f^ *fi „;:, Jt FRONTISPIECE I.viJ^n:IiMis7,eJ7^'.dL'.rnr.'rr^a/f/u^Jsjr^^^s^^n^.^?>i>rah'm^ Complete Sportfman; o R, The TQWN and COUNTRY GENTLEMAI^'s RECREATION. C O N T A 1 N^I N G^ Among the various Divemons which are made plain and eafy to every Capacity, 'the whole Arts of, and Par- ticulars refpefting Angliag in all its various Branches, The BreedingaT(d Managing Game Cocks, with the beft Methods of Fighting them;. The Rearing and Backing Colts, The Managing Race-Horfes^Hun- ters, fefr. Horfe- Racing, Fox-Hun ting, Kare-Hunting, Hart or Buck-Hunting, Otter-Hunting, Rabbet-Hunting, I Ferret-Hunting, ■ Cburiing, The Breeding ani Ordering all forts of Dogs for the Gun or Chafe, ^c. The Breeding Pige^s, Rabbets, Canary-Birds, 'S?f. The finding the Haunts of Par- tridges, Pheafants, and all Manner of Game ; Shooting, and of Shootiqg Fly- ing, £fr. Bowling, ©'c. ^c. T O G_E T H E R ■ With many other equally curious Articles, too numer- ous to Aiention here ; and including many ufeful Direc- tions to Horfe -Feeders, Grooms and others, refpeding the Dieting of Horfes, riding a Hunting Match, &c. &c. Being abfolutely the Neweft and molt Complete Book oncheSubjca. ^J^^^^^^ The whole Reviled, Corredled and Improved, By GEORGE MORGAN, Efq. Ailiited by many Experienced Gentlemen, who have made the above Amufements their Delight and Study. Embellilhed with an Elegant Frontifpiece, finely Engraved. LONDON: Printed for ALEX.. HOGG, at the Original King's Arms, No. 16, Pater-nofter Row. [Price 3$. neatly Bound.] INTRODUCTORY PREFACE. THE Antiquity of innocent and rational Diver- fions, and manly Exercifes, may be traced back to the firft Inflitution of Human Society. Thefe Exercifes and Diverfions, indeed, exifted m the World long before thofe States were formed, •who afterwards made fo great a Figure in Hiftory, although even under them, they were confidered as honourahlc and no way beneath the Charaflers of the greatefl: Men and Heroes. The vital and a61:ive Principle, which leads us to the Practice of inno- cent Diverfions, is one of the noblefl that can a6luate the Heart of Man, (namely Emulation, or a De- fire to excel! others) while the Confequetices refult- ing from them are more important than fome will believe, or others acknowledge : for while they fur- nifh a Relaxation from the Toils of Bufinefs, and an Alleviation of the Cares of Life, they ftdd Vigour to the Mind, Health to the Body, and, in Conformity with the delightful Variations of the Seafons, mix ,€ur Pains and Pleafures together, for the moft falu- tary End. In the infant State of Society, the Exercifes of Hunting, Fowling, Fidiing, &c. were found neceffary to fupport Individuals and their Families ; but after- >yards, when Refinement of Manners took Place of fav^ge Rufticity I when Men began to know the Va- lue of their own Importance, and confidered them- feives as diftinguifhed above others, in Confequence of their Dexterity, or Ingenuity in manly Exercifes, ihc Public CEconomy became in a Manner interefted, 3 and INTRODUCTION, 111 and it was found conducive both to the Security and Honour of the State, to annex diftinguilhing Marks of Favour to thofe whofe Adlions entitled them to it, in a more than ordinary Manner. To this laud- able Maxim may be afcribed the Origin of the Olympic Games among the Greeks, the public Shevv^s among the Romans, and Knight-errantry, as prac- tifed by thofe Northern Nations of whom we are the lineal Defcendants. The fame Spirit of Emulation amoiig Individuals, and the fame Reafons of State operate lefs or more on the human Mind, and rule all the various Forms of Government. What was pra6lifed from Motives of Neceility in the early Ages of the WoiJd, was encouraged in more enlightened States, that Youth might be ha- bituated in manly Exercifes, in order to wean them from that Effeminacy, which in a State of Indolence would have bewitched their Minds, and enervated their Bodies. But flill there was fomething want- ing ; all the Rules prefcribed for their Condu6l were only Inroads, fothat it was reafonable tofuppofe that many of them would be forgotten as foon as told. The Ufe of Letters was either then not known, .or but Httle underftood, fo that it was impoflible for any Man to retain in his Memory what was only verbally dictated, unlefs he was fomething of an ex- traordinary Characler, and far above the common Rank of his Fellow Creatures, a Favour not to be expedled, and but feldom granted. Thofe who live in the prefent Age, have this peculiar Advan- tage, that Arts and SciejK:es * are not only reduced to proper Syftems, but e\S'y thing is treated of in fo * See Middleton's New Cyclopedia, or Complete Die- tjonary of Arcs and Sciences, with all the Modern Im- provements, in Eighty iixpenny numbers, or price 2]. gs. bound. plain IV INTRODUCTION plain a Manner, that almoft every Perfon may un- derftand them. With Refpe£l to the prefent Work, it has many Advantages above all that has been already publifhed. The Rules laid down by the heft Sportrmen have been carefully attended to, but they have been no farther countenanced or embraced," than was confif- tent with a practical Knowledge of the different Sub- je6ls. Many Superfluities have been lopped off, the pra'Slical Knowledge of the different Subjects has been inveftigated from aftual Experience, and thofe who are fond of indulging themfelves in manly and innocent Amufements, wnll here find an Inftrudlor,. that will not deceive, but be of Service to them in^ all their Purfuits. The Editor has advanced nothing but what he knows to be confiftent with Practice, as^ well as Theory ; and the Reader will here meet with a more accurate Delineation of the Subje61: than can- be found in any other Book extant, while his Prac- tice will give him daily Proofs of its Utility. As fuch it is prefented to the Public, and we doubt not but it will meet with a candid and favourable Receptioa. from all Ranks of People. The EDITOR. THE- 'A.M:Wid^.h THE COMPLETE ENGLISH SPORTSMAN; OR, COUNTRY GENTLEMAN'S RECREATION. ANGLTOQ, O^ FtJhiftg~Rod$ and Tackle, ; AZLE or Yew fwitches gathered about the middle ai Mecemfferwhexx moft free from fap, are accounted very good for your tops ; run them overa gentle heat, to make them tough; let the ftock and tops be taper, fmooth and ft rait, the pieces of each rod fuitable in an exaft fymmetry,free from knots, or elfe they will be deficient in cafting, and never ftrike well, nor be txuly pliable, but at a knot be apt to break and fpoil your fport. To keep them in good ordcr^ bind them cloie to a flrait pole, and fo let them continue long, that they may not warp ; fallen a loop of filk or horfe hair at the end of it with ihoemakers thread, that the line may have play on ^ it;. 2 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. It; and though many ufe filk lines, yet I prefer the horfe-^ hair as the bell; and in twilling or braiding, obferve an exa(J^ evennefs, for one hair being (liorter than the reft in a link, the whole ftrefs will lie on that, and in breaking, renders the reft much the weaker, and often a good jfiih is loft for want of this obfervance ; make your knots fu re, that they ilip not: as for the colour of the hair, it being free from nits or groutinefs, which fome call botches, the pale waterilh colour is the beft to deceive in a clear ftream, but ih wheyifti or muddy water, you may'ch\ife indifferently' d:- line ; for the ground angle need not be fo ftrong as that you intend for your rod at the artificial fly, abating in the latter a hair from top to bottom, in every link from one or two, to fix. or eight, or more. As for the hCok, it muft be long in the fhank, and of a compafs fomewhat inclining to roundnefs; for if the fhank be ftrait the point will ftand outward; faften the' hair on the infide of the fhank, to preferveit from fretting, whether you angle at top or bottom ; proportion your hook for ftrength and compafs, to the number of hairs you angle with next it, neither ufe great hooks to fmall baits, nor great baits with little hooks ; Ifarhsl, chuh muft have large hooks ; carpy eels^ tetich, pearch, breams , thofe of much leffer - -iize; and experience teaches, twuts, in clear water,- ^r^- lingiyfmeltSy roaches , falmon-f melts ^ dace^ ruff, and gudgeo/iSy are fooneft taken with fmall hooks, though many ufe great ones for the trout, efpecially in muddy water, yet the falmon muft be angled for with a hook acco^-ding to his , ftrength; hooks for dub-flies Ihould be generally fmall, and fo for cod-baits, but larger for worms, yet fuch as fome ufe for the latter, do not generally take in clear water : when you whip your hook, which is ftiled arming, do it withfilk lightly rubbed with ftioemaker's wax, twifting it round on the lower part of the line, almoft to the bent of the hook, on the infide, having firft fmoothed tlie ihank of the hook with a whetftone; and for worms let It be red-coloured fiik, but for cod-bait, paftes, ^c. white. Flogits (hould be of cork for river fifhing, but for ponds, meers, and other ftanding water, quill and pens will do. "ftrv -Y'ellj and in very flow rivers, efpecidly when you ase Anglin©. % \*> . ire to angle near the top with tender baits or pafles : as for your cork, let it be the fineft, free from holes and flaws; bore it through with a fmall hot iron, thruft in a quill fizeable, fhaped with a knife to the likenefs of a pyramid, eggy or pear, a proportionable bignefs, and with a pumice ftone fint;ly fmooth it ; run your line through the quill^ -ftnd wedge it injvith the uppermoft hard part of the x^uill,, the fmaller end of the cork being towards the hook, and the bigger towards the rod •, let the cork be fo poifed with lead on the line, that the quill ftanding diredly upright, the leaft bite or nibble may link the cork. To lead your line, do it with a fhot cloven, and then clofed exaftly on it; but not above two of thefe on any line, and that an inch and a half. Or two inches diftant from each other, and the lowermoft plumb feven or eight from the hook; but for a running line, either in clear or muddy water, nine or ten inches; and if you find a fandy bottom in a river, it being full of wood, with few ftones, Ihape your lead a diamond faihion, or to that of a barley-corn, or oval; bring the ends very clofe and fmooth to the line, jet "make it black, for the brightnefs will fcare the fiih. It is very neceflary to have a landing net or hook, or you may lofe many large fifh, by bre^rking line or hold, before you can land him. The net you may fallen to the end of a long manageable pole : as for the hook, it muil be a large one with a fcrew, to fcrew into a focket at the end of a pole; and ".len your iilh is eiitangled, clap it into the mouth of it, and draw it to land ; but this latter •is chiefly for harheUfalmon^ and other ftrong fifli. As for your pannier, let it be of light ofier twigs, neatly woven and worked up ; and to be the more compleatly prepared on all occalions, have in readirsefs divers forts of nOoks, lines, links ready twifl:ed, hair and fllk of feveral colours, fmall ftrong thread, lead plummits, Ihoemaker's wax and fl^oats of divers lizes, line cafes, whet-ftone, pen- knife, wprm-bags, boxes, baits, fciflfars. And thus hav- ing pretty well accoutred my angler with tackle, it will be next neceflTary to know what baits he muil ufe,.Tor on that mainly depend*, fuccefs or fruftration, B2^ ^is^ 4 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN, Melts hred on trees, herbs , plants , nvorms; their fea/on f and nvbatfjh take them ; njuhett and honJUy Sec, There are different forts of baits. 