XXn INTRODUCTION. 



mucli esteemed as table delicacies, do not feed on fisli, nor have tliey 

 the power to catch them : their food consists of duck's-weed (lens 

 palustris), gTasses, and other inland herbag'e, which can have no 

 tendency to give them the flavour complained of; while the high 

 prices which wild-fowl, such as teal, widgeon, duck and mallard, sea- 

 pheasants, brent-geese, pochards, and others, constantly fetch in the 

 London and country markets, show the esteem in which they are 

 held as dehcious and wholesome luxuries. 



It ^has been my endeavour, throughout these pages, to render 

 them amusing as well as instructive ; and, with that view, I have 

 occasionally, but very sparingly, interspersed anecdotes of my own 

 adventures, and only where I have thought it the readiest and most 

 agreeable means of amusing the general reader, and at the same time 

 imparting knowledge to the young sportsman, rather than leaving 

 him to draw his own inferences from the facts recorded. 



With a modest conviction that I shall not be accused of discoiu-s- 

 ing of that with which I am not familiar, I nevertheless regret that 

 the effort has not been made by one more competent ; for I feel 

 certain there is much more which might, and ought to, form part of 

 a volume devoted exclusively to the subject.' 



I am also conscious of having exposed myself to merited criticism, 

 because of the many and glaring imperfections of style, which will 

 frequently offend the eye of the more accomplished critic and 

 English sportsman. But I console myself, in the hap])y — because 

 conscientious — conviction, that however rude and inanimate my 

 style, I have submitted none but personal experiences and well- 

 authenticated facts. I have also honesty of purpose on my side, and 

 good intentions towards my readers ; not perhaps wholly free from a 

 vain hope, tliat my humble exertions may supply a vacancy which 

 has long existed in the sportsman's library. 



