The American sportsman

Front matter

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Preface

TO THE THIRD EDITION,

!N" intelligent, observant sportsman, whether he be a votary of the gentle craft, or a zealous advocate of the dog and gun, instinctively — yes, oftentimes without being in the least conscious of it himself — becomes an impassioned admirer of nature and nature's works in her most varied and attractive forms.

It is not, as many narrow-minded astutes ignorantly suppose, the mere slaughter of the timorous partridge which so early calls him forth to the stubble-field; neither is it the coveted possession of the savory woodcock that lures him to the entangled brake ; nor is it the soaring wisps of fickle snipes which alone entice him to the oozy meadows ; nor yet the booming grouse that makes him climb the mountainside or seek the far-off rolling prairie.

There are other incentives, other charms, besides these, ye incredulous, pent-up inhabitants of a crowded city, which impel the sportsman, as with a siren's wand, to hie joyfully away with dog and gun to the fields, to the hills, to the rich autumn-tinted forests.

" Our sportsman has become an admirer of nature ; he has

Xll PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

learned to appreciate the quiet beauties of a wide-extended landscape as it spreads out majestically before him ; he views with enthusiastic delight the startling grandeur of a mountaingorge as it suddenly bursts upon his sight; he wanders in silent satisfaction through the murmuring forests of stately oaks, and lingers for a while in pleasant meditation ere he leaps the noisy gurgling streamlet that coquettishly crosses his path.

Then, resting for a time from his pursuits, our happy sportsman plucks a half-hidden flower from its heathery bed, listens to the far-resounding echoes of the unerring gun, joins the merry laugh of his boon-companions, or returns the wild halloo of approaching friends.

Now again he slakes his burning thirst with the sparkling waters of a mountain-spring, or laves his manly brow with the crystal drops from the purling rill that so musically babbles at his very feet; and, giving full freedom to those warmer sentiments of the heart which too often become choked and stifled by the close contact of selfish city life, he breathes a prayer of gratitude to a beneficent Providence for all these enjoyments, for all these pleasurable sensations.

To the fields, then, — to the bright and beautiful fields, — to the forests, all clothed in the gorgeous livery of the winter's frosts, — to the mountains, rich in eternal verdure, — to the limpid streams and gushing rills, — do we once more invite you, to spend those flitting hours of leisure vouchsafed to us all amid the busy scenes of active life.

My dear Doctor : —

I am fully conscious of the fact that it does not seem well in the present age for an author to appear egotistical, and it therefore becomes him even far less to allude to his own productions in terms of praise or commendation ; but still I may, I trust, in this instance at least, be pardoned for expressing a conviction that you will be much gratified with the new dress that my volume on Sporting has assumed on this its second advent.

I beg particularly to call your attention to my Introduction to this second edition, which, in connection with some other matters, explains the motives that impelled me to change the title of my book, and of which I dare hope you will equally approve.

In its present improved form and attractive gear, I flatter myself that the "American Sportsman" will give increased satisfaction to my sporting friends, and withal again afford you an hour or so of pleasant relaxation from the more severe studies and weighty responsibilities which your eminent position in the profession necessarily imposes upon you.

"With many more kind wishes, and with sentiments of high esteem and great personal regard, I have much pleasure as well as pride in subscribing myself, as ever, My dear doctor,

Most truly and faithfully yours,

ELISHA J. LEWIS.

To Professor J. K. Mitchell.

PREFACE

TO THE SECOND EDITION.

E must confess that it was with some degree of surprise, as well as pleasure, that we learned from our pub- 11 lishers that they were so soon ready to enter into an arrangement with us for a second edition of our " Hints to Sportsmen," as it was a gratifying assurance, on their part, that the unpretending volume which we had sent forth from the press with many misgivings as to its merits had met with a kind and liberal reception from those for whom we had in our hours of leisure compiled it.

It would be affectation in us not to acknowledge that it was with considerable satisfaction we observed from time to time the many flattering reviews and complimentary notices which appeared in the various journals in reference to our work.

"We sincerely trust that on this, its second advent, in an entirely new as well as doubly attractive garb, we will meet with the like good treatment from our friends of the press. "We can assure all our readers that nothing has been wanting on our part to render the volume still more instructive and interesting, both as regards the style of getting-up and the additional matter inserted.

