24 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
which is, by the way, of no small consequence ; as it is not by 
any means generally understood, at least by the rural portion of 
our eastern and midland sportsmen; and as, until it is understood 
and the understanding acted upon, sportsmanship never can be 
placed on a scientific footing. 
This done, I shall classify it under its three great distinct divi¬ 
sions, of Upland or Inland, Coast or Sea, and Western Shooting. 
Under each head, I shall give full descriptions, selected from 
the best authorities in natural history and ornithology, of the 
genera, the colors, habits, breeding seasons, and haunts of every 
species of game—thereafter, I shall treat of the proper scientific 
modes of killing and preserving them ; and, last not least, I shall 
insist on the proper nomenclature, urging its adoption with all 
my poor powers, and endeavoring to abolish the vulgar, ignorant 
slipshod habit, which prevails to such a terrible extent, of using 
absurd provincial misnomers for almost every animal of the chase 
Of the science of gunnery, the training and pathology of dogs, 
the acquisition of the art of shooting flying, and other kindred 
topics, so much has been stated at length by Hawker, Youatt, 
Blaine, and other great English authorities, that it is not neces¬ 
sary that I should be very diffuse in my observations. As, how¬ 
ever, no work on field sports can be perfect, or approach to 
perfection, unless it include these vital subjects, I shall of course 
not pass them over in silence, though I shall dilate only on such 
parts of them as appear to be most desirable, either for want of 
sufficient present publicity, or from peculiar applicability to the 
circumstances of field sports in America. 
Hunting, or coursing, proper , does not exist on this continent; 
the great topics, therefore, of condition, training, summering, 
and riding hunters to hounds, are, of course, out of the question j 
as well as the kindred subjects of the management of greyhounds, 
kennel-treatment and hunting of hounds, and lastly, all connected 
with the noble science of falconry, once termed “ the Mystery 
of Rivers.” 
I have, indeed, often wondered that both falconry and cours¬ 
ing have not been introduced on the boundless prairies of the 
