92 SHOOTING : 



Th' inveigling net were ta'en ; and then, as now, 



Th' unwary birds, by the same subtle foe, 



The Sportsman bagg'd ; the keen-nos'd Setter gave 



His eager master clue, the toils well laid 



Were o'er them thrown ; thus one fell-swoop destroy 'd 



As many brace as oft a day's employ'd 



By modern means t' effect : Sportsmen rejoice 



This furtive plan's foregone. Who but the choice 



Must rather give to the sonorous gun, 



Which now protracts our joys, as one by one 



Our victims fall 1 I question much, if less 



The single prize confers of happiness, 



Than did the numbers which in times of old, 



Beneath the dextrous ample nets were told.* 



* This is the generally received opinion, and handed 

 down to us in books on the subject, and doubtless true with 

 respect to this country. Yet, that the valuable assistance of 

 the Pointer to facilitate the snaring of game, was made avail- 

 able by the ancients, even before the time of our Saviour, 

 the author has had ocular demonstration of; for while 



