90 BRITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



each, within the last five years. The cause of the decrease 

 is variously explained, but most Frenchmen believe it to 

 arise from the * destruction of the eggs in the breeding 

 countries; and they allege that of late years the peasants 

 in those countries have taken a fancy for the eggs, and 

 seek eagerly for them. If this be true, it solves the mys- 

 tery; and we can only regret the taste of the said pea- 

 santry, and wish it had been less exquisite and refined, 

 directed rather to bread and meat. 



The other day in shooting I was getting through a thick 

 oak hedge, when two cocks rose together at my feet, flying 

 within a yard of my face, and going right and left. Being 

 encumbered with the branches, I could only watch them, 

 and thus lost a beautiful chance of killing cocks right and 

 left, which does not often happen. Delightful sport is 

 woodcock shooting — for me, the cream of shooting. The 

 picturesque country where Mr. Longbill is generally found 

 — the skill required to kill him — the value of him when 

 killed — his presence at any moment — the difiiculty of 

 finding him — the animation required — all give cock shoot- 

 ing a great charm. It is not generally known that they 

 run like partridges, but I had two proofs of this last week. 

 I had my dogs in a cover, and was walking in the mea- 

 dow, when I saw a cock skim quietly up and drop. Im- 

 mediately I called a dog and put him into the place ; he 

 took up the trail at a gallop, and ran the cock up a 

 hundred yards off; he must, therefore, have run clear away 

 at a great pace. The other instance was in returning home- 

 along the high road, where, on looking up, I saw a cock 

 coming straight upon me. When about eighty yards of!*, he 