1. The garden- worm, lob-worm, or treachet and dew- worm, are one and the fame, though in divers places their names thus altera and this worm, one of the greateft liz^> is an exeellent bait for che'vinyfahnon, barbel, or eel, though the fmall of the fame kind are not much afFeded with them : that with a broad tail, a red head, and a ftreak down the back, is the beft; the^are found in the latter end of the fummeF, in the evening, in gardens and church-yards, and may be driven out of the earth with the juice of walnut- tree leaves and water, poured on their holes. 2. Marlh or meadow-worms are found in marfliy grounds, or in banks of rivers in fertile mould, being tough and lively, and is a very good bait, efpecially in March, April, and September, for pearch, flounder, bream, /melt, gudgeon, falmon, trout, grayling; though many, and not without fuccefs, ufe from Candlemas to Michaelmas, and in mofs and water it may be kept fifteen days before nfe. 3^ Brandlings, red-worms, aod gllt-tails, are found in. old dunghills, rotten earth, cows dung, hogs dung, or tanners bark, when it is ufed and call by. The brandling and gilt- tail are efpecially good for taking pearch, tench, hteam, falmon trudgeon, /melt; the T are taken hy trout 2LTid ■ -grayling in muddy or clear water, and the red-worms well fcoured, are taken by tench, pearch, ajj^d bream, and beft in nmaddy water. 4. The worm called tag-tail is of a. frefh colonr, leaving at his tail a yelfow tag, clear half an inch long, found in meadows after a fliower of rain, or in chalky ground, in Mdrch and April, if the weather be temperate; this !s held an extraordinary good bait ioijrout in cloudy weather, and a little fcouring will ferve it. 5. The pahner-fly, palmer-worm, wool-bed and can- kers, are counted one ami the fame, being bred on herbs, trees, and plants, not being properly a caterpiller, yet the fc»pe of one, being in the outward part rough and woolly, and An qLiNG, 5 Und excellent baits for the chuby graylings trout , dace or roach, -The palmer-fly and hiay-fly are held the fpunda^ don of fly-angling, and have ufually good fuccefs. 6. The oak- worm, caterpiUer, cabbage- worm, crab- tree-worm, or jack, col wort-worm, or grub, may be long, kept with the leaves of thofe trees or plants, that breed them in boxes, with holes for air, or in withy bark ; they take chub, roach y dace and trout, the oak-worm being pre- ferable to any who breed on trees or plants, being the beft . taken on the top of the water, though you may go as deep -as you will with them : to get thefe, fearch the colewort. or cabbage leaves, beat the oak, or crab-tree, or haw- thorn? fome of them are hard and tough, others fmootb andfoftj fome homed tailed, others have them on thei^ heads, fome fmooth, others hairy. , 7. Bobs, of tliefe there are two forts, they are found- in fandy or mellow ground, efpecially after plowing ; tha one is jufl:ly called the earth bob, white grub or white bait,., being much bigger than a gentle, having a red head, the body foft and full of white guts, the other is lefler, and, fomewhat blueiih, found many times in digging on heaths^ they are excellent baits imm Mi d-april to the firfl: o£ Noruember yto take tench ,. roach , bream, trout, chub, f melts, faU ■ mon', dace and carp ; they muft be kept in an earthen velfel,, with the earth you find them in,, covered very clofe to keep out the cold and wind; fome boil them about two- minutes in milk before they ufe them, which makes them: tougher and whiter, others dip them in honey or gum-ivy^ for carp, bream, and both ways prove fuceefsful. 8.- Gentles or maggots, may be kept witli flefli, and fcoured well with wheat-bran; they are eafy to be had^ or bred by putrefaftion. Thefe are foraetimes added to a^ worm on the hook, fometimes to a dub-fly, and fo take ' falmon-f melts, but oftener ufed by themfclves, two or three on a hook; the day before you angle,, put them into a box with gum-ivy, and it will prove fuceefsful to your fport: tliey are good baits for tench, barbely.bream,Ueaki, gudgeon, trout, dace, chub, carp» 9. Flag-worms, or dock- worms are the fame, found among flags, in old pits or ponds, i^/x, the fmali fibres , of " ■ B 3 the- % 6 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. the flag-roots, by opening little hufks, it is pale^* yellow or *vhite, longer and llenderer than a gentle, and thefe may be kept in bran, and are good baits for iream, tench ^ roach^ carpi dace, bleak and perch i when you fiih with i^for the graylhig ufe the fmalleft line and the float, and fiih nine or ten inches from the ground. lo. The bark-worm or afli-grub, are all one, being very full and white, bent round from ihe tail to the head, the head being red, and the parts very tender, refembling^ a young dorr or humble-bee, and may be ufed all the year, but particularly from Michaelmas to the middle of May or yuney and except the fly and cod-bait, is the befl: for gray- lings ^ dace, roach and chub ; it is found befl: under the bark of an oak, afh, elder, or beech ; efpcdally when fell'd and they have lain about a year, or in the hollow of thefe trees- when ftanding, where doted or rotten ; it is, a very tender bait, and befl: on a briftlcJ hook, by running the hook in at the head and up the belly, till it flays on the briftle, and BO part of the hook's point appears out of it; they are kept well in wheat bran, and take the grayling with theTmalldt line; angle with the float, keeping the bait feven or eight inches from the bottom; but if you flfli with it for roach,, thub, or dace, ufe different tackle. T I • There is a bob found under a cow-turd, called a cow- turd bob, from the beginning of May to Michaelmas^ iomt can it a clap bait ; this is like a gentle, but biggerj you may keep it fometimes in mofs, but the befl is to keep it in earth-, dug up under the place where you find it;, it is- very good bait for trout; if you angle with it on a briftled kook,, on the top of the water, and in the water; it is taken by chub, carp, hream^ tench^ dace and roach, 12, The cod-bait, cad-bait, cadifworm, or eafeworm^ are one and the fame bait, though of three forts. The cue is found under Itones that lie loofe and hollow in fmall braoks, fhallow rivers, or very fine gravel, in a cafe or iiufk, and when fit for purpofe, they are yellow; they are bigger than a gentle, having a black or blueifh head. Another fort is found in pits, ponds, flow- running rivers* ditches, in eafes or hufks of rufhes, water-weeds, ftraw, Ifc. and arc hy fome called rufFcoats, or ftraw-worms; thefc A N L IN G. 7 thefe are accounted principal baits for Bleak, falmn, /melts, tench, bream, chub, trout, grayling and dace. The next is a green fort, found in pits, ponds, or ditches in March, coming before the yellow ones, for they are not in feafon till the end of April, and in July are out of fea- fon : the third fort is proper in Auguft, being fmaller than the other. Thefe muft be kept tender in woollen bags when you carry them for ufe, but to keep them long alive, in a green withy bark, taken ofFand hollowed like a trunk,. lay it in the dew to moiften it. Natural fiies for halts , their feafim , and niohere fa he foimd, for njohat fifh they are proper y Sec, 1. The ant-flies are found in their hills, about the errd' of July, Augujf, -and moft part of September; with the earth you take with them, they may be kejpt in glafs bot- tles ; two or three of them fixed on the imall hook, are certain baits for chub, roach and dace, if you angle under water not above fix inches from the bottom. 2. The brood of humble bees,, hornets and waips are good baits, dry them over a fire or in an oven, fo not be- ing over done, they will laft long, and fit handfomely on- the hook, to fak&chub, eels, breams , ftounders , roach or dace; fome boil them, but then they will not keep long^ hornets,, wafps and humble bees, may be ufed alive, when their wings are a little grown and their legs Ihort, efpecially ^for the chub, as alfo the black-bee breeding in clay-walls* J. The fern- fly or fern-bob, is found among fern from May-day to' the end of Auguji, it is thick and (hort of body, has two pair of wings, the uppermoft reddifli and hard, which may be taken off: the laft ten days of May the trout will take it every day> and the chub refufes it ik> part of the fummer, 4. The ftone fly and green drake. The firft of thefe is found under hollow ftones at the river fides ; the body of it is pretty thick, and almofi: as broad at the tail as in the middle; it is of a curious brown colour, ftreaked a little with yellow on the back, but much more on the belly, and is found by ftony rivers j with this hs^t, iov Jlounders, dace, bkak, roach and pearch, 5. The v8 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. ' ' ' ^. The- great moth that has zl cohiiderable big heal with "whiteifli wings, is to be found in fummer evenings ' in gardens, -or trees and^jjlantsj it fpeedily takes' chub'ii ^ j'ou dibble with it; \ ■''■' ■■ 6. The hawthorn-fly is black, found frequently on haw thorn- trees, when the leaves are but out ; the beft ufe this can be put to, is to dib in a river for trout, 7. The alh-fly, woodcock-fly, or oak-fly, h the fame, under different names, and holds good from the begin- ning of M^to the tndioi Auguji ; it is of a ferownifh colour, and