162 KRIDER'S SPORTING ANECDOTES. 



subdue the sinful feeling, it was so very like 

 coquetting with our first love. We had no 

 previous reason to be malcontent, having shot 

 over many points that day at partridge and 

 ruffed grouse ; nevertheless, had tve fallen in 

 with that brace of snipe as the sun went down, 

 we should have restored the gun to its case 

 with a tranquil mind; we should have ridden 

 home by the light of the moon, and blessed 

 our auspicious stars. 



But, be it remembered at the outset, that we 

 profess no desire to disparage the merits of this 

 delectable sport, in which, una voce, most shooters 

 glory. It has irresistible charms for young and 

 old, and as long as King Nimrod we had nearly 

 said Ramrod has a place in the hearts of men 

 as long as Ponto and Dash can distinguish a 

 stubble-field from a stable-yard so long will 



" The pointer range, and the sportsman beat;" 



so long will it be considered as the beau ideal of 

 field shooting. The partridge has been so long 

 and so closely identified with scenes of rural 

 study, and rural industry, and has been so 

 minutely described, that its habits would seem 

 to be perfectly familiar to the public. Sports- 

 men differ, however, as to several points in the 

 history of its economy, and, according to Mr. 



