such presentments, or give judgment thereupon 
 (other than to pronounce them convicted.) But such present- 
 ments and convictions must be delivered in to the lord justice in 
 eyre of the forest, the court of justice seat, on the first day of 
 sitting of the said court, when the same are called for, according 
 to the laws and ordinances of the forest : the swainmote is a 
 court unto which all the freeholders within the forest do owe suit 
 and service. 
 
 The next is the most supreme court of the forest, called the 
 justice-seat, or general sessions, wherein the lord chief justice, 
 or lord justice, doth sit ; for unto hirn it only belongs to give 
 judgment in this court of all offences, and to assess fines, and 
 punish offenders, this court being as the fountain head, unto 
 which the other court of attachments and swainmote are but 
 (as it were) two conduit pipes to convey the matter and causes 
 of the forest, that from thence judgment may be had, and given 
 thereupon. 
 
 The office of lord chief justice of the forest, is a place of great 
 honour and authority, executed always by some of the chiefest 
 of the nobility, who is of the king's privy council. When he is 
 made lord chief justice in eyre of the forest by the king's special 
 commission, he hath, by that means, as great authority as any 
 justice of oyer and terminer hath to hear and determine matters 
 of common law, if not greater : for then he may punish all tres- 
 passes and offences of the forest according to the laws of the 
 same, and may hear and determine all claims touching the liber- 
 ties and franchises within the forest, as to such as have parks, 
 
252 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 warrens, &c. therein ; also of them that claim to be quit of asserts 
 and purprestures, or of such as do claim leets, hundreds, goods 
 of felons, fugitives and outlaws, felo's de se, waifs, estrays, deo- 
 dands, and such like immunities, and other liberties within the 
 forest, as likewise of such persons that claim to kill hares, and 
 other beasts of chase and warren within the forest. 
 
 He hath also an absolute authority to determine all offences 
 within the forest, either of vert or venison ; for such offences 
 shall not be determined before any other justices, except such 
 as are appointed by commission under the great seal, to aid and 
 assist him in the execution and performance of his office. 
 
 When the justices of the forest have obtained their commis- 
 sion for holding the court of justice seat of the forest, they make 
 out their precept to the sheriff of the county wherein the forest 
 lies, and the justice seat is kept, commanding him to summon 
 all the prelates, nobility, knights, gentlemen, and freeholders 
 that have lands within the bounds of the forest, and out of every 
 town and village four men and a reve, and out of every borough 
 twelve lawful men; and all persons that claim to hold pleas of 
 the forest before the justices ; to appear (such a day and place) 
 before the justice in eyre of the forest or his deputy, to hear 
 and do such things as appertain to the pleas of the forest. And 
 likewise that the said sheriff do make proclamation in all 
 boroughs, and other towns, fairs, markets, and other public 
 places throughout his bailiwick, that all persons who claim to 
 have any liberties, franchises, or free customs of the forest, may 
 be there, at the same time and place, to make good their claims ; 
 and that all persons attached, since the last court, touching vert 
 or venison, and their pledges and mainpernors, who had a day 
 given them until this court for their appearance, be there also 
 to stand to, and abide the judgment of the court ; and that the 
 sheriff be there with his bailiffs, to execute such matters as ap- 
 pertain to his office, and certify the justice of the forest concern- 
 ing the premises. 
 
253 
 
 OF HUNTING, &c. WITHIN THE FOREST. 
 
 The king, and such persons only as have any sufficient war- 
 rant or authority by charter or grant from his majesty, or his 
 ancestors, may hunt and hawk within the forest, and no other : 
 also, all such persons as have any lawful claim allowed in eyre, 
 in respect to any grant to hunt or hawk within the forest, may 
 use the same accordingly. 
 
 But if any knight, esquire, or gentleman doth dwell within 
 the regard of the forest, and be lord of the manor there, yet he 
 may not hunt or hawk therein, except he hath a lawful claim for 
 so doing allowed him in eyre, as aforesaid; because, by the 
 laws of the forest, no person may hunt or hawk within any part 
 of the forest that is within the regard of the forest, though it be 
 within his own fee, except he hath a sufficient warrant so to do : 
 and, therefore, they must forbear to hunt or hawk in their own 
 grounds, if they be within the regard of the forest; because it is 
 a trespass of the forest so to do, unless they have good warrant 
 for the same. 
 
 % But by the charter of the forest, anno. 9 H. 2, cap. 1 1 , every 
 arch-bishop, bishop, earl, or baron, coming to the king by his 
 commandment, and passing through any of his majesty's forests, 
 it shall be lawful for any such prelate, or peer, to kill one or two 
 of the king's deer therein, by the view of the forester, if he be 
 present, or otherwise cause a horn to be blown for him, that he 
 may seem not to steal the king's deer. And the same they may 
 do in their return home from the king. By which it appears, that 
 those prelates and peers have, by the said charter, a lawful 
 license to hunt in the king's forests, but yet with this restriction, 
 
254 OF THF FOREST LAWS. 
 
 that such prelate, or nobleman, must be sent for by the king. 
 2, He must be an arch-bishop, or bishop, earl, or baron. 3. 
 Such hunting must be made by the view of the forester. 4. If 
 the forester be absent, a horn must be blown. 
 
 Then, as to the licenses to hunt or hawk in the king's forests, 
 chases, parks, or warrens, these things ought to be considered. 
 1. How such licenses ought to be used. 2. The difference 
 between a license of profit, and a license of pleasure, and a 
 license in law, and a license in fair. 
 
 As to the first, the king being the chief monarch of this realm 
 (unto whom the government and regulation of forests, and such 
 like places of royal pastime and recreation do principally apper- 
 tain) may himself grant licenses to hunt and hawk in any of his 
 majesty's forests, chases, parks, or warrens, unto any of his sub- 
 jects, according to his royal will and pleasure. 
 
 Secondly, whosoever hath any special authority derived from 
 his majesty in that behalf, under the great seal of England, may 
 in like manner grant licenses, in some respect, and in some places, 
 to hunt and hawk in his majesty's forests, chases, parks, or war- 
 rens ; as the lord chief justice in eyre of the king's forest, 
 may grant a license, or give a warrant, to any nobleman, or gen- 
 tleman, that hath a manor or freehold therein ; for the first to 
 hunt and hawk in his manor, or lordship, and the other in his 
 freehold, according to the purport or intent of such grant or 
 warrant. 
 
 In like manner, a subject that is lord of a forest, may grant 
 a license to whom he pleaseth to hunt and hawk in his forest. 
 But no person can grant any license, or give warrant to any man 
 to hunt and hawk in the king's forests, other than the king 
 himself, or his chief justice in eyre of the forest ; or such 
 other persons as have the like authority from the king, by some 
 special grant to do the same. For if any of the king's foresters 
 (or other officers) should attempt or presume to do the same (ex 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. Q55 
 
 officio ;) not only such forester (or other officer) hut all those 
 who shall hunt or hawk with him there, by colour of such license, 
 or warrant, would be all trespassers, and liable to the punish- 
 ments of the forest laws. 
 
 Neither can any forester (or other such officer) hawk or take 
 any fowls of warren, as pheasants and partridges, within his walk, 
 in theforest,because his office is to preserve and not destroy them ; 
 and therefore he cannot give or grant any warrant, or license, 
 to another to hawk, or take any fowls of warren within his walk 
 or liberty ; for if he do, although he hold his office by patent 
 from the king, or some other person as hath power to grant the 
 same, yet is such act such a disuse or abuse of his authority, 
 that it is a cause of forfeiture of his office. 
 
 In licenses to hunt or hawk within a forest, chase, park, or 
 warren, there is this difference to be considered, whether such 
 license be of profit or for pleasure only. For a license of profit 
 is, where a man hath a lawful warrant to kill and carry away 
 with him the game that is taken by him, either by hunting or 
 hawking in any of those places above mentioned; but a license 
 of pleasure is only where a man hath a warrant to hunt or hawk 
 in a forest, chase, &c. but doth not thereby acquire any property 
 in the game he takes, and so hath not any authority to carry 
 away the same with him ; neither can he that hath only a license 
 of pleasure, hunt or hawk with any more persons in his company 
 than himself: but he that hath a license of profit may hunt or 
 hawk with his friends and servants in his company, and carry 
 away with him the game he hath taken to his own use. 
 
256 
 
 OF THE PURLIEU, OR POURALLEE, 
 OF THE FOREST. 
 
 A purlieu, or pourallee, is a circuit of ground adjoining unto 
 the forest, circumscribed with imraoveable boundaries, known 
 only by matter of record ; this compass of ground was once 
 forest, and afterwards disafforested by the perambulations made 
 for the severing the new forests from the old. This pourallee 
 began at the first after this manner, viz. when king Henry IT. 
 came first to be king of England, he took such great delight in 
 the forests of this kingdom, that (being not contented with those 
 he found here, though many and large) he began, within a few 
 years after his coming to the crown, to enlarge divers great 
 forests, and to afforest the lands of his subjects, that any way 
 were near adjoining unto those forests, and so they continued 
 during his reign. 
 
 After whose death, king Richard I. succeeding him to the 
 throne, within some short time after his coming to the crown, 
 began to follow the example of Henry II. his father, not only 
 in the delight and pleasure he took in forests, but also in daily 
 afforesting the lands of his subjects that any way lay near to his 
 forests ; by means whereof, the enlarging of forests did daily 
 increase during his reign. 
 
 After whose decease, king John, his brother, coming to the 
 crown, did, in like manner, soon afterwards begin, by little and 
 little, to follow the examples of his father and brother, in affor- 
 esting the lands of his subjects, that lay any way near unto his 
 forests, so that the greatest part of the lands of the kingdom was 
 become forest. And thus they continued until the seventeenth 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 257 
 
 year of his reign, at which time, in regard this grievance was 
 not particularly injurious unto a small number, or the meanest 
 persons, but generally to all degrees of people, divers noblemen 
 and gentlemen finding a convenient opportunity, repaired to the 
 king, and besought him to grant unto them, that they might 
 have all those new afforestations that were made by Henry II. 
 Richard I. and himself, disafforested again : all which king 
 John seemed not willing to do, but promised to grant accordingly, 
 and at last consented to subscribe and seal to such articles con- 
 cerning the liberties of the forest, which they then demanded, 
 being for the most part, in such sort, as are now contained in 
 the charter of the forest of the said king John, dated at Run- 
 Jngse-mede, or Ryme-mead (Runnymede, between Staines and 
 Windsor, the 15th of June, in the eighteenth year of his reign.) 
 But before any disafforestation was made upon this grant, 
 king John died at Newark Castle, in Nottinghamshire. 
 
 After whose death, Henry III. his eldest son, at the age or 
 nine years, succeeded to the throne, so that by reason of his 
 minority, nothing was done until the ninth year of his reignj at 
 which time the two charters were made, and confirmed by the 
 said Henry III. called Magna Charta and Charta de Foresta, 
 and caused to be sent into every county throughout the king- 
 dom, to be published and proclaimed. 
 
 And for the better accomplishing and performing of those 
 articles of Charta de Foresta, as concerned the disafforestation of 
 such woods and lands as were afforested by Henry II. Richard I. 
 and king John, the said Henry III. ordered inquisitions to be 
 taken by substantial juries for severing the new forests from the 
 old ; and thereupon two commissioners were sent to take those 
 inquisitions, by virtue whereof many great woods and lands 
 were not only disafforested, but improved to arable land by the 
 owners thereof. So that now, after this charter thus made and 
 
 confirmed, some of these new afforestations were perambulated, 
 y 3 
 
258 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 and after such inquisitions taken, the certainty was made known 
 by matter of record, which were the old and which were the new 
 forests. Nevertheless, the greater part of the new afforestations 
 were still remaining to be disafforested during the life of king 
 Henry III. 
 
 After whose decease, Edward I. his eldest son, succeeded 
 him unto the crown, who, being often besought, and petitioned 
 as well by the nobility as commonalty of this kingdom, to con^ 
 firm the aforesaid liberties, which his father had granted, was 
 graciously pleased to confirm the same according to his request. 
 And now all things having been granted, performed, and con- 
 firmed concerning the said two charters, viz, Magna Charta, and 
 Charter de Foresta, the same were delivered, signed, sealed, and 
 confirmed, to the sheriff of London, to be proclaimed, which 
 was accordingly done in St. Paul's church yard, in the pre- 
 sence of a numerous concourse of people there met together. 
 Whereupon the lords and commons soon after began to put the 
 king in mind of granting commissions to persons fitly qualified 
 for the same, that perambulations might forthwith be made for 
 all new afforestations, that they might be disafforested, accord- 
 ing to the first and third articles of Charta de Foresta. 
 
 Whereupon three bishops, three earls, and three barons, were 
 appointed by the king to take care of and see those perambula- 
 tions performed, who caused them to be made accordingly, and 
 inquisitions to be taken thereupon, and returned into the court 
 of chancery ; whereby the king was ascertained, what woods and 
 lands were ancient forests, and what were newly afforested ; and 
 caused all those that were ancient forests, to be meered and 
 bounded with irremovable boundaries, to be known by matter 
 of record for ever. And likewise those woods and lands that 
 had been newly afforested, the king caused to be separated from 
 the old, and to be returned into chancery by marks, meers, and 
 bounds to be known, in like manner, by matter of record, for ever. 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 259 
 
 By winch it appears, how the purlieus, or pourallees, had 
 their first beginning ; for, all sueh woods and lands as were affor- 
 sted by Henry II. Richard Lor king John, and by perambu- 
 lations severed from the ancient forests, were, and yet are, called 
 pourallees, viz. woods and lands severed from the old forests, 
 and disafforested by perambulation ; pourallee, in French, being 
 the same as perambulation in Latin. 
 
 But, notwithstanding, such new afforestations were disaffor- 
 ested by perambulation, whereby the same became pourallee, or 
 purlieu ; yet they were not thereby so disafforested as to every 
 man, but that they do, in some sense, continue forest still, as to 
 some persons, though disafforested, in some sort, as to others. 
 For by the words, Charta de Foresta, if the king had afforested 
 any woods or lands of his subjects, to the damage of them whose 
 they were, they should be forthwith disafforested again ; that is, 
 only as to those persons whose woods and lands they were, who, 
 as the proper owners thereof, might fell and cut down the woods 
 at their own pleasure, without any license from the king, as 
 also convert their meadows and pastures into tillage, or other- 
 wise improve their grounds to the best advantage. In like 
 manner, they might hunt and chase the wild beasts of the forest 
 towards the same, so that they do not forestal the same in their 
 return ihither; but yet no other person could claim such bene- 
 fit in the pourallee, but only the proper owner of the soil there- 
 of; so that the same remains forest still, as to those who have 
 no property in the lands therein : for the owners of the woods 
 and lands therein may suffer the pourallee to remain forest still, 
 if they be so minded, notwithstanding such disafforestation) as 
 appears by the statute of S3 Edward I. cap. 5.) as some have 
 thought it most expedient for them, because thereby they had 
 the ^benefit of common within the forest, which otherwise, 
 by having their lands severed from the forest, by way of pour- 
 allee, they were excluded from : which doth prove, that the 
 
1 
 
 260 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 woods and lands in the pourallee are disafforested only for the 
 owners thereof, and not for every one to hunt and spoil the 
 wild beasts there at his pleasure ; for if they chance to wander 
 out of the forest into the pourallee, yet the king hath a property 
 in them still against every man, except the proper owner of the 
 ground wherein they are; for such person has a special property 
 in them, ratione soli, but yet so that he may only take them by 
 hunting, or chasing with his greyhounds or dogs, without any 
 forestalling, or foresetting them in their course back again to- 
 wards the forest ; for the king hath always rangers in the pour- 
 allee to attend such wild beasts of the forest, as come there, and 
 re-chase them back into the forest ; which proves, that though 
 the wild beasts of the forest do by chance stray into the pour- 
 aliee, yet the king hath a property still in them, or otherwise the 
 ranger could have no lawful authority to re-chase them into 
 the forest. 
 
 The Forest Laws may now be regarded as obsolete ; they may 
 be said to have naturally become defunct, since the forests have 
 ceased to exist. However, we may hence very easily trace the 
 origin of the Game Laws. Whatever forest regulations might 
 have been adopted by the Saxons, the English appear to have 
 been comparatively content under their dominion ; and though 
 Canute may be accused of having instituted laws in respect to 
 the forests and wild beasts, which reflect no credit on his memory, 
 it does not appear that they were rigorously enforced in his time. 
 The Normans not only rendered these unjust enactments much 
 more oppressive, but appear to have exercised the greatest cruel- 
 
OF THE FOREST LAWS. 26 1 
 
 ties, and, with savage delight, to have rioted amidst the misery 
 and desolation of the unfortunate English. 
 
 On this subject, Blackstone observes, "Another violent altera- 
 tion of the English constitution consisted in the depopulation of 
 whole counties, for the purpose of the king's royal diversion ; 
 and subjecting both them, and all the ancient forests of the king- 
 dom, to the unreasonable severities of forest laws imported from 
 the continent, whereby the slaughter of a beast was made almost 
 as penal as the death of a man. In the Saxon times, though 
 no man was allowed to kill or chase the king's deer, yet he might 
 start any game, pursue, and kill it, upon his own estate. But 
 the rigour of these new constitutions vested the sole property of 
 all the game in England in the king alone ; and no man was 
 entitled to disturb any fowl of the air, or any beast of the field, 
 of such kinds as were specially reserved for the royal amusement 
 of the sovereign, without express license from the king, by a 
 grant of a chase or free- warren : and those franchises were 
 granted as much with a view to preserve the breed of animals, 
 as to indulge the subject. From a similar principle to which, 
 though the forest laws are now mitigated, and by degrees grown 
 entirely obsolete, yet from this root has sprung a bastard slip, 
 known by the name of the Game Law, now arrived to and wan- 
 toning in its highest vigour : both founded upon the same un- 
 reasonable notions of permanent property in wild creatures ; 
 both productive of the same tyranny to the commons : but with 
 this difference, that the forest laws established only one mighty 
 hunter throughout the land, the game laws have raised a little 
 Nirnrod in every manor. And in one respect the ancient law 
 was much less unreasonable than the modern : for the king's 
 grantee of a chase or free warren might kill game in every part 
 of his franchise ; but now, though a freeholder of less than 
 . 100 a year, is forbidden to kill a partridge upon his own estate, 
 yet nobody else (not even the lord of a manor, unless he hath a, 
 
262 OF THE FOREST LAWS. 
 
 grant of free-warren ) can do it without committing a trespass, 
 and subjecting himself to an action." 
 
 Notwithstanding the excessive rigour of the forest laws, the 
 lower orders of the English could never be prevented from com- 
 mitting depredations ; and though time has so much altered the 
 face of the country, as well as its political institutions, as to ren- 
 der the forest laws a dead letter, yet the passion for the chase 
 appears unabated, and the most severe exercise of the complex 
 enactments of the game laws, has been found inadequate to the 
 intention, as poaching, so far from being prevented, is extensively 
 and audaciously practised, and appears even to increase in pro- 
 portion as the laws for its suppression are multiplied and ren- 
 dered more severe. 
 

 263 
 
 The statutes which are denominated the " Game Laws," far 
 from harmonizing with the general spirit of British legislation, 
 are as remarkable for the petty tyrannical spirit which pervades 
 them, as for the injustice in which they are founded ; and yet, 
 paradoxical as it may appear, whenever in the senate attempts 
 have been made to soften their severity, many of the opposition 
 have distinguished themselves by their decided hostility to such 
 laudable intentions ; nor have they been content to stop here, 
 but have, on the contrary, eagerly embraced every opportunity 
 of rendering an odious system still more disgusting so much 
 for patriotism ! 
 
 Geese, ducks, the common barn-door fowl, and indeed, all 
 domestic poultry, have been reclaimed from a state of nature ; 
 nor can the least doubt be entertained that partridges and phea- 
 sants might be rendered equally submissive ; yet, no sooner is a 
 motion for this purpose brought before the notice of parliament, 
 than the patriots take the alarm ; and though they will talk 
 much about the rights of the subject, they seem, at all events, 
 determined that the working part of the community shall not 
 taste of a dainty which they choose to keep for themselves. 1 
 do not mean to assert, that when Mr. Brandt brought this sub- 
 ject before the House of Commons, that the opposition to his 
 enlightened proposal arose from the patriots alone ; many of the 
 ministerialists no doubt, were unwilling to sanction the motion ; 
 in these it might be said to be consistent ; but what must be 
 thought of men, who, at elections and public meetings, load 
 
2(J4< THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 ministers with the most rancorous abuse, declaim in bitter terms 
 on the invaded rights of the people, the galling oppression under 
 which they are sinking, and rave about reform almost as madly 
 as Platoff did for Buonaparte's head ; yet, only let the reform 
 of the game laws be distantly hinted, and they immediately strain 
 every nerve to continue a system at variance with reason and 
 justice, but which enables them, as land-holders or lords of 
 manors, to play the petty tyrant on a scale contemptible enough, 
 but well suited to the narrowness of their contracted ideas ! 
 
 While poaching has most alarmingly increased, the means 
 resorted to for the preservation of game are not only disgusting, 
 but extremely dangerous ; and though accidents are of frequent 
 occurrence, and valuable lives occasionally lost, by steel traps 
 and spring guns, yet the system is obstinately pursued in this 
 enlightened age, and in a country too which boasts so much of 
 the freedom of its institutions, and the inherent rights of the 
 human race ! 
 
 If a partridge could, like a sheep, be kept in a paddock, then 
 indeed the right of private property would be claimed with jus- 
 tice ; but as no limits can be put to its motions, as it is seen on 
 the ground of one man this hour, and on that of another the 
 next may feed on the corn of the peer in the morning, and 
 ravage the poor man's crop in the evening what can be more 
 ridiculous or unjust than to claim as a right that which, in the very 
 nature of things, can belong to no particular person whatever. 
 
 Colonel Wood, a few years back, brought this subject before 
 the House of Commons with a view to remedy the evil here 
 complained of, but he did not succeed ; and the more recent 
 attempt of Mr. Brandt (fresh in the recollection of the reader, 
 no doubt) though entertained for some time, and triumphantly 
 debated, as far as reason and justice were concerned, was, never- 
 theless, ultimately rejected* This enlightened statesman had 
 no intention to abridge the privileges of the rich, but merely 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 265 
 
 wished to extend the liberty of the poor, and thus put a stop to 
 the present frightful system of poaching. According to his 
 plan, the farmer would be at liberty to breed game for the 
 market in the same manner as domestic poultry or rabbits, with- 
 out, however, restricting the land owners from making any 
 agreement they thought proper with their tenantry : hence the 
 great would be still enabled to preserve what quantity of game 
 they thought proper ; yet, as the proposition would evidently 
 annihilate that odious distinction of qualification, and in all pro- 
 bability render partridges as plentiful as common poultry, it was 
 not to be endured : and though neither the hostility of minis- 
 ters, nor any thing like sound argument, was urged against the 
 measure, it was lost, notwithstanding ; and an attempt made to 
 raise on its ruins the following " to authorise the sale of game 
 under certain restrictions : Lords of manors and gamekeepers 
 authorized by deputation to kill game, may sell game to licensed 
 persons. Justices may grant licences to certain persons, upon, 
 entering into a recognizance. Justices empowered to revoke 
 licences, upon proof of the conditions of the recognizance being 
 broken. Licensed persons selling game to affix a ticket to the 
 same, signed with his name. Persons obtaining certificates 
 under false pretences liable to penalties* Not to affect former 
 acts for the preservation of game." 
 
 This, which went merely to enable great land owners to de- 
 rive a pecuniary profit from the sale of game, and increase per- 
 haps the grievance complained of, did not pass into a law, owing, 
 however, more to the late period of the session at which it was 
 introduced, than to any intention of the proposers; and even 
 
 when, for this reason, it was reluctantly abandoned, notice was 
 
 given that it would again be brought before the House at the 
 
 first convenient opportunity. 
 
 There are many causes to which the great extent of poaching 
 
 is to be attributed, and it will be necessary to glance at these 
 
266 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 before I describe my plan for preventing this infraction of 
 the law so uniformly deplored, although from very different 
 motives. 
 
 In the first place, it will be readily admitted that there is an 
 inherent attachment to field sports in human nature, but par- 
 ticularly in this country ; so much so, indeed, that even the well- 
 Jed citizen is observed, occasionally, to quit the solacing and 
 balmy comforts of a snug fire side and domestic ease, and exert 
 himself beyond his usual custom, merely to enjoy the diversion of 
 shooting a Jew sparrows ! The rustic seems to imbibe a relish 
 for the chase from the earliest period of life ; but his desire, in 
 the first instance, arises much less from a wish to be possessed of 
 the game than from a thirst to enjoy the pleasure of pursuing it ; 
 nor is it till after an enticing lure has been repeatedly exhibited 
 to his view, that he even contemplates the union of profit with 
 pleasure ; and no one follows a profession with more delight than 
 the poacher. 
 
 Persons in the middle classes of life, as tradesmen in large towns, 
 who are attached to field sports, as well as those who are fond of 
 the pleasures of the table, but chiefly the former, look with an 
 envious eye upon those privileges and distinctions, which the 
 rich, as it respects game, have appropriated to themselves : not 
 one amongst the numerous enactments on this head, however, 
 excites such unmingled disgust as that which relates to qualifi- 
 cation. On this account, therefore, since these persons are 
 thus unjustly excluded, as they conceive, from a little rational 
 enjoyment, they encourage poaching, not only without the least 
 hesitation, but as a kind of duty ; and instances are not wanting 
 where they have accompanied the poachers to the borders of 
 the identical domain, and have even shared, occasionally, in the 
 forbidden pleasure of nocturnal havock. 
 
 Hence it will be readily seen that they who follow the business 
 of poaching have always the advantage of a willing market, good 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 26? 
 
 prices, and ready money for their illicit commodities ; and, while 
 the traffic is thus encouraged, and the security from detection 
 increased to a very great degree, owing to the jealous feeling of 
 those who foster it, as well as the light in which it is unfortu- 
 nately viewed by the community in general, it will be no easy 
 matter to frame any legal 'restraints which shall operate as an 
 effectual check to poaching. Indeed, since the penalties have 
 been increased to a very great degree of severity, poaching, in- 
 stead of being checked in its baneful operation, appears to have 
 increased proceeding exactly in an inverse ratio. 
 
 From experience, then, we may safely conclude that an excess 
 of severity, in legal enactments, tends rather to encourage than 
 to depress poaching : prudence, therefore, should induce us to 
 look for a remedy of a conciliatory nature rather than those irri- 
 table caustics which, though, for a time, they may cicatrize the 
 wound, it still remains unsound at the bottom, and ultimately 
 bursts out with increased virulence. Now, if as I have already 
 observed, the farmer were allowed to breed game and bring it 
 regularly to market in the same manner as domestic poultry, the 
 poacher would not only be under-sold, but more strictly watched 
 by the occupier of the land. And, however wild partridges and 
 pheasants may appear, there is no doubt, that by persevering for a 
 few generations they would be brought to propagate in the farm 
 yard as familiarly as domestic poultry. All our present domestic 
 fowls were unquestionably reclaimed from a state of nature. 
 Nothing could be more easy than to breed hares in abun- 
 dance, though in a state of half confinement. Such a system, 
 in my opinion, would operate most essentially in checking a 
 vice which every reflecting mind must seriously lament, and 
 which very often leads to the most mischievous, as well as the 
 most deplorable, consequences ; it would, also, have the good 
 effect of putting an end to those jealousies and heart-burnings so 
 frequently manifested by the middling classes of tradesmen,, $* 
 
 z 2 
 
268 
 
 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 ready alluded to. If to this were added something more equitable 
 or more satisfactory, in regard to qualification, I have no hesi- 
 tation in declaring my firm conviction, that poaching would 
 nearly, if not altogether, cease. At the same time, far from re- 
 ducing the price of the certificate, I would have it increased. It 
 is a good and legitimate source of revenue : it is, in fact, a 
 oluntary tax, and therefore in the eye of reason and justice, ap- 
 pears unexceptionable. 
 
 Admitting, then, for the sake of argument, that the measures 
 just proposed would answer the end in view, it is but fair that 
 we should examine the other side of the question, in order to see 
 how far such regulations would affect what have been hitherto 
 considered as the peculiar privileges of the great and wealthy 
 classes of society. In the first place, I conceive, it will be readily 
 admitted, that game, under such circumstances, would abundantly 
 increase ; and while the regular market might be thus well sup- 
 plied, the noble and wealthy sportsman would experience an 
 increase rather than a diminution ; and, if economy were an ob- 
 ject, a considerable expense might be saved in keepers. The 
 law of trespass should remain precisely as it is at present it is 
 an excellent law ; and would operate, in the case I propose, as 
 it does at this moment, as a protection to the land-holder, and, 
 consequently, as a sufficient guard against the illegal destruction 
 of game. Landholders would still possess the right of granting 
 leases upon such specific conditions as might give satisfaction to 
 both parties ; as, at present, a clause is generally inserted re- 
 specting the game. Therefore, upon every view of the case, 
 while the proposed system would render game abundant, it would 
 not abridge, in the most remote degree, the amusements of the 
 higher orders : it would infringe no privilege ; and would, I have 
 no doubt, in a little time, effectually destroy the now-growing 
 evil of poaching. Moreover, most of those who give encourage- 
 ment to poaching, and which they now regard as no crime, could 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 269 
 
 then view it in no other light than absolute robbery, and though 
 they might purchase game from a poacher with indifference, or 
 perhaps with delight, they would shudder at the idea of being 
 connected with professed thieves ! 
 
 At present, poaching is by no means confined to the lower 
 orders ; for it is a certain fact, however difficult the proof might 
 be, that there are to be found in higher life, those who do not 
 hesitate to supply the market clandestinely with game. 
 
 I am no enemy to the rich, nor would I encroach on the 
 rights of any class of men ; but I cannot help regarding the dis- 
 tinction in the qualification for killing game as most unjust 
 why, in the name of all that is reasonable, should the merchant 
 be debarred from the pleasures of the chase ? It is very well 
 known that the revenue arising from merchandize or moveable 
 property is far greater than that derived from land ; and there- 
 fore, since it pays more towards the support of government and 
 the protection of the country, why should it not entitle its pos- 
 sessor to the same privileges as the land-holder ? I do not mean 
 to say, that a merchant ought to have the privilege of entering 
 upon the grounds of any person without the consent of the 
 owner quite the contrary : property should and must be held 
 sacred, or anarchy will ensue. But as the matter stands at 
 present, an unqualified person is liable to be prosecuted, even 
 should he be sporting with the consent of the owner of the 
 ground, and in possession of a game certificate ! 
 
 Many of these strict game preservers, though they may have 
 an immense extent of land, yet, if they find any of the neigh- 
 bouring land-holders indifferent as to the game, they volunteer 
 their services for what is called its preservation ; or, in other 
 words, they manifest the utmost anxiety to prevent a partridge 
 from falling into plebeian hands ; and while they rigorously en- 
 force the most odious part of the law against any of the inferior 
 
 order who happens to do any thing more than look at the game-, 
 
 z 3 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 they are not scrupulously exact in every legal point themselves, 
 but strain every nerve to render oppression still more oppressive! 
 
 In general, these tyrannical Nimrods will be found Whigs. I 
 have experienced liberality from the Tories in respect to game ; 
 but never from the Whigs : and when I hear the latter, with 
 inflated pride, boast so much of patriotism, the game laws flash 
 across my mind ; nor can I help suspecting the intentions of men, 
 whose private practice is so much at variance with their public 
 profession. 
 
 That some alteration must, at no distant period, take place 
 in respect to game is abundantly evident ; much good may re- 
 sult from a judicious and liberal revision of the statutes, without 
 the least injury to the just right of any class or order of men. 
 Lord Cranbourne having brought the subject of the GameLaws 
 before the House of Commons in the spring of 1823, during the 
 printing of the present edition, for an account of the proceed- 
 ings thereon, we refer the reader to the end of the volume. 
 
 TRESPASS, 
 
 Which is the entry by one person upon the ground of another, 
 without the owner's consent ; and even though no real injury 
 may be sustained by the owner of the land, it is a trespass, 
 nevertheless. It is a wilful trespass where the person has been 
 warned not to come upon the ground ; and malicious, where the 
 intention to distress or injure the owner is evident. 
 
 In the sense we are here to consider it, trespass applies to qua- 
 lifted, as well as unqualified, persons, though not in an equal 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 27 I 
 
 degree. The existing statutes relative to this subject, are fun- 
 damentally just and laudable ; though it cannot be denied, that 
 they have been frequently resorted to (on account of game) 
 merely as a colour to the basest intention, and have thus become 
 the instruments of legal oppression. 
 
 An action of trespass may be supported for any unlawful 
 entry on land, although no notice has been given ; but in that 
 case, if the damages recovered be under forty shillings, and only 
 the general issue Ebs been pleaded, the plaintiff will in general 
 recover no more costs than damages ; whereas, when a trespass 
 has been committed after notice, it is usual for the judge on the 
 trial to certify that it was wilful ; in which case the plaintiff will 
 be entitled to full costs, however small the damages. 
 
 It is enacted, by 43 Eliz. and 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 9. that 
 where the jury, who try an action for trespass, give less damages 
 than 40s. the plaintiff shall be allowed 40s. damages only, un- 
 less (8 and 9 Will, and Mary, c. 11.) it shall appear that the 
 trespass was wilful and malicious, and is so certified to be by the 
 judge ; in which case the plaintiff shall recover full costs. 
 
