MORE ABOUT GAME-BIRDS. 107 



nected with the pheasant are pleasantly touched 

 on in the exploits of a certain Jonathan Duggins, 

 who records the following : — 



" Got within gunshot of two of the birds, vich Higgins said 

 they vos two game-cocks, but Hicks, who had been to 

 Vestminster Pit, said, No sitch thing ; as game-cocks had 

 got short square tails, and smooth necks, and long military 

 spurs. Shot at 'em as pheasants, and believe ve killed 'em 

 both ; but hearing some 'orrid screams come out of the 

 plantation immejiately hafter, ve all took to our 'eels and 

 ran away vithout stopping to pick either of 'em up. At 

 the end of a mile came suddingly on a strange sort of a 

 bird vich Hicks declared to be the cock of the woods, so 

 ve sneaked behind him and killed him, but it turned out 

 to be a peacock.'' 



I have not the slightest intention of entering into 

 the question of the game laws. I have never broken 

 one of them myself, and, indeed, I would not give 

 sixpence, so far as eating them goes, for all the 

 game in England. Nor yet for the sport : so far 

 as that is concerned, I prefer wild-fowling to the 

 best of game-shooting. 



If facilities did not exist for disposing of large 

 quantities of poached game, the poacher's occupa- 

 tion would be gone ; and if certain conclaves of Sol- 



