2l8 FRANK FORESTERS FIi;LD SPORTS. 



l)L'iier, on his right hand, and ever and anon as the circular 

 glare passes along over the surface of the ground, his eye 

 detects the Woodcock, crouching close to the earth, and gazing 

 with its full, fascinated eye upon the strange illumination. 

 The next instant up it springs, dizzy and confused and soaring 

 upward toward the light. It is seen for a second, and then is 

 lost in the surrounding darkness ; hut of that one quick second 

 the sportsman takes advantage; and by a snapshot cuts him 

 down, with a light charge ; never killing a bird at above ten 

 paces distant, and often bagging his hundred in a single even- 

 ing's work. 



This mode of Cock-shooting, arises, as it is evident, ex neces- 

 sitate rei, and may for a while be sufficiently exciting. It must, 

 however, lack all that variety, which is the great charm of our 

 northern shooting ; variety, which arises from the working of 

 the emulous, obedient, and well-trained dogs, in observing 

 whose exquisite instinct, fine attitudes and beautiful docility, 

 me judice, lies half the pleasure of field sports ; and which, 

 together wi.h the lovely scenery, the brisk, breezy air, and the 

 exulting sense of personal independence, and personal power, 

 springing from these and from the glow of cheerfiil exercise, 

 renders them to active, energetic and enthusiastic minds the 

 first of pleasures, and almost a necessary relief from the dull 

 monotony of every-day existence. 



This brings us to Quail shooting, and to what is the climax 

 of all our field sports, that mixed, wild, autumn shooting, in one 

 day of which, the laborious woodman may kill on one range, 

 Quail, Woodcock, Ruffed Grouse, Hare, Snipe, and some two 

 or three varieties of Wild Duck. 



I have had many a good day's sport in many countries, but 

 above everything that I have ever seen, or expect to see again, 

 give me a day of rough and tumble autumn shooting, such as 

 it was ten years ago in Orange county, and such as it may per- 

 haps be again, for a short time, when the Erie railroad shall 

 first give us access to the southern tier of counties. Me 

 there is nothing like it in the wild world. 



