

Jobn Ifoolt, of ZTottenbam 159 



did on more than one occasion at the Old Hats Club 

 at Ealing, will not strike the pigeon-slayer of to-day 

 as an extraordinary performance, though it was con- 

 sidered at the time a notable feat for a man shooting 

 with a single-barrel flint-lock. 



But even the best game-shot of to-day will admit 

 that to kill four brace and a half of cock-pheasants, 

 seven brace of partridges, and a leash of hares twenty- 

 six head of game in twenty-seven shots (no double 

 shots, remember) was a great performance. And this 

 John Holt did in a day's shooting near Cromer. 



Another good day of Holt's was at Wheathampstead, 

 in Hertfordshire, when in twenty-nine shots at partridges 

 he bagged thirteen and a half brace. And scarcely less 

 successful was his day's shoot at Hadham, when in 

 twenty-five shots he killed eleven and a half brace 

 of birds. And as for woodcocks, it was seldom indeed 

 that one escaped him. In one season he killed twenty- 

 two in succession without a miss, and in another twenty- 

 three out of twenty-five. 



" From these brief memoranda," says the Sporting 

 Magazine in conclusion, " it will be seen that no shot 

 came amiss to Mr. Holt, whether on wing or on 

 foot. 



In vain the startled hare from covert hies 



In vain the whirring covey mount the skies 



The watchful gunner, with unerring sight, 



Points his dread tube, and death o'ertakes their flight. 



A fairer sportsman than Mr. Holt both as regards 

 game, and consideration for the farmers' crops and 

 fences never drew trigger ; and if by any chance any 



