24 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



which is, by the way, of no small consequence ; as it is not by 

 any means generally understood, at least by the rural portion of 

 our eastern and midland sportsmen; and as, until it is understood 

 and the understanding acted upon, sportsmanship never can be 

 placed on a scientific footing. 



This done, I shall classify it under its three great distinct divi- 

 sions, of Upland or Inland, Coast or Sea, and Western Shooting. 



Under each head, I shall give full descriptions, selected from 

 the best authorities in natural history and ornithology, of the 

 genera, the colors, habits, breeding seasons, and haunts of every 

 species of game — thereafter, I shall treat of the proper scientific 

 modes of killing and preserving them ; and, last not least, I shall 

 insist on the proper nomenclature, urging its adoption vs^ith all 

 my poor powers, and endeavoring to abolish the vulgar, ignorant, 

 slipshod habit, which prevails to such a terrible extent, of using 

 absurd provincial misnomers for almost every animal of the chase. 



Of the science of gunnery, the training and pathology of dogs, 

 the acquisition of the art of shooting flying, and other kindred 

 topics, so much has been stated at length by Hawker, Youatt, 

 Blaine, and other great English authorities, that it is not neces- 

 sary that I should be very diffuse in my observations. As, ho^v- 

 ever, no work on field sports can be perfect, or approach to 

 perfection, unless it include these vital subjects, I shall of course 

 not pass them over in silence, though I shall dilate only on such 

 parts of them as appear to be most desirable, either for want of 

 sufficient present publicity, or from peculiar applicability to the 

 circumstances of field sports in America. 



Hunting, or coursing, joroper, does not exist on this continent; 

 the great topics, therefore, of condition, training, summering, 

 and riding hunters to hounds, are, of course, out of the question ; 

 as well as the kindred subjects of the management of greyhounds, 

 kennel-treatment and hunting of hounds, and lastly, all connected 

 with the noble science of falconry, once termed " the Mystery 

 of Rivers." 



I have, indeed, often wondered that both falconry and cours- 

 ing have not been introduced on the boundless prairies of tliC 



