INTROD UCTION. 



are, in. truth, only feather-bed sportsmen, in fact 

 no sportsmen at all. They go out, blaze away, 

 and consider their part is done. A man with a 

 very moderate income may have his manor and 

 his keeper, or even two ; but then he must 

 work the oracle, so that his amusement costs 

 him little or nothing. The game must be sold, 

 or at least the greater part of it. Nothing pays 

 so well as keeping rabbits, I mean a rabbit-war- 

 ren ; which are now worth tenpence apiece on 

 'the ground, and their keep costs nothing. 



Hand-reared partridges only require atten- 

 tion. The pheasant is a different thing ; it is 

 a man's whole time and work to look after these 

 birds, especially if there are any quantity of 

 them ; and the cost of their feed forms a very 

 large item in the yearly expenditure. 



Guns are sold at fabulous prices. These for 

 the rich man are well enough, he can afford it, 

 and may indulge in his fancy ; but the man 

 with moderate means must content himself with 

 a less expensive article ; he may have as good 

 a gun as can be made or shot out of for twenty- 

 five pounds, or even less ; the case and finish 

 may not be so handsome, but after all, what is 



