PREFACE BY THE EDITOR. 



In the following work, Captain Bogardus has 

 placed before his readers all the knowledge of the 

 haunts and habits of game-birds, and of the art 

 of shooting on the wing, which twenty-five years' 

 almost constant pursuit has enabled him to attain. 

 It is conveyed plainly and briefly, but fully and 

 without the slightest reserve or qualification. It 

 was deemed that this full communication of all 

 he knew on these subjects was due to his readers, 

 when he resolved to appear before the public as 

 the author of a book. Few men have had an ex- 

 perience as varied and as large ; none, I verily 

 believe, have attained as much knowledge of game, 

 or as much skill with the gun. 



Of late years, at many places where his skill 

 was displayed, he was often urged to embody 

 what he knew of game and of the art of shooting 

 in a book, in order that sportsmen whose other 

 avocations prevented them from paying very great 

 and prolonged attention to those subjects, might 

 reap the benefit of his experience. With a view 



