BREEDlXii OF RABBITS. 129 



they will probably retaliate by doiug the same on these 

 grouse preserves. Within the last few years the great 

 diminution by famine and emigration of the popvilation 

 of Ireland, will, if I mistake not, contribute much to 

 the increase of game. ]Many noblemen and gentlemen 

 have removed from their estates squatters who rented 

 an acre or half an acre as potato ground, and have 

 adopted the same system as in England, in getting re- 

 spectable tenants who have a sufficient capital to stock 

 a farm of 200 or 300 acres. In short, it is fair to calcu- 

 late that in the course of twenty years, with railroads, 

 the general system of drainage, and the rajsid com- 

 munication by steam between England and Ireland, 

 the face of this fertile island will be greatly im- 

 proved, and the lower class of Irish become more en- 

 lightened, and less under the control of their priests. 

 There can be no objection to a gentleman keeping up a 

 moderate stock of rabbits; for in cover and in furze, 

 where small rides are kept open and in hedge-rows, the 

 shooting of them is exciting and enlivening. The 

 speed with which a rabbit runs for a short distance re- 

 quires, on these occasions, that the sportsman should 

 take a quick aim, and wuth much practice in this sort of 

 shooting he usually becomes an excellent snap shot. 

 There is another and no small advantage to be derived 

 from having a moderate stock of rabbits in the woods, the 

 slaughter of pheasants and hares is considerably less, 

 and they tell well in a day's sporting. A late connexion 

 of mine who was a first-rate shot at rabbits in cover, told 

 me that he frequently shot them without seeing the 

 object when he fired, by getting a glimpse of the 

 direction they took, and firing into a small bush or low 

 cover. 



