114 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



Late in July all, with but few exceptions of these tidbes, have 

 reassembled, and their numbers continue to increase, as fresh 

 accessions keep streaming from the gi-eat noithem nursery, 

 until the approach of winter again drives thein southward. 



During their spring visit, comparatively speaking, these birds 

 are unmolested, few persons troubling their heads to shoot them 

 while Brant are in the bays, and English Snipe on the inland 

 morasses ; but when they return, it is the very deadest season 

 of the sportsman's year. Snipe are away in the North, Wood- 

 cock are moulting, and Quail hatching or hovering their young 

 broods. The Upland Plover, it is true, is in season, and the 

 Rail likewise, but the localities, in which only these two deli- 

 cious birds are taken, are few and far between ; and where the 

 shore birds most do congregate, are the very regions in which 

 the Bartramian Sandpiper, and the Sora Rail are not. 



Therefore they are pursued eagerly, by the baymen and pro- 

 fessional gunners, for the gain which they realise by them — for 

 though with hardly an exception their flesh is rank, sedgy, or 

 fishy, and uneatable, the absence of other game causes them to 

 be brought to table, and they readily find a market — by ama- 

 teurs and sportsmen, from the desire of excitement, and the 

 lack of every other sport. 



Some persons who shoot well, are exceedingly fond of this 

 amusement, as it gives no trouble, requires no fatigue or exer- 

 tion, and, above all, as, on good days, the shooting is incessant, 

 and the bag often immense. 



There is, in fact, no accounting for tastes, as regards field 

 sports. Some men regard the amusement as affected merely by 

 the number of shots ; others by the size of the game killed. For 

 myself, I look to the excitement of pursuit, the science and skill 

 requisite, the observation of the instinct of the animals employed 

 or pui-sued, and last not least, the exercise of mind and body, 

 and the quick motion. 



To me, therefore, the shooting of all kinds of wild and water 

 fowl, on the bays and shores, with but one exception, is the 



