" SUN-SPEARING. " 127 



value of the latter gift, may perhaps inquire its con- 

 nection with sun-spearing. In reply, I am bound to 

 premise, as well for my own peace of mind as to 

 prevent inquests, that drowning in this pursuit is a 

 contingency quite within the capability of an awk- 

 ward practitioner. In the event of such a sw&mer- 

 gency, as Mrs. Malaprop might possibly say, either 

 of the accomplishments indicated would of course be 

 invaluable. The tyro therefore had better look to it 

 I am not further responsible for untoward results. 

 In proceeding to describe the sun-spear, it would 

 grieve me to think that any person could confound 

 it with the articles bearing the same name in the 

 limbo of the squire's forfeited engines of poaching. 

 The relation in fact is more nominal than real The 

 metallic part of the instrument is thus constructed : 

 Into a small flat bar of best Swedish iron, 12 in. 

 long, f- in. wide, and % in. thick, 12 teeth of best 

 spring or shear steel, 3 in. long, ^ in. diameter in the 

 shank, double barbed, and carefully pointed as the 

 best fish-hook, are welded, riveted, or better screwed, 

 as the latter admits of a new tooth being easily added 

 in the event of one being broken or damaged. To the 

 upper side or edge of the bar carrying the teeth de- 

 scribed, a light socket for receiving the handle is 

 attached by one or other of the processes indicated for 

 fixing the " comb " or teeth. The latter should in ad- 

 dition be carefully tempered ; and the whole blacked 



