WARWICK WOODLANDS. 117 



convinced, shoot for his own pleasure at that season, if it were 

 not a question of now or never. Between the intense heat, and 

 the swarms of musquitoes, and the unfitness of that season for 

 the dogs, which can rarely scent their game half the proper 

 distance, and the density of the leafy coverts ; and lastly, the 

 difficulty of keeping the game fresh till you can use it, render 

 July shooting a toil, in my opinion, rather than a real pleasure ; 

 although we are such hunting creatures, that rather than not 

 have our prey at all, we will pursue it in all times, and through 

 all inconveniences. Fancy, my dear fellows, only fancy what 

 superb shooting we should have if not a bird were killed till 

 they were all full grown, and fit to kill ; fancy bagging a hun- 

 dred and twenty-five fall woodcock in a single autumn day, as 

 we did this very year on a summer's day !" 



" Oh ! I agree with you completely," said Frank Forester, 

 " but I am afraid such a law will never be brought to bear in 

 this country the very day on which cock shooting does not 

 really begin, but is supposed by nine tenths of the people to 

 begin the fourth of July is against it.* Moreover, the amateur 

 killers of game are so very few, in comparison with the amateur 

 eaters thereof, that it is all but impossible to enforce the laws at 

 all upon this subject. Woodcock even now are eaten in June 

 nay, I have heard, and believe it to be true, that many hotels 

 in New York serve them up even in March and April ; quail, 

 this autumn, have been sold openly in the markets, many days 

 previous to the expiration of close time. And, in fact, sorry I 

 am to say it, as far as eating-houses are in question, the game 

 laws are nearly a dead letter. 



" In the country, also, I have universally found it to be the 

 case, that although the penalty of a breach may be exacted 

 from strangers, no farmer will differ with a neighbor, as they 

 call it, for the sake of a bird. Whether time, and a greater 

 diffusion of sporting propensities, and sporting feelings, may 

 alter this for the better or no, I leave to sager and more politic 

 pates than mine. And now I say, Harry, you surely do not in- 

 tend to trundle us off to Tom Draw's to-night without a drink 

 at starting ? I see Timothy has got the drag up to the door, 

 and the horses harnessed, and all ready for a start." 



* In the State of New York close time for woodcock expires on the last 

 day of June in New Jersey on the fourth of July leaving the bird 

 lawful prey on the 1st and the 5th, respectively. 



