(M CM o i m ^w5^ = = Mip^ d^HbXigl^ = LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA «•«... £S^ LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA <5V_ /ft) )jj — v\ r\ ^c^c/s UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA ^nBHI LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ( /re> THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESENTED BY PROF. CHARLES A. KOFOID AND MRS. PRUDENCE W. KOFOID NIVERSITY OF C VkD "*£^ NIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF C IA Jo A > ) s c i V' In THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE; OR, COMPLETE SPORTSMAN'S COMPANION: CONTAINING A COMPENDIOUS VIEW OF THE GAME LAWS; A DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIOUS KINDS OF DOGS, WITH THE BEST MODE OF S&eeMng, tearing, anfc Crmnins tf)em; AN ACCOUNT OF THE DISEASES TO WHICH THEY ARE LIABLE, AND THE BEST METHODS OF CURE. DIRECTIONS FOR GROUSE, PARTRIDGE, PHEASANT, WOODCOCK, SNIPE, HARE, AND WILD DUCK SHOOTING. WITH PARTICULAR INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE JUVENILE SPORTSMAN, AND MLCH MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION ON THE CHOICE OF GUNS, GUNPOWDER, SHOT, fa fa FOURTH EDITION, ENLARGED AND IMPROVED. BY B. THOMAS. LONDON: PRINTED FOR GALE, CURTIS, AND FENNER, PATERNOSTER-ROW. 1814. CONTENTS. Page PREFACE . . . . . vii Introduction. — Abstract of the Game Laws . 1 The Qualification .... ibid. A Gamekeeper . . . 7 Law cases . . . • .15 Certificate . . . . .22 Trespass . . . , . £4 Seasons for Hunting or Destroying Game . 28 Of Trafficking in Game, &c. . . .31 Particular Laws to prevent the improper Destruc- tion of Hares . . . .33 Rabbits and Pigeons . . . .34- Mutiny Act. — Penalties, how to be recovered in general . . . . .37 The Dog ..... 39 The Pointer . . . .55 The Setter, or large Land Spaniel . .57 The Springer, or Cock-Dog . . .61 Breeding and Rearing of Dogs . . .62 Training or Breaking Dogs for the Gun . 72 Diseases, &c. incidental to Dogs . . 87 Laws relating to Dogs . . . . 1 17 Duty on Dogs . . . . . 121 The Bird . . . . .122 The Grouse . . . . .123 The Partridge . . . . .132 The Pheasant . . . . .139 The Woodcock . . . .14-4 The Snipe . . . . .150 Preservation of Birds . . . .153 K60432 VI CONTENTS. Page The Hare <, 154, The Fowling-piece . . . .159 Proof of Barrels . . . v . 168 Causes of Bursting . . . . 170 Cleaning Gun-barrels . . . .175 Of the Recoil . . . . . 176 Of the Range of Barrels . . . 177 Scattering of Shot . . . .181 The Patent Breech . . , . 1 84 Elevated Breech . . . . 1 85 Of the Stock, Lock, &c. \ . .186 Forsytes Patent Gun-lock . . .190 The best Fowling-piece . . .194- Gunpowder . . . . .196 Shot . . . . . . 203 The Proportions of Powder and Shot in the Charge 205 The Wadding . . . . .207 Of Shooting ; Instructions for Juvenile Sportsmen 211 To keep a Fowling-piece from Rusting — Receipts for making Shoes resist Water . . 235 A Receipt to poison Mountains and other Lands 236 Wild-Duck Shooting . . . . 238 General Observations . . . . 240 Technical Terms ..... 270 Sportsman's Journal . . . . 272 PREFACE. INthe Preface to the First Edition of the Shooter's Guide, I informed the reader that the idea of publish ing such a book first arose from my conviction of the want of a little volume which should convey, in as concise and plain a manner as possible, every infor- mation requisite for the shooting sportsman ; its rapid sale seems to indicate my success, and induces me to issue a second edition. I am perfectly well aware that works upon this subject have at various times made their appearance, as well on the Continent as in England, none of which, however, were completely adapted for the sJiooting sportsman. Ttie works to which I have alluded, I am inclined to think, are generally consigned to oblivion; and though it is difficult to give the appearance of per- fect originality to a book of science (if I may be al- Vlil PREFACE. lowed the expression} which has been diffusely treated by preceding writers : yet, throughout) it will be found interspersed with matter entirely new ; and, I trust, taken collectively, will be deemed an acquisition to the juvenile shooter, as well as entertaining and useful to the experienced sportsman. On issuing the THIRD EDITION, I have only to observe, that I have made considerable additions, and taken every care to have the book as complete as possible. But it would be ungenerous not to acknow- ledge the assistance I have received from several gen- tlemen, as well in the Game Laws, as the other de- partments of this volume. The FOURTH EDITION makes its appearance with considerable additions, which I trust will be found interesting. Aog. 20, 1814. INTRODUCTION. ABSTRACT OF THE GAME LAWS. OF the origin and progress of the Laws relating to GAME, the most rapid view that we could take would necessarily lead us into considerable discussion. The history and laws of all countries abound more or less with matter connected with the pleasures of the chase. Unwilling, however, to detain the true Sportsman from the more profitable account of THINGS AS THEY ARE, we shall at once present him with a practical Abridgement of our own GAME LAWSJ and begin with what very naturally first presents itself to the mind, viz. The Qualification, Which, in the legal sense of the word, means pro- perty to a certain amount, and which is thus particu- larly specified in 22 & 23 Charles II. c. 25. " Any person or persons, not having lands of inheritance or freehold property, in his own or his wife's right, of the clear annual value of 100/. ; or leasehold property for life, or a term of 99 years or longer, of the clear yearly value of 1502. that is assessed to that amount, and clear of mortgage or other incumbrance, are de- ft 2 THE SHOOTER S GUIDE. clared ineligible to have or keep for themselves or ANY OTHER PERSON, guns, bows, greyhounds, setting-dogs, ferrets, lurchers, nets, hare-pipes, gins, snares, or other engines for the taking or killing rab- bits, hares, pheasants, partridges, or other game. Any person guilty of an infraction of this law is liable to a penalty of 5Z., one half of which sum to be given to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the parish, to be levied by distress under the warrant of a Justice ; and for want of distress, the offender may be sent to the house of correction for three months for the first offence, and for every subsequent offence four months." But this penalty of 5Z. is attached by the act of the 5th of Anne, c. 14; as it seems the sum of 20s., the penalty inflicted by previous acts, was deemed insufficient. The qualification of Charles II. and the penalty of Anne are the modern practice, and may be summed up in a few words thus : — Pursuing or killing game without the qualifications just recited, subjects the offender to a penalty of 5/. (supposing him to have a certificate ; if he has no cer- tificate, he is liable to an additional penalty of 20/.) By 9 Anne, c. 25. s. 3, a disqualified person is liable to the same penalty for having game in his posses- sion, unless it is ticketed by a qualified man. Qualification, in a legal sense, was, however, known prior to -the time of Charles II. In the reign of Ri- chard II. the qualification was 40s. per annum; James I. advanced it to 1(H.; and though these statutes have never been formally repealed, the act of Charles THE GAME LAWS. 6 II. rendered them a dead letter; consequently they merit no further observation. However, it will be highly requisite to notice some exceptions to the general rule of qualification ; for by the same statute of Charles, the following are quali- fied from the circumstances of their birth, though they possess no property whatever, viz. the son and heir-apparent of an esquire, or other persons of higher degree. Esquires, according to law, are the four esquires of the king's body. The younger sons of no- blemen and their male heirs for ever. The eldest sons of baronets, knights of the Bath, and knights ba- chelors, and their heirs male in the right line. Per- sons of higher degree than esquires, are doctors in the three learned professions, Serjeants at law, and colo- nels. It has been asserted, that subaltern officers, whose names appear in their commissions, with an esquire attached to them,are therefore esquires strictly speaking; however, I am of opinion that they are es- quires by courtesy, but not in the legal sense of the word. A justice is an esquire as long only as he con- tinues in the commission of the peace. But mark the paradox — Neither esquires, nor any of these per- sons of higher degree, are qualified to kill game, un- less they have the requisite property, though their eldest sons are, without any estate whatever ! 1 Term Rep. 44. Before I conclude the subject of qualification, I must observe, that a vicar in respect of his church has not an estate of inheritance in the eye of the law, B3 THE SHOOTER S GUIDE. but only for his life: and therefore must possess 150Z. per annum. Caldecot's Cases, 188. The owners and keepers of forests, parks, chases, or warrens, being stocked with deer or conies for their ne- cessary use, are qualified without the requisite estate, merely as far as relates to their forests, parks, &c. It appears that the lord of any manor or royalty is qualified in a legal sense, though his property may be insufficient for that purpose; that is, qualified, I sup- pose, merely for the manor of which he is the lord. In the same way, a gamekeeper may be said to be qualified, as lie has a legal right to shoot on the ma- nor for which he is deputed. Thus, except the qualified persons here enume- rated, any other is liable (by 5 Anne, c. H, s. 4) to the penalty of 5Z. before mentioned. It is also worthy of remark, that goods distrained for penalties under the Game Laws are not repleviable. Any justice of the peace, or lord or lady of manors, are allowed to take away any hare or other game, as well as any dogs, found in the possession of an un- qualified person. Kent Assizes. Maidstone, Wednesday, March 16, 1814. — Kingsnorth v. Breton and another. The Common Serjeant stated, that this was an ac- tion against the Rev. Dr. Breton, a magistrate, and Mr. Jemmett, a solicitor of great practice in the county, for causing the plaintiff's dog to be killed. The facts of the case were, that the plaintiff was sum- . THE GAME LAWS. 5 moned by Mr. Toke, a magistrate, to attend to an- swer a charge for keeping a lurcher. He attended accordingly, when the defendant, Dr. Breton, Mr. Toke, Mr. Brett, and two other magistrates were pre- sent, Mr. Jemmett acting as their clerk. Some in- vestigation took place, at the end of which Dr. Bre- ton told the plaintiff that he was convicted in the sum of 5/., and that the dog was forfeited, and should be destroyed. A constable of the name of Norley was then called, and desired to destroy the dog; but he hesitating, Mr. Jemmett repeated the or- der, and said he would pay him for so doing. Norley then took the dog out into the town of Asliford, where the magistrates were sitting at the Saracen's Head Inn, and he was shot in the market-place. The plaintiff borrowed of a friend on the spot the sum of 5Z. to pay the fine. Mr. Serjeant Best contended, that all this proceed- ing was warranted under the statute of Queen Anne, in which the Lord Chief Baron concurring, the plaintiff was nonsuited. Gamekeepers or any other persons may, by war- rant of a justice of the peace (22 and 23 Car. II. c. 25), on proper information, search the houses or other places of unqualified persons, and seize and keep for the use of the lord or lady of the manor, or destroy, any dogs, nets, engines, &c., as before expressed. The 1st of James I. c. 27, inflicts a penalty of 20s. (to the poor), or three months' imprisonment, as well as two sureties in 20/. each, for shooting or t> THE SHOOTERS GUIDE. destroying game. And the possession of game, by Will. & Mary, c. i>3, s. 3, subjects an unqualified possessor to an imprisonment of not more than one month, nor less than ten days, to be whipped and kept to hard labour. — These two last statutes may, however, be regarded as a dead letter. I have yet to notice the most illiberal as well as the most curious part of the statutes that relate to qualifi- cation. The act last enumerated (4 & 5 Will, and Mary) specifies, that if any inferior tradesman (what- ever property he may possess), apprentice, or other dis- solute person, shall hunt, hawk, fish, or fowl, such persons may be sued for wilful trespass, the first time he conies on any person's ground, and if found guilty, must pay the full costs of suit. — See the article " Committing Trespass." Inferior tradesman is a term which at this period certainly conveys no definite idea : it nevertheless shows the spirit of the times, and exhibits the admi- nistration of the Royal Revolutionist in no very fa- vourable light. However, this ridiculous statute may be said to sleep on the shelf; yet, not so much from the forbearing disposition of strict game-preservers, as from the very honourable judicial hostility which the modern bench has almost uniformly manifested against the frivolous and vexatious enforcement of those parts of the Game Laws, which are in direct contradiction to common sense as well as to the re- ceived notions of justice, and strongly mark the be- sotted and superstitious ignorance of former times. THE GAME LAWS. 7 A Gamekeeper. The 23d of Car. II. c. 25, s. 2, authorises lords of manors or other royalties, not under the degree of an esquire (for who are esquires, see the article Quali- fication) , to appoint gamekeepers within their manors or royalties, to take and seize all guns, bows, grey- hounds, setting-dogs, lurchers, &c. ferrets, trammels, nets, engines, 8cc., for the purpose of taking and kill- ing game. This act merely empowers gamekeepers to use means to prevent the illegal destruction of game ; but the 5th of Anne, c, 14, s. 4, enables these gamekeepers to kill game upon the manor for which they are deputed, for the use of their master. Selling game, however, without the consent of the lord or lady of the manor, subjects the keeper to an impri- sonment in the house of correction for three months. The 9th of Anne, c. 25, prevents the appointment of more than one gamekeeper to one manor, though prior to this period the number was unlimited. This act also orders that the name of the person appointed shall be registered with the clerk of the peace of the county, and a certificate granted on the pay- ment of one shilling: the breach of this a penalty of 5L This, however, is rendered a dead letter by 25 Geo. III. c. 5, s. 2, which enacts, that the depu- tation of a gamekeeper shall be registered with the clerk of the peace, and a certificate obtained of such registry, under a penalty of 201 (Gamekeepers of O TfiE SHOOTERS GUIDE. the royal family are exempt, and the royal family themselves procure no certificate.) The following is the form of a Gamekeeper's Deputation : " Know all men by these presents, that I, A. B. of , in the county of , lord of the manor of , in the same county, have no- minated, deputed, authorised, and appointed, and by these presents do nominate, depute, authorise, and appoint , of , to be gamekeeper of and within my said manor of- , with full power, licence, and authority, to pursue, take, and kill any hare, pheasant, partridge, or other game whatsoever, in and upon my said manor of •"— , for my sole and immediate use and benefit : and also to take and seize all such guns, bows, greyhounds, setting-dogs, lurchers, or other dogs, ferrets, trammels, low-bells, hays, or other nets, hare-pipes, snares, or other en- gines, for the pursuing, taking, or killing of hares, rabbits, pheasants, partridges, or other game, as shall be used within the precincts of my said manor, by any person or persons who by law are prohibited to keep or use the same. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this — day of . (Seal.) Sealed and delivered in the presence of . — , of • aforesaid. It is the duty of a gamekeeper to carry his depu- tation as well as his certificate with him, as without THE GAME LAWS. either of these he is not legally authorised to demand the name or certificate of any other person. If, however, a gamekeeper be qualified in his own right, he has no occasion to enter his deputation. But a keeper is not authorised, by any statute, to seize game which he may find in the possession of poachers even on his own manor, though it is lawful for him to take their dogs, nets, or other implements. Also, gamekeepers, if found killing game off the manors for which they were appointed, are liable to the same penalties as unqualified persons. The only difference, in this case, between them is, that a gamekeeper's gun and dogs are not seizable ; while those of an unqualified person may be taken. M. 9. G. 3. Rogers v. Carter.— The plaintiff, Rogers, brought an action against the defendant, being a justice of the peace, for taking the plaintiff's gun. After a verdict for the plaintiff, a new trial was moved for. The case was, the plaintiff, being a gamekeeper within the manor of Ringwood, in beat- ing for game within the said manor, sprung a covey of partridges, which he shot at within the said manor. They took a second flight, and he pursued them out of the manor, hut could not find them. As he was returning, he was met by the defendant about three quarters of a mile distant from the manor of Ring- wood, who asked him if he had a qualification. The plaintiff answered, I have a deputation from the lord of the manor of Ringwood. The defendant replied, You are now out of that manor, and demanded his B5 10 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. gun, and took it from him. The defendant did not shoot out of the manor, but was three quarters of a mile out of the manor with his gun and dog, with an intention of shooting at game. By the Court : — The question is, whether the justice had a right to take the plaintiff's gun from him, whilst he was sporting for the purpose of killing game out of the manor of Ringwood ? And we are all of opinion he had no such right. If he had killed game where he was not a gamekeeper, he might have been con- victed in the penalty of five pounds ; but he was entitled to keep and have dogs, guns, and nets, any- where, and a gamekeeper's gun cannot be seized either in going to or returning from the manor, or in any other place ; and if gamekeepers were permitted to seize one another's guns, it would create a kind of border war amongst them. — And the rule to show cause why there should not be a new trial was dis- charged. 2 Wilson, 387. However, though there is no legal authority for seizing the gun, &c. of a gamekeeper, he is liable, should he be seen beating only for game on another manor, to the penalty of 20L for having no certifi- cate, and also to 51. more as being disqualified. Nor has a gamekeeper any right to seize game found in the possession of a poacher, but merely the instru- ments for its destruction. By 48 Geo. III. c. 23, lords of manors are enabled to appoint and depute any person as gamekeeper whatever, whether acting in that capacity to any THE GAME LAWS. 11 other person or not. or the servant of any other per- son, qualified or unqualified, to kill game within a specified manor for his own use, or for the use of any other person or persons to be specified in such ap- pointment or deputation, whether qualified or not ; nor is it necessary such person should be entered or paid for as the male servant of the lord who thus gives the deputation : and gamekeepers thus ap- pointed are to have the same rights and privileges as if they were legally qualified and appointed as gamekeepers to the lord of such manors, under any laws in force prior to the passing of this act. But on the appointment of a new gamekeeper, a new certificate must be taken out; or he incurs the penalties of the statute. With respect to the appointment of a gamekeeper, it appears from 23 Car. 1L c. 25, s. 2, that lords of manors or other royalties, not under the degree of an esquire, may appoint gamekeepers : it is very clear, therefore, that persons under the degree just men- tioned have no legal right whatever to depute or appoint a gamekeeper, and consequently that those who are otherwise appointed are liable to the penal- ties above mentioned. There are great numbers thus illegally appointed ; and for who are esquires in the eye of the law, I refer the reader to page 3. Gamekeepers, generally speaking, possess no higher notions of honour or honesty than is necessary to escape the punishment of the law. It frequently happens that a notorious poacher, whom the utmost 12 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. vigilance of the neighbouring lord of the manor could not prevent from destroying game, is made gamekeeper ; it is a dernier resort ; a notorious poacher, a robber of hen-roosts, a nightly depre- dator— in fact, a vagabond whom every decent per- son shuns, is generally found to possess the requisite qualities for a gamekeeper ! But the mischief does riot end here : a fellow of this description, backed by an overbearing and tyrannical lord, becomes the pest of the neighbourhood ; he enters the cottages of the poor, without any warrant (well knowing that the dread of his master's power, and the length of his purse, are sufficient to deter them from attempting to punish him for such outrageous violence), and seizes their guns, though the bare keeping of such an instrument by any person is just and legal; and commits vexatious depredations in every possible form. Nor does he refrain from molesting those whose circumstances in life are sufficient to enable them to pay for a game certificate, and who occa- sionally take the diversion of shooting. It is true, he dare not break into their houses and steal their fowling-piece, or perhaps personally assault them ; but should they look over the hedge which surrounds his master's manor, they are sued for trespass, or tried for qualification ; and the angry lord on this occasion pursues the system of spending 3001 to put the de- fendant to the expense of 30/. It often happens, therefore, that a man will pay 5/. on the score of qualification^ sooner than be involved in a law-suit^ THE GAME LAWS. 13 which must, from the modern practice of the law, be attended with a much heavier expense. But selecting men of loose character for game- keepers, as well as paying them very low wages, de- feats, generally speaking, the very purpose it was meant to promote. The first is done on the princi- ple of setting one thief to catch another; yet it some- times happens that an understanding takes place between the gamekeeper and poacher ; the manor is thus securely plundered, and the spoil divided be- tween the parties. On the contrary, I will suppose the keeper to be an honest man (and there are, per- haps, many of this description) ; if he is a single man, it is possible he may barely support himself on his wages ; if, however, as it frequently happens, he has a wife and a number of children, can he support them on SOL per year ? which is very high wages indeed for a gamekeeper. The fact is, the man cannot see his family starve, and he is consequently driven to obtain further pecuniary resources from the sale of game: thus the stage-coaches procure a re- gular supply of game, which finds its way securely to the poulterers' shops, or to the houses of private indi- viduals. I do not mean to say that keepers engross the whole supply of the game-market; the regular and professed poacher comes in for his share; and by these means an abundance is obtained which would astonish those in particular who resort to such strict and even illegal means for the preservation of game. There are receiving-houses in almost every 14 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. town in the kingdom, v/hence game is distributed, if not as publicly as beef from a butcher's shop, at least with as well a regulated certainty. There are many very respectable persons, wh6 from revenge at being debarred with such litigious severity from en- joying the diversion of shooting, contrive to be sup- plied with abundance of game from either keepers or poachers, in such a way too as to render the im- plication of either party no very easy matter. As the prices of game are understood, so an outbuilding, back window, or some other place which can be ap- proached unseen, is fixed on as a point of contact, or, in other words, of depositing the marketable com- modity, and receiving the price of it. The money is there left for as much game as is wanted in the evening, and in the morning it is found that the in- terchange has taken place. There is another strong baneful lure exhibited to the view of a keeper, which the smallness of his sti- pend renders almost resistless : the penalty of 51. (see page 2.) inflicted on a disqualified person for hunting or shooting game, is divided between the poor of the parish and the informer. Litigious game- preservers never fail therefore to impress on the minds of their keepers the reward of fifty shillings for his vigilance : thus, with this prospect staring him in the face, an unprincipled or a starving game- keeper watches for his prey with the keenness of a wolf, ready either by matter of fact, or far-fetched construction, to seize his victim. Nevertheless, the THE GAME LAWS. 15 law is not fairly practised; as it awards half the penalty to the informs : the statute does not suffer the informer to be the ivitness; so, in these cases, the lord's attorney's clerk frequently becomes the informer, pro forma, and thus enables the keeper (the witness)) to obtain fifty shillings. — What a temp- tation to perjury ! I shall conclude this article by the following cases^ which very well illustrate some points of a game- keeper's authority, as well as the practice of the courts of law: — The following came on before the commissioners of the assessed tax act for the division of St. Albans, in the year 1812. A servant of the Hon. and Rev. W. Capel, vicar of Watford, informed against Hol- Hngshead, Carter, and Wilson, three keepers, ap- pointed by the Earl of Essex, for the manors of Wat- ford, Bushy, and Parksbury, charging them with having incurred penalties of 20/. each, for using a gun for the purpose of killing game without having procured such certificate as is directed by the 48th of his present Majesty. The Rev. Mr. Capel was himself the only witness to substantiate the charges, and he swore that he saw Hollingshead, on the 17th of September, shooting on the manor of Watford. On producing the certificate for 181 1, it appeared to be granted for the manor of Cashio, although that granted to him in 1810 was for the manor of Wat- ford ; and it was contended to be a mere clerical mistake, in inserting the word Cashio instead of Wat- 16 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ford. However, the commissioners thought them- selves bound to convict. The Rev. Mr. Capel then swore he saw Carter (who was gamekeeper for Bushy), in company with Hollingshead, on the estate of W. Smith, esq. in the manor of Cashio, on the 28th of September; that he saw both shoot, and one bird fall. Mr. Smith was called on the part of Carter, who said he had asked the favour of the Earl of Essex to send his gamekeepers to shoot him a brace of birds on his own land \ that they had done so, and sent him the birds. Nevertheless, the com- missioners convicted Carter. The Rev. Mr. Capel then swore that, while in conversation with the Earl of Clarendon, he saw Wilson come out of a wood in the manor of Cashio, with a gun in his hand, but that he had no dog, nor did he seem to be beating for game. This information was dismissed by the com- missioners, who also mitigated the penalties in the two former cases to 10Z. each. This very clearly proves, that a keeper is no way authorised to kill game out of the manor for which he is deputed. In fact, they are liable, not only to the penalty of 20/. for having no certificate, but also for 5/. as unqualified persons. Nothing is more com- mon than for a keeper to shoot on a manor for which he is not deputed, belonging to his master perhaps; which will, however, screen him from the penalty. Sportsmen should pay attention to this circumstance, in order to check the insolence of gamekeepers. THE GAME LAWS. 1 The following question was lately put to the board of taxes: — " Whether one game certificate will be sufficient for each deputation, or whether as many certificates as there are manors named must be taken out; and also, whether the certificate should be taken out where the manor is situate or, where jhe keeper resides?" The commissioners returned the follow- ing answer : — " One certificate only is necessary for each deputation ; and the certificate must be taken out where the master, or keeper, resides, depending on the payment ; for each of which cases, a separate certificate is directed." Fere v. Lord Cawdon. This was an action to recover the value of two sporting-dogs. Mr. Garrow stated the case: In August 1808, as the plantiff was going with his dogs on a shooting-excursion, he passed nearLord Cawdon's house at Golden-grove ; his luggage got loose, and in the delay of securing it, his dogs scattered them- selves through the fields in pursuit of hares. In a few minutes the report of fire-arms was heard, and the plantiff found that two of his dogs had been shot by the keeper, in obedience to the general orders of his master to that effect. A correspondence took place between the parties, in which the defendant declined giving the plaintiff any satisfaction. Lord Ellenborough observed, that the general order for shooting the dogs that might trespass, was altogether unjustifiable and illegal; that the question for the 18 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. jury to consider was, not what value might nominally be attached to the dogs, as being favourites, but what was their real value; and taking that consideration for their guide, he thought they should give the plantiff a liberal compensation. The jury returned a verdict, £)ne hundred pounds damages. A second action between the said parties for a similar loss took place in 1809 : — it was damages on account of the defendant's keeper having shot and killed the plantifFs dog ; — the plea was, " that the defendant, Lord Cawdon, was lord of a manor at Rid- welly, in the county of Carmarthen, and that the other defendant was his lordship's gamekeeper : — that the plaintiff's dog came upon that manor and was following a hare, and might then and there have killed the said hare ; that the gamekeeper shot the dog, as it was lawful for him to do/' To this plea there was a demurrer. Lord Ellenborough, by way of showing the absurdity of the plea, said, — "I think the plea does not jus! ify the killing by the game- keeper ; is it to be enaured that a man's dog, or any other animal, shall be shot because he follows a hare, without stating in the justification of killing that dog, it was necessary to kill it; or that the dog be- longed to an unqualified person, and was pursuing game unlawfully ? All this, or some of this, was surely necessary to be stated. If there be a precedent for such a plea as this, it is a precedent against com- mon reasoning and common sense, and the sooner it is overturned the better." Judgment for the plaintiff. THE GAME LAWS. 19 Somerset Assizes, 1 8 H . — Corner v. Champncys. This was an action brought against T. S. Champ- neys, esq. and his gamekeeper, Ralph Crozier, for shooting the plaintiff's greyhound ; which was proved hy several sporting gentlemen to l>e of such extraordinary value, that had it been their own they would not have taken fifty or Vven one hundred guineas for her. — This action was attempted to be justified by Mr. Champneys having caused boards to be put on the outside of his grounds, specifying that dogs found therein would be shot : but the judge was clearly of opinion, that such notice could not justify them in shooting the greyhound ; and directed the jury to find a verdict for the plaintiff to the full value of the greyhound, and they accordingly returned a verdict for the plaintiff,— Damages 50/. DOG-SPEARS. — Dean v. Sir William Clayton, Bart. This was an action tried at the assizes at Oxford, in 1814, to recover the value of a dog, killed by means of a dog-spear, in a wood called the Moor Wood, the property of Sir William Clayton, Bart. This wood, which is near six miles in circumference, and is situated on the confines of Oxfordshire and Buck- inghamshire, has for upwards of seven years past been converted into an enormous game-preserve by the owner, whose estate it joins for about one mile and a half only, afterwards abutting, for a space ex- ceeding four miles more, on the lands of different 20 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. proprietors, in both the counties before mentioned, to the great loss and injury of the farmers of those lands. The destruction committed by the immense number of wild animals to which so large a wood af- forded protection, became so serious a grievance, that one farmer, Mr. Benjamin Stallwood, of Becking, actually renounced his farm; and bis landlord, Mr. Johnson, together with Mr. Copestake Townsend, the landlord of another farm adjoining, called Finni- niore, published an invitation in the newspapers to all qualified persons to* sport upon their estates. This, however, did not afford an adequate remedy for the evil ; because the different keepers belonging to this vast preserve, made it their constant practice every morning, before sun-rise (Sundays only ex- cepted), to drive all the game from the adjoining grounds into the preserve, and then to fix their dog- spikes in all the tracts by which the game entered the wood ; so that if any sportsmen arrived after- wards, little or no game was to be found on the grounds contiguous to this vast wood, although the produce of those grounds was constantly eaten up by them ; and if, unfortunately, these sportsmen started a solitary animal, it was sure to take to this well- known asylum, and the dog by which it was pursued was as certain of being destroyed by the sharp spikes which guarded every inlet. The first person examined was the Rev. Mr. Tur- ner, of Great Marlow, to prove the killing of the dog. He deposed that he went with tbe plaintiff^ THE GAME tAVVS. $1 Mr. Dean, to shoot, on Finnimore Farm, by leave of Mr. Townsend; that in Finnimore Wood they started a hare, which took directly into the Moor Wood ; and that the only boundary between the two woods was a shallow ditch. Mr. Dean's dog pursued the hare, and was soon caught upon a dog-spear, which entered his breast; on being drawn off the spear he instantly died. A plan of the wood WES exhibited to the court, by which it appeared to be in- tersected with roads in different directions: also the fatal spear itself was produced ; the sight of which made a sensible impression on both the judge and the jury. It was confessed to be a very formidable instrument of destruction either to man or beast, and it was proved that several of these spears were placed close to the foot-paths frequented by men, women, and children likewise. — Stevens, the blacksmith, who made the spears, was then examined : he posi- tively swore that he did not know what use they were made for; that he did not think Sir William Clayton knew any thing about them ; that Joseph Webb, a farmer under Sir W. Clayton, and also one of his gamekeepers, paid him for making them. It appeared, however, that this man was but a journeyman blacksmith ; that he manufactured Sir William's iron, at so much a day, and that he had carried a large quantity of these spears, made out of strike iron, to House, the gamekeeper, who lives in the Moor Wood. It appeared clearly that Sir W. Clayton knew of 22 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. the dog-spears being set in his woods; and Mr. Townsend proved that four dogs belonging to dif- ferent gentlemen upon visits at his house, had within these few years been killed by them. The defendant called no witnesses. Mr. Justice Dallas reprehended severely, in his charge to the jury, a practice so imminently danger- ous and unfeeling, particularly as it appeared that women and children frequently passed that way. He said he had little doubt as to the illegality of the act in his own mind. A verdict was given to the plaintiff for 15?., the supposed value of the dog. Certificate. We cannot trace the origin of this legal instru- ment for killing game to remote antiquity : it was not known till the 25 Geo. 111. c. 50, s. 2; which enacts, that every person (except the royal family) in Great Britain, who shall use any dog, gun, net, or other engine for the taking or destroying of game (not being a gamekeeper), shall annually procure a certificate, which only a few years back was obtained from the clerk of the county, at the expense of 3/. 4s. In the 48 Geo. III. c. 55, the statute just mentioned underwent a sort of revision ; or, more properly speaking perhaps, was superseded ; and the sports- man is now to apply to the collector of the taxes, who will receive the money for the certificate, (which is now raised to 31. 14s. Gd.) and give a receipt for the THE GAME LAWS. 23 same, for which receipt, however, he is legally autho- rised to demand one shilling. The receipt thus ob- tained, is to be delivered to the clerk of the commis- sioners acting for the district, who will in return give the requisite certificate, without any additional ex- pense. A gamekeeper's certificate must be obtained in the same way, the expense of which was one guinea ; but it has, I suppose, experienced a rise in the price, in the same proportion as the former. But the mode of obtaining the certificate was not the only alteration introduced by 48 Geo. III., it added several other birds (namely, the woodcock, snipe, and land-rail) to the list of game, as well as the rabbit ; with, however, the following exceptions : — the taking of woodcocks or snipes in nets or springes, and the taking or destroying rabbits in warrens, or any inclosed ground; or by any person in land which he occupies. Let it be remembered, that merely the certificate will not enable a person to kill game : he must also possess the qualification by property, mentioned a few pages back under that head. If a qualified person sports without a certificate, he is liable to a penalty of 201. — if a non-qualified persons kills or hunts game with a certificate, he subjects himself to a penalty ofoL The commissioners for the affairs of taxes must annually insert, in one or more of the newspapers in the county, the names and residences of the persons who have procured certificates. 24 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDB. Trespass Applies either to qualified or non-qualified per- sons ; and means literally, the entry of one man upon the grounds of another, without the occupier's per- mission, and doing some damage, however trifling, to his real property, for which an action may be brought and satisfaction obtained according to the extent of the mischief, or the malicious intention of the tres- passer. Nevertheless, in order to prevent as much as possible vexatious litigation, it is enacted by 43 Eliz. and 22 & 23 Car. II. that where less damages than 40s. are given by the jury, the plaintiff shall be allowed no more costs than damages ; unless (See 8 & 9 Will, and Mary, c. 1 1.) it shall appear that the trespass was wilful and malicious ; in which case, the plaintiff shall recover full costs of suit. A man becomes a wilful trespasser in the legal sense of the term, if he come again upon the land or manor from which he has been desired to abstain, either verbally or by a written notice. The occu- pier of land can, on such land, demand the address of a sportsman, or a sight of his certificate, a refusal of which subjects the party to a penalty of 20?. This demand can also be made by any assessor or collector of taxes of the parish, commissioner, surveyor, in- spector, gamekeeper of the manor, or the landlord or lessee of the land upon which the sportsman is found. I should imagine that it is in order to prevent any fraud on the revenue, that the commissioner, sur- THE QAME LAWS. £5 veyor, &c. of the taxes, is thus authorised to inspect the sportsman's certificate. A verbal notice from the occupier or landholder is sufficient; and indeed the occupier of land has a legal right to order the lord of the manor, or even his own landlord, to abstain from sporting on the ground he occupies. However, landlords (at least sporting land- lords) are very careful to annul this power of the te- nant by a clause in the lease. As to a gamekeeper — In the first place, it is his duty to produce both his certificate and deputation, (supposing the keeper to be on the manor for which he is deputed ; his power ceases the moment he sets his foot off it,) on demanding the sportsman's address or a sight of his certificate. A verbal notice from either a keeper or a lord of a manor is not, I believe, legal : indeed, keepers generally carry printed notices: which ought to be drawn up in the following manner : Sept. S, 1814. To Mr. . s- 1 hereby give you notice, that if you hunt, set, net, hawk, fish, or fowl, or use any other method to destroy the game, upon any of my lands, manors, or royalties, within (such grounds) I shall deem you a wilful trespasser, and proceed against you as the lavr directs. « * To Mr. — •. 6 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. This notice, moreover, must be signed by every te- nant or occupier of land throughout the manor : — if any tenant refuse his signature, the notice will not ex- tend to the land of which he is in possession ; but the mandate of the lord is generally sufficient (if the lease does not provide the remedy). But in most cases the lord is not owner of the whole manor ; and it some- times happens, that occupiers of land independent of the lord will have nothing to do with his notices, and he consequently cannot prevent the sportsman coming upon such land, if the occupier has no objec- tion. I shall conclude this chapter with the following cases, as they exhibit the legal property which qua- lified persons have in the game of which they are in pursuit, which, in general, continues so long only as it remains unthin the limits of the manor or liberty of the owner; yet it is held, that if after having been started upon a person's own grounds, it be pursued and killed on those of another, it will nevertheless be his own property, because the possession which he gained by finding it within his own liberty is conti- nued by the immediate pursuit. 1 1 Mod. Rep. 75. But if it is started on anotlier mans ground, and kill- ed there, it will belong to him on whose ground it was killed, because the property arises ratione soli. Lord Raym. 251. Moreover, if having been started in a person's ground (not being his own) it be killed in that of a third person, it will belong neither to him on whose TMfi GAME LAWS. 2/ ground it was started, nor to him. on whose ground it was killed, but to the person who killed it, though he will be guilty of a trespass on the grounds of both the other persons. But if a stranger start game in the chase or jree- warren of one man, and hunt it into the liberty of an- other, the property will continue in the owner of the chase or warren, and the keeper may pursue and re- take them ; for whilst the keeper pursues it, it does not in law pass into a new liberty* A chase is a privileged place for the keeping of beasts of chase or royal game, with exclusive power of hunting therein. 