CHAPTER VI. 

 GAME. 



Of the game found in Lithuania, Mr Anderson, already 

 cited, gives the following account: 



'The noblemen and landed gentry of Russian Poland 

 are very fond of hunting and shooting ; but their mode of 

 following these sports differs very much from that which 

 prevails in England. For some time past, indeed, shooting 

 has almost entirely ceased, in consequence of the public 

 prohibition of the Government to carry or use a gun. To 

 some favoured few, a licence to do so has been granted ; 

 the licence being sealed on the stock of the gun or rifle. 

 But the commanders of the district towns generally advise 

 the possessors of such a licence not to avail themselves of 

 it ; for the sound of fire-arms cannot fail to attract the 

 Cossacks and Russian soldiery : and, as many of them are 

 unable to read, the life of the poor sportsman, if he fell 

 into their clutches, would not be worth five minutes' 

 purchase. In consequence of this state of things, I only 

 fired a gun upon one occasion, whilst I was in the country 

 under circumstances which I shall notice hereafter. 



' The chief birds of game are the capercailzie, black cock, 

 and wood hen a bird very like the grouse, only smaller, 

 and of a much lighter colour. It is called in German, 

 haselhuhn. This bird lives in the woods, and is very seldom 

 found, like our grouse, in the open. Of the common brown 

 partridges and this year was very favourable to them 

 we saw, frequently, large and numerous covies. The red- 

 legged partridge is never found. The quail, woodcock, 

 and snipe are very plentiful ; and, on a summer's evening, 

 the landrail may be heard in full " crake, crake." There 

 are immense quantities of wild-fowl of all kinds. The 



