PHEASANT SHOOTING. 389 



at birds on the ground, which is nothing less than 

 high treason, unless the shooter is upon his own 

 land, where he may plead his right to do what he 

 will with his own the prerogative of an English- 

 man ! 



The cock partridge is distinguished from the 

 hen by the brown feathers which form a crescent, 

 or horse-shoe, as it is sometimes called, on the 

 breast. 



The pointer is decidedly the best dog for par- 

 tridge shooting. 



Bustards and quails are so rare in this country 

 as scarcely to require notice here. They are, how- 

 ever, valuable acquisitions to the game-bag. As the 

 bustard cannot be approached unless the shooter 

 takes advantage of some adventitious circumstances, 

 it is seldom an object of pursuit to the sportsman. 

 Bustard shooting commences on the 1st of Sep- 

 tember, and ends on the 1st of March. The quail 

 would be much sought after if abundant. 



THE PHEASANT. 



Many home-bred shooters imagine that pheasant 

 shooting is the ne plus ultra of sporting. It has 

 something of aristocracy and luxury associated with 

 it, and it is doubtless splendid sport. It commences 

 when the leaves of the forest are tinged with every 

 varying tint : and the old woods never look so 

 noble as in their autumnal garb. The pheasant- 

 shooter is often amid scenery, 



Where looks the cottage out on a domain, 

 The palace cannot boast of ! 

 2 K 