 However, 4 and 5 Will, and Mary, c. 23. s. 10, enacts, that 
 every inferior tradesman, apprentice, or other dissolute person, 
 may be sued for going upon another man's ground to hunt, &c. 
 though he do no injury ; and if found guilty, shall pay full costs 
 of suit. The reason for which, is to discourage the temptation 
 which might otherwise be afforded them of neglecting their 
 proper business in pursuit of sport, to the injury of themselves 
 and families. 
 
 Who are " Inferior Tradesmen" has not been legally de- 
 fined. Upon the prosecution of a huntsman for being out with 
 his master's hounds, it was decided that the huntsman did not 
 come within the meaning of the statute as an " inferior trades- 
 man" or " dissolute person." In the case Buxton v. Mingat/, 
 the question was, whether the defendant, a surgeon and apothe- 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 cary, not qualified to kill game, came within the description of* 
 an inferior tradesman. For the plaintiff it was said, that amongst 
 tradesmen no line can be drawn with respect to who are superior 
 and who are inferior ; but that the distinction which the legis- 
 lature intended, was between those who were qualified and those 
 that were not ; so that in this respect every tradesman is inferior 
 who is not qualified. For the defendant, it was urged, that 
 every case of this kind ought to be determined on its particular 
 circumstances and left to the jury, whether the defendant is an 
 inferior tradesman or dissolute person within the statute. The 
 court being equally divided, no rule was made. 
 
 A lord of a manor, unless he have a right of free-warren, 
 (which is very seldom the case) is as liable as any other man to 
 the penalties just enumerated ; or, in other words, he cannot 
 sport upon the lands of another, even in his own manor, without 
 permission from the owner or occupier of the land : a tenant 
 can notice his landlord off the estate which he occupies, unless a 
 a clause in the lease (which is generally the case) gives the land- 
 lord the privilege to sport. If a manor is to be strictly pre* 
 served, every occupier of land throughout such manor should 
 sign a paper drawn up in the following manner : 
 
 SIR, 
 
 I do hereby give you notice, and require you not ta 
 enter, or cause or procure to be entered, any of my closes, lands, 
 or premises, situate and being in the parish of , or else- 
 where, in the county of , with horses, dogs, or otherwise, 
 in order to beat for, follow, or pursue, any game, or for any 
 other purpose whatsoever ; and in case you do not as yet know 
 the local situation of such, my said closes, lands, and premises, 
 I hereby give you notice, that the same will be pointed out and 
 shewn to you, upon reasonable application at my dwelling-house, 
 situate at And I do hereby further give you notice, that 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 273 
 
 in case, after you being served with this notice, you shall commit 
 any trespass upon any part of my said closes, lands, or premises, 
 you will not only be proceeded against as a wilful and malicious 
 trespasser, pursuant to the statutes in that case made and pro- 
 vided, but will also be otherwise prosecuted for such offence ac- 
 cording to law.* Dated this day of , in the year of 
 
 our Lord . 
 
 SYLVESTER SOREHEAD. 
 To Ma. PETER POPEMOFF. 
 
 The oral notice of either gamekeeper or lord of a manor is 
 insufficient ; but is deemed legal from the occupier of the land 
 where the sportsman happens to be found. In all other cases, 
 a written notice, similar to the above sketch, and signed by all 
 the occupiers of the land in the manor, must be given to the 
 trespasser. A gamekeeper cannot demand the name of a sports- 
 man, or a sight of his certificate, without first producing his own 
 deputation and certificate ; a gentleman must first produce his 
 own certificate, before he is authorised to see the certificate of 
 another person. In default of certificate, the name and address 
 must be given ; and any fictitious name adopted, or evasion re- 
 sorted to, subjects the party to a penalty of 201. 
 
 * The notice may in general be in the above form, but where there 
 will be no difficulty in so doing, it may be advisable either to point out 
 the names or abuttals of the closes in the notice, or to annex a sketch 
 of them. It was held, in the case of Sellon v. the huntsman of the 
 Berkeley hunt, sittings at Westminster, K. B. after Trinity term, 1816, 
 that a general printed notice stuck up, purporting to be a notice that 
 "the Stanmore Association" would prosecute all persons trespassing, 
 but not signed by the plaintiff, nor addressed to the defendant, is net a 
 legal notice not to trespass. In order to establish the notice in evidence, 
 it is not necessary to give notice to produce the original notice, but it 
 suffices to produce a duplicate made at the time ; by Chambre, Justice, 
 in the year 1802. 2 Bla. Comm. Christian's edition, 147, with notes, 
 3 Bla, Comm. 215, note b. 2 Campb. llep, 110. 
 
274 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 . 
 
 It is supposed by some, that a person may continue to spo: 
 on the same manor all day, though he has been warned off in 
 the morning. This cannot be the case he may go through the 
 manor to some road, but should he persevere in continuing his 
 diversion for any unnecessary length of time, he becomes a 
 wilful trespasser. 
 
 At the summer Hertford assizes, 1809, the Earl of Essex, v. 
 the Hon. and Rev. Wm. Capel. The plaintiff declared in tres- 
 pass, for breaking and entering certain closes of the plaintiff, 
 and that with hounds, dogs, and horses, he hunted, sported, and 
 went in, along, and over, the said closes, and trod down and de- 
 stroyed, the grass and herbage of the plaintiff. The defendant 
 pleaded several pleas. 1st. the general issue, which he after- 
 wards withdrew. 2d. that as to breaking and entering the close, 
 called Cashiobury Park, the defendant, with divers other persons, 
 who, as well as the defendant, were qualified to keep hounds, 
 had found a fox in a certain place, called Bricket Wood, not being 
 the close of the plaintiff, and that a fox being a noxious animal, 
 he hunted it with his dogs, hounds, and horses, and that the 
 hunting the fox with dogs, hounds, and horses, was the only 
 way of killing the fox. In the 3d plea, it was stated, that such 
 pursuit of the fox, with dogs, hounds, and horses, was the most 
 effectual and proper way of killing the fox. To these pleas the 
 plaintiff replied, that hunting the fox, was not the only, or the 
 most effectual way of killing and destroying it ; and further 
 stated, that the trespasses were committed, for the sport and 
 diversion of the chase, and for the purpose of amusement and 
 pleasure only. To these replications, the defendant rejoined, 
 that the trespasses were not committed for diversion and amuse- 
 ment, but as the only and most effectual and proper way of kil- 
 ling and destroying the fox. Shepherd, Serjeant, for the plain- 
 tiff, contended, that the only question was, whether it was the 
 defendant's object, to rid the country of noxious vermin, or whe* 
 
THE GAME LAWS* 275 
 
 ther he hunted for the sake of amusement ? If it was merely for 
 amusement, the law does not sanction it. Even in the enjoyment 
 of a man's own property, the maxim of law is, that every rnati 
 must so use his own, as not to injure his neighbours ; if that is 
 the law, with respect to the enjoyment of property, then, un- 
 questionably, as to the enjoyment of an amusement, the principle 
 is doubly applicable, and no one can say, that under the pre- 
 tence of destroying a noxious animal, it is lawful to trespass over 
 every species of property a fox may go through. I should ex- 
 tremely doubt, whether, after starting a fox on one piece of land, 
 persons have a right to follow it on the lands of another, even 
 if they do it, for the destruction of the animal. In Fentham r. 
 Gundry, the judgment of the court proceeded upon the plain- 
 tiff's admitting, that the way taken by the defendant was the 
 only one to destroy the vermin, and therefore the action could 
 not be supported. 
 
 Lord EUenborough said, c * the defendant states in his plea, 
 that the trespass was not committed, for the purpose of the diver- 
 sion and amusement of the chase merely, but as the only way 
 and means of killing and destroying the fox. Now, if you was 
 to put it upon this question, which was the principal motive ? 
 Can any man of common sense, hesitate in saying, that the prin- 
 cipal motive and inducement, was not the killing of vermin, but 
 the enjoyment of the sport and diversion of the chase? and we 
 cannot make a new law, to suit the pleasures and amusements of 
 those gentlemen, who choose to hunt for their diversion. These 
 pleasures are to be taken only, when there is the consent of 
 those who are likely to be injured by them ; but they must be 
 necessarily subservient to the consent of others. There may be 
 such a public nuisance by a noxious animal, as may justify the 
 running him to his earth, but then you cannot justify the dig- 
 ging for him afterwards, that has been ascertained and settled to 
 be law ; but even if an animal may be pursued with dogs, it does 
 
276 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 not follow, that fifty or sixty people have, therefore, a right to 
 follow the dogs, and trespass on other people's lands. I cannot 
 see what it is, that is contended for by the defendant. The 
 only case which will at all bear him out, is that of Fentham v. 
 Gundry ; if it be necessary, I should be glad that that case should 
 be fully considered. I have looked into the case in the year 
 book. 12 Hen. 8. pi. 9. That seems to be nothing more than 
 the case of a person, who had chased a stag from the forest into 
 his own land, where he killed it, and on an action of trespass 
 being brought against the forester, who came and took the stag, 
 he justified, that he had made fresh suit after the stag, and it 
 was held, that he might state that he was justified, and the plain- 
 tiff took nothing by his writ. This is the case upon which that 
 of Fentham v. Gundry is built, but it is founded only on an obiter 
 dictum of Justice Brooke, and it does not appear to me to be 
 much relied on ; but even in that case, it is emphatically said by 
 the judge, that a man may not hunt for his pleasure or his profit, 
 but only for the good of the common weal, and to destroy such 
 noxious animals as are injurious to the common weal. There- 
 fore, according to this case, the good of the public must be the 
 governing motive." The Jury, under his Lordship's direction, 
 found a verdict for the plaintiff. 
 
 A word or two on the legal property which qualified persons 
 have in the game of which they are in pursuit may not be alto- 
 gether uninteresting; indeed, they are indispensably necessary. 
 In general, it continues so long only as the game remains within 
 the limits of the manor or liberty of the owner; yet it is held, that 
 if after having been started upon a person's own grounds, it be 
 pursued and killed on those of another, it will nevertheless be the 
 property of him who started it, because the possession which he 
 gained by finding it within his own liberty is continued by the 
 immediate pursuit. 11 Mod. Rep. 75. But if it is started on 
 another mans ground, and killed there, it will belong to him on 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 277 
 
 whose ground it was killed, this property arising rations toil. 
 Lord Raym. 251. 
 
 Moreover, if, having been started on another person's ground, 
 it be killed on that of a third person, it will belong neither 
 to him on whose ground it was started, nor to him on whose 
 ground it was killed, but to the person who killed it, though he 
 be guilty of a trespass on the grounds of both the other persons. 
 
 But if a stranger starts game in the chase or free warren of 
 another man, and hunts it into the liberty of another, the pro- 
 perty will continue in the owner of the chase or warren, and the 
 keeper may pursue and retake it; for whilst the keeper pursues 
 it, it does not in law pass into a new liberty. 
 
 On the 12th of May, 1782, the following question of law was 
 determined in the Court of Common Pleas, viz* one gentleman 
 brought an action against another, for trespassing upon the 
 waste of his manor, by remaining there after notice to quit. 
 Upon the trial it was insisted that the waste was not that kind 
 of property, as to be so strictly sacred from a trespass as a manor ; 
 but it was over-ruled by the court. 
 
 At the summer assizes held at Bury, 1804, two causes were 
 decided before Mr. Justice Heath and Special Juries, in which 
 Lord Rous was plaintiff, and Sir Henry Smyth, Bart, and Wil- 
 liam Gill, Esq. two gentlemen of considerable property in 
 Essex, were defendants, for a trespass upon the land of his lord- 
 ship, after the parties had received from him a written refusal to 
 a note requesting permission to shoot, and after a verbal notice 
 had been given them by his lordship's gamekeeper to leave the 
 premises. The Judge, after animadverting upon the improper 
 conduct of these gentlemen, informed the Jury that he should 
 certify upon the record that the trespasses were wilful and mali- 
 cious, which would entitle the plaintiff to his costs, in conse- 
 quence of which the Juries gave nominal damages only. This 
 decision will correct a very mistaken notion, that no trespass can 
 2 A 
 
278 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 be deemed wilful or malicious, unless a formal written notice be 
 previously delivered ; and proves, that the mere entering another 
 person's land, without consent, constitutes a trespass, and will 
 entitle the plaintiff to a verdict, although no damage be actually 
 sustained. 
 
 A qualified person cannot justify committing trespasses in the 
 lands of any other person without his consent, whether such 
 person be or be not lord of a manor. If he commit a trespass 
 upon land in possession of any other person, he is liable to an 
 action of trespass, let the damage be ever so small, which I sup- 
 pose is the reason of giving notice, in order to entitle the plain- 
 tiff to full costs ; but this notice will not entitle any person 
 thereto, but he who gives the notice, though plaintiff be tenant 
 to the person who gives it, and no person but the occupier of 
 the lands can maintain action of trespass ; and he may maintain 
 trespass against any person entering thereon, and if notice hath 
 been given to keep off, the person coming on afterwards will be 
 a wilful trespasser * ; and his looking for game will be no de- 
 fence, though I should think that pursuing it (as hares by hounds 
 after starting) would be defence, but even this is much doubted. 
 CASE. The plaintiff in an action of trespass was lord of the 
 manor, defendant had freehold property in the same manor, and 
 was entitled to common of pasture and turbary ; he had received 
 notice not to treepass on the moors belonging to the manor, 
 for the purpose of hunting, shooting, &c. ; the question was, 
 whether, after the above notice, defendant could lawfully enter 
 and kill game upon the commons and waste lands within the 
 manor? 
 
 * If it appears on the trial that the trespass, however small, was com- 
 mitted after notice, and the Jury gives less than forty shillings damage*, 
 the judge is bound under the stat. 8 and 9 Will, 3. c. 1 1. s. 14. to certify, 
 that the trespass was wilful and malicious, in order to entitle the plain- 
 tiff t hi* full costs. 6 Term Rep. 11. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 279 
 
 OPINION. The circumstances &f the defendant having a 
 right of pasture and turbary, and a right of getting stones and 
 slates on the moors, commons, and wastes within Caton, in re- 
 spect of his estates, these will not justify his entrance upon those 
 moors to kill game. Jf he has a right to enter to kill game 
 there, it will be by virtue of a prescription for that purpose, or 
 of a grant from the owner of the manor, or reputed manor, so 
 to do ; and such a prescription may be established by strong 
 evidence of an uninterrupted course of usage, or of a usage in 
 despite of prohibitions to the contrary, or exercised, under cir- 
 cumstances shewing it to have been used as a claim of right, and 
 not allowed or connived at as a courtesy or indulgence. The 
 fact of the other freeholders of Caton (the manor) having been 
 in the same habit of sporting within the manor, and of doing so 
 not only on the commons, but on the enclosed lands also, is 
 unfavourable I think to the defendant's establishing what he has 
 done as a right in himself to sport upon the manor; and I think 
 in all probability the result of what has been done by the free- 
 holders of Caton, and by the defendant amongst the rest, will, 
 on investigation, be deemed to have been founded on courtesy, 
 and indulgence, and connivance, and not on right. If, however, 
 the defendant can shew such a strong uninterrupted or adverse 
 course of sporting on the waste lands of the manor, as will in- 
 duce a Jury to believe it founded on a privilege annexed to his 
 estate in Caton, he cannot give that enjoyment in evidence in 
 support of such a right under the general issue, but must plead 
 it specially, as a prescriptive right appurtenant to his estate, 
 which is the only mode by which he can have an opportunity of 
 trying that question. G. S. H. Gray's Inn, llth February, 
 1800. 
 
 2 A2 
 
280 
 
 QUALIFICATION. 
 
 The first time we meet with any defined qualification, is in 
 the time of Richard II. when 40s. per annum was deemed suffi- 
 cient. Prior to the time of Richard II. it would seem, that 
 every man was entitled to kill game upon his own land ; and 
 those who possessed the right of freewarren could legally 
 kill game upon any land within their franchise, though it might 
 belong to another person. But by the 13th of Richard II. c. 
 13, no layman who hath not lands or tenements of 40s. per 
 annum, or clergyman not being advanced to 10 a year, shall 
 keep any greyhound or hunting dog, nor use any instruments 
 whatever for taking or destroying gentlemen's game, on pain of 
 one year's imprisonment. 
 
 The 1st of James I. c. 27, rendered it indispensable for a 
 person to possess an estate of s10 per annum, or goods to the 
 value of 200, in order to acquire a qualification ; unless he 
 were the son of a lord or a knight, or the heir apparent of an 
 esquire. In a few years afterwards, the qualification sum was 
 raised to 4.-0 a year, by the 7th of James I. c. 11. 
 
 The most important, however, of the statutes on this head, 
 and which alone, in fact, deserves the attention of the sportsman, 
 is the 22nd and 23rd Charles II. c. 25. This is the most modern, 
 is uniformly acted upon at the present day, and has consequently 
 rendered the preceding enactments a dead letter. By this, every 
 person not having lands or tenements, or some other estate of 
 inheritance in his own or his wife's right, (a) of the clear (b) 
 
 (a) This is not to be understood of a tenant by curtesy, but of one 
 whose wife is living. Vide Co. Lit, 351. 
 
 (b) On this word it has been held, that the estate must be clear of 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 281 
 
 yearly value of j100; or for a term of life, or having lease or 
 leases of 99 years, or for any longer term, of the yearly value 
 of 3^1 50, other than the son and heir apparent of an esquire, 
 or other persons of higher degree (c) and the owners and keepers 
 of forests, parks, chases, or warrens, being stocked with deer or 
 conies for their necessary use in respect to the said forests, parks, 
 chases, or warrens, are declared to be persons, by the law of this 
 realm, not allowed to have or keep for themselves, or any other 
 person, (d) guns, bows, greyhounds, setting dogs, ferrets, coney 
 dogs, lurchers, hays, nets, low bells, hare pipes, gins, snares, 
 or other engines for the taking and killing of conies, hares, phea- 
 sants, partridges, or other game, but shall be prohibited to have, 
 keep, or use the same. 
 
 The 5 Anne, c. 14-. s. 4. may be regarded as a prop or 
 strengthener to the preceding; by this statute it is enacted, if 
 any person not qualified as before stated, shall keep or use (e) 
 
 all mortages or incumbrances created by the owner, or by those under 
 
 whom he claims Caldccot's Cases, ^30. But an equitable estate of 
 
 that value is sufficient. Ibid. 
 
 (c) Esquires are 1. The younger sons of noblemen and their heirs 
 male for ever. 2. The four esquires of the king's body. 3. The eldest 
 sons of baronets, or knights of the Bath, and knights bachelors, and their 
 heirs male in the right line. A justice of the peace is also an esquire 
 for the time he holds his commission, but no longer. Blount. Persons 
 of higher degree than esquires are colonels, Serjeants at law, and doctors 
 in the three learned prefessions; but nt-ilher esquires, nor any of these, 
 are qualified, unless they have the requisue estate mentioned in the pre- 
 ceding part of the act; though the'r sons are qualified without any es- 
 tate whatever. 1 Term Reports, 44. 
 
 (d) An unqualified person, therefore, cannot keep the dogs of a qua- 
 lified person. 
 
 (e) These words being in the disjunctive, the bare keeping of one of 
 these dogs is an offence, 1 Stra. 496 ; as to the using, ie has been deter- 
 mined, that walking about with an intent to kill game, is a using, within 
 
 this statute. 
 
 2A3 
 
282 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 any greyhounds, setting-dogs, hays, lurchers, tunnels, or any 
 other engines, (f ) to kill and destroy the game, and shall be 
 thereof convicted upon the oath of one witness, by the justice of 
 peace where such offence is committed, he shall forfeit the sum 
 of 5) one half to go to the informer, and the other half to the 
 poor of the parish, to be levied by distress, (g) under the war- 
 rant of a justice, and for want of (h) distress, the offender shall 
 be sent to the house of correction for three months, for the first 
 offence ; and for every after offence, four months ; and any jus- 
 tice of the peace, or lord or lady of manors, are allowed to take 
 away hare or other game, and likewise any dogs, nets, or any 
 other engines which shall be in the custody of any persons not 
 qualified to keep the same, to their own use. 
 
 And by 22 and 23 Car. 2. cap. 25. section 2, it is provided, 
 that gamekeepers, or any other persons, by warrant of a justice 
 of the peace, may, in the day time, search the houses, or other 
 places of any such persons prohibited by this act to keep or use 
 any dogs, nets, or other engines aforesaid, and the same seize 
 and keep for the use of the lord of the manor ; or otherwise to 
 cut in pieces or destroy the things so prohibited. 
 
 By 4- and 5 W. and M. c. 23. it is enacted, that if any infe- 
 rior tradesman, (i) apprentice, or other dissolute person, shall 
 
 (f ) It has been held, that a gun is not such an engine, the bare keep- 
 ing of which is penal; it must moreover be shewn to be used for the 
 destruction of game. 2 Stra. 1098. It is also observable, that though 
 using a gun and a dog are both separately penal, yet, per Lord Kenyon, 
 Ch. Justice, if a person go out with a gun and a dog the same day, he is 
 subject to but one penalty. 7 Term Rep. 152. 
 
 (g) Goods destrained for penalties under the game laws are not 
 repleviable. 
 
 (h) The justice cannot commit, if the offender have effects sufficient 
 to answer the penalty. 
 
 (i) It hath been adjudged, that if any person be an inferior trades- 
 man, within the meaning of this act, it makes no difference as to his 
 qualification by estate. 1 Lord Raym. 142. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 233 
 
 hunt, hawk, fish, or fowl, (unless in company with the master 
 of such apprentice duly qualified) such persons may be sued for 
 wilful trespass, on coming on any person's ground, and if found 
 guilty shall pay full costs. 
 
 At Winchester assizes, three years ago, a cause was tried 
 under the game laws, in which Mr. Ward, a gentleman of con- 
 siderable property in the Isle of Wigiit, and lord of the manor 
 of Northwood, was plaintiff, and Mr. Hart, a gentleman residing 
 at Cowes, defendant. The question was, whether the defend- 
 ant, who was possessed of landed property above 100/. per 
 annum, but not assessed under the property tax acts to that 
 amount, was qualified to kill game. The judge, Mr. Baron 
 Graham, summed up the evidence in the most impartial manner, 
 and the jury found their verdict for the defendant. 
 
 Hooker v. Wilks. This was an action of debt, on 8 Geo. I. 
 c. ] 9. for the penalty of i30, for using a hound to destroy the 
 game ; and, after a verdict for the plaintiff, the judgment was 
 arrested; for 5 Ann. c. 14. has not the word hound, and the 
 words other engines, come after nets, &c. and are applicable 
 only to inanimate things. And this being a penal law, cannot 
 be extended. The statute 22 and 23 Car. II. c. 25. has indeed 
 the.general words, or any other dogs to destroy game ; but this 
 is not a conviction on that statute*. 2 Stra. 1126. 
 
 King v Filer. Conviction on 5 Ann. for keeping a lurcher 
 
 * But, although this statute has those general words, it is impossible 
 to convict any offender under it in any penalty, because none is thereby 
 given. The act does not declare that no person shall keep or use any 
 greyhound, &c. or any other dogs to destroy game; but. the general 
 words are found in the enacting clause, which gives authority to lords of 
 manors to appoint gamekeepers to search the house of any person sus- 
 pected to have any greyhounds, setting-dogs, ferrets, coney-dogs, or 
 other dogs lo destroy hares or conies. No penalty can therefore be re- 
 covered under 5 Ann. against those who keep any dog not mentioned in 
 that statute. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 to destroy game, not being qualified. Mr. Eyre excepted, that 
 it was not shewn he made use of the dog to destroy game ; and 
 it may be only kept for a gentleman who was qualified, it being 
 common to put dogs out in that manner. By the court, the 
 statute is in the disjunctive, keep or use ; so that the bare keep- 
 ing a lurcher is an offence ; and so it was determined in the case 
 of King v. King, which was a conviction for keeping a gun ; 
 and it was not doubted by the court, whether the keeping was 
 not enough to be shown ; but the only question they made was, 
 whether a gun was such an engine as is within the statute ; and 
 in that case a difference was taken as to keeping a dog, which 
 could only be to destroy game, and the keeping a gun, which a 
 man might do for the defence of his house. The conviction 
 was confirmed. 
 
 This decision was further confimed by the case of the King 
 v* Hartley, E. 22 Geo. III. in which Lord Mansfield said 
 In this act there are two offences described, a keeping and a 
 using ; and the legislature means that there may be a keeping 
 to destroy, which is not of necessity to be proved by a using for 
 that purpose. If it were so, it would be tautologous ; for such 
 evidence would be a proving of the offence. The keeping there- 
 fore of a thing prohibited being an offence under the act, it is 
 necessarily pnma jade evidence of a keeping for the purpose 
 prohibited; and it is incumbent on the defendant to shew that 
 it was kept for another purpose; as, in the present case, that 
 it is a house-dog, a favourite dog, or a particular species of grey- 
 hound. Caldecott's cases, 175. 
 
 Respecting the form of the conviction, it has been holden, 
 that if it be only alleged that the defendant had not, at the time 
 of the commission of the offence, any lands or tenements, or any 
 other estate of inheritance of the clear yearly value of 100/. or 
 for term of life, &c. nor was in any other manner qualified, em- 
 powered, licensed, or authorised by the laws of this realm, either 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 285 
 
 to take, kill, or destroy any sort of game whatsoever, without 
 expressly negativing that the defendant had an estate of inheri- 
 tance of the clear yearly value of 1 OO/. in right of his wife, the 
 proceedings will be defective. All the qualifications mentioned 
 in 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. s. 3. must receive an express and 
 specific negative. 
 
 It has been shewn, that a diploma to give a right to sport in 
 England must be conferred either by the university of Oxford 
 or Cambridge. With respect to the evidence which must be 
 given to prove this qualification, we find Lord Kenyon stating 
 an instance within his own recollection where it was relied on, 
 which seems of considerable importance. In that case, the books 
 from the university which contained the act of the corporation 
 conferring the degree were produced in evidence, and holden to 
 be sufficient for the purpose, as being the best kind of proof 
 which the nature of the case afforded. On the other hand it 
 has been holden, that the mere production of a diploma, sealed 
 with a seal purporting to be the seal of a university, and proved 
 only by a witness to the acknowledgments of the parties, where 
 names were affixed to it, of its authenticity, is not sufficient evi- 
 dence to authenticate the instrument, so as to shew that a degree 
 has been actually conferred. At least, an examined copy from 
 the university books should be given in evidence. And though 
 it is not necessary to prove the seal of a corporation in the same 
 manner as that of an individual, by producing the witness who 
 saw it affixed, it must be shewn to be the instrument used by the 
 corporate body whose authority it professes to bear, because 
 otherwise any instrument with a seal to it might be produced as 
 the seal of a corporation. 
 
 Notwithstanding the 44 Geo. 3, c. 54. s. 26. enacts, that all 
 officers in corps of volunteers, having commissions from lieuten- 
 ants of counties, shall rank with the officers of his majesty's re- 
 gular forces, it has been holden, that the statute merely intends 
 
286 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 military rank ; and, therefore, a commission of captain of volun- 
 teers, signed by the lord lieutenant of a county, does not confer 
 the degree of esquire, so as to give to the son of the party, thus 
 commissioned, a qualification to pursue game. 
 
 Kent Assizes* Maidstone, Wednesday, March 16, 1814. 
 Kingsnorth v. Breton and another. 
 
 The Common Serjeant stated, that this was an action against 
 the Rev. Dr. Breton, a magistrate, and Mr. Jemmett, a solicitor 
 of great practice in the county, for causing the plaintiff's dog to 
 be killed. The facts of the case were, that the plaintiff was 
 summoned by Mr. Toke, a magistrate, to attend to answer a 
 charge for keeping a lurcher. He attended accordingly, when 
 the defendant, Dr. Breton, Mr. Toke, Mr. Brett, and two other 
 magistrates were present, Mr. Jemmett acting as their clerk. 
 Some investigation took place, at the end of which Dr. Breton 
 told the plaintiff that he was convicted in the sum of 5/. and that 
 the dog was forfeited, and should be destroyed. A constable 
 of the name of Norley was then called, and desired to destroy 
 the dog ; but he hesitating, Mr. Jemmett repeated the order, 
 and said he would pay him for so doing. Norley then took the 
 dog out into the town of Ashford, where the magistrates were 
 sitting at the Saracen's Head Inn, and he was shot in the market 
 place. The plaintiff borrowed of a friend on the spot the sum 
 of 5/. to pay the fine. 
 
 Mr. Serjeant Best contended, that all this proceeding was 
 warranted under the statute of Queen Anne, in which the Lord 
 Chief Baron concurring, the plaintiff was nonsuited. 
 

 287 
 
 ADJUDGED CASES. 
 
 It has been determined that the clause in the stat. 22 and 23 
 Car. 2. c. 25. relative to qualification by freehold estate, termi- 
 nates with the words per annum ; and that a life estate, being of 
 an inferior quality, ought to be coupled with leasehold, whereof 
 one hundred and fifty pounds a year is necessary to constitute 
 a qualification. A clergyman's benefice is a life estate. Lowndes 
 0. Lewis. Caldecott's Cases, 188. 
 
 A person having an estate of one hundred and three pounds 
 a year, mortgaged a part of it to the value of fourteen pounds a 
 year, which being copyhold, was surrendered to the mortgagee, 
 who was thereupon admitted tenant, but never entered on the 
 premises, the mortgager continuing in possession and paying 
 interest. It was held that the mortgager, under these circum- 
 stances, was not a qualified person. Wetherall v. Hall. Cal- 
 decott's Cases, 230. 
 
 In the case of Jones v . Smart, after much argument it was 
 decided, that a diploma conferring the degree of doctor of phy- 
 sic, granted by either of the universities in Scotland, does not 
 give a qualification to kill game under stat* 22 and 23 Car. 2. 
 c. 25. and that an esquire, or other person of higher degree as 
 such, is not qualified under that act, though the son of an esquire, 
 or the son of other person of higher degree, is qualified. 1 Term 
 Rep. 44. 
 
 It is remarkable, that on this construction a son who holds 
 a qualification in the right of his father, may be deprived of it 
 by succeeding to his father in the estate, if under the required 
 value ; and the son, during his father's life, may for the same 
 reason be qualified in right of an unqualified father. Lofft's 
 Gild. Evid. 1125. 
 
288 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 A doctor of physic of the English universities is not quali- 
 fied as such. 1 Term Rep. 44. 
 
 The King v. Utley. This was an information before a jus- 
 tice of the peace, and a conviction of the defendant thereon, be- 
 cause he was neither qualified by property, under 22 and 23 
 Car. 2. nor the eldest son of an esquire, or of other person of 
 higher degree, nor within the exemptions of the act. Counsel 
 moved to quash the information for the insertion of the word of. 
 He said, the precedent in Burn, from which this conviction was 
 copied, was faulty and not warranted by law, for the construction 
 put on the words of the statute by inserting the word of, would 
 prevent an esquire, or a knight, or the person superior to an 
 esquire, from being qualified by degree. Buller, J. said, it ap- 
 peared to him > that the legislature had taken it for granted, that 
 an esquire, or other person of higher degree, would of course 
 have sufficient estate to qualify him. Conviction confirmed. 
 1 T. R. 45. 
 
 The lord of a manor, who is worth one hundred and twenty 
 pounds a year, the demesnes of which are granted to another 
 for life, is not thereby qualified to kill game, within the 22 and 
 23 Car. 2. c. 25. ; for the words having an estate, &c, signify 
 an estate in possession. Mallock v. Eastley. 7. Mod. 482. 
 per Abney, justice. This very point was expressly determined 
 in the king's bench upon a very great debate some years ago, 
 where a young gentleman in Essex, who had ninety pounds a 
 year in possession, and one hundred and fifty pounds in reversion, 
 expectant on the death of his mother, was yet held not to be 
 qualified. Ib. 
 
 An estate of the value of one hundred and fifty pounds per 
 annum, holden by the defendant in his own right, under a lease 
 for ninety-nine years, to trustees, if the defendant and others 
 should so long live, is a sufficient qualification to kill game 
 under the stat. 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. s. 3. Earl Ferrers v. 
 Henton. 8 Term Rep. 506. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 289 
 
 Booth v. Pinnock, Esquire. This was an action on the game 
 laws, brought against Mr. Pinnock, under the direction of the 
 Right Hon. Lord Berkeley. The defendant had shot a hare 
 on his lordship's grounds, which was proved. But inasmuch as 
 the defendant was a gentleman of fortune, Lord Kenyon thought 
 they ought to go further, and shew he was not qualified. 
 
 Mr. Erskine, for the defendant, said, he was instructed to 
 state, that the defendant was summoned to appear before a ma- 
 gistrate ; that the noble lord was personally present ; that upon 
 that occasion, Mr. Pinnock produced a settlement that was 
 made on his wife, who was within six weeks of being of age, by 
 which it appeared that she was tenant for life, without im- 
 peachment of waste, of an estate of upwards of one thousand 
 pounds a year. When that marriage settlement was produced, 
 the magistrate asked Lord Berkeley if he would wait. " No," 
 said his lordship, " go on, and convict." And after the defen- 
 dant was convicted of the penalty, the plaintiff brought this 
 action. 
 
 Lord Kenyon, after being made acquainted with the contents 
 of the marriage settlement, was clearly of opinion that the de- 
 fendant was qualified. 
 
