FIELD SPORTS IN ART. 249 



much as scratches an outline of his favourite dog on it. 

 In these landscape days we put our pictures on the 

 walls only, and no imagination into the things we han- 

 dle and use. A good deal of etching might be done on 

 a gun, most of it being metal, while more metal could be 

 easily inlaid for the purpose. Etching, I suppose, is the 

 right word ; at all events, designs, records of actual 

 sporting feats, or outlines of favourite sporting places — 

 nooks in the woods, falls of the stream, deep combes of 

 the hills — could be cut in with aquafortis. So many 

 draw or paint nowadays, and in this manner they could 

 make some use of their skill, drawing perhaps for those 

 who only understand the use of cartridge-paper when it 

 has gunpowder inside it. Sportsmen see the very best 

 of scenery, and come across old hollow trunks and curi- 

 ous trees, effects, and * bits ' of every kind, from a twisted 

 hawthorn to an antlered stag ; if they could get an artis- 

 tic friend to see these, there would be some good gun- 

 etchings done. 



