Letters on Sporting (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1815* edition. Excerpt: ...This is the largest number of grous which I have ever heard of being killed by a single person in one day in England, though I believe it has been exceeded by the Marquis of H in the highlands of Scotland by four brace and an half. We have been here five days, and have killed (four of us) in that time 185 brace, making upon an average something more than nine each day, per man. The weather has already begun to change, and the birds are becoming considerably wilder, both of which circumstances will materially diminish the pleasure of, and probably soon terminate our excursion. An English atmosphere is generally much more favorable to this diversion than an Highland one, as, from the innumerable lochs and the immediate vicinity of the ocean, the mountains are so concealed in the vapors arising from them, as at all times to render a day's sport extremely precarious. A very little wet soon causes a grous to become wild and unassailable, and the chance of pursuing him to any advantage is very uncertain, until perhaps in the middle of the day, when the sun may establish a temporary influence. His habits are exceedingly regular, always taking his food and water at particular times, the latter at noon: he will then retire to the sunny side of some bank, and beneath the cover of high furz, bask in all the delight of imagined security. If a good shot suddenly come upon a brood in this situation he may very frequently annihilate the whole, for they will immediately separate in different directions, and each bird get up singly, so that he has nothing to do but restrain the ardor of his dogs, and, in some measure also, that of himself. The impetuosity with which many sportsmen, and young ones in particular, travel over their ground, is one great reason why...