FOWLING. 6 



bl}' diminished -, and at tlie pi'esent day, the most effectual mode of 

 wikl-fowhng-, and that in gi'eatest repute, is by means of a g-unning-- 

 punt, shooting'-yacht, and stanchion g*un. 



There cannot be a strong-er proof the ig-norance of the present age, 

 as reg-ards the original art of wild-fowling", than by reference to the 

 erroneous terms which are applied to the pursuit by nearly all 

 modern sportsmen ; and it is only from the lips of a few " ancient 

 fowlers," however illiterate, that we hear the correct version of sport- 

 ing- terms applicable to wild-fowling-. Thus, modern sportsmen speak 

 of every large number of wild-fowl as " a flock " (a term chiefly 

 appertaining to sheep), and this whether ducks, geese, widgeon, or 

 whatever else ; whereas the term "flock" is totally inaccurate as 

 applied to any distinct species of wild-fowl, and should only be em- 

 ployed when speaking indefinitely of wild-fowl, or a mixture of wild- 

 fowl, not knowing of what species they are. Errors of this sort are 

 seldom made in respect of other field sports, without at once bringing 

 down a shower of ridicule by the better-informed sportsman upon the 

 head of the more ignorant one. 



To speak in the present day of a " flock " of partridges, instead of 

 a "covey," would so offend the ears of the most superficial sports- 

 man, that he would look upon an individual who made use of such a 

 term, with profound pity at his ignorance ; and yet the term " flock,' ' 

 as applied to wild-fowl, is equally erroneous, and quite as inexcusable, 

 when coming fi*om the lips of a sportsman. But in consequence of 

 the indifference with which the subject of fowling has been treated of 

 late years, we find the most learned ornithologists of the day, 

 throughout their voluminous histories, guilty of these inexcusable 

 blunders. Writers upon sporting literature, one and all, commit 

 similar en-ors ; and though they apply correct terms to game and 

 birds of the land, water-fowl are invariably classed by them in 

 " flocks." 



The ancient terms, as applied to water-fowl when congregatus, are as 

 under* : — 



A teme of swannys. 



A gaggyllyng of gese. 



A teme of dukys, or 



A padelynge of dukys. 



A sorde of malardys. 



A spi-yng- of telys. 



* T'idc " The Boke of St. Albans." 