2 Black. Com. 38. A free icarren is a franchise granted by the king for the custody of beasts and fowls of warren, viz. hares, rabbits, partridges, and pheasants; but this franchise is now little known, the name being retain- ed principally in grounds set apart for breeding rab- bits. Ibid. In concluding this chapter, it will be necessary to remark, that a trespass is deemed wilful, (though no damage may have been done,) where the sportsman comes upon ground from which he has been legally noticed to abstain. It has been erroneously supposed, that a notice remains in force one year only ; but this is not the case — a notice may be said to remain far the life of the individual to whom it is given; with this exception, however, that in case the manor changes its lord, a second notice will be rendered necessary ,; also the removal of any of the occupiers of land will 28 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. produce a nullity as far as relates to that particular spot. Seasons for Hunting or Destroying Game. The season for shooting grouse (called red game) commences on the 12th of August, and concludes on the I Oth of December. Heath-fowl (black game) begins on the 20th of August, and ends on the 10th of December. The mere possession of these birds at any other period of the year (except such as may be kept tame), subjects the party (13 Geo. III. c. 55) to a penalty of not more than 201. nor less than \OL for the first offence ; for every subsequent offence, not more than 30Z. nor less than 201. — half to the informer, and the other half to the poor of the parish ; and in case neither penalty nor distress can be had, not less than three months nor more than six months imprisonment. In new forests the season for heath- fowl does not commence till the 1st of September. The partridge season commences on the 1st of September, and ends the 1 st of February. Pheasants begin 1st of October, and conclude 1st of February. The possession of these creatures at any other period (except tame) subjects the party to a penalty of 5^. for every bird (2 Geo. III. c. 19, and 39 Geo. III. c. 34). Bustard-shooting commences the 1st of September, and concludes 1st of March. — The same penalties attached as for heath-fowl and grouse. THE GAME LAWS. 29 The taking of wild ducks, teal, widgeons, &c. be- tween the 1st of June and the 1st of October, ren- ders the party liable to a penalty of five shillings (D Anne, c. 25, and 10 Geo. II. c. 32). Nor has the occupier of the ground a legal right' to burn the heath, furze, &c. upon grouse- mountains or wastes, between the 2d of February and the 24th of June, upon pain of being committed to the house of correction, there to be whipped and kept to hard labour for a period not exceeding one month, nor less than ten days. The season for the hare is from Michaelmas till Candlemas ; but there does not appear any penalty attached to the infraction of this law. There is no specified time for woodcocks or snipes. To hunt or destroy game on a Sunday or Christ* nias-day, or in the night (that is, between 7 o'clock at night and (y in the morning from the 12th of October to the 12th of February, and between 9 o'clock at night and 4 in the morning from the 1 2th of February to the 12th of October), renders the party liable to a penalty of not less than 10Z. nor more than 20L for the first offence ; for the second, not less than 201. nor more than 30Z. — half to the informer, and half to the poor (13 Geo. III. c. 80). There were two anterior statutes, which inflicted much less penalties; and though they were not formally repealed by that just mentioned, they were thus rendered a dead letter. Moreover (39 & 40 Geo. III. c. 56), if two OP 30 THE SHOOTER'S d and 23d of Charles II. c. 25, if any person be found using or setting any snare or other engine for the purpose of taking hares, he shall make the injured party such recompence as the jus- tice shall appoint, and pay down immediately, tor the use of the poor, a sum not exceeding ten shillings ; $4 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. otherwise be committed to the house of correction for a time not exceeding one month. In this case, the oath of one witness, before one justice, is suffi- cient ; but it must be done within one month after the offence is committed. Rabbits and Pigeon$. I am of opinion that the law respecting these animals is in general but little understood; and though rab- bits and pigeons may not much interest the sports- man, yet I conceive this volume would be incomplete Without a few words on this head. By 3 James 1. no person has a right to hunt or kill conies, unless possessed of hereditaments of the yearly value of 40L or worth in goods 200L (except he have an inclosed rabbit-ground worth 40s. a year). An infringement of this law subjects the offender to have bis dogs or engines seized by any person having he- reditaments in fee, in tail, or for life, of the annual value of I GO/, in his own right or that of his wife; vrho is entitled to keep them for his own use. By 22 & 23 Charles II. c. 25. it is enacted, that if any person shall, at any time, enter into any ground lawfully used for breeding or keeping rabbits (whether inclosed or not), and chase or kill any of these ani- mals against the will of the owner, not having lawful title so to do, shall, upon conviction by one witness,, or his own confession, before a justice of the peace, forfeit to the injured party treble damages and costs,. THE GAME LAWS. 35 be imprisoned for three months, and find security for future good behaviour. The prosecution must be commenced before the expiration of one month after the offence lias been committed. By the same statute it is also enacted, that no per- son shall kill or take in the night any rabbits upon the borders of warrens or other grounds lawfully used ibr keeping conies, except the owner or lawful pos- sessor of the ground upon which such rabbits may be found, or a person employed by such owner or possessor. An offence subjects the party to make such satisfac- tion as the justice shall think proper, and forfeit for the use of the poor a sum not exceeding ten shillings; or be committed to the house of correction for a term not exceeding one month. This penalty too is inflicted by the same act, upon any person found setting or using any snares or other engines for the taking or destroying of conies. By 9 Geo. I. ct 22, any person entering armed and disguised, any grounds where rabbits are lawftilly kept, and robbing the same ; or who shall, though1 not armed and disguised, rescue any person in custody for such an offence, or procure any person to joitu him in such an act ; such person shall be deemed guilty of felony without benefit of clergy ! Also, 5 Geo. III. c. 14. makes it transportation for seven years, or such lesser punishment by whip- ping, imprisonment, or fine, as the court shall think fit, for any person to enter any rabbit-ground in the 36 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. night-time, and there take or kill any coney against the will of the owner, or aid and assist therein. N. B. If rabbits come upon a person's ground, and damage his herbage or corn, it is lawful for him to kill them. Pigeons are not game : notwithstanding, as there is a penalty attached to their destruction, and as they occasionally present themselves to the sportsman, I will take the liberty of saying a few words on them in this place. Any person who shall shoot, or destroy in any manner, any pigeon, shall, on conviction before two justices, on the oath of two witnesses, or on his own confession, be committed to gaol for three months, or pay, for the use of the poor, twenty shillings for every pigeon; or within one month after commitment find sureties not to offend again. However, by 2 Geo. II. c. 29. one witness and one justice are sufficient: to forfeit twenty shillings to the person who prosecutes, or be committed to the house of correction and kept to hard labour for any teim not exceeding three calendar months, nor less than one. N B. Notwithstanding, a man has a right to shoot any pigeons he may find destroying his corn. THE GAME LAWS. Mutiny Act. The annual Mutiny Act carries the appearance of severity against the gentlemen of the sword. Ac- cording to this, if any officer or soldier shall kill any kind of game, poultry, or fish, and be convicted on the oath of one witness, before a justice, an officer* so offending shall forfeit five pounds to the poor of the parish ; but if a soldier be thus convicted, the commander-in-chief of the place shall pay twenty shillings for every such offence ; and if not paid within two days after demand by the constable or overseer of the poor, he shall forfeit his commission. If, however, leave be first obtained of the lord or lady of the manor, under his or her hand and seal, they are not liable to the above penalties. Penalties, haw to be recovered in general. At first view, this chapter may appear superfluous, as the modes of recovering the penalties have been, in some measure, already shown. But the 8th of Geo. 1. c. 19. provides, that, if any person shall be liable to any pecuniary penalty, upon conviction be- fore any justice of the peace, respecting game, the prosecutor may, if he think proper, sue for the whole * This of course is supposing such officer to be an unqua- lified person. S3 THJE SHOOTER'S GUIDB. of such penalties (2 Geo. III.) in the courts at West- minster ; and, if he recover the same, shall be allowed double costs; and no part of such penalty paid to the use of the poor. But sucK action must be brought within six months after the offence, and in the name of the attorney-general, or some officer of the stamp duties. — Bum's Inst. Art. Game* THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. THE DOG. IN treating this subject, it will be highly necessary to make a few prefatory observations; or, in other words, to speak of dogs generally, as well as of their origin, before we proceed to those kinds which are the imme- diate object of the shooting sportsman. The Dog is perhaps the most intelligent of all quadrupeds, one of the most useful servants, and cer- tainly the sincerest friend to man. Independent of his beauty, his vivacity, force, and swiftness, he pos- sesses all those internal qualifications that can conci- liate the affections of his master, and induce the ty- rant to become a protector. A natural share of cou- rage, an angry and ferocious disposition, render this- animal, in its savage state, a formidable enemy to the different tenants of the forest : these qualities, how- ever, give way to others of a very different com- plexion in the domestic dog, whose only ambition seems to be a desire to please : he is seen to come crouching along,, to lay hia force, his courage, and all his useful talents at the foet of his master ; he waits 40 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. his orders, to which he pays a ready and implicit obedience; he consults his looks, and frequently a single glance is sufficient to put him in motion ; he is constant in his affections, friendly without interest, and grateful for the slightest favours; much more mindful of benefits received, than injuries offered ; far from being driven away by unkindness, he still con- tinues humble, submissive, and imploring; his only hope to be serviceable, his only terror to displease: he licks the hand that has been just lifted to strike him ; and at length, by submissive perseverance, dis- arms resentment. The dog is more faithful even than the most boasted among men. " History (says Mr. Pope) is more full of examples of the fidelity of dogs than of friends." Homer finely describes the fidelity of Ulysses* dog, Argus ; who recognised his master, after a very long absence, when none of his former acquaintances, nor even Penelope, his wife, were able to penetrate the disguise under which this monarch appeared in his own house. More docile than man, more obedient than any other animal, he is not only instructed in a short time, but also conforms to the dispositions and manners of those who command him; he takes his tone from the house he inhabits, like the rest of the domestics : he is disdainful among the great, and churlish among clowns ; always assiduous in seeking his master, and friendly only to his friends ; he is indifferent to all the rest, and declares himself openly against such as seem to be dependent like himself; he knows a beg THS DOG. 41 gar by his clothes, his voice, or his gestures, and ge- nerally forbids his approach with marks of anger. At night, when the guard of the house is committed to his care, he seems proud of the charge : he continues a watchful sentinel, goes his rounds, scents strangers at a distance, and, by barking, gives them notice of his being upon duty: if they attempt to break in upon his territories, he becomes fiercer, threatens, flies at them, fights, and either conquers alone, or alarms those who have most interest in coming to his assistance : however, when lie has obtained a victory, he quietly reposes upon the spoil, and abstains from what he has deterred others from abusing. Hence we see of what importance this animal is to us in a state of nature. Supposing fora moment that the species had not existed, how could man (without the assistance of the dog) have been able to conquer, tame, and reduce to servitude, every other animal? How could he discover, chase, arid destroy, those that were noxious to him ? In order to be secure, and be- come master of all animated nature, it was necessary for him to begin, by making a friend of part of them, to attach such of them to himself, by kindness and ca- resses, as seemed fittest for obedience and active pur- suit. Thus, the first art employed by man was in conciliating the favour of the dog; and the fruit of this art was the peaceable possession of the earth. The generality of animals have greater agility, greater swiftness, and more formidable arms from na- ture than man ; their senses, and particularly that of 4% THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. smelling, are far more perfect ; the having gained,, therefore, a new assistant, especially one whose scent ie so exquisite as that of the dog, was the gaining a new sense — a new faculty, which before was wanting. The machines and instruments which we have ima- gined for perfecting the rest of the senses, do not ap- proach to that already prepared by nature, by which we are enabled to find out every animal, though un- seen, and thus destroy the noxious, and use the ser- viceable. The dog, thus useful in himself, taken into a par* ticipation of empire, exerts a degree of superiority over all animals that require human protection. The flock and herd are even more obedient to his voice than to that of the shepherd or the herdsman ; he conducts them, guards them, and keeps them from capriciously seeking danger ; and their enemies he considers as his own; nor is he less useful in the pur- suit, when the sound of the horn, or the voice of the huntsman, calls him to the field — he testifies his pleasure by every little art, and pursues, with un- wearied perseverance, those animals, which, when taken, he must not expect to divide. The desire of hunting is indeed natural in him, as well as in his master, since war and the chase are the only employ- ment of savages. All animals that live upon flesh, hunt by nature : the lion and the tiger, whose force is so great that they are sure to conquer , hunt alone, and without art; while the wolf, the fox, and the wild dog, hunt in packs, assist each other, and share Tins iK)€r. 43 the spoil. But when education has perfected this talent in the domestic dog; when he has been taught by men to repress his ardour, to measure his motions, and not to exhaust his force by too sudden an exer- tion of it, h« then hunts with method, and generally with success. Although the wild dog, such as he was before he cam« under the protection of man, is at present ut- terly unknown, no such animal being now to be found in any part of the world, yet there are many that, from a domestic state, have turned savage, and entirely pursue the dictates of nature. In those de- serted and uncultivated countries, where dogs are found wild, they seem entirely to partake of the dis- position of the wolf ; they unite in large hodies> and attack the most formidable animals of the forest—- the cougar, the panther, and the bison. In America, to which place they were originally brought by the Europeans, and abandoned by their masters, they have multiplied to such a degree, as to spread in packs over some parts of those extensive continents, and attack all other animals — even man himself does not pass without insult. In those places they are treated in the same manner as all carnivorous ani- mals, and killed as often as opportunities occur : not- withstanding, they are easily tamed : when taken home and treated with kindness, they quickly become submissive and familiar, and continue faithfully at- tached to their masters : different in this respect froiu the fox and the wall, who, though takea ever so 44 THE SHOOTERS €U1DE. young, are gentle only while cubs, and as they grow older, give themselves up to their natural appetites of rapine and cruelty. In short, it may be asserted, that the dog is the only animal whose fidelity remains un- shaken : the only one who knows his master and the friends of the family — the only one who instantly distinguishes a stranger — the only one that knows his name, and answers to the domestic call — the only one who seems to understand the nature of subordination, and seeks assistance — the only one who, when he misses his master, testifies his loss by complaints — the only one whose natural talents are evident, and whose education is always successful. Thus as the dog is the most complying in his dis- position, so also is he the most susceptible of change in his form: — the varieties of this animal being too numerous, for even the most careful describer to mention. Climate, food, and education, all make strong impressions upon him, and produce alterations in his shape, colour, hair, size, and indeed every thing but his nature. The same dog, taken from one cli- mate and brought to another, seems to become an- other animal; but different breeds even are as much separated to outward appearance, as any two animals the most distinct in nature ; nothing appears to re- main constant with them but their internal confor- mation : different in the figure of the body, in the length of the nose, in the shape of the head, in the length and direction of the ears and tail, in the co- lour, the quantity, and quality of the hair ; in short* THE DOG. 45 Different in every thing but that general appearance which serves to distinguish the species, and keep this animal distinct from all others. It is this peculiar conformation, and power of producing an animal that can re-produce, which marks the kind, and approxi- mate forms that at first sight appear heterogeneous, and no way adapted for conjunction. From these considerations, therefore, we may at once pronounce all dogs to be of one kind ; but which of them is the original of all the rest, is not easy to determine. The celebrated Buffon supposes the Shepherd's Dog to have been the original stem, whence have sprung the present numerous branches. Goldsmith has adopted the same opinion. This is that dog with long coarse hair, pricked ears, and a long nose ; which is common enough among us, and receives his name from being principally employed in guarding and attending sheep. This indeed seems to be the primitive animal of his kind ; and we shall be more inclined to this opinion, if we attend to the different characters which climate produces on this animal, and the different races of dogs which are propagated in every country: and in the first place, if we examine those countries which are still savage, or but half-ci- vilised, where it is most probable the dog, like his master, has received but few impressions from art, we shall find the shepherd's dog, or one much resem- bling him, still prevailing amongst them. The dogs that have run wild in America and in Congo, ap- 4<> THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. proaeh this form. The dog of Siberia, Lapland, »nd Iceland, of the Cape of Good Hope, of Madagascar, Ca&cut, and Malabar, fe&ve -all a long nose, pricked ears, and resemble the shepherd's dog very nearly. In Guinea the dog very speedily takes this form ; for at the second or third geijeFatkxn the animal forgets to bark, his ears and -his tail become pointed, and his hair drops off, while a -coarser, thinner kind corwes in its place. This sort of dog is -also to be found in the temperate cH mates in great abundance, particularly among those who, preferring usefulness to beauty, employ an animal that requires very little instruction to be serviceable. The shepherd's dog, transported into the tem- perate climates, and among people entirely civilised, such as England, France, and Germany, will be divested of his savage air, his pricked ears, his rough, long, and thick hair ; and from the influence of climate and food alone, will become either a matin, a mastiff, or a hound : these three seem to be the immediate descendants of the former, and from them the other varieties have been produced. The gray matin hound, which is in the second branch, transported to the North, becomes the great Danish dog; and this, sent to the South, becomes the greyhound of different sizes. The same, trans- ported into Ireland, the Ukraine, Tartary, Epirus, and Albania, becomes the great wolf dog, known by the name of the Irish wolf dog. The mastiff, which is the third branch, and chiefly THE DOG. 47 a native of England, when transported into Den- mark, becomes tke little Danish dog ; arid this little Danish dog, sent into the tropical and warm climates, becomes the animal known by the name of the Turkish dog without hair. All these races, with their varieties, are produced by the influence -of climate, joined to the different food, education, and shelter, which they have received among mankind. All other kinds, therefore, may be eousickred as mongrel races ; and as these are extremely nume- rous, and vary much in different countries, it would be almost enddess to mention the whole ; besides, nothing but experience can ascertain the reality of these conjectures, although they have so much the appearance of probability ; and until that gives more certain information, it will not be necessary to enter more minutely into this subject, at least ki this place. It was the strong similitude of the dog and the wolf, both externally and internally, that first led some able naturalists to consider them as the same animal, and to regard the wolf as the dog in its savage state of freedom ; however, I believe this opinion is now exploded : — The natural antipathy tliese two animals bear to each other; the longer time which the wolf goes with young than the dog (the former going over a hundred days, and the latter about sixty) ; the longer period of life too in the wolf than the dog (the former living more than 4S THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. twenty years, and the latter about fourteen) ; all suf- ficiently point out a distinction, and draw a line that must for ever keep them asunder. The wolf, although apparently modeled upon the same plan as the dog, yet only offers the reverse of the model. If his form be similar, his nature is so different that he only preserves the ill qualities, without any of his good ones. Indeed their disposi- tions are so completely reverse, that no two animals can have a more perfect antipathy to each other. A young dog shudders at the sight of a wolf; he even shuns his scent ; which, though unknown, is so re- pugnant to his nature, that he comes trembling to seek protection near his master; while an older dog, conscious of his strength, bristles up at the sigbt, manifests every symptom of animosity, attacks him \vith courage, endeavours to put him to flight, and does every thing in his power to rid himself of a pre- sence so perfectly hateful. These two animals never meet without flying or fighting — fighting too for life or death, showing no mercy on either side. If the wolf prove victorious, he tears and devours his enemy ; the dog, on the contrary, is more generous, and contents himself with his victory : lie does not seem to think that the body of a dead enemy smells well ; he leaves him where he falls, to serve as food for birds of prey, or for other wolves, since they de- vour each other ; — for whenever one wolf happens to be desperately wounded, the rest track him by his THE DOG. 49 Llood, and are sure to show him no mercy. The dog, even in his savage state, is not cruel: he is easily tamed, and continues firmly attached to his master: the wolf, when taken young, sometimes be- comes tame, but has never any attachment. The ancients asserted, that the wolf and the dog would breed together; nor is in fact this idea con* fined to the naturalists of antiquity, as the same doc- trine is strongly argued by many of the modern?. The celebrated Mr. John Hunter was of this opi- nion, and further remarked, that the jackal (as well as the wolf and fox) would engender with the dog. However, it does not appear, from what he has writ- ten on this subject (at least what I have seen) that he was ever able to demonstrate it by actual experience. It is true, he brings forward a considerable body of second-hand evidence, which from his manner he no doubt believed himself; but, I must confess, it by no means convinces me, particularly when a direct proof of the contrary was absolutely obtained by that great naturalist, Buffon. The latter assures us, that all his endeavours to induce the dog and the wolf to engender were ineffectual. He bred up for this pur- pose a young wolf, which was taken in the woods at two months old, with a matin dog of the same age. They neither of them knew any other individual of their kind, nor even any other man but he who had the charge of feeding them. In this manner they were kept for three years, without constraining or tying either of them up. During the first year the D 50 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. young animals played with each other, and seemed mutually fond. In the second they began to dispute about their victuals, although more than sufficient was given them ; and the quarrel always began on the wolf's side. The dog was the strongest of the two ; but, as he was more gentle, in order to secure him from the attacks of the wolf, he had a collar put round his neck. In the third year, the quarrels of these ill-paired associates became more vehement, and their combats more fierce, and frequent; the wolf therefore had a collar put about its neck as well as the dog, who began to be more fierce and unmer- ciful. During the first two years, neither seemed to tes- tify the 1'east tendency towards engendering ; and it was not till the end of the third, that the wolf, which was the female, showed the natural desire, but without abating either in its fierceness or obsti- nacy. This appetite indeed rather increased than repressed their animosity; they oecame every day more untractable and ferocious, and nothing was heard between them but the sounds of rage and re- sentment. In less than three weeks they both be- came remarkably lean, without ever approaching each other, unless to combat At length their quar- rels became so desperate, that the dog killed the wolf; and he was soon after obliged to be killed himself; for, upon being set at liberty, he flew upon every animal he met ; fowls, dogs, and even mem themselves, not escaping his savage fury, THE DOG. 51 The fox is an animal resembling the dog both externally and internally, and too common in this country to need a separate and particular description Buffon tried the same experiment with foxes with no better success ; and yet there are numbers of animals at present in England, the reputed offspring of a dog and a fox. Buffon, however, seems to think that their natures are too opposite ever to provoke genial desire, Mr. Thornhill, in his Shooting Directory, asserts, that the wolf and the dog (as well as the fox) uill engender together, and seems very anxious to con- trovert the authority of Buffon. This gentleman, however, only brings forward hearsay, or second- hand evidence; and therefore we must regard what he says accordingly. A dealer in dogs once showed the author a mongrel animal, which he assured him was the off- spring of such a conjunction. It is true, it bore a great resemblance to the wolf: its eye ran slantingly upwards, something resembling that of the last-men- tioned animal, the colour was similar, and the visage altogether manifested much of that malignant, savage disposition so conspicuous in the countenance of a wolf: — notwithstanding this, I am inclined to doubt the dog-dealer's assertions, who, I make no doubt, if he thought it would enhance the price of the animal, would not hesitate to assert, that it was the offspring of a dog and a tiger. With respect to the fox and the dog, I have to 52 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. .observe, that of all the tame foxes that have fallen under my observation, some of which have beea extremely familiar with the dogs kept at the same place, I never knew any of these animals engender x)r breed ; and I am persuaded they will not. Not- withstanding the supposition generally obtains belief; and I have heard it remarked, that the best way of inducing them to copulate is to take a small bitch (a terrier, for instance) when in heat, and tie her near the holes of foxes, where she is to remain all night, and the dog-fox, it is asserted, will line her This I have known to be tried several times, but never with success. I will not deny that a bitch may have been left this way, and afterwards have .proved with pup ; but it has been owing to a male of her own kind getting to her, since I am decidedly of opinion a fox would never come near her. However, that there are dogs which very much resemble the fox in appearance cannot be denied ; yet, let it be recollected, that dogs may be bred to almost any shape or colour without assistance from other animals ; and which in fact is the case with most other creatures that have been long under the protection of man — pigeons, for instance, as the fanciers term it, can be bred to a feather. The generic characters of the dog are these : he •has six cutting teeth in the upper jaw; those at the sides longer than the intermediate ones, which are lobated : in the under jaw there are also six cutting .teeth, the lateral being lobated; there are four canine THK DOG. 53 teeth, one on each side both above and below, and six or seven grinders, It is very natural to conclude, from the structure of the dog's teeth, that he is a carnivorous animal ; but he will riot eat indiscriminately of every animal substance; he will refuse the bones of a goose, crow, or hawk, as well as the flesh of his own species, which can be dressed in no way so as to deceive him ; but he will eat most other animal substances, whether fresh or putrid; he will eat fruits, succulent herbs, and bread of all sorts. His digestive poweis are so great, that he draws nourishment from the hardest bones. He is subject to sickness, especially at the beginning of summer, and before bad weather ; and, in order to excite vomiting, he eats the blades of grass, but most particularly of the bearded wheat- grass, or rough cock's-foot grass, which in general causes him to discharge the contents of his stomach, and consequently gives him relief. The dog eats very greedily ; and, if allowed, will gorge so as to be scarcely able to contain himself, especially of horse- flesh. If he steals any thing, he seems conscious of the crime, and generally slinks away with his tail* between his legs ; he does the same when threatened with angry words ; and, indeed, whenever he is aware of having acted improperly. This animal drinks by lapping with his tongue, frequently, and in small quantities. A dog will rurr iiito the water in hot weather to cool himself, espe- cially a setter or pointer when hard hunted. 54 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. His excrements, particularly after eating bones, are hard and white ; and were formerly in great re- pute among plm* Ams as a septic, but I believe are now disregarded; if they fall on vegetables, they ge- nerally destroy them : the same may be said of his urine. The dog, however, is particular in his places, and mostly throws his dung where it cannot do in- jury;— thistles, high stones, and the roots of trees, seern to be his favourite places for this purpose. Till he is a year old, he crouches his hinder parts for the purpose of ejecting his mine, which falling upon leather will cause it to rot. After twelve months, he throws out his urine sideways, by raising his leg against a wall, tree, &c.; and, whenever lie comes to a place where another dog has ejected urine before him, he never fails to do the same. When he is fatigued, his tongue hangs out of his mouth ; but he never perspires. When he is about to lie down, he turns himself round several times ; and, if uneasy, will rise and alter his position. He sleeps little, and in his sleep seems to hear as acutely as if awake : he may be frequently heard to whimper while asleep, which is an indication of dreaming. As to his sense of smelling : — it is well known, that, in this respect, he is surpassed by no animal whatever, and is a circumstance with which every person is so well acquainted, that it will be unneces- sary for me to say more on this subject. According to some modern naturalists, there are twenty-three varieties of this animal ; and I am con- THE DOG. 55 fident they might be branched out into many more. However, as a list of these varieties would perhaps afford but little amusement, and certainly be of no service to the sportsman, I shall omit it. Also, it might perhaps be expected that I should relate some of the surprising anecdotes of the fidelity and saga- city of the animal which forms the subject of the present chapter, and which are in fact already de- tailed in a hundred different books, true probably, for the most part, but frequently too highly coloured : however, as I believe the whole of my readers have sufficiently stored their memories with tbese matters, and that consequently a relation of them here would be uselessly swelling the volume, I will therefore close the present chapter* THE POINTER Is of foreign extraction, and frequently called the Spanish Pointer. The great utility and excellence of this dog, in shooting partridges, moor-game, &c. are well known. The pointer is now naturalized 111 this country, which indeed has long boasted dogs of this description superior to any other nation. For some years back, numbers of sportsmen have paid great attention to preserving and improving this breed, and have been well recompensed for their trouble. This dog is gentle, docile, and timid ; and remarkable for the aptness and facility with which it receives instruction. 5f> THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. • The pointer generally to be recommended is of the middle size ; well made, active, light, and strong. It will easily be perceived, that a dog of this descrip- tion will bear a vast deal of hunting; whereas a small one, however good he may be, is by no means calculated for a piece of strong turnips or potatoes, long and stiff stubbles, or mountains where the heath is strong and long : on the contrary, it is generally supposed, that a large dog is much sooner tired by his own weight than one of the middle size : conse- quently the latter are in general to be preferred, and, i deed, I would by all means recommend them ; but at the same time, 1 would not refuse a large dog for no other reason than his size; as, however large a dog may be, it often happens that he has strength according to his bulk; and I have seen some in- stances of very large dogs, whose strength has sup- ported long-continued exertion, not to be borne by one of a smaller size, and whose good qualities have placed them at the summit of excellence. With respect to colour, much perhaps may depend on fancy; and no doubt there are very good dogs of all colours : however, those 1 would recommend are the liver or brown, and white. A white dog is to be preferred on account of his good temper, and being naturally less subject to disease than others, which arises from the predominancy of phlegm in his con- stitution ; he has an excellent nose, is a curious hun- ter, is full of stratagems and cunning, and may be seen at a great distance. Pointers of a brown or THE DOS. 57 liver colour are generally good ones ; but they are certainly difficult to be seen at a great distance, par- ticularly en a mountain, which gives the sportsman sometimes a vast deal of trouble; at the same time, a brown dog will bring you nearer the game, and fs particularly useful when it will not lie well : birds will suffer a brown dog to approach them much nearer than a white one, which arises solely from his colour approximating more nearly that of stubbles, &c. among which he hunts, and consequently ren- ders him a less distinguishable object. A dog of the lemon or red colour is generally of a giddy and impatient nature, as choler is found to be the most predominant humour in him. In feet, in general, white and brown, or these colours mixed, are to be preferred. If a dog has much white upon him, it is an indication of good temper. THE SETTER, OR LARGE LAND SPANIEL. THIS animal is more elegantly formed than the pointer, ranges with greater speed, and is more hardy. There are many sportsmen who prefer the pointer to the setter, while others are found of a contrary opinion ; though it appears to me that setters are much more used at present than they were some years back. They certainly have a great advantage over the pointer in grouse-shooting, provided water is plentiful; for, when hunting, a setter wants to drink more frequently than a pointer; and it some* D 5 *S THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. times happens, especially in a dry summer, that water is not to be met with so often as the former seems to require in those mountainous countries where grouse are chiefly found It might naturally enough be asked, why a setter requires water in hot weather ofteuer than a pointer ? It arises, no doubt, from the former being more thickly clad; and this will be found to obtain in all dogs that have much hair com- pared with those which have but tbin coats. How- ever, the feet of the setter are much better defended against the sharp cutting of the heath than those of the pointer, by having a great deal of hair growing between the toes, and round the ball of the foot, of which the other is almost destitute: for this reason also, when the ground has become hard by frost, his superiority is strikingly conspicuous : at the same time he ranges much faster, and will endure a great deal more fatigue. In any rough country, the setter has certainly the advantage; while the pointer is perhaps equally good where there is nothing but what may be termed smooth hunting. The setter is a high-mettled creature, and is frequently extremely hard to be broke in; it requires more exercise, and more game to be killed to it, to make it steady, than the pointer ; yet setters are, I think, less apt to have too much set. * In hunting for woodcocks or pheasants, they have * When a dog frequently makes a steady point, and the game is gone, he is said to have loo much set. THE DOG. SO a decided preference ; (in fact, a good setter will an- swer every purpose of a springer or cock-dog), which is easily accounted for — the setter, being a more hardy animal, and better defended by nature from briars, &c. will penetrate thickets that a pointer will scarcely look at. It is necessary to give a setter more exercise immediately before the season commences than a pointer stands in need of, which arises from his more hardy nature. A pointer is better adapted for a person who shoots very little, on account of his docile disposition ; whereas, when a setter is but little shot over or exercised, he is very apt to become wild and unruly. With regard to which of the two has the best nose, many will be found of opinion that the pointer, in this respect, is superior : this notion, . however, has perhaps in many cases been hastily adopted; and arisen from the greater inclination which the pointer generally manifests to set; he will puzzle much in a place which birds have left some time, and which a setter will scarcely notice; but this is not a proper criterion to form a judgment on this head : — -the dog, whose superiority is evident on bad scenting days, as well as other circumstances arising from practical experience, can alone decide this point. It is but fair, at ihe same time, to remark, , that I have generally found the setter the best at re-- covering a lost bird, as well as at footing.* * Fooling birds, is following them by track ; it is often:; necessary to recover a wounded bird this way. 60 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. • It may not be amiss to observe, tbat a dog's sense of smelling will occasionally vary, owing to illness or food; and a good- nosed dog will be sometimes scarce able to set, however fine the day may be. To recover the sense of smelling, see RECEIPTS. As to colour, the same rules may be observed as before mentioned respecting pointers. Many people are fond of a cross between these two breeds, and I have seen many good dogs thus pro- duced ; yet it is a thing I do not much approve, and consequently would not recommend it. The compiler has in his possession at this time, a setter that will take the water as well as a water spaniel. If a bird happen to fall in the water, after being shot, she will fetch it out without breaking a feather; and I am of opinion that it would be no hard matter to teach any setter to do this. There are pointers also that will go into the water ; but, generally speaking, they are those that have been crossed, in a more or less degree, with the set- ter, as the high, thorough-bred pointer is by no means fond of water. We occasionally see smooth-haired dogs, whose forms and speed resemble those of the setter — these are cross-bred ; and though, in their coats, they appear pointers, their manners are of the setter kind. THE DOG. 61 THE SPRINGER, OR COCK-DOG. THE animal generally used for this purpose is a small land spaniel, though I have seen water spaniels an- swer equally well. They will eagerly pursue either hare, pheasant, partridge, or indeed any kind of game; hut are chiefly used for flushing woodcocks and pheasants : they are never taught to set, nor are they at all adapted for an extensive range. These dogs should never he used hut in thickets, woods, and such-like places ; and then never suffered, if possible, to go beyond gun-shot. It is asserted, that they are very useful in recovering a winged pheasant ; this I am willing to allow ; but, at the same time, I am convinced a setter is equally so. However, we will take it for granted that these dogs are useful : but let me impress on the mind of those sportsmen who make use of them, the necessity of training them to open only when the game springs ; to whimper and give mouth when they come upon the scent is certainly well calculated to disturb it before the sportsman is within reach, and thus cause those mor- tifying disappointments, which any person fond of the diversion will more easily conceive than I am able to describe. It appears to be the nature of these animals to spring all the game they find; and, as was observed before, they should be kept within gun-shot. Some sportsmen, where the covers are thick and extensive, fasten small bells to their collars $ however, should 62 THE SHOOTERS GUIDE. they be wild and unruly, one of their fore legs buckled up between the collar and the neck will bring them to obedience. These dogs are sometimes used in coursing, and perhaps this is the best purpose to winch they can be applied, — They are subject to diseases, particu- larly loss of smell, swelling of the glands in the neck, of which they frequently die, and a disease called formica. I have known them to be crossed with the pointer, but the mongrels are seldom worth keeping. Breeding and Rearing of Dogs. THE sportsman will easily perceive that this subject, of all others, is the most important, and consequently requires his most serious attention,. A neglect in the first of these branches accounts no doubt for the worthless mongrels which may be frequently noticed 5 , and the man who does not personally attend to the-- breeding and rearing of his dogs, cannot expect to have them of first-rate excellence ; whereas the sportsman, who looks after these matters himself, is well recompensed for Ins trouble, and, when in the field, is far superior to those who do not. By break- ing your dog, you become acquainted with his tem- per and disposition 5 and by receiving the first rudi- ments of his education, and being trained by his master, of course he understands his voice and signs better than those of a stranger. If, after being broke, the dog passes into other hands, he has in some THE DOO, 63 measure a new task to learn, owing entirely to his being unacquainted with the motions, &c. of his new master. If a person go to a dog-breaker to purchase one of these animals, he naturally expects to see him hunt: to this the dog-breaker can have no objection; if the dog have any faults, they are already known to him, and he takes care that the creature is shown to the best advantage. Hence it has frequently hap- pened, that persons, after purchasing dogs in this way, have found themselves much deceived ; and dogs, which then appeared very good, have in reality been good for nothing : some, for instance, will hunt very, well for an hour, and then do no more ; and to this and other causes may the disappointments above- mentioned be attributed. It should be recollected too, that honour is not an article in the creed of a dog-breaker; to make the best of a bargain is all he aims at. Now, if a dog must be purchased from a professed breaker, I would recommend, by all means, for the person desirous of buying, to have him in his own possession for a short time; he will then have sufficient opportunities to make a proper trial, and it will be his own fault if he is deceived. With regard to breeding :— The first symptom of a bitch becoming proud is the swelling of her shape, which also becomes red ; and as the heat advances, you may observe her mounting other dogs, and ma- nifesting every desire for copulation. If it so hap- pen that you cannot secure her as you wish, and at the same time have an objection to her taking the 61 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. dog, a red hot iron put to Her shape, and held for half a second, so as to make it sore, will be the most effectual method to prevent it; for if the dog after- wards attempt to lick or otherwise touch that part, it will cause great pain, and she will assuredly drive him off. If you are inclined to breed, the bitch for this pur- pose should be high and well bred ; strong, and well proportioned in all her parts; her ribs large and flanks wide, accompanied with swiftness. The dog should have a head of the middle size, wide nostrils, shoul- ders well back, chest deep, and breast rather wide than narrow; his back broad, especially over the loins; his legs should be very straight, and stand well under him, with high knuckles; and feet round, but not large ; his ears also (particularly a setter's) should be large. The moment your bitch becomes proud, if you have not your favourite <]og at hand? she should be so secured as to render it impossible for any other to get at her. I would advise the sportsman, in this case, not to trust to servants, since they are sometimes found negligent; and the effect of their carelessness might prove a great disappointment to their master. I would not recommend breeding too early; for most assuredly it weakens a young bitch : but if your bitch is old, give her a young dog; paying, at the same time, attention to size: a large, strong, and boney bitch should have a light dog, and the con- trary; also, if she is low in stature, he may be tall. THE DOG. 05 Though an old clog may be put to a young bitch, I would not advise breeding from a very old one, since the whelps will most likely partake of that heavy dul- ness attendant on old age, as well as being small and weakly. I have known some few sportsmen fond of breed- ing in and in; that is, to give the father to the daugh- ter, the brother to the sister, &c. and 1 have seen as good dogs produced this way as ever were shot over: this custom, however, is not very prevalent ; on the contrary, the general practice of breeding is from dogs and bitches that have not the smallest affinity. Thorn- hill, speaking on this subject, tells you that nature seems to forbid such a connection; and that he ad- vises it on no account whatever, though he allows that capital dogs have been produced this way. This assertion, like many others which this gentleman's book contains, is ridiculous; and if the sportsman is desirous to try this method of breeding in and in, let him do so by all means. Good dogs may be pro- duced this way, no doubt; though, if I am to form an opinion from my own experience, the progeny becomes smaller. Once will be sufficient, most likely, for the dog to line your bitch, and by taking him from her imme- diately she will sooner be off the heat. It frequently happens that at first a bitch will not take the dog; in which it will be highly proper for them to remain to- gether for some time, as by his courting and teazing her, she will most likely ccrrply : if you find the bitch S G THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. still unwilling, scratch her along the back, against the hair, with a currycomb, and it will produce the de- sired effect. A bitch ought not to be hunted till a week after the heat has left her; but should it so happen, that you are compelled to take her out with a dog while she is proud, it will be adviseable to daub her shape well with tar, which-will prevent him from follow ir-g her, as he otherwise would, and thus pre- vent his hunting. We are told by some authors, that the best time for the dog arid bitch to couple is when the moon is in Aqu-uius or Gemini; for, say they, such as are then engendered will never become mad, and the litter will have more dog than bitch whelps. I will not pretend to vouch for the truth of this; however, should the sportsman be inclined to breed at any par- ticular time, and his bitch is not in heat, he may make her so by giving her the following: Boil two heads of garlic, half a castor's stone, the juice of cresses, and about a dozen Spanish flies, in a pipkin that holds a pint, together with a piece of mutton, so as to make a kind of broth ; this must be given to the bitch three or four times. It will not fail to make her grow proud; and, if given to the dog, will make him inclinable to copulate : it will not injure either of them in the least. The time of gestation is nine weeks, during which it will be adviseable to suffer the bitch to have hci liberty, but not to hunt her when she is big with pup; for, by this means, you will not only make her THE DOG, 67 cast her whelps, but be in danger of losing your bitch also. When she is near pupping, she should have some warm milk or broth given her, in order to assist nature, and on no account be disturbed while pup- ping. The whelps should also be handled as little as possible, as it injures them, and checks their growth. The number of whelps is very