INTR OD UCTION. vii 



me that " he liked to find and shoot his few pheasants with 

 dogs ; " and added, " he should not at all approve of the 

 birds being driven towards him out of a cover like hunted 

 chickens " a well-known cry often uttered by those who 

 do not shoot. Now, pheasants flushed before dogs are the 

 very easiest of marks as they flap up, and are then much 

 more like tame fowl than when driven a quarter mile or so 

 down wind. Stand in a narrow ride with dark-foliaged 

 firs, like a wall, on either side of you ; a small lane of sky 

 overhead corresponding in width to the space below ; a high 

 and perhaps favourable breeze, and some distance to gain 

 speed ; then, as the pheasants (those much-despised fowl) 

 pass skimming above with extended and almost motion- 

 less wings, bring them down if you can ! " Rocketers," 

 " Collar-bone-crackers," and driven birds, are what we seek 

 for now-a-days when pheasant-shooting, on account of the 

 difficult marks which they usually present. 



A pheasant, under fair conditions, and when not kicked 

 up under foot, is by no means an easy mark, as many, 

 to show their wisdom (though ignorant of sport), foolishly 

 affirm. 



But to return to our wildfowl. Most men know some 

 particular bit of rough ground or marsh where a Duck or 

 Snipe may be found ; but few, very few, know anything of 

 wildfowl-shooting in its proper sense, or of the haunts 

 and habits of fowl, their various species, distinguishing 

 calls, and different flight, all of which contribute to make 

 the observation and pursuit of them so fascinating a 

 pastime. 



Many excellent and voluminous books have been pub- 

 lished on the subject of birds, and especially British birds, 

 amongst which, of course, wildfowl find a place ; but such 

 works, as a rule, have been written rather from the natural- 

 ist's than from the sportsman's point of view, and convey 



