The Snipe is divided into three classes ; the common, the jack, and the great. They all frequent our marshes in the win ter season, and are sometimes very nume rous : some years since the Duke of Marl borough's game-keeper killed twenty-two snipes at one shot. The several kinds weigh from two to seven ounces ; but the great snipe is solitary, and has a beauti fully coloured wing: whence it is by many called the "painted snipe." During very cold weather, the snipes are apt to be on the wing; but in the middle of the day, especially when the sun is bright, will lay so as even to be trod upon rather than flit. These birds frequent marshes, and are to be found on the banks of weedy, foul ditches, particularly where the soil is fat, and worms abound.
All the varieties of water-fowl, such as Geese of various descriptions, Ducks of ditto, Widgeons, Teal, Divert, Pentair, Pochards,&e. frequent our marshes chiefly from October to February, and in general must be pursued in boats. To be equip ped for this sport it is essentially requisite to be well clothed ; flannel shirt and drawers, with additional exterior and in terior garments, will be found indispen sable when polling about the marshes, or when stationed in a punt on the borders of the oozes. Water-proof boots are ne cessary, as are woollen gambadoes draw ing up to the middle of the thigh at least. A cap made of skin must be worn, as the fowls will not approach persons wearing hats, of which they seem to entertain a peculiar dread. It is necessary, when fir ing at them while on the wing, to aim well before them, it being ascertained that they fly at the rate of ninety miles within the hour! During sharp frosts the sports man may, early in the morning, find ex cellent diversion where the brooks are only partially frozen : wherever there is a warm spring, there will he find fowls, pro vided the spot he at all sequestered, or is not overlooked. Immense numbers of water-fowls are caught in decoys, by means of some of their own species train ed to deception : they lead them into nar row passages, netted in a secure manner, near which a man is completely hidden, but who, showing himself suddenly, causes the deluded followers to remain in captivity, while the decoy birds all re treat, and escape the fatal issue.
We shall close what relates to the fea thered game with the following glossary of technical terms ; many are now obso lete, but as they may afford the means of arriving at the meaning of old authors, we give them a place.
A sege of herons, and of bitterns : an herd of swans, of cranes, and of cur lews : a dropping of shelldrakes ; a spring of teals ; a covert of coots ; a gaggle of geese ; a badelynge of ducks ; a cord, or cute, of mallards ; a muster of peacocks ; a nye of pheasants; a covey of partridges ; a bevy of quails; a con gregation of plovers ; a flight of doves; a Jule of turkeys ; a walk of snipes; a fall of woodcocks; a brood of hens ; a building of rooks; a mormurration of starlings; an exaltation of larks ; a flight of swallows; a host of sparrows ; a watch of nightingales ; and a charm of gold-finches.
Some of the above are no doubt very applicable ; but, in general, they are rather quaint than appropriate. The language of fowlers, like that of the turf, abounds with cant, on the exact ap plication of which many pride themselves greatly.
Coursing is generally confined to the pursuit of hares, in which great amuse ment is afforded to those who are not sufficiently active to join in fox-hunting.
Formerly deer and foxes were coursed, but at this date we have no instances of such chases, except in the Highlands of Scotland, and in some parts of Ireland, where many braces of greyhounds are occasionally posted in various directions, as relays to such as may first be slipped after the roe-buck. The laws of coursing were established by the Duke of Norfolk, in Queen Elizabeth's reign, and were agreed to by the nobility, who then fol lowed the diversion : they have been held authentic ever since, and are as follow.
1. The feuterer, or person that lets loose the dogs, was to receive those into his leash that were matched to run to. gether ; with these he was to follow the hare-finder, until he should come to the form ; no person else being allowed to be on either side, or less than forty yards in the rear of the dogs. 2. A hare was not to be coursed with more than a brace of greyhounds. 3. The hare-finder was to give the hare three " Soho's," before he put her from her form, that the atten tion of the dogs might be roused. 4. The hare was to have twelve score yards law before the dogs were loosed; unless the proximity of any cover should render such indulgence a prejudice to the chase. 5. The dog that gave the first turn during the course, if there was nei ther cote, slip, nor wrench, was the winner : a cote is where a greyhound goes endwise by his fellow, and gives the hare a turn. 6. A cote was reckoned as two turns, and two trippings or jerkings made a cote : if the hare did not tun, quite about, she made only a wrench ; two of which stood for a turn. 7. If no cotes were made, but that one served the other at turning, then he that gave the hare most turns was the winner ; but if the turns were equal, the dog that bore the hare won. 8. If one dog turn ed, and the other bore the hare, the lat ter won. 9. A go by, or bearing the hare, was equivalent to two turns. 10. If neither dog turned the hare, he that last led to cover won. 11. If one dog turned the hare, served, and turned her again, it was as much as a cote ; for a cote was equal to two turns. 12. If all the course was equal, the dog that bore the hare won. 13. If the hare was not borne, the course was adjudged dead. 14. If a dog fell in coursing, and yet per formed his part, he might challenge a turn more than he gave. 15. If a dog turned the bare, served himself, and gave divers cotes, and yet, in the end, stood still in the field ; the other dog, if he ran the hare to cover, though he gave no turn, was adjudged the winner. In fact, no dog that gave up could win. 16. If by any accident a dog was rode over in his course, or improperly baulked, the course was void, and he who did the mischief was to make due reparation. 17. If a dog gave the first and last turn, and there was no other advantage, or reckoning, between them, he that gave the odd turn won. (Here, we beg leave to observe, is an opening for much misconception). 18. He that came in first at the death, took up the hare, saved her from being torn, cherished the dugs, and cleared their mouths from the wool, was adjudged to have the hare, as the re ward of his spirit and assiduity. 19. The judges of the course were to decide all points before they quitted the field. 20. No person could claim any prize or privi lege, but under sanction of the judges of the field.