46 THE CABINET OF NATURAL HISTORY, 
Firmly they stand, and point where lies the game. 
In swampy bottoms, thickly covered o’er 
With alders, or the almost impenetrable 
Briar, I sometimes spring with spaniels, the 
Least wary of our feather’d game, and most 
Delicious to an epicure. And yet 
But little satisfaction does it yield 
To hunt for Woodcocks in solstitial heats, 
Compared with that amusement when the 
Falling leaf give signs of their departing 
From our coast; then, birds full plumaged, and 
Well-open’d woods, make this of all our shooting 
Most delightful. Snipes, too, I love to shoot. 
Not the rank beach birds, allur’d by stools to 
Meet a ‘leaden death,’ but the sleek English 
Snipe, whose zig-zag motion through the air 
Puzzles the sight of inexperienced shots; 
These, when abundant, need no dog to find 
Them; and when scarce, a slow, staunch Pointer, suits 
Them best. From sports like these, not too 
Laborious, I return; refreshment 
In my own snug chamber soon procure; then 
From a cupboard, (not till now made known,) I 
Find some comfort in a cordial glass; 
When o’er our grog, and Pellon-brand cigars, 
My friend and I discourse sweet music on 
The past excursion, make fresh arrangements 
For the coming morn, and at the hour of 
Ten, yawning, shake hands, and bid good night. 
New-York, March, 1832. D. J. 
From the American Turf Register. 
WESTERN SHOTS. 
Our western marksmen of the present day do not con- 
fine themselves to the use of the rifle alone, (like the pio- 
neer ‘‘ Hunters of Kentucky,”” who despised a “ smooth 
bore,’’) but handle the fowling piece with equal facility; 
indeed some use it exclusively. In Cincinnati, and the 
vicinity, we can boast of some first rate shots, who would 
be **hard to beat’? any where. 
A Shooting Club, recently formed here, will no doubt 
bring out some fine shooting; an account of which, if accepta- 
ble, I shall occasionally furnish for your valuable Magazine. 
At present, I shall merely give a brief sketch of a few shots 
previous to the formation of the Club. 
Two of our best marksmen went out one afternoon, 
snipe shooting. Each killed 14 snipe, making 28; and 
the 29th was shot at the same instant by both, which they 
counted as 14% snipe a piece. On their way home, in 
the evening, they called at a pigeon match, and obtaining 
privilege to shoot, tried each other. 
Distance 20 yards—9 birds to each man. 
Mr. Corben killed - - 9 
Mr. Aumack, = - - - 9 
At a match, some time afterwards:—Distance 20 yards 
—17 birds to each man. 
Corben killed - - =F 7 
Aumack - - - 16—missed 1—the 17th. 
At this match very fair shooting was made by others of 
the party, which I regret being unable to furnish at pre- 
sent. 
At another pigeon match:—Distance 18 yards—2 birds 
put into the trap or box, to be let out together—15 birds 
to each man—both barrels to be used. 
Mr. Corben killed his 15 birds at 7 rounds, having shot 
two at once, which crossed each other. 
Mr. Wright killed 11 out of the 15. 
Mr. Noble, 11 «é éé 
On other occasions, at 18 to 20 yards—10 birds up— 
10, 9, 8, and 7, has generally been the result. 
Although much improvement is expected from the 
younger members of the Club, yet it is very questionable 
if they will ever be able to excel their e/der brethren. An 
emulation, however, is excited among them, which [ 
hope will enable me to report to you hereafter some fine 
shooting. 
To conclude, I shall just mention the game killed hy a 
member of the Club in one year, viz. 
20 Woodcock. 
102 Snipe. 
38 Ducks. 
66 Rabbits. 
1226 Quails. 
1452 in all—57 times out. 
Killed also an abundance of less valuable game, not 
counted. 
Last year, 75 Woodcock—other game not yet reported. 
I am happy to report to you, that the two last winters 
(counting the present as one, and presuming it to be nearly 
over,) have not been so destructive to the Partridge in this 
part of the country as at first apprehended. The western 
sportsmen highly approve of the humane regulations 
adopted by their eastern brethren for the preservation of 
this valuable bird, and will no doubt adopt similar ones when 
necessary. 
Cincinnati, Feb. 3, 1832. 
Mark. 