XVI PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION".

There additions, however, though numerous, have been in most instances ingrafted so insidiously on the old text that they can scarcely be discerned, save by those who may have felt their deficiency in the first edition, and will now, we trust, in the present volume, find a portion at least of these defects supplied.

In accordance with the repeated suggestions of some of our sporting friends, we have deemed it advisable to change the title of our book from " Hints to Sportsmen" to that of the "American Sportsman."

The former appellation, considering the great variety of subjects introduced, and the copiousness with which many of them are treated, seemed rather too restricted in its signification, and far less comprehensive in its general bearing than a work of this character merited. Besides all this, the large additions as well as alterations that we have made in the present volume seemed still further to urge upon us the propriety of this change, and more especially as the work in its entirely new and beautiful dress can scarcely be regarded as the same book, or even recognised as the offspring of the first edition. "We cannot refrain from calling the attention of our sporting friends to the wood-cuts of the various game-birds, most of which, in point of execution, have not been equalled, let alone excelled, by any thing of the kind before done in this country.

To the Messrs. Louderback and Hoffmann we are indebted for the skill and faithfulness with which they have accomplished their portion of the work, and we cheerfully acknowledge that their great attention to our suggestions, coupled with a becoming ambition on their part to do what would be creditable to themselves, relieved us of much trouble as well as anxiety. Of the truthfulness of these engravings to nature we need say but little, as they speak for themselves, the most of them being really very lifelike both in position and expression. We may remark, however, en passant, that every

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bird and every fowl was sketched from choice specimens obtained from the Academy of Natural Sciences, or from other equally good sources ; and in almost every instance, the drawings were subjected to the approval of our muchesteemed friend, John Cassin, Esq., before the blocks were placed in the hands of the engravers.

This latter circumstance alone should of itself be a sufficient guarantee of their correctness, as every one at all conversant with science well knows of Mr. Cassin's rare acquirements in this particular department of Natural History.

And we now gladly avail of this opportune occasion to make our public acknowledgments to this gentleman for his many valuable suggestions in reference to the execution of these drawings, the securing of which, by-the-by, has been by far the most difficult — in fact, we may freely say, the only unpleasant as well as vexatious — portion of our task. We also return thanks to Mr. John Krider for his generous aid in supplying us with the skins of several specimens of birds, which assisted materially in insuring correct drawings.

This is not the only good service which Mr. Krider has done us as well as the rest of the craft during the last year ; for, independently of the many fine guns that he has turned out from his workshop, he has, with the valuable assistance of his friend, Mr. H. M. Klapp, furnished us with his " Sporting Anecdotes," a book replete not only with amusing but very instructive information regarding the habits of our game-birds, sporting-dogs, &c. &c.

Mr. George G. "White, the principal draughtsman, and, I may say, pupil, of Mr. Cassin's in this particular kind of drawing, has displayed much taste as well as artistic skill in his delineations of the birds ; and we doubt if he has an} 7 superior, if equal, on our side of the vasty deep in this special branch of designing. His chapter-headings and many

Preface To The Second Edition

of the vignettes are also spirited and characteristic ; the titlepage of the four seasons, and frontispiece, are very pleasing compositions, and give still further evidences of his talent and genius as an artist.

With these few comments, we again send our volume forth from the press, trusting, as before, far more to the well-known generosity of the craft for its kind reception, than to any great merit of its own, but at the same time bearing in mind the good old Latin proverb, that — "Frustra laborat qui omnibus placere studet."

My dear Doctor: —

Although we have never flushed the covey, started the woodcock, or winged the wild duck, in company, yet I know full well your partiality for the country, as also your early fondness for field and rural sports ; and, if you had not been so early engrossed by professional duties, I doubt not that you would have been the foremost among those who derive so much enjoyment and healthful recreation from the dog and gun.

Be not surprised, therefore, my dear sir, that, without any previous intimation, I should dedicate this volume to you; and at the time rest assured that, in so doing, I am not alone influenced by those early feelings of friendship naturally engendered by your many kindnesses to me while a student in your office, but I beg rather to present it as a slight token of the high appreciation I entertain of your varied talents and distinguished worth in the profession of which you are so successful a teacher and practitioner.

