250 FRANK FORESTER S FIELD SPORTS. 



" Well then," says he, " these nohle birds early in Septem- 

 ber, or even so soon as late in August, who have -whooped, and 

 strutted, and ti-umpeted the live-long spring and summer, the 

 undisturbed possessors of the prairies, are now leading about 

 their broods, some three-quarter parts grown, and tlity ai'e at no 

 time in better condition for broiling, the most delicate spring 

 chickens yielding to them in flavor ; and, at the same time, their 

 behavior in the field is far more satisfactory, and accommodat- 

 ing, than at any other period of their lives. They now, when 

 once they have scattered, stick to their concealment in the long 

 grass, till you kick them up with your foot, and the amount you 

 can then bag, need be limited only by your forbearance or your 

 industry." 



In my humble opinion, " Tom Trigor's" gastronomy and his 

 sportsmanship are about on a par, both execrable. The man 

 who would broil a Grouse at all, when he could possibly cook 

 it otherwise, or who could compare it by way of praise with a 

 spring cliickcn, must have about as much idea of the qualities of 

 game on the table, as he who thinks they are in perfection for 

 shooting, when they are too weak to rise on the wing. I should 

 think their conduct would be more satisfactory yet, to such a 

 gunner, before they could fly at all. 



Seriously speaking, from all the really good sportsmen with 

 v/hom I have spoken of Grouse shooting, I learn that the defect 

 in the sport consists in the extraordinary tameness of the bird, 

 and the infinite facility of knocking it down at the commence- 

 ment of the season, — the killing, in fact, partaking almost th.e 

 character of butchery. 



To quote once more from the writer above cited : — " Let the 

 gnostics preach about its being not ' sportsmanlike, g,nd unhand- 

 some, to knock down more birds than you can consume.' I'll 

 make out, when I can, my twenty brace notwithstanding ; and 

 I have never seen Grouse yet at such a discount, at this season 

 of the year, but what all that could be killed could be consumed ; 

 and, if I haply should a little overstock the market, there is no 

 fear of thinning off" the tribe, for their name is legion, and the 



