92 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



giving us a great deal of trouble, when nearly 

 full-grown accidentally received a tap on the 

 head with a finger, which, to our unfeigned re- 

 gret, killed it on the spot. 



We have no objections to state, notwithstand- 

 ing the sympathy of Dr. Lewis for young cocks, 

 that, ogre-like, we did eat this bird without any 

 remorse of conscience, and found it very tender 

 and juicy. 



The other bird did not appear to miss his wild 

 brother; perhaps, like bipeds without feathers, 

 he consoled his grief with the substantial reflec- 

 tion that he would now have the box and all the 

 larvae to himself. But this is scandal, for instead 

 of becoming proud and politic, he grew more gen- 

 tle and tame from day to day, and the reader has 

 no idea as he increased in grace how he gained 

 upon our affection. In truth, to speak without 

 quirk or quibble, we fairly loved that woodcock. 

 We had cause. He was certainly feeding on 

 those unpoetical gournaments, who were ulti- 

 mately destined to revel upon us, and he did this 

 three times a day, in such an easy, recherche 

 way, that we had no words to express our grati- 

 tude. The thing was too exquisite. It was re- 

 ally like carrying the war into the grim enemy's 

 country. We kept him amply supplied and he 



