A HINT ON COSTUME. 261 



As the sun dipped in the western horizon, or as 

 near as possible to that time murky, dark, threaten- 

 ing clouds preventing the sun from being seen we 

 entered the wet, marshy margin which bounded our 

 future scene of operations. With much difficulty, and 

 the energetic use of all the vis left in us, we pro- 

 gressed slowly and steadily, till we reached the edge 

 of the water, where, ensconcing ourselves in the 

 centre of some of the scattered water-loving brush 

 which vegetated in the vicinity, we awaited the result. 



Permit me, kind reader, to deviate from my narra- 

 tive, and give a hint to all who love the gun that 

 they may find useful in their future essays against 

 all descriptions of game. I have heard sportsmen, 

 and those gentlemen of experience, condemn Colonel 

 Hawker for impressing upon his pupils the necessity 

 of particular attention to their costume ; many think 

 ing he devoted too much time and pains to what 

 appeared to them a very unnecessary desideratum. 

 If any one who peruses these lines should be of 

 that impression, allow me, with all kindly feeling, 

 to take an opposite stand, and assert that there is 

 nothing which will more certainly guarantee your 

 success than paying due attention to wearing clothes 

 that at all * times harmonise with the colouring of 

 the ground over which you are about to shoot. I 

 have so many times had convincing proofs of the 

 efficacy of attending to this important point, that I 

 consider it scarcely possible to impress it too strongly 

 upon the minds of all. An instance I will state, 

 out of many others I could tell of, which I think 

 will prove that the grounds I take are strong, and 

 beyond opposition. While sojourning West I made 



