180 FEATHERED GAME 



many such there are in our memory ! Away on 

 the wings of the breeze goes the thought of the 

 note which falls due next week — gone from 

 mind for the first time since 'twas given — and 

 crowding in its wake go a thousand petty vexa- 

 tions of business. Unfortunate that mortal who 

 cannot count some of these happy days among 

 his experiences. It is a lasting gain — this day — 

 for the pleasure of a shooting trip is not all in 

 the moment of action ; full often by our winter's 

 blaze we live again our happy days afield, afloat ; 

 recall deep craft or sylvan lore displayed ; some 

 shorebird music deftly played ; headwork by dog 

 or shooting skill undue recalls the day and so 

 its joys renew. 



In the earlier part of the season the different 

 bay birds, the beetleheads, the goldens, yellow- 

 legs, turnstones or curlews are found each in 

 its chosen grounds. In the marsh is where 

 your luck may bring you a goodly bag of Yel- 

 low-legs; in these luxuriant tangles of rank- 

 growing grass lurk the rails, whose celerity and 

 swiftness of foot more than atone for any ap- 

 parent weakness of wing. Here in the colder 

 weather when the frosts have dulled the bright 

 greens of the grass, changing them to the yel- 



