COVERT-SHOOTING. 121 



inflict upon the landlords. The proposed sentimental 

 pigeon-shooting legislation, too, happily thrown out in 

 the Lords, was not only foolish but injurious. It would 

 have interfered with a certain amount of trade and a 

 certain amount of food supply, for the pigeon, like the 

 fox, pheasant, and many other animals, would not exist 

 but for the sport he affords ; and to " 'Any " who 

 owns no broad acres, nor is asked to battues he 

 affords the only possible recreation with the gun. Of 

 the heart-rending stories of half-plucked, maimed, and 

 blinded birds put into traps at the low public-house 

 matches which "'Any" frequents, only a small per- 

 centage need be swallowed as truth and that not 

 without salt. But, even if comparatively true, is it 

 only at pigeon matches that such barbarous rascalities 

 occur ? Look behind the scenes, magnates of the 

 turf! What caused the " Flying Potboy's" swelled 

 back sinew the day before the Derby ? and what took 

 away Sigismunda's appetite and gave her that dull 

 glazed eye on the morning of the Oaks ? Is any 

 notice taken of such atrocities ? Does Parliament in 



