134 A Sportsman at Large 



a pigeon-shooting event. That is to say, on the score of 

 humanity or the lack of it. A sounder argument in disfavour 

 of pigeon shooting is that which deprecates the slaughter 

 of living creatures as pawns in a game, which undoubtedly 

 was carried on, in part, as a means of gambling. 



The same objection might be, indeed has been, raised to 

 coursing, as indulged in from its earliest days. The pigeon- 

 shooter takes no delight in the slaughter of pigeons, but is keen 

 on " flooring " the one particular pigeon which enables 'him 

 to score a notch towards ultimately winning the pool or the 

 cup as the case may be for which he is competing, or be- 

 cause its slaughter enables him to land the odds he has laid 

 on himself. He simply regards the unfortunate bird as a 

 means to an end a selfish one, no doubt. " Tant pis pour le 

 pigeon I " 



So it is with coursing. 



The greyhound owner takes no delight in the death of a 

 gallant hare as such, but he is desperately keen on seeing 

 the quarry receive its quietus when his own dog obviously 

 holds a winning balance. 



The only difference is that the coursing man wagers on the 

 efficiency of his greyhound, whereas the pigeon-shooter backs 

 his own skill. 



For the most part the antagonists of pigeon-shooting and 

 coursing, on the grounds of their cruelty, are those who, 

 being degenerates and quite unversed in all manly exercises 

 and adventures, are keen on driving a wedge into the vitals of 

 our national sports. Naturally enough, they attack the most 

 vulnerable front, but hope to widen the rift by noisy and 

 continuous ranting. They have succeeded in putting an end 

 to the shooting of live birds from traps, and also have per- 

 suaded authority to ban the use of live bait to the angler 

 (who, by the way, generally treats this puerile law with the 

 contempt which it deserves). If minnows and other small 

 fry are to be saved from the hook, what price the poor but 

 somewhat offensive worm ? " What is sauce for the 

 goose ..." you know ! I have heard women with the 

 inconsistency so conspicuous as regards their sex inveigh 

 against " the horrible cruelty " of pigeon shooting. 



