IN A SLEDGE. - 97 



sledge — of sufficient height to allow of ouc's driving over 

 sticks, stones, &c., that lie in tlie way, as also with a 

 so-called SlJttt-stdUiiiag, or sliooting-stand, constructed on 

 the ladder principle, so as to allow of its heing elevated or 

 depressed at pleasure, on whicli to rest the gun when one 

 is about to lire. The fowler," he further says, " should 

 be furnished with two rides and a common fowling-piece 

 — with a second rifle, because if the distance be con- 

 siderable, it may happen that he gets more than one shot 

 from tlic same spot, often, indeed, at the same bird ; and 

 with a common gun that he may not only be able to secure 

 wounded birds, but shoot others that chance to fly past 

 him. If a man be well acquainted with the country, he 

 need not trouble himself to drive too much in the woods, 

 where he is frequently obliged to clear away with his 

 axe such bushes as will not yield to the pressure of the 

 sledge. A horse accustomed to the forest tracks can find 

 his way, even when these are covered with snow and 

 invisible to the human eye; and if the reins be dropped 

 on his neck, and he be allowed to take his own course, he 

 will most assuredly hit on the right one. A steady horse, 

 and one that will stand fire, is essential. My father had 

 one that was trained to the sport, and had grown grey 

 in the service, and displayed such wonderful sagacity, that 

 when he had approached to within rifle-range of a ' pack ' 

 of Black-Cock he would, of his own accord, come to a 

 halt, thereby giving his master to understand it was now 

 time for him to play his part. 



"When thus stalking the Black-Cock," M. Wilhelui 

 von Wright remarks in conclusion, " one almost always gets 

 within shot of them, whereas if on foot, or on Skklor, 

 the attempt often proves unsuccessful. This system of 

 shooting is, besides, attended with very little labour, for, 

 excepting to pick uj) the slain, or to drive the birds from 

 ])laces where they cannot be followed to more accessible 



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