62 lewis' AMERICAN SPOETSMAN. 



from tlie following extract, taken from the journal of a traveller 

 who appears to have been both discouraged and disappointed 

 in his expectations of sporting in America : — 



"Hares and Pheasants there are none, and Partrids^es are 

 scarce ; "Woodcocks and Snipes are uncertain, both as to season 

 and situation. It is true that great quantities of other Birds 

 may sometimes be killed — for instance. Wild Ducks and Pi- 

 geons, which are seen occasionally in flocks of many miles in 

 extent — but, after all, and much as I have heard of American 

 shooting, in my opinion it is poor, insipid diversion, compared 

 with the English, being pursued without any kind of system or 

 science, and reminding me more of the onsets of our mechanics 

 and shopmen, let loose at Christmas and on holidays, to range 

 the fields no matter where, and pounce upon all, no matter 

 what, than of anything worthy the name of shooting. Let no 

 English Sportsman think to better himself by emigration in 

 this respect. I'll answer upon trial for his total disappointment." 



In reply to the above, we must say that Mr. Fowler's remarks 

 are calculated to give his countrymen a very unjust and unfa- 

 vorable idea of Sporting in the States. He must have been 

 very unfortunate in the selection of his shooting-grounds when 

 among us, to be forced to assert that Partridges are scarce 

 in America, or that Woodcocks and Snipes are uncertain both 

 as to season and situation ; for all three of these Birds are to 

 be found in almost every State of the Union in considerable 

 abundance, at the proper time, as will be found by referring to 

 our articles on these subjects. It would be folly in us to waste 

 our time in refuting all that has been said by Englishmen in 

 reference to our Sporting, and we therefore pass the matter over 

 without further comment, as we are satisfied that the contents 

 of this book will tell a different tale from what many of them 

 have written. 



KILLING CLEAN. 



Be not satisfied with wounding your game only, but aspire 

 to become a nice, clean shot, as it Avill save you much trouble 

 and vexation, and make your Dog show to more advantage. 

 For instance, if a covey rise, and we wound two Birds and see 



