CHAPTER XIV. 



OETIX. 



(Ortix.) 



THE Virginian ortix is to be found from the Gulf of 

 Mexico to Upper Canada, and from the Atlantic sea- 

 board to the confines of the western settlements east- 

 ward of the Kocky Mountains, its vagrant habits 

 occasionally causing it to stray so far north as to 

 cause thousands to perish through the severity of the 

 winter; for, although so reckless of consequences, 

 they are far from hardy. They are sought for in the 

 same manner as partridges are in England, viz., with 

 setters and pointers; but from their being a smaller 

 bird, and laying closer, it is desirable, when in their 

 pursuit, to use smaller shot. If justifiable to envy 

 your neighbours the possession of anything, I think 

 the sportsman who has killed this game must often 

 have wished in his heart that it was abundant in 

 England. 



If all who have travelled abroad or sojourned in 

 foreign lands had done so with their eyes shut, or if, 

 not keeping their orbits closed, they had refused to 

 give their countrymen the benefit of their experience, 

 a useless lot they would have been, and England, as 

 far as progression is concerned, would have been far 

 behind her present advanced position. He who first 

 introduced the idea of crossing our native horse with 



