202 BROADLAND SPORT 



right and left, both the bird and the hare falling together 

 within a yard of each other, 



" On going to pick up the game, a picture worthy of the 

 brush of Landseer, unfolded itself before us. The warm 

 colouring of fur and feather was shown up prominently 

 against a background of green swarth, and the still deeper 

 verdure of the rush clumps beyond. The retriever (in whom 

 there must have been a dash of setter blood) stood to point, 

 his reflection mirrored on the calm surface of a pool of water 

 on the marsh, whilst the sun's rays gave light and shade 

 to complete the beauty of the group. 



" The next three marshes we visited were almost exactly 

 similar to the first, with the exception that they were devoid 

 of game. The long rushes grew as high as our knees, in some 

 places so thick that we could with difficulty force a way 

 through them. In other places there were large pools of water 

 which we had to circumvent or else wade through, whilst 

 twice, on arriving at the end of a marsh, our steps had to be 

 retraced about a quarter of a mile before we could get round 

 the boundary dykes. 



" There is little difference in these marshes, and a descrip- 

 tion of others will cause repetition. The game found 

 consisted of an occasional hare, a few snipe and here and 

 there a covey of birds, whilst many of them were drawn 

 blank. The sport was as uncertain as it was attractive, for 

 we never knew what target would next be offered. 



" Birds which are very rare in most counties in England are 

 not infrequently met with here, and the most curious rights 

 and lefts are recorded by local gunners, which inquiry on 

 the spot will soon elicit. Amongst them may be included 

 stork, bittern, pheasant, partridges, and all specie of wildfowl 

 avocet, ruffs, reeves, etc. Ground game, too, find their 

 way to these marshes, but the exceptional height of the 

 water on the day in question had driven them back to the 

 uplands. 



" We are now a mile or more from the osier beds before 

 referred to, and we find the farmer has been cultivating 