 With respect to a received notion among many of the citizens 
 of London, that they have a right to hunt, hawk, and shoot in 
 Middlesex, &c.* arising from their charter, it must be observed, 
 
 * Fitzstephen says, they have liberty of hunting in Middlesex, Hert- 
 fordshire, all Chilton, and in Kent, to the Waters of Grey. Stephan- 
 ides Disc. London. This account differs from the clause in the royal 
 charter granted to them by Henry I. which runs thus: "The citizens 
 of London may have chases and hunt as well and as fully as their ances- 
 tors have had; that is to say, in the Chiltre, in Middlesex, and Surry." 
 These Exercises were not much followed by the citizens of London at 
 the close of the sixteenth century, not for want of taste for the amuse- 
 ment, says Stowe, but for leisure to pursue it. Strype, however, so late 
 
 2B 
 
290 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 that in about seven years after King Charles the II. had con- 
 firmed to the citizens all their liberties and privileges, the qua* 
 lification act was made, enacting "that all and every person not 
 having, &c. are declared to be unqualified persons." And that 
 in the said act there is no reservation or exception in favour of 
 the citizens of London. But, there was a statute made, 2 
 W. and M. c. 8. to reverse a judgment given in the court of 
 king's bench against the mayor, aldermen, &c. of London ; and 
 by that statute all the privileges which had been forfeited were 
 re-granted and confirmed. 
 
 DOG CAUSE. In the court of king's bench, at Westminster, 
 Jan. 10, 1822, an appeal against the decision of an Essex jury 
 (under direction from the judge to that effect) was heard, and 
 the verdict obtained at the assizes against defendant, for keeping 
 a setter dog, was now set aside. At the trial the presumption 
 was that the mere possession of a dog used in destroying game 
 was proof enough of its being so used ; but Mr* Justice Best 
 suggested that a man might be a breeder of such dogs without 
 using them as game-dogs. And Mr. Justice Bailey thought, 
 if a pointer were kept in a yard chained up by day, and let loose 
 at night, being so trained as to guard the premises, he was to 
 be considered as a yard-dog and not a game dog. The name 
 of the cause is " Hay wood v. Horner." 
 
 as the reign of George I. reckons among the modern diversiens of the 
 Londoners, "Riding on horseback and hunting with my Lord Mayor's 
 hounds, when the common-hunt goes out." 
 
291 
 
 CERTIFICATE. 
 
 The first act relative to game certificates was passed in 25th 
 of Geo. III. This statute (c. 50. s. 8.) levies a penalty of twenty 
 pounds upon persons pursuing or taking game without a cer- 
 tificate ; and states further, that the certificate hereby directed 
 to be taken out shall not authorize any person to pursue or take 
 game, unless duly qualified by estate or otherwise. Also, the 
 party thus offending to be liable to the same penalties as are in- 
 flicted by former acts now in force* 
 
 The list of game includes the following : heron, pheasant, 
 partridge, heath-cock, moor-game, mallard, duck, wigeon, teal, 
 woodcock, snipe, quail, and landrail ; as also hares and rabbits. 
 This act was passed in the 48th of Geo. III. and inflicts the be- 
 fore-mentioned penalties for the pursuit or destruction of any of 
 the animals just mentioned, by persons not duly authorised. 
 
 There is an exception, however, in respect to woodcocks and 
 snipes taken in nets or springes ; as also in regard to conies taken 
 in warrens or inclosed grounds, by the proprietors of such places; 
 or by any persons in lands in his or her occupation, either by 
 himself or herself, or by his or her direction or command. 
 
 By this act also, a different method of issuing certificates was 
 ordered to be adopted. Instead of applying to the clerk of the 
 county, the sportsman must pay three pounds fourteen shillings 
 and sixpence into the hands of the collector of the duties for the 
 parish, ward, or place where he resides ; the collector gives a re- 
 ceipt for the money, and on carrying this receipt to the clerk of 
 commissioners, acting for the district, a certificate will be given 
 in exchange for the collector's receipt, without any further fee. 
 
 This act likewise (s. 7.) provides that, should a gamekeeper 
 
292 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 quit his master or mistress before the expiration of the season for 
 which his certificate has been obtained, the same certificate will 
 be sufficient for the successor of such gamekeeper, provided the 
 name of such newly appointed person is indorsed upon it, which 
 the clerk to the commissioners is to do, upon application for that 
 purpose, free of expense. Also, land-holders, legally authorised 
 to appoint gamekeepers, may grant deputations to the servants 
 of other persons for that purpose, whose certificates may be re- 
 newed in the same way. 
 
 Further, by this act, s. 10. the sportsman, when using dog, 
 gun, &c. must produce his certificate, if demanded, to the asses- 
 sor, collector, commissioner, or gamekeeper, inspector, or sur- 
 veyor, or other person assessed as aforesaid ; or the owner, land- 
 lord, lessee, or occupier of the land upon which he may be found 
 sporting ; and must allow the persons so demanding the same, 
 not only to read, but to take a copy of, his certificate, if they 
 think proper. But in case the sportsman has not his certificate 
 about him, he must declare to the person demanding, his chris- 
 tian and surname, and place of abode ; as also the parish or 
 place where the certificate has been issued. A refusal or eva- 
 sion, by fictitious name or otherwise, subjects the offending 
 party to the penalty of twenty pounds. 
 
 By this act too (s. 12.) a person sporting without a certifi- 
 cate, is liable to pay the duty for the year, and forfeit the sum of 
 twenty pounds over and above, which is to be assessed by way 
 of surcharge, in the district where the offence shall be committed. 
 And finally, (s. 11) the commissioners are to cause the names 
 and residences of the persons taking out certificates to be pub- 
 lished annually in the newspapers circulated in each county. 
 
 N. B. The royal family are exempt from the provisions of 
 this act. 
 
293 
 
 TO PREVENT THE DESTRUCTION OF WINGED GAME, &C. 
 AT IMPROPER SEASONS OF THE YEAR, CHRISTMAS 
 DAY, SUNDAY, &C. 
 
 It is provided by 9 Anne, c. 25, s. 4s that if any person shall, 
 with hays, tunnels, or other nets, destroy, in the moulting season 
 (that is, between the 1st of June and the 1st of October) any 
 wild duck, teal, wigeon, or other water fowl ; such persons shall 
 forfeit five shillings, and the nets, &c. used in taking such fowl 
 to be destroyed.. 
 
 The proper season for shooting grouse (called red game) is 
 from the 12th of August to the 10th of December ; that for 
 heath fowls (commonly called black game) begins on the 20th 
 of August, and ends on the 10th of December ; for bustards 
 the season commences on the 1st of September, and ends on the 
 1st of March. The penalty for destroying any of these birds 
 (by the 13th of Geo. III. .c. 55. s. 2.) buying, or selling, or car- 
 rying, or even having in possession, at any other season of the 
 year, is any sum not exceeding twenty, nor less than ten pounds, 
 for the first offence ; for every subsequent offence, a sum not 
 exceeding thirty pounds, nor less than twenty. One half the 
 penalty to be paid to the informer, and the other to the poor of 
 the parish ; to be levied by distress, if not immediately paid : and 
 in case no distress is to be had, the offender to be committed to 
 the house of correction, and kept to hard labour for any period 
 nor exceeding six months, nor less than three. However, by 
 
 the 3d of Geo. III. c. 112. the season for black game in the 
 2*3 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 New Forest^ Hampshire, does not begin till the 1st of Septem- 
 ber. 
 
 Also (by 4 and 5 Will, and Mary, c. 22. s. 11.) no person is 
 allowed, between the 2nd of February and the 24-th of June, to 
 burn any gaig, ling, heath, furze, goss, or fern, on any moun- 
 tains, heaths, or other places where moor game and heath fowls 
 breed, upon pain of being committed to the house of correction 
 for any time not exceeding one month, nor less than ten days. 
 
 The season for shooting partridges begins on the 1st of Sep- 
 tember, and ends on the 1st of February ; that for pheasants 
 commences on the 1st of October, and ends at the same time as 
 partridge shooting : the penalty attached to the taking, destroy- 
 ing, carrying, or having in possession, at any other period of 
 the year, any of these birds, is five pounds for every pheasant or 
 partridge ; unless, however, such pheasant or partridge was taken 
 at the proper season of the year, and kept in a mew or breeding 
 place. The whole of this penalty to be paid to the informer 
 with full costs of suit. 
 
 As to woodcocks, snipes, quails, landrails, and rabbits, there 
 is no specified time for their destruction, though snipes as well 
 as quails breed in this country. In fact, it does not appear, that 
 either woodcocks, snipes, or rabbits, are that species of game, 
 the bare possession of which, ia an unqualified person, is penal, 
 unless it can be proved that the two first were shot, and the last 
 caught in a place other than a warren, &c. 
 
 By the 35th, therefore of Geo. III. c. 80. s. 1. it is provided, 
 that if any person shall take or destroy any hare, pheasant, par- 
 tridge, moor-game, or heath-game, between seven o'clock at 
 night and six in the morning, from the 12th of October till the 
 12th of February ; and between nine o'clock at night and four 
 in the morning, from the 12th of February to the 12th of Oc- 
 tober; such person, upon conviction before a justice of the 
 peace, upon the oath of one witness, shall forfeit a sum not ex- 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 295 
 
 ceeding twenty pounds, nor less than ten ; for every subsequent 
 offence, a sum not exceeding thirty pounds, nor less than twenty 
 half to the informer, the other half to the poor. Also, should 
 a person be found using a dog, net, &c. with an intent to destroy 
 the game above-mentioned, at the specified prohibited times, he 
 will be liable to the same penalties, 
 
 By s. 6. also of the same act, a person who shall take or destroy 
 any of the last-mentioned animals on a Sunday, or on a Christ- 
 mas day (in the day time) or use dog, &c. for that purpose, will 
 be liable to the same penalties as are inflicted for destroying game 
 in the night, and to be convicted in the same manner. 
 
 Thirty-nine and 40 of Geo. III. c. 56. enacts, that if two or 
 more persons be found in a forest, park, wood, plantation, field, 
 meadow, or other open or enclosed ground, between the hours 
 of eight o'clock at night and six in the morning, from the 1st 
 day of October to the 1st of February ; or between the hours 
 of ten at night and four in the morning, from the 1st day of 
 February to the 1st of October, having any gun, &c. for the pur- 
 pose and intent to take or destroy, any hare, pheasant, partridge, 
 moor or heath game ; or if any person shall be found with fire- 
 arms, or other weapons aiding or assisting any such person as 
 aforesaid ; it shall be lawful for the owner of the place where any 
 such persons are found, or his servants, or in fact any person, to 
 apprehend such offenders, and deliver them into the custody of 
 a peace officer, by whom they are to be conveyed before a jus- 
 tice of the peace ; who is authorized to commit such offenders 
 to th j house of correction, there to suffer such punishments as 
 are directed to be inflicted on rogues and vagabonds. Or in 
 case such offenders make their escape, any justice, on the oath 
 of one credible witness, may issue his warrant for their apprehen- 
 sion ; and such persons, upon being apprehended, may be com- 
 mitted, upon the oath of one credible witness, the same as 
 though he had been taken on the spot. 
 
296 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 Free warren is a franchise, erected for the preservation or cus- 
 tody (which the word signifies) of beasts and fowls of warren ; 
 which, being ferce nature, every one had a natural right to kill 
 as he could : but upon the introduction of the forest laws, at the 
 period of the Norman conquest, these animals being looked upon 
 as royal game and the sole property of our savage monarchs, this 
 franchise of free-warren was invented to protect them ; by giving 
 the grantee a sole and exclusive power of killing such game so 
 far as his warren extended, on condition of his preventing other 
 persons. A man therefore that has the franchise of a warren, is 
 in reality no more than a royal gamekeeper ; but no man, not 
 even a lord of a manor, could by common law justify sporting on 
 another's soil, unless he had the liberty of free-warren. This 
 franchise is almost fallen into disregard, since the new statutes 
 for preserving the game ; the name being now chiefly preserved 
 in grounds that are set apart for breeding hares and rabbits. 
 There are many instances of keen sportsmen in ancient times, 
 who have sold their estates, and reserved the free-warren, or right 
 of killing game, to themselves; by which means it comes to pass 
 that a man and his heirs have sometimes free-warren over another's 
 ground, 
 
 A person having a grant of free warren possesses a sole and 
 exclusive right of taking and destroying game within its limits. 
 If a person have a free warren in another's lands, the owner of 
 such land cannot permit a qualified person to kill game thereon ; 
 the consent of the owner of such free warren must be obtained, or 
 the person taking or killing game will be a trespasser, and will 
 be punishable as such. 
 
 Lord Dacre v. Tebb. Black. Rep. 1151. Trespass for 
 hunting in a free warren. On not guilty pleaded and tried by 
 a special jury, the defendant was found guilty of breaking and 
 entering plaintiff's free warren, and chasing and hunting one 
 hare ; damages six-pence , not guilty as to the residue. It was 
 

 THE GAME LAWS. 297 
 
 moved for the plaintiff that he should have full costs, on the 
 ground, that the stats. 22 and 33 Car. 2. (which restrict costs 
 in trespass, where the damages are under forty shillings, unless 
 the freehold or title to the land came in question,) did not ex- 
 tend to this action ; in which there could be no question relating 
 to the land, but merely to the free warren. For the defendant 
 it was alleged that title to the land might be so involved with 
 the title to the free warren, that both might come in question. 
 By the court In an action merely for breaking free warren, 
 it is impossible that the title of the soil can ever come in ques- 
 tion ; for though both may concur in one person, yet the title 
 to the free warren is always collateral to that of the land ; for a 
 man may have a free warren in another man's land. Besides, 
 the hare so hunted was the personal property of the owner of 
 the free warren ; and if any injury be done to personal property, 
 that will take it out of the statute, and intitle the plaintiff to full 
 costs. And the rule was made absolute for taxing full costs. 
 
 At the summer assizes at Abingdon, 1802, a cause was tried, 
 Westbrook, gent, of the parish of Bray, (situate in Windsor- 
 forest,) was plaintiff, and a gamekeeper of his majesty's the de- 
 fendant. The action was brought to try the right of the de- 
 fendant, as one of the king's keepers, to kill game within the 
 enclosed grounds of the plaintiff, situate in, and surrounded by, 
 the wastes, commons, and within the boundaries of the said 
 forest. When, without adverting to the laws relative to forests 
 only, (with which the question was totally unconnected,) the 
 court held it good, that the king, possessing a free warren over 
 the whole, possessed likewise the privilege of appointing a keeper 
 to kill game upon any and within every part of the said free 
 warren, without the least exception as to enclosed lands the pro- 
 perty of others. The jury instantly found for the defendant, by 
 which the right is fully confirmed. 
 
 He who hath a free warren may bring trespass against any 
 
298 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 but the owner of the soil for hunting there. 2 Ro. 111. 550. 
 2 Salk. 637. 
 
 A person may have a warren in another's land, for one may 
 alien the land and reserve the franchise ; but none can make a 
 warren, and appropriate those creatures that are fcrce natures , 
 without license from the king, or where a warren is claimed by 
 prescription. 8 Rep. 108. 11 Rep. 87. 
 
 No one can make a warren in his own land without the king's 
 license, because he cannot appropriate to himself feres naturae, 
 which are nullius in bonis. 11 Co. c. 87. 2 Inst. 199. 
 
 A warren may lie open, and there is no necessity of enclosing 
 it, as there is of a park. 4? inst. 318. 
 
 But a man cannot prescribe for a warren in the lands of a 
 stranger, which are not within his seignory. 2 Rol. 265. c. 
 52. 
 
 And if the king grants B. a warren within his manor, he shall 
 have it only in the demesnes, not in the land of the freeholders. 
 
 BUYING AND SELLING GAME. 
 
 It is enacted by the 5th of Anne, c. 14. s. 2. that if any 
 higler, chapman, carrier, innkeeper, victualler, or alehouse- 
 keeper, shall have in his possession any hare, pheasant, partridge, 
 moor or heath game (unless where such carrier is transporting 
 such game for a qualified person) or shall buy, sell, or expose for 
 sale, any such hare, &c. such offending person shall forfeit the 
 sum of five pounds : and the oath of one witness shall be a suffi- 
 cient conviction half the penalty to the informer, and the other 
 half to the poor of the parish : to be distressed for, if necessary ; 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 299 
 
 and in default thereof, the offender to be committed to the house 
 of correction for three months ; and for the second and every 
 subsequent offence four months. 
 
 Also, s. 3. of the same act allows any person buying and sel- 
 ling game, to inform against any other peron so offending, and 
 to be allowed the same benefit as any other informer ; and him- 
 self discharged from the above-mentioned penalties. 
 
 By s. 4?. the lord of the manor, or justice of the peace, may 
 take to his own use any game which shall be found in the cus- 
 tody or possession of any unqualified person ; unless protected 
 by some qualified person. 
 
 If any person, whether qualified or unqualified, shall sell or ex- 
 pose for sale any hare, pheasant, partridge, moor or heath game; 
 every such person shall be liable to the penalty of five pounds 
 for every hare, &c. on the oath of one witness half to the in- 
 former, and half to the poor of the parish where the offence was 
 committed: to be levied by distress, if necessary ; and for want 
 thereof, the offender to be committed to the house of correction 
 for three months for the first, and four months for every subse- 
 quent offence. Or, if any of the above-mentioned game be found 
 in the house, shop, or possession of any poulterer, salesman, 
 fishmonger, cook, or pastry- cook, the same shall be deemed an 
 exposing thereof to sale. 
 
 The last statute upon this subject cuts both ways with a ven- 
 geance : By 58 Geo. III. c. 75, the buyer (whether qualified 
 or not) of any partridge or any other description of game, is 
 liable to a penalty of five pounds for every head of game he may 
 purchase; and may be convicted on the oath of the very person 
 who sold him the game ; who, for his information, will not only 
 be borne harmless, but entitled, without further trouble, to half 
 the penalty ; and is at liberty, if he thinks proper, to sue for and 
 recover the whole. A greater temptation to roguery could not 
 have been devised ! 
 
300 
 
 TRACING HAKES IN THE SNOW, &c. 
 
 An old statute (14 and 15 Henry VIII. c. 10) inflicts a pen- 
 alty of six shillings and eight-pence for tracing and killing a 
 hare in the snow. The 1st of James 1. c. 27. inflicts three 
 months' imprisonment on the offender for tracing or coursing a 
 hare in the snow ; unless the offending party pay to the church- 
 wardens, for the use of the poor, twenty shillings for every hare ; 
 or within one month after commitment, become bound with two 
 sureties, in twenty pounds each, not to offend again in like 
 manner. Two witnesses are necessary in this case, as also two 
 justices of the peace. 
 
 The same penalty, by the same act, is also inflicted for taking 
 hares with hare-pipes, snares, or any other engines ; two wit- 
 nesses are necessary to convict the offender, before two justices. 
 Also, by the 22nd and 23d of Charles II. c. 25. if any per- 
 son be found using or setting any snare or other engine for the 
 purpose of taking hares, he shall make the injured party such 
 recompence as the justice shall appoint, and pay down imme- 
 diately, for the use of the poor, a sum not exceeding ten shillings ; 
 otherwise to be committed to the house of correction for a time 
 not exceeding one month. In this case, the oath of one witness, 
 before one justice, is sufficient ; but ft must be done within one 
 month after the offence is committed , 
 
301 
 
 APPOINTMENT OF A GAMEKEEPER, 
 AND HIS AUTHORITY. 
 
 By the 22nd and 23rd of Charles II. c. 25. s. 2. lords of 
 manors and other royalties, not under the degree of an esquire,* 
 may, by writing under their hands and seals, appoint gamekeepers 
 within their manors and royalties, who then become authorized 
 to seize all guns, greyhounds, setting dogs, or any other dogs 
 for killing hares or rabbits ; as well as snares, nets, &c. for the 
 purpose of taking hares, partridges, or other game, which may 
 be found within their respective manors, used by unqualified 
 persons. This act, however, does not authorize gamekeepers 
 to kill game, but merely to preserve it. 
 
 The 5th of Anne, c. 14. s. 4. however, enables lords of manors 
 to appoint a person to kill game. But, if he sell game, he is 
 liable, on the oath of one witness, to be sent to the house of 
 correction for three months, and kept to hard labour. 
 
 Twenty-five Geo. III. c. 5. s. 2. enacts that every deputation 
 of a gamekeeper granted to any person in England or Wales, 
 shall be registered with the clerk of the peace in the county 
 where the manor lies, for which such person is appointed. A 
 neglect of this, as also of taking out a certificate of such registry, 
 incurs the penalty of twenty pounds. But gamekeepers to the 
 royal family are exempt from the operations of this act. 
 
 The following is the form of a gamekeeper's deputation or 
 appointment : 
 
 " Know all men by these presents, that I, SIMON SULKY, of 
 
 * Willes, J. in the case of Jones, v. Smart, said, that a lord of a manor 
 is not an esquire by virtue of his manor or royalty, though in common 
 acceptation he may be considered as such. 
 
 2c 
 
302 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 , in the county of Lancaster, esquire, lord of the manor j 
 of , in the same county, have nominated, deputed, au- 
 thorized, and appointed, and by these presents, do nominate, 
 depute, authorize, and appoint, GEORGE GRABBM, of , 
 
 to be gamekeeper of and within my said manor of , with 
 
 full power, licence, and authority to pursue, take, and kill any 
 hare, pheasant, partridge, or other game whatsoever, in and 
 
 upon my said manor of , for my sole and immediate use 
 
 and benefit ; and also to take and seize all such guns, bows, 
 greyhounds, setting-dogs, lurchers, oc other dogs, ferrets, tram- 
 mels, low-bells, hays, or other nets, harepipes, snares, or other 
 engines, for the pursuing, taking, or killing of hares, rabbits, 
 pheasants, partridges, or other game, as shall be used within the 
 precincts of my said manor, by any person or persons, who by 
 law are prohibited to keep or use the same. In witness whereof, 
 I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 24?th day of July, 
 1819. 
 
 "SIMON SULKY." (Seal) 
 
 " Sealed and delivered in the presence of 
 TIMOTHY TWIST, of aforesaid." 
 
 If a gamekeeper be qualified in his own right, he has no occa- 
 sion to enter his deputation. But a gamekeeper is not author- 
 ized, by any statute, to seize game which he may find in the 
 possession of poachers, even on his manor, though it is lawful 
 for him to take their dogs, nets, or other implements. Also, 
 gamekeepers, if found killing game off the manors for which they 
 were appointed, are liable to the same penalties as unqualified 
 persons. The only difference, in this case, between them is, 
 that a gamekeeper's gun and dogs are not seizable ; while those 
 of an unqualified person may be taken. 
 
 Vere v. Lord Cawdor and King. M. 50. G. 3. In this, 
 which was an action of trespass for shooting and killing a dog 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 303 
 
 of the plaintiff, there was a plea of not guilty, and special plea 
 that Cawdor was lord of the manor, and the defendant game- 
 keeper; that the dog was running after, chasing, and hunting 
 divers hares, for the preservation of which the gamekeeper shot 
 and killed the said dog. 
 
 To this plea there was a demurrer : and after argument, Lord 
 Ellenborough, J. C. said, the question is, whether the plaintiff's 
 dog incurred the penalty of death for running after a hare in 
 another's ground ? And if there be any precedent of that sort, 
 which outrages all reason and sense, it is of no authority to 
 govern other cases. There is no question here as to the right 
 of the game. The gamekeeper had no right to kill the plain- 
 tiff's dog for following it. The plea does not even state that 
 the hare was put in peril, so as to induce any necessity for killing 
 the dog in order to preserve the hare. Judgment for the plain- 
 tiff. 11. E. R. 568. 
 
 By 48 Geo. III. c. 93. s. 2. lords of manors are enabled to 
 appoint and depute any person as gamekeeper whatever, whe- 
 ther acting in that capacity to any other person or not, or the 
 servant of any other person, qualified or unqualified, to kill game 
 within a specified manor for his own use, or for the use of any 
 other person or persons to be specified in such appointment or 
 deputation, whether qualified or not; nor need such person to 
 be entered or paid for as the male servant of the lord or lady 
 who gives the deputation. 
 
 Sect. 3. of this act gives the same authority as a regular 
 gamekeeper. 
 
 Thompson v. Christall. The defendant, one of the Earl of 
 Sefton's gamekeeper's, who resides at Kirkby, near Liverpool, 
 having admitted to have had in his possession two game dogs 
 belonging to the plaintiff, which he, the defendant, afterwards 
 destroyed, or otherwise disposed of, the plaintiff brought this 
 
 action in the Court of King's Bench, and the defendant having 
 2c2 
 
304 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 suffered judgment to go against him by default, the case came 
 before the Sheriff at Preston, upon a writ of inquiry, when the 
 jury, after a full investigation of the circumstances, gaye the 
 plaintiff ^20 damages, besides the costs. 
 
 If a gamekeeper shoot an unqualified person's dog, who there- 
 upon shoots the gamekeeper's, and behaves insolently, the judge 
 will direct very considerable damage. 2 Atkyn's Rep. 190. 
 
 Although by stat. 22 and 23 Car. II. c. 25. s. 2* a game- 
 keeper (so authorised) may search for dogs and engines, and 
 seize the same for the use of the lord, or destroy them ; yet it 
 hath been adjudged, that an authority from the lord of the manor 
 is not of itself sufficient for this purpose, but that he ought to 
 have a warrant from a justice of peace. Comberbach 183. Car- 
 penter c. Adams. At least it may be safe to have such a war- 
 rant, especially if any houses are to be entered and searched; 
 for it would be to allow too great a stretch of power to game- 
 keepers, to permit them, in their vigilant discretion, to search 
 whatever houses or places they should think proper ; as also to 
 constitute them judges, whether the person falling under their 
 suspicion is or is not qualified to kill game. 
 
 Rogers v. Carter. The plaintiff being gamekeeper within 
 the manor of Ringwood, in beating for game within the said 
 manor sprung a covey of partridges, which he shot at within the 
 said manor. They took a second flight, and he pursued them 
 out of the manor, but could not find them. As he was return- 
 ing to the manor of Ringwood, he was met by the defendant, 
 who asked if he had a qualification ? The plaintiff answered, I 
 have a deputation from the lord of the manor of Ringwood. 
 The defendant replied, you are now out of the manor ; and de- 
 manded his gun, and took it from him. The plaintiff did not 
 shoot out of the manor, but was three quarters of a mile out of 
 the manor with his gun and dog, with an intention to shoot at 
 game. By the court. The question is, whether the defendant 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 305 
 
 had a right to take the plaintiff's gun from him, while he was 
 sporting for the purpose of killing game out of the manor of Ring- 
 wood ? A nd we are all of opinion he had no such right. If he 
 had killed game where he was not a gamekeeper, he might have 
 been convicted in the penalty of 51. but he was entitled to keep 
 and have dogs, gun, and nets, any where ; and a gamekeeper 's 
 gun cannot be seized, either in going to or returning from the 
 manor, or in any other place. 2 Wils. 387. 
 
 The lord of a hundred or wapentake cannot grant a deputa- 
 tion to a gamekeeper. The Earl of Ailesbury v. Pattison. 1 
 Dougl. 28.* 
 
 It seems, gentlemen receiving deputations to be gamekeepers 
 are not chargeable with the duty on servants, under 25 Geo. III. 
 c. 43. Several lords of manors granted deputations to divers 
 gentlemen to be gamekeepers within their respective manors ; 
 and being surcharged for the said gentlemen gamekeepers, they 
 appealed against the surcharge. The surveyor urged, that in 
 the terms of the act, all gamekeepers are rateable without dis- 
 tinction or exception ; and that they, therefore, in their present 
 capacity as gamekeepers, could have no pretence to any exemp- 
 tion : but the commissioners were of opinion, that the said gen- 
 tlemen, considered as gamekeepers, did not come within the 
 meaning of the act as servants, and therefore not rateable ; and 
 with that opinion the judges concurred. 
 
 * Sir Thomas Gage claims and exerciser a paramount free warren over 
 all the extensive manors in Suffolk, from Ipswich nearly to Newmarket. 
 His keepers invariably go upon each at the beginning of the season? 
 and kill a single bird, merely to maintain this singular supremacy. 
 
 2c3 
 
306 
 
 STATUTES RELATING TO RABBITS. 
 
 By 3 Jac. 1. c. 13. s. 2. If any person shall, by night or 
 by day, unlawfully enter into any park or grounds, enclosed with 
 a wall, pale, or hedge, and used for the keeping of conies, and 
 unlawfully hunt, take, chase, or slay, any conies within such 
 park or ground, against the will of the owner, and shall be 
 thereof convicted, at the suit of the king or the party, at the 
 assizea or sessions, he shall suffer three months imprisonment, 
 pay treble damages and costs to the party, to be assessed by the 
 justices before whom he shall be convicted, and shall find sure- 
 ties for his good behaviour for seven years, or remain in prison 
 till he does. 
 
 And by 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. s. 4. If any person shall 
 at any time wrongfully enter into any warren or ground lawfully 
 used for keeping or breeding of conies, though the same may 
 be not enclosed, and shall take, chase, or kill any conies against 
 the will of the owner or occupier, not having lawful title so to 
 do, and shall be thereof convicted within one month after such 
 offence, by confession, or oath of one witness, before one justice, 
 he shall yield to the party grieved treble damages and costs, and 
 suffer three months imprisonment, and so long after till he find 
 sureties for his good behaviour. 
 
 And by 5 Geo. 3. c. 14. it is enacted, That if any person shall 
 enter into such warren or grounds in the night time, and take 
 or kill any coney, against the will of the owner or occupier of 
 the said ground, or shall be aiding or assisting therein, and be 
 thereof convicted at the assizes, he shall be transported for seven 
 years, or suffer such other punishment, by whipping, fine, or 
 imprisonment; as the court shall award. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 307 
 
 And by 9 Geo. I.e. 22. If any person, being armed and dis- 
 guised, shall appear in any warren or place where hares or conies are 
 usually kept, or unlawfully rob any such warren, or shall, though 
 not armed and disguised, rescue any person in custody for such 
 offence, or procure any person to join him therein, he shall be 
 guilty of felony without benefit of clergy. 
 
 By the stat. 22 and 23 Car. 2. it is provided, That no person 
 shall kill or take, in the night, any conies upon the borders of 
 a warren, or other grounds lawfully used for the breeding and 
 keeping of conies, except such person be the owner of the soil, 
 or lawful possessor of the ground, whereupon such conies shall 
 be killed, or be by him employed, upon pain of such satisfaction 
 as the justices aforesaid shall award, and also pay to the overseers 
 for the poor a sum not exceeding ten shillings, or, in default 
 thereof, to be committed to the house of correction for a term 
 not exceeding one month. 
 
 And by :he same act, any person convicted of setting or using 
 any snares, or other like engines for the taking of conies, shall 
 be liable to the same penalties as in the last-mentioned section. 
 
 A man cannot have an action of trespass on the case for 
 another man's conies breaking into his grounds, because they 
 are in their natural liberty when they are out of the warren, but 
 the owner of the soil may lawfully kill them while they are oil 
 his ground. Cro. Eliz. 54/7. 5 Co. 104. 
 
 The lord of the soil may make burrows in a common, and 
 stock them with rabbits ; and therefore a commoner cannot jus- 
 tify chasing them thence, damage Jesant, for he ought to come 
 there but to use his common : but if the lord surcharge the 
 common, he is liable to an action for so doing. Cro. Jac. 
 195. 208. 229. 
 
 Rex v. Yaites. Yaites was convicted of killing rabbits in a 
 private warren by inquisition taken before a justice of the peace, 
 and was fined twenty shillings a rabbit, And it was moved to 
 
308 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 quash the inquisition, because the justices of the peace have no 
 authority to set a fine upon a man for such offence. For the 
 statutes 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. s. 4>. give treble costs and 
 damages, but no fine. And the statute 4< and 5 Will, and Mary, 
 c. 23. extends only to game, which cannot be extended to rabbits 
 kept in a private warren. And of this opinion was the whole 
 court, and therefore the inquisition was quashed. 1 Ld. Ray- 
 mond, 151. 
 
 If the lord hath a right to put conies upon the common, and 
 
 by an excess in number surcharges the common, and by the 
 number of burrows made by the conies, prevents the commoner's 
 cattle from depasturing the common ; an action in such case is 
 the proper remedy, and the tenant may not of his own accord 
 fill up the burrows and remove the nuisance. Cooper v. Mar- 
 shall, 1 Burr. 259; 
 
 Conies in a warren shall go to the heir, and not to the exe- 
 cutor. Co. Lite. 8. 
 
309 
 
 Any person who shall shoot, or destroy in any manner, any 
 pigeon, shall on conviction before two justices, on the oath of 
 two witnesses, be committed to gaol for three months ; or pay 
 for the use of the poor twenty shillings for every pigeon ; or, 
 within one month after commitment, find sureties not to offend 
 again. 
 
 However, by 2 Geo. IL c. 29. one witness and one justice are 
 sufficient : to forfeit twenty shillings to the person who prose- 
 cutes, or be committed to the house of correction and kept to 
 hard labour for any term not exceeding three calendar months or 
 less than one. Notwithstanding, a man has a right to shoot 
 any pigeons he may find destroying his corn. 
 
 A very severe statute was passed in 1816. It runs thus : 
 Whereas, the laws now in force having been found insufficient 
 to prevent idle and disorderly persons from going out armed in 
 the night-time, for the destruction of game : And whereas such 
 practices are found, by experience, to lead to the commission of 
 felonies and murders : For the more effectual suppression thereof, 
 it is enacted, that if any person or persons shall unlawfully enter 
 into, or be unlawfully found in, any forest, chase, park, wood, 
 plantation, close, or other open or inclosed grounds, in the night 
 time, that is to say, between the hours of eight of the clock at 
 night and seven in the morning, from the 1st day of October to 
 the 1st day of March, or between the hours of ten at night aad 
 
310 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 four in the morning, from the 1st day of March to the 1st day 
 of October, in each and every year, having any gun, net, engine, 
 or other instrument, for the purpose and with the intent to 
 destroy, take, or kill, or shall wilfully destroy, take, or kill, any 
 hare, rabbit, pheasant, partridge, heath fowl, commonly called 
 black-game, or grouse, commonly called red-game, or any other 
 game; or if any person or persons shall be found with any gun, 
 fire-arms, bludgeon, or with any other offensive weapon, pro- 
 tecting, aiding, abetting, or assisting any such person or persons 
 as aforesaid, every person so offending, being thereof lawfully 
 convicted, shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall 
 be sentenced to transportation for any term not exceeding seven 
 years, or shall receive such other punishment as may, by law, be 
 inflicted on persons guilty of misdemeanors, and as the court be- 
 fore which such offenders may be tried and convicted, shall ad- 
 judge ; and if any such offender or offenders shall return into 
 Great Britain, before the expiration of the term for which he or 
 they shall be so transported, contrary to the intent and meaning 
 hereof, he or they so returning, and being thereof duly convict- 
 ed, shall be adjudged guilty of felony, and shall be sentenced to 
 transportation for the term or terms of his or their natural life 
 or lives. 
 
