COCKNEY ANGLERS. 25 



the early dawn, the crowing of the cock-grouse. I see the 

 salmon fling themselves over the smooth tide, as they hurry 

 from the sea to reascend their native river. And while I 

 drink claret that never paid the revenue a farthing, or indulge 

 over that proscribed beverage the produce and the scourge 

 of this wild district I trace from the window the outline of 

 a range of hills, where the original red-deer of Ireland are 

 still existing none of your park-fed venison, that tame, 

 spiritless diminutive, which a boy may assassinate with his 

 " birding-piece," but the remnant of that noble stock, which 

 hunters of other days, O'Connor the Cus Dhu* and Cormac 

 Bawn Mac Tavish once delighted in pursuing. 



The offices of this wild dwelling are well adapted to the 

 edifice. In winter, the ponies have their stable ; and kine 

 and sheep a comfortable shed. Nor are the dogs forgotten ; 

 for them a warm and sheltered kennel is fitted up with 

 benches, and weil provided with straw. Many a sporting- 

 lodge in England, on which thousands have been expended, 

 lacks the Comforts of my kinsman's unpretending cottage. 

 Where are the coach-houses ? Those, indeed, would be 

 useless appendages ; for the nearest road on which a wheel 

 could turn, is ten miles distant from the lodge. 



CHAPTER VI. 



Periodicals Cockney sports and sportsmen Mountain angler and his 

 attendant Fishing-tackle Antony the otter-killer Visit the river 

 Flies Hooking my first salmon Return to the lodge Sporting 

 authors Sir Humphry Davy Colonel Hawker Salmonia Criti- 

 cisms. 



THE last post-bag brought a large supply of newspapers 

 and monthly literature. " Gad-o'-mercy !" what notions the 

 fishermen of Cockaign must have of the " gentle art !" It is 

 amusing to read the piscatory articles so seriously put forth 

 in the sporting periodicals. No persons on earth suffer more 

 personal inconvenience than the Cockney artist, or submit so 

 patiently to pecuniary imposition and like virtue, their 



* Blackfoot. 



