20G FACT AGAIKST FICTIOK. 



to be the perquisite of a mere farm-labouring 

 bailiff, who told a master, incapable of judging 

 of the matter liimself, just what suited his purpose. 

 There were also a few black-game, hitherto always 

 shot down on the 20th of August, under the 

 Cockney term of '' heath-j^oults," at a time when 

 the male birds Avere not distinguishable from the 

 hens.* As to snipes, there were some at times ; 

 and but one duck was all I saw on the moors 

 within the first twelve months. 



In one of the lower home-fields there was a 

 small circular pond, perhaps a little over ten 

 yards across it either way ; and this was fed by 

 a beautiful little rill that rose in the upper part 

 of the same long field. This I at once surrounded 

 with rabbit wire-netting, leaving a margin for 

 sittings, and planting some cover in the way of 

 shelter; and into this were put some pinioned 

 fowl, some of them of the rarest and most beautifid 

 kind. The American wood-duck, tlie little Pernam- 

 buco goose, less in size than a duck, the j^intail, 

 and, above all, the Bahama drake. This lovely 

 little bird was given to me by Lady Winchelsea. 



^' The blackgame in the New Forest and in Dorsetshire arc three 

 weeks behind the northern birds in coming to perfection. 



