SHOOTING. 



all night where they fed the preceding evening or morning ; yet 

 it much oftener happens that they change their ground. At 

 day-break, they call, and, when collected, generally take their 

 flight to the stubbles, which, if high and thick enough to afford 

 them shelter, will most likely induce them to remain there till dis- 

 turbed : however, in dry weather in particular, they are fre- 

 quently to be found at this time among potatoes. After feeding 

 in the evening they again call, and fly to the place where they 

 intend to remain for the night. When they are calling^ they 

 seldom lie well, or, in other words, will not permit the sportsman 

 to approach within gun-shot. 



My pointers stand ; 



How beautiful they look ! with outstretched tails, 

 With heads immoveable, and eyes fast fixed, 

 On fore leg raised and bent the other firm, 

 Advancing forward presses on the ground. 



FOWLING, a Poem. 



Although I have been a sportsman for more than twenty 

 years, I still retain much of that anxious feeling of anticipation 

 in which young shooters indulge themselves on the eve of the 

 first of September, and which arrives at its greatest height when 

 the gray dawn of the next day appears, but which is seldom 

 completely realized by the events which succeed. Young and 

 indifferent shooters, on this occasion, calculate on performing 

 wonders ; and in order to qualify themselves for the sport, they 

 generally, for several preceding weeks, practise at swallows, 

 " a custom more honoured in the breach than the observance ;". 

 for a person may become a most expert swallow shooter, (as I 

 have before observed, and here repeat, as it is a circumstance, 

 which cannot be too deeply impressed on the mind of the 

 tyro) and yet not bring down a partridge once in a dozen shots : 

 and nothing can be more ill advised, or even cruel, than the 

 worse than useless slaughter of these birds, which daily destroy 

 millions of noxious insects. The flight of swallows is quick 