 A justice, on information before him, on the oath 'of any 
 credible witness or witnesses, may issue his warrant for the ap- 
 prehension of such offender or offenders ; and if upon the appre- 
 hension of any such offender or offenders it shall appear to such 
 justice, on the oath of any credible witness or witnesses, that the 
 person or persons so charged hath or have been guilty of any or 
 either of the said offences, it shall and may be lawful for such 
 justice to admit such person or persons so charged to bail, and 
 in default of bail, to commit such person or persons to the county 
 gaol, until the next general quarter sessions of the peace, or the 
 next general commission of gaol delivery.. 
 
311 
 
 JUtttine gltt 
 
 According to this, if any officer or soldier shall kill any kind 
 of game, poultry, or fish, and be convicted on the oath of one 
 witness, before a justice, an officer* so offending shall forfeit 
 five pounds to the poor of the parish ; but if a soldier be thus 
 convicted, the commander in chief of the place shall pay twenty 
 shillings for every such offence ; and if not paid within two days 
 after demand by the constable or overseer of the poor, ^he shall 
 forfeit his commission. 
 
 # This of course is supposing such officer not to be qualified. 
 
It is a nuisance for any ferocious or mischievous dog to be at 
 arge and unmuzzled, and the owner may be indicted. 
 
 An action may be maintained against a man for keeping a 
 dog accustomed to bite sheep ; if it can be proved that he has 
 ever bitten one before, it is deemed a sufficient proof of his being 
 accustomed so to do. Should the dog of one man fall upon that 
 of another, he is justified in using violence, even to the death 
 of the offending dog, if it appear probable that he could not 
 otherwise rescue his own dog. If any person take up a lost 
 dog, he must restore him on being demanded by the owner, or 
 an action in trover may be maintained against him, in which he 
 will be liable to damages and costs. 
 
 The 10th of Geo. III. c. 18. enacts, that if any person shall 
 steal any dog, or dogs, of any kind whatsoever, from the owner, 
 or from any person entrusted by the owner with such dog or 
 dogs, or shall sell, buy, receive, harbour, detain, or keep any 
 such dog or dogs, knowing the same to be stolen, every such 
 offender, convicted on the oath of one witness, before two jus- 
 tices, shall for the first offence, forfeit a sum not exceeding thirty, 
 nor less than twenty pounds, at the discretion of such two justices ; 
 together also with the charges previous to and attending such 
 conviction, to be ascertained by the said justices. In case such 
 penalty be not immediately paid, such justices may commit the 
 offender to the house of correction, for a time not exceeding 
 twelve, nor less than six, calendar months ; or till the penalty 
 be paid. For a second offence, the offender shall forfeit a sum 
 
LAWS RELATING TO DOGS. 313 
 
 not exceeding "fifty, nor less than thirty, pounds; together also 
 with the charges, 
 
 No dog to be liable to the duty until six months old. 
 
 Nov. 1780. Johnson v. Overall. The declaration stated, 
 that the defendant discharged a certain gun loaded with gun- 
 powder and bullets, and shot a certain dog of the plaintiff. The 
 defence was, that only four sorts of dogs are in law of any value, 
 and those specified. Dog in the declaration not specified, and 
 therefore did not appear of any value. Plaintiff nonsuited. 
 
 To an action of trespass for killing plaintiff's dog, the defen- 
 dant may plead, that the dog chased the rabbits in his warren, 
 or the deer in his park ; but not that he chased a hare into de- 
 fendant's land. 2 Morg. 265. 
 
 A dog is such a creature as a man may have a property in, 
 and an action has been brought for taking a hound, and the 
 plaintiff recovered. The like of a bloodhound, greyhound, poin- 
 ter, setter, spaniel, and lurcher. 
 
 If a person hunt upon the ground of another, such other 
 person cannot justify killing of his dogs ; as appears by 2 Roll. 
 Abr. 567. But this has been over-ruled; and in the case of 
 Wadhurst v. Damme, Cro. Jac. 44. it was held, that a warrener 
 may justify killing a mastiff dog in the warren pursuing the 
 conies, to prevent his destroying them. So, if a dog run after 
 deer in a park. 3 Lev. 28. 
 
 It is no justification in trespass for killing a mastiff, that he 
 run violently upon the defendant's dog and bit him ; but the 
 defendant should state further, that he could not otherwise sepa- 
 rate the mastiff from his dog. 1 Saund. 84. 
 
 And a man may justify an assault in defence of his dog. 
 Cro. Ehz. 125. 
 
 And delivery of a dog will be a good consideration for an 
 as sump fit. Ibid. Owen. 93. 
 
 It having been once made known to the owner that his dog 
 2 D 
 
SI 4 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 bit a man, he appears to be answerable for a subsequent mns- 
 chief, though the person bitten had given some accidental occa- 
 sion for it, as by treading on the dog's foot ; for it was owing 
 to his not hanging the dog on the first notice. And the safety 
 of the king's subjects ought not afterwards be endangered. 2. 
 Stra. 1263. 
 
 OF DESTROYING THE EGGS OF WILD 
 FOWL AND WINGED GAME. 
 
 By 25 Hen. 8. c. 11. it is enacted, that no person, from the 
 1st day of March to the 30th day of June, shall destroy or 
 convey any eggs of wild fowl from any nest where they shall be 
 laid, upon pain of imprisonment for one year; and of forfeiting 
 for every egg of any crane or bustard, 20d. ; for every egg of 
 bittern, heron, or shovelard, 8d, ; for every egg of wild duck, 
 teal, or other wild fowl, Id. 
 
 And by Jac. 1. c. 27. s. 2. any person who shall take the 
 eggs of any pheasant or partridge out of the nest, or wilfully 
 break or destroy the same, shall, on conviction before two jus- 
 tices, by confession, or oath of two witnesses, be committed to 
 gaol for three months, unless he pay to the churchwardens, for 
 the use of the poor, 20s. for every egg ; or, within one month 
 thereafter, become bound with two sureties in 20/ each, not to 
 offend again. 
 
315 
 
 ADJUDGED CASES. 
 
 Sussex Assiies, 1808 Hebben v. Luff. This was an 
 action to recover a penalty, for a breach of the game laws, on 
 the statute of the 9th of Anne, Cap. 25. sect. 2, which gives a 
 penalty against any unqualified person, having game in his pos- 
 session, and makes the mere having of it, evidence of an expo- 
 sure to sale. Mr. Courthorpe having stated the law, next pro- 
 duced evidence of the fact, which was proved by two game- 
 keepers, who beiqg on the watch early in the morning, heard 
 the screaras of a hare, upon which they looked about, and dis- 
 covered a hare in a trap, not far from the cottage of the defen- 
 dant ; they lay in wait, expecting that the person who set the 
 trap, would come to see what it produced : they saw the defen- 
 dant come to the trap, and take the hare out : upon this they 
 came out of their concealment, but the defendant seeing them, 
 threw the hare away, and denied that he had had it ; they, 
 however, found the hare at a little distance from him. 
 
 Mr. Serjeant Best submitted to the court, that this was not 
 such a possession, as the act meant, when it made possession, 
 an exposure to sale. 
 
 The judge, on referring to the act, declared he did not wish 
 to extend the game laws, but the words were so very positive, 
 that he did not know how to get over them, it in express terms 
 made all possession of game, by an unqualified person, an ex- 
 posure to sale. The jury found the defendant, guilty. 
 
 At Leicester assizes, an action of trespass, commenced by 
 Earl Ferrers against Mr. Randall Lovell, for shooting in his 
 lordship's preserves, at Thrussington, was tried at nisi prius ; 
 
 the plaintiff obtained a verdict ; and the judge (Mr. Baron Gra- 
 2D2 
 
SlG THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 ham) gave a certificate, under the 8 and 9 W. 3. c. 11, for 
 costs, declaring, that the species of trespass for which the action 
 was brought, (notwithstanding the defendant had not been pre- 
 viously warned to keep off the plaintiff's lands) was wilful and 
 malicious, and the plaintiff in consequence entitled to costs, al- 
 though the damages were under forty shillings. 
 
 In the case of Warneford v. Kendall, the possession of game 
 by a servant, employed to detect poachers, who took it up after 
 it had been killed by strangers on the manor, in order to carry 
 it to the lord, is not a a possession within the penalty of the 
 game laws. Lord Ellenborough, C. J. the question is, whether 
 the possession of the defendant were such as to constitute an 
 offence ? He did not claim the hare as his property, nor acquire 
 the possession of it for himself, but for his master, on whose 
 manor it was taken ; and if this be an offence, no case can be 
 stated in which an unqualified person can innocently come in 
 contact with game. It may as well be said, that if a qualified, 
 man returning home with a bag of game was to fall from his 
 horse, another could not lawfully take up the bag in order to 
 assist the owner. The case of Molton v. Cheeseley (the fact 
 then proved was, that a pheasant had by accident been killed by 
 the defendant's dog, and the defendant had carried it away, and 
 two penalties were sought to be recovered, one for having the 
 pheasant in his possession not being qualified, the other for 
 keeping a dog to kill game. Mr. Justice Duller is said to have 
 ruled, that the plaintiff could go for one penalty only, and that 
 two penalties could not be recovered under this statute for the 
 same act done by the defendant) must have been imperfectly 
 stated. Grose, Le Blanc, and Bailey, justices, assented, and 
 the former observed, that the possession of the game by the de- 
 fendant, was rather for the purpose of protecting the game than 
 in breach of the lawsYor preserving it. Rule absolute. East's 
 Rep. p. 19. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 317 
 
 Lord Albemarle v. Brooke. This was an action tried at the 
 Norfolk assizes, for the recovery of penalties under the game 
 Jaws, to the amount of 700/. The defendant is a poulterer and 
 wholesale dealer in game, at Thetford, represented to be con- 
 nected with the poachers and gamekeepers in his own neighbour- 
 hood, on the one hand, and with the poulterers in Leadenhall- 
 market, on the other. The interception of his commerce had 
 created as much alarm in Leadenhall- market as the stagnation 
 of the trade between this country and the north of Germany had 
 occasioned amongst the merchants at the royal exchange- The 
 defendant had the means, as a poulterer, of carrying on this trade 
 to a great extent, and with much facility. On the 7th of De- 
 cember last, he brought to the waggon-office, at Thetford, three 
 baskets, called flats, one of which weighed two cwt. ; on the road 
 this flat was removed to make room for more luggage, and on 
 its removal, part of the game fell out of it, namely, four par- 
 tridges, two pheasants, and two hares. The witness on the part 
 of the plaintiff, to prove this fact, and the delivery of the flat 
 into the waggon by the defendant, personally, was the waggoner. 
 An attempt was made to discredit his testimony, but it did not 
 succeed. Lord Ellenborough observed, that having game in 
 one's possession, not being qualified, was sufficient evidence of 
 an exposure to sale, to bring the party within the penalties of the 
 act. Verdict for plaintiff, damages 40/. being 51. for every head 
 of game which had fallen out of the basket. 
 
 In Scotland, the case of the Earl of Hopetoun v. Wright, 
 after very serious discussion before the supreme court of ses- 
 sion, was thus settled, that no tenant, whatever may be the en- 
 durance of his lease, is entitled to be considered as a qualified 
 person, so as to shoot game, even on his own farm, without the 
 permission of his landlord. 
 
 Church v. Sturdy. This was an action tried at the Exeter 
 assizes, 1811, to recover the value of a hare, wherein a verdict 
 
318 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 had been given for the plaintiff. Some hounds to which Mr.C. 
 \vas a subscriber started a hare, and run her on the grounds of 
 the defendant, where a labourer caught her alive, whereupon the 
 defendant came up and took her from him, as being found on 
 his land. Mr. Church demanded the hare, which Mr. Sturdy 
 refused to deliver. Mr. Serjeant Lens moved to have a new 
 trial. He contended, that as the hare was not killed by the 
 plaintiff's hounds, no right of action accrued, because no right 
 of possession was vested in the plaintiff, unless either his dogs 
 caught or killed it in running. That with respect to him, it 
 was at all events ferce natures^ and if an action lay at alt^il must 
 have been against the man who had given it to Mr. Sturdy. 
 The court granted a rule, observing, " that the plaintiff was 
 situated pretty much alike with his hounds and with his attorney ; 
 with his hounds he had a death in view, and lost his game ; with 
 his attorney a verdict, and lost his cause. 
 
 At the Stafford spring assizes, 1804?, an action for killing 
 game by coursing, tke defendant not being qualified, Williams, 
 Serjeant, for the plaintiff, insisted, (and in this he was confirmed 
 by Mr. Justice Lawrence) that though a qualified person may 
 take his servant or servants to assist him to kill game, he cannot 
 qualify them to kill it, neither will his presence protect an un- 
 qualified person, not being his servant, who goes for the purpose 
 of taking the amusement of coursing. But if such person take 
 an active part, by beating across the fields, or in open lands, and 
 join in the diversion, in the same manner as a qualified person, 
 he is as much liable to the penalties as if no such qualified person 
 were present. The learned judge observed, that the contrary 
 was the usual practice, but that practice would not alter the law. 
 
 In 1809 was laid before an eminent counsel this query : 
 " Two parties were coursing, and being threatened with an in- 
 formation, though in each of these parties there was one who 
 possessed both a qualification and a certificate, and to whom the 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 319 
 
 dogs that run belonged. Your opinion is requested, whether 
 those persons who were neither qualified nor certificated are 
 liable to any penalty, notwithstanding they were in company 
 with a qualified man ? and if they are so liable, can there be more 
 than two penalties recovered, or will separate penalties attach on 
 each individual ?" Answer. " I think that each person is not 
 guilty of a separate offence, nor liable to a separate penalty ; but 
 the offence committed by each party is one joint offence only, 
 (supposing them all to be unqualified) for which they are liable 
 to one penalty for each party ; that is, two penalties for both 
 the parties using the dogs, not being qualified, Each person 
 may be guilty of a separate offence, for coursing without a cer- 
 tificate, who can be deemed to be a person, who, on that occasion, 
 uses any of the dogs without a certificate. But the mere joining 
 in the sport with a qualified or certificated person, who has the 
 use and command of the dogs and of the sport, is not such a 
 using of them, by the person so joining, as to subject him to 
 any penalty." 
 
 And this opinion has been confirmed to be right by the fol- 
 lowing case : 
 
 Lewes v. Taylor. East's Term Reports, Trinity Term, 52d 
 Geo. III. This was an action of debt, for penalties upon the 
 game laws, tried at the last Aylesbury assizes, before Heath, J 
 One count, charged the defendant for the penalty of 51. upon 
 the stat. 5 Anne, c. 14. for using<i greyhound to kill game, not 
 being qualified. In support of which, it was proved, that W. 
 Goldby, a farmer, who was, by his own estate, qualified to kill 
 game, went out with greyhounds and other dogs to course and 
 kill hares : that the defendant, who was not qualified, was in 
 company with Goldby when he coursed and killed a hare ; that 
 the defendant took an active part in the sport, by beating the 
 bushes, in order to find a hare ; and after the hare had been killed 
 by a greyhound, he alighted from his horse, went over a gate, 
 
320 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 and took up the hare. Upon the evidence the learned judge 
 was disposed to have nonsuited the plaintiff; but upon the 
 authority of a case, decided by Mr. Justice Lawrence, at Staf- 
 ford, in 1804, in which an unqualified person partaking of the 
 sport in company with one who was qualified, was held not to 
 be protected from the penalty of the statute, he suffered the 
 plaintiff to take a verdict for the penalty of 5/. with liberty to the 
 defendant to move the court and set it aside, and enter a non- 
 suit, if the evidence did not support the charge. Storks accord- 
 ingly moved the court for this purpose, and referred to the case 
 of King v. Newman*, where, upon an information being moved 
 for in this court against magistrates, for having unduly convict- 
 ed two unqualified persons in penalties upon the game laws, for 
 using greyhounds to kill the game, though they offered to prove 
 in their defence that they were out at the time with a qualified 
 person, to whom the dogs belonged, Lord Mansfield expressed 
 a strong opinion against the conduct of the magistrates, and 
 only discharged the rule upon the terms of their paying the whole 
 costs of the application. And in Molton v. Rogersf Lord El- 
 lenborough also gave his opinion, that an unqualified person, 
 joining in the sport with the owner of the dogs, who was quali- 
 lified, was not liable to the penalty. 
 
 King now appeared to shew cause against the rule ; but the 
 court expressing a decided opinion in favour of the defendant, 
 he submitted to it, without further discussion. Lord Ellen- 
 borough, C. J. This is no evidence against this defendant, 
 upon the charge of using a greyhound for killing the game. The 
 dogs belonged to a qualified person, who was out with them at 
 the time. This is not a solitary amusement ; and there is 
 nothing to prevent a qualified person from taking others with 
 
 * Hil. 13. G. 3. Loft's Rep. 178, see Hex v. Taylor, 15. East, 402. 
 f Four Esp. A, P. Cas. 5217. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 321 
 
 him, to aid him in the pursuit of game, and he is the person 
 using the dogs The others have no use of them further than 
 his servants, and contemplating with him the pleasures of the 
 chase. The learned judge's first thoughts were best. If, indeed, 
 an unqualified man used his own greyhound for the purpose of 
 coursing, though in the company with a qualified man, the case 
 would admit of a different consideration. But there can be no 
 ground for recovering the penalty against this defendant, who 
 went out with the dogs of another, who was qualified, and which 
 other was using them himself. The defendant's picking up the 
 hare after it was killed is no using of the dogs to kill the game. 
 We had occasion to consider this question very lately, in the case 
 of a servant, Rex v. Taylor, 15. East, 463. The other judges 
 agreed ; and Bailey, J. noticed, that the words of the statute of 
 Anne, are keep or use any greyhounds, &c. but this defendant 
 neither kept the dog, nor was it under his control at the time it 
 killed the hare. Rule absolute for entering a nonsuit. 
 
 In 1812, at the Justices' Room, Stafford, an information was 
 brought Fox v. Hill, for using a greyhound to kill game, not 
 being qualified. It appeared, that the defendant and others, 
 were coursing with two greyhounds on Lord Ferrers' land, and 
 that one of the party was his lordship's gamekeeper, whose qua- 
 lification, it was submitted, on behalf of the defendant, extended 
 to the others. The magistrates, however, were of opinion, that 
 though a qualified person is authorized by law to take as many 
 of his servants or other unqualified persons to attend him as are 
 necessary for the purpose of assisting in raising the game, without 
 subjecting them to any penalty ; yet a gamekeeper, who is 
 merely qualified in right of another, has no such authority, his 
 qualification being personal and confined to himself only. The 
 defendant was accordingly convicted. 
 
 An action was brought against a person for entering another's 
 free-warren : the defendant pleaded that there was a pheasant 
 
322 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 on his land, and his hawk pursued it into the plaintiff's ground. 
 It was resolved, that this doth not amount to a sufficient justi- 
 cation ; for in this case he can only follow his hawk, and not 
 take the game. Poph. 162. 
 
 Though it is said to be otherwise where the soil of the plain- 
 tiff is not a warren. 2 Roll Abr. 567. 
 
 With respect to the penalty which goes to the poor of the 
 parish where the offence was committed : in some places a man 
 may stand in one parish or county, and shoot in another ; and 
 in such a case, the place where the offence was committed is 
 where the party stood when he shot, and not where the object 
 was which he shot at. Shaw. 339. M. 3. W. King v. Alsop. 
 
 A person was indicted on 23 Eliz. c. 10. for taking partridges, 
 cum reins ; and it was quashed, because it should have been 
 cum retibus, 3 Bulst: 178. 
 
 Skill v. Tarr, Taunton assizes, 1801. This was an action to 
 recover the penalty of 5 for killing a pheasant without being 
 qualified, and 20 for so doing, without having taken out a cer- 
 tificate. It appeared that the defendant's dog had sprung a 
 pheasant, which he followed into an adjoining field, where the 
 dog stood, and that the defendant knocked it down with a rake 
 as it was rising. The counsel for the defendant argued against 
 a rake being considered such an instrument for killing game as 
 was intended by the statute ; but the learned judge found a ver- 
 dict for the plaintiff to the amount of the penalties. 
 
 In an action of trespass, the plaintiff declared for taking pha- 
 sianos sues, in such a place, on trial, upon not guilty pleaded, 
 a verdict was found for the plaintiffs It was moved, in arrest 
 of judgment, that the declaration was naught, in using the word 
 suos, pheasants being feres natures^ in which the plaintiff could 
 have no property ; but the court gave judgment for the 
 plaintiff, for they said that they would intend the pheasants were 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 323 
 
 dead ; and in that case the plaintiff undoubtedly had a property 
 in them, and might call them phasianos suos. Anon. 
 
 Molton v. Cheeseley, East. Term, 28 Geo. Ill, 1788. This 
 was an action of debt,* brought to recover from the defendant 
 two penalties of 5 each, under the stat. 5 Ann. 14. The first 
 was, for having a pheasant in his possession, not being qualified. 
 The second was, under another clause of the same statute, for 
 keeping a dog for killing and destroying game. 
 
 When the case was opened, Duller, J. ruled that the plaintiff 
 could go for one penalty only ; for that both offences being by 
 the same act, one penalty only could be recovered. The case 
 then proved on the part of the plaintiff was, that a pheasant had 
 been killed by accident by the defendant's dog, but that he had 
 carried it away. Buller, J. said, that if it appeared that the 
 bird was killed by accident, that was no offence ; and in such 
 case it should be left where it was killed ; but if it was taken 
 away, it subjects the party to the penalty for having game in 
 his possession. The plaintiff therefore recovered one penalty 
 of 5 for this offence. 
 
 In an action qui tam,\ on the game laws, it is sufficient to 
 say, that a person is not qualified generally, without shewing 
 that he had not one hundred pounds a year, or any other estate 
 which makes a qualification. In a conviction it is otherwise. 
 Bluet qui tarn, and v. Needs. 2 Comyn's Rep. 522. 
 
 All penalties on the game laws, sued for in Westminster hall, 
 
 * BY stat. 8 Geo. I. c. 19. \vhenanypersonshallbeliabletoany 
 penalty under the game laws, by conviction before a justice of peace, it 
 shall be lawful for any person either to proceed to recover the said pen- 
 alty, by information before a justice, or to sue for the same by action of 
 debt. 
 
 f- Where qui tarn is mentioned, the penalty is given half to the in- 
 fotmer, and the other half to the poor of the parish, and when the qui 
 tarn is taken away, the whole penalty is given to the informer. 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 shall go to the informer, and no part to the poor of the parish. 
 
 In an information on the game laws, charging the defendant 
 with keeping and using a dog, and also a gun on the same day, 
 he can only be convicted in one penalty. Rex v* Lovett. 7 
 Term Rep. 152. 
 
 It is no objection to an information on the game laws, that 
 it is not qui tarn. Ibid. 
 
 If the evidence be given on the same day that the defendant 
 appeared and pleaded, it will be intended that the evidence was 
 given in his presence. Ibid. 
 
 The statute 4- and 5 W. and M. c. 23. makes an inferior 
 tradesman liable to full costs in an action for hunting on another's 
 ground, notwithstanding his being qualified by an estate. Ben- 
 nett v. Talbois. 1 Lord Raym. 150. 
 
 In the case Gardner v. Hanson, Home Circuit, July 29, 
 1803, it appeared that the plaintiff was a farmer, residing at 
 Great Bromley; and the defendant was his neighbour, and lord 
 of the manor. The action was brought to recover the value of 
 two greyhounds, which the defendant had seized and converted 
 to his own use. To this declaration the defendant had pleaded 
 specially that he seized the dogs and detained them only until 
 the plaintiff should prove himself qualified by law to use them. 
 The proof first given by the plaintiff was of the taking of the 
 two dogs by the defendant's gamekeeper. To justify this the 
 warrant was produced, by virtue of which they were taken. 
 This warrant was signed by two justices, and granted on the 
 oath of Killibach, the defendant's gamekeeper, who swore that 
 the plaintiff kept two greyhounds, and that he was not qualified 
 by law to use them. The justices therefore ordered them to be 
 seized. This warrant the justices granted without any summons 
 to the party, or giving him any opportunity of proving his qua* 
 lification. The plaintiff now proved that he was in possession 
 of 150 acres of land, of the value of one guinea an acre, besides 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 325 
 
 cottages on it to the further value of 25 per year. This esti- 
 mation was endeavoured to be reduced by the defendant, by 
 shewing that it had been surveyed and valued at 15*. per acre; 
 but the surveyor who made a survey of the parish stated, that 
 it was ooly done by way of equalising the rate, and that Mr. 
 Hanson's land was at the same time rated at 15s. an acre, 
 although he must know that it was of greater intrinsic value, 
 and the plaintiff's land was adjoining to the defendant's. It 
 was next attempted to be shewn that the land was mortgaged 
 for 500. The discharge of this incumbrance being also 
 
 n a 
 
 shewn 
 
 The learned judge said, the plaintiff was certainly entitled to 
 a verdict ; but he added, the conduct of the two justices granting 
 the warrant was very extraordinary. It seemed upon the oath 
 of a common fellow of a gamekeeper, who took upon himself 
 to swear, that by law a person was not qualified to keep sporting 
 dogs, they, without any further inquiry, or without any summons 
 calling upon the party to shew his qualification, issued a warrant 
 to seize the dogs. Verdict for plaintiff damage s40. 
 
 The informer cannot be a witness. Lord Raym. 1545. 
 Andr. 240. 
 
326 
 
 A BIRD'S-EYE VIEW OF THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 Qualification. Either a freehold, copyhold, or an equitable estate of 
 inheritance of the annual value of 100/. in the party's own right, 
 or that of his wife ; or a life estate, or leasehold property for at 
 least 99 years, of the annual value of 1 50/. But heirs apparent 
 of esquires ; persons of higher degree than that of esquire ; 
 lords of manors, owners and keepers of forests, chases, parks, 
 and warrens; as also gamekeepers duly authorised by lords of 
 manors, or other royalties, not under the degree of an esquire ; 
 may take and kill game without any qualification as to es- 
 tate; (stat. 22 and 23 Cha. II. c. 25; 5 Ann, c. 14 ; 48 Geo. 
 III. c. 95.) And the 54 Geo. III. c, 141, does not require 
 any qualification from persons aiding and assisting qualified 
 persons in taking or killing game, provided that the act of 
 aiding and assisting be done in the company or presence, and 
 for the use, of such qualified persons, See 16 East's Rep. 
 49, and 15 Ibid, 460. Penalty for taking or killing game 
 without qualification,5/. for each offence; (5 Ann c. 14. The 
 like penalty is imposed on unqualified persons keeping or using 
 dogs and engines for taking game, (Ibid.) 
 
 Certificate'Duty, 51. 15s. 6d. fora qualified person ; 51. 13s.6rf. for every 
 gamekeeper not being a servant assessed to the duty on ser- 
 vants ; and \l. 5s. for every gamekeeper duly registered as game* 
 keeper. Penalty for taking or killing game without certificate, 
 201. and certificate-duty, (52 Geo. III.c. 93.) 
 
 But no certificate is requisite to take snipes and woodcocks in net or 
 springs, or rabbits, in enclosed grounds by the proprietors or occupiers 
 thereof. 
 
 Collectors of taxes, owners and occupiers of lands, &c. gamekeepers* 
 and persons assessed to the game duty, may demand of others using a 
 dog, gun, &c. to produce their certificate ; refusal to comply, or pro- 
 ducing a false certificate, or giving a false name and place of residence, 
 or place of assessment, incurs a penalty of 20/. (48 Gco. III. c, 55.) 
 
327 
 
 SEASONS FOR THE TAKING OF GAME. 
 
 Heath Fowl, or Black Game, begins 20th August, ends 10th Dec. (15 
 Geo. III. c. 55.) But in the New Ferest, Hants, Somerset, 
 and Devon, begins 1st Sept. and ends 10th Dec. (43 Geo. III. 
 c. 112; 50 Geo. III. c. 67.) Penaly for taking at any other 
 time, first offence 20/. and every subsequent offence 301. 
 
 Grouse, or Red Game, begins August 12th, ends 10th Dec. Penalty 
 at other seasons, first offence 201. and every subsequent ffence 
 30?. (13 Geo. III. c. 55.) 
 
 ( Penalty at other seasons 51. 
 Partr^begms 1st Sept. ends 1st Feb. V ^^^ 39 Geo . 
 
 Pheasants, begins 1st Oct. ends 1st Feb. J v , 
 
 (III. c. 34.) 
 
 Wild Fowl, viz. Wild Ducks,'} begins 1st October and ends 1st June. 
 Teal, Widgeon, and other > Penalty at other seasons 51* (9 Ann, e. 
 Water Fowl, ) 25 ; 10 Geo. II. c. 32.) 
 
 Bustards, begins 1st Sept. ends 1st March. Penalty at other seasons, 
 first offence 20/. and for every subsequent offence 30/. (13 Geo. 
 III. c, 55.) 
 
 Hares may be taken at any time of the year, provided in the day time* 
 Game must not be pursued or taken between the hours of seven at 
 night and six in the morning from October 12th to February 12th ; or 
 between nine at night and four in the morning from February 12th to 
 October 12th ; or on a Sunday or Christmas- Day ; on penalty of 20/. for 
 the first offence, 30/. for the second, and 501. for every subsequent of- 
 fence; (13 Geo. III. c. 80.) 
 
 UNLAWFUL DESTRUCTION OF GAME. 
 
 Deer. -To hunt, take, or kill any deer in forests or enclosed grounds, 
 transportation for seven years, (16 Geo. III. c. 30, 42 Ifc>id c. 
 107 ;) if in unenclosed grounds, 501. (42 Geo. III. c. 107 ; 51 
 Geo. III.; if disguised, capital felony, (9 Geo. I, c. 22.) 
 2E2 
 
328 THE GAME LAWS. 
 
 Hares. To take or kill hares in the night, 201. for first offence, and 30/. 
 for second offence, (13 Geo. III. c. 80 ;) to trace in the snow, or 
 take in snares, 201. or three months* imprisonment, (1 Jam. I; 
 c. 27;) if found setting snares, 10s. or one month's imprison- 
 ment, (22 Cha. II.;) and if disguised, felony, (9 Geo. I. c. 22.) 
 
 Rabbits, to take or kill in warrens in the day time, treble damages, or 
 three months' imprisonment, (22 and 23 Cha. II. c. 25;) if in 
 the night, transportation for seven years, or whipping, fine, or 
 imprisonment, (5 Geo. III.c. 14;) if disguised, capital felony, 
 (9 Geo. I.e. 22.) 
 
 Partridges and Pheasants, to shoot at or kill with gun or bow, or to take 
 with nets, dogs, or engines, 20s. or three months' imprisonment, 
 (1 Jam; I. c. 27; 7 Jam. I. c. 18 ;) if in the night 20s. for 
 every pheasant, and 10s. for every partridge, (23 Eliz; c. 10.) 
 
 _ r . _ C to shoot at or kill with gun or bow, 20s. or three 
 
 Heath Game, Grouse, \ 
 
 _ _ _ < months' imprisonment, ( 1 Jam. I. c. 27 ;) if in 
 
 or Moor Game, ) 
 
 (the night, 51. (9 Ann, c. 25.) 
 
 TIT-/ j -rk W7 j C to shoot at or kill, 20Z. or three months' imprison- 
 
 Wild Ducks, Wild \ 
 
 jment, (1 Jam. I. c. 27;) to take with nets, &c. 
 
 Geese, and other < 
 
 rrr _ )from 31st May to 31st August, 4d. and one 
 
 Water Fowl, i 
 
 \ year's imprisonment. 
 
 Herons, to shoot at or kill, 20s. or one month's imprisonment, (I Jam. 
 
 I. c. 27;) to take the young out of nests, 10s. (19 Hen. VII. 
 
 c. 11;) and to take any heron, except with hawking or long bows, 
 
 6s. 8d. (Ibid.) 
 Pigeons, to shoot at, kill, or destroy, with dogs, nets, &c. 20s. or three 
 
 months' imprisonment, (1 Jam. c. 27; 2 Geo. III. c. 29.) 
 Swans, to steal, whether marked or unmarked, felony. 
 Hawks, to disturb or destroy in their nests, 101. (11 Hen. VII. c. 17;) 
 
 and to steal, felony, (37 Edw. III. c. 19.) 
 
 Wilfully to destroy the eggs of Pheasants or Partridges, 20s. for every 
 egg, or one month's imprisonment, (I Jam. I. c. 27 ;) of Cranes or Bus- 
 tards, 20d.; of Bitterns, Herons, or Shovelards, 8d. ; of Mallards, 
 Teals, or other wild fowl, Id. (25 Hen. VIII. c. 11 ;) of Swans, 20s. 
 (1 Jam. I. c. 27;) or of Falcons, Goss-ha\vks, &c. treble damages and 
 three months' imprisonment, (5 Eliz. c. 21 ; and to take the eggs of any 
 falcon, &c. found upon the party's own lands, incurs fine and imprison- 
 ment for a year and a day, (1 1 Hen. VII. c. 17.) 
 
