AUTUMN SHOOTING. 325 



while one is passing him, until the back is fairly turned on 

 him, and then off and away, with a startling whirr of his 

 pinions, leaving nothing by which to judge of his direc- 

 tion, when the shooter has wheeled in great trepidation 

 and anxiety, but a few sprays of the underwood still 

 shaking, in the breathless calm of the woodland, where 

 his rapid flight has stirred them. 



With reference to the hunting of dogs on quail, I have 

 no other instructions to give than those laid down before 

 in reference to snipe, except that in covert it is necessary 

 to keep a doubly watchful eye on all their movements, 

 to be constantly on the guard that they shall not steal 

 away, out of range, which if they do, they will unquestion- 

 ably run riot ; and, if one desire to have good sport at 

 present, and to preserve his dogs good for the future, to 

 work well up to them with the gun, and by no means to 

 lag behind, however hot the afternoon, however thick the 

 covert, however hard the work. 



The right charge is 1^ oz. of No. 8 shot, with a 

 cartridge of the same weight and number in the second 

 barrel, and this will tell a tale on the hares and ruffed 

 grouse which one may chance to encounter. 



With regard to the latter bird, the difficulty of bagging 

 him, if not much exaggerated, is entirely mis-stated, and 

 attributed to false causes. It is true, he is amazingly fleet 

 and powerful on his pinions, when he is once fully under 

 way, and shooting down wind with his wings set and motion- 

 less. At such times one must aim a full yard ahead of 

 him, at thirty-five or forty paces, and then if your gun be 



