206 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
plentiful, and in excellent condition, during the month of 
August, in the year 1844. The country being closely enclosed 
with stout timber fences, it is impracticable either to drive up 
to them in a two-wheeled carnage, which is by far the prefera¬ 
ble mode of pursuing them, or to stalk them on horseback ; 
although I am of opinion that great sport might be had there 
with a pony that could fence well, and stand fire steadily. The 
men who shoot them for the market there, build bough-houses, 
in which to lie hid, or conceal themselves in the comers of 
maize-fields, or behind any casual hiding-places the country 
may offer, while their companions scatter about the fields, driv¬ 
ing the birds to and fro, and rendering them, of course, exceed¬ 
ingly wild; yet a considerable number are shot thus, as they 
fly over their concealed enemies. This mode of proceeding is, 
of course, unendurable to the sportsman. By the aid of Eley’s 
wire cartridges, red and blue, of No. 6 shot, however, I con¬ 
trived to get moderately good sport, walking about in pursuit 
of them, and taking my chance at those driven over me by other 
parties. I, one day, bagged sixteen birds thus ; but it would 
have been a hundred to one against getting a single Sandpiper, 
with loose shot ; as I am certain that not one bird fell within 
fifty yards of me. 
This Sandpiper flies very swiftly, and when on the wing 
shews like a very large bird, owing to the great length of its 
sharp-pointed wings. At first sight, you would suppose it to be 
as large as a pigeon, although its body is not, in tmth, very 
much larger than that of the common Snipe, or intermediate be¬ 
tween that and the Woodcock, while the extent of its wings 
from tip to tip exceed either of these, by nearly one-fourth. 
Like many other species of wild birds, this Sandpiper is ex¬ 
tremely cunning, and appears to be able to calculate the range 
of a fowling-piece with great nicety; and you will constantly 
find them sitting perfectly at their ease, until a few paces more 
would bring you within shot of them, and then rising, with 
their provoking whistle, just when you believe yourself sure of 
getting a crack at them. In the same manner they will circle 
