A MERRY CHARIOTEER. 195 



of eighteen broad feathers; bill dusky; iris yellow; 

 toes dull yellow ; claws bluish ; the neck and upper 

 portion of back dark brown, mixed with grey, get- 

 ting lighter beneath; tail dirty brown, tipped with 

 white, except the middle feathers, which are mottled 

 with a deep brown ; and a dark line from mandible 

 to eye, thence back to neck, and a beautiful patch 

 of soft slate-coloured feathers under each wing, in- 

 valuable to the fly-tyer, is a correct description of 

 their appearance. 



The following are the events of a day's shooting on 

 the grand prairie, which occurred a few years since, 

 and may be considered as a sample of the average sport 

 to be enjoyed in the month of October. 



On rising from the breakfast-table we found the 

 team waiting. But few minutes were necessary to 

 stow our traps, and get under way. Near the con- 

 fines of the village (Kent, Indiana) we found birds, 

 but our driver (who was a regular Tom Draw) would 

 not allow us to alight, insisting that we must go first 

 to our intended sporting ground. About forty minutes 

 took us there, our charioteer beguiling the time with 

 innumerable anecdotes and songs, never being silent 

 for a moment. One ditty he was particularly attached 

 to, which I can scarcely forget, he having sung it at 

 least a dozen times : 



" My health and wealth declining, 



The doctor was called in ; 

 He spoke to me so serious 



He spoke to me so plain 

 ' You've racked your constitution 



By getting drunk again.' " 



However, the warning that the medical attendant 



o 2 