uncertain, some pro- ducing fiiteen, and others three or four. But should you be inclined to keep all the puppies of a litter, it will be necessary to look out for another bitch that will pap about the same time, in order to put some of your puppies to her : keen sportsmen sometimes keep mongrel bitches for this purpose. Whenever you put your puppies to a strange nurse, it will be necessary to rub them with some of the stranger's milk, immediately before putting them to her, as this is a certain method to make her foster and rear them; five or six at most are enough for any bitch. We are told, by some writers, that when we wish to destroy part of the puppies, the following method should be adopted : — Take them from their litter to the distance of nine or ten yards, and the mother will immediately come and take them back to her bed, one by one : those she takes first you are to keep, ac- cording to the number you are in want of. For my part, 1 should be disposed to adopt my own judgment in preference to that of the bitch. However, this I have remarked, that bitch whelps generally resemble the sire, while dog whelps are found to approximate 68 rate SHOOTER'S the dam; and you may therefore make your choice accordingly. After pupping, a bitch should not be confined, but go in and out as she pleases. Of all things avoid putting puppies into a stable; as they are continually in danger of being trod upon by the horses, from the moment they are able to crawl, as well as being liable to be killed by the groom, in bedding, &c. his horses* A horse too, let him be ever so fatigued, will not lie down while a dog is in the litter under him : besides, I have good reason to believe, that the offensive smell, which is caused by dogs continually lying in a- stable, prevents horses from thriving so well. This practice may be common; but most assuredly it is a very bad one. Puppies, when first brought forth, are blind, and remain so for nine days : this is the proper time for drawing their tails. It is not common to shorten a- setter's tail; and long-tailed pointers are coming much into fashion. I am of opinion that dog's tails should be left just as nature formed them . To shorten a setter's tail, is certainly to spoil his handsome ap- pearance; and I have seen persons simple enough to do it. However, should the sportsman be disposed to shorten the tails of his pointers, let him do it when the 'puppies are nine or ten days old ; and this opera- tion should be performed without the aid of either knife or scissars: by pressing your thumb nail upon your fore finger, twisting the end of the tail round; THE BOG. 61) SITU! giving it a gentle pull, you will find sufficient to separate it in the place you wish ; and you will find, on drawing it, a long sinew come out. It will not be necessary to anoint the part, as the mother's tongue will be found the most sovereign remedy, and she will •not fail ttf apply it. The tail of a dog should never be cut when he is old, as it is a long time in getting well, and injures him also. As soon as your puppies will lap, give them new milk from the cow, two or three times a day. You need not be afraid of injuring your bitch by the whelps sucking her too long, as she will drive them off herself: about which time you should wash het* dugs with warm vinegar, or brandy and water, once a day for a week, which will draw them up and tuck them in : it will be adviseable also to give the bitch ^ome sulphur in new milk, to cleanse her : an ounce divided into four doses will be sufficient: a dose every third day. When the puppies are taken from the dam, they should have a little gentle physic, and plenty of whey the next clay; and it will not be amiss if the mother is bled prior to hunting her. The whelps should be allowed as much liberty as possible, to prevent them from becoming bandv and out at the elbows, which confinement will almost uniformly produce. The best time for worming puppies is when you are about to take them from the bitch, which will neither injure their growth nor mettle; as by some erroneously supposed : at the same time, it has the •70 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. strongest of reasons to recommend it ; namely, if by any means a dog becomes mad (I mean the hydro- phobia) it prevents him from doing any mischief, by rendering him incapable of biting ; for, however good liis inclination may be for that purpose, he becomes so swelled about the tongue and mouth, that he can- not get his jaws together. The operation of worm- ing is no way difficult : — the skin which covers the worm (situated under the tongue) should be cut with a lancet : a large needle or awl must then be intro- duced under the worm to raise it up : on being raised, it will be necessary to lay hold, and draw it gently out; very little force is necessary, and care must be taken that the worm does not break in the operation ; as the animal will be thus put to additional pain, to say no- thing of the irksome trouble given to the operator. If, about this time, puppies are branded with a red- hot iron, with the initials of the owner's name, or any other mark he may prefer, it will be very difficult, or perhaps impossible, ever to obliterate it, and will be the surest means by which to recover them, in case they stray away or are stolen. The best food for whelps is potatoes and milk, or potatoes mixed with a little salt, which will certainly be the means of preserving them from the violent ef- fects of the Di-f temper ; as it is generally from high feeding that this bane to dogs arises ; and if it prove not fatal to puppies so fed, it frequently makes them cripples. Of curing the distemper it will be unnecessary for THE DOG. 71 me to speak in this place, a* it is fully treated under the head Distemper, to which, consequently, I refer the reader. But to return. — As soon as puppies attain the age of eight or nine months, they may be indulged with a little flesh well boiled ; a little sulphur also should he given them once a week, in milk; i nd they should he frequently washed with soap and water, to cleanse their skins, and kill the fleas: their beds should he often changed, and indeed every attention at this time paid, in order to keep them in health, and bring them to a proper size. Puppies are sometimes trou*- bled with lice ; but the remedy for them, as well as for all diseases to which dogs are liable, will be found under their proper heads, The diseases, accidents, &c. incident to whelps, from the period of their birth till they arrive at ma- turity, are many, and occasionally very dangerous; therefore the sportsman has no reason to be dissatis- fied, if, out of a litter of ten whelps, five or six arrive at perfection. But much depends, of course, in this respect, on the manner in which they are treated. A dog never perspires, but yet is of a hot nature, and should therefore never be without clean water to drink as often as he pleases, With respect to food, the less carrion he has, the better, as much of it is supposed by some to injure his sense of smelling ; most certainly it causes him to emit a very offensive smell; so much so, that it is impossible to bear him in the house. Barley meal, the dross of wheat- 72 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. flour, or both mixed together, with broth, or skimmed milk, are good food, as is also potatoes. For a change, you may give him sheep's feet, well baked or boiled ; and whenever you indulge in flesh, let it be well boiled. If one dog only is kept, and he arrived at maturity, he cannot do better than to take the chance of the house. The kennels of these animals should be frequently cleaned, and fresh straw given them ; or, in summer time, deal shavings, instead of straw, which will check the growth of fleas, which in hot weather in- cessantly torment them. Frequent washing with soap and water and combing, not only destroys fleas, but renders their skins clear, and prevents the mange. Rubbing with chalk and . brushing is practised by some persons for giving the dog a clear skin, but v is certainly not so good as the former. Dogs should have frequent opportunities of eating their favourite grass, before mentioned; they will feed on it freely, in order to be cured of the sickness to which they are liable, as well as of any extraordi- nary heat of blood. Training or Breaking Dogs for the Gun. The first thing to be considered under this head is the animal's temper ; some dogs requiring severe and frequent correction, others little, and some want en- couragement. That the setter is more difficult to break than the pointer will be readily allowed, though THE DOG. 73 some setters are far less troublesome than others. Pointers will frequently set without any teaching; and indeed I have seen setters do it also. A dog should not be broken in too early, lest he become chest-foundered. Some dogs will begin to hunt very early, and others are so long before they even take the smallest notice of game, that many per- sons have either given away or destroyed them. However, let no sportsman be hasty in condemning backward dogs, as they frequently prove of first-rate excellence; and I am inclined to think, that dogs of tliis description, as well as those which are difficult to break, turn out the best, when by patience and perseverance they have been brought to hunt, and are become staunch. At the age of five or six months, or even earlier, you should allow your dog to accompany you when you walk out, supposing it to be in the lanes or else- where, and occasionally lead him in a cord, which will, in a great degree, induce him to bear the chains and couples ; but do not suffer him to go very far from you; you may allow him to go a reasonable dis- tance before you, making him always come close to your heels at the word back. Be sure always to use the same words in each lesson, and these should not only be of the plainest sound, but the most distinct also from each other ; for it is the sound alone which is understood by the dog ; the sense or the English makes no difference to him. At this time it will not be amiss to teach him to 74 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. crouch at a piece of bread, or any thing else you may think proper, and not stir till he is ordered ; this may be easily done by gentle correction when he does amiss, and by rewarding him when he does right. A good time to give him this lesson will be immedi- ately before you feed him, and never suffer him to eat till he has performed his task to your satisfaction, which will induce him to do well for the sake of his victuals. The words down and close are short and expressive, arid all that are necessary when you make him crouch. It will seldom happen, in teaching him his lesson, but errors will be committed ; and as no fault should be allowed to escape correction, it will be necessary to adopt a word for that purpose; and sirrah, spoken in an angry tone, will soon be suffi- ciently intelligible; the discipline of a whip may be also administered with moderation, if you find the word does not answer the purpose, which will no doubt make it much more impressive. At the same time, it will be highly necessary to teach him words of encouragement, as, good boy >• and also of advice, as, take heed, which will remind him of what he is about to xlo, and put him on his guard. By this treatment he will become cunning, as well as cheer- ful and pleasant within himself, being conscious that he is pleasing his master; and the master should allow no one to interfere in breaking him, as two teachers will most likely breed confusion. After you have brought him under proper subjec- tion, at the age of nine months, or thereabouts, ac- THE DOG. $ cording as he is strong and healthy, you should take him into the field with an old staunch dog two or three times, as the latter will give him a notion of hunting, and of ranging and beating his ground; but do not hunt him too severely. Use him to ohey the whistle, or the motion of your hand, in preference to your voice, as the fewer words that are used the bet- ter. A pistol or gun may be frequently fired over him, to make him acquainted and familiar with the report ; for many young dogs, on hearing a gun fired, are so alarmed, that they instantly run home, are with difficulty brought into the field again, and reconciled to it only by practice. But, by this method, you will make him steady on the shot; and when you fire, you should make him sit or lie down, saying, down, shot, and load, or down, cltarge, if you prefer it; nor should he be allowed to stir till you have re-loaded, as most assuredly a dog that breaks away at shot will much injure your diversion, by springing that part of the covey, which, notwithstanding your having fired, is still lying near you; and in the early part of the season this will frequently happen. Should your dog, at this period (and it is no un- common occurrence) manifest an inclination to hunt or worry sheep or fowls, the following will be found the best methods to prevent him from pursuing such bad habits : — If he be inclined for sheep, tie him to a strong ram, and flog him till he cries out : on which the ram will not fail to commence a violent attack, and will butt the dog with his head most severely, E2 J-B THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. which will most likely deter him from ever looking at a sheep afterwards ; this may be clone either in the field, or in a barn or any building. I have seen one or two instances where this me- thod has not had the desired effect, as the dog, after being a little butted by the ram, has rebelled, and seized his woolly assailant so ferociously as to leave little doubt which way victory would incline. How- ever, when this has happened, it has been with dogs rather too old, and well acquainted with their own strength. If a young dog looks earnestly at or sets a sheep, he should be severely corrected ; and if you find him repeat it, apply to the ram — should he con- tumaciously rebel, a halter will be the best remedy, -unless you keep him tied up constantly, or choose to ?run the risk of paying for his depredations. It is generally a difficult matter to reclaim a dog which has already worried sheep, and tasted of their .flesh ; nor do I think you can be ever certain of hav- ing perfectly corrected him in this respect: he is al- ways to be suspected, and has been frequently known to recur to this mischievous habit, notwithstanding the adoption of every possible method to prevent it. Hence the necessity of correcting your dog the mo- ment you observe him manifest the slightest inclina- tion to notice sheep ; as he will (if suffered) first look, .then chase, and eventually worry them. Respecting poultry — If you find the whip insuffi- cient to restrain him, take a cleft stick, to one end of which tie a living fowl, and insert the dog's tail in THE DOG. 77 the cleft at the other; tie it in tight, so as to cause hirn some pain ; then give him a few stripes with a whip, and let him run off; when he has tired him- self, and refuses to run any longer, take the stick from his tail', and beat him well about the head with the fowl ; apply the whip also severely : there is little doubt but this will prevent his ever running at fowls again. If a dog be allowed to kill poultry unpunished, it will make him hard-mouthed, and apt to break hrs game; to say nothing of the injury he may do to his master or neighbours. To return. — At first taking your dog into the field, you may suffer him to do as he pleases; and he will most likely pursue indiscriminately every thing he sees — crows, pigeons, thrushes, &e. This eagerness, however, being somewhat abated, he will content himself with pursuing partridges and hares only, to the former of which his natural instinct will more particularly incline him; and, at length, becoming tired of chasing these in vain, he will be satisfied, after springing, to follow them with his eyes alone. He will not do the same with hares; for seeing they do not leave the ground like the partridge, but run like himself, he will not relinquish the hope of over- taking them ; but continue to chase hares untrl cor- rected by education ; and this can only be done where they are plentiful, and the dog in the habit of seeing them continually. As soon as your young dog begins to hunt, and you perceive he knows his game, the best method will be 78 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. to hunt him by himself, as he will be more easily stopped and managed than when in company, as other dogs might make him too eager and jealous. Besides, by continually hunting with an old dog, he will acquire a habit of following him, well knowing that he will be sure to find game first, and thus will never attempt to hunt for himself. You will easily perceive when he has got the scent by the movement of his tail; however, he should not be stopped too soon, but be allowed to chase his game for some time, and this more particularly if it has been long before he began to notice it. Stopping dogs, or, in other words, to make them set, is much easier than a young sportsman would imagine; and many will, in this re- spect, require little or no teaching. After you have suffered your dog to chase for a lit- tle time, and as soon as he begins to know what he is about, you will find that he will sometimes, on coming up to his game, make a sudden stop, for a second or two, and then dart in upon the birds, with the intention, no doubt, of catching one in his mouth. This is the time to begin to make him set. In order the more easily to stop your young dog, it will not be amiss to take an old steady one with you : be careful also to give him the wind, and take every other advantage you can in his favour. In hunt- ing, never suffer your dog to break field; or, in other words, to go out of the field before you ; and in cast- ing him off to hunt, either to your right or left, as your own judgment may direct, make use of your THE D0<3. 79 hand. The less noise you make, the steadier your dog will hunt; your voice or the whistle should be used as little as possible. If you teach your dog to hunt by the motion of your hand, he will regularly look for the signal whenever he is at a loss; whereas, if you use much noise, he will scarcely ever turn to look where you are, satisfied with hearing alone. Make the dog cross you backward and forward, from one hedge to the other, every now and then advan- cing yourself sixty or seventy yards- In this manner, the field should be hunted regularly through; and if there be any game, you will be certain to find it, We will now suppose your dog arrived at that pe- riod at which he ought to be stopped. — When either of your dogs find game, and the young one springs and chases it, bring him back to the place whence it sprung, and there make him lie down, calling out toho! several times, and using rough and angry words also, in order to check him. If, after this trouble repeatedly, you find he continues obstinate,, you must administer the discipline of your whip, the degree ot which must be regulated by the disposition of the dog, with which, by this time, you will most likely be thoroughly acquainted. I would wish to impress it on the mind of the sportsman, that a dog which will not bear the whip, is completely ruined if corrected too severely; and numbers of very promising young dogs have been thus rendered useless, particularly by ignorant, passionate men, who make a trade of dog- breaking. Excessive flogging is apt to make a young 80 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. clog blink his game. Blinking is when a dog finds his game, and on being spoken to, draws oil, and runs behind you ; and frequently without being spoke to. A dog of this description is of little or no use in the field ; and when once a dog has contracted this habit, it will take no small pains to free him from it. In breaking dogs a sportsman should be systematical- ly cool and deliberate : and on no occasion whatever suffer himself to be hurried into a passion : in cor- recting a dog (as was said before) let nothing but a whip be used. But there are some dogs so very hard, as to require severe correction; and these too, when once conquered, generally prove excellent. When your young dog finds game, walk slowly up to him, but never run ; as, if you run, it is natu- ral for him to do the same, and he will certainly spring the birds. As soon as you get up to him, and think yourself sufficiently near the birds (sup- posing he stands, and the game lies) walk round him till you spring them : if he should then chase, lie should be corrected as before directed, which will most likely answer the purpose. If, however, you find him still unruly, when he next makes a point, head him if possible, and, showing him your whip, smack it two or three times, at the same time calling out, down, toho! Should all this fail of the desired effect, the trash- cord must next be resorted to. This is only fastening to the dog's collar a small rope or cord, of about twenty or twenty-five fathoms in length, and then letting him range about with this THE DOG. 81 dragging on the ground. By the help of this cord you will be able to stop him whenever you please. Should he again attempt to run in, you must check him smartly with the cord. This cord may be used also should the dog not come when he is called, &c. If after practising with the trash-cord you still find him attempt to spring his game, recourse must be had to the strong collar (or spike-collar, as it is called in-some parts); which is no other than a strong leather strap, stuck with three rows of small nails, the points of which should extend three or four lines of an inch beyond the surface of the inside. A piece of leather must then be sewed over the heads of the nails to prevent their starting back when the dog presses upon their points. A ring is then fastened to each end of this collar (for if it were buckled like a com- mon one, it would perpetually wound the dog), through which is passed one end of a cord, of the same length as the one just before mentioned, in such a manner that, in pulling towards you, the rings may bring the collar close, in order that the nails may press upon his neck, and warn him of his fault. When you have put this instrument round the neck of your dog, cast him off, ,and let .bin* run with the cord drawing after him as before. As soon as he makes a point, get the end of the cord into your hand, and if he attempt to run in, give him a smart pull, calling out toho! If you think proper, you may fasten a peg to the end of the cord, which, on the dog coming to a point, may be stuck in the ground; by which means you will be E5 82 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. enabled to walk tip to him, and act as your judgment directs. A few of these lessons will assuredly answer the purpose. It is generally supposed, that dogs broke in a mountainous country, or to grouse, have an advantage over others in point of range; but much of this depends upon the animal himself. Whenever young dogs rake, that is, hunt with their noses close to the ground (and this frequently hap- pens) recourse must generally be had to the puzzle peg; though sometimes words will be sufficient. These pegs should be ten or twelve inches in length; and that part which comes under the dog's jaw should be at least two inches broad, with a thin strap of leather running horizontally through the thick end of it, so as to buckle round the dog's neck ; and that part immediately under his tusks must have a hole bored through it, to admit of a slight thong of white horse leather, which must be placed behind the ani- mal's tusks, and tied underneath his jaw. With this instrument fastened on, you may hunt him without the smallest injury; and it will, most undoubtedly, make him throw up his head well, and draw his game better : by this means he will also be prevented from mouthing, however good his inclination may be. At first putting on the puzzle peg, the dog will use every effort to rid himself of so troublesome a com panion; but, after finding all his exertions vain, he will run with it. A dog that rakes with his nose, and follows the game by the track, will never be worth keeping, un- THE DOG. 83 less cured of this habit. Whenever, therefore, you perdeive your young dog is following the track of par- tridge down wind, call to him in an angry tone, hold up ! he will then become uneasy and agitated, going first on one side, and then on the other, till the wind brings him the scent. He will only have to find the game four or five times in this way, when he will per- haps take the wind of himself, and hunt with his nose elevated. Should this not be the case, recourse must be had to the puzzle peg. Partridges lie much better to dogs that wind them, than to those that follow by the track. The dog that winds the scent approaches the birds by degrees, and that more or less as he finds them either shy or tame; or, in other words, whether they lie well, which 'he is enabled to discover by the scent which they emit when they are uneasy; and notwithstanding they see him hunt round them, they will not be so much alarmed, because they do not perceive that he is fol- lowing them. Nothing disturbs birds more than for them to see a dog tracing their footsteps. When a dog follows them in this manner down wind, he ge- nerally springs them; for he is not able to take the scent properly until he is upon them, and then they will not lie. Dogs that carry their heads high will always find the most game. Be careful to keep your young dog regularly to his work, and be very strict with him just as he is getting staunch, as the first season he is shot over generally determines his worth : at this period, numbers :,* 84 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. sporting dogs are ruined by improper management; if, at this time, they are suffered to acquire any bad habits, such as ranging too wide, breaking field, in- attention to their master, &c. they will be with great difficulty reclaimed, and some will never be brought to proper obedience again. Some are of opinion that when you take out young dogs, you should have a second person to flog them ; and as a reason for which they allege, that by constantly correcting your dog yourself, he will oc- casionally sneak away when he has done wrong, and prevent your coming sufficiently near to correct him. This doctrine appears to me quite erroneous : if the dog, after being once beaten, sneaks off when he does wrong, depend on it he will sooner suffer his master to come near him a second time than a stranger. Besides, it is not sufficient for him to love his master only — he should fear him also, since it is most undoubtedly fear as much as love that makes this creature obedient. As to speed, if a dog have a good nose, it is gene- rally supposed he cannot be too swift ; but very fleet dogs are apt occasionally to run over the game, and are certainly sooner fatigued than a steady, even- rated one. A dog of the latter description will make ample amends for his want of swiftness, by hunting more carefully, and never passing or running in upon his game. To make a dog back and stand in company, you should hunt him with an old staunch dog j and then THE DOG. 85 with a small application of the principles of training, you will easily effect this useful qualification. In teaching your young dog to back, it will be neces- sary for your old one to make a point ; and should the young one be in a distant part of the field, call to him ; and as soon as you perceive he sees the old dog, hold up your hand, using at the same time the word toho! By practising this two or three times, you will find your dog back without farther trouble. However, should he prove obstinate, the whip will not fail to procure obedience. If, when you come to shoot over your young dog, you find he breaks away on the shot, you must bring him back to the place whence he run, and there, making him lie down, call down-charge! if words prove insufficient, the whip must be resorted to, which will assuredly answer the purpose. It is for this reason that the dog should never be taught to fetch the bird when killed ; if he is, it will be diffi- cult, if not impossible, to make him steady on the shot. It may not be amiss to observe, that occasionally the best of dogs may make mistakes, such as spring ing birds, &c. and this frequently happens on bad scenting days, or in accidentally hunting down wind ; arid in these cases it will be sufficient to speak angrily to him, but by no means to flog him. Some writers, in giving directions for training pointers, advise you at first to make use of pieces of bread, fried in hog's lard with partridge's dung, and 86 strewed in the fields where you intend to hunt ; this, however, is only giving the sportsman unnecessary trouble, and therefore ought to be exploded. A dog intended for setting should never be named PontOy -Carlo, nor indeed any name ending with o ; as ioho is an expression so generally made use of by sportsmen and dog-breakers, when they intend he should keep his ground, that a dog thus named will be liable to be deceived, and to mistake the intention of his master. The foregoing observations of course apply equally to setters and pointers; and before I close the present chapter, I cannot forbear remarking, that those pointers brought directly from Spain, are generally ill-formed, and seldom worth the trouble of keeping ; therefore 1 am inclined to suppose, that our pointers are not exactly the same breed : they must either have been crossed in some degree, or the climate have very much altered them. I saw last year a young pointer bitch that had been brought from Spain, and reported to be very well bred. It was remarkably ugly; and could never be brought to hunt or notice game in the least, though every method was used for this purpose. — It was much in- ferior to Sir Henry Mildmay's Black Sow, which, if we are to believe the circumstance, was taught 'to .find game, as well as to stand and back, by a keeper of the name of Tupor. The story certainly has somewhat the appearance of romance ; but it is as THE DOG. 87 certainly to be found recorded in different books, and I believe generally credited. Diseases incidental to Dogs. Dogs are liable to many disorders, and for each disease numbers of remedies have been prescribed. But madness is the most dreadful of all others, and hitherto has baffled the skill of all those who have made the cure of it their particular study. Madness is a distemper very common among all kinds of dogs, but which, by proper care, is in gene- ral easily prevented. It proceeds from high feeding and want of exercise, and also from fulness of blood and costiveness. With regard to the two first it may be observed, that they should be better fed when you hunt them, than when they rest j and let them be neither too fat nor too lean, but of the two rather in- clined to fat; by which means they will not only be preserved from madness, but also from the mange and scab. If you have not an opportunity of letting dogs have free access to good clear water, such as a running stream, for instance, let it be changed every day, and take care they have as much as they please. Their exercise and diet must be ordered according to your own discretion, being careful to observe a proper medium ; and give them once a week, especially in the heat of the year, five or six spoonfuls of salad oil, which will cleanse them ; at other times, the quantity of a hazel nut of mithridate may be given 88 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. them,, as it is, an excellent tiling to prevent diseases, It is advisable, occasionally, to bleed them. If at any time you are suspicious of a dog going mad, in- stantly secure him. There are no less than seven sorts of madness, two of which, the hot burning madness, and the running madness, are regarded as incurable, and are dan- gerous in the highest degree, the effects of which are too well and too fatally known to need a description in this place. All animals they bite, and draw blood from, will have the same distemper; they generally seize on all they meet, but particularly on their own species ; and it is singular that all dogs have a dread of them, and fly, if possible, at their approach. However courageous a dog may be, on being attack- ed by one that is niad, lie will cry out, and make every effort to disengage himself and run away. It is said, that a mad dog always runs straight ahead ; and should any person perceive a dog approaching which he is apprehensive of being so, all he has to do is to turn out of the road, and the animj.1, if mad, will not follow. I have twice adopted this method, and have found it to answer. The symptoms of this disease present themselves in various forms, but are easily discerned. The fol- lowing are generally the forerunners of it : — When. a dog becomes melancholy, droops his head, forbears eating, seems to forget his former habits, and as he runs snatches at every thing : if he often looks up- wards, and that his tail at its setting on be rather THE DOG. 9 erect, and the rest of it hanging down ; if his eyes be red. his breath strong, his voice hoarse, and that he drivels and foams at the mouth, you may he satisfied he has this distemper; and the only tiling that should be done is instantly to dispatch him, however great a favourite he may be. If at this period he should remain at liberty, he will certainly leave his home : he goes as fast as he can ; and the mischief that may happen, owing thus to a mad dog breaking away, and running over an extentof country, is incalculable, as he spares no living creature. ANOTHER OPINION* — The first symptom of the hydrophobia is generally a loathing of food, though dogs in this state have been known occasionally to eat solid meat; they are, however, never able to drink, though they may perhaps attempt it; and it is well known that a human being, when attacked with the hydrophobia, will be convulsed when water or liquid is brought near his mouth. — Also at the very commencement of the disease, a mad dog has a particular inclination to smell and lick the penis and fundament of other dogs. — For the first two or three days, there have occasionally appeared intervajs oj sense, and the animal has recognized his master ; fllso during this period their eyes and tongue appear much as usual ; nevertheless, the animal will gene- rally bite every thing that comes in his way, and will leave his home for several hours and return again. A disposition to quarrel with other dogs is shortly afterwards manifested^ and a total loss of appetite 90 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ensues. He will show no symptoms of fear, nor cry out on being struck. His eyes assume a peculiar dullness, and his lips and tongue seem foul and shiny. It is said, that all other dogs are conscious of the approach of a mad dog, and avoid him, as if hy instinct; this, however, I will not vouch for, having never been able clearly to ascertain the point, though I am inclined to believe it. There is still another very distinguishing feature hy which this disease may be known, which is the animal's aversion to water and liquids in general. At the sight of water,, not only a mad dog, but a human being who has the hydrophobia, will shudder and turn from it with abhorrence; and this, undoubt- edly, is the most certain sign that a dog is mad. These animals are liable to other diseases, the symptoms of which, in some degree, resemble those of madness, and are frequently mistaken for them ; but in no other disorder will the dog manifest that utter aversion for water ; as in other cases, if he will not drink, he will in general smell of it ; and uni- formly appears no way alarmed ; on the contrary, a mad dog seems agitated, and will be almost con- vulsed, at the very sight. Thornhill asserts, that this method is not to be relied on, and adds, that " now and then mad dogs do not appear to feel any dread of it; however, they will seldom voluntarily drink when the disease lias arrived at any height/' Now, as this gentleman has served four apprentices/dps to training dogs, as him- THE DOG. 01 self Informs ITS, it is very likely indeed that lie may have seen a dog afflicted with this disease; hut, in the above assertion. Ire shows his ignorance as to the nature of it. Wherever this " now and then" has occurred, it has always been in the very last stage of the disease, when the animal has almost run himself down, and his dissolution is at hand. At this period, mad dogs have been known sometimes to cress rivers, but never to drink. As to dogs drinking in the first stage 'of the disease, which Thornhill's assertion seems to imply, it is certainly a mistake : I have had oppor- tunities of trying the experiment many times. Some years ago, a pack of fox-hounds belonging to a gentleman in Cheshire was infected with this disease ; how the disorder first got among them is unknown 5 but every " now and then" one or mote manifested the usual symptoms ; and as the pack was very valuable, no means we're spared to preserve it, and every method tried to cure the already disor- dered dogs to no purpose. They were well secured, the moment they showed the slightest symptom, in ordei to try the effect of different medicines pre- scribed for the hydrophobia, which, however, proved useless, and the whole was at length destroyed. The aversion to water was uniformly testified throughout; and I have found it an unerring proof in every in- stance. Among the various prescriptions for this disease, DO one perhaps lias been more celebrated, with less merit, than the 'Gmsltirk medicine. It has "been 92 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. publicly asserted, that this medicine has cured both dogs and human beings, even after the hydrophobia has taken place; this, ..however, is a positive falsehood ; I shall not hesitate to assert,, that, so far from curing, it has no effect whatever in preventing, this scourge as well of man as of the canine race. I am willing to allow, that many persons, after having been bit by dogs, which their own fears have magnified into mad ones, and after taking the Ormskirk medicine, have fancied themselves preserved from the hydrophobia. Others perlvaps, after being. bit by a strange dog, have had a slight indisposition, arising from cold or other causes : this has instantly been regarded as the first symptom, of madness; the medicine has beea taken, and they have recovered* This is the most rational, and indeed the only way of accounting for those reports of cures, which have been so roundly as- serted and published to the world. It is but fair, however, to observe, that many per- sons still believe in the efficacy of the Ormskirk me- dicine ; and an acquaintance not long ago informed me, that he was of this opinion ; for that some years since he was bit in the throat by a dog afterwards proved to be mad, and that by taking the. medicine, he is persuaded the hydrophobia was prevented : fur- ther, that he knew several others, wbo had been placed precisely in similar situations, and by having recourse to the same medicine had prevented the ma- lady. It is possible, notwithstanding, that, at the time my acquaintance was bitten, the dog might no* THE BOG. 93 t>e mad, or that the disease was not sufficiently ad- vanced to communicate infection ; also, if the dog had to bite through any thickness of garments, his teeth might be thus rubbed so clean, as not to insert the smallest particle of the infectious saliva or virus. The -disorder is communicated (according to my idea at least) by the contamination of the blood — the following comparison may perhaps serve the best to elucidate it : By suffering a drop of muddy water to fall into a bason of clear water, we see how soon the latter becomes polluted ; yet, if by a spoon or other instrument, the impure particles are taken out imme- diately, the water in the bason will still remain clear. Taking it for granted the hydrophobia is thus im- parted (and I am persuaded it is), one obvious me- thod of prevention at least presents itself: — Should any person, for example, be bit in the end of the fin- ger, immediate amputation a little above the bitten part, would, most assuredly answer the purpose ; in the same manner as the muddy water was prevented from fouling the clear. Certainly there are means of clarifying water, let it be rendered ever so impure ; but should the blood become wholly contaminated \vith the venom, or whatever it may be called, of the hydrophobia, little hopes can be entertained of any thing at present known being able to purify it. That the nature of the hydrophobia is by no means understood will readily be allowed ; and one circum- stance in particular attending it appears inscrutable, •namely, the precise time of its appearance after in- $4 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. fection, or, in other word?, after the bite has taken place. — About four years ago, a young man in the neighbourhood of Ormskirk, was bit by a terrier, which unfortunately proved to be mad. From the dog's manner, he was instantly suspected, and the Ormskirk medicine immediately resorted to. The wound which the dog's teeth had made became healed in due time, and the ill-fated man enjoyed perfect health for near four months, when he was seized with the hydrophobia, and shortly ended his life. In fact, this dreadful disease has no stated period for making its appearance, some being seized in a week or ten days, and others not for months ; the in- fection seems to lurk, as it were, in the blood : how- ever, it is generally supposed that its appearance is influenced by the moon. That many dogs are called mad, which are not so, is very evident. Should a strange dog happen to pass through a town or village, if he run, all the dogs in the place will run after him ; and he, to get clear, will snap at either man or dog that impedes his way : the cry of mad dog ! resounds from all quarters : crowds, armed with different instruments of destruc- tion, instantly pursue the wretched animal, and he falls a victim to the ill-timed rage of thoughtless ig- norance. After a supposed mad dog has been killed, in or- der to prove this point precisely, take a bit of bread, rub it on bis teeth and gums, and then give it to an- THE DOG. 95 other dog :— if the animal refuse to eat the bread, it is a strong proof that the other was mad j on the con- trary, should he eat it, you may rest satisfied he was not so : this is asserted, and generally obtains credit ; but I have never tried the experiment. I would strongly recommend to my readers always to have their puppies wormed (which prevents a dog in this state from biting, as before described), and whenever the hydrophobia makes its appearance to destroy the animal. If either man or beast has been bitten by a mad dog, I arn of opinion, that the only way to prevent the effects so much to be dreaded, is the immediate application of the lancet, all medi- cines hitherto discovered having proved abortive. As to the Ormskirk medicine, it has deservedly fallen into disrepute ; and / have witnessed its absolute but dreadful inefficacy, Should a dog be supposed to have been bitten by a mad dog, and certain proof be wanting of the ani- mal which bit him being mad, the case is very dis- agreeable ; as the precise time for taking effect has never been, nor perhaps ever will be, ascertained : you might therefore keep your suspected dog confined for -many months, and still remain in uncertainty. In closing this subject, I shall merely observe, that various medicines have been prescribed for the cure of this most dreadful disorder ; but as I am certain they are unavailing, I shall forbear enumerating them ; however, I am decidedly of opinion, that, by having the bitten part immediately cut out, infection $6 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDI-. will be prevented; and of this I have seen some very striking and conclusive instances. The five curable madnesses are the following : 1. Falling Madness, So called on account of its lying in the dog's head. This disease makes the animal reel and fall down, and is often mistaken for fits. To cure this disorder, take four ounces of the juice of briony, and the same quantity of the juice of peony, with four drachms of staves-acre pulverized : mix these together, and give it the dog with a drenching-horn. Also bleed him in the ears, and in the two veins that come down his shoulders. 2. Sleeping Madness. In this disorder the dog appears very drowsy, and seems to wish to sleep continually, which is caused by little worms that are bred in the mouth of the stomach, from corrupt humours and vapours, the fumes of which ascend to the head : to cure which, take six ounces of the juice of wormwood, two ounces of the powder of hartshorn burnt, and two drachms of agaric ; mix all these together in a little white wine, and give it the animal with a drenching* horn. 3, Dumb Madness. This disease lies in the blood, and causes the dog THE DOG. 1)7 not to feed, but to bold bis moutb always wide open, frequently rubbing bis feet against the sides of it, as if be bad a bone in bis throat. Jn order to cure, take the juice of black hellebore, the juice of spatula pu- trida, and of rue, of each four ounces ; strain them well, and add thereto two drachms of unprepared scammony, which, being mixed well together, give the dog with the instrument before mentioned, hold- ing his head up for some time, lest he throw it out again; after which bleed him, by cutting two or three veins in his gums. 4. Lank Madness Is so called by reason of the dog's leanness and pining away. It is generally regarded as incurable. In discoursing with an ingenious medical friend on this subject, he observed, " Lank Madness is a very improper term for this disorder. I differ (said he) in opinion with most writers on this disease. They re- gard it as incurable, without at all considering the nature of the complaint. I have had two dogs, the one a large water spaniel, the other a springer, af- flicted with what is called lank madness. The water spaniel died ; I opened him, and found a large quan- tity of short thick worms both in the stomach and in- testines.