38 MANUAL FOE YOUNG SPORTSMEN. 



which then played, though less effectually, the part of the 

 unerring rifle. 



Shooting is, therefore, as I have said, with one arm or 

 other, the head and front of all American field sports ; 

 since but one species, the fox, and that only in one or two 

 States, and in them but partially and exceptionally, is 

 pursued and killed for sport, without the use of firearms. 

 While every other animal, which we follow for the excite- 

 ment of the pursuit, or for the sake of its flesh on the 

 table, from the gigantic moose and formidable grizzly bear 

 to the crouching hare, from the heaven-soaring swan or 

 hawnking wild-goose to the " twiddling " snipe, is brought 

 to bag by means of the rifle, the fowling-piece, or the 

 ducking-gun; and to his thorough acquaintance, and 

 masterly performance, with one or all of these, in his own 

 line, the rank of the sportsman must be mainly attributed, 

 and his claim to preeminence ascribed. 



I say, mainly attributable ; because, although there 

 are many other qualifications which go to constitute the 

 accomplished sportsman, and without which, though he be 

 the best and surest marksman that ever drew a trigger or 

 squinted over a brown barrel, he has no right to arrogate 

 to himself the title of a true sportsman, it is on this that 

 he must rely. 



These qualifications may be named generally, as the 

 art of breaking dogs, of managing them in sickness or in 

 health, in the kennel or in the field the perfect acquaint- 

 ance with the habits, food, feeding-grounds, breeding sea- 

 sons, migrations and haunts or habitations of those 

 animals, whether of fur or feather, which are the objects 



