102 AMEEICAN GAME. 



genial, the wind south-westerly, the meadows green with 

 succulent and tender- grasses, and moist with the deposit 

 of subsiding waters select thy grounds carefully; in 

 such a time as I have named, the wide and open marsh 

 meadows ; but if the wind be from the eastward, cold, 

 squally and snow laden, then try the bushy, briery brakes, 

 where cattle poach the soil, and the marsh waters creep, 

 or the verge of the meadows, under the lea of the maple 

 swamp, or at the worst the very grounds where you would 

 beat for woodcock in July begin from the farthest wind- 

 ward point of thy beat, casting thy brace of setters off 

 from thy heel, to the right and- left, and so often as they 

 have diverged one hundred yards, turning them with a 

 whistle and a wave "of the hand, so that they shall cross 

 continually before thy face, down wind of thee, at some 

 thirty paces distant ; and so persevere if birds be plenty 

 and lie well, walking not to exceed two miles the hour ; 

 if they be rare and wild, four miles, or by 'r lady ! five, if 

 thou mayest compass it. If one dog stand, while the 

 other's back is turned, whistle, that he shall turn his head, 

 then hold thy hand aloft, with one quiet " tolio /" but no. 

 shouting ; if he be broke, he shall stand like a carved 

 stone. Then walk up to the point leisurely, be sure that 

 thou go down wind, making a circuit if needs be, with thy 

 gun at half-cock, the ball of thy thumb on the hammer, 

 and the nail of thy fore-finger inside the guard, but not 

 upon the trigger. When the bird rises, cock your gun, 

 and down him ! If thy dogs do their devoir, they shall 



