250 
FRANK FORESTER’S FIELD SPORTS. 
“ Well then,” says he, “ these noble birds early in Septem¬ 
ber, or even so soon as late in August, who have whooped, and 
strutted, and trumpeted the live-long spring and summer, the 
undisturbed possessors of the prairies, are now leading about 
their broods, some three-quarter parts grown, and they are at no 
time in better condition for broiling, the most delicate spring 
chickens yielding to them in flavor ; and, at the same time, their 
behavior in the field is far more satisfactory, and accommodat¬ 
ing, than at any other period of their lives. They now, wdien 
once they have scattered, stick to their concealment in the long 
grass, till you kick them up with your foot, and the amount you 
can then bag, need be limited only by your forbearance oryoui 
industry.” 
In my humble opinion, “ Tom Trigor’s” gastronomy and his 
sportsmanship are about on a par, both execrable. The man 
who would broil a Grouse at all, when he could possibly cook 
it otherwise, or who could compare it by way of praise with a 
spring chicken , must have about as much idea of the qualities of 
game on the table, as he who thinks they are in perfection foi 
shooting, when they are too weak to rise oh the wing. I should 
think their conduct would be more satisfactory yet, to such a 
gunner, before they could fly at all. 
Seriously speaking, from all the really good sportsmen with 
whom I have spoken of Grouse shooting, I learn that the defect 
in the sport consists in the extraordinary tameness of the bird, 
and the infinite facility of knocking it down at the commence¬ 
ment of the season,—the killing, in fact, partaking almost the 
character of butchery. 
To quote once more from the writer above cited:—“ Let the 
gnostics preach about its being not ‘ sportsmanlike, and unhand¬ 
some, to knock down more birds than you can consume.’ I’ll 
make out, when I can, my twenty brace notwithstanding; and 
I have never seen Grouse yet at such a discount, at this season 
of the year, but what all that could be killed could be consumed ; 
and, if I haply should a little overstock the market, there is no 
fear of thinning off the tribe, for their name is legion, and the 
