HOW TO PACK GAME. 347 



HOW TO PACK GAME— TERMS USED BY SPORTSMEN. 



Game slioiild be packed in the natural state, aud the 

 feathers hiid smoothly in their proper places. Birds that 

 are shot, should be hung up by the feet before being for- 

 warded any distance, in order that the blood may run out 

 through the mouth. All feathered game should be 

 packed entire, as drawn birds are not supposed to keep 

 as well as the undrawn, nor do they realize so good a 

 price in the market, Never pack birds when they are 

 warm or wet, and do not send those that are much muti- 

 lated to market, as they are worth but little, aud may 

 injure the lot. Smooth the feathers, place the heads 

 under the wings, and the breast upwards. Pack all 

 tightly, so that they will not shift about, and fill the 

 packages in such a manner that they may be closed by a 

 slight pressure on the top. Use light, medium-sized, 

 strong boxes or hampers. In shipping quails any dis- 

 tance, they will keep better if they are wrapped in paper, 

 especially in soft weather. Birds should not be allowed 

 to become hard frozen before being shipped, to be well 

 chilled is sufficient. Live pigeons, or other feathered 

 game, should not be kept caged too long, as they lose flesh 

 every hour they are in the coop, and become so thin and 

 soiled as to be rendered almost worthless in a compara- 

 tively short time. Their flesh also becomes insipid. 



The following terms are used by sportsmen in describ- 

 ing companies of the different kinds of birds. 



Widgeons — (according to numbers,) 

 a "company," "bunch," 

 " trip," or ''knob." 



Teal — A " spring." 



Coots — A "covert." 



Sheldrakes — A "dopping." 



Turkeys — A "drove," or "flock." 

 Grouse — A "pack," a "brood," or 



"family." 

 Quails — A "bevy." 

 Partridges — A " covey." 

 Swans— &. "herd," a " whiteness." 

 Geese — A "gaggle," when on the j Woodcocks — A "flight." 



water; a " string" or " skein," ; Snijie — A " walk," or "wisp." 



when flying. : Plovers — A " wing." 



Black Brant— A " gaug." I Curlews— A "herd." 



Bucks — A "paddling," on the Bay birds in gejieral — A "flock." 



water; a "team," on wing. Wild Pigeons — A "flight." 



Mallards — A"sord." I Herons — A "sedge." 



