ROUGH SHOOTING 293 



enough ; but in many counties you can get as much 

 good ground as you like at sixpence, but not near 

 London. I hired, some two years ago, some capital 

 rough shooting in North Wales at less than three- 

 pence an acre, but it was too cold for my better 

 half to reside in during the winter months. What- 

 ever county you may fix on, avoid the red-legs ; 

 though a very handsome bird, and much larger than 

 ours, they are not nearly so good for the table as 

 the grey ones, being dry and tasteless ; and they 

 will spoil any dog, as they never take wing unless 

 hardly pressed, but will run field after field. I 

 destroy their eggs wherever I meet them. 



In Norfolk, Suffolk, and particularly Essex, there 

 are large quantities of them ; they not only ruin 

 your dogs, but they drive the grey birds away. I 

 would not have a manor where there were any 

 quantity of red-legs at a gift. 



Having now told you how to go to work, I will, 

 in the garb of narrative, which, nevertheless is true, 

 show you how shooting, with other sport, may be 

 had at little cost by those who love it and prefer a 

 country life. I give it you as related to me by a 

 very dear old friend of mine. 



" Lenox and myself were boys at school, and 

 afterwards at college together. A fine handsome 

 fellow he was too, and doatingly attached to all 