THE GAME LAWS. 329 
 
 To enter any forest, chase, park, or open or enclosed ground, between 
 six in the evening and seven in the morning from the 1st of October to 
 the 1st of February, between seven in the evening and five in the morn- 
 ing from February the 1st to April the 1st, and between nine in the 
 evening and four in the morning for the rest of the year, armed, and 
 having nets, &c. transportation for seven years. Offenders may be ap- 
 prehended by any person. (57 Geo. III. c. 90.) Gamekeepers may 
 seize all game unlawfully taken ; and guns, nets, dogs, (except hounds, 
 1 Barnew. and Alders. Rep. 134,) &c. used by unqualified persons; 
 and they, as also constables and peace-officers, may, by warrant, enter 
 houses of suspected persons not qualified to search for game ; (22 and 
 23 Cha. II. c. 25 ; 4 and 5 Will, and Mary, c. 23; 9 Geo. I. c. 22.) 
 Officers or soldiers destroying game, without leave of the lord of the 
 manor, forfeit 51, (58 Geo. III. c. 75.) 
 
 BUYING AND SELLING GAME. 
 
 To sell or expose to sale Hares, Pheasants, Partridges, Moor or Heath 
 Game, or Grouse, penalty 51. or three months' imprisonment, (28 Geo. 
 II. c. 12.) Unqualified persons, (9 Ann, c. 25 ;) poulterers, &c. (25 
 Geo. II. c. 12;) carriers, innkeepers, victuallers, (5 Ann, c. 14;) having 
 game in their possession, to be deemed exposing it to sale. But carriers 
 having in their possession game belonging to qualified persons are not 
 subject to penalties. And by statute 58 Geo. III. c. 75, to buy game, 
 penalty 5L or six months' imprisonment. To buy or sell deer, penalty 
 4Os. (5 Ann, c. 14,) Gamekeepers selling or exposing to sale game, 
 penalty 51. or three months' imprisonment, (9 Ann, c. 25.) Persons 
 having destroyed game, discovering within three months any carrier, 
 innkeeper, or victualler, having bought or sold, or offered to buy or sell, 
 or had in his possession any game, are exempt from penalty, (5 Ann, 
 c. 14.) And by the 58 Geo. III. c. 75, any peron having bought or 
 sold game, discovering within six months any person guilty of a like of- 
 fence, is entitled to the same exemption. 
 
 N. B. Some doubt having been entertained whether rabbits are to be 
 considered game, it may be proper to observe that the first statute which 
 required a certificate for killing them was the 52 Geo. III. e. 93; but 
 it is not penal to expose them to sale, for the statutes relative to this 
 matter do not mention them in their enumeration. 
 2E3 
 
330 
 
 REMARKS. 
 
 I have endeavoured to give as lucid a view as possible of what 
 are called the Game Laws ; but, as they are neither founded in 
 justice, nor supported by reason, it is impossible to exhibit them 
 either in a very clear or a very favourable light. At first view, 
 the qualification appears absurd ; and if we proceed to examine 
 the matter more minutely, we shall soon discover that it will not 
 bear the scrutiny of investigation. In a free, commercial coun- 
 try, it must be particularly obnoxious ; for what can be more 
 unreasonable or more arbitrary, than the invidious distinction 
 which is thus exhibited between the landed and commercial in- 
 terests ? A man, with a small freehold of sglOO per annum, 
 is legally qualified to keep game dogs, and pursue the diversions 
 of the field; when a man in trade, possessed of property to the 
 amount of many thousands, is denied the same privilege. It 
 has been argued, that, as the game is supported by (or fed upon) 
 the lands, so the owners, and they alone, are entitled to chase 
 and kill it. But this doctrine will be found altogether futile and 
 even ridiculous ; since, in the first place, property in houses is a 
 qualification equal to grass or corn fields, and consequently the ar- 
 gument instantly vanishes. Game, strictly speaking, can be called 
 the property of no person : it respects neither the fields of the 
 rich nor the gardens of the poor; its excursions are unlimited, 
 and it feeds every where. If it can be called property at all, 
 it is the property of the country ; and, since commerce pays 
 comparatively so much greater a proportion towards the support 
 of the state, the rights of the tradesman ought at least to be 
 equal with those of the landholder. 
 
 The use of spring guns and steel traps for the preservation 
 of game appears as abominable as it is unlawful. 
 
331 
 
 &i*ttatic 
 
 It was not originally the intention of the author to have en- 
 tered into the subject of shooting farther than w^hat related to 
 those animals denominated game ; but as what are called wild 
 fowl frequently present themselves during winter to the attention 
 of the sportsman, and as those gentlemen who reside near the 
 fens and marshes frequently amuse themselves in those places 
 when superior sport is unattainable, in order to render the 
 " Shooter's Companion" as complete as possible, I shall sketch 
 the history of aquatic and fen birds, as well as describe the most 
 approved mode of following the diversion of wild fowl and fen 
 shooting. Those birds which frequent the fens but are not web 
 footed will first come under consideration. 
 
 The progressions of nature from one class of beings to another, 
 are always by slow and almost imperceptible degrees. She has 
 peopled the woods and the fields with a variety of the most beau- 
 tiful birds ; and, to leave no part of her extensive territories un- 
 tenanted, she has stocked the waters with its feathered inhabi- 
 tants also : she has taken the same care in providing for the 
 wants of her animals in this element, as she has done with res- 
 pect to those of the other ; she has used as much precaution to 
 render water- fowl fit for swimming, as she did in forming land- 
 fowl for flight ; she has defended their feathers with a natural 
 oil, and united their toes by a webbed membrane; by which 
 contrivances they have at once security and motion. But be- 
 tween the classes of land-birds that shun the water, and water- 
 fowl that are made for swimming and living on it, she has 
 formed a very numerous tribe of birds, that seem to partake of 
 a middle nature ; that, with divided toes, seemingly fitted to live 
 
332 AQUATIC AND FEN BIRDS. 
 
 on land are at the same time furnished with appetites that chiefly 
 attach them to the waters. These can properly be called neither 
 land-birds nor water fowl, as they chiefly derive their sustenance 
 from watery places, and yet are unqualified to seek it in those 
 depths where it is often found in greatest plenty. 
 
 This class of birds, of the crane kind, are to be distinguished 
 from others rather by their appetites than their conformation. 
 Yet even in this respect they seem to be sufficiently discriminated 
 by nature: as they are to live among the waters, yet are inca- 
 pable of swimming in them, most of them have long legs, fitted 
 for wading in shallow waters, or long bills proper for groping in 
 them. 
 
 Every bird of this kind, habituated to marshy places, may be 
 known, if not by the length of its legs, at least by the scaly sur- 
 face of them. Those who have observed the legs of a snipe or 
 a woodcock, will easily perceive my meaning ; and how different 
 the surface of the skin that covers them is from that of the 
 pigeon or the partridge. Most birds of this kind also, are bare 
 of feathers half way up their thigh ; at least, in all of them, 
 above the knee. Their long habits of wading in the waters, 
 and having their legs continually in moisture, prevents the 
 growth of feathers on those parts ; so that there is a surprising 
 difference between the leg of a crane, naked of feathers almost 
 up to the body, and the falcon, booted almost to the very toes* 
 
 The bill also is very distinguishable in most of this class. It 
 is, in general, longer than that of other birds, and in some finely 
 fluted cm every side ; while at the point it is possessed of extreme 
 sensibility, and furnished with nerves, for the better feeling their 
 food at the bottom of marshes, where it cannot be seen. Some 
 birds of this class are thus fitted with every convenience : they 
 have long legs, for wading ; long necks, for stooping; long bills, 
 for searching ; and nervous points, for feeling. Others are not 
 so amply provided for j as some have long bills, but legs of no. 
 
AQUATIC AND FEN BIRDS. 333 
 
 great length ; and others have long necks, but very short legs. 
 It is a rule which universally holds, that where the bird's legs 
 are long, the neck is also long in proportion. It would indeed 
 be an incurable defect in the bird's conformation, to be lifted 
 upon stilts above its food, without being furnished with an instru- 
 ment to reach it. 
 
 If we consider the natural power of this class, in a compara- 
 tive view, they will seem rather inferior to those of every other 
 tribe. Their nests are more simple than those of the sparrow ; 
 and their methods of obtaining food less ingenious than those of 
 the falcon ; the pie exceeds them in cunning ; and though they 
 have all the voraciousness of the poultry tribe, they want their 
 fecundity. None of this kind, therefore, have been taken into 
 man's society, or under his protection ; they are neither caged 
 like the nightingale, nor kept tame like the turkey, but lead a 
 life of precarious liberty in fens and marshes, at the edges of lakes 
 and along the sea- shore. They all live upon fish or insects, one 
 or two only excepted. 
 
 All this class, therefore, that are fed upon insects, their food 
 being easily digestible, are good to be eaten ; while those which 
 live entirely upon fish, abounding in oil, acquire in their flesh 
 the rancidity of their diet, and are, in general, unfit for our tables. 
 To savages, indeed, and sailors on a long voyage, every thing 
 that has life would appear good to be eaten ; and we often find 
 them recommending those animals as dainties, which they them- 
 selves would spurn at after a course of good living. Nothing is 
 more common in their journals than such accounts as these "this 
 day we shot a fox pretty good eating : and this day we shot a 
 heron pretty good eating : and this day we killed a turtle" ~ 
 which they rank with the heron and the fox, as "pretty good 
 eating." Their accounts, therefore, of the flesh of these birds, 
 are not to be depended upon ; and when they cry up the heron 
 or the stork of other countries as luxurious food, we must always 
 attend to the state of their appetites who give the character. 
 
334, 
 
 THE DOTTEREL. 
 
 The length of the dotterel is about ten inches. The bill is 
 not quite an inch long, and is black. The forehead is mottled 
 with brown and grey : the top of the head is black ; and over 
 each eye there is an arched line of white, which passes to the 
 hind part of the neck. The cheeks and throat are white ; the 
 back and wings are of a light brown inclining to olive, each fea- 
 ther margined with pale rust colour. The fore part of the neck 
 is surrounded by a broad band of a light olive colour, bordered 
 below with white. The breast is of a pale dull orange ; the 
 middle of the belly black; and the rest of the belly and the thighs 
 are of a reddish white. The tail is olive brown, black near the 
 end, and tipped with white ; and the outer feathers are margined 
 with white. The legs are of a dark olive. 
 
 These birds are migratory : appearing in flocks of eight or 
 ten, about the end of April ; and staying all May and June, 
 when they become very fat, and are much esteemed for the table. 
 They are found in tolerable plenty in Cambridgeshire, Lincoln- 
 shire, and Derbyshire ; but in other parts of the kingdom they 
 are scarcely known. They are supposed to breed among the 
 mountains of Westmoreland and Cumberland. 
 
 The dotterel is in its manners a very singular bird, and may 
 be taken by the most simple artifice. The country people are 
 sometimes said to go in quest of it, in the night, with a lighted 
 torch or candle : and the bird on these occasions will mimic the 
 actions of the fowler with great archness. When he stretches 
 out an arm, it stretches out its wing ; if he moves a foot, it 
 moves one also ; and every other motion it endeavours to imi- 
 tate. This is the opportunity that the fowler takes of entangling 
 
THE WHEAT EAR. 335 
 
 it m'his net. Willoughby however cites the following case : 
 six or seven persons usually went in company to catch dotterels. 
 When they found the bird, they set their net in an advantageous 
 place ; and each of them holding a stone in either hand, they 
 got behind it, and striking the stones one against the other, roused 
 it from its natural sluggishness, and by degrees drove it into the 
 net. The more certain method of the gun has of late super- 
 seded both these artifices. 
 
 THE WHEAT EAR. 
 
 This bird visits England annually in the middle of March, 
 and leaves us in September. The females come first, about a 
 fortnight before the males ; and they continue to come till the 
 Middle of May. In some parts of England they are found in 
 vast plenty, and are much esteemed. About Eastbourne, in 
 Sussex, they are taken in snares made of horse-hair, placed be- 
 neath a long turf. Being very timid birds, the motion even of 
 a cloud, or the appearance of a hawk, will immediately drive 
 them into the traps. 
 
 These traps are first set every year on St. James's day, the 
 twenty-fifth of July ; soon after which they are caught in aston- 
 ishing numbers, considering that they are not gregarious, and 
 that more than two or three are scarcely ever seen flying toge- 
 ther. The number annually ensnared in the district of East- 
 bourne alone, is said to amount to nearly two thousand dozen. 
 The birds caught are chiefly young ones, and they are invaria- 
 
336 THE RUFF AND REEVE. 
 
 bly found in the greatest number when an easterly wind prevails: 
 they always come against the wind. A gentleman informed 
 Mr. Markwick, that his father's shepherd once caught eighty- 
 four dozen of them in a day. Great quantities of them are eaten 
 on the spot by the neighbouring inhabitants ; others are sent 
 up to the London poulterers, and many are potted, being as 
 much esteemed in England as the ortolans are on the continent 
 of Europe. 
 
 The vast plenty of these birds on the downs about Eastbourne, 
 is supposed by Mr. Pennant to be occasioned by a species of fly, 
 their favourite food, that feeds on the wild thyme, and abounds 
 on the adjacent hills. 
 
 A few of the birds breed in the old rabbit-burrows there. 
 The nest is large, and made of dried grass, rabbets* down, a few 
 feathers, and horse-hair. The eggs are from six to eight, and 
 are of a light colour. 
 
 THE RUFF AND REEVE. 
 
 The ruff is about a foot in length, with a bill of about an inch. 
 The face is covered with yellow pimples ; and the back part of 
 the head and neck are furnished with long feathers, standing out 
 somewhat like the ruff worn by our ancestors ; a few of these 
 feathers stand up over each eye, and appear not unlike ears. 
 Trie colours of the ruffs are in no two birds alike : in general 
 they are brownish, and barred with black; though some have 
 been seen that were altogether white. The lower parts of the 
 
THE RUFF AND REEVE. 337 
 
 belly and the tail coverts are white. The tail is tolerably 
 long, having the four middle feathers barred with black ; the 
 others are pale brown. The legs are of a dull yellow, and the 
 claws black. The female, which is called the reeve, is smaller 
 than the male, of a brown colour, and destitute of the ruff on 
 the neck. 
 
 The male bird does not acquire his ruff till the second season, 
 being till that time in this respect like the female : as he is also 
 from the end of June till the pairing season, when nature clothes 
 him with the ruff, and the red pimples break out on his face ; 
 but after the time of incubation the long feathers fall off, and 
 the caruncles shrink in under the skin so as not to be discerned. 
 
 These are birds of passage ; and arrive in the fens of Lin- 
 colnshire, the isle of Ely, and the East Riding of Yorkshire, in 
 the spring, in great numbers. Mr. Pennant tells us, that in the 
 course of a single morning there have been above six dozen 
 caught in one net : and that a fowler has been known to catch 
 between forty and fifty dozen in a season. 
 
 The males are much more numerous than the females, and 
 they have many severe contentions for their mates. The male 
 chooses a stand on some dry bank, near a plash of water, round 
 which he runs so often as to make a bare circular path : the 
 moment a female comes in sight, all the males within a certain 
 distance commence a general battle ; placing their bills to the 
 grouud, spreading their ruff, and using the same action as a 
 cock : and this opportunity is seized by the fowlers, who, in the 
 confusion, catch them, by means of nets, in great numbers. 
 An erroneous opinion prevails very generally, that ruffs when 
 in confinement must be fed in the dark, lest the admission of 
 light should set them to fighting. The fact is, that every bird, 
 even when kept in a room, takes its stand, as it would in the 
 open air ; and if another invades its circle, a battle ensues. A 
 
 whole room full of them may be set into fierce contest by com- 
 ' 
 
338 THE KNOT. 
 
 pelling them to shift their stations ; but, after the disturber has 
 quitted the place, they have been observed to resume their circles, 
 and become again pacific. In confinement their quarrels origi- 
 nate in the circumstance of the pan containing their food not 
 being sufficiently large to admit the whole party to feed without 
 touching each other. When the food has been divided into 
 several pans, the birds have continued perfectly quiet. 
 
 The reeves lay four eggs, in a tuft of grass, about the begin- 
 ning of May ; and the young are hatched in about a month. 
 
 It is not known with certainty in what country these birds pass 
 the winter, 
 
 THE KNOT. 
 
 This bird, which frequents the fens, is taken in the same man- 
 ner as the ruffs and reeves. The knot is said to have been a 
 favourite dish with Canute, king of England ; and Camden ob- 
 serves, that its name is derived from the monarch Knute or 
 Knout, as he was called, which, in process of time, has been 
 changed to Knot. These birds are caught in Lincolnshire, and 
 other fenny counties by nets, into which they are decoyed by 
 stale birds, carved and painted so as to represent themselves, and 
 placed within the range of the nets: their numbers are so con- 
 siderable that Mr. Pennant states fourteen dozen to have been 
 taken at once. They are fattened in the same way as the ruffs, 
 and by some are supposed to excel that bird in flavour. The 
 season for taking them is from August to November, after which 
 they in general disappear with the first frosts. The weight of 
 
THE GODWIT. 339 
 
 the knot is four ounces and a half, length from nine to ten inches, 
 breadth from sixteen to twenty inches. Bill one inch and a 
 quarter, black at the tip, and dusky ash fading into orange to- 
 wards the base. Tongue extends to the very end of the bill, 
 and is sharp and horny at the point. Irides hazel ; from the 
 bill to the eye a dusky line ; over the eye a white one : the top 
 of the head, neck, back, and wings, ash-colour ; lower order of 
 coverts tipped with white, and edged a little way up with the same, 
 making a bar across the wing when extended ; greater quills 
 darker, with white shafts : lower part of the back and tail coverts 
 dark ash-colour, mixed with white, forming spots like crescents : 
 tail ash-celoured ; the under part from the throat to the vent, 
 white, with small dusky spots on the throat and breast ; the sides 
 under the wings, the belly, thighs, and vent, crossed with dusky 
 lines ; ridge of the wing white ; the thighs feathered very nearly 
 to the knee ; the legs are short, in some are blueish ash-colour, 
 in others reddish yellow ; the toes are divided without any mem- 
 brane. These birds, however, like others of the same genus, 
 vary considerably from each other in their appearance at differ- 
 ent seasons of the year, as well as from age and sex. Knots 
 have been observed about lake Baikal, and Mr. Pennant men- 
 tions a specimen which came from New York. 
 
 THE GODWIT 
 
 is taken at the same time, and in the same manner, with the 
 ruffs and knots, and when ready for market, each sells for five 
 shillings and upwards. In the spring and summer it resides in 
 the fens and marshes, where it rears its young and lives upon 
 
340 THE GODW1T. 
 
 small worms and insects. During these seasons it only removes 
 from one marsh or fen to another, but when the winter sets in 
 with seventy (for the godwit continues with us the whole year), 
 it seeks the salt-marshes, and the sandy shores by the sea-side, 
 which for a great space are uncovered at the ebbing of the tide, 
 where it walks like the curlew, and feeds upon the insects which 
 there abound. 
 
 This bird is rather bigger than the woodcock, being in length 
 from sixteen to eighteen inches, and between the tips of the ex- 
 tended wings twenty-eight inches broad. The weight twelve 
 ounces. Bill four inches long, bending a little upwards, black 
 at the point, gradually softening into a pale purple towards the 
 base ; the under mandible the shortest ; the tongue sharp ; the 
 nostrils oblong ; and the ears large. A whitish streak passes 
 from the bill to the eye ; the head, neck, and upper parts of a 
 dingy reddish brown, each feather marked down the middle with 
 a dark spot. The fore part of the breast is streaked with black : 
 in the female the throat and neck are grey or ash- coloured ; the 
 belly, vent, and tail, are white, the latter regularly barred with 
 black ; the six prime quill feathers are black, edged on the in- 
 terior sides with reddish brown. In some birds the rump is 
 white, and the chin nearly so ; the legs are not very long, naked 
 to the middle of the second joint, and are generally dark-coloured, 
 inclining to a greenish blue. 
 
 The godwit is met with in various parts of the continent of 
 Europe and Asia, as well as in America : at Hudson's Bay, 
 the red godwit in particular is so plentiful, that Mr. Atkinson, 
 long resident at York Fort, killed seventy-two at one shot ! 
 
841 
 
 PLOVERS. 
 
 There are three sorts of these birds, which are objects of the 
 sportsman's pursuit; the golden, the grey, and the peewit or 
 lapwing. 
 
 The golden plover is the size of the turtle; its weight nine 
 ounces ; length eleven inches, breadth twenty-four ; the bill is 
 short and black ; the feathers on the head, back, and wing coverts, 
 are dusky, beautifully spotted on each side with light yellowish 
 green ; round the eyes and the chin almost white ; sides of the 
 head, the neck, and sides of the body, the same as the upper 
 parts, but much paler ; the breast brown, marked with greenish 
 oblong strokes; the middle feathers of the tail barred with black 
 and yellowish green ; the greater quills are dusky ; the legs 
 black ; and it wants the back toe, by which it is distinguished 
 from other birds of its kind. There is some variety seen in the 
 colour of the belly ; this is owing to the season : about the be- 
 ginning of March, the appearance of black in the breast is first 
 seen, increasing by degrees, until that part becomes a full black; 
 but after the time of incubation, this tint again disappears, and 
 the belly is white. The male and female differ very little, and 
 in the young birds the spots are not of a full yellow, but incline 
 more to grey. 
 
 M. Baillon, who has observed these birds in Picardy, asserts 
 that their early plumage is grey ; that at their first moult in 
 August and September, they get some feathers of a yellow cast, 
 or which are spotted with that colour ; but it is not until after 
 some years that they acquire their fine golden tint. He adds, 
 that the females are hatched entirely grey, and only when old 
 
 assume a little yellow ; and that it is very rare to see their feathers 
 2*3 
 
34*2 THE PLOVER. 
 
 so uniform and beautiful as the males. No longer need the dis- 
 tinction of tints in this species of birds be remarked, since this 
 gentleman has proved, that the varieties result from the differ- 
 ence of age and of sex. 
 
 This elegant bird inhabits England the whole year, and breeds 
 on several of our unfrequented mountains ; is very common on 
 those of the isle of Rum, and others of the loftier Hebrides; 
 also on the Grampian, and all the heathy hills of the islands and 
 highlands of Scotland : millions are found in the Orknies, from 
 which they never entirely migrate ; they lay four eggs, two inches 
 in length, more pointed in shape than those of the lapwing, and 
 of a pale cinereous olive, blotched with blackish spots ; they 
 make a whistling noise, and fly in small flocks, and by a skilful 
 imitation of the note, may be enticed within shot. They fre- 
 quent, in November, meadows and commons ; and there was 
 once an instance of a warrener near Bristol killing eleven at one 
 shot. Their flesh is sweet and tender ; they are dressed like the 
 woodcock, with their trail, and are excellent eating. 
 
 The golden plover is common in all the northern parts of 
 Europe. It is numerous in America, from Hudson's Bay to 
 Carolina ; migrating from one part to another according to the 
 seasons. Is met with to the south as far as Aleppo ; and if, 
 says Latham, the species is not mistaken, in the island of Bata- 
 via and in China. Our last voyagers found them at Owhyhee, 
 Tongataboo, and also York islands, but of a smaller size, 
 
343 
 
 THE GREY PLOVER 
 
 is about twelve inches long and twenty-five broad, and weighs 
 seven ounces ; the bill is black, about an inch long : in the roof 
 of the mouth is a double row of spinous appendages pointing 
 inwards ; the head, back, and wing coverts, are of a dusky brown, 
 edged with greenish ash-colour, and some with white ; the cheeks 
 and throat white, marked with oblong dusky spots ; the belly, 
 thighs, and rump, white; the exterior webs of the quill feathers 
 black ; the lower part of the interior webs of the first four white : 
 the tail is short, does not project beyond the wing, and is marked 
 with transverse bars of black and white; the legs are of a dirty 
 green ; the back toe extremely small. This bird is in no great 
 abundance, in England;* they generally come in small flocks 
 about October, and leave this country about March : in cold 
 and frosty weather they seek their food on such lands as lie near 
 the sea ; in open weather they feed in ploughed fields, especially 
 if sowed ; and, having fed, fly to some plash of water to wash 
 their beaks and feet ; a habit which is also common to the wood- 
 cocks, the lapwings, the curlews, and many other birds which 
 feed on worms ; they sleep chiefly in the day in calcn weather, 
 passing most of the night in running up and down after the 
 
 * Mr. Gilpin speaks of them as sometimes abounding in the New 
 Forest. ' Plovers of different kinds (says that gentleman) are common in 
 its heathy parts. I have sometimes seen large flocks of the grey species, 
 and admired them as they encircled the air ; in their regular flight they 
 in some degree resemble water- fowls, but are not so determined in their 
 course, wheeling about and forming various evolutions : at times they 
 appear scattered and in confusion, until closing together, as if by some 
 word of command, they get again into form. " 
 
THE LAPWING. 
 
 worms, which then creep out of the ground : at that time they 
 make a small cry, as if to keep their flock collected till day-break, 
 when they unite and fly to the coast ; they are sometimes taken 
 in nets at their first coming, and the fowler is cautious to set his 
 nets to play with the wind ; for instance, when the wind is east- 
 erly, that they may play westerly; The north-west is the worst 
 wind to take them ; all sea-fowl fly against the wind, whenever 
 they design to rest on the land. The preferable places for set- 
 ting the nets are in large common fields of green corn, and near 
 to water, for there they are sure to resort to clean their beaks 
 and feet : their flesh is very delicate. In Carolina they are seen 
 in the valleys, near the mountains, in great numbers, but seldom 
 alight ; are also very common in Siberia, appearing there in 
 autumn in vast flocks, coming from the extreme north, where 
 they breed. 
 
 THE LAPWING OE PEEWIT. 
 
 This bird is too well known to need any description here. It 
 is found in most parts of Europe, as far northward as Icelandt 
 In the winter it is met with in Persia and Egypt. 
 
 The chief food of the Lapwings is worms ; and sometimes 
 they may be seen in flocks nearly covering the low marshy 
 grounds in search of these, which they draw with great dexterity 
 from their holes. When the bird meets with one of those little 
 
THE LAPWING. 315 
 
 clusters of pellets, or rolls of earth, that are thrown out by the 
 worm's perforations, it first gently removes the mould from the 
 mouth of the hole, then strikes the ground at the side with its 
 foot, and steadily and attentively waits the issue : the reptile, 
 alarmed by the shock, emerges from its retreat, and is instantly 
 seized. In the evening the lapwings pursue a different plan : 
 they run along the grass and feel under their feet the worms, 
 which now come forth invited by the coolness of the air. Thus 
 they obtain a plentiful meal ; and afterwards wash their bill and 
 feet in the small pools or rivulets. 
 
 " I have seen this bird (says Dr. Latham) approach a worm- 
 cast, turn it aside, and, after making two or three turns about, 
 by way of giving motion to the ground, the worm came out, 
 and the watchful bird, seizing hold of it, drew it forth." 
 
 They remain in England the whole year. The female lays 
 four eggs on the dry ground, near some marsh, upon a little bed 
 which she prepares of dry grass. These are olive- coloured and 
 spotted with black. She sits about three weeks, and the young 
 are able to run within two or three days after they are hatched. 
 
 The parent exhibits the greatest attachment to them ; and the 
 arts used by this bird to allure boys and dogs from the place 
 where they are running, are extremely amusing. She does not 
 wait the arrival of her enemies at the nest, but boldly pushes 
 out to meet them. When as near as she dare venture, she rises 
 from the ground with a loud screaming voice, as if just flushed 
 from hatching, though probably at the same time not within a 
 hundred yards of her nest. She now flies with great clamour 
 and apparent anxiety ; whining and screaming round the inva- 
 ders, striking at them with her wings, and sometimes fluttering 
 as if she was wounded. To complete the deception, she becomes 
 still more clamorous as she retires from the nest, If very near, 
 she appears altogether unconcerned, and her cries cease in pro- 
 portion as her fears are augmented. When approached by dogs, 
 
S46 THE LAPWING. 
 
 she flies heavily, at a little distance before them, as if maimed ; 
 still vociferous, and still bold, but never offering to move towards 
 the quarter where her young are stationed. The dogs pursue 
 in expectation every moment of seizing the parent, and by this 
 means actually lose the yonng, for the cunning bird having thus 
 drawn them off to a proper distance, exerts her powers, and 
 leaves her astonished pursuers to gaze at the rapidity of her 
 flight. 
 
 There are few readers acquainted in any degree with the 
 country who will not recollect how justly the following lines de- 
 scribe the manners of this bird ; 
 
 Hence, around the head 
 
 Of wand'ring swains, the white- wing'd plover wheels 
 Her sounding flight ; and then directly on, 
 In long excursion, skims the level lawn, 
 To tempt him from her uest. 
 
 The following anecdote exhibits the domestic nature of the 
 lapwing, as well as the art with which it conciliates the regard 
 of animals materially differing from itself, and generally con- 
 sidered as hostile to every species of the feathered tribe. Two 
 lapwings were given to a clergyman, who put them into his 
 garden ; one soon died, but the other continued to pick up such 
 food as the place afforded, till winter deprived it of its usual sup- 
 ply. Necessity soon compelled it to draw nearer the house, by 
 which it gradually became familiarized to occasional interrup- 
 tions from the family. At length one of the servants, when she 
 had occasion to go into the back-kitchen with a light, observed 
 that the lapwing always uttered his cry of " pee-wit" to obtain 
 admittance. He soon grew more familiar : as the winter ad- 
 vanced, he approached as far as the kitchen, but with much cau- 
 tion, as that part of the house was generally occupied by a dog 
 and cat ; whose friendship, however, the lapwing at length con- 
 
THE BITTERN. 347 
 
 ciliated so entirely, that it was his regular custom to resort to 
 the fireside as soon as it grew dark, and spend the evening and 
 night with his two associates, sitting close by them and partaking 
 of the comforts of the warmth. As soon as spring appeared 
 he discontinued his visits to the house, and betook himself to the 
 garden ; but on the approach of winter he had recourse to his 
 old shelter and friends, who received him very cordially. Secu- 
 rity was productive of insolence ; what was at first obtained with 
 caution, was afterwards taken without reserve : he frequently 
 amused himself with washing in the bowl which was set for the 
 dog to drink out of; and while he was thus employed he shewed 
 marks of the greatest indignation if either of his companions pre- 
 sumed to interrupt him. He died in the asylum he had thus 
 chosen, being choaked with something that he had picked up 
 from the floor. 
 
 THE BITTERN, OR MIRE-DRUM. 
 
 Those who have walked in an evening by the sedgy sides of 
 Unfrequented rivers, must remember a variety of notes from dif- 
 ferent water-fowl : the loud scream of the wild-goose, the croak- 
 ing of the mallard, &c. &c. But of all those sounds, there is 
 none so dismally hollow as the booming of the bittern. It is 
 impossible for words to give those who have not heard this even- 
 ing-call an adequate idea of its solemnity. It is like the inter- 
 rupted bellowing of a bull, but hollower and louder, and is heard 
 
34-8 THE BITTERN. 
 
 at a mite's distance, as if issuing from some formidable being that 
 resided at the bottom of the waters. 
 
 The bird, however, that produces this terrifying sound, is not 
 o big as a heron, with a weaker bill, not above four inches long. 
 It differs from the heron chiefly in its colour, which is in general 
 of a paleish yellow, spotted and barred with black. Its wind- 
 pipe is fitted to produce the sound for which it is remarkable; 
 the lower part of it dividing into the lungs is supplied with a 
 thin loose membrane, that can be filled with a large body of air 
 and exploded at pleasure. These bellowing explosions are chiefly 
 heard from the beginning of spring to the end of autumn, and, 
 however awful they may appear to us, are the calls to courtship 
 or expressions of connubial felicity. 
 
 From the loudness and solemnity of the note, many have been 
 led to suppose that the bird made use of external instruments to 
 produce it, and that so small a body could never eject such a 
 quantity of tone. The common people are of opinion that, it 
 thrusts its bill into a reed, that serves as a pipe for swelling the 
 note above its natural pitch ; while others, and in this number 
 we find Thomson the poet, imagine that the bittern puts its 
 head under water, and then violently blowing produces its boom- 
 ings. The fact is, that the bird is sufficiently provided by nature 
 for this call, and it is often heard where there are neither reeds 
 nor waters to assist its sonorous invitations; 
 
 It hides in the sedges by day, and begins its call in the even- 
 ing, booming six or eight times, and then discontinuing for ten 
 or twenty minutes, to renew the same sound. This is a call it 
 never gives but when undisturbed, and at liberty. When its re- 
 treats among the sedges are invaded, when it dreads or expects 
 the approach of an enemy, it is then perfectly silent. This call 
 it has never been heard to utter when taken or brought up in 
 domestic captivity ; it continues under the control of man a mute 
 forlorn bird, equally incapable of attachment or instruction. But 
 
THE BITTERN. 34*9 
 
 though its boomings are always performed in solitude, it has a 
 scream which is generally heard upon the seizing its prey, and 
 which is sometimes extorted by fear. 
 