ufually found in the body of an oak or afh, -ftanding with his head downwards towards the root of the tree, and is a very good bait for trout. ' The bonnet-fly comes in feafon in Jxney is to be found amoagfl any Handing grafs,. arid is an excellent bait for chuh y dace i SiX,,. . '/ '' Thefe being the principal flies ufed in angling, J now ■come t© mixed baits of another nature, Msrcr* Mifcellany of^hXT^wery taking and much in ufe^ 1 . Salmon fpawn boiled, and fafl^ned on the hook, is a' very good bait for chuby and in fome rivers for trouty it lieing advantageous to the angler, particularly in the? y.'inter and fpring if he keeps it falted ; efpecially in places Vi\\tit,falmQn ufed to fpawn, for thither the fifli gather to expeftit, 2. Graflioppers the latter end oi June^ all \7/z^> antl- Augufi, if their legs and outward wings be taken off, efpecially for roach y trout 2ind. grayling, and here yoiMM)ut a flender plate of lead on the fliank of your hook* flenderefl: at the bent, then draw your grafliopper over it, after put a lefler grafliopper or cod-bait at the point, arid keep it moving, lifting up and finking again; a r-^iz^ /wi'lf alfo take the bait freely,, and fo will a tro/a if you dib with it- 3. The water-cricket, water-houfe, or creeper is but one, thefe take t}-cut in March and ^/r/7, and fometimes in. May, if you angle at the river : it is to be angled with in; clear water, within a foot of the bottom, fome let it drag on the ground. This creeper is bred in fl:ony rivers, and held to turn into a ftone-fly, about the middle oiMay, that; 'fly not being any where feen before*. J«amer^; A K G L 1 N 6. f Lamcry pride, or feaven, is a very goad bait for ^hu6 and eelsf night or day: this is no other than little live things like fmall ee/s, no thicker than a ftraw, and are to be found in fandy, muddy heaps, near to the ftiores in rivers. Snails, the black and white, are good baits for chuiff Tery early in the morning; irout and ee/s take them oij night hooks, but the bellies of the black may be flit, fo that the white may appear; fome dib iot chub with houit? crickets. For chuby barbel y roach and dace^ you may angle with cheefe or oat-cake, efpecially at the ledger-bait : the checfe you may wrap up two or three days in a wet linen cloth, or moiften it over with honey and water. As for a pikey he is a greedy devourer, and therefore moftly delights in fifh, frogs, &c. therefore your baits far himmuft be fmall dace, minonjcs, roach yfalmon-Jtnelt y gudgeon y blealiy millers-thumb y alfo trout and eels well fcoured in wheat-bran, to take away the flime : and indeed moft fort of fmall fifh he takes ; and how you are to manage them on your hook, I fhall tell you when I come to treat of the taking him in the river Thames, Periwinkle, a kind of water- fnail, is much ufed for roach, being taken whole out of its fhell : jlrimps taken out of their hufk or fhell may be ufed as a bait for chuby roach, and dace* Pajles proper for the angler, Pafles are of feveral kinds, though tending to one and the fame end : for a chuby or che^hiy make a pafle of the fatte^^ old cheefe, the fuet of mutton kidney, a little ftrong runnet, mix them equally and finely together, then put as much powder of turmerick as will give them a fif^ yellow colour. For roach and dace: grate fine bread into a little fine water, wherein gum-ivy has been foaked. For the barbel in Augufi^ make a palle of new cheefe and mutton fuet. For raach and dace, you may put a little butter to your crumb bait, and colour it M'ith faffron. For catp or tench, mix enimbs of bread widi honey, though for a carp I reckon this the fureft. Take- io The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Take fcean-flour, or for want of it, wheat-flour, the infideof a leg of a young rabbit, catfein, or Whelp, white bees- wax and fheeps-fuet proportionable j beat them in a morter till well incorporated, then moiften the mafs with clarified honey, and work it up into little bails before a gentle fire. The chiih in winter takes a pafte made of flrong chelhire cheefe, beaten with butter and faffron till it become a lemon colour. ■ - Stoned cherries, finely grated manchet, Iheeps blood, faiFron, make a good pafte for roach ^ dace, hleaky chuhy trmitf fearch; and for the chub only put a little nniy bacon in it. Another excellent pafte is made of the fatteft old cheefe.* mutton kidney fuet, ftrongrunnet, anni feed water, wheat- flour, and the dripping of rufty bacon held againft the fire. What is to he ohfer^'ed in angli7ig 'with pafte, 1. You muft proportion the quantity of your pafte you put on your hook to the fmallnefs or iargenefs of th& iilh you angle for, as in other baits. 2-. You may try oils upon any of thefe paftes, and as you fee your fuccefs, fo continue the one or the other* And the beft for this purpofe are oil of polipody of the oak, oil of petre, oil of ivy, and as properly gum of ivy, and alTafostida. 3. To ftrengthen any pafte,. and fo prevent its waih- ing oft the hook, it will not be amifs to beat a fmall quantity of fine flax, cut ftiort, cotton wool t)r fine lint among them, which will prove very binding ; thofe that you would have keep long, put a littlewhite bees-wax into them, and^anoint them with clarified honey,, the latteic you may wipe oft" when you fee occafion. 4. Pafte or tender baits muf»: not be angled with in rapid ftreams, but on a fmall hook in pits, ponds, meers or How running rivers: your eye in this fort of angling muft be quick, your rod fomewhat ftiff', and a nimble hand to ftrike, or clfe the bait and fifn will quickly bid. you farev/ell. This is better done with a quill float thaa a cork, which fooner ftiews the nibble or bite : and if you. 3 then A NG L I Ni«.- It then be not very quick, your labour is loft, and with thef^ partes fuecefs is ufually hsid- for breams bleak, chub, roach, dvice, carp^ tench^ barbel, . Oils and ointmeitts iifeful in anglbig» Take oil of ivy-berries, anoint the infide of an oaken box with it, and put three or four worms, or other live baits into the box, ihutting it clofe; then keep them not there too long, leil the ftrength of the oil kill thera, but take thefe out and put in more, and fo they being fcented with the oil-, it will allure the fifh more readily to take thera. This may be done in the fame manner, for want of oil, with gum- ivy-, which is a tear that flows out of the ivy-ftalks, when flit or woimded by piercing.' Oil of fpike and diifolved gum-ivy, are held to be much attrading, the bait being anointed wi^h them. Oil of polipody of the oak, Venice tuipentine, &nd new . honey is xtty good, if eight inches of the line next the hook be anointed with it, but then there mull be two or three hairs, for it will not well ftick to a fmgle one ; how- ever^ do not clog your line with it. Chymical oil oflavender, or for want of it, oil of fpike fix drops, three drachms of afl'afcstida, Venice turpentine one drachm, camphire one drachm, make thefe into an ointment, and anoint them as the former ; this in clear water wonderfully takes gudgeons. The fat of the thigh-bone of a heron, makes an oint-' ment that rarely fails, and is efteemedby thofe that have tried it, the beft of any, being a new experiment. But let me commend to you above others this; take the oils of camomile, lavender, annifeed, each a quarter of an ounce, heron's greafe, and the beft of aflafcetida, -each two drachms, two fcruples of cummin feed finely beaten to powder, Venice turpentine, camphire and gal- banum of each a drachm ; add tu'o grains of civit and make, thera into an unguent ; this muft be kept clofe in a glazed earthen pot, or it lofes much of its virtue; anoint your line with it as before^ and your expedation will be llraseely anfwered, ^ - Oil IS Tfie COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Oil of afper fo much noifed about, and faid to be ex* tcadled from a fowl called the Qfprejy is now found to be a mixture of tlie oil of fpike, lavender, and refined oil o turpentine, which however has a confiderable effeft in ftill or flow moving waters J and obferve in this cafe, your line muft be anointed every fecond drawing up, or the ftrength of the fccnt being waflied oiF, you may expert your fport to ceafe. I might now fpeak fomething of artificial flies, and other artificial baits, but not to keep the angler too long from the water, I fliall have occafion elfewhere to treat of them. Fi/hes Haunti proper to he knonjon. If you are not certain of any waters to fifii in, youc bufinefs is to try the inoft likely and promillng, 'viz.. Where trees fallen, wood, ruihes, weeds or rubbifh arc in rivers, or likely large ponds, there are ftore of fi(h pro- mi fed, for thither they refort for warmth -and flielter; but it is very troublefome angling there. The next are weirs, weir-pools, mill-ftrcams, flood- gates, piles, polls, pillars of bridges, catarafts, and water- falls, eddies, whirling-pits, the ftde of a ftream, in the fammer efpecially ; for then they love to balk and lie Dial- low, unlels the weather be exceflive hot. Thtfalmon is found in large fwift rivers that ebb and flo^^^ gravelly and craggy. The trotit moftly in purling brooks and rivers that are fomewhat fwift and have fandy bottoms. The carp and tench love ftill waters, or fuch as gently move, where weeds or roots, of trees are near to melter tliem on occafion. EeU generally covet muddy livers, ponds or flimy fands, efpecially thofe of the larger lize. The/>£^'^, bream and chub are moftly found in fandy or clay rivers, brooks or ponds, wherein bulhes, bulrulhes or flags grow. The barbel^ roach ^ dace and ruff for the moft are found in fandy or gravelly deep rivers, coveting to be under the Ihade of trees. The umber is likeli^ft to be found in marley or clayey ftreams, running very fwift. The gud^QH likes beft a fandy or gravel]^ bottom j yet for ^ A N O I. t N v/hich may be put on by drawing the line between the &in and the ribs of the iifn, ajid fo on the hook, faftening it in the gills, and this you may ufe in , trovi'iing : but here have your tackle very ftrong, with wire iibouta foot from your hook, the next to it filk, and the r^ft of the line ftrong fpun flax; come as little as you can near the weeds, left they fpoil your bait before thc'piU come at it, faften the tail of tlic bait to the joint of the wire, 2nd having fixed your tackle, that the line may run and play, let fo much" lead be at the hook as may carry the tilk's head downwards, as if after playing on the top, ft^e was Angling. 