244 FRANK forester's FIELD SPORTS. 



foiitl, will allow the whole flock to be shot down, one by one, 

 without stiniiig, provided the shooter takes the precaution of 

 shooting that which sits the lowest on the tree, first, is as fabu- 

 lous, as it is, on the face, ridiculous. 



Mr. Audubon notes this fact, with his wonted accuracy; 

 adding that during heavy snow stoiins he has sometimes killed 

 three or four. This is crediljle enoxxgh ; starvation will make 

 any bird or beast tame, and snow appears, while falling, to 

 have a peculiar effect on birds of this order — unlike rain, which 

 makes them wild — rendering them very unwilling to rise. — 

 Savages in this region of country — I can designate them by no 

 other name — often shoot whole bevies of Quail while huddled 

 together on the ground in their little circles, during snow 

 storms, in this manner, at a single shot. So far, however, are 

 such foul practices from deserving to be recorded as modes of 

 killing game, that I only speak of them here, in order to uphold 

 them, and all who practice them, to the contempt and abhor- 

 rence of every one who would be termed a sportsman. 



I have been told that these birds exist in such abundance on 

 the Kaatskills, and in all that region of country, that it is well 

 worth the while to go out in pursuit of them, without reference 

 to, or rather with no chance of finding any other species of 

 game. This I, at least, shall never attempt ; nor shall I ever 

 advise any person to do so. I know that they abounded in 

 that district of Connecticut of which I have spoken above, as 

 was proved by the fact that many scores were offered to me for 

 purchase, which had been snared, yet it was impossible to get 

 shots at them over dogs. 



Again, throughout the semi-cultivated portions of all the 

 Eastei-n States, and especially in Maine, the woods are literally 

 full of them ; yet such are their peculiarities of habit, that it is 

 useless to attempt to have sport with them. A man, stealing 

 along the old grassy wood roads, keeping absolute silence and 

 a bright look out, may manage to pick up a brace or two in the 

 course of a day, and this is probably more than the best sports- 

 man living can effect with the best dogs — but that is not sport 

 for sportsmen ! 