— This disease attacked the springer a few weeks afterwards, when I gave him a purging dose, composed of fifteen grains of jalap, and three grains of calomel. It purged him, without, however, bring- F 1)8 THE SHOOTER S GUIDE. ng away any of the worms. — The following day I gave him two large table spoonfuls of linseed oil ; which not only purged him, but brought away a large quantity of the worms before mentioned, some alive and some dead. Two days after, 1 gave him more oil : — in a few days, the dog began to eat, recovered very fast, and got completely well." 5. Rheumatic or Slavering Madness. This disease occasions the dog's head to swell, and his eyes to appear yellow. He will also slaver and drivel at the mouth; to cure which, take four ounces of the powder of the roots of polipody of the oak, six ounces of the juice of fennel roots, with the like quantity of the roots of misletoe, and four ounces of tlue juice of ivy : let these all be boiled together, and given to the dog as hot as he can take it. The Distemper, As it is called, is another grievous disorder, to which young dogs seem as liable as children are to the srrraH-pox, and which frequently proves fatal. In many cases, where the dog recovers, it will make him lame, in some part or other, the rest of his life. Many medicines are prescribed for it ; but the best advice that can be given on this head is to prevent the viru- lence of the disease by diet. Whenever a young dog is sustained on high food, he is sure to have the dis- ThIE DOG. temper very violently : what I mean by high food, is carrion, flesh, &c. Now, if your young dog is fed with potatoes and buttermilk, or skimmed milk, or potatoes alone, weak broth, and such simple food, and occasionally takes a small dose of sulphur; he will not suffer much from this disease, and require little or no medicine. Inoculation is a method highly to be re- cdmmended. You should physic your young dog with sulphur, and also bleed him ; and then, if you can find a dog that lias the distemper (if favourably perhaps the better) take some of the infectious mu- cus from his nostrils, and place it with a rowel in your dog's neck, or through his lip, rubbing, at the same time, a little on his nose, and with a feather put- ting some up his nostrils ; in a day or two, give him about two table spoonfuls of castor oil. I have not the smallest hesitation in recommending this method of inoculation, as I have seen it tried with success, though I never practise it myself. J have been very credibly informed that the cow-pock inoculation will prevent the distemper. But of all things, I am cer- tain, fiom repeated trials, that nothing so much pre- vents the virulence and fatal effects of this disorder as feeding on simple food, and giving sulphur occasion- ally, as above mentioned ; and this simple food too will make your dog sufficiently fat. " The remote cause of the Distemper is difficult to explain, nor do the most careful dissections in every stage of the complaint ascertain more, than that there is a general inflammation of the mucous mem- F2 100 >THE SHOOTER'S STJIDE. brane, but whether the true seat of the disease is con- fined to that membrane, and all the other symptoms are the consequences of it, or are real affections of other parts, is an undecided point, although it is cer- tain that its first appearance is by an inflammation of the pituitary membrane, and which is one of the most lasting as well as constant symptoms. That this in- flammation is given from the membrane of the nose to the upper part of the gullet and windpipe, is evi- dent by the swelling of the glands of the throat, the tenderness, and dry cough ; and that this inflamma- tion extends thence to the same membrane of the stomach and intestines, is equally so, producing vo- miting, costiveness, or purging." Difference between Hydrophobia and Distemper. Puppies are not so liable to madness as full-grown dogs — the animal seldom drinks freely in the Dis- temper— in the Hydrophobia he never drinks, though he may perhaps make the attempt. One of the most distinguishing features however of the hydrophobia is, that the dog loses all recollection of places or persons, and will as soon bite his master as any other person : if not confined he will leave his home, and appears to be insensibly impelled to run forward while he is able — his mouth being open, and his tail projected about an inch from the rump, and the remainder of it hanging down. In the distemper a dog retains his recollection, arid manifests no disposition to bite.— THE DOG. 101 Fit*, to which all young dogs are obnoxious, are mis- taken sometimes for the hydrophobia: the dog will turn round and lose his recollection j but on the fit subsiding, the latter returns. It is curious to observe the pains which Mr. Thorn- hill has taken to describe the merits of Dr. Elaine's fnedicine for the cure of the distemper. It might be suspected that these two gentlemen were intimate friends, and that the former had endeavoured to do the latter a kindness, in thus exerting his literary talents to sell the doctor's medicine. The inefficacy of Elaine's medicine I have many times witnessed ; however, should the sportsman be inclined to make trial of it, I believe it may be purchased in almost every market town, at the medicine venders. The nature of this disorder, like that of the hy- drophobia, is not perfectly understood. The fol- lowing medicines, however, have been used with success : A table spoonful of Norris's drops, in the same quantity of port wine, given occasionally. One grain and a half of calomel, and five grains of rhubarb, given every other day. Half an ounce of Jesuit's bark, the same quantity of dragon's blood, and also of gamboge, made into pills nearly the size of a hazel nut ; one to be given every other day. Great benefit also has been found from an ounce of Peruvian bark, in a glass of port wine, and given once a dav. K)2 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. The preceding receipts are very good, I make no doubt ; but I must honestly confess, I have found more benefit from the syrup of buckthorn than any other medicine. It is of such a nature as to operate as physic, at the same time that it administers, in some measure, to the nourishment of the animal. I have known many persons fond of giving castor oil, and, for aught I know, it may be a very good thing ; but it is ten to one the dog throws it up again almost immediately : and this never happens with syrup of buckthorn. Before I close the present subject, I cannot for- bear describing the method adopted by my medical friend before mentioned, and by which he almost invariably cures his own dogs. He is a sportsman; and though he has not made the diseases of dogs his particular study, yet the attention he has paid to them, during the practical experience of more than twenty years, renders his opinion highly respectable : When you first perceive the dog's illness, give him half an ounce of salts, dissolved in a tea-cup full of warm water, in the morning; and at night ten grains of compound powder of ipecacuanha, in a little warm water, and keep him in a warm place. If you do not perceive him get better in two or three days, give him sixteen grains of antimonial powder, two grains of powdered fox-glove, mixed with conserve of roses sufficient for four bolusses : give him one night and morning for two days, and on the third a tea-spoon full of powdered Peruvian bark three times THE DOG. 10.3 in the course of the day, in a little milk. If the dis- temper still increases, a rowel in the neck, as near the head as possible, will be found of great service. It should be kept running till the dog recovers, which will be in the course of a few weeks, if he be kept warm and quiet. The Mange. This is perhaps the most disgraceful to the sports- man of any disease to which dogs are subject, as it frequently arises from their being half-starved at home, by which they are compelled to seek sus- tenance abroad, and thus feed on human excrements and the vilest rubbish. In fact, this disorder origi- nates from neglect; it is frequently caused by dirty kennels, foul water, and filthiness in general : arid when once the mange is contracted, the infection will spread through all the dogs of the house, unless great care is taken to keep them separate. This disease is of two kinds, one called the red, the other the common, mange ; the former of which is. most difficult to cure, but not so infectious. The red mange may be known from the common by a reddish appearance, as if the dog had been scalded : he will also lose his hair in a much shorter time : frequently too, when you suppose the red mange to be cured, it will re-appear. The mange deprives a dog, in a great degree, of his sense of smelling; but is easily cured on its first 104 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. appearance. However, dogs which have proper at- tention paid them will never he troubled with this loathsome disease, unless one already affected hy some means gets among them. The red mange may be cured (as also the common mange) by rubbing the dog well with mercurial oint- ment; but great care must be taken to prevent the animal getting cold ; as in that case you will most likely lose your dog. On the first appearance of the mange, it may be cured by rubbing a very little on the affected parts. A little powdered aloes should be mixed with the ointment to prevent the dog licking himself. The common mange may be cured by stone brim- 'tone, powdered fine, either in milk or mixed up with butter, and made into an ointment with hogVlard and a small quantity of oil of turpentine j with which rub the dog every day for a week. ANOTHER. — Take large millet and sweet turnip roots, which boil in cow's urine till it is like broth ; rub your dog with it three or four times. ANOTHER. — Sulphur, two ounces ; aloes, two drachms ; mercurial ointment, two drachms ; hog's- lard, four ounces ; all well mixed together : with which rub the animal more than once, should there be occasion. The aloes are intended merely to pre- vent the animal licking himself. ANOTHER. — One ounce of powdered hellebore, one drachm of white precipitate, and four ounces of THE DOG. 105 hog's-lard : rub the dog once every day for a week ; let his kennel be kept clean, and fresh straw put in every other day. ANOTHER. — Take two ounces of fox-glove leaves, put them into a jug, and pour upon them a quart of boiling water: when cold, wash your dog; repeat the washing every other day. A few dressings will cure him. This is perhaps the best, and certainly the cleanest. The mange, like the itch in the human species, consists of animalcula, contained in the different small protuberances. If these are not completely destroyed, the disease will re-appear; hence the ne- cessity of repeating the dressing two or three times, even after the animal seems to be cured. Though I have mentioned mercurial ointment as a cure for the mange, which it most assuredly is; yet, on account of the danger attending it, I would recom- mend in preference any of the other receipts, but most particularly the last. Dogs are sometimes afflicted with convulsions, which may be known by the following symptoms : The tongue hanging out of the animal's mouth, violent trembling in the legs, staggering, and falling. When these symptoms appear, the dog's nose and tongue should be dipped in cold water, and he should be bled. I shall now proceed to give a list of disorders, &c. which are obvious at first view, with the methods of cure. F5 106 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. Fits. Bleed the dog, and rub him well with a flat stone, or rough piece of wood. Tlie Megrim, or Giddiness in the Head. Bleeding will be sufficient. Colds and Coughs. Sulphur, cold drawn linseed oil, and saltpetre, of each one ounce; divide it into four doses, giving one every other day, and a table-spoonful of honey daily. Tlie Scab in the Ears. Boil two ounces of the best shag tobacco, in a quart of water, until it becomes a pint ; into which dip the dog's ears (being very hot) till the water reaches an. inch above the affected part, and the dip- ping should be repeated three successive days. ANOTHER EOR THE SAME.— One ounce of strong mercurial ointment, and half an ounce of hog's- lard, mixed together. This should be well rubbed in every third day, first washing the ears with soft soap and warm water, Sore Ears. If the dog's ears be scabby, by being torn in the hedges, or otherwise, anoint them with the oil of bit- ttrr almonds, which alone will be sufficient ; but if THE DOG. lO/ they are sore within, then mix with the above tar and hog's-lard. The Canker in the Lips. Melt a lump of alum in some water, with which rub the affected parts two or three times a-day. A Swelling in the Throat. Three pounds of mutton suet, one pound and a half of gum-elemi, and eleven ounces of common turpentine ; the gum and suet to be melted and strained, and the turpentine to be added while it is hot : anoint the affected part. ANOTHER FOR THE SAME. — Wash the swelling with salt and vinegar mixed, but not too strong, and then anoint it with oil of camomile. Films growing over the Eyes. . Let white vitriol, the size of a pea, be put into half a pint of spring water; let it remain for one day, then soak a bit of fine cloth in the liquor, and bathe the dog's eyes ; immediately after, bathe them in spring water : this should be done twice a-day. Sprains in the Shoulder, or any Part except the Legs and Feet. Two ounces of spirit of wine, one ditto of turpen- tine, mixed well together, and vegetos mineral water very strong : to be applied before the fire. 108 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. For Sprains in the Legs and Feet. A pint and a half of spirit of wine, three ounces of camphor, and a table spoonful of laudanum : to be well rubbed eight or ten times a-day before a fire. When ivounded with Stakes, or to stop a violent Effusion of Blood. Cut the hair off about the wound, and wash it with warm vinegar; then rub the part gently with the following mixture : — two ounces of the oil of spike, and two ditto of the oil of swallows, mixed. Let the animal be muzzled when you apply it. A Flesh Wound. Cut off the hair from the wounded part; then take some fresh butter, and burn it in a pan ; while it is hot, dip a tent of lint into it, and place it in the hole of the wound : this should be repeated twice a-day, and the part washed with warm milk and water each time. To destroy Worms. One ounce of powder of tin, mixed with butler, divided into three doses, and one given every other day. ANOTHER FOR THE SAME. — Two or three purges of aloes. ANOTHER. — As much arsenic as will lie on the top of a sharp-pointed penknife, mixed with butter. THE DOG. 109 ANOTHER. — Take twenty grains of powdered jalap, three grains of calomel, and four grains of golden sulphur of antimony; mix them with a little butter or lard. Give him three of these doses, one every other morning. This is perhaps preferable to any of the preceding. For the Bite of a Viper, or other Venomous Creature. I am well aware that a great number of receipts have at different times been prescribed for curing the bite of the viper, &c., some of which, I am cer- tain, are ineffectual. I shall not therefore trouble my readers with enumerating them, but only men- tion one simple, though certain, remedy, which is nothing but sweet oil. Of this I have made repeated trials, and can recommend it, without hesitation, as an infallible cure. When a dog has been bit by a viper, slow-worm, &c. (and the animal's nose is the part most likely to be bitten) the bitten part will immediately swell ; and whenever the sportsman perceives this to be the case, he has only to rub it well with sweet oil (olive oil is the best). Should a considerable time elapse before he is able to procure oil, and the poison have materially affected the dog, a spoonful of oil should be poured down his throat,, and the bitten part held over a charcoal fire while the oil is well rubbed in. It will seldom happen, however, that any thing more will be necessary than a little common sweet oil rubbed well on the wound. It may not be amiss to observe, that olive oil and a 110 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. charcoal fire (as above described) will cure the sports- man himself, should he ever unfortunately stand in need of such a remedy. " One William Oliver, a viper- catcher, of Bath, was the first who discovered this admirable remedy. On the 1st of June, 1735, in the presence of a great number of persons, he suffered himself to he bit by an old black viper (brought by one of the company) upon the wrist and joint of the thumb of the right hand, so that drops of blood came out of the wound : he immediately felt a violent pain both at the top of his thumb and up his arm, even before the viper was loosened from his hand; soon after he felt a pain, resembling that of burning, trickle up his arm ; in a few minutes, his eyes began to look red and fiery, and to water much ; in less than an hour he perceived the venom to seize his heart, with a prick- ing pain, which was attended with faintness, shortness of breath, and cold sweats; in a few minutes after this, his belly began to swell with great gripings, and pains in his back, which were attended with vo- mitings and purgings : during the violence of these symptoms, his sight was gone for several minutes, but he could hear all the while. He said, that in his former experiments he had never deferred making use of his remedy longer than he perceived the effects of the venom reaching his heart ; but this time, being willing to satisfy the company thoroughly, and trust- ing to the speedy effects of his remedy, which was nothing more than olive oil, he forbore to apply any THE DOG. Ill thing, till he found himself exceedingly ill, and quite giddy. About an hour and a quarter after the first of his being bit, a chafing-dish of glowing charcoal was brought in, and his naked arm held over it as near as he could bear, while his wife rubbed in the oil with her hand, turning his arm continually round, as if she would have roasted it over the coals : he said the poison soon abated, but the swelling did not diminish much. Most violent purgings and vomit- ings soon ensued 5 and his pulse became so low, and so often interrupted, that it was thought proper to order him a repetition of cordial potions : he said he was not sensible of any great relief from these ; but that a glass or two of olive oil drank down, seemed to give him ease. Continuing in this dangerous condition, he was put to bed, where his arm was again bathed over a pan of charcoal, and rubbed with olive oil, heated in a ladle over the charcoal, by Dr* Mortimer's direction, who was the physician that drew up the account. From this last operation he declared that he found immediate ease, as though by some charm ; he soon after fell into a profound sleep, and after about nine hours' sound rest, awaked about six the next morning, and found himself very well ; but in the afternoon, on drinking some rum and strong beer, so as to be almost intoxicated, the Swelling returned, with much pain and cold sweats, which abated soon, on bathing the arm, as before, and wrapping it up in brown paper soaked in the oil. " Such are the effects of the vipef's bite; yet its 112 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. flesh has long been celebrated as a noble medicine. A broth, made by boiling one viper in a quart of water, till it comes to a pint, is the usual method in which it is given at present ; and it is said to be a very powerful restorative in battered constitutions : the salt of vipers is also thought to exceed any other animal salt whatever, in giving vigour to the languid circulation, and prompting to venery." If the venom be taken internally it is perfectly innocent ; " the famous experiments that were tried by Rhedi and others, in the presence of the grand duke of Tuscany and his court, put this beyond any doubt whatsoever. By these it appeared, that the serpent having once bitten, exhausted for that time the greatest part of the poison ; and though the wound caused by its biting a second time was at- tended with some malignant symptoms, yet they were much milder than before. It appeared that the serpent, upon biting a sponge, or a piece of soft bread, and then biting a dog immediately after, did not inflict a wound more dangerous than the prick of a needle. It appeared, that the venom being col- lected, and a needle dipped therein, this produced almost as painful effects as the tooth of the animal itself. But what caused the greatest surprise in the court was, the seeming rashness of one Tozzi, a viper- catcher, who, while the philosophers were giving elaborate lectures on the danger of the poison when taken internally, boldly desired a large quantity of it Blight be put together; and then, with the utmost TMH JDOC?. 1 13 confidence, drank it off before them all. The court was struck with astonishment, and expected that the man would instantly fall dead ; hut they soon per- ceived their mistake, and found, that taken in this manner, the poison was as harmless as water/' For the Bite of a Mad Dog. The best cure for this is hanging. However, should the sportsman be disposed to try any remedy, let it be an immediate application of the lancet, and well securing the dog for a long time afterwards. I have expressed my thoughts on this subject, more at large, a few pages back, to which 1 therefore refW the reader. For the Bites of other Dogi, Rub the parts with Friar's balsam, oil of organum, and soap lineament. For a Dog wounded with Shot. Oil of turpentine, oil of camomile, and aqua vitae, of each two ounces, mixed well together with half a pint of linseed oil. FOR THE SAME. — Fresh goose-grease melted and strained through a sieve, spirit of wine and turpen- tine, of each an equal quantity, melted, strained clear and fine : the parts to be well anointed. 114 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. For sore Feet, stripping in the Feet, or extracting Thorns. Stale urine, or salt and water, are frequently used ; but styptic tincture is preferable in every respect, as it will extract thorns, and enable the dog to hunt next morning. Alum water is a good thing to wash a dog's feet with, on account of its hardening them. To bring Hair upon a scalded Part. Calcine a piece of leather, and mix it with hogV lard, with which rub the affected parts. Other re- ceipts might be given, but this is much the best, as well as the most simple, and nothing better can be used to make hair grow in general. To make a Dog fine in his Coat. Brush him well with chalk, and give him two large table-spoonfuls of syrup of buckthorn, twice a week, for a fortnight. , ANOTHER FOR THE SAME. — One pound of native sulphur, one quart of train oil, one pint of oil of turpentine, and two pounds of soft soap — Rub well with this four or five times in the course of the summer. To destroy Fleas, Ticks, or Lice. Sweet oil ; or, four ounces of shag tobacco steeped in three quarts of water, and well rubbed in before a THK DOG. 115 tire; or, common soap and warm water made into a strong lather, and left on the animal for a day; or, Scotch snuff rubbed all over him ; or, trooper's oint- ment. And indeed many others might be enume- rated that would answer die purpose ; in hot weather, however, and if the dog have much hair (which is the case with setters and springers) it will be neces- sary to repeat the dressing very often. To recover the Sense of Smelling. Tw6 drachms of agaric, one scruple of sal gammse ; beat these into powder, and mix them well with sim- ple oxymel, making a pill as big as a nut; cover it with butter, and force it down the dog's throat, if he will not take it without that trouble. To cure Dogs that have taken Poison, ]Vo,r- Fomica, fyc. Any thing that will cause instantaneous vomiting may perhaps have the desired effect ; and nothing is better than two or three grains of blue vitriol ; or common salt forced down his throat till he vomits; and afterwards he should have the following purge given him : a table-spoon full of oil of English pitch, which should, be given him in the morning fasting. In the month of August, 1809? some malicious, base-minded wretch gave nox-vomica to a very fine setter, belonging to the writer; and every means 116 THE SHOOTER'S CTJIBB. were tried to save his life in vttin j the poor animal expired apparently in the greatest agony. It is true, some short time had elapsed before it was discovered that the dog had taken poison. In the summer of the following year, a yard-dog belonging to a neigh- bour was served in the same manner, and every effort for his preservation proved abortive. I am there fore of opinion, that unless they get rid of the poison almost the minute it is taken, they will inevitably perish. If the poison has been given whole, that is, in a button, as it is called, wrapped in a piece of meat or other thing which the dog swallows, he may get i id of it by vomiting, if taken in time \ but if the nox-vomlca has been grated or powdered, 1 think there are no means of saving his life, if five minutes have elapsed. Balls to be given a few Weeks before the Shooting Season. One pound of antimony, four ounces of sulphur, and a sufficient quantity of syrup of buckthorn to give it a proper consistence ; divide into balls, each weighing seven drachms, and give one every second or third day. N. B. In the foregoing receipts, I have supposed a middle-sized dog; larger or smaller must be varied accordingly. THE DOG. 1 I/ To dry up a Bitch's Milk. Warm vinegar; or, warm vinegar and brandy ; with which bathe the teats well several times. Spaying Bitches. If you would spay your bitch, it should be done before she has ever had a litter of whelps ; and in performing the operation, the roots and strings of the veins should not be taken entirely away ; as, if you do, it will injure her reins, and make her slow in running ever after. A bitch must never be spayed while she is proud, as her life would be in great dan- ger. For my own part, 1 would recommend neither spaying nor gelding, as these animals, thus reduced to the neuter gender, soon become extremely fat, and good for nothing. LAWS RELATING TO DOGS. 1 WILL venture to assert, that the shooting sportsman would much sooner lose a horse than a favourite dog) and in his estimation the crime of stealing the latter would be much greater ; but the framers of the dog- laws thought otherwise, and thought justly — it is not death to steal a dog, which is the case with horse- stealing, Notwithstanding, these animals are legally protected, and to a greater extent than many ima- gine. 1 18 TJJK SHOOTER'S GUIDE. It is provided by 10 Geo. III. c. 18, that if any person shall steal any dog or dogs, of any kind or sort whatsoever, not only from the owner, but from any person to whom such dog or dogs may have been entrusted ; or shall sell, buy, receive, harbour, detain, or keep, any such dog or dogs, knowing the same to be stolen ; every such offender, being thereof convicted, on the oath of one witness, or on his own confession, before two justices, shall, for the first offence, forfeit a sum not exceeding thirty, nor less than twenty, pounds, at the discretion of such two justices; together also with the charges previous to and attending such conviction, to be ascertained by the said justices. And if such penalty is not forth-* with paid, the offender shall be committed to the house of correction, or common gaol, for a period not less than six, nor exceeding twelve, calendar months, or until the said penalties and charges are paid. Should such person be convicted of a second offence, he shall forfeit a sum not exceeding fifty, nor less than thirty, pounds, together with the ex- pence attending such conviction : in case of non- payment, to be committed to the house of correction or common gaol, for any time not exceeding eighteen, nor less than twelve, months, or until the fine shall be paid ; one moiety of such penalty to the informer, and the other to the poor of the parish, where the offence has been committed ; and such justices shall order the offender to be publicly whipped within THE DOG. 119 three days after commitment, in the town wherein such gaol or house of correction shall be, between the hours of twelve and one in the day time. — This statute, in the act itself, is very inaccurately worded ; and would afford ample scope for the quibbling abi- lities of the long-robed gentlemen. A justice of peace, upon information, may grant a warrant to search for any dog or dogs stolen as aforesaid; and in case either the dog or his skin shall be found, the said justice shall take and restore such dog or skin to its right owner, and the person in whose possession or custody such dog or skin was found (such person being privy to the theft) shall be liable to the like penalties and punishment as are inflicted on persons convicted of stealing any dog or dogs under this act. However, should any person think himself aggrieved by any thing done in pur- suance of this act, he may appeal to the next general quarter sessions, within four days after the cause of complaint shall arise, such appellant giving fourteen days' notice in writing of his intention to appeal ; and the justices at such sessions shall determine the appeal in a summary way, and award such costs as they think proper; which determination shall be final. — The last sentence of this paragraph appears ridiculous, where it says that fhe appellant must give fourteen days9 notice of his appeal, and yet that appeal must be made within four days after the cause of complaint. The plain meaning, I should 120 THE SHOOTER'S GUI UK. suppose, must be, that the notice of appeal must be made within four days after the cause of complaint. In order to elucidate the present subject, and show in what manner a lost dog may be recovered, I shall insert the following case : M. 7» Ceo. III. — On an action of trover and con- version for a setting dog, the plaintiff proved the dog to be his property, and that it was found at the de- fendant's house twelve months after it had been lost. The defendant said, the dog strayed there casually ; and demanded twenty shillings for its keep for twenty weeks, before he would deliver it up. A verdict was given for the plaintiff, subject to the opinion of the court, whether this refusal amounted to a conversion of the dog. The counsel for the defendant declined arguing the question, and the plaintiff had judgment. BL Rep. 111/. Hence it would appear, that, if a dog strays into the habitation of any person, without a collar, he has no right to detain him, unless he does it (knowing the dog) with the intention of restoring him to his ownef. But, notwithstanding, dog-stealers frequently con- trive to elude the vigilance of the law, by conveying dogs to distant parts of the kingdom. With respect to mischievous or dangerous dogs — it is a public nuisance to suffer such to be at large ancj unmuzzled, to the danger or annoyance of the neigh- bours or passengers; and the owner thereof may be indicted; and an action for damage will, in such THE DOG, 12 L case, lie against him. Such action, however, can- not be brought, unless the owner had notice of his having bit some person once before. 12 Mod. 555. 1 Ld. Rayra. 606. This is chiefly meant of mas- tiffs, bull- dogs, and other ferocious dogs. An action will also lie against a man for keeping a dog accustomed to bite sheep, provided it can be proved that the owner knew him to be guilty of such a practice; and his having once wounded or killed a sheep is sufficient to constitute it. If another dog fall on mine, I am justified in beat- ing, and even killing, him, if there be danger of his materially injuring mine, and I cannot save him in any other way. Duty 'on Dogs. Every person, who shall keep any greyhound, hound, pointer, setting-dog, spaniel, lurcher, or ter rier; or who shall keep two or more dogs, of what- ever description or denomination the same may be, shall annually pay eleven shillings and sixpence each. And every person, who shall inhabit any dwelling house assessed to any of the duties on inhabited houses, or on windows or lights, and shall keep one dog and no more, not being of the above description, shall pay seven shillings annually for such dog. 122 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. However, I am of opinion, that if a game dog be kept merely as a guard to the house or premises, he we uld, according to the spirit of the act, be liable only to pay as such, that is, seven shillings ; and, if I am not mistaken, it has been legally so decided. The duty does not extend to dogs not six months old ; the proof of which to lie with the owner, on an appeal to the commissioners. Persons compounding for their hounds to be charged thirty-four pounds. It might perhaps, with some degree of propriety, be asserted, that the dog tax, all things considered^ was just and necessary; it is sufficiently heavy cer- tainly; yet the payment of no part of the public re- venue is more evaded : and, I am persuaded, that not more than half the dogs which come within the meaning of the act are paid for by the owners. THE BIRD. THE particulars most important in the compara- tive anatomy of birds are these : — The heart is fur- nished with two cavities, and in the language of ana- tomists is bilocular, and the general course of the cir- culation is carried on as in quadrupeds. The lungs are very large, affixed to the back part of the cavity of the breast, and have several external orifices, by which the air they contain is, at pleasure, cpminuni- THE GROUSE. !-•> cated to other parts of the frame. The throat, after passing down to a certain distance, dilates into a large membraneous bag, answering to the stomach in qua- drupeds ; it is called the crop, and its great use is to soften the food taken into it, in order to prepare it for going into another large receptacle, termed the gizzard: this, which may be considered as a more powerful stomach than the former, consists of two very strong muscles, lined and covered with a strong tendinous coat, and furrowed on the inside : in this reservoir, the aliment is completely ground and re- duced to a pulp : in the predacious birds, such as eagles, vultures, hawks, owls, and some others, the gizzard is wanting ; the stomach being more allied to that of quadrupeds. The Grouse. The grouse is a bird which is found in different parts of the globe, and of which there are various kinds. However, as this volume is intended not for the na- turalist, but the sportsman, it will be necessary to describe only those which breed in Great Britain, and that kind in particular, which is the general ob- ject of pursuit, and which is known by the name of red grouse, or moor game. These birds are much larger than the partridge; the male weighing about nineteen ounces. The bill is black, the irides hazel-coloured, the throat red, the plumage OP the head and neck a light tawny red, G 2 124 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. each feather being marked with several transverse bars of black ; the back and scapulars are a deeper red, and on the middle of each feather is a large black spot; the breast and belly are of a dull purplish- brown colour, crossed with narrow dusky lines ; the quill feathers are dusky; the tail consists of sixteen black feathers, the four middlemost of which are barred with red; the thighs are a pale red, obscurely barred with black ; the legs and feet are clothed down to the claws with thick, soft, white and brown feathers; * the outer and inner toes are connected to the first joint by a small membrane. The female is considerably less than the male, weighing only fifteen ounces. Her colours in general are less vivid, and she has more of the white and less of the red feathers than the male. The heathy and mountainous parts of the northern counties of England are in general stocked with these birds; but they abound in the Highlands of Scotland, and are very common in Wales. They feed on moun- tain berries, and the tender tops of the heath. Grouse pair very early in the spring, and the female lays from eight to twelve or thirteen eggs, in a very simple nest, formed on the ground. The young leave the nest almost as soon as hatched, and continue to follow the hen till the severity of the winter sets in, when they unite in packs of twenty or thirty brace. * They are the old birds only which are thus feathered to the claws, though it obtains, in some degree, in tlie poults. Grouse are called poults till they are a year old. THE GROtJSE. 125 They continue together in the greatest harmony till the approach of spring, when they begin to feel the access of genial desire; the males view each other with a jealous eye, and furious battles are the conse- quence. The care and stratagem of the hen for the security of the young are wonderful. If she perceive a dog approaching her brood, she will throw herself on the ground directly before his nose, with dreadful scream- ing, and manifest at the same time an apparently evi- dent incapacity of flying. The dog eagerly pursues, expecting every moment to catch her : but when she has drawn him a sufficient distance from her treasure, she puts forth her powers, and leaves her astonished pursuer to follow her— with his eyes, Grouse-shooting is very laborious, and requires both judgement and experience, particularly in mountains the sportsman is a stranger to. As the season is ge- nerally very hot, it becomes highly necessary to be clothed accordingly. The lighter the dress the bet- ter, taking care at the same time to let the garments next your skin chiefly consist of flannel. A flannel shirt and drawers are the best things that can be used for this purpose, and ought, in fact, to be con- sidered as indispensably necessary. Flannel, though so capable of administering* warmth, is, notwith- * I am aware that the word administering is not perfectly philosophical, though it will convey the meaning, in this place, perhaps the best. The fact is, flannel prevents the heat of the body from escaping, or evaporating; and though what I 2 (> T H K S n OOTE R .s G U ! OK. standing, a had conductor of heat ; and, therefore, if the sportsman habituates himself thus to wear it, he will experience no increase of heat in summer on that account ; at the same time it must he allowed, that nothing will so effectually absorb the moisture which arises from excessive perspiration, and conse- quently there can be no better prevention against taking cold. Some persons have an aversion to wear- ing flannel next the skin, and to such I would recom- mend calico (which is nearly of as much service), on account of its possessing a superior quality of absorp- tion. In hot weather, to walk among the heath till a violent perspiration ensues, and then to become stationary for a little time (which will undoubtedly sometimes be the case in grouse-shooting), is almost a sure method of taking a violent cold, if a linen shirt is worn next the skin ; to say nothing of the dis- agreeable sensation it excites, by sticking to one's back. Short boots, that lace close, but which are easy to the legs and feet, are to be recommended: for shoes, when you walk in the mountains, gather the tops of the heath, which will be very apt to rub the skin off your feet. It will be adviseable also to rub some tallow on your heels, the bottoms of your feet, and the knuckles of your toes, before you go out in the morning, which will not only cause you to walk easy, but prevent that soreness otherwise consequent to a philosophers call a non-conductor of heat, yet hinders tin- body from becoming cold. For a further illustration of thi» subject see Count Ruiuibrd's Essays. THE GROUSE. 127 hard day's grouse-shooting. It need scarcely be men- tioned that the brandy flask is a very necessary ap- pendage: to the bottom of which should be attached a tin cup, which will enable the sportsman to allay his thirst by mixing water with his brandy; rinsing the mouth will perhaps be found occasionally to an- swer the desired purpose. But on no account drink cold water alone; the fatal consequences of which, when a person is in a great perspiration, are well known. There are some persons who take this diversion on horseback, which, of course, very much lessens the fatigue; and, for this purpose, galloways or ponies are generally used, so trained that they stand very still with the bridle laying on their backs, while the sportsman takes aim and shoots. For grouse-shooting it is very necessary to consult the barometer, as these birds can foresee the change of the weather, and shift their ground accordingly. When from the fall of the glass you expect bad wea- ther, the birds will generally be found about midway on the hills; and in case of very bad weather, the buts of the mountains are the places they resort to: but in fine weather they will be found near the tops. H* in the morning you find them high, and in the even- ing low, bad weather may he expected, except it is for water they have descended, which is often the case ; but of this the sportsman must form an opi- nion for himself. These birds go to water immediately after their j ~G'B. 137 ing of the first leather in the wing of the young birds terminating like a lancet, he adds, " this remains only until the first moulting, and in those birds whkh are not of the first brood, this feather is round at the ex- tremity."— -But it would be an endless task to enume- rate the errors with which this book abounds. Pointers and setters are used for shooting partridges ; and the latter, the compiler is of opinion, are prefer- able in a rough country, or where birds are scarce ; but the pointer is perhaps equal to the setter where game is very plentiful, and in an open country ; and in this case two staunch dogs are fully sufficient, and as much as the sportsman will be able to manage with success. The best time for this amusement is from two hours after sun-rise until twelve o'clock; and from half past two or three o'clock until it is dark, When the weather is very dry, especially at the be- ginning of the season, as soon as the sun becomes strong the scent sinks (to use the sportsman's phrase) and the dog's abilities and cunning are put to the test to no purpose. In the middle of the day partridges cease to feed or run, and generally place themselves by the side of some sunny bank in order to bask. In general they have their separate feeding and sleeping places ; but it frequently happens that they remain all day or all night where they fed the preced- ing evening or morning; yet it much oftener happens that they change their ground. At day-break, they call, and, when collected, generally take their flight to the stubbles, which if high and thick enough to 38 TU'E SHOOIERS GUIDE. afford them shelter, will most likely induce them to remain there till disturbed : however, in dry weather in particular, they are frequently to be found at this time among potatoes. After feeding in the evening, they again call, and fly to the place where they in- tend to remain for the night. When they are call- ing, they seldom He well, or, in other words, will not permit the sportsman to approach within gun-shot. Thornhill says — " It is very singular that sportsmen find one- third of each covey of partridges to be cocks; at the time therefore of breeding they contend greatly with each other for the hens/' I suppose this gen- tleman must mean two-thirds are found to he cocks. Certain it is, that frequently more male than female birds are found in a covey; and when this happens to be the case at pairing time, battles among the young cocks will undoubtedly ensue. The cocks may be easily destroyed by netting the covies at the beginning of the season, and then kill- ing them, so as to leave no more cocks than hens. Thornhill says, there should be fewer cocks than hens left, and adds, that the hen will be certain to find a cock ; however, he should have recollected that par- tridges are birds that pair, and that at that season one cock does not associate with two hens : it is there- fore ridiculous to give directions to leave fewer cocks than hens, and then to say that every hen will be sure to find a cock. The compiler is of opinion that the old cock, in particular, should be destroyed, as, where old .birds are left, they will at pairing time drive off the THE PHEASANT. 1 3D young ones, and prevent their breeding near the same spot. rfhe Pheasant. The pheasant is a foreign bird, and was brought into Europe from the bunks of the Phasis, a river of Colchis, in Asia Minor, whence the name which it still retains. Nothing can satisfy the eye with a greater variety and richness of ornament than this beautiful creature. The iris of the eye is yellow, and the eyes themselves are surrounded with a scarlet colour, sprinkled with small specks of black. On the fore part of the head there are blackish feathers, mixed with a shining pur- ple. The top of the head, and the upper part of the neck, are tinged with a darkish green that shines like silk. In some, the top of the head is of a shining blue, and the head itself, as well as the upper part of the neck, appears sometimes blue and sometimes green, as it is differently placed to the eye of the spectator. The feathers of the breast, the shoulders, the middle of the back, and the sides under the wings, have a blackish ground, with edges tinged of an exquisite colour, which appears sometimes black and sometimes purple, according to the different situations in which it is seen ; under the purple there is a transverse streak of a gold colour. The tail, from the middle feathers to the root, is about IS 140 THE SHOOTER'S GUO>E. inches long ; the legs, the feet, and the toes, are of the colour of horn : there are black spurs on the legs, shorter than those of the common farm-yard cock, and a membrane that connects two of the toes together ; the female is not near so beautiful as the male. If we except the peacock, the pheasant is perhaps the most beautiful of all the feathered tribe, as well for the vivid colour of its plumes, as for their happy mixture and variety. It is far beyond the power of the pencil to draw any thing so glossy, so bright, or points so finely blending into each other. And, though so beautiful to the eye, this bird is not less delicate when served up to table. Its flesh is con- sidered as the greatest dainty j and when the physi- cians of old spoke of the wholesomeness of any viand?, they made their comparison with the flesh of the pheasant This bird, though taken from its native warm re- treats, where the woods supply variety of food, and the warm sun suits its tender constitution, has still continued its attachment to native freedom ; and, as if disdaining the protection of man, has left him, to take shelter in the remotest forests, where it feeds upon acorns, and the scanty produce of our chill- ing climate. Great pains, however, are taken by the owners of parks and manors, for the preservation of this beautiful bird ; but, notwithstanding all precaution, they frequently stray from preserved covers— never to return; to say nothing of the do THE PHEASANT. 141 predations of the poachers. A spirit of independence seems to attend the pheasant even in captivity :— lu a wild state, the hen pheasant lays from fifteen to twenty eggs ; but when domesticated seldom more than ten. Also, when at liberty, she hatches and rears her brood with patience, vigilance, and courage; but, when kept tame, she never sits well (and fre- quently will not sit at all), so that a domestic hen is generally substituted on such occasions ; nor when in captivity does she seem to be conscious of the ne- cessity of leading her young to their food, and the brood would quickly perish if left solely to her pro- tection. This bird, therefore, seems better left at large, as its fecundity is sufficient to stock the forest, its elegant plumage adonis it, arid its flesh retains a higher flavour from its unlimited freedom. Pheasants do not pair like partridges ; the cock is very salacious, and is sufficient for a number of hens. Occasionally, however, they seem to pair, as the male and female are sometimes observed to stray from the preserves, and breed in some distant situation. They are much attached to thickets and woods, where the grass is very longj but they frequently breed also in clover fields. They form their nests on the ground, much in the same manner as the partridge ; and their eggs are smaller than those of a domestic hen. In mowing clover near the woods frequented by these birds, the destruction of their eggs is sometimes very great : gamekeepers, therefore, should be careful to drive them from clover fields as soon as they begin 1 12 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDK. to lay, until their haunt is broken, and they retire into the corn, or some place more secure. The young ones, like partridges, follow the mother as soon as they have hroken the shell ; and they remain amongst the stuhbles, and in the bottoms of hedges, for some time after the corn is ripe, if they are un- disturbed ; in case of the contrary, they then seek the covers, whence they issue morning and evening to feed as long as food is to be found among the stub-^ bles; when corn no longer remains, they feed on acorns and the wild berries of the woods. Pheasant-shooting is very laborious, and requires the sportsman to be properly equipped for a cover; and in my opinion strong woollen cloth gaiters are preferable to leather, as, in wet weather, the latter are very uncomfortable, and the former are a suffi- cient guard against the briars, &c, If the night before you shoot be wet, the droppings of the trees will compel the pheasants to quit the woods; and in this case the hedge-rows and furze covers should be tried very carefully, and good sport \vill most likely be obtained. This bird is much an ached to almost all sorts of covers, especially to the sides of pits where alder trees are growing. Of all clogs, none are so good for this sport as the setter (see the article SETTER). But nothing can be more ridiculous than to use bell* in this diversion, since, most undoubtedly, as little noise as possible should be made. Pointers are frequently too tender to follow this bird through the brambles, which is •SJ THE PHKASANT. 