17 Was going to the bottom, and when you have funk It fo, thatit is at a convenient depth for the ///fr", flack your line and give it fcope that he may pun to his hold, and there pouch to fwallow it, which you may know by the moving of the line in the water, then with a fmart jerk hook him ; fome ufe no rod with this, but lead and float, holding of the line in their hands on links; and indeed there are feveral methods taken, though all to the fame purpofe ; wherefore for brevity's fake I omit them. Angling for him at the fnap, is to give him leave to run a little, and the^i ftrike, which mufl: be done the contrary way to that which he moves, therefore a double fpring hook is ufeful in this way of angling efpecially, for a great p'ke ufually will hold the bait fo fait in his teeth, that you may fail to pull it out of his mouth, and likewife ftrike him, when if he holds the fpring hook ever fo fafl:, the wire will draw through the bait, and fo the fpring opening, you will frequently hook him on the outflde of his mouth. Though trowling is furer than this, and more pradlicable, yet this is beft ufed in March, when thefiike bites ill, then upon fpawn- ing they are flck and lofe their ftomachs; bait this as the former, and he may be taken this way when he is fo. Other brief rules for Tike angling, 1 . When the pike has taken your bait, obferve how he moves ; if flowly give him time, and you will rarely mifs him ; let not your bait fall in one and the fame place above once or twice, for if he take it not, then he is farther off. 2. If you find, after he has taken the bait, he lies ftili a& fometimes he will, move your hand gently, to give notice which way his head lies, lefl: in ftriking you happen to puU the bait out of his mouth, if that cannot be difcemed, flrike direftly upwards : at the fnap have ftrong tackle, and give two luily jerks, one after another, faftening a fwivel at the end of your line, which mufi: be ufed at trowl and fnap, and your armed^wire muft be hooked on it. 3. For the fnap, have a hollow pie.ze of lead, that it may pafs over the wire and end of the hook, which you draw within the iiih's gills or mouth, that^ as diredled, it majr keep the head dov/nward, and at either of thefe baitings, C % if i8 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. if yon cnt away one of the fins of the bait clofe at the gills, alfo behind the vent, and one on the contrary lide> it will play the better and feem more lively. 4. Be fure to raife your hand in carting when the bait is about to fall into the water, fo by dafhing it may not fright him away, and when it is funk a little draw it near the top towards you a little, and fo let it fall again; and if your wire hook is joined with a fteel ring, the bait will play bet- ter, and fmk more direft: for fnap, March is the chit£ month; Februaty, April, May, Septemberznd. Of2ober for the trowl ; and though a large bait invites him moll, yet a lefier takes him more furely. To fnare a pike ; when you perceive him rife, and (lay- ing near the furface of the water^ fallen about a yard and a half cf ilrong packthread to a pole, and at the end of it a running noofe of fmali wire, foftly putting it over his head, with a quick jirk throw him to land; this is often done to young //y^^j, but the older are more wary though fometimes catched by this means, efpecially in ponds, as alfo when' they come out of rivers and go a frogging in ditches in; March, April and May, 7'ojind and angle for Pearch, The pearch fpawns the beginning of March, and delight in a goodllream of a moderate depth, abiding ufually clofe by a hollow bank, pebbly, gravelly bottomed, with green weeds growing in it ; being commonly a river filh : he bites little in winter, but in the middle of the day, yet in fum-. mer all day, if the weather be cool and cloudy, and the water fhaken with the wind ; but more freely from feven Xiil ten in the morning, and from two in the afternoon till iix, and fom.etimes tiUfun-fet; if in the middle of fummer, jou muft look to him v/hen he is ilruck, for he is a very flrong fifn and will flruggle hard and long ;ri/ till Michaelmas, and may be taken at other times, except the very cold months. He takes as baits, flag- worms, gentles, graflioppers, their legs being off, red- worms, gilt- tails and meadow- worms wellfcoured, bobs and underwater flies, efpeciallythe green ones ; when he bites he runs off with the bait to the farther fhore, or as far that way as he can, and therefore you muil gi\'e him play, for though he feems a fi(h made ftrong enough, he will not much ftruggfe, buPafter two or three turns he falls on one fide and may be eafily landed. Here you muft angle with a float, fo that the bait may touch the ground; you may make a ground bait for hream with malt, and it will draw them together. The Barbie y honjj to Jind and take him hy angling. The barbel {y^2iV^w% in April , fometimes in May, is a very ilrong fifh, and tikes his name from the barbs that hang at his mouth, is curiouily fhaped with fmail fcales. In the hot months you will find him in the fwift ftrong llream, though he fhuns the currents, and delights fomewhat more out of the rapidity, under ihades of trees and weeds, where they rout in the fands like a hog, and fo neft ; fome fuppofe him to eat much gravel and fand, but I rather fancy he feeks for infefts or other food that heat and moiflure pro-^ duce in the bottom of lliallows, yet fometimes he is found in the deep and fwift waters, efpccially at weirs, bridges or flood-gates, where he fhelters among piles, or in hollow places^ holding by the mofs or weeds, to-prevent his being carried away by the ftream ; when winter is coming on, he retires to the flill deep. His beft biting time is early in the morning, that is, from the fun-rifmg till ten, and from four till the fun fets, and often later, and this principally happens from the 20th of May to the latter end of Auguft : you muft be wary in taking him, for he is very fubtle, and ftruggles long, unlefs well managed ; many are found together frequently, but in April they are little worth, for then is the fpawning time. As for the baits you intend to take him with, care mufl be taken that they are very {wxQt, fucli as give him not dif« taite: ' ■12 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. tafte: angle for him with a ranning-Iine, and a bullet at the end. He takes gentles, not over fcoured, dew-worms, new cheefe, pafte, the young brood of wafps and hornets; and fo cunning he is, that you will be cheated of many a bait in angling for him, if you have not a watchful eye and a quick hand; for he will nibble and fuck it off, and ten to one, when your float links, and you attempt to ftrike, whether he has the hook in his mouth, yet often, if you ftrike the contrary way his head lies, you may take him by the nofe, and give him play till tired, or elfe, if he be any thing large, unlefs your tackle be very ftrong, part of it goes with him. He is not an over pleafant fi(h to eat by reafon he is fomewhat drj^, and very full of bones. Some fay he is eafy of concodion, his eggs and fpawn vomit and purge violently. ^he Trout's haunts ; the bejl time to angle for him, and his baits. The trout fpawns in OSiober. His ufual haunts are in fmall purling brooks or fwift gliding rivers, not too great. Obferve whether their bottoms are pebble, gravel or fmootli ftones; for on thelides of thefe he ufually has his refidence, though he is often found in the deep, efpecially a large one, alfo behind banks, blocks, (tones, at turnings or points, where the ftream much beats or makes a kind of whirling ; he loves coverture and fhade, from whence he may moll t^^ilj feize his prey: but his hold or hole is ufually in deep places ; he is feldom found among weeds, rather among boughs of trees that hang in the water, or fhady buihes: he plies in fpring at the tail of the ftream, but, as many other filh do, about the middle of May, at the upper end, ftaying long in a place, if his hold be near it. In the hot weather he leaves the deep and goeth into the fliarp ftreams among gravel, unlefs by the exceffive heat of the weather, drought enfues, and then the ftill deep delights him. This trout may be taken by dibbing, or if the weather be dark, cloudy andwindy, you may take him with the caft-fly. He is in feafon from March until Michaelmas, but chiefly about the end of May, when he is in the beft feafon ; his body •^ A NG L I N G. 23 body Is adorned with red fpots. The female is counted better than the male. They much afFeft to be near the fource or fpring of rivers, and where they run on lime flones, there the beft of trout s are found. Angle for him at the ground with a running line, with two or three fmall pellets of lead, omitting the float, or you may take him by float angling at the ground, if you are dextrous at angling with a fmgle hair, too links from your hook ; he is much fooner taken than with two or three hairs, though y§u muft be cautious he break not the line; and this is better done at the bottom than top becaufe there he has not fo much force to Ihoot and fpring, as on the top, and a fmgle hair next the hook, if well chofen and ftrong, will take one of thirteen inches, if there be water room, free from wood and weeds. He bites beft in a water that after a flood is clearing or rifing, fomewhat troubled, cloudy and windy weather; early in the morning is the beft time from the middle of Jpril to the end oi Augujiy from Ain-riflng till near eleven, and from two till fun-fet ; but at nine in the morning and three in the afternoon are the beft times, at the ground or fly, as the water is moft agreeable, in March, the beginning 0^ Jpril y September y and till the 13 th oi OSlober, and then you muft ceafe angling for the trout y to the end of February ; after a Ihower has fallen in the evening, you will find him rife at a gnat. In warm weather you may dib for him "with the minow or loach. The Eely the haunt y bait and taking them, &c. His haunts, in the day time, are ufually under the covert of tree roots, brufh-wood, planks or piles, about flood- gates, weirs or mill-dams, in hollow holes in banks ; they moftly delight in foul ftill water, or at leaft fuch as runs very flow with oufy fand, or muddy bottoms, in pits, ponds and meers. Bait for him with a young lamprey, dew-worms, fcoured earth-worms and very fmall fifli, their fins cut off, guts of