AN I^'GIDENT. 47 



by the wind for shelter. I afterwards beat some six miles 

 of very likely ground, valley and coppice, without flusliincr 

 another bird. An event occurred that day which I shall 

 long remember. I called at a house for something, and 

 found it full of people talking and making a noise. I sat 

 down, and was suddenly startled by a peculiar sound be- 

 hind me. On turnmg round I beheld a woman in the act of 

 dying; and the sound which startled me was the death-rattle 

 in her throat. I was much shocked, and immediately rose. 

 The poor creature had been dreadfully bui'nt by falling on 

 the fire, and was dying ; and the fact being known, the 

 house was crowded with lookers-on. There was neither 

 sorrow nor sympathy that I could see, but haixl looks and 

 hard words ; and I was glad to leave the place. The wo- 

 man, I afterwards learnt, died almost immediately. To die 

 like a dog in a ditch was better than this. 



The snipe abounds in Britanny, and gives a pleasing 

 variety to a day's sport. If nothing else turns up, you are 

 sure of Mr. Longbill, and nothing in a small way beats 

 good snipe-shooting with a steady dog. Ducks are not 

 very common. There are few lakes, and those few are 

 well beaten ; but in the winter, when they are driven to 

 the brooks, they give good sport. They are, however, too 

 near the sea to be always good. Quail are found occa- 

 sionally, and on the hills are plenty of red-legged partridges. 

 The red leg is a fine handsome bird, but not equal for 

 sport or table to the common partridge. They are hard to 

 put up, and will run for a mile, and tease young dogs very 

 much ; but w^hen up, they fly to Old Harry, and require 

 good eyes to mark them. Rabbits are plentiful, but are 



