122 GAME BIRDS. 



most pitiless storm came on, which proved a timely protection to 

 the birds, and a very good excuse for our return home to dinner. 

 The latter part of the day proved a worthy sequel to its com- 

 mencement, having fully enjoyed the conviviality of a sporting 

 bachelor's table." 



" Come, come, my good fellows, attend to my song, 

 And I'll learn you the way to live happy and long; 

 Throw, throw off the tricks of the dull, smoky town, 

 To rise with the lark, and lie down with the clown ; 



With your pointers and gun, to the stubbles repair, 



To bring down the partridge or fleet-scudding hare ; 



To start the gay pheasant, in woodland concealed, 



For there's nothing gives health like the sports of the field." 



The great partridge match, between Lord Kennedy and Mr. W. 

 Coke, for two hundred sovereigns, took place on the 26th of Sep- 

 tember, and the 4th of October, 1823. Mr. Wm. Coke to shoot 

 over his uncle's manor, in Norfolk, and Lord Kennedy in any part 

 of Scotland he pleased. Mr. Coke bagged 8o brace of birds, on 

 the first day, and on the second 87i, making in all 173 brace of 

 partridge, and a number of pheasants, not included. Lord 

 Kennedy chose for the scene of his exploits, Mantraith, in Scot- 

 land, a manor belonging to Sir William Maxwell. On the first 

 day of trial his lordship bagged 50, and on the next day 82 brace, 

 being in all 132 brace of partridge, in two days. 



Another extraordinary partridge shooting match for offe thou- 

 sand guineas, between the Hon. G. Anson and Mr. Ross, came off 

 at Milden-hall, Suffolk, in November, 1828; each party was allowed 

 three guns and three loaders, that no delay might take place. In 

 the first hour only four birds were shot, and Colonel Anson shot 

 three out of the four. At three o'clock the match was even, both 

 having killed ten brace of birds, and it was even again at four 

 o'clock. At this time Colonel Anson killed another bird, which 

 made him one a-head, but he became so weak that he could no 

 longer follow Mr. Ross, and although only ten minutes remained, 

 Colonel Anson's friends advised him to propose a draw-match, as 

 Mr. Ross would in all probability, either tie or beat him, which he 

 did, and Mr. Ross very handsomely accepted the proposal. The 

 number of birds actually scored was twenty-three and a half brace. 

 Many other birds were killed, but it could not be decided, by the 

 umpires, to which party they belonged. 