chickens or other fowl, cut in fmall lengths, lean beef, the brood of wafps ; the four firft take them day or night, but moft ©f the reft are proper for night- hooks. Take 24 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Take him in the day by a ledger-bait, by fnigling, bob- ing, brogling : as for brogling and fnigling the beft method I have known is this; get a long and ftrong line, your hook of a fmallcompafs baited with fcoured red- worm or dew-worms, having one end of your line in your hand, place very eafily the upper end of your hook in the cleft of a hazle rod of a convenient length fo that it may (lip out as you pleafe, and where you 'fancy the eel to be let the bait leifurely fmk, and fuppofmg it fwallowed by giving time, leifurely draw him up by a little and little, eafy lying dou- ble, with the ftrength of the tail, your line is endangered. This you muft pradife in hot weather, the waters being low. As for bobing, taking large earth-worms out of good mould, fcour them well in mofs, and run a ftrong thread with a needle through them end-ways, as many as will lio-htly wrap a dozen times round your hand, make them into links, and faften them to a ftrong packthread or whip- cord, two yards long or more; make a knot about fix or eight inches from the worm.s, put about three quarters of a pound of plummet made pyramidically on the cord, by tlie means of a hollownefsor hole bored through it, let it fink to the knot and fix the cord to a manageable pole. Angle with this in muddy or cloudy water, in the fides of the ftreams or deeps ; when the eel or eels tug, let them be well faftened by the teeth before you draw them up, then do it gently 'till on the top, and then hoift them quickly to land ; many by this way have been taken at a time. ^ Some, near eels haunts fink a bottle of hay loofely bound, ftuft with fowds guts and liver, cut in long Ihreds over night, and coming early the next morning, draw it up haftily by the rope faftened to the band, and you'll find large eels bedded in it for the fake of the prey. This may be done with a bundle of the brulh-wood, out of which, upon pulHng up, they cannot fo eafily get. ^0 angle for the Grayling er Umher, Though this fifh has two names given it, the former for the lefTer fort, and the latter for the greater, yet both are the fame fpecies, 4 Their An o l I n g. 25 Their haunts are in marley clay, clear water and fwift ftreams, the large is accounted eighteen inches, being in feafon all the year, but their prime is in December, when his gills and head are blackifh, and his belly a dark grey llud- ded with black fpots. He will bite freely, but is very ten- der mouthed, therefore be «areful he break not his hold, though he will not ftruggle much, as being very faint when he is hooked. Angle for him in or near the middle of the water, for his always more apt to rife than defcend, wiiere- fore he is chiefly taken by a ground bait, rather than a run- ning line ; ufe for him a float of cork, if you particularly angle for him, but for a grayling or trout the running line is beft. As for baits, he takes brandlings, gilt-tails, meadow- worms, tag- tails, the bark- worm, flag-worm, cod- bait, natural or artificial flies, particularly the camblet-fly and a fly made of purple wool, and one made of tawny camblet hair, alfo the earth bob and clap-bait. The Po^e or Ruff, his haunts, hoi.v to angle for him, nxjith proper baits, ^r. The pope or ruff is one, in fhape, nature and difpofition, like the pearch, though in bignefs not exceeding a larg« gudgeon, but of a more pieafing tafte ; he bites eagerly, and many of them are ufually together, where the water runs llowiy and is deep ; in fandy places^ flfty of them have been taken at afl;anding. You may bait for him udth the fmall red worm, gilt-tail, meadow-worm, and other baits proper iot the pearch, he biting at the fame tinie the pearch does; you may ground bait with new turned up earth of a fallow, alfo with a clear fimd, you may take him with a Angle hair, the link next the hook ; the l)ody of it is rough, and hath prickly and fnarp tics ; it has its feafons and nature, like the pearch, and is a very whokfome iifh, eating Ihort and tender. There are abundance of them to be killed in Moulfea river irA Surry, D ,ttti ^6 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Some particular obfer-vations on Gudgeon angling. The gudgeon, though not over large, is approved among other fifli, as a dainty, being very wholefome food. This iifh fpawns twice or thriee in the year, he delights in (harp ftreams, with gravelly or fandy bottoms, and fhews the young angler extraordinary good fport, who not being well fkiiled in chufmg, or not well knowing how to come by other baits, may take him with a fmall red worm on the groimd, or very near it, and feldom by reafon of the tough- iiefs of his mouth, he is loft when ftruck. In the heat of rimraer they make to the ftiallows in livers, but when the- weeds in autumn grow of a bad tafte, or rot, and coki' xver{ther comes on, then they pet together in deep places ;' and here it is propereft to fifli for them at the ground, or a* little above it, if you fifli with a float; but it may be done vith a running line on the ground, without a float : as for particular baits, I have already difcourfed of them, and among others, thofe relating to the gudgeon. The Bleak or Blejy to angle for hinty l^c. This fifli makes fport, though not much valued, not being very wholefome; it is many times deftroy'd by a worm that breeds in his ftomach; in hot weather he bites eagerly, and you may fifli for him with feyeral hooks on one line, and if you catch three or four together on the feveral hooks, do not fear the breaking of your line, tying them about half a foot one above the other; he is eafily taken with gentles, fmall red worms, and any fmall flies at top water, by dibbing or whipping them. Angle at middle water, or at the top, for he is ufually in motion ; there is another fort of thefe called the blackfea, better and whoiefomer than this, called by fome the fea- camelion, becaufe in the winter he feems often to change his colour. He is as good as any carp. The Angling. ^ ay ^he Chuh or Chenjetii his haunts, andio angle for him. The chub fpawns in March, is large though timorous ; is found in large rivers, having fandy or clayey bottoms, delights much in ftreams ihaded with trees, as alfo in holes where many of them eonfort together: he is in feafon from the middle of May, till after Chriftraas; you may take him dibbing on the top of the water, but in the hot months he keeps mid-water; in the cold v/eather angle at the bottom with the ledger-bait. He bites from fun rinng till eight, and from three till fun-fet; the large one, when ftruck, is fooneft tired; the lefs vv'ill {Iruggle longer, and in fun fhiny weather they bite, in winter the middle of the day. He fcarcely refufes any bait, if not too large; as lam- preys pride, the eel's blood, dew-worms fcoured in mofs and gravel, clap-baits, fraall nails, white and black cheefe paile, the marrov/ of an ox or cow's back, a beetle with the legs off, and all forts of baits bred on trees, plants and herbs, cod baits, broods of wafps, hornets and humble bees, the fat of rufty bacon, dors, grafhoppers, alfo a fly, and a cod-bait, and an oak-worm on the hook together, infallibly takes him in the hot months. When he is taken, he muft be eaten the fame day, elfe will not be fo good; mod efteem his head the beft part. Dace or Dare, and Roach, their hannts, baits ^ ^r. mid honM 19 angle for them^ As thefe delight in ponds or rivers \vlth gravelly bottoms or fand, fo they love deep clear waters, fhaded with trees, either in rivers or elfewhere ; the dace fpawn about the middle of March, and are in feafon three weeks after. The fielh is foft, and fweet in taile. You muft angle for the dace within two inches of the bottom, and fometimes the bait may touch it if it is worms, but if with, flies, at the top of the water,, or within an inch, T>z The 28 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. TLe roach fj.avvns about the middle of May, and is fo }ealtlifu], that his foundnefs has created a common faying, though it often caufes fome to tell lies. The beft roach, by reafon of the abundance of foil, are found in the Thames pear London; angle for him about tv,o feet in the water: in temperate weatlier they bite all day long. The float angle takes them belt. ■ Tf^eir baits are numerous as their fry, viz. worms bred on trees, plants, or herbs, gentles, cod-baits, grafnoppers with the legs oif, flies artiacialor natural, p-articulariy the ant-flv, ir.e.idow worms fcoured, bread com boiled. The roach m ponds is chiefly found under the water docks, if therebe any, and indeed few fmall eome amifs to them. The Tlomider or Floods haunts y belts y and angling, ills properly a fait water fiih, and is no where but in ri\Aers tl.at Lave communication with thefea; he is brought up by the ride, and ioung himfelf'into frelh ftreams, he after fome time minds not his Way back again. He loves gentle firtfims, gravelly and fandy bottoms, is vtry fliy, and not CcXvAy taken; he bites all the day in May, June, July, and the begViuing of Auguft, though he will nibble much about the hook, and fuck off the bait, if you be not wnry to keep it i?i. morion, which hinders him from feeing the hook, if he d( cs, away he flies from it, fometimes m the Ihallow. He takes fcoured meadow or marfh worms, earth worms, gentles, the brood of wafps, gilt-tails and brandlings. He is to be angled for with the float, and your bait mult touch the gj-0und. He is of good nourifhment, ftrengthens the flomach, caufes appetite, and helps the fpleen. 