Frank Forester's Field Sports of the United States, and British Provinces, of North America (Volume 1); And British Provinces, of North America

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. 1849. Excerpt: ... the sherry which Peritus had recommended as the best form of luncheon.. I have no doubt you are perfectly right about this, Peritus, said his friend. Indeed, the practice has proved the principle, for we have got forty-five or forty-six Quail between us, out of those first four bevies, besides thirty Cock. It is glorious sport, indeed. Not very bad, certainly, Agilis; and you have shot well too, which inclines you to think of the sport, perhaps, with more than ordinary complacency. But mark me, if we had followed up that first bevy we should not have flushed or marked the other five, all of which, you remember, the dogs trailed as they were rambling about on the feed, before the day got warm. It would have occupied us till eleven o'clock to pick up that one bevy, had we been able to move it, which is doubtful; and by that time all the others would have huddled themselves away into some little dry sunny nook or o.her, where it would have been ten to one against our stumbling upon them. As it is, before that same hour we had stirred six bevies, four of which we have used up, while I hear the other two calling even now in that great swamp, where we will give a good account if them likewise, when we have finished these cigars. Aye! I observe all this, and see the sportsmanship of it, Peritus; what noble birds, moreover, these autumn Woodcock are. All full grown birds, with fine gray foreheads, and pink legs. They must weigh one-third more each than the younglings we slaughtered in July. True, O king! at least one-third more. Now, don't you think we ought to give up summer Cock shooting 1 I never thought otherwise. What between the thermometer at ninety in the shade, and the myriads of mosquitoes, I do not look upon summer shooting as fit sport for a...