AN OLD SPORTSMAN. 57 



6 The Oakleigh Shooting Code ' were the most 

 modern works on fowling in his library ; but 

 he had a splendid collection of older worthies, 

 such as good Nicholas Cox, Gentleman, author 

 of 6 The Gentleman's Recreation ' before-men- 

 tioned. My uncle never tired of reading this 

 latter treatise. It was full of the most quaint 

 terms of language, and highly charged with that 

 delicious enthusiasm in its subject, only to be 

 found I think amongst our earliest sporting 

 writers. It was, I remember, illustrated with a 

 frontispiece, announced as " A Large Sculpture 

 Giving Easie Directions for Blowing the 

 Home." Nor was Uncle Joe a mere ignorant 

 game hunter. He studied the manners and habits 

 of birds thoroughly ; and it was a rare sight to 

 see him stuffing any specimens that struck him 

 as novel or peculiar. He had no fear of 

 poachers, the " Wisp " being situated in a 

 country where poachers are rare ; and indeed, 

 snipe shooting does not pay a poacher. My 

 uncle never refused a day to any one applying 

 to him, and the applicant was pretty sure of 

 getting his dinner at the " Wisp " besides. It 

 was a plain banquet enough, until the game 