7"c take the Smelf nvith an angle, . As this fifh generally lies at the tail of fhips, or in brooks, fo you fifh for him at half tide, with a gentle. The firll you catch cut in fmall pieces about the bignefs of a gentle, bait your hook with them, and you will find fport to admi- ration. The A N G L r N G. 29 77;e M/KOVJ or Peanhy Loach y and Bullhead or Miller's thumb y Lampreys. As they are rather baits for other fifh than valuable in, themfelves, fo the firll is taken with fmall worms, brand- ling, and gilt-tails ; the two latter with gilt-tails, meadow- worms at the ground. Lampreys -are taken as the eel, being much of that nature, therefore I avoid enlarging thereon. Minows feed by licking one another; the loach is good for women with child, and are all very nourilhing. Ohfer^atkm OKy and rules for natural fly-angling. It is a nice point in angling, requiring a quick ox iharp eye, and wary hand; it is termed by artifts, dibblin-g, diping, or dapeing, and is performed on the furface of the water, or at moll fometimes not letting the bait fmk above two or tiiree inches under, nor that, unlefs the oak- fly for the chub or trout has joiued to it a clap-bait or cod-bait. This muft ever be done in clear water, without lead or float, in the evening of a hot day, but in a hot calm day is belt, and the ftiU deep is lo be preferred before the ftreain ; though on the fide of a ftream when the water is clearing after great rains cr iloods, is very proper ; and all hours you may dib with the green drake fly ; but if you needs irjuft do it in the ftream, afe the ftone-fly, v/hich is proper early orlate ; if it be windy in the evening, take the arti- ficial ilone-fly, for then in the ftream the filh rife beft, and are the fooneft taken ; and if you pull off the wings, you . may angle in the v/ater with it ; it will alfo take very much in a ftream near the bottom, but you muft take care to keep out cf i^ght as, much as pomhle^ and keep youx fly in motion, that it may appear to the fifh to be alive^ In dibbing for dace, roach, or chub, let not your nvotion- be fv/ift, if you can perceive any of them coming tov/ards^ it, but make two or three ftiort removes;^ as if they v/ere at left, or the fly was fwimmingor playing; then \^t it gently gli^e with the ftream, if poffible towards idie iifti; bu;t if it 30 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. be flow or ftanding water, yoiumuft keep it moving' with your hand, not juft upon him, but fideways and flopeingby him, left it fhould elcape him, it will make him mind it the rcore ; for only the trout, if it be moved fwiftly, will, if any, certainly follow it. In a calm, dibbing is not fo fafe as when a pretty good gale ftirs the water, for then neither you nor the deceit put on the fifli by an artificial fly is fo eafily difcovered ; and tiien few natural flies at liberty can lie on the water ; but for want of choice, they will fnap at the firft that comes in their way, biting more eagerly through hunger. If they ' will not rife, at the top, try them a little lower, for fome Vrill be fooner taken, as the roach particularly, by dibbing under water than at the top. Roach, dace, and chub, will forrvetimes be pleafed with an artificial fly, efpeeially if an earth-bob, cod-bait, earth-worm or gentle, be put on the p:)int of a hook ; or an oak-worm is very pleafmg on the t jp3 or under the water. At dibbing and trailing, trout and falmon-fmelts will take an artificial fly well, particularly the flone-fly and green- drake, early, or late in the evening. And if you fifh for falmon-fmelt, roa^h, chub or dace, with the dub-fly, put on a gentle, wafp, cod-bait, or clap-bait] let it ftaiid well on the point of your hook ; when the wind furls the water, apd fev/ flies appear on or over it, is the beft time to angle with the fly either natural or artificial; for, having no variety or choice, they will quickly take your bait. If it he a fun-fliiny day get under^the Ihade of trees if you can, that neither your fhadow nor that of your rod may appear, and fo fright them away. If you find the fifh rife not to- wards the-^op, fmk >our fly by degrees, and try even to jT.iddle-water, for before thefe fort of flies are naturally in tl^afon, the fifh very rarely rife at them ; wherefore, to know this, that you miftake not in your baiting, obferve what flies are on the water, or flying near over it, or are on the buihes or trees near ponds or rivers, and that fly which fwarms there the moft is chief in feafon, and is to be ufed eitiier natural, or to be imitated by art. Some open the kt'X fifh they take, and look into its itoinach to fee what - ~ indigefte4 Angling. 3« indigefted food there remains, and from thence do take their meafures, though uncertain ; for either it muft be partly confumed, or fo difcoloured that it cannot well be ' known ; befides, filh for extreme hunger take in fuch food at one time as at another they altogether diflike. Artificial fly angling. Artificial dub-fiy or caft-fly angling is fomewiiat more ^fficult, and requireth more cunning than the former, being more readily learned by feeing it done, than by printed diredions : however, I doubt not but to give a fatisfadory account of it to the angler. The firft thing to be materially confidered is, to know and chufe the proper colours of flies in feafon when you angle, and thefe muft be proportioned to the places you fi(h in ; for there are different haunts of flies, and are found much earlier in fome places than in others, as the feafon proves hot or cold j a warm fpring brings thera early, but the contrary later, fometimes by a month, and always fooner in high grounds than in thofe that are low, marlhy, or boggy. The fly required being got, your next buflnefs is to make one in colour^ fhape, proportion of body and wino-s as like it as pofTible, always having the natural one as a pattern ; and to do this, you muft have in readinefs bear's hair of divers colours, camel's hair fad, light, and of a middle indifferent colour, badger's hair, fpaniel's hair, (heep's wool, hog's hair, hog-down, as is comb'd, from the roots and briiUes of a hog, camblets, and mohairs of divers colours, cow's hair, abortive ^calves and colts hair, furs of fquirrels tails, the tails of bhck cats, yellow and dun cats^ of hare's neck, the fern celour'd ferret's fur, martin's yellow fur, filmer's fur, tails of white weafels, moles, black rab- bits, down of a fox's cub, afh colour at the roots of fox, fur that comes off the otter and otter-cub, blackifh and brown badger's hair that has been in a fkinner's lime-pit; hackles of feathers about a cock or capon's neck, and fuch as hang loofely down each fide of the tail, of various colours, particularly to make the palmer- fly or infed called the 32 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. the wood-bed; you mull have feathers of alt forts of fowl, ■ and thofe coloured ones required that you cannot get natural, yoa may dye. You muft likewife have caddov;^s or blankets, from which are got dubbings, or foft eulhions made of fkins of, abortive calves and colts, Hke filver wire, gold twift, white and yellow bees-wax for ground-work, or to frame the bodies and heads on, as the nature of the fly more or lefs requires it, and a neat pair of Iharp pointed fciifars, to trim and fhape the work with. Hoto U mah the duh-jfy. Wet your materials to Jcnov;* how they, will hold colour; for though dry, they may appear of the right colour, but may alter being wetted, and confequently be too H^ht or too dark. This done, take the hook in your left hand, betwixt your fore-finger and thumb, the fhanks back up- wards, and ftrong fiik of that colour the fly requires, wax it with wax of tke fame colour, then draw it to the head of the Ihank betwixt the finger and thumb, aud whip it about the bare hook two or three tim^es ; draw your line between y^ur thumb and finger, holding the hook fo faft, that it may only have a fpace to pafs by \ fo joining the hook and line, put on the wings, fafhion the body and head, by twilling the dabbing on your waxed filk, and lapping it OB, then work it by degrees towards the head, and part the wings of an even length, or the fly will not fwim upright : then turn it into a proper fliape, by nipping ofF^ the fuperfluous dubbing from the filk, fo fallen and accoutre the fly. It would be convenient to fee one done by an experienced angler, and then thefe directions will be eafy to >-t)U. Direff.hns relating to duh-JHes, and angling imfh them, . I . When }^ou proportion your dub-fly, conflder the largenefs or fmallnefs of the fifh you intend it for, and be fure the belly of it is the exacl colour, becaufe that is moflr obvious. 2. Let the tail of the fly be only to the bend of tfie-. liook, and not come unto the bent of it, 3. If ii A K G L I N G. 33 5. If the trout at the top of the water refufe it, the da.y IS not proper for it, or the fly is either out of feafon of ill made. When you angle with the dub-fly, It muft be in fuch a river or water as is clear, after rain, or in a river a little dif- coloured wirh inofs or bogs, in moorifh places, or elfe in a cloudy or gloomy day, when the water is ftirred by gentle gales; or if the winds be pretty high, they will rife in the plain deep ; but in little wind, the bell is to angle in the ftream. Keep your fly in continual motion in all weathers, to f) re vent the fiih from difcerning the fraud; in clear and low water, let the body of the fly be the fmaller, and the wings ver)' flender. In dark weather and thick water, let the fly be of a dark colour, but it muft be pretty large body and wings, the better to be difcovered ; in a clear day, a light coloured fly is preferable. A rod for the dub-fly ftiould be five yards at leaft, and the line about feven, or fomewhat more, if the water be free from incumbrance of weeds, &e. and to adapt your fly to the colour of the water more properly, have three of a fort, the one light, the next a degree darker, and the third the true colour of the natural fly. In carting, obferve to do it always before you, that it may fall on the water, and no part of the line dafh to fcare away the fifli : and do it if you can without making any circle in the water : but if the wind be high, fome part muft be in the water, to keep the fly from being blown out. Take your ftanding fo, if pofllble, that tha fun may be in your face, and wind to your back. In ftill or flow water, caft your fly almoft acrofs the river or pond, and draw it towards you gently a little way, that you break not the water, or put it in trouble, and let it bear with the current, if there be any, fiftiing down- wards and not upwards of the river. Thus having, as I hope, given plain inftru<5iions in thefe matters, to be underftood by eafy capacities, I proceed to defcrihe arti- fieial flies, for tlie proper month of angling with them. Artifcial 34 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Art ificiaJ files y proper in the month ofthefijlrngfeafon^ and hoiv to 7nake them* , In Fei/ruofy, the palmer-fly or, plaii;! hackle muft have a rough, ^ black body, which may be doife with black fpanieFs hair, or the whirl of an" oilrich feather, and the red hackle of a capon all