132 SHOOTING: 



A standard fine (their perquisite) is laid 

 Upon the pocket of the hapless Blade 

 Whose eyes deceive him, or who tries his aim 

 On the less gaudy of this class of game ; 

 Each Manor has its different rules enroll'd ; 

 Nought less will expiate this crime than gold. 



Who would suppose, so common now 'rnongst us 

 These birds are, that they're not indigenous 1 

 But from the banks o' th' river Phasis came, 

 In Asia Minor whence they take their name : 

 And tho' the climates differ, 't has been stated 

 By Travellers, that they're not degenerated. 

 If wet it is, and has been during night, 

 At morning's dawn he takes his instant flight 

 To neighb'ring stubble ; in some hedge row by, 

 During the day, in quiet will he lie, 

 If undisturb'd : with care the ditch troughs try : 

 And if the Sun peeps out the leaves to dry, 

 Seek him in some potatoe field that's near 

 His close retreats his noble form will cheer 