1 1'3 not the case with a good setter ; but care should be taken never to let them range out of gun-shot. The small springing spaniel is frequently used in pheasant shooting, and may answer tolerably well in the be- ginning of the season, or where the birds have not been much disturbed; but they are by no means equal to the setter. The springer is too noisy for this diversion ; whereas a pheasant, when found by a setter, will frequently, instead of going off, rise into a tree and challenge,* which rarely happens with the former. In hedge- rows, pheasants lie remarkably well ; and in this case a pointer or setter will of course make a very steady point, and you must perhaps shake the bush before the bird will rise; but it is different in covers, where these birds frequently run a consider- able distance, and it becomes necessary to encourage your dog to push the pheasant ; though one a little used to this sport will need no encouragement. A springer may perhaps push a pheasant quicker than a setter; but unless the former is trained to a degree of perfection not very common, he will be attended with ten times the trouble of the latter, and the birds will be more liable to rise out of gun-shot. Springers are used by many persons for this diver- sion; but are certainly much less so at present than they were some years back. Sportsmen, like others, have their whims, and I have seen springers used for partridge-shooting. * Make a chuckling noise. 144 THE SHOOTKK'S GUIDE. The Woodcock. This bird has a long, slender, straight bill. The nostrils are linear, and lodged in a furrow. The head is entirely covered with feathers. The feet have four toes, the hind one of which is very short, and consists of several joints. The female woodcock may be distinguished from the male by a narrow stripe of white along the lower part of the exterior veil of the outermost feather of the wing. The same part in the outermost feather of the male is elegantly and regularly spotted with black and red- dish white. In the bastard wing of both is a small- pointed, narrow feather, very elastic, and much sought after by painters, as it makes a good pencil. The woodcock, during summer, is an inhabitant of Norway, Sweden, Lapland, and other northern countries, where it breeds. But when winter ap- proaches, the severe frosts of those northern latitudes, by depriving it of food, force it southward to milder climates. These birds arrive in Great Britain in flocks ; some of them in October, but not in great numbers till November and December, though they are sometimes seen as early as September. They generally take advantage of the night, being seldom seen to come before sun- set. The time of their ar- rival depends much upon the prevailing winds; they are unable to struggle with the boisterous gales of the THE WOODCOCK. 145 northern ocean, and therefore they wait for the ad- vantage of a favourable wind. When they have had bad weather to encounter on their passage, they are frequently so much exhausted on their arrival as to suffer themselves to be seized by the hand. In very stormy weather, we are told, they occasionally take refuge in the rigging of vessels at sea, and that num- bers are frequently lost in their passage. They feed on worms and insects, whicli they search for, with their long bills, in soft ground and moist woods, feeding and flying principally in the night. They go out in the evening, and generally return in the same direction, or through the same glades, to their day-retreat. The greater part of them leave this country abput the latter end of February or the beginning of March, always pairing before they set out ; and at this time, may be sometimes heard to utter a little piping noise. They retire to the coast, and, if the wind be favour- able, set out immediately; but if contrary, they are often detained for some time, and thus afford good diversion to those sportsmen who reside near the sea. The instant, however, a fair wind springs up, they embrace the opportunity; and where the sportsman has seen hundreds in one day, he will not find even a single bird the next. Very few of them remain in England during the summer; though instances of this kind occasionally happen, and the female has been known to make a nest and lay eggs. But even these instances have H 146 THB SHOOTER'S GUIDE. most likely arisen from the birds having been so wounded by the sportsman in the winter, as to be disabled from taking their long journey in spring. They build their nests on the ground, generally at the root of some tree, and lay four or five eggs about the size of those of a pigeon, of a rusty colour, and marked with brown spots. They are remarkably tame during incubation : A person who discovered a woodcock on its nest, often stood over, and even stroked it; notwithstanding which, it hatched the young, and in due time disappeared with them. A single bird was observed to remain in a coppice be- longing to a gentleman in Dorsetshire through the summer. The place, from its shady and moist situation, was well calculated to maintain it ; yet, by degrees, it lost almost all its feathers, so that for some time it was unable to fly, and was often caught ; but in the autumn it recovered its strength and feathers, and flew away. When woodcocks stop in this country through the summer, it seldom happens that two of them (male and female) are found together; it therefore very rarely occurs indeed that woodcocks are bred in this country, though the female herself will make a nest and lay eggs. It has been remarked in England, that, for some years past, woodcocks have become scarce ; which seems to be easily accounted for: — The northern parts of Europe (and particularly Sweden,) where these birds breed, are making a gradual progress in THE WOODCOCK. 147 the arts of luxury, among which the indulgence of the palate fills no undistinguished a place. The eggs of wild fowl have therefore become a great delicacy among the inhabitants of those parts, who encourage the boors to find out their nests. The eggs of the woodcock they prefer to all others ; and, in conse- quence of their high price, they are anxiously sought by the country people, and offered for sale in large quantities in the markets of Stockholm and other places. The flesh of this bird, however, they deem unwholesome, from the circumstance of its having no crop. Woodcocks generally weigh from twelve to four- teen ounces, and are chiefly found in thick covers, particularly those with wet bottoms, and underneath holly" bushes; they are not, however, fond of covers where there is long grass growing in the bottom, and at the roots of the trees. In mild weather they are to be found chiefly in the open country, in hedge- rows, &e. but a severe frost forces them to the thickest covers, and to springs and small running streams that are sheltered with trees or underwood. The sight of the woodcock is very indifferent in the day-time, but he sees better in the dusk of evening and by moonlight ; and it may also be remarked, that woodcocks will lie much better the day following a moonlight night, than when it has been preceded by a very dark one : the reason is obvious — the bird has been enabled by the light of the moon to make a plentiful repast, and the next day is lazy and unwill- H2 148 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ing to fly; whereas, when the darkness of the night has rendered it impossible for him to satisfy the calls of hunger, he is constantly uneasy, and on the alert in search of food, which he never attempts to seek in ^ic day-time but when necessity compels him. Shooting woodcocks is a very pleasant amusement in woods which are not too thick; and, if they are cut through in several places, it renders it more easy to shoot this bird in his passage when he rises, a»nd also mark him with greater certainty; and woodcocks will generally be found near the openings or roads through the woods, if there are any. In this diver- sion a good marker is of essential service; for with his assistance it will be difficult for a woodcock to es- cape; as he will generally suffer himself to be shot at three or four times, before he takes a long flight. Small spaniels, called springers, are frequently used for this diversion (see the head Springer,) and give notice when the cock rises by barking : these animals when well trained may answer very well; and, in fact, they are better adapted for this than pheasant shooting. But a good setter will be found, even in cock shooting, to be fully equal to, if not better than, the springer (see the head Setter). But pointers are not well adapted for this sport, for reasons whieh may be found under the last-mentioned head. The woodcock is a clumsy walker, and rises hea- vily from the ground, which I believe is the case with most (or all) birds that have long wings, and short legs. This bird, as well as the snipe, it is said, rises > V v ^ THE WOODCOCK. H9 from its bill. When a woodcock is found in an open field, in a hedge-row, in the pass of a wood, or an unfrequented lane, he generally skims the ground slowly, and is very easily shot; in fact, thus circum- stanced, lie is the easiest of shots : but it is occasion- ally otherwise, particularly when he is flushed in a tall wood, where he is obliged to clear the tops of trees before he can take a horizontal direction ; at which time he frequently rises very high, and with great rapidity, and it becomes very difficult to seize the moment of shooting, by reason of the turnings and twistings which he is obliged to make, in order to pass between the trees. In this diversion a person is often employed as a beater, which is highly necessary, and may be very useful at the same time in marking. But it is quite wrong to assert (as most writers on this subject have done) that too much noise cannot be made. — There is no doubt but more noise may be used in woodcock- shooting than any other without injury ; yet all that is necessary is what the beater makes with his staff in the thickets or hedges, and more than this will be found injurious. As to making use of bells in this diversion, the custom is a bad one. There have been several white woodcocks shot at different times in England. This whiteness, however, might arise from disease or food ; but undoubtedly is a very uncommon appearance. I have seen a white starling. Many instances have occurred where small birds kept in cages have changed colour.— Black- 150 THE- SHOOTER'S GUIDE. birds have been known to turn white ; and 1 have myself seen a lark, which, by being kept on a parti- cular food, became white. In fact, it would seem as if, when birds assume a different colour, they gene- rally turn white. A Mr. Dixon, of Liverpool, shot a brace of wood- cocks, a few years since, in the month of June, some- where in the neighbourhood of Liverpool; but they were much lighter than these birds are generally found to be in the winter season, which arose, no doubt, from the scarcity of their provision. Woodcocks are generally supposed to be more plentiful in Ireland, than either England, Wales, or Scotland. But I believe they were never known so scarce as in the winter of 1808 and 1809, which per- haps might arise in some measure from the reason already assigned in the former part of this article ; and numbers might also have been lost in the stormy weather which prevailed about the time of their emi- gration from the north. The Snipe. After having given a particular description of the woodcock, it will only be necessary to observe, that the plumage and shape of the snipe is much the same; and indeed its habits and manners bear a great analogy. But there are three different sizes of snipes, the largest of which, however, is much smaller than the woodcock. The common snipe weighs about THE SNIPE. 151 four ounces, the jack snipe is not much bigger than a lark; the large snipe weighs about nine ounces, but is seldom met with. Some have supposed that the c6mmon snipe is the jack's female ; however, the contrary is now too well known to need a refutation in this place. Snipes are to be found all the winter in wet and marshy grounds, particularly where there are rushes ; they are frequently to be found on mountains and moors among the heath, but a severe frost forces them to the springs and running streams. Numbers of these birds remain with us all the year, and breed in our marshes, laying generally six eggs the latter end of May. In saying this, I wish to be understood as meaning the common snipe ; for I am of opinion the jack snipe, like the woodcock, goes to a more northern latitude to breed, though he is sometimes seen here in the summer, which may arise from simi- lar causes to those which induce the occasional stay of the woodcock, mentioned in the preceding chap- ter. But numbers of the common snipe are found to stay and breed from choice, though by far the greater part migrate for this purpose. The snipe is generally regarded as a difficult shot ; and it must be allowed that it requires practice to surmount this difficulty, which arises from the zig- zag manner in which the bird flies immediately af- ter rising. The best method to pursue in this diver- sion is to walk down the wind, as snipes generally fly against it ; and if a snipe rise before a sportsman, it 152 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. will not fly far before it turns, and describes a sort of semicircle, which will afford more time to take aim, by thus remaining longer within gun-shot. If, how- ever, the bird should fly straight forward, it will oe highly proper to let it get some little distance, as its flight will become much steadier. The slightest wound is sufficient to bring these birds to the ground; and indeed I once fired at a snipe, which fell; and, on picking it up, I could not observe a feather discom- posed, nor any wound about it : — I plucked it, and not the slightest mark of violence appeared. I am in- duced to suppose that a pellet of shot slantingly struck its bill. An old pointer is the best in snipe-shooting. To accustom a young dog to snipes slacks his mettle, and renders him of little use for partridge or grouse, owing to getting a number of points with little exer- tion. However, when these birds are plentiful, a dog is unnecessary, as , walking them up will answer equally well. But, at all events, a dog used for grouse- shooting should never be taken to set snipes, as it will not only injure him, but cause disappointment to the sportsman, as these birds are sometimes found on the moors in the grouseing season ; and a shooter would be mortified (especially when rather fatigued) to walk a considerable distance up to a steady set, expecting grouse, and a snipe rise before him. Numbers of snipes, in the course of the winter, are killed by a very fierce little hawk, called the Mer- lin, which is a bird of passage, and visits this coun* PRESERVATION OF BIRDS. 153 try in winter only: it has a beautiful plumage of dusky blue on the back, and inclining to yellow on the breast and belly : it is the smallest hawk I be- lie ve to be seen in this island, and would weigh little or no more than the common snipe. The country people also, who reside where these birds are plenti- ful, take abundance of them by means of a sort of snare, called in some parts apantle. Preservation of Birds. The following directions are given by Sir Ashton Lever for the preservation of birds : — " Large birds should be carefully skinned, the head, tail, and feet left entire ; the skin may then be put either into a vessel of spirits, or rubbed well on the inside with the following mixture:— one pound of salt, four ounces of alum, and two ounces of pepper pounded together. — Small birds may be thus treated — take out the en- trails, open a passage to the brain, which should be scooped out through the mouth ; introduce into the cavities of the skull and the whole body some of the above mixture, putting it also through the gullet and entire length of the neck, hang the bird in a cool airy place, first by the feet, that the body may be impreg- nated by the salts, 'and afterwards by a thread through the under mandible of the bill, till it appears to be sweet, then expose it in the sun or near a fire : after it is well dried, clean out what remains loose of the mixture, and fill the cavity of the body with wool, H 5 154 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. oakum, or any soft substance. The sooner this me- thod is applied after the bird is killed the better. In forwarding them to any distance when fresh killed, for their being preserved, tow should be put into the mouth and upon every wound, to prevent the feathers being soiled; and the bird should be wrapped smooth at full-length in paper, and packed close in a box : if sent from far the entrails should be extracted, and the hollow filled with tow dipped in rum or other spirits." Tlie Hare. My intention originally was not to have mentioned this animal, as it is, strictly speaking, an improper ob- ject for the shooting sportsman; in fact, there is an act of parliament which subjects any person to a pe- nalty for shooting a hare ; but as this act is super- seded by a posterior one, and the practice of shooting these animals become so very general, this work might perhaps be deemed incomplete without a few remarks on this head. The hare is one of the most timid animals in na- ture ; fearful of every danger, and attentive to every alarm, it is continually upon the watch : and being provided with very long ears, which are moveable at pleasure, and easily directed to any quarter, it is warned of the distant approach of its enemies. As the hare is destitute of the means of defence, nature has endowed it with powers of evasion in a superior degree : every part and member of this animal seems THE HARE. 155 peculiarly formed for celerity, and it is consequently one of the swiftest quadrupeds in the world. Its hind legs are much longer than the fore ones, and are fur- nished with strong muscles, which give it a singular advantage in running up a hill ; and of this it appears very sensible, as it -is- ^generally observed to fly to- wards rising ground when first started. The eyes of the hare are large and prominent, and adapted to receive the rays of light on every side: they are constantly open, even while sleeping, as her eye-lids are too short to cover them ; and they are so situated as to enable her, while sitting in \\erform, to observe every thing around her. The colour of this animal is another great means of preservation, as it often so much resembles the ground on which it sits as not to be easily distinguished. In cold countries, near the pole, where the ground is covered the greatest part of the year with snow, the hare becomes white, which consequently renders it less conspicuous in those frigid regions. Thus formed for escape, it might be supposed the hare would enjoy a state of tolerable security ; but, although harmless and inoffensive in itself, it has no friend. Dogs of all kinds, as well as foxes, pursue it, seemingly by instinct; wild cats, weasels, &c. catch and destroy it ; birds of prey are still more dangerous enemies : while man, more powerful than all, makes- use of every artifice to obtain a creature, which con- stitutes one of the numerous delicacies of his table. According to naturalists, the hare lives six or 156 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. seven years, and attains its full growth in one. It en- genders frequently before it is a year old. The buck seeks the doe principally from the month of Decem- ber to the month of March. The female goes with young thirty or thirty-one days, and brings forth ge- nerally two young ones, though they have been known to produce three or four, and deposits them in a tuft of grass or heath, or in a little bush, without any preparation whatever. The ridiculous assertions which some writers on natural history have made, viz. of hares being gene- rally hermaphrodites, of their changing their sex every month, &c. are too glaringly absurd to need a detailed refutation in this place. The circumstance which seems to have given rise to these strange con- jectures is the formation of the genital parts of the male hare, whose testicles do not obviously appear, especially when he is young, being contained in the same cover with the intestines. Another reason is, that on the side of the penis, which is scarcely to be distinguished, there is an oblong and deep slit; the orifice of which, in some measure, resembles the pudendum of the female. Sportsmen, therefore, sel- dom look at the genital parts of a hare to distinguish its sex, but resort to other marks by which this point is more easily ascertained. Thus, the head of the male is more short and round, the whiskers longer, the shoulders more ruddy, and the ears shorter and broader, than those of the female ; the head of which is long and narrow, the ears long and sharp at the tipa THE MARK. 157 the fur of the back of a grey colour, inclining to black, and in point of size is larger than the male. There is also considerable difference in the feet. In the male, the feet are small and pointed, and the nails short ; whereas, in the female, they are much larger and more spread : the nails also are much longer. The buttons* of the male are shorter and smaller than those of the female ; and the scut^- also is smaller. Two species of hares may be distinguished ; those of the wood, and those of the plain. The hares of the wood are in general much larger than those of the open ground : the fur is not of so dark a colour, and they are better covered with it; they are also swifter in the chase, and their flesh has a better flavour. Among the hares of the plain, those may be distin- guished which inhabit the marshes : they are not so swift of foot, are less covered with fur, and their flesh is not so fine and delicate. A young hare, that has attained the full growth, may be known from an old one by feeling the knee joints of the fore legs with the thumb nail. When the heads of the two bones, which form the joints, are so close, that little or no space is to be perceived between them, the hare is old. If, on the contrary, there is a perceptible separation, the hare is young ; and is more or less so, in proportion to the separation * The dung. f The tail. 15S THE SHOOTER'* GUIDE. of the bones. It may also be known whether a hare is old or young, but without pretending to ascertain the precise age, by compressing the under-jaw bones : if they break at the point immediately under the fore teeth, upon a slight degree of pressure, the hare is cer- tainly a young one; but if considerable force is re- quired, the contrary is as certain. The hare is very prolific, and I believe the female will sometimes take the buck the latter end of the same season the early part of which gave it birth. In fact, were it not for its surprising fecundity, the spe- cies (in England at least) would soon become ex- tinct. To say nothing of its other numerous ene- mies, this animal appears the peculiar object of the poacher, not perhaps on account of the great demand, and consequent ready sale for it, but owing most likely to the ease and facility with which it is caught. There are various methods of taking them, and so little skill is required, that any bungler is able to ex- ecute his purpose. The wire-snare is most com- monly employed by poachers. Purse nets are also used, by which means hares are caught alive, and with more certainty than the snare. Also, I believe it is not generally known, that hares may be covered on their seats in the day-time with a net much easier than a covey of partridges could be netted. Those who are desirous of having hares very nume- rous in their parks, or other grounds, should destroy some of the buck hares before the rutting season ; as3 THE FOWLJNG-PIECE. 159 if the latter are left in great numbers, they will teaze the does to that degree as not only to prevent their breeding properly, but even destroy them. The buck hare is remarkable in the rutting season for setting in moist or wet situations. The Fowling -Piece. I am perfectly aware that a large volume might be written on this subject; but, as my intention is to give only such information and instruction as is ne- cessary for the sportsman, I shall forbear introducing any extraneous matter; at the same time, being care- ful to omit nothing which can be useful even in the remotest degree. That the fowling-piece is an ob- ject of the first consideration will be readily allowed; hence the necessity of beinir able to form an opinion of its merits prior to laying out a considerable sum of money on this article, as well as to prevent those dreadful accidents which too frequently occur from causes which at first sight are by no means obvious. The first thing that presents itself for notice under this head is the barrel; which, from its nature, is li- able to the following imperfections, viz. the chink, the crack9 and the flaw. The chink is a solution of continuity, running lengthwise of the barrel. The crack is a solution of continuity, more irregular in its form than the chink, and running in a transverse di- rection, or across the barrel. The flaw differs from both i it is a small plate or scale which adheres to the 160 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. barrel by a narrow base, from which it spreads out as the head of a nail does from its shank; and, when se- parated, leaves a pit or hollow in the metal. The crack and flaw are to be regarded as much more dangerous than the chink ; as the efforts of the powder are exerted upon the circumference, and not upon the length, of the barrel. The flaw is much more frequent than the crack : but the latter will fre- quently occur, where the iron is of an inferior qua- lity. All these defects, however, when only external and superficial, are of no material consequence ex- cept in point of neatness ; but when situated within the barrel, they become a very serious and even dan- gerous disadvantage, by affording a lodgment to moisture and filth that corrode the iron, and thus con- tinually enlarge the excavation till the barrel bursts. A common gun-barrel is formed in the following manner : — The workmen begin by heating and ham- mering out a bar of iron into the form of a flat ruler, thinner at the end intended for the muzzle, and thicker at that for the breach; the length, breadth, and thickness of the whole plate being regulated by the intended length, diameter, and weight of the barrel. This oblong plate of iron is then, by repeat- ed heating and hammering, turned round a cylindri- cal rod of tempered iron, called a mandril, whose dia- meter is considerably less than the .intended bore of the barrel. The edges of the plate are made to over- lap each other about half an inch, and are welded to- gether by heating the tube in lengths of two or three THE FOWLING-PIECE. 16 i inches at a time, and hammering it upon an anvil that has a number of* semicircular furrows in it, adapted to the various sizes of barrels; and, by this means, the whole of the barrel is rendered as per- fectly continuous as if it had been bored out of a solid piece. The barrel, when forged, is either finished in the common way, or made to undergo the operation of twisting ; which is a process employed on those bar- rels which are intended to be of a superior quality and price to others. This operation consists in heating the barrel, in portions of a few inches at a time, to a high degree of red heat; when one end of it is screwed into a vice, and into the other is introduced a square piece of iron, with a handle similar to that of an augur; and by means of these, the fibres of the heated portion are twisted in a spiral direction, which has been found to resist the efforts of the powder better than a longitudinal one. The next operation is that of giving the barrel its proper calibre, which is called boring. The boring bit is a rod of iron, somewhat longer than the barrel ; one end being made to fit the socket of the crank, and the other being furnished with a cylindrical plug of tempered steel, about an inch and a half in length, and having its surface cut in the manner of a perpe- tual screw ; the threads being flat, about a quarter of an inch in breadth, arid running with very little obli- quity. The form gives the bit a very strong hold of the metal; and the threads being sharp at the edges, 162 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. scoop out and remove every roughness and inequality from the inside of the barrel, and render the ca- vity smooth and equal throughout. A number of bits, each a little larger than the preceding one, are after- wards successively passed through the barrel, in the same way, until it has acquired the intended calibre. It is hardly necessary to observe, tliat the equality of the bore is so essential to the excellence of the piece, that the utmost perfection in every other respect will by no means compensate for the want of it ; and the merits of a barrel, in this particular, may be ascer tained with tolerable accuracy by means of a plug of lead, cast on a rod of iron or wood ; or even by a musket-ball, filed so as to exactly fit the bore, and pushed through the barrel by the ramrod; care being taken not to use an iron ramrod, or too much force, lest the ball be flattened, and an artificial difficulty created. Thus, if the bullet move regularly through, there is every reason to be satisfied with the equality of the bore ; but if, in passing it through, it move irregularly, that is, in some places quicker than in others, the bore is not true, and the barrel is conse^ quently to be regarded as a bad one. N. B. Of late, there have been some improve- ments made, by which barrels are bored with greater expedition ; but as these improvements throw no further light on the nature of gun- barrels, I shall forbear enumerating them. In this state the barrel comes into the hands of the gun-smiths, who polish the inside, and file the out- THB FOWLING-PIECE. 163 side quite round ; though sometimes the lower part is formed into eight sides. This octagonal form may appear more handsome, for aught I know, but it serves to make the barrel heavier, without adding iu the least to its strength; since the effort of the powder will always be sustained by the thinnest part of the circumference, without any regard to those places that are thicker than the rest. Great pains are always taken to render the circumference of the barrel very^ even throughout, which is indispensably necessary, in order to render it perfectly sound and secure. The last operation is that of colouring the barrel ; previous to which it is polished with fine emery and oil, until it is rendered perfectly smooth and equal. It was formerly the custom to colour barrels by ex- posing them to a degree of heat, which produced an elegant blue tinge; but as this effect arises from a degree of calcination taking place upon the surface of the metal, the inside of the barrel consequently sustained considerable injury; and this practice, therefore, has been disused for many years. It is now the custom to brown barrels ; which is done by rubbing the barrel over with aqua-fortis, or spirit of salt, diluted with water, and laying it by until a complete coat of rust is formed upon it ; a little oil is then applied, and the surface, being rubbed dry, is polished with a hard brush and bees-wax. This is not the only method to render barrels of a fine brown; it may be done (by the sportsman himself, if he thinks proper) by first rubbing the barrel bright 164 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. with sand-paper, to take oflFall greasiness; and after- wards fit a stick into the muzzle to hold it by. Bruise half an ounce of stone-brimstone, and sprinkle it over a gentle fire ; hold the harrel over the smoke, at the same time moving it about, until all parts become equally tinged ; then place it in a damp situation until the next day, when you will find a fine rust thrown out, over which you may draw your finger, to spread it even over the barrel; let it remain another day, after which it should be polished, as above described. When barrels are intended for a double gun, they are dressed to their proper thickness, which is gene- rally less than for single barrels ; and each of them is filed flat on the side where it is to join the other, so that they may fit closely together. Two correspond- ing notches are then made at the muzzle and breech of each barrel ; and into these are fitted two small pieces of iron to hold them more strongly together. The barrels being united by tinning the parts where they touch, the ribs are fitted in, and made fast by the same means. These ribs are the pieces of iron which are placed between the barrels, running on their upper and under sides the whole length, and serving to hold them more firmly together. When the barrels are thus joined, they are polished and coloured in the manner already described. Twisted barrels are deservedly celebrated for their superior elegance and strength. The iron employed in them is formed of old horse-shoe nails, which are THK FOWLINCi-PIECK. 165 originally made of the softest and toughest iron that can be produced ; arid this is still further purified by the numerous heatings and hammerings it has under- gone, in being reduced from a bar into the size and form of nails. Twenty-eight pounds of these stubs are required to make a single barrel of the ordinary size. These barrels are twisted into a spiral form, 'by means of the anvil and hammer alone, which is not the case with the common barrels ; the method of twisting which has been before described. These barrels are finished in the same way as the common ones. Stub-iron is also wrought into plain barrels, which, as they require much less labour, are only half the price of the twisted ones. The French canons a rubans, or ribbon barrels, very much resemble the twisted barrels of the Eng- lish; and the acknowledged superiority of twisted and ribbon barrels over plain ones has induced many persons to counterfeit them, by colouring plain bar- rels, so as to show a spiral line running from one end to fhe other. This is produced by wetting a thread with diluted aqua- fords, or spirit of salt, and winding it in a spiral direction round a plain barrel, so that a coat of rust may be formed where the thread touches. When the acid is employed the second time over the whole barrel, the part over which the thread has passed, by being more rusted than the rest, shows a dark line winding round the barrel; and renders it, when well finished, scarcely distinguishable from the twisted or ribbon barrel. Other barrels are, by simi- 166 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. lar means, clouded in an irregular manner, so as to resemble those made of stub-iron. To prove, there- fore, whether a barrel is what it appears to be, it will be necessary to fix upon any part of the under side that is covered by the stock ; and having cleared a small space with a fine file, apply a feather dipped in aqua-fortis, which, in a little time, will render the fibres of the metal distinctly visible, when, conse- quently, it will be easy to ascertain in what direction they run. Spanish barrels have always been held in great esteem, as well on account of the quality of the iron, which has generally been considered as the best in Europe, as because they possess the reputation of being forged and bored with greater accuracy than any others. It will here be necessary to observe, that of the Spanish barrels those alone are account- ed truly valuable which are made at Madrid ; and in consequence of this predilection, numbers have been manufactured in other parts of Spain (particularly at Catalonia, in Biscay, with the names and marks of the Madrid gun-makers). They have also been counterfeited at Liege, Prague, Munich, &c. and with that nicety too, that a person must be a very good judge not to be deceived by them. The barrels which bear the highest price, and are the most sought after by the curious in this way, are those made by artists which have been dead many years; though, I am inclined to think, this preference has no better foundation than the common prejudice THE FOWLING-PIECE. 167 i» favour of things that are the production of remote ages or distant countries. Madrid harrels are composed of the old shoes of horses and mules collected for the purpose ; and an idea may be formed of the great purity to which the iron is brought in the course of the operation, when it is known, that, to make a barrel, which, rough from the forge, weighs only six or seven pounds, they employ a mass of mule-shoe iron weighing from forty to forty-five pounds ; so that from thirty-four to thirty-eight pounds are exhausted in the beatings and hammerings it is made to undergo, before it is forged into a barrel. The avidity with which Spanish barrels were sought after, has, however, in a great degree, subsided ; and I am of opinion, that our stub-twisted barrels are fully equal to the Spanish, and that the preference given to the latter, by some few whimsical persons, proceeds more from a fancied, than any real, supe- riority. The vanity of possessing something that is sin- gularly curious, the false idea that whatever is ex- pensive must necessarily be excellent, and occasion- ally the laudible desire of improvement, have all, in their turns, been the causes of a variety of experi- ments being made in the manufacture of barrels ; and twisted are allowed to be superior to any other. 168 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. Proof of Barrels. The methods of proving gun-barrels are very nu- merous, and many of them by no means satisfactory. The Tower proof is made with a bullet exactly fit- ting the calibre of the piece, and a charge of powder equal in weight to the bullet : this proof is generally supposed to be a safe one. There arc some gun-smiths, it seems, who pride themselves on making their barrels undergo a second proof: — if a barrel, however, bears any assigned proof, it will most likely sustain the same immediate- ly after with greater safety; since the metal, from being warmed with the first fire, the barrel is less liable to burst from the force of a second discharge. The author of La Chasse au Fusil says, a stronger proof than ordinary might be made by ramming down, on the top of the powder, six or eight inches of dry clay. I have little doubt, however, that this proof would burst any barrel ; as the hardest rocks are torn in pieces by means of dry clay, strongly rammed over powder that is placed at the bottom of a cylindrical cavity made in t^em ; and we certainly cannot expect that a force sufficient to rend in pieces immense blocks of granite can be resisted by the comparatively trifling thickness and strength of a gun-barrel. Another proof, preferable beyond a doubt to the THE FOWLING- PIECE. preceding, is by means of water, which is compressed (if I may be allowed the expression) in the barrel, in such a manner, as to find its way through any de- fects imperceptible to the eye. Any person in the least acquainted with the nature of this fluid will easily perceive that this method of proving by water must be very powerful ; and, in my estimation, it is excellent j the only doubt which can possibly be entertained as to its superiority arises from the idea, that as compressed water acts in so different a man- ner from the explosion of gun-powder, it is not, therefore, so well calculated to ascertain the neces- sary quality of the barrel ; as, to urge this idea still further, it might be said, that* though it resisted a great pressure of water, it might, nevertheless, burst on the explosion of the quantity of gun- powder neces- sary for a satisfactory prooi ; and that consequently water-proof is not well adapted for guu-barrels. However, this is mere supposition ; and I most as- suredly should prefer this kind of proof to any other. \t the same time, 1 should be quite satisfied with Tower-proof, supposing the barrel to be stubs twisted, and properly finished. Inferior barrels I shall cer- tainly never recommend : they might stand the proof perhaps, and yet burst shortly afterwards ; at all event*, a barrel made of good metal must certainly be less dangerous than one manufactured of bad. Soldiers' muskets, it might be observed, are made of inferior metal — granted; but then they are made 1/0 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. much stronger, and are consequently heavier, than a sportsman would wish his fowling-piece to be. A number of other proofs, by powder, might be enumerated were it necessary; but as they are much the same thing tried different ways, it would be em- ploying the reader to no purpose. If a well-manu- factured barrel will bear the explosion of six or seven times the quantity of powder generally used for a charge, with a bullet fixed close on the top of it, the sportsman need not be afraid to use it. Causes of Bursting. The first step to prevent this is to purchase your fowling-piece from a gun-smith of respectability, giving at the same time a good price for it ; (for, however respectable a gun-smith maybe, you have no right to expect a good article for an inferior price.) This is the most likely method of guarding against a barrel made of bad iron, which to outward appear- ance, and superficial examination, might appear per- fectly unquestionable. But as there are a variety of causes that may occasion a barrel made of good materials to burst, I shall therefore proceed to enu- merate them. The bursting of barrels generally arises from im- proper treatment. If hy any mearcs, in loading, the shot happens not to be rammed home (close on the THE FOWLING-PIECE. Ijl powder), so that a space is left between the powder and shot, there will be great risk of its bursting on its being discharged. Should the space be very small, and the shot lay so as to leave a small windage (that is, admit a small quantity of air to pass), the barrel will most likely remain whole ; but supposing, for instance, a bullet, instead of shot, which exactly fits the bore, this accident will most certainly ensue. Mr. Robins, speaking on this subject, says, " a mo- derate charge of powder, when it has expanded itself through the vacant space and reaches the ball, will, by the velocity each part has acquired, accumulate itself behind the ball, and thereby be condensed pro^ digiously ; whence, if the barrel be not of an extra- ordinary strength in that part, it must infallibly burst. The truth of this I have experienced in a very good Tower musket, forged of very tough iron ; for, charging it with twelve penny-weights of powder, and placing the ball sixteen inches from the breech, on the firing of it, the part of the barrel just behind the bullet was swelled out to double its diameter, like a blown bladder, and two large pieces, of two inches long, were burst out of it." A much less space, however, than sixteen inches is sufficient to produce this effect; indeed a very trifling one, I am per- suaded, would cause the barrel to burst; but the greater the space, the more certain the barrel is of bursting. This accident may take place from the mouth of the piece being filled with earth or snow, which some* i 2 THE SHOOTERS times happens in leaping a ditch, with the muzzle of the piece pointed forwards ; and if, in such cases, the barrel does not burst, it is because those foreign bodies stopped it up but very loosely. For the same reason, the barrel will burst if fired when the muzzle is thrust into water, but a very little depth below the surface; the resistance given to the passage of the inflamed powder through the mouth of the piece, being, in this case, much greater than that afforded by the sides of the barrel. Independent of these, a barrel may burst from a defect in the work; and that either the barrel has been imperfectly welded, or that a deep flaw has taken place in some part of it; or, lastly, for want of care in boring or filing, it has been left of unequal thickness in the sides. The last defect is the most common, especially in low-priced barrels. The elastic fluid, which is let loose by the inflammation of the powder, ami which endeavours to expand itself equal- ly-in evei-y direction, being repelled by the stronger parts, acts with additional force against the weaker ones, and frequently bursts its way through them ; which would not have been the case had the sides been of an equal strength, and afforded an equal re- percussion. The weakness of any part of the barrel, occasioned by the inequality of the calibre, will still more certainly be the cause of bursting, than that pro- duced by the filing; because the inflamed fluid being suddenly expanded at the wider parts, must suffer a compression before it can pass onward, and the whole force is then exerted against the weak place; for THE FOWLTNG-FlKClv, 1 *3 gunpowder acts in the radii of a circle, and exerts the same force on every part of the circumference of the circle. The conclusion, therefore, to he drawn from this is, that a thin and light harrel, which is perfectly upright, that is, of equal thickness in every part of its circumference, is much less liable to hurst than one which is considerably thicker and heavier; hut which, from being badly filed or bored, is left of unequal strength in its sides. The greatest attention should be paid to keeping the barrel perfectly clean. If a harrel be fired only once, it should be well washed with hot water (unless it. is going to be used again in the course of the same day) before it is laid by; a? it will be readily allowed, that, after firing, the harrel will quickly become moist? and this moisture will speedily communicate a very corrosive rust, occasioned by the evaporation of the salt-petre used in making gunpowder. If a gun should be suffered to rerrilTin without cleaning for any length of time, its inside will suffer much for the reason just assigned; and the using it afterwards will not only be rendered unpleasant, but also dangerous: and I have many strong reasons for believing that a neglect in this particular has frequently been the cause of the barrel bursting. The bursting of gun-barrels is no uncommon oc- currence; but it generally happens with ignorant peo- ple, who are in the habit of keeping their guns load- ed for weeks, nay months, together. Nor is it merely confined to keeping them loaded — after being fired, THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. they are frequently suffered to remain for several days, or even weeks, without being loaded; and per- haps in damp situations too, where the barrel would inevitably rust, to say nothing of the moisture which follows the explosion in the course of a very few mi- nutes, if air even is not excluded. The fact is, when once the inside surface of the barrel becomes damaged by a flaw, which rust will very soon occasion, it is ex- tremely difficult, if not impossible, to clean this par^ ticular spot ever afterwards; the consequence is, that it continually increases till at length the barrel bursts. I have made much inquiry on this subject, and have no hesitation in asserting, that tins cause will be found to obtain in nine out of ten of the barrels which burst, In October, 1809, 1 saw a person (a farmer) whose hand was dreadfully shattered by the bursting of a barrel. He acknowledged, that he had been in the habit of treating his gun in the manner above de- scribed; but he observed, that a little time before the accident, a gun-smith had repaired and cleaned his gun, which induced him to suppose the latter had iri- lured it; thus the gun-smith was blamed for the ne- glect of the farmer; though the latter acknowledged that the gun had been loaded for three weeks before the accident happened. THE FOWLING-FIECE. Cleaning Gun-barrels. The method of cleaning gun-barrels is so evident, and so well known, that it would be time worse than idly spent to give a long description of it. On this subject, therefore, I have only to observe, that care should be taken to have the water hot (boiling for in- stance). Many persons first wash the barrel with cold water, which, when it is very dirty, is perhaps to be recommended. After the barrel is well washed with tow or a piece of flannel wrapped round the rod, it should be wiped thoroughly dry with tow or flan- nel; and afterwards rub the inside (as well as the out) with oily tow or flannel. The breech will seldom have occasion to be taken out if the gun is properly treated. The best oil for the barrel, as well as the lock, is that which is obtained from sheep's feet, or neat's-foot oil will answer the purpose, or that which is procured from the fat of horses : however, be which it will, the oil should be first clarified ; for which the following is the best method : — put several small pieces of lead, or a few shot, into the bottle which contains the oil, and let it remain uncorked. If the oil is thick, it should be exposed to the sun, or kept in a warm si- tuation while it undergoes the simple operation of clarifying: exposing it to the sun is the preferable way. The feculent matter will very soon adhere to the lead, and leave the oil extremely clear. THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. Of the Recoil The most frequent cause of excessive recoil is the bore of the piece being wider at one place than an- other; for, although this inequality may be impercep- tible to the naked eye, the repulse which the expand- ing flame meets with, when passing from the wider to the narrower part, renders the recoil much greater than it would have been, had the bore been perfectly cylindrical. The impelling force of the powder is the first and most simple cause of fire-arms recoiling; for this force acts equally on the breech of the piece, and on the ball or shot; so that if the piece and ball were of equal weight, and other circumstances the same, the piece would recoil with the same velocity as that with which the ball issues out of the piece. For the same reason, whatever retards the exit of the charge, ope- rates like an increase of lead; and, by confining the force of the explosion more to the barrel, produces a greater recoil; hence arises the increase of the re- coil, in proportion as the barrel becomes foul by re- peated firing. A piece will recoil, if, from the breech plug being made too short, there remain some turns of the screw not filled up ; these hollows, wherein a part of the powder is lodged, forming an obstacle that confines and retards the explosion. It is supposed that a barrel mounted on a very straight stock, will. THE FOWLING-PIECE. 