17G MACHETES PUGNAX. 



who make a trade of fatting them for the table ; and they 

 .sedulously conceal the abode of the fowlers, so much that 

 by no art could we obtain from any of them where they 

 resided ; and in order to deceive us, after evading our en- 

 treaties, gave us instructions that led us quite a contrary 

 direction. The reason of all this was obvious, for after much 

 labour and search, in the most obscure places, (for neither 

 the innkeepers, nor other inhabitants of the towns, could 

 give any information, and many did not know such a bird 

 was peculiar to their fens,) we found out a very civil and 

 intelligent fowler, who resided close to Spalding, at Fen- 

 gate, by name William Burton, (we feel a pleasure in 

 recording his name, not only from his obliging nature, but 

 for the use of others in similar pursuits,) and strange to say, 

 that, although the man had constantly sold Huffs to Mr. 

 Towns, a noted feeder, hereafter more particularly noticed, 

 as also to another feeder, at Cowbit, by the name of Weeks, 

 neither of these persons could be induced to inform us even 

 of the name of this fowler. The reason, however, was 

 evident, and justly remarked by Burton, for he obtained no 

 more than ten shillings per dozen, Avhereas AVeeks demanded 

 thirty shillings for the like number he had the same day 

 bought of Burton. The season was far advanced, and we 

 were obliged to buy some at that price of Weeks, for Burton 

 could not then catch us as many as we required. 



"At this time we were shown into a room, where there 

 were about seven dozen males, and a dozen females, and of the 

 former there were not two alike. This intrusion to choose 

 our birds, drove them from their stands, and compelling 

 some to tresspass upon the premises of others, produced many 

 battles. By this feeder we learned, that two guineas a 

 dozen was now the price of fattened Ruffs ; and he never re- 

 membered the price under thirty shilling, when fit for table. 



" Mr. Towns, the noted feeder at Spalding, assured us his 

 family had been a hundred years in the trade ; boasted that 

 they had served George the Second and many noble families 

 in the kingdom. He undertook, at the desire of the late 

 Marquis of Townsend (when that nobleman was Lord Lieu- 

 tenant of Ireland), to take some Ruffs to that country, and 



