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'HE FIRST!— for it is the first of firsts known to the 

 sportsman and his friends; and, if it is not the only 

 " first," still it is so far ahead of all other " firsts," 

 that no other " first" deserves much notice in com- 

 parison. It is true, for example, that the First of 

 Octoher is chronologically the commencement of 

 pheasant shooting, though not one sportsman in 

 twenty commences for six weeks to come, and often not for 

 much more. But there are few who go for partridge shooting 

 at all who (unless under some very exceptional circumstances) do not 

 on the First take an hour or two round the outskirts at least, and 

 a few braces of toll by way of reminding the "little brown birds" that 

 the season of grace is past, and that henceforth they very much hold 

 their fate in their own hands, or claws, or wings, as the case may be. 

 Thenceforth their own acuteness must answer for any increased length of 

 tenure of their existence, and constant watchfulness must be exercised 

 against their many foes if they would continue to peck the sweet com from 

 the stubbles, or play at "hi-spy-hi" upon the hillside among the furze or 



