178 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



afiford as much sport as Partridges. If Cocks were left nodis- 

 turbed during the summer months, and not hunted till October, 

 we should have plenty of them at this agreeable season, and 

 certainly in much better condition. The English derive much 

 more pleasure from Cock-shooting than we do in this country, 

 as the whole charm of this pastime is destroyed with us by 

 the barbarous custom of shooting the old ones in the months 

 of June and July, when sitting on their nests, and frightening 

 the young ones to death by the roar of guns, placed in the 

 hands of every awkward booby that can raise sufficient means 

 to purchase a few pounds of shot. 



Cock-shooting in England, some of our readers will be sur- 

 prised to learn, is most generally pursued with the aid of Cocker 

 Spaniels. We are content to hunt them with our Setters and 

 Pointers, many of which are celebrated for their skill and 

 prowess in finding this game. It is particularly necessary that 

 Dogs used for Cock-shooting should be very stanch, and not 

 over eager, otherwise they will soon be lost to view in the 

 coverts and brakes that these Birds most generally affect, and' 

 flush Bird after Bird without ever being seen or corrected for it. 



As for attempting to shoot Woodcocks to half-broke Spaniels, 

 we should consider such an undertaking too laborious and tor- 

 menting to venture upon, although, with good Cockers, we can 

 easily imagine that the sport must be much more spirited and 

 enlivening than when pursued with Setters and Pointers. 

 Cockers, from their size, are much better adapted by nature to 

 the pursuit of this game than either the Setter or the Pointer, 

 which latter cannot insinuate themselves into the recesses of 

 our briery coverts, no matter how well disposed for the sport 

 they may be, but are forced to back out of such impassable 

 places, where the courageous little Cocker would glide through 

 without suffering the least inconvenience from the thorns and 

 briers. 



It is not unusual, in England, to attach small plaintive bells 

 to the collars of Dogs hunting Woodcocks, so that their exact 

 position may be known. This practice is a very good one, and, 

 when the covert is very thick, will save the Sportsman much 

 hallooing and whistling. When used for Pointers and Setters, 

 the silence of the bell will announce the point of the Dog. The 



