SPORTING. 
shooting in general, we shall proceed to 
state a few particulars relating to the various 
kinds of game generally sought, and to give 
the sportsman as much insight as our limits 
may allow, regarding the laws in force on 
the subject of shooting, &c. 
The Bustard is the largest of our fea- 
thered game, the male sometimes weighing 
nearly thirty pounds, being in length (from 
beak to toe) nearly four feet, and expand- 
ing its wings so as to measure full nine feet 
between their tips. Some consider it to be 
gallinaceous, while others class it with the 
ostrich and cassowary. The bill is strong, 
and somewhat convex ; the eyes red ; head 
and neck ash-coloured ; and on each side 
of the lower beak is a tuft of feathers from 
five to nine inches in length ; in some coun- 
tries of a beautiful jet black, but with us of 
a white or dun colour. The back is barred 
transversely with black and bright rust co- 
lour ; the greater quill-feathers are brown, 
the belly white, the tail has twenty fea- 
thers, the middle ones barred with black ; 
the legs are long, naked above the knees ; 
it has no hind-toe (which is a peculiarity 
whereby this genus is distinguished, for 
there are innumerable varieties in different 
parts of the world) but has a callous pro- 
cess, serving as a heel. The female rarely 
exceeds twelve pounds in weight, and is 
not so strikingly marked as the male, and 
has no tufts under the bill ; her colour is 
more dull, and she has not the reservoir, or 
water pouch, found within every male, and 
which is capable of containing from four to 
seven pints of water. This enables the 
bustard to remain for a long time on those 
immense plains, remote from water, where it 
is often found, and where the female lays her 
eggs, which are of a pale olive brown, sprin- 
kled with dark spots j her nest is very soon 
made, being nothing more than a shallow 
hollow scraped in some dry place, especially 
in a turnip field, or in some dry stubble, or 
grass, whence she can see whatever ap- 
proaches. Her own colour so much resem- 
bles the soil, that unless scented by dogs, 
she is Often put up by persons who almost 
tread on her before she rises. 
Bustards were forjnerly numerous in 
England, but now are only^ found in the 
south and east parts, particularly on the 
large downs of Yorksliire, and of Wiltshire 
and Dorsetshire ; they are supposed to be 
extinct in Scotland. They very rarely 
wander more than thirty miles from their 
native haunts, making very short flights, 
running very rapidly, and rising from the 
ground with considerable difficulty. Henee 
they have been frequently caught by grey- 
hounds, after chases affording considerable 
diversion. It is evident, that for so heavy 
a bird, large shot must be necessary ; es- 
pecially when found on a plain, where it is 
extremely shy. Some have, however, been 
brought down with No. 6 ; but in such 
cases they have risen within a moderate 
distance. In aiming at the bustard with 
large shot, endeavour to strike under the 
wing ; but if with any thing less than 
No. 2, you cannot do better than level just 
before his beak ; so as to hit the head. This 
bird is by some called the floriken ; in the 
east it is called the cherruss. 
The Pheasant, though not a native of 
England, nor indeed of Europe ; for it was 
first brought from the banks of the Phasis 
in Asia Minor ; has multiplied so extensively 
among us, as to form a very considerable 
object among the sporting world. The 
cocks sometimes weigh nearly four pounds j 
though, in general, not more tl.an three : 
the hen is usually from eight to twelve 
ounces lighter. This bird is too well known 
to require description in respect to colour 
or figure. The wings of a pheasant are ex- 
tremely weak ; hence it can rarely fly half 
a mile. To this it is attributed that none 
are found on the new continent ; though 
they are now very numerous throughout 
Europe, and in some parts of Africa, as w'ell 
as in Asia. There are many varieties, such 
as the afgus, of which the wings are all over 
dotted as with eyes ; tlie golden, which is 
of a beautiful lustre gi-een, marked with 
gold coloured specks of the most vivid ap- 
pearance; the black, which is only found 
in India, where it is called the Moco, and 
is erroneously considered as appertaining 
to the crow-tribe. 
The pheasant does not easily resign its 
wild habits; wheij it does, it seems to 
languish ; it lays but few eggs, and is indif- 
ferent, or indeed at a loss, regarding its 
young; which are usually hatched and 
reared by a common hen on that account. 
When allowed to ramble, they multiply as 
quick as the means of subsistence may 
afford, and appears to thrive during even 
our most rigorous winters. They are ex- 
tremely fond of ants ; without which it is 
asserted by many, they will neither breed, 
nor remain where bred. In coppices 
abounding with haws, hips, and many other 
kinds of berries, the pheasant takes great de- 
light ; they also fatten a little upon acorns. 
They begin crowing about the middle of 
