PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. 11 



tions and accumulated knowledge of a man who 

 has been practically engaged in the pursuit of 

 game in a thoroughly sportsmanlike manner for 

 twenty-five years. 



For much the greater part of that period, 

 Captain Bogardus has maintained and brought up 

 his respectable and interesting family, almost solely 

 by his gun. From that fact, I concluded that 

 his was the knowledge and experience which 

 would be valuable and instructive to sportsmen, 

 young and old, and interesting to the general 

 public. The former do not want to listen to 

 people who know no more than they know them- 

 selves. The latter do not want to peruse the 

 work of a man on any subject if he never rises 

 above mediocrity, while they gladly welcome the 

 book of one who has proved himself a master 

 of his art. Because Captain Bogardus had been 

 able to live for many years solely by his gun, 

 he was of all men best qualified to enlighten 

 old sportsmen, and instruct the young in regard 

 to the habits and haunts of game and the art of 

 shooting. 



It has often been said that pinnated grouse 

 could not be killed by the gun in the months of 

 November and December, because they were so 



