INTRODUCTORY CHAPTER. 



efforts of description are those which attemj)t to 

 convey correct ideas of persons or things. We 

 ai'e not, indeed, without books, wdiich help us to 

 portraits, as well as the natural history of our 

 social /erce — so to call modern game; but there 

 does not exist a volume confined to the subject, 

 or which professes to deal with it alone and com- 

 pletely. We cannot comj^lain of any scarcity of 

 sporting literature ; but the young disciple of the 

 trigger, the youth who would know how to comport 

 and enjoy himself on moor or stubble, in cover or 

 canoe, is unj)rovided with a Hand-book. Colonel 

 Hawker has certainly written eight editions of "In 

 structions for Young Sj^ortsmen ;" but, like other 

 devices of instruction, they seem more fitted for a 

 task than a recreation. His amusement of wild 

 fowl shooting, superficially appears as little like 

 fun as anything that can be imagined. According 

 to the gallant Colonel's account, it is necessary 

 for the performer to wrap himself up in a cere- 

 cloth, like an Egyptian mummy, to avoid being 

 •'ruined with the frequent mixtm^e of salt water, 

 blocd, mud, and gunpowder!" The young 

 sportsman is thus advertised as to the preparation 

 of his holyday suit : " Make with Russia-duck, 

 a loose, over- all frock-coat, and a hood, or a cap 



