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LETTER XXIV 

 GROUXD GAME SHOOTING (PAET I) 



RABBIT SHOOTING will ever be popular with the sports- 

 man who is fond of his gun, whether he is a school- 

 Jboy home for the holidays, a squire strolling through 

 his coverts after the game is killed down, or a farmer 

 beating the hedges with a rough terrier. 



A ramble after rabbits, especially in the company 

 of spaniels, is a delightful outing, though the bag be 

 quite a modest one. There is often, indeed, just as 

 much sport and enjoyment in shooting two or three 

 score rabbits with the aid of a couple of cheery 

 friends, as there is in the killing of many hundreds, 

 with perhaps seven or eight guns to assist. 



A rabbit suggests the idea that he is an impudent, 

 mischievous little beast, with plenty of pluck, and 

 hence well worthy of pursuit ; and, if he is given 

 fair play, he certainly affords excellent sport, and 

 practice for the gun. 



Rabbit shooting can also be indulged in by those 

 who have not a frequent chance of firing at pheasants, 