over. The prince dun, that may be dabbed of the down of a fox cub, with halh-coloured filk, the wings of a ftare's feather; this maft be made little. The little red, brown dub, with the foft hair of the black fpot of a hog's ear, the wings of mallards feathers, near the white, wrap it on with red filk. March. The green tail may be made of the brown, hair of a fpaniel, taken from the outude of the ear, and a ' little from the extreme of the tail. Moriih brown may be dubbed with black Iheep's wool, red filk, and the wings made of a partridge's wing- feather. ^liom-tree fly dub, of a very good black, mix a little Ifabella coloured mohair; with it make a little body, and the wings of a mallard's brighteft feathers. The early bright brown, make of the hair of a brown fpaniel, that of the flank of a red cow, and wing it with the grey feather of a wild duck. Jpri/. The violet fly, which takes excellently from the fixth to the tenth, made of bear's hair a light dun, mixed with violet fluff, wing it with the greafy feather of a mallard. The horfe-flefli fly, which laft all this month, dub with pink colours, blue mohair and tammy, let the head be a dark brown and the wings of a light colour. The fmali bright brown is very well taken in a clear day and water, make it of fpaniel's fur with a light grey wing. Maj> The green drake, an excellent killer, dub on a lar^^e hook with camel's hair, bright bear's hair, foft down comb'd from the briftles of a' hog, mix yellow camblet ; let the body be long, and rib it v/ith green filk mixed with yellow i let the wiiilks of his tail be the long hair Angling, 3^ half of fables, his wings the light grey feather of a mallard dyed yellow. The ftone-fly, dub with dun bear*s hair, mix it with a little brown and yellow camblet, that fhe may be yel- lower on the belly and tail than any other part, to be the better liked by the fiih, who moftly eye the belly of baits ; and to adorn it the more, place two or three hairs of the beard of a black cat on the top of the hook, in the whipping ©r arming, and in warping on your dubbing, flaring one from another fomething upright : rib her with yellow filk, make the wings long and large, of the dark grey feather of a mallard, or other fuch like feather. The grey drake comes in when the great ones go out, much of Ihape with it, but in colour differs, and muft be made of a paler and more blueifh, yellow and green, his ribs quite down his body muft be of black, with black fhining wings very thin, and may be made of the grey feathers of a mallard, the down under hogs briftles, and the black hair of a fpaniel, and the whilks of his tail, or the beard of a blacjc cat. I[u7ie» The ant-fly is dubbed with brown and red camblet, the wing of the feathers of a light grey pigeon. The purple fly, with purple wool mixed with light brow bear's hair, the wi :gs of a flare's feather, dub it with purple filk. i'he brown hackle made of the lighteft brown hair of a fomewhat grown colt, with a red hackle or cock's neck feather over it, wrapped with hair colour or afli coloured filk. . Jtdy\ Orange-fly, dub this with orange coloured cruel or wool, and the feather of a blackbird's wing. . The wafp-fly. Do this with brown dubbing, or t\{Q, with the hair of a black cat's tail; rib it with yellow filk, and make the wings of the grey feather of a mallard's wing. The blue dun muft be made with the down of a water moufe, and the blueifli down found on an old fox ; mix' them well together, and dub with fad afh coloured filk ; the feather of a Hare's quill will furnifli you vyith wings. *• Auguft, 36 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. . Augiifi. The late ant-fly may be dubbed of the hair of a cow that is of a» blackiih brown, and for the tagging of the tails wrap iti fome red, and make the wing of a dark feather ; this fly takes admirably. The fern-fly muft properly be dubbed with the wool taken from a hare's neck, of the colour of fern, when dry, make the wings of the dark ilh grey feather of a mallard. The hearth-fly, dub of the wool of an aged black ewe, with fome grey hair to accommodate the body and head,, dub with black filk, and take the light feather of a Hare for the wings. September. The little blue dun made of the fur of a water moufe, dub it with fad afh coloured filk, and wing it with the feather of a blue pigeon. The late badger. Do this with badger's hair that is black, whip with red filk, and ufe a darkifli grey mallard's feather for the wings. The camel broom-fly, pull out for dubbing, the hair in the lime of old wall, whip it with red filk, make of the wings of a ftare's lighteil feather. Oiioher. This month is fupplied by the flies of the former, for all being now upon their going away, almoll anv will do. And thus, reader, keeping to my intended brevity, having picked you out the beil killing flies from a «^reat many more, you by knowing how to make thefe may ^afily imitate all others, having a natural fly before you, and chuiing materials fuitable to its colour, by (haping her according to the other; then proraife yourfelf fuccefs in angling with her as directed. Various but curious ohfewatlons in A-iigling ; divers ivaj/s to angle i not commonly kno'wn. Note, that fometimes all forts of fifh take baits at. the ground, when but fome forts will take the fly at the top ©f the water; and therefore to angle for a trout with worm, chufe the running line without any float, only fma]l plum- mets in their proper places. This is fuceefsfui at the ground, either in clear or muddy water, 4 As As for the latter ufe a I'me a little more than half the length of the I'od, and fometimes lefs than that length, and the lowermoft links muft be at leaft three hairs, and one at top of four, whereof have a water noofc at its bottom ; {o proceed with links of five or fix hairs a piece till you come to the topmoft, make the lower of chefnut colour, or forrel brown. Then to your reed or cane, have a top neither too ftifF nor too feeble, but between both ; the cane about three yards and a half long, and the top about a yard and a half, or near two yards, in one or two pieces, and five or fix inches of whalebone, fmooth, round, and pliant. Obfervc to lead your line as is confiftent with the water, in rough ft reams more than in fmall gentle it reams, and leaft of all in ftill water; then carry- the top or point of your rod level with your hand, and fo you will by the poiiit of your rod perceive the bite at the grouncii then ftrike ftrait and gently upwards, and by a little Hacking your haAd before, you will give the fifh time the better to take the bait. If a large trout yon angle for in muddy water, then it requires fome art in baiting of your hook, as fuppofe the bait is a dew-worm, here yon muft thruft the ^hook in towards the tail, a little above the middle, and our again below the head, then draw hint above the arming of the hook, or whipj)ing, fo put the point into the head of the worm, 'intil it is very near the place where the point of the hook firft came out, and fo draw back the worm, or thit part that was above the Ihank. This hook fhould b6 indifferent large. To b^t two worms in muddy water for a trout, &-c,'' from eight to ten inches : take meadow worms or brand* lings, or a brandling and gilt- tail, and run the point of the' hook in at the head down the body, till it pafs the knot, or come to the middie of the worm; then ftir it above the arming or whippings put on the other, by running- the hook in the fime manner, and let the head of it juft cover the- point of the haok^ then llip die lirft down till the knots ©r mid^ile' of both worms meet t9gether ; and thus you E may 38 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. may do by any other worms, for other fifli, as by the fore* going diredions you find they take them. DireSlians for ayigllng nvith the running Ihte In char ivater,. ^ Put a gilt-tail and fmall brandling on your hook, before direfted, well fcoured, and here your hook mull be much fmaller than in muddy water, two or three of the lower- moft links of your line of a fingle hair, fo rife from two or tree, or four, of a grey or dulkilh white, the line about two yards (horter than the rod, leaded with a fmall black plummet. .Angle with this in a ftream always up it, in a river with a light hand, f^ill calling up the worm before you ; Jet the rod be as the former : and thus you may angle for jalmon-fmelts, trout, or grayling, to whofe proper baits I refer you in my treatife of baits in this book. Diredionsfor the top ivater angling ijoith a loorm* Your line in this cafe mull be longer than your rod, without any plummet or float, drawing your bait down and up the llream, in a clear day, with a eentle hand, that it may glide as if were fwimming, and your bait here muft be a gilt- tail or brandling, keep it from the Ihore, and free from entanglement of weeds, woods, rulhes, or othtr incumbrances that hinder fport. Further directions for float angling. Here your line muft be two or three feet longer than rrod in rivers, but in ponds and pits fomething fhorter. Angling in clear water for falmon-fmelts, trouts, or gray- lings you mujft put but one hair next the hook, but in muddy water, and for other filh, t^vo or three, obferving the running line and rod for the tench, and proportion this to it, lead it moderately, but fo that it may keep the line ftraight and even j but for tench, caip, barbel, or chiib, your rod and line muft have an additional ftrength in the thicknefs of the one and the number of hairs in the other: and your float manageable in the water, propor- ticned acfiording ta the fwiftncfs or flownefs of the water. Angling. 