THE PARTKIDGE. 105 



wishing, however, by this remark to detract in the least from 

 our friend's skill in shooting— for every one who has been out 

 with him in the field knows that he is one of the very best 

 shots that goes forth from our city— but in ordinary seasons it 

 is not very often that the most industrious and persevering 

 Sportsman will get sixty-one shots in a day, let alone bag that 

 many Birds. 



One of Mr. Skinner's correspondents, detailing some of the 

 particulars of a day's shooting, states that his companion fired 

 forty -three times, killed thirty-eight, and wounded four, only 

 missing clearly once; and what is most remarkable of all, this 

 accomplished Sportsman, with a double-barrelled flint Gun, 

 whirled and fired five times with both barrels, in different direc- 

 tions, killed nine times, and wounded the tenth. This we con- 

 sider the best record of shooting that has as yet come to our 

 knowledge, and we agree with the Chronicler of these worthy 

 deeds, that it required " a ready hand and a quick eye" to accom- 

 plish it, when we recollect, as before observed, that the Ame- 

 rican Partridge, " sans doute^' is the most difficult of all game 

 Birds to be brought down ; this, too, is the opinion of Frank 

 Forrester, and all others equally competent to judge. 



THE FIELD. 



" See how the well-taught Setter leads the way ; 

 The scent grows warm ; he stops ; he springs the prey ; 

 The fluttering coveys from the stubble rise, 

 And on swift wing divide the sounding skies. 

 The scattering lead pursues the certain sight; 

 And death, in thunder, overtakes their flight." 



It is now quite time that we should proceed to the field, and 

 which we will endeavor to do with all possible dispatch, accom- 

 panied by all the Paraphernalia necessary for the legitimate and 

 Sportsmanlike way of bagging game. Properly equipped, or 

 rather suitably dressed, as every gentleman should be, under 

 all circumstances, whether in the ball-room, encompassed on 

 every side by a gay throng of sparkling eyes, not less fatal in 

 their glances, oftentimes, than the reeking shot that is sent 

 whirling from his unerring Gun, or in the wide-extended stub- 

 ble-field, surrounded by his faithful Setters, stanch Pointers, 



