We found the quarry untouched by the jackalls, and not much the worse for a night's exposure to the air. After having regained it by letting down a sable gentleman on a rope, we carried it home in triumph, and the whole station feasted off venison curry for nearly a week afterwards. ON THE GAME LAWS, SHOOTING, &c. BY CECIL. More than half the interest attendant upon covert shooting is certainly dependent upon the good behaviour of the dogs. What can exceed the satisfaction when the favourite spaniel, the constant companion of his master, his associate in the house, nay, perhaps the pet of his wife, mother, or sisters, when he throws his tongue on the quest of a woodcock, or raises the gaudy-plumaged pheasant from his resting-place? It produces enthusiasm and delight as he eagerly rushes to the spot from whence the welcome sound proceeds; nor does it end there. How gladly are the properties of the sagacious little animal resounded in the evening, when the indulgence of the easy chair or couch afford a preliminary repose prior to the more substantial rest which is sought for in the nocturnal dormitory! Can the exploits of those who, on the battue system, have had all the work performed by men and boys produce funds for such narrations? Most certainly not: the utmost they admit of is the boast of so many heads of game having been slaughtered, and perhaps a few jokes passed on the unfortunate or unskilful shots made by some of the party. Covert-shooting evidently calls forth more quickness and alacrity than that which is followed in the open; all kinds of game have opportunities of momentarily escaping from view, and perhaps not afterwards presenting themselves in a position to allow of their being shot at. Hares and rabbits, in crossing rides, are soon out of sight; when, entering the thickest part of the brushwood, which they usually do, they are seen no more. The manner in which a pheasant rises likewise creates a source of difficulty to many who are excellent shots at other things, taking a nearly perpendicular flight till high enough to clear the trees. It is a very usual circumstance to shoot under them, as can be clearly seen by their flying off with their legs broken: this is an unfortunate accident, because it so frequently happens that they cannot be recovered; and the miserable bird, unable to move about in search of food, dies a wretched death from absolute starvation. The most certain way of bringing them down is by waiting till they have attained the height at which they will strike off from, and then just taking them at the instant they are about to make a horizontal movement. This may be calculated upon by observing the T position of the trees among which they are flying. Similar circumstances usually attend the springing of woodcocks; but their quiet, steady flight is very different to the bustle created by the whirring pheasant: as if conscious of his beauty, he seems disposed to attract attention; whereas the gliding, unassuming progress of the long-bill not unfrequently permits him to escape unseen, or at all events, till he has made sufficient progress to be out of reach; but as they are delicate birds, a slight blow will bring them down, and a man is justified in shooting at them at a great distance, the more so because it does not appear to have any effect in increasing the distance of their flight; and if they are marked down, a second shot may as reasonably be calculated upon as if they were not shot at in the first instance. Some difference of opinion exists whether a man, having acquired great proficiency in shooting in covert, is equally expert at partridges or other game in the open: this arises from the impression that the former causes him to shoot hastily. I am not quite inclined to subscribe to this, because a person in good practice will very naturally make the distinction; and I think it is less likely to be correct than that a very superior partridge shot shall be equally good in covert. Each requires practice; and to be really good in both departments, it is essential that both be resorted to. Man is so much influenced by habit, that, when constantly shooting at partridges, he may at first be somewhat bothered when hampered by the entanglements and obstacles of a thick and briery wood; but I am inclined to the opinion that when he has had experience in such situations, he will not be much at a loss in turnips and stubble fields. Snipe-shooting evidently requires much practice and discrimination. The object is so small, that, unless a very correct aim be taken, the bird is almost certain to escape. The zig-zag flight peculiar to these birds operates very much against the success in bringing them down; independent of which, there is a very great diversity in the manner in which different birds will fly; indeed, I have noticed that the same bird will fly very differently on one occasion from what he does on another: this is readily proved in cases where a snipe having been missed and marked down, upon being raised again an attentive observer will detect the event. It is no doubt to be accounted for in various ways; for instance, the increased alarm of the bird on the second occasion is very likely to operate forcibly on his movements, and cause him to resort to manoeuvres with which all living creatures are by instinct gifted when their lives are in danger. The position of the wind, if it be at all violent, is another cause by which this change of tactics may be influenced. If flying down wind, the bird having risen to a certain height begins as it were to waver in his progress; if up wind, he appears to flutter against it, and with a side wind assumes a zig-zag course, when he becomes very difficult to kill. For snipe-shooting I have no hesitation in giving the preference to a steady old setter. In the first place, he will encounter the water better than the pointer; and as it is frequently the case that brushwood is found in the haunts of the snipe, he will be more au fait in finding his birds in such situations. Some persons consider a dog unnecessary for this pursuit; but to that I cannot consent. Much ground must be uselessly travelled over if they are to be walked up, and they are very capricious in their manner: at times they are very wild; on other occasions they will lie as dead as stones. When in the former mood, it matters little what course is adopted, for as soon as one rises, nearly all the others will follow the example, and the only chance is to mark them down, and then walk up to the spot with the dog at heel. This usually happens when these birds have taken to some spot not commonly frequented by them. When they are found in the rushes and long grass of the marshes, which are their usual places of shelter, they for the most part lie close, and as they do not run, require a fine-nosed dog to find them in such situations. The immediate spots will in most cases be influenced by the rise or fall of the water. It is a general rule not to beat down wind for snipes, and an equally general