Accept, then, dear sir, this little tribute of esteem from one

who has ever regarded the period of his association with you

when a pupil as a bright spot in the vista of life, to which he

ever refers with peculiar feelings of pleasure ; and, in conclusion,

Believe me, my dear doctor,

Very faithfully yours,

ELISHA J. LEWIS.

To Professor J. K. Mitchell.

PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

HE lovers of the clog and gun are under many and great obligations to Henry William Herbert, Esq., for his most excellent works on Sporting, which speak for themselves and need no commendation from our pen. They abound in information and research which few have had so great opportunities of collecting or so much talent to put together. We also owe much to William T. Porter, Esq., for his valuable and beautiful edition of "Hawker;" and we should not forget to thank J. S. Skinner, Esq.,* for his many contributions to the same branch of literature. " The general favor which the productions of these gentlemen have met with from the public has the more emboldened us to venture forth with this unpretending volume, trusting, however, far more to the well-known generosity of "the craft" for its kind reception than to any great merit of its own.

We shall not, in a short preface like this, attempt to offer, for the consideration of our readers, any thing like an eulo-

* Since writing the above, Mr. Skinner has been gathered to his fathers, ripe in years and full of honors. His contributions to the cause of agriculture, rural sports, and other kindred subjects, were numerous, and insured for him a wide-extended and well-deserved reputation throughout our country.

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XX11 PREFACE TO THE FIRST EDITION.

gium upon field-sports ; nor shall we endeavor to exhibit to the world the many benefits and advantages to be derived from the general encouragement of these healthful pursuits.

We beg merely to remind the student of science, the cunning expounder of Blackstone, the deeply-read follower of Galen, the shrewd devotee of commerce, as well as the most skilful and industrious of artisans, that their intellectual powers demand some remission of their labors, and that their physical energies also need a certain degree of recreation or resuscitation to enable them to pursue those studies and attain those ends which stern necessity or exalted ambition prompts them to undertake.

How, then, or where, then, may we ask, can this relaxation of the mind as well as of the body be more agreeably obtained than in the open fields and beautiful forests of our favored country? There, and there alone, far away from the busy throngs of selfish men, wandering with some favored friend, in sweet communion with the green fields, the stately forests, and limpid streams, the mind of the most grave and studious becomes truly unbent and freed from its labors. There the heart beats with renewed vigor, the blood courses through its usually sluggish channels with a quickened pace, and the whole animal as well as intellectual economy becomes sharpened and revivified under exciting and healthful influences.

Add, then, to this scene the eager sportsman, surrounded by his faithful and sagacious dogs ; call up the sharp echo of the unerring gun ; recollect the plaintive call of the timid partridge, the startling whirr of the affrighted pheasant, the rapid flight of the lonely woodcock, the devious course of the fickle snipe, or, perchance, the sudden rush of the skulking hare, and the picture is complete. Then tell us whether such scenes as these are not calculated to enliven the mind, expand the energies, and not only bring the glow of health to the cheek of youth, but infuse renewed vigor into the very soul of the infirm and sedentary.

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Is there not a time when the wan-faced student of science may neglect for a while the sickly flickerings of the midnight lamp ? Is there not a time when the learned counsellor may escape the wranglings, the jeerings, the bitter feuds of the halls of justice? And is there not a moment of leisure, an hour of repose, when the skilful physician may turn a deaf ear to the harassing solicitations of suffering humanity, and draw for a brief period the curtain of oblivion around the couch of disease and death ?

Yes ! there is a time for all these ; and there is a time when even the anxious, upright, and enterprising merchant may, for a brief period, while quaffing, as it were, the fabled waters of Lethe, forget the perplexities of commerce, the fluctuations of trade, the uncertainty of riches, and remain even unmindful of his gallant ships, that come bounding across the briny deep, heavily freighted with the fine wares of the North, the South, the East, and the West.

Yes ! there is a time, thanks to the noble founders of our liberal institutions, when even the industrious artisan, freed from all care and anxiety, may forget the labors and duties of the shop, and wander forth to enjoy the works of nature and learn more highly to appreciate the boon of freedom, his country's dearest gift.

To the fields, then, — to the bright and beautiful fields, — with " dog and gun," do we invite you, one and all, to spend those hours of leisure and participate in those innocent enjoyments so captivating to a true sportsman.