BJLACK-GAME SHOOTING. 205 



the cock birds all congregate together in one flock ; and, 

 in general, defy every kind of fair shooting, as well as 

 the few bungling artifices that gamekeepers are master 

 of, with regard to wild birds. The keepers' only chance, 

 therefore, is to wait concealed for their flight; as a 

 black-cock, although one of the wildest birds in ex- 

 istence, will, when once on the wing, seldom break his 

 course or raise his flight, let what will intercept him. 

 The old cock birds, even at the beginning of the season, 

 are very difficult of access ; as, on being approached, 

 they keep running forward instead of remaining with 

 the pack. 



The best, or, at all events, one of the best day's black- 

 game shooting that was ever known, I believe, in these 

 parts, I had with the late Mr. John Ponton at Uddens, 

 on the 25th of August, 1825*. We found, on this 

 gentleman's manor, eleven brace in one day, which was 

 considered, by the keepers, extraordinary success ; and 

 we killed eight brace without missing a shot. But not- 

 withstanding all our birds were as strong, and as large, 

 as the old ones, we never even saw an old cock the 

 whole day.. 



The black-game here are briefly called "poults" 

 The fagging for them is the hardest labour of any sport 

 I know, because you have to work, in the hottest 

 weather, through stiff heath, which is so much inter- 



* Black-game shooting, as will be seen by the game laws here- 

 after inserted, does not begin in the New Forest, nor in Devonshire 

 nor Somersetshire, till the 1st of September. But every where else 

 the first day is the 20th of August. Not being in the bounds of 

 the New Forest, therefore, we began even five days after the time; 

 consequently were not transgressing the law, as it might appear, 

 without this explanation. 



