IN THE FENS. 407 



fowl on the ice. It was to cut four horses' leg bones, 

 and after filing them smooth, like skates, to place them 

 longitudinally under a very small punt ; and then, lying 

 on his breast, to shove over the frozen part, with two 

 iron spikes. Any other means of passing a place that 

 was partially frozen would be dangerous in the extreme. 



I, however, went to this country again, in 1824, and 

 found, that owing to the drains for cultivation, and in- 

 crease of the decoys, the quantity of birds was, and has 

 for some years been, so much reduced, that I was obliged 

 to alter the MS. of this statement from the present to 

 the past time. My account would otherwise have proved 

 a gross exaggeration. This shows how few years will 

 put a sporting book out of date ! 



The fens are famous for the ruffs and reeves ; but 

 these birds frequent such awkward places, and are so 

 wild during the summer, when they come here to breed, 

 that, as I before observed, they seldom afford much 

 sport for the gun. 