 This bird, though of the heron kind, is yet neither so destruc- 
 tive nor so voracious. It is a retired timorous animal, conceal- 
 ing itself in the midst of reeds and marshy places, and living upon 
 frogs, insects, and vegetables ; and though so nearly resembling 
 the heron in figure, yet differing much in manners and appe- 
 tites. As the heron builds on the tops of the highest trees, 
 the bittern lays its nest in a sedgy margin, or amidst a tuft of 
 rushes. The heron builds with sticks and wool; the bittern 
 composes its simpler habitation of sedges, the leaves of water- 
 plants, and dry rushes. The heron lays four eggs ; the bittern 
 generally seven or eight, of an ash-green colour. The heron 
 feeds its young for many days ; the bittern in three days leads 
 its little ones to their food. In short, the heron is lean and ca- 
 daverous, subsisting chiefly upon animal food ; the bittern is 
 plump and fleshy, as it feeds upon vegetables, when more nourish- 
 ing food is wanting. 
 
 It cannot be, therefore, from its voracious appetites, but its' 
 hollow boom, that the bittern is held in such detestation by the 
 vulgar. " I remember, in the place where I was a boy, with what 
 terror this bird's note affected the whole village ; they considered 
 it as the presage of some sad event, and generally found or made 
 one to succeed it. I do not speak ludicrously ; but if any person 
 in the neighbourhood died, they supposed it could not be other- 
 wise, for the night-raven had foretold it ; but if no body hap- 
 pened to die, the death of a cow or a sheep gave completion to 
 the prophecy." 
 
 Whatever terror it may inspire among the simple, its flesh is 
 greatly esteemed among the luxurious. For this reason it is as 
 eagerly sought after by the fowler as it is shunned by the pea- 
 sant ; and as it is a heavy rising, slow winged bird, it does not 
 2 G 
 
350 THE REDSHANK. 
 
 often escape him. Indeed, it seldom rises but when almost trod 
 upon, and seems to seek protection rather from concealment than 
 flight. At the latter end of autumn, however, in the evening, 
 its wonted indolence appears to forsake it. It is then seen 
 rising in a spiral ascent, till it is quite lost from the view, making 
 at the same time a singular noise very different from its former 
 boomings. Thus the same animal is often seen to assume dif- 
 ferent desires ; and while the Latins have given the bittern the 
 name of the star-reaching bird, the Greeks, taking its character 
 from its more constant habits, have given it the title of the lazy 
 bird. 
 
 THE REDSHANK, OR POOL SNIPE, 
 
 resides the greater part of the year in the fen and marshy 
 countries, where it is pretty common ; and there it breeds and 
 rears its young, laying four whitish eggs, tinged with olive, and 
 marked with irregular black spots, most numerous at the large 
 end. When disturbed, it has nearly the actions of a lapwing, 
 in flying round its nest, which it is said to do in such regular 
 circles, the nest being in the centre, whether the circuits be larger 
 or smaller, insomuch that an attentive observer will find it by 
 this circumstance. The redshank is in length twelve inches, in 
 breadth twenty-one, and weighs about six ounces : the bill is 
 two inches long, slender, and like a woodcock's ; of a dark red 
 at the base, and black towards the point : the tongue is sharp 
 and undivided; the upper mandible longer, and sometimes 
 
THE CURLEW. 351 
 
 crooked at the very tip : irides reddish hazel ; a whitish line 
 passes over and encircles each eye> from the corner of which 
 a dusky brown spot is extended to the beak. The head, and 
 hind part of the neck, dusky ash-colour, spotted with brown : 
 back and scapulars glossy olive brown : wing coverts ash-colour, 
 mixed with dusky and brown, and marked with whitish spots : 
 the bastard wing and primary quills are brown ; the inner webs 
 of the latter are deeply edged with white freckled with brown, 
 and some of these quills next the secondaries are elegantly marked 
 near their tips with narrow brown lines, pointed and shaped to 
 the form of each feather. Some of the secondaries are similarly 
 barred, others are white : the throat and forepart of the breast 
 are marked with short dusky spots ; the under parts from the 
 breast, and the lower parts of the back and rump, white, marked 
 with minute dusky spots : tail coverts and tail crossed with narrow 
 bars of black, twelve or thirteen on each feather : legs orange 
 red, and measure, from the end of the toes to the upper bare 
 part of the thigh, five inches and a half: claws black. In some 
 birds both the rump and belly are of a pure white. The red- 
 shank is common in many parts of Europe, as high as Finland ; 
 is likewise found in Siberia, and is indigenous also to the conti- 
 nent of America. 
 
 THE CURLEW 
 
 is common in England, where it is to be met with at all seasons. 
 In the winter haunting the sea coast and marshes in great num- 
 bers, where they live upon the worms, marine insects, and dif- 
 ferent fishy substances, which they find upon the beach, aad 
 
352 THE CURLEW. 
 
 among the loose rocks and shallow pits left by the retiring tide. 
 Their summer residence is upon the heathy, mountainous, boggy 
 moors, where their food consists of worms, slugs, flies, and in- 
 sects, which their long bills enable them to pick out of the soft 
 mossy earth, and here they breed. The female (which is rather 
 bigger, but whose plumage is nearly like the male's) makes her 
 nest upon the ground, in a dry tuft of rushes or grass, of such 
 withered materials as are found near, and in April lay four eggs, 
 of a pale olive colour, marked with brownish spots. These birds 
 vary much in size, as well as in the different shades of their 
 feathers, some of them weighing not more than twenty -two, and 
 others thirty -seven ounces. In some, the white parts of the 
 plumage are clearer than in others, which are more uniformly 
 grey, and tinged with pale brown : they utter a very shrill cry, 
 that may be heard at a considerable distance. 
 
 The common length of the curlew is two feet, and from tip 
 to tip from three feet to forty inches ; the bill is about seven 
 inches long, of a regular curve, and tender substance at the 
 point ; the tongue sharp, and very short, extending not further 
 than the angle of the lower chap ; the upper mandible is black, 
 gradually softening into brown towards the base, which of the 
 under mandible is flesh coloured ; the feathers of the head, neck, 
 upper part of the back and wing coverts, are of a pale brown ; 
 the middle of each feather black, edged and deeply indented 
 with pale rust colour, or light grey ; the breast, belly, and lower 
 part of the back, dull white, marked with conjunct lines of black, 
 the two former with oblong strokes more thickly set : quills 
 black, spotted on the inner webs with white; tail reddish white, 
 barred with black ; the legs are bare a little above the knees, of 
 a dusky blueish colour ; the toes are thick, and flat on the under- 
 side. The curlew flies swiftly. The flesh of the curlew has 
 been characterised as being very good, and of a fine flavour ; by 
 others the direct reverse has been maintained. The truth is, 
 
STONE CURLEW. 353 
 
 that while they live inland, and on the moors, and are in health 
 and season, scarcely any bird excels them in goodness ; but when 
 curlews return to and continue sometime on the sea-shores, they 
 acquire a rank and fishy taste. 
 
 Curlews are found in most parts of Europe ; they abound in 
 all the plains and open marshes, or heath grounds of Russia and 
 Siberia ; also in Kamtschatka, Lapland and Iceland, in general 
 retiring north to breed, and returning to the south as autumn 
 approaches. In Italy and Greece, and perhaps much further 
 south, they are met with, as flocks are seen passing over the 
 island of Malta, spring and autumn.. 
 
 THE STONE CURLEW. 
 
 Of the stone curlew (Charadrius Oedicnemus) Mr. White 
 gives the following account : That it lays its eggs, which are 
 short and round, of a dirty white, spotted with dark bloody 
 botches, usually two, never more than three, on the bare ground, 
 so that tke countryman in ploughing his fallows often destroys 
 them. The young run as soon as they are hatched like par- 
 tridges, and are withdrawn to some flinty field by the dam, where 
 they skulk among our grey spotted flints, which are so exactly 
 of their colour, as to be such a security, that unless he catches 
 the eye of the young bird, the most accurate observer may be 
 deceived, Oedicnemus is a most expressive name for them, 
 since their legs seem swelled like those of a gouty man, yet they 
 run with the swiftness of a greyhound, and sometimes stop sud- 
 
354 THE WATER HEN AND THE COOT. 
 
 denly, holding the head and body motionless. After harvest, 
 Mr. W. says, he has shot them before the pointers in turnip 
 fields. When it flies, this bird stretches out its legs straight be- 
 hind like an heron. A Sussex friend, to whom Mr. W. applied 
 for further information respecting the stone curlew, states, " that 
 they live with us all spring and summer, and at the beginning of 
 autumn prepare to depart by getting together in flocks. They 
 seem to me a bird of passage, that may travel into some dry hilly 
 country south of us, probably Spain, because of the abundance 
 of sheep-walks in that country ; for they spend their summers 
 with us in such districts. I believe they are not fond of going 
 near the water, but feed on earth worms, that are common on 
 sheepwalks and downs. There is reason to think, that the old 
 do not feed the young ones, but only lead them about at the time 
 of feeding, which, for the most part, is in the night." 
 
 OF THE WATER-HEN AND THE COOT. 
 
 Before we enter upon water fowls, properly so called, two or 
 three birds claim our attention, which seem to form the shade 
 between the web-footed tribe and those of the crane kind. These 
 partake rather of the form than the habits of the crane ; and, 
 though furnished with long legs and necks, rather swim than 
 wade. They cannot properly be called web-footed; nor yet are 
 they entirely destitute of membranes, which fringe their toes on 
 each side, and adapt them for swimming. The birds in question 
 arc the water-hen and the bald-coot 
 
THE WATER HEN AND THE COOT. 355 
 
 These birds have too near an affinity not to be ranked in the 
 same description. They are shaped entirely alike, their legs are 
 long, and their thighs partly bare ; their necks are proportion- 
 able, their wings short, their bills short and weak, their colour 
 black, their foreheads bald and without feathers, and their habits 
 entirely the same. These, however, naturalists have thought 
 proper to range in different classes, from very slight distinctions 
 in their figure. The water-hen weighs but fifteen ounces, the 
 coot twenty -four. The bald part of the forehead in the coot is 
 white; in the water-hen it is of a beautiful pjnk colour. The 
 toes of the water-hen are edged with a straight membrane, those 
 of the coot have it scolloped and broader. 
 
 The differences in the figure are but slight ; and those in their 
 manner of living still less. The history of the one will serve for 
 both. As birds of the crane kind are furnished with long wings, 
 and easily change place, the water hen, whose wings are short, 
 is obliged to reside entirely near those places where her food lies : 
 she cannot take those long journies that most of the crane kind 
 are seen to perform ; compelled by her natural imperfections, 
 as well perhaps as by inclination, she never leaves the side of the 
 pond or the river in which she seeks for provision. Where the 
 stream is selvaged with sedges, or the pond edged with shrubby 
 trees, the water-hen is generally a resident there : she seeks her 
 food along the grassy banks, and often along the surface of the 
 water. With Shakespeare's Edgar, she drinks the green mantle 
 of tke standing pool ; or, at least, seems to prefer those places 
 where it is seen. Whether she makes pond-weed her food, or 
 hunts among it for water-insects, which are found there in great 
 abundance is not certain. I have seen them when pond-weed 
 was taken out of their stomach. She builds her nest upon low 
 trees and shrubs, of sticks and fibres, by the water-side. Her 
 eggs are sharp at one end, white, with a tincture of green, spot- 
 ted with red. She lays twice or thrice in a summer ; her young 
 
356 THE WATER HEN AND THE COOT. 
 
 ones swim the moment they leave the egg, pursue their parent, 
 and imitate all her manners. She rears in this manner two or 
 three broods in a season ; and when the young are grown up 
 she drives them off to shift for themselves. 
 
 As the coot is a larger bird, it is always seen in larger streams, 
 and more remote from mankind. The water-hen seems to prefer 
 inhabited situations : she keeps near ponds, moats, and pools of 
 water near gentlemen's houses ; but the coot keeps in rivers and 
 among rushy margined lakes. . It there makes a nest of such 
 weeds as the stream supplies, and lays them among the reeds, 
 floating on the surface, and rising and falling with the water. 
 The reeds among which it is built keep it fast, so that it is seldom 
 washed into the middle of the stream. But if this happens, 
 which is sometimes the case, the bird sits in her nest, like a mari- 
 ner in his boat, and steers with her legs her cargo into the near- 
 est harbour : there, having attained her port, she continues to 
 sit in great tranquillity, regardless of the impetuosity of the cur- 
 rent ; and though the water penetrates her nest, she hatches her 
 eggs in that wet condition. 
 
 The water-hen never wanders : but the coot sometimes swims 
 down the current till it even reaches the sea. In this voyage 
 these birds encounter a thousand dangers : as they cannot fly 
 far, they are hunted by dogs and men ; as they never leave the 
 stream, they are attacked and destroyed by otters ; they are 
 preyed upon by kites and falcons ; and they are taken in still 
 greater numbers in weirs made for catching fish ; for these birds 
 are led into the nets while pursuing small fish and insects, which 
 are their principal food. Thus animated nature affords a picture 
 of universal invasion ! Man destroys the otter, the otter destroys 
 the coot, the coot feeds upon fish, and fish are universally the 
 tyrants of each other ! 
 

 357 
 
 THE WATER-RAIL, 
 
 although a shy and solitary bird, is sufficiently common in this 
 kingdom, but it is only seen during the winter in the northern 
 parts. It is found chiefly on the edges of ponds and rivulets, 
 much overgrown with sedges, reeds, and other coarse herbage, 
 among which it may find shelter on the appearance of an enemy, 
 and also feed in secret security : it runs, occasionally flirting up 
 its tail, through its tracks with similar swiftness to what the land 
 rail exerts in the meadows and corn-fields ; and also shews an 
 equal aversion to take flight as that bird does ; arid possesses 
 more means of disappointing the sportsman, whose patience it 
 generally exhausts, and distracts his dog, seldom rising until 
 after it has crossed every pool, and skulked through every avenue, 
 within the circle of its retreats : when once flushed, it is, how- 
 ever, easily shot, flying very indifferently, and with its legs hang- 
 ing down : it will, at times, take to the water, swimming tole- 
 rably well, and is often seen running on the surface, where there 
 are any weeds to bear it up. 
 
 The eggs of the water-rail, according to Latham, are more 
 than an inch and a half long, of a pale yellowish colour, marked 
 all over with dusky brown spots, nearly equal in size, but irre* 
 gular. The flesh is of a delicious flavour. 
 
 The length of the water-rail is twelve inches, breadth fourteen, 
 and weighs three ounces and a half; the bill is slightly curved, 
 one inch and three quarters long, of a dusky black colour, but 
 reddish at the base ; irides red ; the top of the head, hinder part 
 of the neck, back, scapulars, coverts of the wings and tail, are 
 black edged with dingy brown ; the under parts from the chin 
 to the middle of the belly, ash-colour ; in some, supposed to be 
 
358 THE GREBE. 
 
 young birds, margined with white ; the side feathers are beauti- 
 fully crossed with black and white, and slightly tipped with red- 
 dish brown ; the inner side of the thighs, the belly, and the vent, 
 are pale brown, sometimes specked with blueish ash-colour; 
 under tail coverts white ; quills dusky ; the tail consists of twelve 
 short black feathers, edged and tipped with dusky red ; some of 
 those on the under side barred with black and white. The legs, 
 which are placed far behind, dusky red; the toes long, and with- 
 out any membrane to connect them. 
 
 The water-rail is found in Lancashire, and the northern parts 
 of England, and is plentiful in the marshes of Sweden, Norway, 
 .Russia, and in the western part of Siberia, and throughout the 
 continent of Europe ; from whence, during the severity of 
 winter, it migrates southward, even into Africa. BufFon says, 
 they pass Malta in the spring and autumn ; and in confirmation 
 adds, that " the Viscount de Querheint saw a flight of them at 
 the distance of fifty leagues from the coasts of Portugal, on the 
 17th of April, some of which were so fatigued that they suffered 
 themselves to be caught by the hand." 
 
 THE GREBE. 
 
 To these birds, with long legs and finny toes, I will add one 
 species more, with short legs and finny toes ; I mean the grebe. 
 The entire resemblance of this bird's appetites and manners to 
 those of the web-footed class, might justly induce me to rank it 
 
THE GREBE^ 359 
 
 among them but as it resembles those above described, in the 
 peculiar form of its toes, and bears some similitude in its manners 
 also, I will for once sacrifice method to brevity. The grebe is 
 much larger than either of the former, and its plumage white 
 and black ; it differs also entirely in the shortness of its legs, 
 which are made for swimming, and not walking : in fact, they 
 are from the knee upward hid in the belly of the bird, and have 
 consequently very little motion. By this mark, and by the scol- 
 loped fringe of the toes, may this bird be easily distinguished 
 from all others. 
 
 As they are thus, from the shortness of their wings, ill formed 
 for flying, and from the uncommon shortness of their legs utterly 
 unfitted for walking, they seldom leave the water, and chiefly 
 frequent those broad shallow pools where their faculty of swim- 
 ming can be turned to the greatest advantage, in fishing and 
 seeking their prey. 
 
 They are chiefly, in this country, seen to frequent the meres 
 of Shropshire and Cheshire, where they breed among reeds and 
 flags, in a floating nest, kept steady by the weeds of the margin. 
 The female is said to be a careful nurse of her young, being ob- 
 served to feed them most assiduously with small eels ; and when 
 the little brood is tired, the mother will carry them either on her 
 back or under her wings. This bird preys upon fish, and is almost 
 perpetually diving. It does not shew much more than the head 
 above water, and is very difficult to be shot, as it darts down on 
 the appearance of the least danger. It is never seen on land : and 
 though disturbed ever so often, will not leave that lake, where 
 alone, by diving and swimming, it can find food and security. 
 It is chiefly sought for the skin of its breast, the plumage of 
 which is of a most beautiful silvery white, and as glossy as satin. 
 This part is made into tippets ; but the skins are out of season 
 about Februaiy, losing their bright colour ; and in breeding- 
 time their breasts are entirely bare. 
 
360 
 
 WATER BIRDS. 
 
 The general conformation of the aquatic birds, exhibits fully 
 the fitness of their destination to that element in or near which 
 their lives are entirely spent. The body of the swimmers is 
 arched beneath, and bulged like the hulk of a ship ; and this 
 figure was perhaps copied in the first construction of vessels : 
 their neck, which rises on a projecting breast, represents the 
 prow ; their short tail, collected into a single bunch, serves as a 
 rudder ; their broad and palmated feet perform the office of oars ; 
 and their thick down glistening with oil (which entirely invests 
 them) is impenetrable by humidity, and at the same time enables 
 them to float more lightly on the surface of the water. The 
 habits and economy of these birds correspond also with their or- 
 ganization : they never seem happy but in their appropriate 
 element ; they are averse to alight on the land ; and the least 
 roughness of the ground hurts their soles, which are softened by 
 the perpetual bathing. The water is to them the scene of plea- 
 sure and repose, where all their motions are performed with fa- 
 cility, and where their various evolutions are traced with elegance 
 and space. View the swans moving sweetly along or sailing 
 majestically with expanded plumage upon the wave ! they gaily 
 sport : they dive and again emerge with gentle undulations, and 
 soft energy ; expressive of those sentiments which are the foun- 
 dation of love. 
 
 The life of aquatic birds is, therefore, more peaceful and less 
 laborious than that of most other tribes. Smaller force is re 
 quired in swimming than flying ; and the element which they 
 inhabit perpetually yields them subsistence : they rather meet 
 with their prey than search for it ; and often a friendly wave 
 
THE WHISTLING SWAN. 36 1 
 
 conveys it within their reach, and they seize it without trouble 
 or fatigue. Their dispositions also are more harmless, and their 
 habits more pacific. Each species congregates through mutual 
 attachment. They never attack their companions, nor destroy 
 other birds; and, in this great and amicable nation, the strong 
 seldom oppresses the weak. 
 
 The bill in this tribe (which comprehends swans and geese, 
 as well as ducks) is strong, broad, flat, and generally furnished 
 at the end with a kind of nail : the edges of the mandibles are 
 marked with sharp serratures. The nostrils are small and oval. 
 The tongue is broad, having the edges fringed near the base. 
 The toes are four in number, three before and one behind ; the 
 middle one is the longest. 
 
 As swans are occasionally met with in this country during 
 winter, (particularly in severe weather) I will just sketch their 
 history. 
 
 THE WHISTLING SWAN. 
 
 The whistling or wild swan is somewhat smaller than the tame 
 species. The bill is three inches long ; yellowish white to the 
 middle, but black at the end. The whole plumage is white, and 
 the legs are black. 
 
 This species is an inhabitant of the northern regions ; nerer 
 appearing in England except in hard winters, when flocks of five 
 or six are now and then seen. Martin says, that in the month 
 of October, swans come in great numbers to Lingev, one of the 
 
362 THE WHISTLING SWAN. 
 
 Western isles, and continue till March, when they return north-* 
 ward to breed, A few continue in Mainland, one of the Ork- 
 neys, and breed in the little islands of the fresh-water lochs ; but 
 the principal part of them retire at the approach of spring. 
 They are called the countryman's almanack ; for their quitting 
 the isle is said to presage good weather, and their arrival the re- 
 verse. 
 
 In Iceland, these birds are an object of chase. In the month 
 of August they lose their feathers to such a degree as not to be 
 able to fly* The natives, at that season, resort in great num- 
 bers to the places where they most abound ; and are accom- 
 panied with dogs, and active and strong horses, trained to the 
 sport, and capable of passing nimbly over the boggy soil and 
 raarshes. The swans will run as fast as a tolerably fleet horse. 
 The greater number are taken by the dogs ; which are taught 
 _to seize them by the neck a mode of attack that causes them 
 to lose their balance, and become an easy prey. 
 
 Notwithstanding their size, these birds are so extremely swift 
 on the wing, when in full feather, as to make them more diffi- 
 cult to shoot than almost any other ; it being frequently neces- 
 sary to aim ten or twelve feet before their bills. This, however, 
 is only when they are flying before the wind in a brisk gale ; at 
 which time they seldom proceed at the rate of less than one 
 hundred miles an hour: but when flying across the wind or 
 against it, they are not able to make any great progress; 
 
 This species has several distinctions from that called by us the 
 tame swan : but the most remarkable one is, the strange form 
 of the windpipe ; which falls into the chest, then turns back like 
 a trumpet, and afterwards makes a second bend to join the lungs. 
 By this curious construction, the bird is enabled to utter a loud 
 and shrill note. The other swan, on the contrary, is the most 
 silent of all the feathered tribes ; it can do nothing more than 
 hiss, which it does on receiving any provocation* The vocal 
 
THE TAME SWAN. 363 
 
 swan emits its loud notes only when flying, or calling : its sound 
 is, whooghy whoogk, very loud and shrill, but not disagreeable 
 when heard high in the air and modulated by the winds. The 
 Icelanders compare it to the notes of the violin : they hear it at 
 the end of their long and gloomy winter, when the return of the 
 swans announces also the return of summer ; every note there- 
 fore must be melodious which presages a speedy thaw, and a re- 
 lease from their tedious confinement, 
 
 It was from this species alone that the ancients derived their 
 fable of the swan's being endowed with the powers of melody. 
 Embracing the Pythagorean doctrine, they made the body of this 
 bird the mansion of the souls of departed poets ; and then at- 
 tributed to the birds the same faculty of harmony which they 
 had thus possessed in a pre-existent state. And the vulgar, not 
 distinguishing between sweetness of numbers and melody of 
 voice, thought that real which was only intended figuratively. 
 The mute or tame swan never frequents the Pad us ; " and I am 
 almost equally certain, (says Mr. Pennant) that it never was 
 seen on the Cayster, in Lydia ; each of which are celebrated 
 by the poets for the great resort of swans. The Padus was 
 styled Oloriferus from the numbers of these birds which frequent 
 its waters ; and there are few of the poets, either Greek or Latin, 
 who do not make them its inhabitants." 
 
 THE TAME OR MUTE SWAN. 
 
 The mute swans are found wild in Russia and Siberia : in 
 England they are very common in a domestic state. They are 
 seen in great plenty on the Thames ; where they are esteemed 
 
364 THE TAME SWAN. 
 
 royal property, and it is accounted felony to steal their eggs. 
 In the reign of Edward the IV. swans were held in such esti- 
 mation, that "no person who did not possess a freehold of the 
 clear yearly value of five marks" was permitted to keep any. 
 
 Nothing can exceed the beauty and elegance with which the 
 swan rows itself along in the water, throwing itself into the 
 proudest attitudes imaginable before the spectators ; and there 
 is not perhaps in all nature a more lively or striking image of 
 dignity and grace. In the exhibition of its form, we see no 
 broken or harsh lines, no constrained or abrupt motions, but the 
 roundest contour and the easiest transitions imaginable : the eye 
 wanders over every part with pleasure, and every part takes new 
 grace with new postures. 
 
 The swan, with arched neck 
 Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 
 Her state with oary feet. 
 
 It exhibits, however, but an inelegant appearance on land. 
 
 The swan will swim faster than a man can walk. It is very 
 strong, and at times extremely fierce : it has not unfrequently 
 been known to throw down and trample upon youths of fifteen 
 or sixteen years of age ; and an old swan, we are told, is able to 
 break the leg of a man with a single stroke of its wing. A 
 female, while in the act of sitting, observed a fox swimming 
 towards her from the opposite shore : she instantly darted into 
 the water, and, having kept him at bay for a considerable time 
 with her wings, at last succeeded in drowning him ; after which, 
 in the sight of several persons, she returned in triumph. This 
 circumstance took place at Pensy, in Buckinghamshire. 
 
 Swans are very long-lived, sometimes arriving at the great 
 age of a hundred years. The flesh of the old birds is hard and 
 ill-tasted ; but that of the young, or cygnets, was formerly much 
 esteemed. 
 
THE WILD GOOSE. 365 
 
 The swan makes its nest of grass, among reeds ; and in Feb- 
 ruary begins to lay, depositing an egg every other day till there 
 are six or eight. These occupy six weeks in hatching. Dr. 
 Latham says, he knows two females that for three or four years 
 past have agreed to associate ; and have had each a brood 
 yearly, bringing up together about eleven young : they sit by 
 turns, and never quarrel. When in danger, the old birds carry 
 off the young ones on their backs. 
 
 THE WILD GOOSE. 
 
 Wild geese inhabit the fens of England ; and are supposed 
 not to migrate, as they do in many countries on the continent. 
 They breed in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire : they have 
 seven or eight young ; which are sometimes taken, and are easily 
 rendered tame. 
 
 They are often seen in flocks of from fifty to a hundred, flying 
 at very great heights, and seldom resting by day. Their cry is 
 frequently heard while they are imperceptible from their distance 
 above. Whether this be their note of mutual encouragement, 
 or only the necessary consequence of respiration, seems some- 
 what doubtful ; but they seldom exert it when they alight in their 
 journeys. On the ground they always arrange themselves in a 
 line, and seem to descend rather for rest than refreshment; for, 
 having continued in this manner for an hour or two, one of them 
 with a long loud note sounds a kind of signal to which the rest 
 always punctually attend, and rising in a group they pursue their 
 
366 THE BERNACLE GOOSE. 
 
 journey with alacrity. Their flight is conducted with vast regu- 
 larity : they always proceed either in a line a-breast, or in two 
 lines joining in an angle at the middle. In this order they gene- 
 rally take the lead by turns ; the foremost falling back in the rear 
 when tired, and the next in station succeeding to his duty. 
 Their track is generally so high, that it is almost impossible to 
 reach them with a fowling-piece ; and even when this can be 
 done, they file so equally that one discharge very seldom kilts 
 more than a single bird. 
 
 They breed in the plains and marshes about Hudson's Bay in 
 North America : in some years the young ones are taken in 
 considerable numbers ; and at this age they are easily tamed. 
 It is, however, extremely singular, that they will never learn to 
 cat corn, unless some of the old ones are taken along with them ; 
 which may be done when these are in a moulting state. 
 
 Our common tame goose is nothing more than this species in 
 a state of domestication. 
 
 THE BERNACLE GOOSE. 
 
 The bill of this bird is very short and black, crossed with a 
 flesh-coloured mark on each side. Part of the head, the chin, 
 throat, under- parts, and upper tail- coverts, are white ; and the 
 rest of the head and neck, and the beginning of the back, are 
 black. The thighs are mottled. Round the knee, the feathers 
 are black ; and the lower feathers of the back are the same, edged 
 with white. The wing-coverts and scapulars are blue- grey ;; 
 
THE SOLAND GOOSE. 367 
 
 the ends black, fringed with white at the tip. The rump, tail, 
 and legs, are black. 
 
 The Bernacle geese are not uncommon on many of the 
 northern and western coasts of this kingdom, in winter ; but 
 they are scarce in the south, and only seen in inclement seasons. 
 They leave our island in February, and retire northward to 
 breed. 
 
 Of all the marvellous productions which ignorance, ever cre- 
 dulous, has so long substituted for the simple and truly wonder- 
 ful operations of nature, the most absurd, and yet not the least 
 celebrated, is the assertion of the growth of these birds, in a kind 
 of shell, called lepas anatifera (goose-bearing shell), on certain 
 trees on the coasts of Scotland and the Orkneys, or on the rotten 
 timbers of old ships. 
 
 Numerous writers have mentioned and credited these circum- 
 stances : one of these, Maier, who has written a treatise expressly 
 on this bird, says, that it certainly originates from shells : and, 
 what is still more wonderful, that he himself opened a hundred 
 of the goose-bearing shells in the Orkneys, and found in all o>f 
 them the rudiments of the bird completely formed ! 
 
 OF THE GANNET, OR SOLAND GOOSE. 
 
 The Gannet is of the size of a tame goose, but its wings much 
 longer, being six feet over. The bill is six inches long, straight 
 almost to the point, where it inclines down, and the sides are 
 irregularly jagged, that it may hold its prey with greater seen* 
 
368 THE SOLAND GOOSE. 
 
 rity. It differs from the cormorant in size, being larger; and 
 its colour, which is chiefly white ; and by its having no nostrils, 
 but in their place a long furrow that reaches almost to the end 
 of the bill From the corner of the mouth is a narrow slip of 
 black bare skin, that extends to the hind part of the head ; 
 beneath the skin is another that, like the pouch of the pelican, 
 is dilatable, and of size sufficient to contain five or six entire 
 herrings, which in the breeding season it carries at once to its 
 mate or its young. 
 
 These birds, which subsist entirely upon fish, chiefly resort to 
 those uninhabited islands where their food is found in plenty, and 
 men seldom come to disturb them. The islands to the north of 
 Scotland, the Skelig islands off the coasts of Kerry in Ireland, 
 and those that lie in the north sea off Norway, abound with 
 them. But it is on the Bass island, in the Frith of Edinburgh, 
 where they are seen in the greatest abundance. " There is a 
 small island," says the celebrated Hervey, " called the Bass, not 
 more than a mile in circumference. The surface is almost wholly 
 covered during the months of May and June with their nests, 
 their eggs, and young. It is scarcely possible to walk without 
 treading on them : the flocks of birds upon the wing, are so nu- 
 merous, as to darken the air like a cloud ; and their noise is such 
 that one cannot without difficulty be heard by the person next 
 to him. When one looks down upon the sea from the precipice, 
 its whole surface seems covered with infinite numbers of birds 
 of different kinds, swimming and pursuing their prey. If, in 
 sailing round the island, one surveys its hanging cliffs, in every 
 crag, or fissure of the broken rocks, may be seen innumerable 
 birds, of various sorts and sizes, more than the stars of heaven, 
 when viewed in a serene night. If they are viewed at a distance, 
 either receding, or in their approach to the island, they seem 
 like one vast swarm of bees." 
 
 They are not less frequent upon the rocks of St Kilda. 
 
THE SOLAND GOOSE. 369 
 
 Martin assures us, that the inhabitants of that small island con- 
 sume annually near twenty-three thousand young birds of this 
 species, besides an amazing quantity of their eggs. On these 
 they principally subsist throughout the year; and from the num- 
 ber of these visitants, make an estimate of their plenty for the 
 season. They preserve both the eggs and fowls in small pyra- 
 midical stone buildings, covering them with turf-ashes, to prevent 
 the evaporation of their moisture. 
 
 The gannet is a bird of passage. In winter it seeks the more 
 southern coasts of Cornwall, hovering over the shoals of herrings 
 and pilchards that then come down from the northern seas ; its 
 first appearance in the northern islands is in the beginning of 
 spring, and it continues to breed till the end of summer. But, 
 in general, its motions are determined by the migrations of the 
 immense shoals of herrings that come pouring down at that 
 season through the British channel, and supply all Europe, as 
 well as this bird, with their spoil. The gannet assiduously at- 
 tends the shoal in their passage, keeps with them in their whole 
 circuit round our island, and shares with our fisherman this ex- 
 haustless banquet. As it is strong of the wing, it never comes 
 near the land ; but is constant to its prey. Wherever the gan- 
 net is seen, it is sure to announce to the fishermen the arrival of 
 the finny tribe : they then prepare their nets, and take the her- 
 rings by millions at a draught ; while the gannet, who came to 
 give the first information, comes, though an unbidden guest, 
 and often snatches its prey from the fisherman even in his boat. 
 While the fishing season continues, the gannets are busily em- 
 ployed ; but when the pilchards disappear from our coasts, the 
 gannet takes its leave to keep them company. 
 
 The cormorant has been remarked for the quickness of his 
 sight ; yet in this the gannet seems to exceed him. It is pos- 
 sessed of a transparent membrane under the eye-lid, with which 
 it covers the whole eye at pleasure, without obscuring the sight 
 
370 THE SOLAND GOOSE. 
 
 in the smallest degree. This seems a necessary provision for 
 the security of the eyes of so weighty a creature, whose method 
 of taking its prey, like that of the cormorant, is by darting head- 
 long down from a height of a hundred feet and more into the 
 water to seize it. These birds are sometimes taken at sea, by 
 fastening a pilchard to a board, which they leave floating. The 
 gannet instantly pounces down from above upon the board, and 
 is killed or maimed by the shock of a body where it expected no 
 resistance. 
 
