CHRISTOPHER IN HIS SPORTING JACKET 



splashing and momentarily disappearing spang, and 

 then, head and shoulders and broad line of back and 

 rudder tail, all elevated above or level with the wavy 

 water line, to mouth first that murdered mawsey of 

 a mallard, lying as still as if she had been dead for 

 years, with her round, fat, brown bosom towards 

 heaven — then that old Drake, in a somewhat similar 

 posture, but in more gorgeous apparel, his belly being 

 of a pale grey, and his back delicately pencilled and 

 crossed with numberless waved dusky lines — precious 

 prize to one skilled like us in the angling art — next — 

 nobly done, glorious Fro — that cream colour crowned 

 widgeon, with bright rufus chestnut breast, separated 

 from the neck by loveliest waved ash -brown and white 

 lines, while our mind's eye feasteth on the indescrib- 

 able and changeable green beauty-spot of his wings — 

 and now, if we mistake not, a Golden Eye, best de- 

 scribed by his name — finally, that exquisite little duck 

 the Teal; yes, poetical in its delicately pencilled spots 

 as an Indian shell, and when kept to an hour, roasted 

 to a minute, gravied in its own wild richness, with 

 some few other means and appliances to boot, carved 

 finely — most finely — by razor-like knife, in a hand 

 skilful to dissect and cunning to divide— tasted by a 

 tongue and palate both healthily pure as the dewy 

 petal of a morning rose — swallowed by a gullet 

 felt gradually to be extending itself in its intense 

 [71] 



