240 ACCESSIBLE FIELD SPORTS. 



quent, the birds still continue comparatively tamer 

 than in the more densely settled quarters. However, 

 it is not convenient for all, nor even would many choose 

 to sacrifice every comfort for the sake of slaughter, and 

 turn a pleasure into a labour and a pursuit of discom- 

 fort ; for living in a squatter's hut is scarcely, as an old 

 friend used to say, " What it's cracked up to be :" 

 besides, what can you do with the results, a very small 

 portion of which will satisfy your own demands ; 

 for my part, give me from eight to ten brace daily, 

 with means of using them, to the most tremen- 

 dous bags, if they are to be thrown away. Not over 

 two years since, when travelling through a remote 

 and unfrequented section of the State of Illinois, I 

 came across a party of young men who were daily 

 destroying from twenty to thirty couple per gun, and 

 as the season was warm, and the connection with the rail- 

 road difficult and uncertain, when asked by the tavern- 

 keeper what they intended doing with their game, 

 they laughingly responded, " Throw it in the hog-pen/' 

 and for upwards of a week they continued this das- 

 tardly behaviour. Can it then be wondered that game 

 rapidly diminishes, when persons are to be found 

 capable of such disgraceful conduct ; the only check 

 that I can see, is the organisation of proper game- 

 laws, prohibiting the birds from pursuit excepting 