 These birds breed but once a year, and lay but one egg, which 
 being taken away, they lay another if that is also taken, then 
 a third ; but never more for that season. Their egg is white, 
 and rather less than that of the common goose, and their nest 
 large, composed of such substances as are found floating on the 
 surface of the sea. The young birds, during the first year, differ 
 greatly in colour from the old ones ; being of a dusky hue, 
 speckled with numerous triangular white spots ; and at that 
 time resembling the colours of the speckled diver. 
 
 The Bass island, where they chiefly breed, belongs to one 
 proprietor; so that care is taken never to fright away the birds 
 when laying, or to shoot them upon the wing. By that means 
 they are so confident as to alight and feed their young ones close 
 beside you. They feed only upon fish, as was observed ; yet 
 the young gannet is counted a great dainty by the Scots, and is 
 sold very dear ; so that the lord of the islet makes a considerable 
 annual profit by the sale, 
 
S71 
 
 WILD DUCK. 
 
 See page 58. 
 
 THE TEAL 
 
 is one of the most delicate birds that graces our tables, and has 
 been sold for seven, and frequently sells for five, shillings A 
 couple. 
 
 The male teal weighs about twelve ounces, the female nine ; 
 the length is fourteen inches, the breadth twenty-three ; the bill 
 is a dark lead colour, tipped with black ; irides ,pale hazel ; from 
 the bill to the hindpart of the head is a broad bar of glossy 
 changeable green, bounded on the under part with a cream-co- 
 loured white line, and edged on the upper side with pale brown ; 
 the rest of the head and the upper part of the neck are of a deep 
 reddish chesnut ; forepart of the neck and breast dusky white, 
 marked with roundish black spots ; belly white, middle of the vent 
 black ; the wing coverts brown, quills dusky ; the exterior webs 
 of the lesser marked with a vivid green spot ; above that another 
 of black, and edged with white ; the legs dirty lead colour. The 
 female is of a brownish ash-colour ; the lower part of the neck, 
 and sides over the wing, brown, edged with white ; the wing has 
 a green spot like the male ; the belly and vent both white. 
 
 It was at no very remote period supposed not to breed in Eng- 
 land ; but Mr. White, in his history of Selborne, has established 
 
372 THE TEAL. 
 
 the fact by some young teals being brought to him, which were 
 taken in a pond on the verge of Wolmer forest. It it also known 
 to breed in the mosses about Carlisle, as well as in Lan- 
 cashire, and also in several parts of Cumberland. In France, 
 where it stays throughout the year, it makes its nest in 
 April, among the rushes on the edges of ponds, and which is 
 composed of the tenderest stalks of the rushes, with the addition 
 of the pith, and a quantity of feathers. The nest is of a large 
 size, and placed on the surface of the water, so as to rise or fall 
 with it ; the eggs, to the number of from twelve to seventeen, 
 are as large as those of a pigeon, of a dirty white, marked with 
 small hazel spots : it is said to feed upon the grass and weeds 
 which grow on the edges of waters it frequents ; it will also eat 
 the seeds of the rushes, and small fish ; and the insects with 
 which all stagnant waters are so abundantly stored. The teal 
 is found to the north as high as Iceland, and is mentioned as 
 inhabiting the Caspian sea to the south, and is every where 
 deemed most excellent food. 
 
 Hearne says, like the mallard, they are found in considerable 
 numbers near the sea coast at Hudson's bay, but are more plen- 
 tiful in the interior parts of the country, flying in such large 
 flocks, that he has often killed twelve or fourteen, and has seen 
 both English and Indians kill many more at one shot. At their 
 first arrival they are poor, but generally esteemed good eating. 
 He describes the teal as the most prolific of the water fowl at 
 Hudson's bay, having often seen the old ones swimming at the 
 head of seventeen young when not much larger than walnuts. 
 The teal remains in these parts so long as the season will permit ; 
 for in his passage from Cumberland house to York fort 1775, he, 
 as well as his Indian companions, killed them in the rivers they 
 passed through so late as the twentieth of October ; they were 
 then entirely covered with fat, delicately white, and might truly 
 be called a luxury. 
 
373 
 
 THE WIGEON 
 
 is in length twenty inches, and weight twentyfour ounces ; bill 
 narrow, of a blueish lead-colour, an inch and a half long, tip 
 black; the top of the head is cream-colour, over the bill almost 
 white ; head and neck light bay ; the plumage of the back, and 
 sides under the wings, undulated with black and white lines ; 
 wing coverts brown, more or less mixed with, and in some birds 
 almost white ; the greater quill feathers dusky; the outermost 
 webs of the middle feathers of a fine green ; the tips black, the 
 last striped with black and white ; the two middle feathers of 
 the tail are longer than the others, black and sharp pointed, the 
 rest ash-coloured ; the belly white ; vent feathers black ; legs 
 dusky lead colour. 
 
 The head of the female is of a rusty brown, spotted with 
 black ; the back is of a deep brown, edged with a paler ; the 
 tips of the lesser quill feathers white ; the belly white. 
 
 This species is common on most parts of the old continent ; 
 it is caught as low as Egypt, from the middle to the end of 
 Ndvember, by nets in the marshes before the departure of the 
 waters ; it is also found at Aleppo, during the winter, in plenty; 
 observed likewise in the Caspian sea and its neighbourhood ; 
 and in most parts of Europe, as far as Sweden. It abounds in 
 England during the winter months, and is caught in the decoys; 
 it is said not to breed in France ; nor is it certain they breed in 
 this country. Both sexes are alike until the following spring 
 after hatching, (this obtains in the pintail, the gadwall, and the 
 shoveller, who are all grey and have no beautiful feathers when 
 youn,) when the males about March gain their full plumage, 
 but lose it again the end of July, and with it in some measure 
 
374 DIVERS. 
 
 their voice, which they regain, and always use during their 
 flight, in the winter season, and which is thought to be like the 
 sound of a fife. Their flesh is much esteemed, and they are 
 easily domesticated in places where there is much water, and are 
 greatly admired for their beauty, sprightly look, and active 
 frolicksome motions. 
 
 DIVERS, 
 
 as they are termed, consist of the scoter, scaup, golden eye, 
 morillon, and others of the duck kind, and are not meant to par- 
 ticularly signify those birds to which naturalists have given the 
 jiame of divers. 
 
 They vary much both in plumage and size, some weighing 
 two pounds and a half, and others a pound less. In hard weather 
 they frequent the shores and the tide rivers in great plenty, and 
 are almost always at that season fat and in good condition ; they 
 do not fly in such large flocks as many of the duck species, and 
 usually close to the surface of the water, and bear very hard 
 blows from the shot without dropping, unless struck upon the 
 head or wing. 
 
 The day seems to be spent by these birds between diving and 
 flying to small distances over the water, which they do so low 
 as often to dip their legs in it : they swallow their food whole, 
 and soon digest the shells, which are found crumbled to powder 
 among their excrements. They have been kept tame for seme 
 time, and will feed on soaked bread. The flesh tastes fishy in 
 
THE PINTAIL. 375 
 
 the extreme, and from this cause is allowed by the Roman 
 Catholics to be eaten on fast days and in lent ; and, indeed, must 
 be a sufficient mortification. 
 
 THE PINTAIL. 
 
 This bird is less than the wild duck ; its length is twenty-eight 
 inches, breadth thirty-eight, and its weight twenty-four ounces. 
 
 Tke form of the pintail is slender, and the neck long : bill 
 long and black, on the sides blueish ; the head, for an inch of 
 the neck before, rusty purplish brown ; nape dusky ; forepart 
 and sides of the neck white, a little mottled with dusky, the white 
 rising upwards on each side at the back part like ribbands ; part 
 of the neck, and back, greyish white, finely barred with black ; 
 sides of the body the same, but paler ; scapulars black, long, 
 pointed, and margined with very pale cream-colour ; wings pale 
 dusky brown ; across them, first a pale rufous bar, then a broad 
 deep copper-coloured one, edged with blacky and below this is 
 a narrow one of white ; the two middle tail feathers are black, 
 and more than three inches longer than the rest, and end in a 
 point ; the exterior feathers of the tail are ash- coloured ; the 
 under parts of the body are white ; vent black, the sides of it 
 white ; legs and feet small and lead -coloured. 
 
 The female is smaller ; head and neck dusky, minutely streaked 
 with brown, spotted with black ; tail as in the male, but the two 
 middle feathers not so far elongated. 
 
 This species is pretty common during winter in England, es?* 
 2 i 2 
 
THE POCHARD. 
 
 pecially in severe weather, when it is very fat ; the flesh is su- 
 perior in its delicate flavour to any other wild fowl. In the 
 month of February only these birds are found in great abundance 
 in Connaught, in Ireland. Upon the continent, in the northern 
 parts of which it breeds, it is extremely numerous. It is abundant 
 at the Lake Baikal, in Asia, and is often seen in large flocks on 
 the sea-coasts of China, where it is caught in snares. In 
 America it is not uncommon, being plentiful at New York, 
 where it is called blue -bill; from thence found as far north as 
 Hudson's Bay, where it is supposed to breed. 
 
 THE POCHARD. 
 
 This species, like the pintail, and some others, is common both 
 to the old and new continent. With us it frequents the fens, 
 as well as the coasts and tide rivers ; in which last it is taken 
 sometimes extremely fat in the severest weather. It is not as- 
 certained whether ^;hey breed in England ; but in France one 
 has been shot in the month of July. Their food is small fish 
 and shells : they are found south as far as Egypt, about Cairo, 
 and in Carolina during the winter. They have a hissing voice ; 
 their flight is more rapid than that of the wild duck, and the 
 noise made by their wings is quite different ; the flocks observe 
 no particular shape in flying, as the duck, in triangles, but form 
 a close body. 
 
 The pochard is about the size of a wigeon, weighs one pound 
 twelve ounces ; its length is nineteen inches ; breadth, two feet 
 
THE POCHARD. 3?7 
 
 and a half; the bill is broader than the wigeon's, of a deep lead- 
 colour, with a black tip ; irides, orange; the head and neck deep 
 chesnut, with a small triangular spot of white under the centre 
 of the lower mandible ; the lower part of the neck and breast, 
 and upper part of the back, dusky black ; scapulars and wing 
 coverts nearest the body of a greyish white, elegantly marked 
 with narrow lines of black ; the exterior wing coverts and quills, 
 dusky brown ; secondary quill feathers regularly edged with a 
 stripe of white; the belly, ash-coloured and brown ; vent feathers, 
 and coverts of tail, black ; the tail consists of twelve short feathers 
 of a deep grey; the legs lead-coloured. The female has the 
 head of a pale reddish brown ; the breast is rather of a deeper 
 colour ; wing coverts and belly, cinereous ; the back marked like 
 that of the male. 
 
 These birds are eagerly bought by the London poulterers, 
 under the name of dun birds, as they are deemed excellent eating : 
 the greater part of what appear in the markets are caught in de- 
 coys. 
 
S78 
 
 In fen shooting, the principal object is the wild duck ; it is 
 true, wigeon and teal are frequently met with ; and at certain 
 seasons all those birds which I have described under distinct 
 heads ; and as wild ducks generally breed in and frequent marshy 
 places, the sportsman has, of course, to pursue his game in situ- 
 ations where wet feet seem unavoidable, unless the marshes will 
 admit small boats, which renders the diversion of duck shooting 
 much more pleasant. This, however, is not always the case ; 
 and some sportsmen attempt to preserve their legs and feet from 
 the water by enormous boots,* which are very fatiguing as well 
 as uncomfortable. I have uniformly found that wet feet are of 
 little consequence while the sportsman keeps moving about; but 
 the moment he arrives at any place where he intends to stop for 
 a time, he should always put on a pair of dry stockings, and also 
 a pair of dry shoes, with which he should take care to provide 
 himself, if at any distance from home. 
 
 For the diversion of duck-shooting, a water-spaniel, which has 
 been taught to fetch and carry, will answer the purpose as well 
 perhaps as any other kind of dog ; though I use an old pointer 
 bitch, which was never taught to fetch and carry, or to take the 
 water, and yet a better animal for the purpose just mentioned 
 cannot exist. The first day I took her into the field upon a 
 shooting excursion, I happened to kill a bird as it flew across a 
 pit. I had two other pointers with me, that had been shot over 
 several seasons, that I could not, after every kind of entreaty, 
 
 * In order to render them hi pervious or water- proof, see receipts at 
 the end of the volume. 
 
WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 379 
 
 induce to enter the water : the young bitch, however, after 
 looking at the bird very attentively, which was not quite dead, 
 but fluttered occasionally, to my surprise, took the water with- 
 out the least solicitation, and brought me the bird as carefully 
 as possible ; and ever since then she has fetched a bird or a duck 
 out of the water without hesitation, and will swim across water 
 when she supposes an object is to be attained ; but she invari- 
 ably turns away with contempt if a stick or a stone be thrown in 
 with a view to induce her to fetch it. 
 
 The latter end of August is, perhaps, the best time for this 
 diversion, as the young ones are then able to fly tolerably well, 
 without, however, being capable of sustaining those long flights 
 which carry them away from the sportsman completely : when 
 the young ducks become very strong on the wing they are not 
 easy to be approached, and are ever afterwards found the most 
 suspicious animals in nature. These birds are fond of those 
 situations where the margin of the water is deeply fringed with 
 sedges and aquatic plants, and where, on the least alarm, they 
 secret themselves from human observation. In beating for the 
 game, as little noise as possible should be made, whilst the dog 
 should never be allowed to go out of gun shot, unless, from par- 
 ticular circumstances, a greater extent be rendered indispensable. 
 A sceptic might be induced to ask why the flavour of a wild duck 
 is superior to that of a domestic duck? this fact arises, I appre- 
 hend, from their unlimited freedom. The same remark equally 
 applies to the partridge, compared to the domestic fowl, and 
 indeed to every animal in a state of nature, compared to the same 
 or a similar kind reduced to obedience by man. It was formerly 
 customary to have, in the fenny parts of the kingdom, particu- 
 larly in Lincolnshire, an annual driving of the young ducks 
 before they were able to fly; For this purpose numbers of 
 people assembled, who beat over a great extent of water, and 
 forced the birds into a net placed at the spot where the sport 
 
380 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
 
 was to terminate. By this wholesale murderous plan, two 
 hundred dozen have been taken at one place in a day. This 
 method, which bade fair to extirpate the breed of wild ducks 
 altogether, has, however, I believe, been abandoned, indeed it 
 has been abolished by act of parliament. 
 
 In hard winters, good sport may be had in wild fowl shooting.* 
 
 * The following Letter appeared in the Annals of Sporting, vol. 1. p. 
 315, addressed to the Editor ; and as it embraces my ideas on the subject, 
 I therefore insert it. 
 
 THE PERCUSSION GUN. SEA FOWL SHOOTING. 
 
 SIR, I am aware that the percussion gun has been already noticed 
 in your excellent miscellany, (see No. I. p. 10, No. III. pp. 147 149,) 
 but as there is a species of shooting to which this invention seems adapted 
 in a greater degree, perhaps, than any other, and which you have not 
 mentioned, I take the present opportunity of making it known to your 
 readers. As my residence is at the mouth of a large river, I frequently 
 take the diversion of shooting sea- fowl. The flight of the gull is slow, 
 its wings are very expansive, and it consequently offers a good mark for 
 the shooter : nevertheless its feathers are so hard, that it will carry away 
 a considerable quantity of shot, unless it be struck in a vital part, or 
 have its wings broken. It is not, however, a dainty for the table ; it may 
 be eaten when skinned, though, even in this case, it still retains a strong 
 oily flavour. If, after the skin be stripped off, the bird is parboiled, and 
 afterwards broiled, the unpleasant flavour will be much lessened. After 
 all, the sea-gull is not nearly so unpalatable as the heron, which was 
 formerly considered not only as a dainty, but is specially enumerated in 
 the list of royal game. The gull, of which several varieties visit the 
 shores of Great Britain, is the most common object that presents itself 
 to the sportsman at the mouths of great rivers ; yet there is a great variety 
 of other aquatic game, which is frequently met with in the same situa- 
 tions, particularly ducks of various descriptions, which are more difficult 
 of approach than the gull, and on this account are generally shot at 
 from greater distances : here the percussion gun has a decided advantage 
 ovet the common fowling-piece. Birds of the duck kind, as well as 
 other sea-fowl, may be frequently seen at considerable distances, sitting 
 on the beach, perhaps, or on the point of some projecting rock. If fired 
 
WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 381 
 
 Lakes, with a marsh on one side, and a wood on the other, are 
 seldom without vast quantities of wild fowl ; and where a couple 
 
 at from a flint gun, the instant they observe the flash in the pan, they 
 take wing, and are thus frequently missed. The advantage of a per- 
 cussion gnn is, in this case, strikingly manifest, as there is scarcely any 
 perceptible flash at the touch-hole, while the discharge is so much quicker, 
 so very instantaneous, that the birds are struck before they can possibly 
 get on the wing. At the same time, these shy birds may be reached at 
 much greater distances than with the common flint lock, owing to the 
 very superior force with which the shot is thrown from the percussion 
 gun ; a fact which I could not credit, till, from repeated experiment,^ 
 was no longer possible to entertain a doubt on the subject; the advantage 
 of this mode of discharging the fowling-piece is still more evident when 
 used for the purpose of shooting what are called divers. I was scarcely 
 ever able to kill one of these birds with a flint lock ; for though they will 
 allow the shooter to approach within a short distance (as if conscious of 
 their power to escape), yet the very instant they see the flash from the 
 pan, they disappear, and are under the water in a moment: they are easily 
 killed, however, with the percussion gun, for the reasons already stated. 
 In the Isle of Man, puffins are met with in great abundance; they 
 are fat, ily, and altogether very strongly flavoured and unpleasant to 
 the taste, in defiance of every possible care and pains in cooking them; 
 they deposit their eggs in holes of the ground, in the interior of the 
 island, many of which are picked up by the inhabitants, and sold princi- 
 pally in the Liverpool market. The Isle of IVTan seems, indeed, the 
 particular resort of sea-fowl; as, independently of the large quantity of 
 puffins, which frequent the interior, for the purpose of breeding, birds of 
 the gull kind are in still greater abundance, if possible, and, in the breed- 
 ing season, may be seen in myriads flying and screaming among the 
 craggy rocks on the shore, on the ledges, and in the crevices of which 
 they hatch and bring up their young. They are often very wantonly 
 destroyed, and that too, sometimes, before the young brood are able to 
 provide for themselves. Thoughtless sportsmen coast the island in 
 boats for the purpose of shooting these birds ; and the moment a gun is 
 fired among the rocks, numbers of gulls immediately issue from the cre- 
 vices, and hover over the shooter's head, within gun-shot, and the sports- 
 man may continue to fire till he has either loaded the boat or tired himself. 
 
382 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
 
 are seen at one time, this is a sufficient inducement to bring 
 hundreds of others. These birds, which fly in the air, are often 
 lured down from their heights by the loud voice of one from 
 below* To this call, all the stragglers resort : and, in a week 
 or a fortnight's time, a lake that before was quite naked, will be 
 black with water-fowl, that have left their Lapland retreats ta 
 keep company with our ducks, which continue with us during 
 the whole year. Wild ducks breed in this country, in some 
 places, to a considerable extent ; but by far the greater portion 
 of those seen during the winter season, come from the remote 
 countries of the north. 
 
 Those birds of the duck kind which migrate to this country 
 on the approach of winter, are seldom found so well tasted, or 
 so fat as those that continue with us the year round : their flesh 
 
 The gull is a bold, familiar bird ; and, when domesticated, is supposedf 
 to be of essential service in gardens, from the quantity of worms and 
 grubs which it will devour. It will readily associate with the domestic 
 duck, and soon becomes attached to the place where it is kept. A person 
 at Douglas, in the Isle of Man, having reared a young gull, it became 
 very familiar, and yet was placed under no restraint whatever. Its 
 wings were suffered to grow, and it was allowed to follow its own in- 
 clination as to the extent of its flights. It became very well known in 
 the neighbourhood, and no one molested it. At the approach of spring, 
 however, it disappeared, and was considered to be lost ; but, after the 
 lapse of a week or two, the gull again returned ; and, after being fed, 
 flew away. Nevertheless its visits were often repeated ; and it was ulti- 
 mately discovered that its absence had arisen from its being engaged in 
 the propagation of its species. On the return of winter it again took up 
 its old abode; and again absented itself in spring. This practice the 
 bird has continued for some years, with this difference only, that its. 
 domestic visits, during the summer, are more frequent ; but it never 
 fails to shelter itself under human protection from the hardships and 
 perils of winter. It has been frequently seen in company with its mate 
 and their young, which, however, keep at a distance, whenever it ap-* 
 proaches Us semi-annual habitation. 
 
WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 383 
 
 is often lean, and still oftener fishy, which flavour it has, proba- 
 bly, contracted in the journey, as their food in the lakes of Lap- 
 land, where they descend, is generally of the insect kind. As 
 they unite the power of flying with that of swimming, they have 
 an opportunity of resting and feeding in their long journies 
 across the ocean, and hence, perhaps, derive their fishy taste.- 
 They are generally observed to arrive in England in flocks, and, 
 as soon as they have chosen their situation, they retire to that 
 part of the lake where they are inaccessible to the sportsman ; 
 they may be frequently seen huddled together, and are, for the 
 most part, very noisy. They thus continue during the day ; 
 but, on the approach of evening, they separate into small par- 
 ties, and fly for the purpose of seeking food. This is, also, the 
 case at the dawn of day, as the gray of the morn no sooner 
 enables the ducks to distinguish objects, than they fly away to 
 feed. They then approach the margin of the lake, the marshy 
 ground, and particularly those stubbles which are situated near 
 the edge of the water. On these occasions, they afford much 
 diversion, or, at least, they are easily shot. Few sportsmen, 
 however, properly speaking, give themselves the trouble to attend 
 what is called the flight, that is, the flying of the ducks at 
 morning and evening, as this sport is very different from the pur- 
 suit of the partridge. In the latter case, all is motion and ac- 
 tivity ; in the former, the shooter must approach the edge of 
 the water, and, taking his station in a convenient place, as much 
 concealed as possible, either by sitting down, crouching, or other- 
 wise, and there patiently wait the approach, or passing, of the 
 game, sometimes, perhaps, for hours together, without having a 
 single shot. Duck- shooting, therefore, or what is catted flighting, 
 is chiefly followed by the peasantry who reside on the borders of 
 the marsh, many of whom earn a subsistence by it during the 
 winter: these persons also catch a large quantity of snipes, &c. 
 bv means of small snares. 
 
384} WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
 
 Indeed, the pursuit of wild ducks appears so much disregarded 
 by sportsmen, that gentlemen, who are the proprietors of exten- 
 sive marshes, seldom think of disturbing the rustics in their oc- 
 cupation of duck-shooting. We do not say that the latter are 
 allowed to approach the parks or pleasure-grounds of great men, 
 where wild ducks are protected as ornamental to pieces of water; 
 but, that such as are proprietors of marshes, in the general sense 
 of the term, seldom prevent the rustics from pursuing their 
 profitable amusement. It not unfrequently happens, however, 
 that hares and rabbits come to feed, as well as ducks, in the dusk 
 of the evening, particularly when the marsh happens to be situ- 
 ated at no great distance from strictly-preserved grounds, where 
 game in general is found in great abundance. The best station 
 that can be taken for shooting ducks is in a stubble, at a little 
 distance from the water, where the ditches that surround the 
 stubble empty themselves into the marsh, but, however, ge- 
 nerally contain water sufficient to afford the ducks an oppor- 
 tunity of swimming up them. Here the ducks will resort in 
 preference to any other situation, while the banks and the bushes 
 afford facilities for concealment to the shooter that will be sought 
 in vain in the open marsh. Under these circumstances, nothing 
 is more common than for hares to visit the stubble just described, 
 and they are then far more easily shot than ducks. On the ap- 
 proach of a hare, the shooter need only remain quiet ; if he has 
 any doubt of killing her as she passes, let him give a slight 
 whistle, when she will not only pause but raise herself on her 
 haunches, for the purpose, it would appear, of listening: nothing 
 can be more easy than to shoot her in such a situation. This 
 circumstance is, by no means, generally known ; and many gen- 
 tlemen, I have no doubt, who are extremely rigorous in the 
 preservation of their game, allow the duck-shooter to pursue his 
 avocation, unmolested, with the most perfect indifference. 
 
 Vast numbers of docks are taken in Picardy, in France, par- 
 
WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 385 
 
 ticularly on the river Somme, where it is customary to wait for 
 the flocks passing over certain places ; when the sportsman, 
 having a wicker cage containing a quantity of tame birds, lets 
 out one at a time, which alluring the passers-by within gun-shot, 
 five or six may be sometimes killed at one shot, They are also 
 taken by baited hooks, which the birds swallow while swimming 
 on the water. The most curious mode, however, of taking wild- 
 ducks is in India, and frequently practised on the river Ganges, 
 where these birds are very numerous : A person wades into 
 the water up to his chin ; and, haying his head covered with an 
 empty calabash, approaches the place where the ducks are swim- 
 ming; the latter, not at all suspicious of an object of this kind, 
 suffer the man freely to mix with the flock, when he seizes them 
 by the legs, and pulls them under the water, one after another, 
 till he has secured as many as he can attach to his belt ; and 
 returns as unsuspected by the remainder as when he first came 
 amongst them. The number of calabashes which are constantly 
 floating down the river render the ducks perfectly familiar to 
 the sight of them hence the reason why the duck taker is ena- 
 bled so easily to approach them ; but the method just described 
 is not practicable either in very shallow or very deep water. 
 
 Wild-geese breed in the extensive fens of Lincolnshire and 
 Cambridgeshire : the greater part, however, which are seen in 
 this country retire to more northerly situations for the purpose 
 of propagation. They may be frequently seen in large flocks, 
 flying at a very great height ; and their cry is sometimes heard, 
 while the birds themselves are imperceptible from their distance 
 above. They are extremely difficult of approach. When on 
 the ground, they appear to station a sort of sentinel, which, on 
 the least suspicion, sounds a long loud note of alarm, on which 
 the whole instantly take wing. Their flight appears to be con- 
 ducted with great regularity ; which not only excites the curi- 
 osity of the country people, but calls into action their inventive 
 2K 
 
386 WILD FOWL SHOOTING. 
 
 powers, and they thus make the geese, in their flight, describe 
 all the letters of the alphabet, as well as all the figures used in 
 the common rules of arithmetic. Their track is generally so 
 high, that it is almost impossible to reach them with a fowling- 
 piece : in long and severe frosts, however, they fly much lower, 
 and, at such times, afford good diversion to the sportsman. The 
 common grey wild-goose forms an excellent dish for the table; 
 but there is a larger kind that sometimes attracts the attention 
 of the sportsman, but possesses a very strong and oily flavour. 
 Wild-geese are found in great numbers in Canada, where 
 the English settlers send out their own servants, as well as em- 
 ploy the Indians, to shoot them. The arrival of the geese in 
 Canada is impatiently expected it is the harbinger of spring ; 
 and the month is named by the Indians the goose-moon. In 
 shooting these birds, they never attempt to pursue them, for that 
 would be vain ; but a row of huts, formed of boughs, at musket- 
 shot distance from each other, is placed in a line across the vast 
 marshes of that country. Each hut is occupied by one person 
 only. These observe the flight of the geese, which no sooner 
 approach within hearing, than they mimic their cackle so well, 
 that. the birds will answer, wheel, and come near the hut, or 
 stand. When the geese are completely within gun shot, the 
 sportsman fires, and immediately seizes another gun, ready 
 cocked for the purpose, and discharges that also. The game 
 that he has killed, he sets up on sticks, as if alive, to decoy 
 others : he also makes artificial birds for the same purpose. In 
 a crood day (for they fly in very uncertain and unequal numbers) 
 a single Indian will kill upwards of a hundred. There are several 
 species of geese; and, though each has a different call, the 
 Indians imitate them all with admirable accuracy. 
 
387 
 
 PROCEEDINGS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, AND REPORT 
 OF A SELECT COMMITTEE THEREON. 
 
 Lord Cranbourne having presented a petition to the House, 
 complaining of the present state of the laws respecting the pre- 
 servation of game, and deprecating the harsh, inefficacious penal- 
 ties of those laws involving alike life, liberty, and character, 
 and praying the House to take into consideration the propriety 
 of permitting of the sale of game, under certain restrictions ; the 
 same was referred to the consideration of a select committee to 
 report thereon, with the usual powers to call before them and 
 examine any persons whose evidence might elucidate their in- 
 quiries : they sat accordingly, and, after several days' investiga- 
 tion, reported as follows : 
 
 The select committee of this honourable House appointed 
 to take into consideration the laws relating to game, and 
 to report their observations thereon to the House, and 
 who were empowered to report the minutes of evidence 
 taken before them, have, pursuant to the orders of the 
 House, examined the matters referred to them, and 
 report to the House as follows : 
 
 Your committee, in considering the subject referred to them, 
 have turned their attention principally to those laws which relate 
 to the purchase and sale of game, conceiving that the morals of 
 the lower classes of the community were most materially affected 
 by their operation ; and they have ascertained, by evidence, 
 
 points which appeared to them essential to be inquired into, with 
 2 K2 
 
388 GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. 
 
 a view of showing how far the enactments at present existing, 
 respecting the purchase and sale of game, effect the purposes for 
 which they were made. 
 
 The evidence which has been taken, and which refers, for the 
 most part, to the supply of the metropolis with game, establishes, 
 in the opinion of the committee, the following facts : > 
 
 1st, That the laws which prohibit the sale of game are con- 
 stantly and systematically evaded or set at defiance.* 
 
 2d, That the trade in game is carried on to a great extent, 
 by respectable salesmen, who receive a commission upon the 
 game sold by them, amounting, on account of the risk, to double 
 that which they receive upon the sale of poultry; 
 
 3d, That this trade is also carried on by other persons, such 
 as higglers, waggoners, coachmen, guards, and porters, at the 
 several inns, where coaches and waggons, &c. put up. 
 
 * The following extract from the examination of one of the witnesses 
 is illustrative of this position: 
 
 Question. Some years ago an act of parliament passed, to make it 
 illegal to buy game ; you were in the trade at that time ? 
 
 Answer. Yes. 
 
 Q. Did you immediately after that find the sale of game diminished 
 stall? 
 
 A. Not the least ; indeed I consider it a particular advantage, in 
 some respects ; I know a person, individually, who has found it so. 
 
 Q. Will you state of what advantage it is ? 
 
 A. There is one particular clause in that act which says, that if I go 
 and inform against any person, and convict him, so that he is fined, I 
 hall be cleared from all pains and penalties up to that moment, to which 
 I have become liable : suppose I had a threat of having a whole bench 
 of country magistrates upon me, and a person comes into my shop, and 
 buys a certain article of game, I lay an information against him, he pays 
 the 5 ; I procure the record of the conviction, and I am immediately 
 informed against, and the penalties, perhaps, come to 2 or 300 ; I 
 produce the record of this conviction, and I am cleared ; it is in my 
 favour, and I could produce evidence that it has been acted upon. 
 
GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. 389 
 
 4th, That the game is, in some instances, delivered by the 
 poachers principally to this latter description of dealers, by abso- 
 lute sale, or upon commission ; in others, it is collected by persons 
 who send it up together with poultry ; and lastly, is sometimes 
 received from owners of manors and landed proprietors, who are 
 in the habit of sending their game, either to salesmen or others, 
 for the purpose of sale. 
 
 5th, That the markets, by these means, appear to be con- 
 stantly and abundantly supplied ; and that, in consequence of 
 the illegal mode in which it is obtained, it is impossible to regu- 
 late the supply by the demand ; that large quantities of game 
 are therefore sometimes wasted, and even thrown away. 
 
 6th, That the demand, during the season, is constant ; and 
 that the practice of purchasing game is not confined to any one 
 class of the community, but is habitual to persons of every class 
 who have not the means of being sufficiently supplied with that 
 article from their own manors or land : and, in consequence, a 
 breach of these particular laws appears not to be considered as 
 any moral offence whatever. 
 
 These facts being established, it becomes quite clear that these 
 laws have entirely failed in preventing the purchase and sale of 
 game ; and that, although in some instances persons legally in 
 possession of game, dispose of it by sale, yet that the great 
 supply of the market is in the hands of the poachers, who are, 
 by this nearly exclusive trade, encouraged in the greatest degree 
 to the continuance of their depredations. 
 
 Your committee, therefore, cannot but recommend the repeal 
 of the laws relative to the purchase and sale of game; and that 
 an act should be passed, permitting persons qualified to kill o-ame 
 in virtue of real property, and who may, therefore, be supposed 
 to be in a situation to have a legal means of obtaining it, to sell 
 it to such persons as shall be duly licensed to retail game, for 
 
 the use of the public, under certain regulations and restrictions,, 
 2 K3 
 
SQO GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. 
 
 This, the committee imagine, would have the effect of inducing 
 the retailers to purchase only from such persons as are so quali- 
 fied ; and, for their own interest, they would assist in putting a 
 stop to an illegal sale of game by the poacher. 
 
 In case the House should agree with your committee in the 
 propriety of making the proposed alteration, it is evident that 
 game, becoming thereby an article which may be legally sold, 
 will acquire a real value ; and that those who have the means, 
 should be encouraged to supply the market with it, and have a 
 fair claim to any additional protection which it may be capable 
 of receiving, and which may be compatible with other consider- 
 ations. 
 
 In considering this part of the subject, it appears to your 
 committee, that the present laws do not afford a sufficient sum- 
 mary remedy against the depredations of persons who are in the 
 habit of trespassing upon the lands of others, in the pursuit of 
 game ; they therefore recommend, in addition to the alteration 
 proposed in the laws as to the purchase and sale of game, that 
 the present laws relating to the latter species of offence should 
 be rendered more summary. 
 
