FRANK FORESTER'S FIELD SPORTS. 
i 14 
Late in July all, with but few exceptions of these tribes, hare 
reassembled, and their numbers continue to increase, as fresh 
accessions keep streaming from the great northern nursery, 
until the approach of winter again drives them southward. 
During their spring visit, comparatively speaking, these birds 
are unmolested, few persons troubling their heads to shoot them 
while Brant are in the bays, and English Snipe on the inland 
morasses; but when they return, it is the very deadest season 
of the sportsman’s year. Snipe are away in the North, Wood¬ 
cock are moulting, and Quail hatching or hovering their young 
broods. The Upland Plover, it is true, is in season, and the 
Rail likewise, but the localities, in which only these two deli¬ 
cious birds are taken, are few and far between ; and where the 
shore birds most do congregate, are the very regions in which 
the Bartramian Sandpiper, and the Sora Rail are not. 
Therefore they are pursued eagerly, by the baymen and pro¬ 
fessional gunners, for the gain which they realise by them—for 
though with hardly an exception their flesh is rank, sedgy, or 
fishy, and uneatable, the absence of other game causes them to 
be brought to table, and they readily find a market—by ama¬ 
teurs and sportsmen, from the desire of excitement, and the 
lack of every other sport. 
Some persons who shoot well, are exceedingly fond of this 
amusement, as it gives no trouble, requires no fatigue or exer¬ 
tion, and, above all, as, on good days, the shooting is incessant, 
and the bag often immense. 
There is, in fact, no accounting for tastes, as regards field 
sports. Some men regard the amusement as affected merely by 
the number of shots ; others by the size of the game killed. For 
myself, I look to the excitement of pursuit, the science and skill 
requisite, the observation of the instinct of the animals employed 
or pursued, and last not least, the exercise of mind and body, 
and the quick motion. 
To me, therefore, the shooting of all kinds of wild and water 
fowl, on the bays and shores, with but one exception, is the 