177 recoil more than when mounted on a stock that is considerably bent, as the curvature serves to break and deaden the force of the recoil. Also, a gun will recoil severely, whenever it is not applied firmly and properly to the shoulder, It will be necessary to notice, in this place, a no- tion which formerly existed, but which, I should sup- pose, is now rejected, even by the vulgar and igno- rant— I mean that of the recoil being increased by the touch- hole being placed at some distance from the breech-plug, so that the powder, instead of being fired at its base, is kindled near the centre of the charge. The fallacy of this doctrine, however, has been so frequently and completely exposed, and so generally known, that 1 believe the reader will very readily excuse me for not tiring his patience with a detailed account of experiments made use of to ascer- tain tins point. But I will take leave to mention one great inconvenience, which arises from the touch* hole being placed close to the breech-plug; which is, that it is much more liable to be stopped up, than when, situated about a quarter of an inch above it* Of the Range of Barrels. It was formerly the general notion, that the longer the barrel, the farther the ball or shot would be thrown. So great, however, has been the change of i 5 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. opinion of late, in this respect, that many gun-smiths now assert, that short barrels carry farther than long ones ; and the reason they assign is the greater fric- tion of the ball or shot in passing through a long bar- rel, by which the velocity is retarded, and the force diminished. If the barrel be so long that the addi- tional impulse, which the shot is continually receiving in its passage, becomes less from the friction between it and the sides of the calibre, then indeed the barrel by being shortened will shoot with more force. And it seems clear, that a barrel may be made so long that it will not throw the shot with such great velo- city as one that is considerably shorter (supposing the calibre of both to be equal): and the reason of this decrease of velocity in very long pieces is the in- crease of the counter-pressure of the external air in the cylinder ; to which may be added, that the elas- tic fluid generated by the explosion of the powder, is constantly escaping while the shot is passing along the cylinder ; which it not only does at the touch- hole, but also between the pellets of the shot — (hence the absurdity of touch-holes which prime themselves, and also the necessity of good wadding). However, after all, the precise length of barrels is far from being ascertained. Many experiments have been made for this purpose by men of science and ability (and among the number, the Great Frederic of Prussia); and although some useful lights were thrown on the general cloud, yet the darkness, at this very hour, is far from being dissipated. But it is not THE FOWLING-PIECE. here meant to be understood, that a long barrel, with a proportionate calibre, will not throw the shot farther than a short one; on the contrary, it is very obvious, that if a long barrel has a bore in proportion, and consequently takes a greater charge, that it must carry farther. The elastic fluid, produced by the firing of gun- powder, is found, by experiment, to occupy, when cooled to the temperature of the atmosphere, a space two hundred and forty four times greater than that taken up by the powder from which it was obtained; but from the great heat generated during the explo- sion, this elastic fluid is rarefied to four times its for- mer bulk. The expansive force of this fluid, there- fore, is, at the moment of inflammation, 970 times greater than that of common air, or (which is the same) than the pressure of the atmosphere; or, sup- posing the powder to have occupied the space of one cubic inch, its expansive force, when fired, is equal to that which would be exerted by D/G cubic inches of common air compressed into the space o\ one inch. As the velocity with which the flame ot gunpowder expands, when uncompressed, is much greater than that with which the ball or shot moves forward, the flame must continue to press upon the ball, and add to its velocity, until it quits the mouth of the piece. This pressure, however, ceases entirely when it leaves the muzzle, in consequence of the flame being then allowed to expand itself laterally, Hence it would seem, that if two pieces of the same bore, but of two ISO THE SHOOTER'S GUJDK. different lengths, are charged with the same quantity of powder, the longer piece will, apparently, com- municate the greater velocity and force to its ball or shot. Experience, however, has proved the fallacy of this theory ; as short guns are frequently found, not only to throw their shot with greater force, but farther, than long ones. The compiler has two guns, the barrel of one thirty-two inches, the other twenty-seven; both equally good to appearance. After repeated trials, I have been unable to ascertain which is the best. I have conversed with many sportsmen on this sub- ject, as well as several well-informed gun-smiths, who agree that a barrel of from twenty-six to thirty inches, is the best calculated for the sportsman ; not only on account of its being lighter and more con- venient than a longer one, but that it will kill equally as far. The circumstance of a duck gun killing at a greater distance than a fowling-piece is not owing to its length, but to the greater width of its bore ; by reason of which it takes a much larger charge, and the barrel is made stronger in proportion, My opinion on this subject is, that much depends on charging the piece properly ; also, that the shot should leave the mouth of the piece the very moment the elastic fluid, caused by the explosion of the powder, has acquired its greatest strength : — if, for instance, after this identical period, the shot has one quarter of an inch of the barrel to pass, the force with THE FOWLING-PIECE. 181 winch it is driven must consequently be diminished, from the causes mentioned before. On the con- trary, should the shot be discharged from the muzzle (owing to the shortness of the barrel) before the elastic fluid has become sufficiently expanded to ac- quire ifs full strength, it is very evident the impul- sion must be less than if the barrel had been of the exact length for this purpose. But the difficulty is to discover this critical moment; and though this point has not been ascertained with precision, enough has been proved to supersede the antiquated notion entertained of very long barrels. Scattering of Shot. On this subject many experiments have been made, and much has been written, with no better success than with respect to the range of barrels. Marolles informs us, that a barrel, in order to throw its shot dosely, ought to have the calibre narrower in the middle than either at the breech or muzzle ; while others again insist, that the barrel ought to contract gradually from the breech to the muzzle. The ab- surdity of both these methods is too obvious to need refutation ; but, it must be allowed, that they are well calculated to burst the barrel, or at least to make the piece recoil insupportably. Bell-muzzled pieces formerly were much used, on account of the greater closeness with which they 182 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. were supposed to throw the shot. But when it is considered that the pellets of shot, which come in contact with the sides of the barrel, compose nearly half the charge, it will not be a matter of surprise, if enlarging the surface of the calibre at the muzzle, and thereby increasing the number of pellets that touch it, would tend to make the shot be scattered more widely. Espinar says, that the fault of the scattering of the shot arises from the quality of the iron composing the several portions of the barrel. Thus, he observes, it may happen, that the reinforced part is formed of iron, which is harder and closer in the grain than that forming the fore- part of the barrel ; in conse- quence of which, and also from the fore-part being much thinner, the latter is more shaken by the powder, and by that means produces a dispersion of the shot. He therefore pretends, that widening the muzzle, that is, making it bell-muzzled, by facili- tating the explosion, diminishes the force of the powder upon this part, and causes the shot to be thrown more closely together. These contrivances, however, appear by no means to answer the desired purpose ; most of the modern gun-smiths are sensible of this, and therefore seldom practise them unless to indulge the vthim of their customers. For my own part, I am confident those barrels, whose calibres are perfectly smooth and cylindrical throughout, will be found to throw the shot the best. Barrels of this kind have long sup- THE FOWLING-PIECE. 183 ported their credit among sportsmen ; whilst the pretended improvements have all experienced but a very temporary reputation, and are now entirely neglected. There remains yet one observation to be made on this subject, which is that of overcharging. That this is frequently the cause of the shot scattering too much I have not the smallest doubt. Every barrel, according to its calibre and weight, should have a certain quantity of lead, and a suitable one of powder* which will be attended with greater certainty and effect than any other; and these can be ascertained by repeated trials alone. If we increase the quantity of shot above this, we lessen the force of the dis- charge, and at the same time increase the recoil; and if we increase the charge of powder, that of the shot remaining the same, the recoil will be greater, and the shot more dispersed than before. In every species of fire-arms, large charges of powder are found to disperse the shot very much, whilst with smaller charges than are generally used, it is thrown more steadily and closely. If therefore the object we are about to fire at be at too great a distance for the shot to take effect, and it happens that we cannot approach nearer it, we ought not to increase the powder with a view to the shot being thereby thrown farther, as, by so doing, the increase of the range will be very trifling, whilst the dispersion of the shot will be augmented. The only expedient in this case is tp employ shot of a larger size ; the quantity of it, as <1S4 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. also of the powder, being kept the same as has been already found best suited to the piece. Tfie Patent Hreech. That this is an improvement must be allowed by every one acquainted with the nature of it ; but I am confident there are many who suppose it of much greater importance and utility than on close exami- nation it will be found. Some, for instance, imagine it throws the shot much farther, which, generally speaking, is not the case. The advantages to be derived from the patent breech are, that it takes less powder, and fires quicker; the explosion is instan- taneous, and more of the powder is kindled than in the common breech : it will be found, on firing, par- ticularly with a common breech, that some of the powder will come out without having exploded ; and, to prove the truth of this assertion, it will be neces- sary only to put a sheet or two of white paper imme- diately under the muzzle of the piece, and after firing, grains of powder will be found thereon. But I am inclined to think, that the recoil is greater from the patent breech ; as well as its getting foul or dirty sooner: notwithstanding which, it is, on the to be strongly recommended. THE FOWLING- PIECE. 185 Elevated Breech. There lias been lately invented what is called an Elevated Breech ; which is a piece of iron running longitudinally along the top of the barrel, raised the eighth of an inch perhaps at the breech end, and gradually diminishing to the muzzle of the barrel, with which it forms a line. Man ton, I understand, is the inventor ; and the purpose for which it is in- tended is to throw the shot a little higher than the common barrel, which it will certainly effect. For those who are apt to shoot below or under the object, the elevated breech will be found of service ; and I believe this is the case with some indifferent shooters, but most particularly with persons beginning this delightful recreation. To an old sportsman, who knows the trim of his fowling-piece, and who seldom misses a fair shot, the elevated breech can be of little or no use. It is a simple matter, and I would recom* mend it to bad shots; but simple as the invention is, it is capable of being made more so ; — a bit of iron placed at the breech, raised the eighth of an inch above the barrel, or more or less, as the method of the person's shooting, and the trim of his gun, re- quire, will answer the purpose just as well as if the piece of iron ran along the whole length of the bar- rel. The bit of iron should be nearly or quite half an inch broad at the top ; and if made a little con- THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. cave perhaps the better. If the sportsman does not reside near a gun-smith, a village black-smith woul^ surely be capable of doing so trifling a job. That the best fowling-pieces are manufactured in London I am very willing to allow; but I have seen unexceptionable guns made in the country ; at all events, it is inconvenient to send to London for every trifle, if the sportsman reside at a distance. In thus speaking, I wish by no means to be understood as- despising the invention of the elevated breech; on the contrary, 1 think it a good idea : but as I have spoken of it at length in the preceding pages, I shall here conclude the subject* Of the Stock, Lock, $c. On that essential part of the fowling-piece, the stock, many different opinions will be found to exist: — some preferring it short, others long; many are much attached to a considerable curvature, while others will choose it almost straight : and good shots will perhaps be equally found, though they make use of stocks of different dimensions and forms, and this arises entirely from practising the different methods. As to the curvature, no particular degree can be as- signed as a standard ; different persons requiring dif- ferent degrees, according to the length of their neck, as well as to the manner in which they hold their head while taking aim. This, therefore, as well as THE FOWUN7G-PIECE. IS/ the length of the butt (which depends in some measure upon the circumstance just mentioned, but in a greater degree upon the length of the arms) can be determined with great accuracy by the gun-smith, from observing the manner in which the shooter pre- sents his piece and takes aim. However, generally speaking, thus much may be observed, that for a long-armed man, the stock should be longer, than for one who has short arms ; also, a tolerably straight stock is proper for a person who has high shoulders, or a short neck ; for if it be much bent, it would be difficult for him, especially in the quick motion re- quired in shooting at a flying or running object, to place the butt-end of the gun-stock firmly to the shoulder; the upper part alone would in general be fixed, which would not only raise the muzzle, and consequently shoot high, but make the recoil more severely felt than if the whole end of the stock were firmly placed to the shoulder. Besides, supposing the shooter to bring the butt home to his shoulder, he would scarcely be able to level his piece at the object. On the contrary, a man with low shoulders and a long neck, requires a stock much bent ; for if it is straight, he will, in the act of lowering his head to that part of the stock at which his cheek should rest in taking aim, feel a constraint, which he never experiences, when, by the effect of a proper degree of curvature, the stock lends him some assistance, and, as it were, meets him half way. Independent, however, of these principles, the application of which 188 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE, is subject to a variety of modifications, I would advise the sportsman, in choosing a fowling-piece, to prefer a stock rather more bent than usual j as a straight one, in coming up to the aim, is subject to the in-^ convenience of shooting too high ; a long stock too is preferable to- a short one, for the following, reasons*, namely, that it sits more firmly to the shoulder; and* in windy weather, the flash of the pan cannot blow so much in the shooter's face. With regard to locks I have nothing material to offer (except on the invention of Forsyth, which will be noticed hereafter). They have already beet* brought to such a degree of elegance and perfection, that we have scarcely any thing farther to hope for or require. The real improvements are not confined to any particular maker; and though the minutia pecu* liar to each may determine the shooter in his prefer- ence, no person need fear much disappointment in the essential qualities of a lock supposing he goes to the price of a good one. It is of the utmost conse* quence to the excellence of a lock that the springs be proportioned to each other: if, for instance, the main-spring be very strong and the hammer-spring weak, the cock will be liable to be broken for want of sufficient resistance to its stroke; on the other hand, if the hammer-spring be stiff and the main- spring weak, the cock has not sufficient force to drive back the hammer; and, in both cases, the collision between the flint and the steel is too slight to pro- duce the necessary fire. The face of the hammer THE FOWLING-PIECE. 189 also may be too hard or too soft; the former is known by the flint making scarcely any impression upon it, and the sparks being few and very small; the latter, by the flint cutting into the hammer ftt every stroke, whilst the sparks also are few in number, and of a dull-red colour. When the strength of the springs, and the temper of the hammer, are in their due de- gree, the sparks will be numerous, brilliant, and ac- companied with a whizzing noise. In order to explain these differences, it will be ne- cessary to observe, that the sparks produced by the collision of flint and steel are particles of the metal driven off in a strongly-heated state, and which, fall- ing among the powder, kindle it instantly. By snap- ping a gun or pistol over a sheet of white paper, we may collect these sparks; and, by submitting them to a microscope, demonstrate the truth of this asser- tion. If the sparks are brilliant, and accompanied with a whizzing noise, we >hall find the particles col- lected on the paper to be little globules of steel ; which were not only melted, but have actually un- dergone a considerable degree of vitrification from the intensity of the heat excited by the collision. When the face of the hammer is too hard, the parti- cles which the flint strikes off are so small, that thej are cooled before they fall into the pan ; and when the hammer is too soft, the particles driven off are so large as not to be sufficiently heated to kindle the powder. Por my own part, I prefer a lock, the springs of 190 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDS. which are rather strong than otherwise, on account of its being less liable to miss fire* It is true, it will wear the flints much faster ; but the expense of these is too trifling to merit consideration; and there are now to be purchased, at some of the gun-smiths, hard white stones, which are admirably adapted for strong locks. But, after all, I am inclined to believe the cock is more liable to break with strong springs than with middling ones, supposing they are in due pro- portion. As to gold pans, they are more for show than uti- lity. A steel pan will be found, with common care in cleaning it, to last longer, and to answer every pur- pose as well, as when lined with gold. However, a gold or platina touch-hole is preferable to the com- mon one. Platina has but lately been tried for this purpose, and found to answer equally as well as gold j at the same time that it is much cheaper. 1 have two fowling-pieces with platina touch-holes, which I have used four seasons, and the platina appears, in every respect, equal to gold. Forsytes Patent Gun-lock. Being on the subject of gun-locks, it would be un- pardonable not to notice, in a particular manner, the late ingenious invention of Mr. Forsyth, of Picca- diJH London. The inventor has obtained a patent for it, and thus describes its properties : THE FOWLING-PIECE. 191 " This lock is entirely different from the common gun-lock. It produces inflammation by means of percussion, and supercedes the use of flints. Its prin- cipal advantages are the following : — The rapid and complete inflammation of the whole charge of gun- powder in the chamber of the barrel. The preven- tion of the loss of force through the touch-hole. Per- fect security against rain or damp in the priming. No flash from the pan. And less risk from an acci- dental discharge of the piece, than when the common lock is used. This being new, and different from the lock in general use, very particular printed instruc- tions are sent with each gun, to prevent any chance of mismanagement." A long account of this apparently important ac- quisition to the fowling-piece appeared in the Sport- ing Magazine, written by a person, who details a num- ber of experiments which he says he has tried with it. It is not necessary for me to detail these experi- ments; but I will extract the following from the arti- cle in question : " The inflammation of the charge is produced (without flint) by a sharp blow given to a very small quantity of inflammable powder, confined between two pieces of hard steel. The flash from the powder is driven violently into the chamber of the piece, and at the same instant inflames the nearest and the most distant particles of the powder. It can be affected neither by rain nor wind; it is not so liable to fire by accident as the common lock, having not only the 192 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. same security from half-cock as a common gun-lock, but can also be put in such a position, that, though it should happen to be cocked, and the trigger pulled, yet no inflammation can be produced." I have not yet used this new-invented gun-lock; but I saw it at the shop of the inventor, in the month of March (1811). It certainly appears to possess most or perhaps all the properties ascribed to it above ; nor do I think there can possibly be more than one objection urged against it, and that proba- bly not well founded — 1 mean on the score of dan- ger. The cavity for holding the priming, situated in what is called the magazine, is capable of containing chemical powder sufficient for twenty-five primings, which number, I understand, is to be put into it at once. From the small space allotted for these twenty- five primings, the powder of which they consist must be consequently very strong, and it instantly struck me that it might be possible for the whole of the priming to explode at once, and thus be attended with infinite danger. On communicating this idea to the young man who showed me the lock, I was informed that the possibility of such a circumstance had been anticipated, and provided for accordingly. In case the Whole became iniiamed, a bit of cork (fixed for die purpose) would be driven out, and thus give vent to the elastic fluid. The material for priming is what the inventor calls chemical powder ; and when one of these locks is pur- chased, a prescription is given for making it. THE FOWLING-PIECE. 193 That the shot may be driven with more force, I have no doubt, as none of the impelling fluid escapes by the touch-hole; nor is there any flash of the pan to blow in the shooter's face. It would be needles?, however, to describe its properties further, after what has been already said. I have to observe, notwith- standing, that I could not comprehend how it in- flamed the nearest and most distant particles of gun- powder contained in the barrel, at one and the same instant. But, after all, if there really is no danger to be apprehended from an accidental explosion of the priming powder, I should regard it as one of the most valuable acquisitions to the fowling-piece, and which appears equally applicable to military purposes, as well to great guiis, as small arms. If the sportsman should wish to try Mr. Forsyte's lock, he need riot be at the expense of a new fowling- piece, as it may be applied to any gun in the same manner as the common lock; and the price for a single lock is eight guineas. 1 have seen a very ingenious improvement of the common gun-lock, which was invented by a clergy- man. It is capable of being applied to Forsyth's lock, and would form apparently a valuable addition; but as the reverend inventor is of opinion he can still fur- ther improve it, 1 do not think I should be justified in saying more at present; however, in a future edi- tion, I may perhaps have an opportunity of fully de- scribing it. N. B. In cleaning gun-locks, care should be taken K 194 THE SHOOTER^ GUIDE. not to use too much oil; in fact, to rub them with oily tow is quite sufficient. When much oil is used, it will become so clammy, as to prevent the springs from acting with the necessary freedom. Tlie best Fowling-piece. The fowling-piece which I should recommend is one with a stub-twisted barrel, patent breech, platina or gold touch-hole (an elevated breech to a person who is in the habit of shooting below the mark). The length of the barrel from twenty-six to twenty-eight inches: a barrel twenty-two inches long, 1 have been informed, will carry as far as one twenty-six (supposing the calibre the same); however, there is this objec- tion to the former, viz. it is neither so pleasant nor safe in the act of loading. There is also one very strong objection against a very long gun, which is that of being point-heavy; to say nothing of the in- convenience attending it when shooting in a wood or thicket. A gun is said to be point-heavy, when in the act of taking aim, it feels heavy at the muzzle, and has consequently a tendency to throw the shot below the object. Forsyte's lock I should strongly recommend, could 1 divest myself of the idea, that there is danger at- tending it. But as I have already stated my ideas at tolerable length upon it, I shall forbear enlarging OR the subject tare. THE FOWLING-PIECE. 1D5 As to who is the best gun-smith, will be difficult to decide. There are many country gun-smiths that make excellent fowling-pieces ; but the London guns, generally speaking, are turned out in the neatest manner, certainly. Manton has obtained the greatest celebrity, and justly merits much of the praise that lias been bestowed upon his work; but to rank him as the very pinnacle of excellence, unattainable by any other person, which has been attempted, is cer- tainly wrong. Mortimer is an excellent gun-maker, as well as many others; hut the neatest and best fowl- ing-pieces I ever saw were made by Knox. gl wisli not to be understood as decrying the work of Manton; on the contrary, I am willing to give him his due share of praise. Assuredly, he has acquired a name, of the importance of which he seems to be fully aware — it brings him much business, no doubt, and enables him to charge rather higher than his neighbours. However, it is not always to the name merely that merit attaches, nor should I be willing to give an extra ten guineas tor that alone — Knox sounds just as well in my ears as Manton. In thus comparing the merits of gun-smiths, I can assure the reader, that I am actuated by no motive but impartiality. Those whose names I have mentioned are strangers to me — I never saw nor had any dealing with any of them. 196 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. Gunpowder. I am well aware that sportsmen, in general, do not pay that attention to gunpowder, which the nature and utility of it so obviously demand. It is an arti- cle which requires the greatest care and circumspec- tion ; and I have no doubt but the gua-smith is fre- quently blamed, for what has been caused by the sportsman's neglect. Gunpowder is composed of very light charcoal, sul- phur, and well-refined saltpetre. The charcoal is made from elder. The powder used by sportsmen in shooting game, is generally composed of six parts of saltpetre, one of charcoal, and one of sulphur; but these proportions, as well as the introduction of seve- ral ingredients, and the sizes of the grains, are un- doubtedly varied by the different manufacturers in the composition of the powders of the same denomina- tion, and are always kept profoundly secret. Powder, -however well dried and fabricated it may have been, loses its strength, when allowed to become damp. The truth of this observation may be demon- strated by the following experiment: — Let a quan- tity of w l'-driev powder be nicely weighed, and put into a close room, where the air is temperate, and seemingly dry, and be left for three or four hours ; on weighing it again, its weight will be increased. This same powder, exposed to an air loaded with va- your, acquires much additional weight in a short GUMPOYVDER. lf>7' time. Now the increase of the weight being propor- tioned to the quantity of vapour contained in the at- mosphere, and to the length of time that the powder is exposed to it, it follows, that powder easily attracts moisture. Wherefore, if a degree of heat, sufficient- only to fire dry powder, he applied to powder that is damp, the moisture will oppose the action of the fire j and the grains either will not take fire at all, or their inflammation will be slower. Thus, as the fire will spread more slowly, fewer grains will burn at a time; and the penetration of the fire from the surface to the centre of each grain, and, consequently, their con- sumption, will require more time. Whence it may be concluded, that all degrees of moisture diminish the force of powder. Saltpetre, not sufficiently re- fined, attracts moisture very readily; and as the sub* stances that render it impure lessen the quantity of . fluid, and prevent its detonation, it should be refined as much as possible, before it is used in the fabrica- tion of gunpowder. The force of powder is owing to an elastic fluid ge- nerated at the explosion, the suddenness of which de- pends upon the proportion of the ingredients, the contact between the nitrous and combustible parti- cles, and the size of the grains, &c. Hence it may be concluded, that when several powders, equally well dried, and fired under the same state of the at- mosphere, are compared together, that which pro- duces the greatest quantity of elastic fluid, in a given space of time, is the strongest. 198 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. There are two general methods of examining gun- powder: one with regard to the purity of its com- position, the other as to its strength. Its purity may be known, by laying two or three little heaps near eacb other upon white paper, and firing one of them.' If this takes fire readily, and the smoke rises upright, without leaving any dross or feculent matter behind, and without burning the paper, or firing the other heaps, it is esteemed a sign that the sulphur and ni- tre were well purified, that the coal was good, and that the three ingredients were thoroughly incorpo- rated together; but if the other heaps also take fire at tke same time, it is presumed, that either common salt was mixed with the nitre, or that tbe coal was not well ground, or the whole mass not well beaten and mixed together; and if either the nitre or sul- phur be not well purified, the paper will be black or spotted. For proving the strength of powder a number of machines have been invented, all of which seem lia- ble to objection; and frequently upon trial, with the same powder, are found to give results so different, that no dependence can be placed in them : to so many modifications are the principal properties of powder subject, even in experiments conducted with the ut- most care. These variations have been attributed by many to the different density of the atmosphere, at the time of the different experiments; but the opi- nions upon this matter are so improbable in them- selves, and so contradictory to each other, that they G UN FO W DER . 1 99 claim neither attention nor belief. Thus some will have it, that gunpowder produces the greatest effects in the morning and evening, when the air is cool and dense ; whilst others assert that its force is greatest in sunshine, and during the heat of the day. Mr. Ro- bins concludes, from the result of several hundred trials made by him at all times of the day, and in every season of the year, that the density of the atmo- sphere has no effect in this matter, and that we ought to attribute the variations, observed at these times, to some other cause than the state of the air: probably they are owing to the imperfection of the instrument, or to the manner in which the trial was conducted. In this state of uncertainty, then, upon the theory of the effects of gunpowder, we remain at this day. If experiments, however, are made with the prover, great care must be taken not to press the powder in the smallest degree into the tube, but to. pour it gently in ; and, particularly in trying the strength of different powders (which is the best use to which the instrument, imperfect as it is, can be applied) atten- tion must be paid that one powder is not pressed closer than another at each experiment, nor the suc- cessive experiments made until the prover is perfectly cool, otherwise no comparative certainty can be gained. By far the most certain method, however, of determining the quality of, powder is, by drying some of it very well, and then trying how many sheets of paper it will drive the shot through at the dis- tance of ten or twelve yards. In this trial, care must 200 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. be taken to employ shot of the same size in each ex- periment, the quantity both of the shot and powder being regulated by exact weight ; otherwise we can- not, even in this experiment, arrive at any certainty in comparing the strength of different powders, or of the same powder at different times. From what has been said in the preceding part of this article, it will easily be concluded that powder should be kept very dry, and that every degree of moisture injures it. Good powder, however, does not readily imbibe moisture ; and, perhaps, there is no greater proof of the bad quality of this composition than its growing damp quickly when exposed to the air : this aptness to become moist arises from the saltpetre not having been properly freed from the common salt it contained in a crude state, and which, in consequence, has a strong attraction for watery particles. Gunpowder may acquire a small degree of damp- ness, and be freed from it again by drying, without much injury to its quality ; but if the moisture is con- siderable, the saltpetre is dissolved, and the intimate mixture of the ingredients entirely destroyed. Dry- ing powder with too great heat also injures it ; for there is a degree, which, although not sufficient to fire the powder, will yet dissipate the sulphur, and impair the composition, by destroying the texture of the grains. The heat of the sun is perhaps the greatest it can with safety be exposed to, and, if pro- perly managed, is quite sufficient for the purpose; GUNPOWDER. when this cannot be had, the heat of the fire, regu- lated to the same degree, may be employed ; and, for this end, a heated pewter-plate is as good as any thing; because pewter retains so moderate a heat, that there can be little danger of spoiling the powder by producing the consequences above mentioned. I need hardly remark that too much care cannot be taken in drying gunpowder. It may also be observed, that damp powder pro- duces a remarkable foulness in the gun after firing, much beyond what arises from an equal quantity of dry powder ; and this appears to arise from a dimi- nution of the activity of the fire in the explosion. Unless the sportsman is very particular indeed in the mode of keeping his powder, I would recommend him to air it, and the flask, prior to going out in the morn- ing. Flasks made of copper or tin, are far superior for keeping powder in to those made of leather, on account of the latter being much more liable to im- bibe moisture. This article, so very essential to the sportsman, Is perhaps arrived at its utmost perfection. From the result of considerable experimental practice, I have no hesitation in pronouncing the gunpowder manu- factured by Mr. W. G. Harvey, of Battle, in Sussex, as decidedly superior to any other I have been able to obtain. It is true, I have met with powder nearly as strong, when newly made, but which, upon a trifling but equal exposure to the atmosphere, lost much more of its strength. Good powder should fire K 5 202 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. quick, burn clean, and be very strong ; and ought not to lose much of its strength, if properly kept, even for years. These properties prevail in Mr. Harvey's in a very eminent degree, particularly the last : — Some of his powder which went out to India in the Earl Spencer, part of which was brought back, proved, af- ter the most minute investigation, very nearly as strong as when sent out, though it had been kept merely in the ship's magazine, and tried immediately on its return without re-drying. It would appear, that some manufacturers have supposed that gun- powder could not be too finely granulated ; but this is quite a mistake : I tried some of this excessive- finely granulated powder last November, (1815,) against Mr. W. G. Harvey's, and found, in the first place, that it did not burn so clean, and secondly, that it was very unpleasant to use : the most gentle breeze imaginable blew it away in loading, and it even insi- nuated itself into the inside of my gun-locks, though they fit apparently very close to the stock. It. was not so strong as the Battle powder, left more feculent matter after burning, and was very susceptible or' moisture from the air. It need hardly be mentioned, that gunpowder can- not be kept too dry : if by any means it has imbibed moisture, it should be re-dried — if by the heat of the sun the better, otherwise by putting it on a pewter plate, after the latter has been warmed at the fire ; or indeed any metal utensil or other thing that will re- tain heat sufficient for the purpose. No person would SHOT. 203 be rash enough surely to bring powder near a fire for the purpose of drying. Mr. Winsor, it is stated, has taken out a patent for introducing sugar as an ingredient in the manufac- ture of gunpowder. He says, that when properly re- duced to a powder by trituration, it may be mixed with common gunpowder, in the proportion of one- fourth sugar, without diminishing its exploding force. Shot. This essential article of the sportsman is perhaps already brought to its greatest possible perfection. The patent shot is now so very generally used, that I shall consider the common shot as out of the ques- tion, and confine my remarks solely to the former. It is important to the success of the chase, that the sportsman should proportion the size of the shot, as well to the particular species of game he means to pursue, as to the season of killing it : but on this subject, I make no doubt, a variety of opinions will be found to exist among sportsmen ; however, I shall venture to recommend that which I have found to answer the best, and, in the first place, instance the partridge. D uring the month of September, No. 7> B, or even 9, may be used (though many use No. 6, and some few whimsical persons No. 3 or 4); for, at this time, birds spring near at hand, and their feathers are less 204 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. capable of resisting the shot than at a more advanced period of the year. Hares also, at this season, sit closer, and are more thinly covered with fur. About the beginning of October, at which time partridges are stronger in the wing, No. 5 will perhaps be found to answer best. This size seems to preserve a proper medium between shot too large, and that which is too small, and will kill a hare at the dis- tance of forty or even sixty yards, and a partridge at seventy or more. In short, it is adapted for all seasons, and many sportsmen use no other. It is true, that distant objects are frequently missed for want of larger shot ; but then these bear no propor- tion to the number which are missed by using shot of too large a size, especially with the feathered game ; which enables it to escape in the vacant spaces of the circle or disk described by the shot. Grouse require larger shot than partridges, as they are stronger birds. The same may be said of phea- sants. No. 5, I am of opinion, is large enough for any thing the sportsman meets with. For snipe-shooting mustard seed is generally used, and is certainly the best adapted for this diversion. It fe the smallest of all, and called in some parts dust shot. The following table will exhibit the method by which the different sizes of shot are distinguished, and also show the gradations. Swan drops are the largest shot, and a few pellets, comparatively, weigh an ounce. THE CHARGE. 205 B. B. One ounce contains 58 pellets. B. Do. - - - - G5 No. 1 Do. - - - - 82 2 Do. - - - - 112 3 Do. - - - - 135 4 Do. - - - - 177 5 Do. - - - - 218 6 Do. - - - - 261 7 Do. - .-- 289 8 Do. - - - - 660 0 Do. - - - - 970 This scale differs considerably from Thornhill's, and, consequently, from the one that he copied (for he has merely copied it). I took the trouble to count the pellets, and set them down accordingly. The irregularity of the gradation, 1 must own, sur- prised me, and I was therefore induced to weigh and count the pellets twice. The numbers are continued several degrees lower ; though in the place where I reside I was not able to procure lower than No. Q. The Proportions of Powder and Shot in the Charge. That this is an object of the first importance is very evident; since every fowling-piece has a parti- cular load with which it will shoot with greater cer- tainty and effect ; but, it must be allowed, that it is only by experiment that this very necessary point caa 206 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. be ascertained with precision. Before I proceed fur- ther, I will beg leave to mention an excellent prin- ciple in the practice of the artillery on this subject. It is asserted, that, by using small charges at first, and increasing the quantity of powder by degrees, the ranges will increase to a certain point; after which, if the charge continue to be augmented, they will progressively dimmish; though the recoil will still continue in the ratio of the increase of the charge. This is a consequence that may be deduced from a variety of experiments, and is perfectly agree- able to the principles of mechanics; since the recoil and the range ought to be in the reciprocal ratio of the gun and the shot, making allowance for the re- sistance which these bodies meet with. I am perfectly aware, that many rules have been laid down for loading of fowling-pieces, and am at the same time convinced of their futility; since guns of the same calibre, and apparently alike in every re- spect, will be found to vary. The surest and best method to ascertain the, precise loading, is to fire at sheets of paper at the distance of thirty or forty yards; and by this means the point may be ascertain- ed with tolerable precision. The paper should be many sheets in thickness, as by this means the sportsman will see very clearly with what force the shot is driven, by the sheets which are perforated : — that charge which throws the shot in the roundest and best manner, and at the same time drives with the greatest force, will of course be the proper one ; and THE WADDING. 