 Your committee do not hold out to the House, that poaching 
 can by this or any other mode be suddenly and entirely put an 
 end to : it being evident that many of those now engaged in it 
 are of a description not likely to be deterred from it by any thing 
 but an absolute impossibility of carrying it on, which the most 
 sanguinary laws would not create ; but your committee must 
 state to the House their conviction, that the purchase and sale 
 of game, under regulations, will have the effect of decreasing 
 the nftmber of those who are at present concerned, or who might 
 henceforward engage in that practice, which greatly conduces 
 to demoralize the lower orders of society ; and that those persons, 
 ^whose residence upon their property in the country is in all 
 points of view so eminently beneficial, will find in these measures 
 
GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. SQl 
 
 great additional facilities in the preservation of that which afForda 
 them the amusement and recreation to which they are fairly 
 entitled. 
 
 Your committee have, in conformity to the opinions here 
 submitted to the House, directed their chairman to move for 
 leave to bring in a bill or billsj for effecting the several objects 
 herein recommended for the consideration and adoption of the 
 House. 
 
 April 18, 1823. 
 
 In conformity with the above report, a bill has been brought 
 into the House of Commons to make the selling of game legal ; 
 and the following are its chief provisions : 
 
 Two or more magistrates at any petty sessions may grant 
 licenses for one year to any householder (not being an innkeeper 
 or victualler, or stage-coach owner, or waggoner) to buy game 
 of a qualified person, and to sell the same. Persons on taking 
 a game certificate are to state to the clerks of the commissioners 
 or surveyors of the district, whether they are qualified to kill 
 game by virtue of having a real estate ; and every such state- 
 ment is to be published by the commissioners for the affairs of 
 taxes, in the lists of certificates directed to be advertised by them ; 
 and any person may inspect the entries of such statements in a 
 book, to be kept by such clerks or surveyors, on payment of one 
 shilling to such clerk or surveyor. Qualified persons taking out 
 game certificates are to be exonerated from the penalty for selling 
 game, as well as licensed persons for buying it ; but licensed 
 persons are to be prohibited from buying, except of qualified 
 persons. Power is given, on information, to search a licensed 
 person and his family, for game, unlawfully purchased or pre- 
 cured ; and also to search an unqualified person and his premises, 
 for game suspected to have been illegally procured. Innkeepers 
 not to be liable to penalties for game sold in their inns for con- 
 
392 GAME LAWS AMENDMENT BILL. 
 
 sumption ; provided such game shall have been purchased by 
 such innkeeper from licensed persons. Game sent by public 
 conveyances is to be entered in the way-bills, stating the names 
 and places of abode of the persons by whom, and to whom, such 
 game is sent. Power is also given to search public conveyances 
 for unentered parcels of game. The act is not to affect the 
 rights now possessed by lords and ladies of manors, nor to extend 
 to Scotland or Ireland. 
 
 The agitation of this momentous question in parliament stirred 
 up some of the most humane hearts in vhe kingdom in support 
 of the intended measure ; some of whom were actuated by the 
 purest moral motives, as regards the prevention of crime, which 
 they thought this measure was likely to effect, by legalizing the 
 sale of an article that was in constant demand ; and thus, by 
 supplying the market according to act, the trade therein might 
 be taken out of the hands of those who would contravene the 
 law for the radix of this species of crime is mooted in the 
 consumers and the certainty of sale. 
 
 The bill now (June 4) pending in parliament, which I have 
 just recited, will probably undergo some trifling alterations ; 
 but there is little or no doubt as to its passing : it will merely 
 authorize the sale of game by persons legally appointed, and in 
 all probability will have no further retrospective influence on 
 those statutes already passed relative to game, and which have 
 been stated, and copiously illustrated, in the preceding pages of 
 this volume. 
 
393 
 
 TECHNICAL TERMS. 
 
 A brace of black game. 
 
 A leash of black game, 
 
 A pack of black game. 
 
 To raise a black cock or pack. 
 
 A brace of grouse. 
 
 A leash of grouse. 
 
 A brood or pack of grouse. 
 
 To raise grouse. 
 
 A brace and a half of partridges. 
 
 A brace of partridges. 
 
 A covey of partridges; 
 
 To spring partridges, 
 
 A brace of quail. 
 
 A brace and a half of quail. 
 
 A bevey of quaiL 
 
 To raise quails. 
 
 A brace of pheasants. 
 
 A leash of pheasants. 
 
 A ni (or nid) or brood of pheasants. 
 
 A couple of woodcocks. 
 
 A couple and a half of woodcocks. 
 
 A flight of woodcocks. 
 
 To flush a woodcock. 
 
 A couple of snipes. 
 
 A couple and a half of snipes. 
 
 A wisp of snipe. 
 
 To spring a snipe. 
 
 A team of wild ducks. 
 
 A gaggle or flock of geese. 
 
 A wing of plover. 
 
 A trip of dottrell, 
 
 A couple of pointers or setters. 
 
 A leash of pointers or setters. 
 
 A couple of spaniels. 
 
 A couple and a half of spaniels. 
 
 A brace of hares. 
 
 A leash of hares. 
 
 To start or move a hare. 
 
 To push or spring a pheasant. 
 
 A pair A couple A brace. A pair is two united by nature (par); 
 a couple by an occasional chain (copula) ; and a brace, by a noose or tie. 
 A pair of swans. A couple of hounds. A brace of partridges a pair 
 is male and female ; a couple, two accidental companions ; a brace, tied 
 together by the sportsman. He keeps a pair of pheasants in the hen 
 roost. We saw a couple of pheasants feeding on the bank. You shot 
 a brace of partridges. 
 
394, 
 
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 tal 
 
395 
 
 RECEIPTS FOR MAKING SHOES RESIST WATER. 
 
 One pint of linseed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, eight 
 ounces of bees' wax, and one pennyworth of rosin : the whole 
 to be boiled together, and warmed before using. 
 
 Another. If the shoes are new, take half a pound of bees' 
 wax, a quarter of a pound of rosin, and one pound of tallow : 
 to be boiled well together, and warmed before using, 
 
 N. B. It is hardly necessary to mention that the shoes should 
 be cleaned well from the dirt, and perfectly dry, before the ap- 
 plication of either of these receipts. 
 
 Shoe-soles can have a layer of cork or waxed canvas intro- 
 duced between. This will be found a very excellent precaution. 
 
 DUTY ON DOGS. 
 
 For every greyhound, kept by any person, whether his pro- 
 perty or not, 1. For every hound, pointer, setting dog, spaniel, 
 lurcher, or terrier, the annual sum of 14<s. For every dog; not 
 being such as aforesaid, kept by any person, whether the same 
 be kept for his own use, or the use of any other person, the 
 annual sum of 8s. 
 
 But this duty is not to extend to dogs not six months old 
 
 ' O 
 
 the proof of which to lie on the owner. 
 
 Persons compounding for their hounds, to be charged 
 
396 
 
 SHOTS IN AN OUNCE. 
 
 Of B. B. One ounce contains 59 pellets. 
 
 B. Do. - 67 
 
 No. 1 Do. - ^ - 85 
 
 2 Do. - - 112 
 
 3 Do. - - 135 
 
 4 Do. - - 187 
 
 5 Do. - - 228 
 
 6 Do. - - 261 
 
 7 Do. - - 304 
 
 8 Do. - - 64-0 
 
 9 Do. - - 930 
 
 ADDENDA. 
 
 Barren Pairs. When the nest of a partridge happens to be 
 destroyed late in the season, the old birds remain together, and 
 are called a barren pair. However, it sometimes happens, that 
 what are called a barren pair prove to be both cocks the fol- 
 lowing appears to be the reason : when, after pairing time, 
 two cock birds happen to be left in the same district, after the 
 animosity which accompanies genial desire has subsided, the two 
 male birds associate and remain together, if undisturbed, until 
 the following spring. But barren pairs, whether male and 
 female or otherwise never lie well, or in other words, are much 
 more difficult to approach than a covey. 
 
 A dog's skin is not porous, and for that reason he never per- 
 spires : the excretions, whether from sickness or otherwise, make 
 their way through the eyes, nose, and mouth. The dog's skin 
 will not easily absorb mercurial nor any other ointment; though 
 it will become sore from external application. 
 
 TBS END. 
 
Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 
 
 DOMESTIC ECONOMY, AGRICULTURE, 
 AND RURAL AFFAIRS. 
 
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 every Nobleman, Clergyman, Gentleman, and Farmer, should be in 
 possession of the Survey of his own County, and of the adjoining 
 Counties, as also of any other, which may contain that Species of' 
 Information most 'conducive to his own Local Interests. 
 
 *.* Complete Stts of the Reports are recommended to the various 
 AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES and BOOK CLUBS, as forming an aggregate 
 of General Information, and point of Reference on all occasions. 
 
4 Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 
 
 5. 
 The NEW FARMER'S CALENDAR, or, Monthly 
 
 Remembrancer of all Kinds of Country Business. By JOHN 
 LAWRENCE. Fifth Edition ; with large Additions j in One Volume. 
 Price 12s. boards. 
 
 Also, by the same Author, 
 
 A GENERAL TREATISE on CATTLE, the Ox, the Sheep, 
 and the Swine, in One Volume. Second Edition ; with large 
 Additions. Price 12s. boards. 
 
 A PHILOSOPHICAL and PRACTICAL TREATISE on 
 HORSES, and on the Moral Duties of Man towards the Brute 
 Creation ; in Two Volumes. Third Edition ; with large Additions. 
 Price ll. Is. hoards. 
 
 '* Mr. Lawrence writes with spirit, good sense, and humanity; and we 
 recommend his Work to the notice of our Readers." Monthly Review. 
 
 The MODERN LAND STEWARD, in which the Duties 
 and Functions of Stewardship are considered and explained, with 
 its several Relations to the Interests of the Landlord, Tenant, and 
 tiie Public j in One Volume. Price 10s. 6d. boards. 
 
 " If the Author had not already recommended himself to the Public by his 
 <' New Farmer's Calendar," and other Works, the judicious observations and 
 useful hints here offered would place him in the list of those Rural Counsellors 
 who are capable of giving advice. His sentiments on general subjects, expand 
 beyond the narrow boundaries of vulgar prejudice; and his good sense is 
 forcibly recommended to us, by its acting in concert with a humane disposition." 
 Monthly Review. 
 
 %* The above Works comprehend a body of useful practical 
 knowledge, relative to the CULTURE OF THE SOIL, POLITICAL 
 ECONOMY, VETERINARY MEDICINE, and the MANAGEMENT OF 
 LIVE STOCK. Complete in Five large Volumes, 8vo. Price 2l 
 15s. 6d. in boards. 
 
 6. 
 PRACTICALOBSERVATIONS on the BRITISH 
 
 GRASSES, especially such as are best adapted to the laying 
 down or improving of Meadows and Pastures ; likewise an 
 enumeration of the British Grasses. By WILLIAM CURTIS, 
 Author of the Flora Londinensis, Botanical Magazine, Lectures 
 on Botany, &c. &c. Sixth Edition ; with considerable Additions. 
 By JOHN LAWRENCE, Author of the New Farmer's Calendar, 
 Ac. &c. To which is subjoined, a short Account of the Causes of 
 the Diseases in Corn, called by Farmers the Blight, the Mildew, 
 and the Rust. By Sir JOSEPH BANKS, Bart. In 8vo. illustrated 
 with coloured Plates. Price 9s, in boards. 
 
Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co, 5 
 
 7- 
 
 The CODE OF AGRICULTURE j including 
 Observations on GARDENS, ORCHARDS, WOODS, and PLANTA- 
 TIONS. By the Right Hon. Sir JOHN SINCLAIR, Bart. Third 
 Edition in one Large Volume, 8vo. Price <l 4s. in boards. 
 
 This Third Edition is considerably improved by a number of 
 Valuable Remarks, communicated to the Author by some of the 
 most intelligent Farmers in England and Scotland. 
 
 The Subjects particularly considered, are 
 
 1. The Preliminary Points which a Farmer ought to ascertain, 
 before he undertakes to occupy any extent of Land. 
 
 2. The Means of Cultivation which are essential to ensure its 
 success. 
 
 3. The various Modes of improving Land. 
 
 4. The various Modes of occupying Land. 
 
 5. The Means of improving a Country. 
 
 " Sir John Sinclair's ' Code of Agriculture' is one of the most valuable books of the yean 
 In point of fact, it concentrates the knowledge amassed during the experience of a long life, 
 passed amidst the best opportunities of collecting information ; and exhibitslhe results in a form 
 condensed with great logical acumen, of all the Labours and Publications of modern writers on 
 Agriculture. It merits, therefore, a place in the library of every Gentleman and Farmer in the 
 Country, and of every individual > who has any turn for Agricultural pursuits." Monthly 
 Magazine. 
 
 8. 
 A SYSTEM of SHEEP GRAZING and MA- 
 
 NAGEMENT, as practised in Romney Marsh. By DANIEL 
 PRICE, of Appledore, Kent. In 4to. Illustrated with Plates, 
 price 2l. 2s. in boards. 
 
 9. 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE on the Parturition of 
 
 the COW, or the extraction of the Calf, and on the Diseases of Neat 
 Cattle in general ; with the most approved Methods of Treatment, 
 and best Forms of Prescription, adapted to Veterinary Practice. 
 By EDWARD SKELLETT, Professor of that part of the Veterinary 
 Art. In one large Volume, Octavo, price 18s. plain, or 11. 7s. 
 with the Plates accurately coloured. Illustrated with thirteen 
 highly-finished Engravings. 
 
 10. 
 
 The GRAZIER'S READY RECKONER, or a 
 
 useful Guide for Buying and Selling Cattle ; being a complete set 
 of Tables, distinctly pointing out the Weight of Black Cattle, 
 Sheep, and Swine, from three to one hundred and thirty Stones, 
 by measurement ; with Directions, showing the particular parts 
 where the Cattle are to be measured. By GEORGE REN TON, 
 Fanner. A new Edition, corrected. Price 2s. 6d. sewed. 
 
$ Books published ly Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 
 
 11. 
 
 The HORTICULTURAL REPOSITORY, con- 
 
 taining Delineations of the best Varieties of the different Species of 
 ENGLISH FRUIT; to which are added, the BLOSSOMS and LEAVES, 
 in those instances in which they are considered necessary: accom- 
 panied with full Descriptions of their various Properties, Time of 
 Ripeningr, and Directions for Planting them, so as to produce a 
 longer Succession of Fruit; such being pointed out, as are par- 
 ticularly calculated for open Wails, and for Forcing. By G. 
 BROOKS n AW, Author of the " Pomona Britannica." 
 
 Illustrated by beautiful Coloured Plates, on which the Fruit it represented in its natural size : 
 the whole Work comprehending nearly Two Hundred Specimens of the choicest Species. In 
 two Volumes, royal 8vo. price 61. lOs. in boards, or may be had in Twenty-six Monthly Parts, 
 by one or more at a time, at the original price of ss. each. 
 
 *** This Work is the result of several years' practical observation. Its obvious utility an* 
 general interest, will instantly occur to the reader ; it being a curious fact, that while an enlarged 
 taste for Botany has been directed, both scientifically and popularly, to every branch of its 
 extensive province, this particular department has been most neglected, the proper selection of 
 Fruit Trees being generally very imperfectly understood ; a dehciency which it is the object of 
 the present work to supply. 
 
 12. 
 A TREATISE on the Improved Culture of the 
 
 STRAWBERRY, RASPBERRY, GOOSEBERRY, and CUR- 
 RANT, in which are pointed out the best Methods of obtaining 
 ample Crops of those Fruits. To which arc prefixed, Descriptions 
 of the most esteemed Varieties. Illustrated by four coloured 
 Plates, representing the choicest Specimens of the Fruit, drawn in 
 its natural size. By THOMAS HAYNES. In 8vo. price 10s. in boards. 
 
 13. 
 A PRACTICAL TREATISE on Brewing the 
 
 various sorts of Malt Liquor; with Examples of each Species, and 
 the mode of using the Thermometer and Sacchaixmieter : the whole 
 forming a complete Guide in Brewing every Description of Ale and 
 Beer. To which are added, General Instructions for making Malt, 
 and Tables of the Net Duties of Excise on Strong and Table Beer, 
 payable by Common Brewers in Town and Country. By ALEX- 
 ANDER MORRICE, Common Brewer. Sixth Edition; with the 
 Laws, (now first added,) relating to Brewers and Maltsters. By 
 JOHN WILLIAMS, Esq. Price 10s. 6d. boards. 
 
 14. 
 The FAMILY DYER AND SCOURER, being 
 
 a complete treatise on the Arts of Dying and Cleaning every 
 article of Dress, Bed and Window Furniture, Silks, Bonnets, 
 Feathers, &c., whether made of Flax, Silk, Cotton, Wool, or Hair ; 
 also Carpets, Counterpanes, and Hearth Rugs. Ensuring a saving 
 of Eighty per cent. By WILLIAM TUCKER, late Dyer and Scourer 
 in the Metropolis. Second Edition, price 4s. 6d. boards. 
 
Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 
 
 i. 
 
 BRITISH FIELD SPORTS ; embracing Practical 
 
 Instructions in Shooting, Hunting, Coursing, Racing, Fishing, &c. ; 
 with Observations on the Breaking and Training of Dogs and 
 Horses; also, on the Management of Fowling Pieces, and all 
 other Sporting Implements. By WILLIAM HENRY SCOTT, Author 
 of the ** Sportsman's Repository." In One large Volume, 8vo. 
 Price il. 18s. in boards; or on Royal Paper, with proof Impres- 
 sions of the Plates, 31. 3s. 
 
 *** This Work is beautifully printed on fine wove Paper, hot-pressed, and 
 illustrated with upwards of Fifty highly-finished Engravings ; 'Thirty-Four on 
 Copper, executed in the most characteristic Style of Excellence, by those emi- 
 nent Artists, Scott, Warren, Greig, Tookey, Davenport, Ranson, and Webb ; 
 from Paintings by Reinagle, Clennell, Elmer, and Barrenger ; the remainder are 
 cut on Wood, by Clennell, Thompson, Austin, and Bewick. 
 
 Tkat we have had several good and elaborate Treatises upon particular divi- 
 sions of FIELD SPORTS is readily acknowledged; but we have had no Work of a 
 portable nature, comprehending the whole of them. This inconvenience, 
 however, is removed by the present Publication. The ' BRITISH FIKJLD SPORTS* 
 is divided into Sections, each forming a Subject which is treated separately and 
 systematically, with all the necessary Legal Information appertaining to it. 
 The Author's object has been to present, in as compressed a form as real utility 
 would admit, Instructions in all the various Field Sports in Modern Practice ; 
 thereby forming a Book of general Reference on the Subject, and including, in 
 One Volume, what could not otherwise be obtained without purchasing many 
 expensive ones. The means he has possessed for accomplishing so desirable 
 a purpose, he trusts, have enabled him to produce such a Work on the Subject 
 of Field Sports, as, in point of Paper, Printing, Illustration, and Embellish- 
 ment, is not to be equalled in the English Language. 
 
 " It gives ui pleasure to observe the respectability of the Work, entitled " BRITISH FIELD 
 SPORTS." In this kingdom, the Sports of the Field are highly characteristic and interesting. 
 As gentlemanly diversions, they have been pursued with an avidity as keen, and a taste as uni- 
 versal, as the relish of Nature's beauties. A corresponding value is set on them, and an appro 
 priate polish is added by time and practice; the various minutiae in the knowledge of which, 
 and the technical distribution of this knowledge, together with Facts, Instructions, and Anecdotes 
 form the basis of this valuable publication." Partner's Journal. 
 
8 Books publislied ly Sherwood) Jones*, and Co. 
 
 2. 
 The SPORTSMAN'S REPOSITORY ; com- 
 
 prising a Series of highly-finished Engravings, representing the 
 HOUSE and the Doc in all their varieties; executed in the Line 
 Manner, by JOHN SCOTT, from original Paintings by Marshall, 
 Reinagie, Gilpin, Stubbs, and Cooper : accompanied with a com- 
 prehensive, historical, and systematic description of the different 
 Species of each, their appropriate Uses, Management, and Im- 
 provement ; interspersed with Anecdotes of the most celebrated 
 Horses and Dogs, and their Proprietors ; also, a Variety of prac- 
 tical Information on Training, and the Amusements of the Field. 
 By the Author of " BRITISH FIELD SPORTS." Beautifully 
 printed in Quarto, and embellished with Forty highly-finished 
 Copper-plate Engravings, and numerous Wood Cut*. Price 31. 3s. 
 in boards. It may also be had in Six Parts. Price 10s 6d. each. 
 
 3. 
 THOUGHTS on FOX and HARE HUNTING ; 
 
 in a Series of Letters to a Friend. By PETER BECKFORD, Esq. 
 With numerous illustrative Notes by the Author. A new and 
 elegant Edition, in One Volume, 8vo. Price 14s. boards. 
 
 *,* The Publishers beg leave respectfully to recommend the present Edition of Mr. Beckford's 
 valuable Work, to the notice of Sporting Gentlemen. It will be found to surpass all preceding 
 Editions, in elegance of paper, printing, and illustration. The Author's Notes, also, which 
 have long been omitted, are here introduced, and render this Edition peculiarly desirable. 
 
 4. 
 An ESSAY on HUNTING ; comprising Hunting, 
 
 Lawfulness, Benefits, Pleasure, Pastime, Game, Scent, Hounds, 
 The Horse, Huntsman, Sagacity, Sec. &c. &c. Copied verbatim 
 from the Original Edition, printed in the year 1753, and elegantly 
 printed in 8vo. Price 7s. boards ; or, in 4to. 12s. 
 
 We consider the Sporting World much indebted to those who have caused the re-printing of this 
 Work } the style is excellent. Some of the Author's ideas may, since its first publication ( 1 733)* 
 have been controverted, or become obsolete, through the benefits of modern experience; but 
 good sense, combined with practical knowledge and a playful fancy, are apparent in every sub- 
 ject which the Author touches on; and we candidly express our belief, that few modern Volumes 
 will afford the reader more pleasure. Sporting Magazine. 
 
 5. 
 SPORTING ANECDOTES, original and selected, 
 
 (many of them concerning our late King); including numerous 
 Characteristic Portraits of Persons in every Walk of Life, who 
 have acquired notoriety from their Achievements on the Turf, at 
 
Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 9 
 
 the Table, and in the Diversions of the Field : the whole forming 
 a complete Delineation of the Sporting World. By PIERCE EG AN, 
 Embellished with a characteristic Frontispiece, representing Eight 
 Varieties of Sporting Amusements. Price 9s. boards, or 12.s. 
 elegantly bound. 
 
 6. 
 SCOTT'S SPORTSMAN'S POCKET-BOOK; 
 
 THE SPORTSMAN'S CALENDAR; or, Monthly Remenu 
 brancer of Field Diversions. By AV. H. SCOTT, Author of" Bri- 
 tish Field Sports/' Elegantly printed in a neat pocket size, and 
 hot-pressed. Price 5s. in boards. 
 
 7- 
 
 SOMERVILLE'S celebrated Poem of the CHASE; 
 
 to which is annexed, his Poem of FIELD SPORTS ; with Memoirs 
 of the Author, and an Essay on the Chase. By EDWARD TOP- 
 HAM, Esq> Illustrated with Engravings, by Mr. SCOTT. Price 
 6s. in boards. 
 
 8. 
 SONGS of THE CHASE; including some also, 
 
 on RACING, SHOOTING, ANGLING, HAWKING, ARr 
 CHERY, &c. Handsomely printed in foolscap 8vo. with appro- 
 priate Embellishments. Second Edition. Price 9s. boards. 
 
 9. 
 The SHOOTER'S COMPANION; or, Direc- 
 
 tions for the Breeding and Management of Setters and Pointers, 
 and for the Treatment and Cure of Diseases, to which ail Dogs 
 are liable, with an Historical description of Winged Game. The 
 Fowling-Piece, considered particularly as it relates to the Use of 
 Percussion Powder. The various methods of making Percussion 
 Powder, and the best pointed out. Of Scent : the Olfactory 
 Organs anatomically explained ; with the Reason why one Dog's 
 Sense of Smell is superior to another's. Shooting illustrated ; and 
 the Art of Shooting Flying exemplified, and clearly laid down. 
 The Game Laws, and every information connected with the Use of 
 the Fowling-piece. By T, B. JOHNSON. New and Improved 
 Edition. Price 9s. in boards, with Plates. 
 
 ** This Is a well written and well arranged production ; containing much interesting informa- 
 tion, not only to the professed Sportsman, but to those who may occasionally seek this fascinating 
 recreation. We may add, that it is not the pioductien of any ordinary Sportsman, l>ut of one 
 who can enjoy the pleasures of the Library as well us those of the Field, and can wield a Pen 
 as well as a Fowling-Piece." Literary Cbronitft. 
 
10 Books published by Sherwood , Jones, and C&. 
 
 10. 
 KUNOP^EDIA; being a Practical Essay on the 
 
 Breaking and Training the ENGLISH SPANIEL or POINTER. 
 To which are added, Instructions for attaining the Art of SHOOT- 
 ING FLYING; more immediately addressed to young Spertsraen, 
 but designed also to supply the best means of correcting the errors 
 of some older ones. By the late W. DOBSON, Esq. of Eden Hall, 
 Cumberland. In One Volume, 8vo. Price 10s. 6d. boards. 
 
 11. 
 The ANGLER'S GUIDE ; being a New Complete 
 
 Practical TREATISE on ANGLING, for Sea, River, and Pond 
 Fish. By T. F. SALTER, Gent. Fifth Edition, corrected, re- 
 vised, and improved. To which is now first added, the Author's 
 celebrated Treatise on Trolling, or Fishing for JACK and PJKE : 
 the whole illustrated with numerous Engravings and Cuts of Fish, 
 Flies, &c. In a neat Pocket Volume. Price 7s. in boards. 
 " I write from practice, not from book compile." 
 
 '* This little book is quite studded with well-executed Engravings on wood, exhibiting 
 faithful Portraits of every object of the Angler's pursuit, as well as explanatory representations 
 of all the Implements employed in Fishing, with full and clear Instructions for using them. 
 \Ve were muuh pleased to find some ample Instructions for Trolling, which we have hunted for 
 in vain in Walton and Cotton." Annals of Sporting, Nos. 22, 23. 
 
 Also, by the same Author, 
 
 The YOUNG ANGLER'S GUIDE; abridged 
 
 from the above Work. Price Is. 6d. ; and the TROLLER'S 
 GUIDE. Price 3s. 
 
 12, 
 
 The ANGLER; a Poem, in Ten Cantos; com- 
 prising proper Instructions in the Art, with Rules to choose 
 Fishing Rods, Lines, Hooks, Floats, Baits, and to make artificial 
 Flies ; Receipts for Pastes, &c. By T. P. LATHY, Esq. With 
 upwards of Twenty Wood Cuts. Price 10s. 6d. boards. 
 
 13. 
 The SPORTSMAN'S PROGRESS; a Poem, 
 
 descriptive of the Pleasures derived from Field Sports : with 
 Thirteen Wood Cuts. Price is. sewed, 
 
 14. 
 TAPLIN IMPROVED; a COMPENDIUM of 
 
 FARRIERY ; wherein is fully explained the Nature and Structure 
 of the Horse. By an EXPERIENCED FARRIER. Price 2s. boards. 
 
 15. 
 TEN MINUTES' ADVICE, to every Person 
 
 going to purchase a Horse. Price Is. 
 
Bovks published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. i 1 
 
 16. 
 BOXIANA, brought down to the present time. 
 
 The Fourth Volume of BOXIANA ; containing all the Transac- 
 tions of Note connected with the Prize King during the years 1821, 
 1822, and 1823, in which are developed the righting capabilities of 
 the men, and short Dissertations on Pugilism, together with many 
 characteristic Traits and Anecdotes never before published The 
 whole preceded by a practical Treatise on Training for pugilistic 
 encounters, including the whole of Captain Barclay's method, after 
 which he trained Tom Cribb and himself; the whole tending to 
 promote the utility of the Art of SELF-DEFENCE in a national 
 point of view. Illustrated with highly finished whole-lengfh 
 Portraits, in attitude, of G. HEAD, BILL NEAT, CY. DAVIS, JACK 
 MARTIN, JACK COOPER, JOSH. HUDSON, PETER CRAWLEY, and 
 DJCK CURTIS, drawn from life, and Engraved in a superior style of 
 excellence. By PERCY ROBERTS. Price 18s. in boards. 
 
 Also, 
 
 BOXIANA, Vol. I. Containing every Battle and Anecdote, 
 connected with scientific Pugilism, from Figg and Bronghton to 
 the period of Cribb's Championship. Price 12s. 
 
 BOXIANA, Vol. If. From Cribb's Championship to the first 
 Battle of Painter anrl Spring. Price 14s. 
 
 BOXIANA, Vol. III. During the Championship of Cribb to 
 Spring's challenge to all England. Price 18s. The three Volumes 
 contain Fifty Portraits of celebrated Pugilists. 
 
 17- 
 
 A VISIT to the FIVES' COURT. By ROBERT 
 
 CRUIKSHANK. Being a faithful Picture of that celebrated place 
 of Amusement, for displaying manful Sports. Price 2s. accurately 
 coloured j or may be had, framed and varnished. Price 6*. 
 
 ** The Artist has been very successful in delineating, not only Portraits, but 
 the Costume and Mannerism of all the Professors and Amateurs of the Prize Ring ; 
 amongst which stand prominently, Spring, Neat, Randall, Martin, Gregson, 
 Cribb, Cy. Davis, Isaac Bitton, Belcher, Burn, Jack Cooper, Richmond, Mr. 
 Jackson, Mr. Soames, Mr. Watson, the Marquis of Worcester, Lord Fife, Cap- 
 tain Hugh Seymour, &c. &c. 
 
 18. 
 The ROAD TO A FIGHT. A Picture of the 
 
 FANCY GOING to a FIGHT at Monlsey Hurst, (measuring in length 
 14 teet,) containing numerous Original Characters, many of them 
 Portraits; in which all the FROLIC, FUN, LARK, GIG, LIFE, GAM- 
 WON, and TRYING-IT-ON, are depicted, incident to the pursuit of a 
 PRIZE MII.L: dedicated, by permission, to Mr. Jackson, and the 
 Noblemen and Gentlemen composing the Pugilistic Club. A copious 
 
12 Books published by Sherwood, Jones, and Co. 
 
 and characteristic Key accompanies the Picture, written by 
 PIERCE EG AN. " For I am nothing, if not CHARACTER !" Price 
 of the Picture and Key, 14s. plain, or ll. coloured, neatly done 
 up in a box, for the pocket. Also, framed in black and gold, and 
 varnished, in which way it will be found a very interesting piece 
 of furniture for the GENTLEMAN or SPORTSMAN, (measuring in 
 (length 43 inches, by 15 wide,) price ll. 12s. plain, or ll. 18s. 
 coloured. 
 
 19. 
 
 The ANNALS of SPORTING, and FANCY GA- 
 ZETTE; a Magazine entirely appropriated to Sporting Subjects 
 and Fancy Pursuits ; containing every thing worthy of Remark, 
 on Hunting, Shooting, Coursing, Racing, Fishing, Cocking, Pugil- 
 ism, Wrestling, Single Stick, Pedestrianism, Cricket, Billiards, 
 Rowing, Sailing, &c. &c. Accompanied with Striking Represen- 
 tations of the various Subjects, Drawn and Engraved by Eminent 
 Artists. The Work is elegantly printed on a fine Paper; the 
 Drawings made from life by the most esteemed Artists; and the 
 representations of Field Sports, either engraved in the first style 
 of excellence, or beautifully coloured ofter Nature. It is further 
 illustrated with numerous Engravings on Wood; the Subjects 
 including the best breeds of Horses and Dogs, as well as every 
 species of Game. Every Six Numbers form a Volume, price 17s. 
 each, handsomely half-bound. The Fifth Volume, just completed, 
 is embellished with the following spirited Engravings. 
 
 1. Brutus, a Bull Terrier, by Landseer. 
 
 2. Topthorn, a celebrated Hunter. 
 
 3. A folding Plate of Gymnastic Exercises. 
 
 4. Terriers and Polecat. 
 
 5. Foxes, by Landseer. 
 
 6. Neptune, a Newfoundland Dog, by Ditto. 
 
 7. Nelson, a Setter. 
 
 8. Barefoot, from a painting by Herring. 
 
 9. Buonaj>arte's White Charger, Marcngs. 
 
 10. A fine Portrait of Tom Cribb. 
 
 11. A celebrated Hackney. 
 
 12. Stag and Hiud. 
 
 13. Five Fox Hounds, of the Hatfield Hunt, engraved in a 
 masterly manner, by Landseer. 
 
 20. 
 An Engraved Plan and Survey of Epsom RACE 
 
 COURSE, on a Scale of six chains to an inch, or thirteen inches 
 and a third to a mile ; with an Appendix of Distances, constitu- 
 ting a most useful auxiliary of information to all Gentlemen 
 interested in the business of the Turf. By WILLIAM KEMP* 
 Land Surveyor. On a large sheet, price 6s. neatly coloured. 
 
14 DAY USE 
 
 RETURN TO DESK FROM WHICH BORROWED 
 
 LOAN DEPT. 
 
 This book is due on the last date stamped below, or 
 
 on the date to which renewed. 
 Renewed books are subject to immediate recall. 
 
 -mr 
 
 T T^ 01 A cn >i 
 To?7^Bl oT476B 
 
 General Library 
 
 University of California 
 
 Berkeley