12 BRITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



great point. You have not in the mornmg to consider whether 

 Mr. A. is out on this side, or Mr. B. on that ; to be continu- 

 ally baulked by seeing your game make for the tabooed pro- 

 perty of your preserving neighbour ; nor to be disappointed 

 in attacking the imaginary feathered multitudes with which 

 your fancy has clothed the opposite coppice, merely be- 

 cause you cannot go there. All these desagremens are want- 

 ing in Britanny ; no animated piece of fustian telling you 

 with insolence to " Get oiF there ; " nor equally insolent, 

 though more polished broadcloth, with his disagreeable 

 " Are you aware that this is preserved ? " All ^^ou have 

 to consult is your own wish, and the direction of the wind, 

 and you can then wander where you please. It is true 

 that the legal right to game exists in the occupier, as in 

 England ; but tenancies being small, and game scarce, it is 

 not worth his while to preserve, and be ordered off by all Ids 

 neighbours ; and as there are few who like to be so un- 

 popular, in practice the country is open to all. During 

 some four years that I have shot, I have only been " warned 

 off" once, and that by the keeper of a large proprietor 

 much attached to sporting, but who, on my mentioning the 

 matter politely, offered to accompany me whenever I wished 

 for a day's shooting on his estate. I believe, however, that 

 there are parts not so liberal as hereabouts. Occasionally 

 farmers will look a little rusty ; but a bit of tobacco, a 

 pinch of snuff, and a civil w^ord work wonders ; and the 

 end generally is an offer to show you a covey, and a hope 

 that you will come again. Of course the result of all this 

 is a smaller quantity of game ; but so be it. Give me a mo- 

 derate bag and liberty, against preserving and a cartload. 



