Having said thus much in regard to the construction or kinds of guns proper for shooting in general, we shall proceed to state a few particulars relating to the va rious kinds of game generally sought, and to give the sportsman as much in sight as our limits may allow, regarding the laws in force on the subject of shoot ing, &c.
The Bustard is the largest of our fea thered game, the male sometimes weigh ing nearly thirty pounds, being in length (from beak to toe) nearly four feet, and expanding its wings so as to measure full nine feet between their tips. Some consi der it to be gallinaceous, while others class it with the ostrich and cassowary. The bill is strong and somewhat convex ; the eyss red ; head and neck ash-coloured, and on each side of the lower beak is a tuft of feathers from fiye to nine inches in length ; in some countries of a beautiful jet black, but with us of a white or dun colour. The back is barred transverse ly with black and bright rust colour ; the greater quill-feathers are brown, the belly white, the tail has twenty feathers, the middle ones barred with black ; the legs are long, naked above the knees; it has no hind-toe (which is a peculiarity whereby this genus is distinguished, for there are innumerable varieties in differ ent parts of the world) but has a callous process, serving as a heel. The female rarely exceeds twelve pounds in weight, and is not so strikingly marked as the male, and has no tufts under the bill ; her colour is more dull, and she has not the reservoir, or water pouch, found within every male, and which is capable of containing from four to seven pints of water. This enables the bustard to re main for a long time on those immense plains, remote from water, where it is often found, and where the female lays her eggs, which are of a pale olive brown, sprinkled with dark spots ; her nest is very soon Shade, being nothing more than a shallow hollow, scraped in some dry place, especially in a turnip field, or in some dry stubbly, or grass, whence she can see whatever approaches. Her own colour so much resembles the soil, that unless scented by dogs, she is often put up by persons, who almost tread on her before he rises.
Bustards were formerly numerous in England, but now are only found in the south and east parts, particularly on the large downs of Yorkshire, and of Wilt shire and Dorsetshire ; they are supposed to be extinct in Scotland. They very rarely wander more than thirty miles from their native haunts, making very short flights, running very rapidly, and rising from the ground with considerable difficulty. Hence they have been fre quently caught by grey-hounds, after chases affording considerable diversion. It is evident, that for so heavy a bird, large shot must be necessary, ; especially when found on a plain, where it is extremely shy. Some have, however, been brought down with No. 6 ; but in such cases they have risen within a moderate distance. In aiming at the bustard with large shot, endeavour to strike under the wing ; but if with any thing less than No. 2, you cannot do better thanlevel just before his beak ; so as to hit the head. This bird is by some called the floriken ; in the east it is called the cherruss.
The Pheasant, though not a native of England, nor indeed of Europe, for it was first brought from the banks of the Phasis in Asia Minor, has multiplied so exten sively among us, as to form a very consi derable object among the sporting world. The cocks sometimes weigh nearly four pounds ; though, in general, not more than three; the hen is usually from eight to twelve ounces lighter. This bird is too well known to require description in re spect to colour or figure. The wings of a pheasant are extremely weak; hence it can rarely fly half a mile. To this it is attri buted, that none are found on the new continent ; though they are now very nu merous throughout Europe, and in some parts of Africa, as well as in Asia. There are many varieties, such as the argue, of which the wings are all over dotted as with eyes ; the golden, which is of a beau tiful lustre green, marked with gold co loured specks of the most vivid appear ance ; the black, which is only found in India, where it is called the Moco, and is erroneously considered as appertaining to the crow-tribe.