20/ it is very advisable that the sportsman should get his chargers so adjusted as to contain exactly the requi- site quantity. Nothing can he more ahsurd, than the vulgar notion of heavy loading, particularly with shot; as it destroys the very purpose it was meant to promote. If more than a proper quantity of powder is used, part of it will be discharged unburnt ; and to over- load with shot will cause the pellets to strike against each other, and fall by the way, and those which reach the mark will have but little force, and conse- quently, produce little effect ; in either case, how- ever, the recoil will be greatly increased, and the piece in danger of bursting. The Wadding. There are many sportsmen who consider the wad- ding as an object of the greatest importance ; whilst others are of opinion that it is of little consequence. Now, although it be granted that the material which covers the shot, and which is used only for the pur- pose of keeping it down, is of little importance, yet the material which covers the powder is undoubtedly a matter of much consideration ; as it should be quite close in the barrel, and that without being rammed too hard : the wadding should therefore be of a soft and tractable material, but at the same time 208 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. of sufficient consistence to carry the shot in a body to a certain distance from the muzzle of the piece; for if the wadding is rammed too close, or is of a hard and rigid substance, such as stiff brown paper, the piece will recoil, and the shot will spread more; if, on the contrary, the wadding is not sufficiently close, and is composed of a slight and too pliant a material, such as wool or cotton, it will not be of consistence enough to carry, the shot, and the discharge will lose its proper force. Besides, a certain portion of the shot, which is more immediately in contact with the wadding, will be melted by the explosion of the An acquaintance of the compiler, and an expe- rienced sportsman, after making use of every kind of wadding imaginable, is decidedly in favour of soft brown paper. Some make use of tow for this pur- pose; others cork; and I have been told that a white moss, which is found adhering to apple-trees, makes excellent wadding ; a cloth too, called shepherd's fearnought, is much spoken of. I will not pretend to say which of these is the best ; but 1 will venture to point out the worst of them ; which are, the tow and moss; it is very obvious that these, from their nature, are very ill adapted for wadding. That cork is good for this purpose, I have no hesitation for as- serting; and the same may be said of shepherd's fearnought. And I shall now mention the wadding which I regard as the best, and which 1 constantly THE WADDING. 209 make u-e of : Over the powder, I fix a wadding of hat, taking care to place it firm, but not rammed too hard : the shot I cover with pieces of punched card, observing the same precautions as before; cork, no doubt, would answer the latter purpose as well as card (though not better), hut is not so easily punched : and as both hat and card wadding are apt to turn in going down, the ram-rod should be made at the bottom end almost to fit the calibre of the piece, by which they will be prevented from turning. Hat wadding has this advantage, that it in some measure cleans the barrel every time it goes down ; and the same may be said, perhaps, of shepherd's fearnought ; but the latter does not possess the con- sistence of the former, which, in my opinion, renders it inferior. In fact, if the sportsman choose, he may use hat over the shot as well as powder, which is a thing frequently done by the compiler. Care should be taken that the wadding (hat) fits the calibre; and for this purpose it must be cut with a punch. That the wadding also which covers the shot should be exactly adapted for the purpose will ap- pear from the following reason. If paper or any very pliable material is used for covering the shot, the latter will (should the muzzle of the gun be held downward) be very apt to lose, or at least to move, from the wadding not being sufficiently fast, or not possessing strength enough to resist the weight of the shot, and hold it firmly on the powder. Losing 210 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. the shot is disagreeable, but if it get loose and stilt continue in the barrel, there will be great danger .of the piece bursting. Nothing therefore, I am per- suaded, is better calculated for this purpose than card punched exactly to fit the calibre. OF SHOOTING; With Remarks and Observations necessary thereto ; also Instructions for Juvenile Sportsmen to attain the Art of Shooting Flying, fyc. SHOOTING is an amusement of that nature, which af- fords both pleasure and exercise : a pleasure too of the most innocent kind, whilst the exercise which at- tends it administers, in a superior degree, to the health and vigour of th* ho:ly, by expelling those gross humours which lurk within the human frame, and that frequently baffle the skill of the physician. A recreation attended with such important advan- tages must surely be advisable; I shall, therefore, without further exordium, proceed to the point in question. As scent is the leading, and in fact the principal, thing on which shooting depends, it will be neces- sary, in the first place, to say a few words on the na- ture of it. Scent is an effluvium continually arising from the corpuscles that issue out of bodies ; and, being im- pregnated with the peculiar state and quality of the blood and juices of that particular body from which it flows, occasions the vast 'variety of smells or scents cognisable by the olfactory nerves or organs of 212 THE SHOOTER S GUIDE, smelling. Hence the reason why a dog will trace the footsteps of his master for miles, follow him into any house, church, or other building, and distinguish him from any other person, though surrounded hy a multitude. And when the faithful animal has thus diligently sought out and recognised his master, he is seldom willing to trust, the evidence even of his own eyes, until, with erected crest, he has taken a few cor- dial sniffs to convince himself he is right. Hence we discover how a setter or pointer gains information of his approach to partridges, &c. ; and hence, also, we perceive how birds and beasts of prey are directed to their food at such vast distances : for these corpuscles, issuing from putrid bodies, and floating in the air, are carried by the wind to different quarters ; where, striking the olfactory nerves of whatever animal they meet with in their way, they immediately conduct them to the spot. It matters not how much of the effluvia is evaporated, so long as enough remains to irritate the olfactory organ ; for, whether it be bird or beast, they try the scent in all directions, till they dis- cover that which is stronger and stronger in propor- tion as they proceed; and this nature has taught them to know is the direct and certain road to the object of pursuit. This observation is confirmed by the in- creased eagerness to be perceived in pointers and set- ters, in proportion as the scent is recent, and they draw nearer to the game. It is a fact well known, among sportsmen at least^ that a dog cannot find game so well in a ploughed OF 'SHOOTING. 213 field, as in one where there is grass, stubble, &c., which arises from the superior attraction, and also ob- struction, which the latter affords to the floating cor- puscles before described; the condition of the ground too, and the temperature of the air, are objects of im- portance ; both of which should be moist, without be- ing too wet. Whenever the ground is hard, and the air cold and dry, the abilities of the dog will be exerted in vain, for scarcely any scent will be found; nor does it lie well in general when the wind is in the north or east. The soft winds from the west or south (unattended with rain) are the best suited to the sportsman. From these observations, the reader will easily ob- serve the utility of the barometer, and the necessity of attending to its fluctuations, which will enable him to prevent numberless mortifications. If^ in the morning, you find the air temperate, and the quick- silver moderately high, and the top of it in the glass eonvex, it is a fair invitation to prepare for this di- version. There are portable barometers, that lock up in a box, and do not suffer in the smallest degree from carriage, frequently used by sportsmen, and which indeed seem, in some measure, a necessary appen- dage, particularly on a grouse-shooting excursion. I now come to that part, which the juvenile shooter, I make no doubt, will eagerly seek on first taking the volume into his hand — I mean the art of shooting flying. The anxiety to examine that part which cursorily appears the most important, is very 2i i THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE* excusable. The pleasure of anticipation, the desire of becoming an expert marksman, the vanity attach- ed to the attainment of this so much wished-for ob- ject, all conspire to prompt the tyro to neglect, or at kast treat slightly, in the first instance, those neces- sary accompaniments, which mature consideration will point out as equally essential. In the first place,! wish to impress on the mind of the young sportsman, that, however plain and easy the rules may be laid down, some practice at least will be found indispensably necessary, in order to enable him to follow those rules with precision. In fact, this is a science which cannot be taught by mere description : but, at the same time, I am confident, that instructions may be given, by the judicious prac- tice of which, any person may, in a short time, ac- quire the art of shooting flying with tolerable cer- tainty. As a means of attaining this art, young sportsmen are advised, by the thoughtless, to shoot at swallows ; and many, I doubt not, after killing some of these useful birds, have been chagrined beyond measure to find themselves unable to bring down a partridge. Indeed, I am persuaded, that swallow-shooting is of- little or no service ; as the flight of these birds is so unlike that of those which are the object of sport, that this practice seems to answer no other purpose, than that of destroying little animals, which not only cheer the dawn with sweet notes, and enliven the day with their fluttering, but are also of essential service, by destroying myriads of noxious insects* OF SHOOTING. 215 The flight of swallows is very swift and very irre- gular; and, in fact, they can only be shot, with any certainty at least, when they become nearly station- ary, as it were, for a short time (which frequently will be found to be the case, by observing them in the air) or under other circumstances equally favour- able. Shooting at sparrows will be found better than swallow- shooting ; or indeed any other birds, whose flight in some measure resembles that of partridges, and 1 have no doubt but an indifferent marksman may derive benefit from it. However, it will be necessary to remark, that the mere flight is the least difficulty to be surmounted: the suddenness with which the birds rise, and the noise and confusion attendant thereon, make such an impression on a mind wound up to the very pinnacle of anxious expectation, that the young shooter is ge- nerally thrown completely off his guard, and the birds escape. Hence it may be perceived, that the actual practice of shooting game is indispensably necessary, in order to get the better of that trepidation and alarm which all young sportsmen experience on the rising of a covey, or even a single bi-rd ; for while these are retained in the slightest degree, it will be impossible to shoot with any certainty. When first I commenced shooter, I well remember the palpita- tion of my heart, even on seeing the dog make a steady point : conscious of game being before him, and expecting it to spring every moment, I have trembled to that degree as to render taking any sort . THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. of steady aim absolutely impossible. Wben at length the birds have sprung, I have, in the utmost agitation, fired, before they had flown perhaps two yards; and I need hardly inform the reader, had almost uniformly the mortification of seeing them all fly away unhurt. That this is more or less the case with most juvenile sportsmen, I have no hesitation in supposing: self- command will remedy this defect — a little practice is necessary in order to acquire it. In shooting, the sportsman should be cool and deliberate, and of all things avoid shooting too soon, I am aware, that the anxiety felt by persons on commencing shooters, induces them to fire much sooner than they ought, fearful lest the game should be got out of their reach ; this hurry, however, will be sure to prevent that which they are so anxious to attain; and I can confidently inform the reader, that he may rest assured of having plenty of time, af- ter the birds rise, deliberately to select his object, cock his gun, and afterwards take aim. Exclusive of the above causes, there are others which may occasion the object to be missed. Some persons at the critical moment of pulling the triggef, shut both their eyes ! Strange as this may appear, it is a fact; and it is hardly necessary to observe, that till such time as a little practice has removed this glaring absurdity, it will be in vain for a person to ex- pect to kill a single bird. Others again have a me- thod of jerking their heads at the instant of pulling, which is consequently another cause of missing : prac- OF SHOOTING. 21/ tice will certainly remedy this defect. But both these ridiculous habits might certainly be avoided by only a common share of reflection and self-command. That there have been instances of both kinds, no one will attempt to deny ; and it is equally certain, that a person who practises either, if he kill a bird or a hare, must be entirely indebted to chance. I will now suppose the sportsman in the field, pro- perly equipped, and in possession of a gun, with the range and method of carrying of which he is perfectly acquainted. If a covey rise, and fly in a straight line from the shooter, he should select one particularly, and, cocking his piece, bring it firmly to his shoulder, and deliberately take aim — the bird will be almost sure to fall. The method to avoid missing a cross shot, whether it be flying or running, is not only to take aim before the object, but likewise not involun- tarily to check or stock the motion (if I may be al- lowed the expression) of the arms at the moment of pulling the trigger ; for the instant the hand stops, in order to fire, although the space of time is almost im- perceptible, the object gets beyond the line of aim, and the shot will consequently fly behind it : if a hare is shot at in this manner, especially if at a considera- ble distance, the animal may be slightly struck in the buttocks, but will most likely escape. It becomes therefore extremely essential to accustom the arms, in taking aim, to correspond with the motion of the object, without suspending this motion, even in the smallest degree ; the contrary habit (which is very 218 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. difficult to correct, when contracted) prevents a per- son from attaining perfection in this art, however eminently he may be qualified in other respects. Nor is it less essential, in a cross shot, to aim before the object, in proportion to its distance and speed at the time of firing. If a partridge, for instance, flies across at the distance of thirty or thirty -five yards, it will be sufficient to take aim about three inches before it. But, supposing the distance to be fifty or sixty yards, it will then become necessary to level at least half a foot before the head. The same method should be observed in shooting at a hare, when running in a cross direction. It is also proper, in shooting at a very distant object, to aim a little above it (unless where the elevated breech is used), because shot, as well as ball, has but a certain range point blank, beyond which it begins to describe the curve of a parabola. When a hare runs in a straight line from the shooter, he should take aim between the ears, other- wise he will run the hazard of missing ; or perhaps he may slightly wound the animal, and it will escape. A true sportsman is not content with only breaking the wing of a partridge, or the thigh of a hare, when he shoots at a fair distance ; for in such case the hare or partridge ought to be shot in such a manner, that it shtould remain in the place where it was shot, and not afterwards require the assistance of dogs to catch it. But if he shoots at a great distance, it is no re- proach that the partridge is only winged, or the hare wounded, so that it cannot escape. OF SHOOTING. The range of the fowling-piece, and the closeness with which it carries the shot being ascertained, a lit- tle practice will enable the sportsman to judge of his proper distance with tolerable precision. A hare ought infallibly to be killed at the distance of from twenty-five to thirty-five or forty yards : and a par- tridge, Bit from thirty to fifty yards, with shot No. 7> supposing, in both cases, the aim to have been pro- perly taken. It is a certain fact, that hares and par- tridges are sometimes killed beyond these distances; but, in genera], the hares are only slightly wounded, and carry away the shot ; and the partridges present so small a surface, that they frequently escape un- touched in the vacant spaces of the circle which the shot describes. There have, perhaps, been instances of a hare having been killed, with common-sized shot, at the distance of seventy or eighty yards, or a partridge still farther; yet these shots are so extraor- dinary, and so very seldom occur, that the whole life of a sportsman will probably not furnish more than one or two instances ; and, whenever this has hap- pened, it will be found to have taken place by a single pellet, which, by chance, has struck the wing of the partridge, or head of the hare, or other vital part of either. The hare is an animal that will, unless struck in particular parts, carry away a great quantity of shot. Therefore, in shooting at hares, the utmost endeavour should always be made to strike them about the head. A comparative trifle will stop them in this ease; but L2 220 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. if the shot strikes them on the hind parts (supposing none of their legs are broken) ten to one but the hare goes out of your sight as swift as the wind, even though mortally wounded. She will run, in the latter situation, until she is quite exhausted — she then lies down and dies. It occasionally happens that sports- men thus find them ; but, in general, the distance is so great which the hare runs, that little chance re- mains of rinding her. I have more than once seen a hare fall (on being shot at), but at the moment the sportsman was about to put forth his hand and take her, she has sprung up, and darted away. A bird that rises and flies in a straight line from the sportsman is justly regarded as the easiest to be killed. When one flies horizontally to the right, it has been supposed a more difficult shot than one fly- ing thus to the left. If game rise and fly in your face, as it were, or over your head, it will be found very difficult to kill; and the best method, in this case, will be to suffer the bird to fly past you, before you attempt to take aim. It will be proper to observe in this place, that the wind is a matter of considerable importance. If it should be brisk, it will be apt, in some measure, to bend the course of the shot : should the bird there- fore fly against the wind in a straight direction, it will be necessary to aim a trifle above the object, as the force of the wind will be liable to make the shot de- cline. Supposing it a cross-shot against the wind, it will be advisable to level considerably before the ob- OF SHOOTING. 221 ject (which, however, must be regulated by the dis- tance), as the course of the shot will be triflingly bent by the wind. But if the wind blows with the bird, the observance of the general rule will be found to answer, as the wind helps the bird forward, as much as it diverts the course of the shot. These rules will equally apply to shooting of hares. From a deliberate and careful practice of the fore- going rules, there is little doubt of a young sportsman very soon acquiring the art of shooting flying ; and, in fact, the only difficulty is that of overcoming the anxiety, trepidation, and impatience, at the critical moment when all should be as calm and unruffled as a Stoic. There is no pursuit or amusement where a steady hand, a cool head, and philosophical patience, are more required than that of shooting. It may happen (and frequently does) that a consi- derable time elapses before a juvenile sportsman is enabled to overcome the difficulties above mentioned. However, let him not despair, even though several seasons should pass before he arrives at any degree of excellence in this art ; for he may depend on it, that practice and a careful endeavour to observe the fore- going rules, will eventually prevail, and that in time he must become a good shot. However, prior to shooting at game, the trim of the fowling-piece (or, in other words, the manner in which it throws the shot) should be ascertained with all possible precision. The best method of doing this is to fire repeatedly at sheets of white paper, placed 222 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. at the distance of thirty yards for instance, by which it will be perceived whether the piece has a tendency to throw the shot too wide, beneath the object, or otherwise. The proportions of the charges may also be varied (for which see the head Proportions of Powder and Shot in the Charge). Most guns, I be- lieve, require to be levelled a trifle above the object, and if the juvenile shooter finds, when in the field, that the shot is generally thrown beneath the bird, I would advise him to try the elevated breech. But as this invention has been spoken of more at large un- der its proper head, I therefore refer the reader to it accordingly. I shall close this subject by again impressing on the mind of the reader the necessity of coolness and deliberation. Whenever a covey rises, let the sports- man coolly, or indeed almost carelessly, select one particular bird, and, observing the rules before laid down, according to the flight of the bird, &c., let him look very deliberately down the barrel, and the in- stant he finds the piece properly levelled, pull the trigger. I shall now proceed to other remarks which obvi- ously present themselves : they may not perhaps be quite so interesting to the juvenile shooter as the pre- ceding, yet they are equally or even more necessary. There are many sportsmen, who, on levelling their fowling-piece, place their left hand* close to the trig- * I am supposing a person to shoot from the right shoulder. OF SHOOTING. 223 ger-guard, in which situation the piece can neither be held so steady, nor the aim consequently so well taken, as when that hand is placed near to that part of the stock where the ram-rod enters : at the same time, the piece should he strongly grasped, and not suffered merely to rest between the thumb and fore- finger. The reason appears very evident why the latter method is preferable to the former. The left hand is intended as a rest or support to the piece in the act of levelling ; and when it is placed close to the trigger-guard, the fowling-piece must conse- quently be rendered too heavy at the muzzle, and the necessary equilibrium in a great measure de- stroyed. If, however, the gun is short, this method may answer : and indeed it has one very strong rea- son to recommend it, namely, if the piece bursts, the hand is less liable to be shattered. Different opinions will be found to exist as to the best method of loading, &c. Some say that the piece should be first loaded, and then primed, while others maintain that it is the best to prime first; also, there will be found those who give directions for the pan and the touch-hole to be brushed with a feather every time the piece is fired; but this, it must be confessed, is an antiquated notion. However, I shall inform the reader of that method which experience has proved to be superior to all others, and which I in- variably practise. Immediately on firing, it will be necessary to re- load, in order to prevent that moisture which will 224 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ensue on the piece becoming cold, not only in the pan, but also the inside of the barrel. Now, suppo- sing that a bird is winged* the shooter should, not- withstanding, invariably load before he attempts to se- cure it, as well to prevent the moisture above men- tioned, as to hinder your dog from imbibing bad habits; for if you suffer him to run after a winged bird immediately on firing, he will be very apt to break away on the shot, which is one of the worst of practices. Therefore, as soon as the sportsman has fired, let him prime, and while he is preparing the charge of powder (supposing it to be a single-barrel) he should place the palm of his hand on the muzzle of the piece, as by this means he will completely ex- tinguish any particle of fuze, which might possibly have been left in the barrel, and thus prevent any ac- cident on pouring the powder into the barrel : the priming and the hand on the muzzle prevent air get- ting to the latent spark, and it becomes instantly ex- tinct. The time which it takes to prepare the charge of powder with a spring-top flask must be allowed to be very short, yet it will be sufficient to effect this necessary purpose. I must honestly confess, that I am no advocate for placing the hand on the muzzle of a double-barrel, as in thus preventing one danger you are perhaps risking a greater. However, there will be no occasion for placing the hand on the muzzle, if proper wadding, and Harvey's best powder, * Sporting term for a broken wing. OF SHOOTING. 225 are used; the fowling-piece, at the same time, being kept properly clean. In pouring the powder into the barrel, the charge should he held as centric as possible over the bore, in order that the grains, in falling, may not adhere to the sides of the barrel; however, if hat-wadding is used, it is of little consequence, as the hat will brush down the adhering grains in its descent. Neither the powder nor the shot should be rammed too hard ; but for a farther illustration of this subject, see the head Proportions of Powder and Shot in the Charge. When the sportsman has fired about fourteen times, he should wipe his gun-barrel with tow: there are rods made for this purpose, that screw together in several parts, which render them portable for the pocket, and consequently very convenient. On first going out in the morning, the sportsman should make it a rule to air his gun-barrel, by firing a little pow- der, and also to change his flint every seven or eight times firing, as by this means he will be less liable to the mortification of the piece missing fire. There remains still another material point, which it will be necessary to impress on the mind of the sportsman — I mean with respect to charging the fowling-piece in a safe position : this will so evident- ly present itself, that any directions for the purpose are unnecessary, and would occupy the time of the writer in describing what common sense points out to every person. However, let me conjure the sportsman on no ac- 226 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. count to carry his piece cocked ; as he may rely on it, that cocking is no way necessary till the game rises; and should there be occasion to uncock the fowling-piece, in letting the cock down it should be suffered to pass beyond the half-cock, and then brought back, as by this means it may be heard as well as felt to tell into the proper nick of the tum- bler, and thus rendered perfectly secure : great care should be taken, at the same time, that the muzzle of the piece should be kept as erect as possible, which will prevent mischief, supposing by accident the cock should slip, and thus discharge the piece. If the sportsman should make use of different guns, he should contrive to have the locks made so that the pull of each trigger will be similar; or, in other words, require, as near as possible, the same degree offeree to let off the cock; for nothing can be more disagreeable than using different pieces, the triggers of some of which requiring considerable force, while others would be drawn perhaps with a hair. As to the best method of carrying the fowling- piece, various opinions will be found, no doubt, to exist. For my own part, I think it a matter of little consequence so long as the muzzle is pointed imme- diately upwards. I believe the general way is to carry it on the arm, with the muzzle nearly erect, which appears to me preferable to any other. It has been before remarked, that a brace of good dogs are sufficient at once ; but they should be used to hunt together, and perfectly acquainted with each OF SHOOTING. 227 other; otherwise they will be jealous and commit many mistakes. If, therefore, two gentlemen are desirous of shooting in company, each having a brace of dogs, it will be advisable for one of them to hunt his dogs in the forenoon, and the other in the after- noon. It is one of the worst of practices for strange dogs to hunt in company, since they will violent- ly contend with each other, and most likely spoil the day's diversion. Juvenile sportsmen too, when shooting together, are frequently very imprudently anxious to obtain the first shot. When this is the case, disappointment is almost the certain conse- quence ; but if a bird fall, it is perhaps claimed by both, and is thus sometimes productive of unpleasant words. A gentleman should wait patiently till a bird rises on his own side, or till after his friend has fired. Should only one bird rise, the shot belongs to that person on whose side the bird sprung. The proper time, and the most likely places, of finding the different kinds of game, will be found under the heads of Grouse, Partridge, &c. But it may not be amiss to remark in this place, that to beat a country in a sportsman-like manner, a person should not go straight through it ; but form circles, as it were, traversing well the ground, and taking care to give the dog the wind as much as possible ; at the same time, the sportsman should not be afraid of beating the ground over twice, where he has reason to believe there is game. He who patiently beats 228 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. and ranges his ground over and over again will generally kill the largest quantity of game, and will be sure to find it where it has been left by others. A hare will frequently suffer a person to pass within a few yards of her, without stirring ; and birds will often lie so close, as to suffer themselves almost to be trod upon, before they will attempt to rise. It is a very good method for the sportsman frequently to remain stationary for a short period, as this will often cause the game to spring, which otherwise would have been missed. Covers cannot be beat too well, particularly where you expect pheasants, as these birds lie very close, and will frequently suffer you to pass them repeatedly without rising; they will even allow the very bush under which they are lying to be struck several times with a pole before they will rise. Pheasants are very fond of grassy, brambly, two or three years old copse 5 nor will it be labour lost to try the higher growths. It will be proper to observe in this place, that the shooter should never strike either bush or hedge, or indeed any thing, with his fowling-piece. Should he use the butt-end for this purpose, it is possible the cock may be caught by some branch, and thus cause the piece to be fatally discharged ; on the contrary, should a bush, &c. be struck with the muzzle-end, the sportsman will be very liable to lose his shot, or he may loosen it in such a manner as to render the OF SHOOTING. 229 barrel liable to burst on firing. It is a good method to examine occasionally, in shooting in general, whether by any means the shot has moved. If the sportsman use a double gun, and has dis- charged one of the barrels, he should, after ramming the wadding on the powder in re-loading, put the ram rod down the barrel that has not been dis- charged, which will be less trouble than placing it under his arm, or otherwise; he can then put in the shot; and on taking the ram-rod out of the other barrel, he can instantly ascertain whether the shot has moved. In discharging one barrel of a double gun, the shot in the other will frequently be loosened, if paper or any such pliable wadding be used ; but with card I never knew this to happen, though I invari- ably examine with the ram-rod, in the method above described, in order to avoid every possible danger. The Gravitating Stops, invented by Mr. Manton, act of themselves, and completely remove the danger of charging a double gun with one of the locks cocked. Since the double barrel is so very prevalent, this discovery merits the attention of the sportsman. Many most lamentable accidents have happened through inadvertency in this respect, and it is a cir- cumstance to which, in the eagerness of the sport, the most careful sportsman is liable. There are some few shooters who do not shut one eye in taking aim, and these of course contend that this is the best method: — I must confess that I am no convert to this opinion ; at the same time, I am 230 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. willing to admit, that there are persons of this de- scription who contrive to kill game, and that too with greater certainty than could he expected; yet .the practice, from the very nature of it, cannot be a good one. It is absolutely impossible to take aim with that precision with both eyes open, as when one of them is shut: a person may easily be convinced of this by shutting one eye, and looking down a gun- barrel (or a straight stick), and then doing the same with both eyes open. Amongst sportsmen, there will be found some who ride when taking this diversion, which must of course be much less fatiguing, in an open country in parti- cular. But wherever a horse is used, a servant should always attend : in fact, those who use horses are ge- nerally attended by several, as well to load their guns as for other purposes ; and this, for the sake of dis- tinction, may be called sporting in the first style. These gentlemen, so far from training their own dogs, perhaps are unacquainted even with their names ! They are attended by their game-keepers to load their guns, and hunt the dogs ; so that all they do is merely to shoot. At the same time, they go to such places only where game is in the greatest plenty ; and when it happens that one of these first- style sportsmen is a good shot, he makes a prodigious slaughter. After all, though these gentlemen sport on a grand scale, they are by no means either true or keen sportsmen. One of the latter description will train his own dogs, hunt them himself; and, in OF SHOOTING. 231 fact, attend to every thing appertaining in any de- gree to this diversion. The mere slaughtering of birds or hares is a barren amusement indeed, when no interest is felt for the manner in which a dog ranges his ground, finds the game, &c. The true sportsman prides himself more on the behaviour and discipline of his dogs than on being able to destroy an abundance of game in a short time. Horses, in an enclosed country, I am of opinion, are of little use; but in grouse-shooting they diminish the fatigue, and on this account are very pleasant. For this purpose ponies are used, which have been so accustomed to the sport as to be perfectly recon- ciled to the firing of a gun, and in other respects docile and obedient. Now, supposing a gentleman has to go ten or a dozen miles in a morning, before he gets to the ground he intends to shoot upon, it will be necessary that the dogs should ride as well as the sportsman, in order to have them fresh. There is no method I know of so convenient and economical as a gig, so made as that two or three dogs may be put conve- niently under the seat. By this means, both the shooter and dogs will be as fit for the sport as when they started from home. On a shooting excursion to Scotland, or indeed to any distant part, a gig of this description will be found a very convenient vehicle; as, should any of your dogs become lame on the road, you can immediately put them into your gig. 232 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. Other equipments, however, will be found essen- tially necessary on an excursion to the Highlands. The sportsman should provide himself with a com- plete case, containing every thing necessary, not only to clean his fowling-piece, but also to repair those parts which are liable to become broken or out of orde^ such as the breaking of the cock, main- spring, &c., as gun-smiths, or indeed any person ca- pable of doing these jobs, are seldom to be met with in the Highlands of Scotland. As to the colour of the shooter's dress, green is supposed to be the best in the early part of the season, and, when winter approaches, a kind of light brown, resembling stubble: this last colour will be found to answer throughout the season. I conceive I cannot better conclude the present article than by a few remarks on the double- barrelled fowling-piece, particularly as it is now so very gene- rally used. Certainly more game may be killed with a double than with a single barrel ; but the next question which naturally presents itself is, whether this advantage is not more than counterbalanced by the greater danger attending a double barrel. In order to elucidate this question, I will beg leave to relate a circumstance which happened to myself :— At the latter end of the year 1803 (1 believe in the month of November), the left barrel of my fowling- piece suddenly discharged itself, as it was reclining on my left arm ! Luckily no mischief ensued, as the muzzle of the piece was pointed into the air. OF SHOOTING. 233 Now, about five minutes before, I had fired at and missed a snipe; others rose, but they were out of gun-shot, and I did not fire; I suppose I must have cocked the left lock with that intention, and forgot to let it down : this is the only way 1 can account for it. I had re-loaded the right barrel, and walked about one hundred and fifty paces, when the left went off. This solitary instance might be sufficient to show how careful a sportsman should be who uses a double barrel, since there is not the smallest doubt that many fatal accidents have happened through similar inadvertencies. Now, in shooting with a double-barrelled gun, a person should never cock both locks at once, as the recoil produced by the firing of the first barrel, might possibly cause the discharge of the second : should there be occasion to fire the second barrel, the gun should be taken from the shoulder and deliberately cocked ; and many double shots will no doubt occur, particularly at the beginning of the season. Double barrels too are more likely to burst than single ones, from the cir- cumstance of their being in general much thinner ; the reason of their being made thinner is, no doubt, in order to render them as light as possible, so as not to fatigue the sportsman. However, I am inclined to believe that little is to be feared on this head, sup- posing die barrels are stubs twisted, and that great care is taken to keep them clean. Neither double nor single barrels should be fired more than twenty- five times, without being cleaned, that is, supposing 234 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. the twenty-five times took place in one day: for most assuredly it is advisable to clean the fowling- piece on returning home, though it may have been iired but once. If a gun has proper attention paid to it in this respect, and care taken to load it as it owght to be, bursting will very rarely, if ever, happen. It is, in fact, from these two causes that all bursting of guns arises, supposing such guns have been pro- perly proved. From these observations, it will easily be per- ceived that the double-barrelled fowling-piece is much more dangerous than the single-barrelled one. I would therefore advise those sportsmen who make use of double guns, in the first place, not to be afraid of carrying an extra pound or two in order to render the barrels stronger: and I can assure the reader this method I have adopted myself: for my double barrel is considerably heavier than those commonly made use of. But, as has been before observed, the danger of barrels bursting with proper management is trifling, compared to that which attends leaving one carelessly cocked. I would therefore wish to impress on the mind of the sportsman the very strong necessity of uncommon care in this respect. When- ever the gun has been taken from the position in which it is carried, with intention to fire, and one (or perhaps both) the barrels not discharged, the sportsman should make it a rule, on these occasions, to observe, whether by any means he has left the other cocked. Always, after getting through a hedge OF SHOOTING. 235 too,. a gun should be examined in this respect, as the branches may possibly have cocked it. These two last remarks apply as well to the single as the double gun, though not in so great a degree. I shall now subjoin a few receipts, which, 1 trust, will be worth the sportsman's attention. To keep a Fowling-piece from Rusting. Take six ounces of camphor, and two pounds of hog's-lard, dissolve them together, take off the scum, and add as much black lead as will bring the mixture to an iron colour, with which cover your fowling- piece, and let it remain thus for twenty-four hours, after which clean it well with a linen cloth : by this means rust will be prevented for a considerable time. The best method, perhaps, of preserving the inside of the barrel from rusting during the sporting recess, is to fill it with suet. The best oil for the lock of a fowling-piece is that which is extracted from sheeps' feet, as it is less liable to clog, as well as a better preventive from rust than sweet oil, or indeed than any vegetable oil. Receipts for making Shoes resist Water. Half a pound of tallow, four ounces of hog's-lard, four ounces of turpentine, two ounces of bees' wax, and the same quantity of olive oil; let the whole be melted together over a fire, during which time it should be frequently stirred. 236 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ANOTHER. — Six ounces of bees5 wax, two ounces of virgin wax, one ounce of hard tallow, and one small barrel of lamp-black : these should be well mixed and boiled together in an earthen pot, glazed on the inside. On taking it off the fire, an ounce of plum-tree gum, beaten small, should be put into it. It should be poured out gradually, and stirred until it is cold, ANOTHER. — One pint of linseed oil, half a pound of mutton suet, eight ounces of bees* wax, and one pennyworth of rosin : the whole to be boiled to- gether. ANOTHER. — If the shoes are new, take half a pound of bees' wax, a quarter of a pound of rosin, and one pound of rendered tallow : to be boiled well together, and should be warmed before using. N. B. It is hardly necessary to mention that the shoes should be cleaned well from the dirt, and per- fectly dry, before the application of any of the above receipts. A Receipt to poison Mountains and other Lands. A large quantity of pulverised nox-vomica, and an equal quantity of arsenic, mixed well together, and made into a thick paste with wheaten flour; to be divided into balls of half an ounce each : these balls should be dipped in tallow until they are covered thickly, in order to prevent the wet from injuring them ; and, if properly dipped, will remain perfect OF SHOOTING. £37 the whole of the season ; on the contrary, if the least drop of water touch the inside, the poison will dis- solve, and hecome useless — tallow will be a strong inducement for dogs to take it. As this vile method is sometimes used for the purpose of preserving grouse, it may not be amiss to inform the reader in what manner the pills are dis- posed. They are placed in a sort of line round the grounds or mountains meant to be preserved, and a second line placed at some distance within the first; in order that in case the dog misses the first line, he may take the second. The pills are placed on the top of a snaall stone, a bit of wood, or other thing, so as to prevent them touching the ground ; at the same time, the heath is drawn round to hide the treacherous death from human inspection. The places where the poison is laid are so marked, as to enable the keepers to pick up every pill whenever they think proper; as, were it not for this method, it would preclude the owner, as well as strangers, from shooting upon such grounds. To the credit, however, of Great Britain, this abominable method of preserving game is practised only on the other side St. George's Channel. In Ireland, I understand, the poisoning system is jrequently resorted to ; in which case a printed no- tice is issued, stating that poison is laid irr such grounds. Of all methods hitherto adopted for the preserva- tion of game, no one is so execrable as poisoning. 238 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE,, If by chance a valuable dog happens to stray to these poison-preserves, his destruction is the certain consequence. After taking one of these pills, a dog- will perhaps not survive fifteen minutes, unless in- stant relief is administered (for which see receipts, p. 115). The method above described may perhaps be aptly called the legitimate offspring of petulant tyranny. William the Conqueror, whose unfeeling and re- morseless heart was more than proof against every thing tender and humane ; who would have put out the eyes, castrated, or probably punished with death, a rustic, who had injured or destroyed any of his game, was, notwithstanding, too manly to preserve it by poison. WILD-DUCK SHOOTING. ON first beginning to write the present volume, it was certainly my intention not to mention the sub- ject of wild-duck shooting ; as it appears to be a di- version by no means calculated to promote health, since these fowls are chiefly to be found in marshes and other wet places. However, should the sports- man be anxious for duck-shooting, let him, in the first place, procure a strong pair of boots, and anoint them liberally with some one of the compositions, for the making of which receipts have been just given (under the head Receipts for making Shoes WILD-DUCK SHOOTING. 239 resist Water], and the first of those receipts is per- haps the best. The dog best calculated for this diversion is a water-spaniel, which should be taught to fetch a duck out of the water, in case of one so falling after being shot. As to a dog setting this kind of game, it is quite out of the question. The places where the ducks are known to resort should be beat with as little noise as possible, and the sportsman must take his chance of their rising within gun-shot. These birds may be shot in winter, and especially in frosty weather, at the dawn of day, and also at the dusk of the evening, when they fly in search of food. In very severe frosts, they are compelled to seek those springs and running streams that do not freeze, in order to find aquatic herbs, which, at this period, are their only food. The shooter should then follow the course of these streams. Small boats are useful on large pieces of water. 