236 SPORTING IN BOTH HEMISPHERES. 



standing flax, tobacco, turnips, mangel-wurzel, potatoes, &c., 

 planted in long, narrow strips, and affording admirable 

 harbour for game, ample space was afforded for a numerous 

 field beating the ground before them in line. Some little 

 confusion often occurred with the dogs, some of which, 

 being imperfectly broken, changed their owners, or ran riot 

 at will, and occasioned frequent and violent ejaculations 

 from their respective masters ; but, upon the whole, excellent 

 amusement and sport were afforded, and I have seen from 

 fifty to a hundred brace of birds bagged by a small party in 

 the space of several miles and in a few hours' time, with 

 very indifferent shooting, The land-rail, or wachtel kcenig, 

 " king 6f the quails," as he is termed here, is very frequently 

 met with, and is no contemptible addition to the table of 

 the epicure. The partridges are all of the common grey 

 kind, and the red bird is not found in any part of these 

 districts. Hares and leverets, which were very mimerous, 

 started frequently before us, but were allowed to run away 

 unscathed, their fate being deferred to a later period, when 

 the ground is covered with frost and snow, and the forest 

 stripped of its foliage, and when the journey to Paris, instead 

 of endangering their freshness, only adds to their tenderness 

 and flavour. A few only were killed for immediate con- 

 sumption in the neighbourhood or the table-d? holes of Baden- 

 Baden. 



Winter, which is usually tolerably severe, and sets in 

 early in this country, and when the ground is perfectly de- 

 nuded of all crops, is the signal for the beginning of the 

 great driving chasses, or treibe jagden. Sometimes as many as 

 two or three hundred beaters are assembled from the sur- 

 rounding villages, each receiving a few kreutzers for his 

 day's work, but which at the same time affords him some 

 amusement. When the drive is to take place in the open 

 fields, these are placed in position by the gamekeepers, in a 