assertion that when sprung down wind they will go some distance with great rapidity before they turn. This I do not believe to be correct, especially if the wind be high, as the snipe does not like it to be in his tail. A side-wind is decidedly the most desirable, as it is generally the means of the bird presenting himself for a crossshot; but the importance of these observances principally depends upon the force with which the wind blows. On a calm day I believe it is of very little consequence what direction you beat in. In A good marker is a very essential acquisition in the field; but it is an accomplishment not very readily attained. It is not every clodhopping clown who may be gifted with a long vision that is of any use for such a purpose; indeed, nine cases out of ten he will direct you wrong, until instruction and habit have given him some idea of his business. Nevertheless it is not an uncommon custom to employ any idle vagabond, who would rather be so engaged than stick to his work. Defend me from such an attendant! I would rather be without any, than be so misled-an event that would often happen. performing this office at partridges, if obstacles preclude the possibility of the eye following the covey to where it drops, the only guide that remains is the inclination taken when last in sight: whichever way the birds turn, that is doubtless the direction to make for; but under such circumstances their exact position is very uncertain; that, however, cannot be controlled. But it is a very common thing for birds to bear off at a right angle just before they drop; and if they are not in sight at the moment, it is very difficult to determine where they have gone to. They will likewise very frequently skim along the ground a very considerable distance, and an inexperienced marker will imagine that they have dropt long before they have done so. This may be taken for a general rule, that before they alight they drop their legs. This is very readily distinguished if they are within sight, as they assume a most peculiar appearance by throwing their bodies up, as it were, in a very different position to what they previously presented. A person should never deceive himself by supposing he has marked birds down till he has distinctly noticed this action; and even after this, it is no uncommon event for birds to run or to rise again, especially as the season advances, and they have been frequently disturbed. They will sometimes take a turn from the direction in which they at first appeared bent upon, and fly off to a field which has been a favourite resort. It is close attention, when in sight, to their various manœuvres that will enable a man to become useful in this occupation. Pheasants are yet more difficult to mark than partridges; they very frequently fly further than they appear to do, and very commonly run after they have dropt: they will also skim along by the side of a hedge, so that they can only be seen at intervals; this creates a great impediment to marking them accurately. I am not inclined to think it is a good plan to go up to the place immediately, although the bird may be marked down to a yard, as in nine cases out of ten he is sure to set off and run when he hears your approach. It is far better to give him time to settle: he will not be so much on the qui vive, and if he should have run, a scent will be left to enable your dog to draw upon him, providing too great a space of time be not lost; besides which, he will not run near so far as he would do if he found you were in immediate pursuit of him. In order to mark woodcocks successfully, the nature of the country must be taken into consideration, and one or two persons should be stationed on the outside of the covert on an elevated spot; at all events, one where the most extensive view can be commanded. When those who are beating the covert spring one of these birds, they should instantly proclaim, "Mark, cock!" with an intimation where, such as right, left, up, or down; which expressions should be clearly explained to the markers and all in company, before commencing operations: this is necessary because the smallness of these birds, their very quiet manner of flying, and their colour may not be sufficiently conspicuous to attract the eyes of the markers; and as soon as they have gained the height of the trees, they skim along close to the tops until they have reached the outside, when they usually descend nearly to the ground, or, if the wood be large, fall into it again at some spot to which they have previously resorted. Their usual places of resort when not in covert are ditches, hedge-rows in moist situations, often in old unfrequented lanes, and in the sides of pits or ponds; but they will sometimes, when flushed, drop in the middle of fields, especially fallows, where they will lie as closely as possible. These circumstances are worthy of attention, inasmuch as in cases when the bird cannot be exactly marked, the most likely places should be beat for the purpose of re-finding him; but when that has been done without success, other parts must be tried, for it is very unsatisfactory to go away and leave a woodcock in the open. Marking snipe usually devolves upon the shooter himself, and is a duty which he can perform in general without an assistant, unless great numbers rise at once, when to mark them all would be impossible; but as their haunts are on bogs and marshes, which are generally open tracts, the operation is in general not a difficult one. (To be continued.) A NEW SONG TO AN OLD TUNE. BY GELERT. "Et leporem cauibus, canibus venabere vulpes." Some explanation is due to the regular craftsman who may cast his eye over the annexed verses, seeing that the system of running foxes with harriers is somewhat illegitimate, and not quite in accordance with his notions of sporting propriety, at least in a civilized country, and that too in the nineteenth century. The writer was an eye witness of what he describes in song, and never remembers to have been present at a "burster" which better deserved to be commemorated. The run took place in a region in Devonshire, scarcely within a day's ride (mirabile dicta) of a pack of foxhounds. It was, accordingly, no man's "country" and being a gameless district, the injury done to poultry by foxes may be pleaded as some excuse for this irregular mode of pursuing the noble animal. Besides the suffering hen-wife is entitled to retributive justice in the absence of all"damage funds," for long and loud are her lamentations when Charley Fox makes a descent upon her poultry-yard and gets the run of his teeth there for an hour or so. The air to which the words have been applied is a very old one, entitled "Dick Sion Dafydd," and, from its sprightly description, is well adapted for a hunting song. The language is somewhat vernacular, where the civilized reader will most probably find himself at fault. Air of" Dick Sion Dafydd." Come list to me, my gallant hunters, 'Tis of a merry pack of harriers Tow row row, tow, &c. |