1 64 BIRDING-PIECES. . 



" quarrels," from their pyramidal form), and also stones or 

 leaden balls. 



Apropos of " bolts," who does not remember Oberon's 

 poetical story of the wild pansy ( Viola tricolor) marked 

 by Cupid's "bolt?" 



" Yet mark'd I where the bolt of Cupid fell : 

 It fell upon a little western flower, — 

 Before, milk white, now purple with love's wound, — 

 And maidens call it ' Love-in-idleness.' " 



Midsummer Night's Dream, Act ii. Sc. I. 



The " birding-pieces " which Mrs. Ford tells Falstaff are 

 always " discharged " up the chimney, were no doubt 

 the old-fashioned fowling-pieces which were in use in 

 those days. 



According to Sir S. D. Scott,* the " birding-piece " 

 was identical with the " snap-hance," the early form of 

 that process of ignition — the flint and steel lock — which 

 has survived nearly 300 years, and specimens of which, 

 although now becoming rare, may occasionally be met 

 with in use, even at the present day. It was a Dutch 

 invention ; and is said to have been brought into use by 

 marauders, whom the Dutch called snap-haans, or poultry 

 stealers. The light from the burning match, which 

 necessarily accompanied the match-lock, exposed them to 



"The British Army: its Origin, Progress, and Equipment," London, 1868, 

 vol. ii. pp 284-286. 



