1 64 BIRDING-PIECES. 



" quarrels," from their pyramidal form), and also stones or 

 leaden balls. 



Apropos of " bolts," who does not remember Oberon's 

 poetical story of the wild pansy ( Viola tricolor) marked 

 by Cupid's "bolt ?" 



" Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell : 

 It fell upon a little western flower, 

 Before, milk white, now purple with love's wound, 

 And maidens call it ' Love-in-idleness.' " 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act ii. Sc. i . 



The " birding-pieces " which Mrs. Ford tells Falstaff are 

 always " discharged " up the chimney, were no doubt 

 the old-fashioned fowling-pieces which were in use in 

 those days. 



According to Sir S. D. Scott,* the " birding-piece " 

 was identical with the " snap-hance," the early form of 

 that process of ignition the flint and steel lock which 

 has survived nearly 300 years, and specimens of which, 

 although now becoming rare, may occasionally be met 

 with in use, even at the present day. It was a Dutch 

 invention ; and is said to have been brought into use by 

 marauders, whom the Dutch called snap-haans, or poultry 

 stealers. The light from the burning match, which 

 necessarily accompanied the match-lock, exposed them to 



* "The British Army : its Origin, Progress, and Equipment," London, 1868, 

 vol. ii. pp 284-286. 



