INTRODUCTORY OBSERVATIONS. 
25 
West, which, for the perfection of the first named sport, are the 
grounds par excellence of the whole world—the decline of fal¬ 
conry on the continent of Europe, and in England, being caused 
by the multiplied of enclosures, which renders it impossible 
to pursue a chase, blindfold as it were, the eyes being fixed 
constantly on the manoeuvres of the hawk to pounce, and of 
the quarry to evade his stoop, in the mid-air. 
Again, Deer-coursing might be practised with undoubted suc¬ 
cess on the prairies ; the best proof of which is in the fact, that 
it has been tried by one gentleman at least, who has imported 
the rough Scottish deer greyhound for the purpose, in the ex¬ 
treme West; and has been found by him to surpass all his ex¬ 
pectations, both for the excitement of the chase and the great 
sport attained. Deer, of the largest size and finest head, were 
run into, after a pursuit of three miles or more, in view, and 
pulled down single-handed—nay, even the enormous Elk was 
brought to bay unerringly, by these staunch, fleet and noble 
hounds. 
With regard to these sports, however, I have said my say; 
and only expressing my wonder that they should not be adopted, 
and my advice to all genuine Western sportsmen—I do not mean 
game-butchers—to adopt them with all due speed—I pass on to 
'what more claims attention. 
Fishing is, perhaps, scarcely a field sport; it is nevertheless 
so decidedly a branch of sportsmanship—of course I meati fly¬ 
fishing, or trolling with the live or dead minnow ; any other 
mode I can regard only as I would knocking a hare on the head 
in her form, or shooting a bevy of Quail running, or in a huddle 
—that I may not leave it unnoticed, lest I should be supposed 
to rob it and its votaries of the honor due to the gentle science. 
I know not, whether, before entering on my subject, I owe 
any apology to my readers for that I, not native or to the manor 
born, should aspire to treat of a subject so purely indigenous as 
the field sports of America. Should it be deemed presumptuous 
in me to attempt it, I must only point, as my excuse, to seven¬ 
teen years of apprenticeship honestly devoted to acquiring the lit- 
