UPLAND SHOOTING. 45 



UPLAND SHOOTING 



NORTHERN STATES AND BRITISH PROVINCES. 



PLAND shooting as it is under- 

 stood by American sportsmen, is 

 the distinctive term, not, as would 

 appear at first sight, dividing the 

 sport of the hill from that of the 

 plain country, but that of the in- 

 land, from that of the coast. It 

 includes, therefore, not only all 

 game of the order, Rasores, the home of which is in thickets, 

 mountain-sides, stubbles, or maize-tields, but such also of the 

 Grallatores, or waders, as dwell either in inland swampy woods, 

 fresh meadows, or river-side morasses ; and, farther yet, such 

 of the JX'atatores, swimmers, as are found exclusively or prin- 

 cipally on brooks, rivers, above tide water, and spring marshes. 

 By upland shooting, in a word, w^e understand all that is 

 pursued with the aid of pointers, setters, or spaniels, and the 

 ordinary light fowling-piece ; as opposed to that which is followed 

 in boats with heavy ducking guns, and by the aid of decoys, or, 

 as they are here termed, stools. 



Of all sports of this country, therefore, upland shooting is that 

 which requires in the sportsman the greatest combination of 

 qualities, the greatest skill with the gun, the greatest know- 

 ledge of the habits and haunts of his game, the greatest science 

 in the management of his dogs, and the greatest bodily vigor 

 and endurance. 



