FOWLING. 5 



bly diminished ; and at the present day, the most effectual mode of 

 wild-fowling-, and that in greatest repute, is by means of a gunning- 

 punt, shooting-yacht, and stanchion gun. 



There cannot be a stronger proof the ignorance of the present age, 

 as regards the original art of wild-fowling, than by reference to the 

 erroneous terms which are applied to the pursuit by nearly all 

 modern sportsmen ; and it is only from the lips of a few " ancient 

 fowlers," however illiterate, that we hear the correct version of sport- 

 ing terms applicable to wild-fowling. Thus, modern sportsmen speak 

 of every large number of wild-fowl as " a flock " (a term chiefly 

 appertaining to sheep), and this whether ducks, geese, widgeon, or 

 whatever else ; whereas the term "flock" is totally inaccurate as 

 applied to any distinct species of wild-fowl, and should only be em- 

 ployed when speaking indefinitely of wild-fowl, or a mixture of wild- 

 fowl, not knowing of what species they are. Errors of this sort are 

 seldom made in respect of other field sports, without at once bringing 

 down a shower of ridicule by the better-informed sportsman upon the 

 head of the more ignorant one. 



To speak in the present day of a " flock " of partridges, instead of 

 a " covey," would so offend the ears of the most superficial sports- 

 man, that he would look upon an individual who made use of such a 

 term, with profound pity at his ignorance ; and yet the term " flock,' ' 

 as applied to wild-fowl, is equally erroneous, and quite as inexcusable, 

 when coming from the lips of a sportsman. But in consequence of 

 the indifference with which the subject of fowling has been treated of 

 late years, . we find the most learned ornithologists of the day, 

 throughout their voluminous histories, guilty of these inexcusable 

 blunders. Writers upon sporting literature, one and all, commit 

 similar errors ; and though they apply correct terms to game and 

 birds of the land, water-fowl are invariably classed by them in 

 " flocks." 



The ancient terms, as applied to water-fowl when congregatus, are as 

 under* : 



A teme of swannys. 



A gaggyllyng of gese. 



A teme of dukys, or 



A padelynge of dukys. 



A sorde of malardys. 



A spryng of telys. 



* Vide " The Boke of St. Albans." 