240 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, CHIEFLY ARISING FROM THE CONSIDERATION OF THE GAME LAWS. . THE rigour of these laws in time became insup- portable, and gave rise to the Charta de Foresta, by which many forests became disafforested, and milder regulations made with respect to those which re- mained. It is true, succeeding monarchs reserved to themselves the forests, and the exclusive right of hunting therein ; but they found it consistent with their interest to grant, from time to time, tracts of land to their subjects, under the denomination of chases or parks, or allowed them to make such on their own grounds, which of course became smaller forests in the hands of a subject, but not governed by forest laws ; and, according to the common law of England, no person is allowed to take or kill any beast of chase, unless he hath an ancient chase or park, or the beast of chase so killed was also a beast of prey. The beasts of chase, however, in this country, are few in number ; and dangerous animals, such as wild boars and wolves, have long been ex- tinct; in fact, even deer are now chiefly confined to gentlemen's parks, very few being left in the king's forests. In a legal sense, a forest is a certain territory of woody grounds and fruitful pastures, privileged for GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 241 wild beasts and fowls of forest, chase, and warren, to rest and abide there in the safe protection of the king, for his delight and pleasure; which territory of ground so privileged is meered and bounded with unremoveabie marks, meers, and boundaries, either known by matter of record or by prescription ; and also replenished with wild beasts of venery or chase, and with great coverts of vert * for the succour of the said beasts there to abide ; for the preservation and continuance of which, there are particular offi- cers, laws, and privileges, belonging to the same, requisite for that purpose, and proper only to a forest and to no other place. Mamv. 40. Purlieu comes from the Frencli pur, clear, entire, and exempt, and lieu, a place; that is, a place en- tire, clear, or exempt from the forest ; and signifies those grounds which Henry II., Richard I., or king John, added to their ancient forests, over other men's grounds, and were disafforested by the statute of charta deforests 4 -Inst. 303. Manw. 318. But, nevertheless, the purlieu as to some purposes is forest still, and is disafforested as to the particular owners of the land, and for their benefit, and rot generally to give liberty to any man to hunt the wild beasts, and spoil the vert. And if those beasts escape jut of the forest into the purlieu, the king hath a property in them still against any inan but the owners * Vert comprehends every thing which bears green loaves the forest. 242 THE SHOOTER'S SUIDE. of the woods and lands in which they are ; and such owners have a special property in them ratione loci, but yet so that they hunt them fairly, and not fore- stall them in their return towards the forest. — Manw. 3(56. Chase is derived from the French word chasser, to chase, and is a privileged place for the receipt of deer and heasts of the forest — it is of a middle nature betwixt a forest and a park. It is commonly less than a forest, and not endowed with so many liber- ties, as officers, law, courts, and yet is of a larger compass than a park, having more officers and game than a park. Every forest is a chase, but every chase is not a forest. It differs from a park in not being inclosed : though it must have certain bounds, and may be in other men's grounds as well as one's own. A park (from the French parquer, to inclose) is a large parcel of ground privileged for wild beasts of chase by the king's grant, or by prescription. It must be inclosed, or is liable to seizure by the king ; and the owner cannot have an action against those that hunt in his park if it lies open. A warren is a privileged place by prescription or grant of the king, for the preservation of the beasts or fowls of warren, viz. hares, conies, partridges, and pheasants. A forest is the highest franchise of princely plea- sure ; the next to that is a free chase : a chase in one degree is the same as a park, only the latter is GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. inclosed, whereas the former is always open: the next in degree to a free chase is a park ; and the next to a park is the franchise of a free warren. And a forest comprehends in it a chase, park, and war- ren ; and for that cause the heasts of chase, and the beasts and fowls of warren, are privileged within a forest as well as the beasts of forests are. I shall here elucidate the subject by a quotation from Blackstone's Commentaries. " As to all inferior species of game, called beasts and fowls of warren, the liberty of taking or killing them is another franchise or royalty, derived likewise from the crown, and called free warren; a term which signifies preservation or custody : as the ex- clusive liberty of taking and killing fish in a public stream or river is called a free fishery ; of which, however, no new franchise can at present be granted, by the express provision of magna charta, c. 16. The principal intention of granting a man these franchises or liberties was in order to protect the game, by giving him a sole and exclusive power of killing it himself, provided he prevented other per- sons. And no man, but he who has a cha^e or free warren, by grant from the crown, or prescription which supposes one, can justify hunting or sporting upon another man's soil ; nor indeed, in thorough, strictness of common law, either hunting or sporting utall.* * It is b^it justice to observe, that this doctrine of Mr. M % 24i THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. " However novel this doctrine may seem, it is a re- gular consequence from what has been before deli- vered; that the sole right of taking and destroying game belongs exclusively to the king. This appears as well from the historical deduction here made, as because he may grant to his subjects an exclusive right of taking them ; which he could not do, unless such a right was first inherent in him- self. And hence it will follow, that no person what- ever, but he who has such derivative righ'. from the crown, is by common law entitled to take or kill any beasts of chase, or other game whatsoever. It is true, that, by the acquiescence of the crown, the frequent grants of free warren in ancient times, and the intro- duction of new penalties of late by certain statutes for preserving the game, this exclusive prerogative of the king is little known or considered ; every man, that is exempted from these modern penalties, look- ing upon himself as at liberty to do what he pleases with the game : whereas the contrary is strictly true, that no man, however well qualified he may vulgarly be esteemed, has a right to encroach on the royal pre- rogative by the killing of game, unless he can show a particular grant of free warren; or a prescription, which presumes a grant ; or some authority under an act of parliament. As for the latter, 1 know but of two instances wherein an express permission to kill Justice Blackstone has been controverted by an ingenious editor of his CommeiUuries. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 245 was ever given by statute : the one by 1 Jac. I, e. 27. altered by 7 Jac. L c. 11. and virtually repeal- ed by 22 and 23 Car. 11. c. 25. which gave authority^ so long as they remained in force, to the owners of free warren, to lords of manors, and to all freeholders having 4()L per annum in lands of inheritance, or 80?. for life or lives, or 400/. personal estate (and their servants), to take partridges and pheasants upon their own, or their master's, free warren, inheritance, or freehold : the other by 5 Ann. c. 14, which empowers lords and ladies of manors to appoint gamekeepers to kill game for the use of such lord or lady ; which with some alterations still subsists, and plainly sup- poses such power not to have been in them before. The truth of the matter is, that these game laws do indeed qualify nobody, except in the instance of a gamekeeper, to kill game : but only, to save the trou- ble and formal process of an action by the person in- jured, who perhaps too might remit the offence, these statutes inflict additional penalties, to be recovered either in a regular or summary way, by any of the king's subjects, from certain persons of inferior rank who may be found offending in this particular. But it does not follow that persons, excused from these additional penalties, are therefore authorised to kill game. The circumstances of having 100^. per an- num, and the rest, are not properly qualifications but exemptions. And these persons, so exempted from the penalties of the game statutes, are not only liable to actions of trespass by the owners of the land, but M THE SHOOTERS GUIDE. also, if they kill game within the limits of any royal franchise, they are liable to the actions of such who may have the right of chase or free warren therein." Blackstone, under the head Public Wrongs, ob- serves, " another violent alteration of the English constitution consisted in the depopulation of whole countries, for the purposes of the king's royal diver- sion ; and subjecting both them and all the ancient forests of the kingdom to the unreasonable severity of forest laws imported from the continent, whereby the ^laughter of a beast was made almost as penal as the death of a man. In the Saxon times, though no mau was allowed to kill or chase the king's deer, yet he might start any game, pursue and kill it, upon his own estate. But the rigour of these new constitutions vested the sole property of all the game in England in the king alone ; and no man was entitled to dis- turb any fowl of the air, or any beast of the field, of such kinds as were specially reserved for the royal amusement of the sovereign, without express licence from the king, by a grant of a chase or free warren: and those franchises were granted as much with a view to preserve the breed of animals, as to indulge the subject. From a similar principle to which, though the forest laws are now mitigated, and by de- grees grown entirely obsolete, yet from this root has sprung a bastard slip, known by the name of the game law, now arrived to and wantoning in its highest vigour ; both founded upon the same unrea- sonable notions of permanent property in wild crea- GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 247 tures; and both productive of the same tyranny to the commons : but with this difference — that the fo- rest laws established only one mighty hunter through- out the land, the game laws have raised a little Nim- rod in every manor. And in one respect the ancient law was much less unreasonable than the modern : for the king's grantee of a chase or free-warren might kill game in every part of his franchise ; but now, though a freeholder of less than one hundred pounds a year is forbidden to kill a partridge upon his own estate, yet nobody else (not even the lord of the ma- nor, unless he hath a grant of free-warren) can do it without committing a trespass, and subjecting him- self to an action." I will also take leave to transcribe the words of a fa- vourite author,* Speaking on this subject, he ob- serves : " What can be more arbitrary than to talk of preserving the game, which, when defined, means no more than that the poor shall abstain from what the rich have taken a fancy to keep for themselves ? If these birds could, like a cock or a hen, be made legal property, could they be taught to keep within certain districts, and only feed on those grounds that belong to the man whose entertainments they improve, it then might with some show of justice be admitted, that as a man fed them, so he might claim them. But this is not the case : nor is it in the power of any man to lay a restraint upon the liberty of these * Goldsmith. 248 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. birds, that when let loose put no limits to their ex- cursions. They feed every where, upon every man's ground ; and no man can say these birds are fed only by me. Those birds which are nourished by all, be- long to all ; nor can any one man, or any set of men, lay claim to them when still continuing in a state of nature." However, let us hear what is urged on the other side of the question, before we draw a con- clusion. As a plea in favour of the Game Laws, it has been urged, that they were intended to prevent inferior tradesmen, apprentices, and dissolute persons from leaving their proper occupations in pursuit of game* to the injury and ruin of themselves and families. Now the first question which obviously presents it- self under this head is, who are inferior tradesmen ? I cannot conceive that a man, who, by his good moral character, and respectable connections, renders him- self a valuable member of society, ought to be dis- tinguished by the mean epithet of an inferior trades- man. Fashion and custom have, however, attached certain ideas to certain occupations : and therefore I suppose that if a chimney-sweeper or tinker were to gain by his profession 10,000/. per annum, he would 5 notwithstanding, be deemed an inferior tradesman* 1 am far from being certain that this is the construc- tion which the long- robed gentlemen would put upon the statute : but of this I am confident, that the chimney-sweeper, upon paying the legal duty, would, GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 249 in the eyes of reason and justice, have as good a title to shoot a partridge as a prince of the blood. It is yet legally doubted what is meant by " infe- rior tradesmen." In the case of Buxton v. Mingay the question was, whether the defendant, a surgeon and apothecary, not qualified to kill game, came within that description. The case was argued several times at the bar; and the judges were equally divided. For the plaintiff it was argued, that amongst tradesmen no line can be drawn with respect to who are superior and who are inferior, but they are all upon an equal footing as tradesmen ; but that the line which the legislature in- tended to draw was between those that were qualified and those that were not ; so that in this respect every tradesman is inferior who is not qualified. For the defendant, it was urged that every case of this kind ought to be determined on its own particular circum- stances, and left to the jury, whether the defendant is an inferior tradesman or dissolute person within the statute. The court being equally divided, no rule in ibis case was made, 2 Wilson, 70. But let not the reader suppose that I am advoca- ting the cause of those inferior tradesmen who neglect their families to pursue field sports. There are many poor persons fond of going out occasionally to be spectators of the sports of the field, and return to their work "like giants refreshed ;" and it would surely be extremely severe to sue such ptrsons for trespass, M 5 250 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. which, by 4 and 5 of Will, and Mary, may be done to a ruinous extent. By the same act also, dissolute persons may be sued in the same manner for trespass in hunting, &c. Now there will be found many of our nobility and gentry very dissolute indeed, if every species of moral turpi- tude can constitute such a character; and why not sue in this case ? But here I suppose the Game Laws would draw a line of distinction, and screen the of- fender under the shade of a splendid coronet, or the length of a purse. Allowing, however, that the in- tention of the Game Laws is good, and not merely to force the " poor to abstain from that which the rich have taken a fancy to keep for themselves," almost daily experience proves that their operation counter- acts the very effects they were meant to produce ; and the rigid observance of these laws not only gave birth, but continues to encourage, those swarms of poachers which are to be met with in every part of the king- dom. The fact is, that the men of great landed pro- perty are in general so exceedingly tenacious of their game, that the monied interest and the middling classes of life are debarred from honourable sporting, in a great measure ; and thus, as every exertion is made to keep the game in the hands of a few, the price rises accordingly ; and great temptation and en- couragement are consequently held out to those noc- turnal depredators, whose existence is much to be deplored, inasmuch as many lives have been lost in GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 251 different battles which have taken place between them and the gamekeepers. Amongst a number of instances, I will beg leave to relate one which occurred on the estate of Edward Wilbraham Beetle, Esq., at Lathom, in Lancashire, on^the 1st of January, 1809, attended with circumstances peculiarly distressing. On the night of the day above mentioned, a far- mer in the neighbourhood, having been disturbed by the firing of a gun, rose from his bed, dressed him- self, and proceeded towards the place where the re- port of the gun had led him to believe there were poachers. He was not deceived, for he saw several; and, uriperceived by them, made the best of his way to inform Mr. Bootless gamekeeper of the circum- stance ; when, calling two others to their assistance, they went immediately (armed) in search of the poachers. They found them ten or twelve in num- ber, and were foolish enough to attack them. The consequence was, the poachers instantly shot one dead, severely wounded another, and, had they been further molested, no doubt would have killed the whole. But it appears they acted merely on the de- fensive; for, on the keeper and his party abstaining from farther assault, they walked quietly away. The ill-fated being, who thus lost his life, left a widow and four or five small children to lament his untimely fate. He was a poor man, and lived with his family in a small lodge at one of the gates of Mr. Bootle's park. After a considerable time had elapsed (a large re* 252 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. ward being offered) some persons were apprehended ; but from defective evidence, or some other cause, they were never brought to trial. The lower classes are well aware that poaching is an offence against the law ; but, at the same time, they regard the legal restraint imposed in respect togarneas a sort of tyrannic barrier which ought to be broken down ; and, consequently, they are far from consider- ing it as morally wrong to infringe, as often as oppor- tunity offers,those laws which make poaching a crime. Although these people would despise a thief, and shun his company, yet they look upon a poacher as a fair, if not an enviable character : a murderer they would abhor, and shudder perhaps at the idea of being in his company ; but a poacher, who had killed a game- keeper in his own defence, would be supposed to have acted, if not strictly right, at least as having com- mitted a crime to which stern necessity had con- strained him, and on that account excusable. Poachers too, amongst themselves, are actuated by principles of honour; they regard it as an offence never to be for- given, for one of their own body to impeach his con- federate ; and it is viewed in this light by the lower orders in general— instances of one poacher impeach- ing another rarely occur. There is another serious evil attending this mono- poly of game, which is that of rendering gamekeepers dishonest : the high price of pheasants, partridges, &c. and the ready and general sale which is always open foi' them, is too great a temptation to this last class of GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 255 men to be always withstood ; and there is no doubt but many of them destroy and sell more of their mas- ter's game than it is in the power perhaps of a nume- rou,s gang of poachers to effect. It is evident, there- fore, that the very means which are adopted to pre- vent poaching, not only encourage it in a superior degree, but are also the foundation of all those evils which spring therefrom ; for it must be here ob- served, that there are other serious mischiefs arising from this source, independent of those immediately connected with the practice of poaching. A man, for instance, who has imbibed this habit, frequently gets to robbing hen-roosts, &e. Evil, by thus becoming familiar, loses its terrors, and a strong propensity to crime appears, as it were, inherent, and seems to im- pel the wretch from one gradation to another, till at length transportation becomes his lot, or he ends his days on the gallows. The arbitrary and occasionally unlawful manner, too, in which these great landed- property men (who are frequently justices of the peace) order their gamekeepers or other servants to search the cottages of the peasants for snares, nets, and guns ; and the manner in which these petty de- spots execute such orders, very often stimulate the former to retaliation and revenge, and they are thus instigated to crimes, which otherwise would have never entered their heads. A certain baronet, of Norman extraction, who lived in Derbyshire, not far from the banks of the Trent, and whose immorality was perhaps equal to 254 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. that of Mirabeau, exercised " a vigour beyond the law" in respect to game, perhaps unparalleled. But, notwithstanding all his exertions, poaching on his manors was carried to the most daring lengths. A village at a short distance from the baronet's house might be said to contain nothing but poachers.— I have sometimes witnessed this gentleman's myrmi- dons make a regular search for snares, &c. through all the cottages in the place, with every mark of ple- beian importance and superiority. However, in pro- portion as the pursuit after instruments for the de- struction of game was ardent, so the arts of evasion multiplied ; and when neither cottages nor outbuild- ings would afford protection for guns, nets, gins,&c., they were sheltered beneath the roof of a hay stack, or other place more remote and less suspected. — This gentleman's severity was not confined to the poach- ing fraternity — he would not suffer an honourable sportsman to cross his manors; and yet he seemed to be no way attached to the diversions of the field. But he had attachments of another nature ; the pledges of which will prevent him from being forgotten locally for the present generation, should not his good deeds render his memory immortal. But to return. — Seeing, therefore, that poaching is the source whence spring so many evils, would it not be advisable to adopt some mode to prevent it ? The moralist, and the man of reflection, will answer, cer- tainly it would ; provided, at the same time, that the remedy will not prove worse than the disease. Now GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 255 the remedy is not only simple, but attended with no inconvenience : it is merely to remove the cause. Take away the cause, and the effect will cease, is an axiom no one will attempt to deny. The cause of poaching arises almost solely from that rigour with which the game laws are put in force by the gentle- men of great landed property ; who indeed but too frequently convert them into an engine of litigious oppression. 1 do not mean to say this is the case with all ; but I am inclined to believe the exceptions are comparatively few. Even members of the British se- nate, who complain of the encroachments of the crown, and make long harangues in favour of the li- berty of the people, are frequently found to manifest much of the Norman spirit in respect to those ani- mals denominated game ; which, as has been before observed, can fairly and strictly be called the abso- lute property of no one. Now, if by chance a gentleman (who is qualified, and has taken out a certificate) happen to stray on one of these preserved manors (and I believe few will now be found which are not preserved), lie is immediately assailed by the tenantry of such manor, or an inso- lent gamekeeper, and ordered off, after having been compelled to produce his certificate to an ignorant fellow, who perhaps is scarcely able to read it. Nor does it always stop here : if the lord of the manor happen to be particularly ill-natured, an attorney re- ceives orders to try the sportsman's qualification, with the intention of ruining the latter, if possible, 256 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. by the effect of a longer purse. Such a base idea would certainly never be contemplated by an upright or ho- nourable man ; but, were it necessary, 1 could men- tion an instance or two of this kind which came im- mediately within my own knowledge. By thus depriving the honourable sportsman of a little recreation, which is attended with neither evil to the lord of the manor, nor injury to the occupier of the land, arises that encouragement to the poacher so much to be deplored. Now the fact is, if gentle- men of landed property would show the fair and ho- nourable sportsman a little inr'ulgence,and sufferhim to cc-me upon some part of their manors, poaching, I am persuaded, would greatly decrease, if it were not put a stop to altogether. For by this means the poacher would be at a loss ror a market, the price of his commodity would consequently fall, and the emo- lument, thus rendered small and precarious, would be found an insufficient remuneration for his time and danger. The sportsman too, thus indulged, would find it his interest, as well as a kind of grati- tude to the lord on whose manor he was not molested, to prevent, as much as in his power, a practice so pregnant with moral evil, and which is but too fre- quently the cause of murder. Game too, by this means, would be much more plentiful ; as what would be thus shot by sportsmen is nothing in comparison to what is destroyed by poachers. The case however, at present, is far different : I am acquainted with several very respectable gentle- GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 257 men (that take out certificates too) who declare, they would rather assist, than be the means of prosecuting, a poacher; and that this is the general feeling I have no hesitation in asserting. It must be allowed, that many of these great men will, on being asked, give permission for a gentleman to shoot one day in the season on their manors; yet there is something so disagreeable and repugnant in the idea of soliciting permission for what a person conceives (after paying three pounds four shillings for a licence) he has already a right to, that many will not deign to solicit it. The trouble too which fre- quently attends obtaining permission is not sufficiently remunerated by one day's diversion. — There is a sort of punctilious etiquette necessary perhaps to be ob- served in waiting on great men; but this, in respect to game, is often converted into fastidious etiquette; and I must confess, that I scarcely every reflect on this subject, but a train of ideas leads my imagina- tion up the Little streams to the great Norman foun- tain.— Many of the very rigorous game preservers are radically Norman ; and it would seem as if the free air of Britain had not completely purified their blood. I am confident, that as long as the present system is practised of invidiously bringing actions for tres- pass, trying qualifications, and the various other me- thods of torturing the sportsman of small fortune, so long will poachers abound, and numerous keepers with their assistants will in vain be employed to pro- ject the game from nocturnal (and also diurnal) de- -58 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. predation. In fact, poaching has arrived at that pitch of systematic perfection, that no possible me- thod will ever prevent it, but the one above described. Poaching, indeed, may he regarded as a science anxiously and intensely studied by those who profess it, and in which new discoveries are frequently made. For instance, the old method of snaring with wire is, in a great degree, superseded by the purse net, which is not only more certain, but hares may thus be taken alive. A further improvement is, covering them in the day-time with a net, similar to that used for net- ting partridges over a dog, but not so large. Thus a couple of poachers may walk over a manor, at that season of the year when hares forsake the covers and hedges, and destroy almost as many of these animals as they please ; and it is astonishing with what ease a net may be drawn over a hare while sitting. This invention, I am inclined to think, is of very modern date, and not generally known. There are guns also made use of which unscrew in two places, and so contrived that the poacher, after firing one of these (which are very short), can instantly take it to pieces, and put it in his pocket ; and perhaps much greater improvements may be practised by those deeply skilled in the science of poaching, than those men- tioned above. One of this fraternity informed the writer, that the method of driving partridges into the tunnel net was now but little used, as a much more expeditious method of taking them had been disco- vered. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. The secret pleasure felt by vulgar minds in caus- ing vexation to those whom they regard as oppres- sors, and consequently as having assumed a power in- compatible with reason and justice; the ready sale for game, and emolument arising therefrom; toge- ther with the protection and encouragement expe- rienced from many respectable characters, stimulate the poacher not only to exertion, but to schemes and invention, which otherwise he would think too dan- gerous, or not worth his attention. Daily experience, in fact, evinces the futility of at- tempting to preserve game, by that invidious method so generally adopted, viz. of most tenaciously, ar- bitrarily, and indiscriminately prohibiting sporting upon manors in general ; appointing numerous guards to protect the game (who, mostly, are as great poachers as any in the kingdom), and prosecuting with litigious seventy in every case where it is possi- ble for an action to lie. Much, however, to the cre- dit of some of the English judges, many of these ac- tions, when brought to trial, have been spurned wills contempt. Lord Elienborough has, more than once, expressed his disapprobation of these vexatious law- suits; and when, about three years ago, a trial came before him for a poor man taking up a hare that had been caught in a snare, his lordship observed, that he by no means wished to stretch the game laws ; but the words in the act were so plain, making the mere possession penal, that the jury must find him guilty. In the case oi'Harker v. Allen, at the York spring assizes^ 260 THE SHOOTKR'S GUIDE. in 1803, Mr. Serjeant Cockell, in his address to the jury, said, " He trusted there was not a judge or ma- gistrate in this kingdom who would put the penal- ties in force against agentleman who sported honour- ably." Many other instances might be given to show that both judges and counsel regard the game laws in a very different light than that of engines of legal persecution. Having said thus much, it may not be amiss just to examine how far the great land-holders, and lords of manors themselves, act consistently with the strict letter of the law. For instance, it will be found that many persons appoint gamekeepers, who are not le- gally qualified so to do. By the 22d and 23d of Car. II. c. 25. s. 2. no person under the degree of an esquire has a right to appoint a gamekeeper; and yet this is very common : there are numbers of game- keepers appointed by gentlemen who are under the degree of esquire* in the eye of the law,. though fa* shionable politeness may name them so. Now, it would evidently appear, from what has been asserted in the preceding pages, that these strict -preserving gentlemen are not actuated by mo- tives of justice and equity, since they so glaringly violate the law; but seem to be influenced solely by an overbearing and arbitrary spirit. I would wish them therefore seriously to reflect on the consequences resulting from the present very fashionable method of * For who arc esquires, properly speaking, see the article QUALIFICATION. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 261 picbcrving game; and to endeavour, by a. contrary conduct, to prevent those mischiefs which naturally arise from poaching. Wherever manors are so rigidly preserved, there will always he plenty of poachers. Numbers of per- sons who, in other respects, are fair and honourable sportsmen, will absolutely employ poachers on those particular manors where they are. imperiously order- ed not to sport. However, that there are a few lords of manors tolerably liberal with respect to game, I am willing to allow ; though, generally speaking, they are far otherwise ; and some of the most illiberal, not con- tent perhaps with two or three manors of their own, borrow those which border upon them, when the owner resides at a distance, and does not choose to be at the trouble and expense of preserving them, in order to extend a petty tyranny, which by no means harmonizes with the general spirit of British legisla- tion, and by which they render themselves not a jot more amiable to their less wealthy neighbours. What is very extraordinary, even those lords of manors who probably do not take the diversion of shooting once in a season, are, notwithstanding, extremely severe in the preservation of game. There appears something extremely hard, and very inconsistent, in the idea of one hundred pounds per annum in landed property being a sufficient qualifi- cation, whilst one hundred thousand per annum, drawn from the funds, will not answer the same pur- 262 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. pose. It is absolutely ridiculous, in the present state of things, to assert, that because a man's property is vested in the funds, he has not thus, in justice, a right to share a diversion, to which another person is entitled, owing to the accidental circumstance of the property of the latter being vested in land. A con- tracted bigot may say, that because the person desti- tute of lands does not evidently contribute to the support of the game (or, in other words, is possessed of no grounds where it might feed, &c.), he has therefore no right to kill it. This argument, how- ever, is a lame one. A man may possess a freehold of the necessary value, and yet have no grass or corn lands to supply food for game, as the property might consist wholly of building. And, in fact, if the man of funded property does not contribute to the support of animals denominated game at first sight, he does it virtually, in as great a degree as the other. It is the monied interest of this kingdom that gives those strong sinews to commerce, and, by thus opening a ready market for the productions of the soil, enables the landlord to procure an enormous rent for his ground, and consequently affords the tenant an op- portunity of obtaining those exorbitant prices for his commodities, without which it would be impossible to pay it. That the game laws, taken in the aggre- gate, are illiberal, contradictory, and oppressive, must be allowed; but of all the arbitrary statutes with which they abound, there is not one so unjust as that which disqualifies the commercial part of the com- GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 263 inunity for an amusement, innocent in its nature, and fraught with the blessings of health: particularly when it is considered, that Great Britain, owing to her commerce, not only reigns mistress of the seas, but commands the greatest respect from all powers in the known world : — take away her commerce, her meridian splendour would be eclipsed, and she would sink into insignificance and contempt among those very surrounding nations which are now compelled to regard her as the most powerful sovereign on the face of the earth. I will beg leave to state a case or two, which will illustrate the nature of evidence, in convictions, and actions at law, and afford perhaps a little useful in- formation. H. 12 G. R. v. Hill. The defendant was con- victed for unlawfully keeping a lurcher and a gun, to kill and destroy the game, not being duly qualified by the laws of this realm so to do. And the convic- tion being removed into the king's bench by cer- tiorari, was quashed ; because it was only averred generally, that he was not qualified, and did not aver that the defendant had not the particular qualifica- tions mentioned in the statute, as to degree, estate, and the rest. 2 L. Raym. 1415. In the case of R. v. Jarvis, H. 30 G. 2, the conviction set forth, that the defendant did unlaw- fully keep and use, and had in his custody and pos- session, one setting dog and setting net, for the de- struction of the game ; and that he, the said Jarvis, 264: THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. was not then anywise qualified, empowered, liceosed} or authorised, by or according to the laws of this realm, to kill game. It was moved to quash this conviction. And by Lord Mansfield, C. J. It is now settled by the uniform course of authorities, that the qualifications must all be negatively set out : other- wise the justices have no jurisdiction over the persons killing game, or keeping dogs or engines for the de- struction of it. There is a great difference between the purview of an act of parliament, and a proviso in an act of parliament. In the case of R. v. Marriot, where the witness swore only generally, it was holden insufficient : and the justices who convict upon the evidence of the witness, can have no other or further ground to go upon than what the witness swears. In the case of R. v. Hill, it is the very point esta- blished and settled, that the general averment is not sufficient, and that it must be averred, that the de- fendant had not the particular qualifications men- tioned in the statute. In the case of Bluet, qui tarn •v. Needs (Com. R. 522), the general averment of the defendant's not being qualified was holden to be suf- ficient upon an action, though insufficient upon a conviction : for in the examination of the question at the trial of an action, the qualification may be gone into. The distinction is obvious between an action and a conviction. In the present case, the witness swears generally that the defendant was not quali- fied. The justices adjudge it generally, only. The stream can go no higher than the spring head. So GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 265 the conclusion which the justices draw from the testimony of the witness, mast be as general as that testimony. In the case of R. v, Pickels, M. 19 G. 2. it was laid down as a rule, that the want of the particular qualifications required by the 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. ought to be negatively set out in con- victions. And the only question there was, Whe- ther it was necessary to add the inferred or argu- mentative qualification, collected from the 5th of Anne, c. 14. but not mentioned in the 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. of his not being lord of a manor ? Exceptio probat regulam : Nor was the general rule at all doubted or disputed in that case. In indict- ments upon the 8 and 9 W. c. 26. for having a coining-press, every thing which shows that the de- fendant had no authority must be negatively set out : And so it was done in the indictment of Bell, which was lately argued before all the judges. I take the point to be settled by the constant tenor of all the authorities; and I think upon very good reason (if there was need to enter into the reason at large, after it has been fully settled already). — Mr. J. Deni- son concurred, and said it was a clear case, and that it was fully settled and established, that in these con- victions, the want of the particular qualifications must be negatively set out. If not, the justices have no jurisdiction to convict the defendant as an of- fender. And the evidence and the adjudication ought both of them to be, that he had not the qua- lifications which are specified in that act, nor any of 266 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. them. Indeed you are not obliged to go further than the words of this act of parliament of the 22 and 23 Car. 2; and that was the case of R. v. Pickels. But, however, in that case the present point was established, and taken to be indisputable. There is a known distinction between exceptions in a statute by way of proviso (which need riot be set forth) and those in the purview of the act \ and to this point there is a very strong case (R. v. Bell, Post. 430.) upon an indictment for having coining- instruments in his custody. It was said, that in a conviction it is sufficient to pursue the words of the act of parliament ; but I think that it is not so, and there are many cases where that has been ruled otherwise. Among other instances, it was deter- mined in R. v. Chapman, E. T. 28 G. 2. upon a conviction of a person for robbing an orchard, which the court held not sufficient ; but it ought to have appeared of what and how the orchard was robbed, that they might judge whether it were a robbery within the meaning of the 45 Eliz. c. 7- — Mr. J. Foster also concurred, and said, that on negative acts of parliament the point is fully settled and establish- ed, that the particular qualifications mentioned in the purview of them must be negatively specified in convictions made upon them. And, by the court unanimously, the conviction was quashed, 1 Burr. 148. H. 26 G. 3. R, v. Thomas Spencer Crowther. This was a conviction before a justice on 5 Anne, c. GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 26? 14. for using a gun. After stating the information, which negatived specifically every one of the quali- fications in 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. and which dis- closed the fact of the defendant's having used a gun and pointers, and killed a partridge; it stated a sum- mons, and the appearance of the defendant; who " having heard the same, and the aforesaid deposi- tion of the said E. Tye having been read over again to the said E. Tye, in the presence and hearing of the said T. S. Crowther, and the said E. Tye having again affirmed his said deposition to be true in the presence and hearing of the said T. S. Crowther, he, the said T. S. Crowther, is asked by me, the said justice, If he can say any thing for himself, why he, the said T. S. Crowther, should not be convicted of the premises above charged upon him in the form aforesaid : Whereupon," &c.* — It was moved to quash tliis conviction on two grounds : 1st. That the evi- dence on which it was founded was not given in the presence of the defendant; for on his appearing be- fore the justice, the witness only affirmed his former disposition to be true ; and R. v. Vipont, 2 Burr. 1 163, was cited. 2dly. The qualifications required by 22 and 23 Car. 2. c. 25. were not negatived by the evidence. The evidence was only general, that what he did was* against the form of the statute, &c. and R. v. Jarvis, 1 Burr. 154; and R. v. Wheatman, Doug. 532, were cited. — In answer it was said, That the deposition of the witness having been read over in the presence of the defendant, and affirmed by N 2 268 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. him to be true, was the same as if he had been re- sworn. That as to the other objection, the informa- tion had negatived every separate qualification, and was so stated in the conviction, and there was no occasion to prove it by evidence. If the information be specific, a general deposition that he is not quali- fied is sufficient to put the defendant upon proving that he was. — By the court. The first objection is good : the witness ought to have been re-sworn in the defendant's presence. As to the other point, there is no case in which it has been directly de- cided, that the evidence should negative every parti- cular qualification. It cannot be so from the 'nature of the case. — Conviction quashed. 1 T. R. 125. Hence it would seem, that there is more nicety in convicting an unqualified person than is generally imagined. From the last case, amongst other things, it appears necessary for the witness to swear that the offending party is not qualified ; which, when it is considered, seems rather absurd. Certainly, a man may swear any thing, and of course, may swear that another is not qualified : but to prove this, in most (if not all) cases, is impossible. It appears then ne- cessary for the defendant to prove his own qualifica- tion, unless he choose to appeal to a higher court. In qui tain actions, the defendant must prove his qualification. Finally, That I very much dislike the game laws, I have already asserted. They might be very easily altered and moulded into a form less complex, but GENERAL OBSERVATIONS. 269 more equitable. I would repommend it to the at- tention of the legislature ; and if this volume should fall into the hands of any member of the British senate, it would give me great pleasure, should it induce him to turn his attention to this important subject. Let not the reader suppose, that in writing the preceding pages I have been actuated by party spirit : I have candidly stated my thoughts. Nor am I by any means an advocate for poor persons who pursue field sports to the detriment of their families. On the contrary, my reasoning was only meant to show not only the injustice, but also the absurdity of certain statutes. And if lords of manors were occasionally to indulge the lower orders with a little field recrea- tion, they would not only find their game increase, but would also be beloved and respected by the neighbourhood, instead of being regarded as over- bearing and oppressive tyrants. Lords of manors generally seem to regard strictly preserving their manors as a necessary . accomplishment, and which adds a sort of fashionable splendour and dignity to their title and character. 270 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. TECHNICAL TERMS. / A BRACE of pointers or setters. A leash of pointers or setters. A couple of spaniels. A couple and a half of spaniels. A brace of hares. A leash of hares. To start or move a hare. A brace of grouse. A leash of grouse. A pack of grouse. To raise grouse. A brace of black game. A leash of black game. A pack of black game. To raise a black cock or pack. A brace and a half of partridges or birds, A brace of partridges or birds. A covey of partridges. To raise or spring partridges. A brace of quail. A brace and a half of quail. TECHNICAL TERMS. A bevey of quails. To raise quails. A brace of pheasants. A leash of pheasants. A ni (or nid) of pheasants. To push a pheasant. A couple of woodcocks. A couple and a half of woodcocks. A flight of woodcocks. To flush a woodcock. A couple of snipe. A couple and a half of snipes. A wisp of snipe. To spring a snipe. A flock or team of wild duck. A gaggle of geese. A wing of plover. A trip of dottrell. THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. i Total each! W<>ek. ! f 1 Wednesd. gi i | | P Grouse. i Partridge. 0 Pheasant. P3 Z w Woodcock. 93 Snipe. M H Wild fowl. 1 Hare. B Rabbit. Total each Day. Shots missed 1 o p J> = I RETURN CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT TO— ^ 202 Main Library 10191 LOAN PERIOD 1 HOME USE 2 3 4 5 6 ALL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS NEWALS AND RECHARC--3 ' ' V.' 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