39 water, but with one worm, the water beiilg very ckar; and obferve for fome fort of fifh, as flounders, falmorl- fmclts, bream, and gudgeon-, your bait mull drag on the ground; but for other forts, as, tench, roach, bleak, pike, ruff, and carp, at mid-water; for grayling and pearch, at fix or nine inches from the bottom. The chub is often taken at bottom, mid-water and top. You may ufe^ the divers forts of baits, sngling with a float, but ground baits are mofl frequently ufed, and with fuccefs. Directions foi' Drabling, By this, barbels of a large fizeare taken ; to do it com- pleatly, obferve thefe rules. Have a ftrong line of fix yards, which, before yoa faften it to your rod, maft be put through a piece of lead, that if the hlh bite, it may flip to and fro, and tliat the water may fomething move it on the ground ; bait it with a pretty large lob- worm well fcoured, and fo by its motion, the barbel will be enticed into the danger without fifpicion. The beil places are in running water near piles, or under wooden bridges, fupported with oaks floated and flimy. Angling ivith the ledger haii. This IS ufed for variety of exercife, to give reft to the angler, and fo differs from others that are called walking; baits, and this is, when the bait contmues to refl in one fixed and certain place. Here you mufl take off your float, but let the lead remain, and within half a yard of the top of the^line wrap a thin plate of lead, an inch and a half bug, and pretty broad, viz. about an inch ; fo fallen your line to your rod, caft in your bait either into a ftill flow draught, or gentle ftream, and when it is at the bottom, you may flick your rod in the bank of the river, or hold it in your hand at difcretion, and by the bending of the rod, or motion of the iead at top, you will perceive whenthe fifh bite : give her £ z fome 4^ The COMPLETE^SPORTSMAN. fome tjn^e, aijd -ftrike contrary to where her head lie** 1'he chub and eel are fuccefsfully taken this way. iTo ia^ 7iight hooh. To. do this effedlually, procure a fmall cord, which inajr |3e about lixteen yards long, and to this, at equal diftances, tie five or fix fine twifted flax or filk lines, about eightero inches er^ch, fjf the thicknefs of your trowling line, fallen them fo that they may beeafily removed, and put on again, ivhip to the ends of each of them a pretty ilrong hook, but with a loach, minow, or bull-head, the fins and gills f ut off; or,, thefe being wanting, the feven eyes, eel brood, fniall reach, gudgeon, the pith of an ox or cow's back- •bone, &c. v/ill ferve for the fiili ; put the point o^th'e hook in the tail, and out at the mouth, fo that the fiih's head *nay have a retting in the hook's bent, ar.d that the point Biay net be difcovered, cover it widi a worm, calling the cord, by a weight, over the river, it ream or pond, fa ilea both ends to itakes on either fide ; ^nd be there early in the -morning, and expe<5t chub, large eels, trout, or pike; but for a pike keep the bait with a float about a foot or fcmething more from the bottom. ' For this, to gather the filh, you may bait the ground with blood and grains, or fuet made up in fweet earthy taken from under the green fward, or paftes, &c. . Choice receipts y or rarefecrefs, never before jnadepuhlic* ] Take oil of amber, rofemary and myrrh, an equal cuantity, infufe in themanj^ worms, or mingle pafte with them, and the fifh, if near,willhaften to the bait fo dipped, and then not have power to go away, till fhe either nibbles off the bait, or is taken. Ground-bait for carp, with unprickled faraphire bruifed and made into balls, with walnut oiL This likewife al- liires tench and bream. ; Over night mix bean flour with a little honey, wet it with reftified fpirits of wine, and a little oil of turpentine, Ciake it up with little pellets, and fuch nfh as nibble it,, whea thrown in, wiU,be iluplfied, fc that ij^ the mornings coming Angling. 41 coming to tiiemfelves a little, they will bite very eagerly, as being after their drunken fit, exceeding hungry. A/pecial pointer bait to get and prefewe. When plowing begins in autumn, before any frofta come that are forcible, to make entrance into the earth, obferve where the ploughs are going, if there be ftore of crows, lighted on the ground, efpecially in that which is heathy, fandy, or green land, follow, and you will find a white worm bigger than a gentle, having a red head, which is held to breed of the fpawn or &gg of a beetle left in thofe holes Ihe digs in the ground under horfe or cow dung, which in March or April, turns to a beetle again; you may put about two quarts of thefe into about half a bulhel of the fame mould: when you gather them, put^them in a tub or other veflfel, where the froft or wind may not come to kill them, and by thefe means, when moft other baits are out, yovL may be provided all the feafonable times in winter, and early in the fpring. Unfeafonable times to angle in. Having fpoke much of proper times to accommodate the angler, I ihall now fpeak fomething more of un- feafonable ones, that thofe who are ignorant in this ait, as to the niceties of it, may not loofe their labour. ^ In tfie morning, either in the fpring or advancing of the feafon, if a hoary froft happen, the filh will be backward in biting that day, and little fport can be expefted, for they will not freely rife, except in the e\ ening ; and fboa after they have fpawned they will not bite to the puipofe, till with gra{s and weeds they have well purgedand fcoured fhemfelves, fo that they may by that means recover their llrength and "appetite. 'Tis not proper to fi{h when the north or tail winds are (harp. In brooks that are fmall an-d clear, where the water is kept up by mills or dams, it is- vj^ good angling, for there efpecially the trout keeps hex hole, and others bite faindy. 4a The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Several other ufeful ohfervations and direShns, • Be fure always to keep your fhadow off the water, and therefore let the fun be m your face, or on one fide of you when you angk, keeping out of %ht and making no noifej and when you are bent for trout, you need make but- three ot four eiTays with the ground bait or fly ; for if it <>omes not then to bite or offer, either there is noi any. ^ere, or they keep clofe in their holes, Toiaichfijb, Take nettles, cinguefbin, and chop fmall, then mix fome juice of houfleek with it, rub your hands therewith, and throw it into the water, and keep your hands in the water, and the fifti will come to them, that you may take them : or, take heart-xvort and lime, mingle them together,. and throw it into a l^anding water, and it will fox them,' that you take them with your handsi, - ■"* y<7 take file as he Iksjleep'ing andfimnlng in fair *weather^ 'fwith a loop or net, March and Auguji the beft times. Take a long pole or ijod that is light and ftraight, on the fmall end fallen a, running loop of twifted horfe hair and filk, of a large, compafs, which gently draw on him, when it is five or ivL inches over his gill, hoift him up, if it is a fmall pike^ draw it not fo far on, and make no noife in walking or fpeaking : if he lies fo that you cannot conveniently noofe him, touch his tail with the rod, and he will turn as you pleafe, alfo with a hand net, putting it gently under water, guide it }uft under him, and lift it foftly till you alrriofl. touch him, and then do it as quick as you can, To iTwitefJh, If you take occulis indicus, and make little balls of it ■^'^th cummin, old cheefe, wheat fiour and wine, (let the balls be no bigger than peafe) and throw them in a ftand- ing water or calm places where filh are, idl that tafte of itj ; . . : 4,^ . ' will- An-oling 4j idilbe prefently ftupified,,f\yiraming to the fliore.as if thejp j^^ drunk, fo that you may take them with your hand. ^0 make and order jijh ponds, "Moorlfh ground, and fuchas is fuH of Springs is beit; the firfl; breeds them well, the laft prevents their being flolen; next, let your pond be fo ordered, tlia^»it may receive tlie rain water that falls from the hills, for that mightily refrelhes them ; and if your pond can receive the yafs:of liorfes and other cattle, they will produce thelargeft and fattell fifh. Let your pond's head be at the loweft part of! the ground, and let the flood gates have a quick and fwift f£I, that when you go to empty it you may: not be too long about it : in building your pond, the beli yi'ay is to drive a row of flakes fix or feven feet long, and fix or feven inches fquare, and four feet dillance ; elm is better than oak ; drive them in the length of the pond's head, and ram the iirft row four feet and a half deep, then they* will be ftrorig. Next dig yo'iif pond and throw the earth, among the ftakes and piles ; when they are covered weir, drive another row over then^, and ram the earth iii the void places, that it lie clofe and keep the water in the better ; and thus yOu mull continue flake on flake, ram- ming the earth till the head be as high as you would have it* I>et the infide of the dam be fmooth, that no current may liave power over it; let your pond carry fix feet water^^ andbe eight feet deep, to receive the rains that fall into it j ^oor the bottom with large turfs of flot grafs, clofe joined and flaked down, flake alfp on the pond fidefeveral faggota of light wood, but not oak, for that is bitter and offenfive : thefe faggots fhelter the fifh, and after they cafl their ff awn preferve them from vermin, and the young fifh from ^eyourersj let them alio have fome retiring places by* root's of trees, hollow banks, both to cherifh them in. cold and heat, and preferve them from danger ; carp, tench, and bream, flore by themfelves; pearch and pike, by themfelves ; put into it either minows or dace, but roach ate injurious to all ponds and great breeders. Ponds witli ilrong fandy bottoms, that lie warm and out' of the wind, wit^ 44 /The COI\)!PLETE SPORTSMAN. with nut-trees and willows alfo fheltered, are the bell for carp to breed in, and new made ponds breed better thaov^ J old, that are full of weeds and mud, therefore every three or four years cleanfe them from the mud filth. To make a ftore pond, fow it, put in all fpawners, or all millers;. ' obferve- that ftore ponds aiFord the largeft and fattelt carp. Th a breeding pond put three fpawners to one miller. Draw your pond about AUhallontide, and keep of females a fufiicient number for breeding. Indeed, you j^ ought not to kill any of them. They will live and breed fifty or fixty years; but you may kill all live males that are about three years old, and put the reft, that are three, two, or one year old into the pond again, as many of them as the pond will maintain ; this do once every year. Feed your pike, carp, and other fifh, with bread, grains 5 chippings of bread, entrails of chickens, &c. GAME-COCKS and COCK - FIGHTING, Of the choke of etch* THE beft properties-for the^choice of fighting-cocks j is their fhape,jColour and courage, and fhaip heels or fpurs. Ax to^44Wji/hn]^^tKp [pi ddle flzedggesaree fteemed the beft, as being the fooneft and eafieitliiaLcliiid, 'a&^io) nimbleft and generally of the moft courage ^.^the'Tmall fi2ed ones are weak and tedious in battle»( '^ Thejhape, He ftiould l'>e of a proud and upright fhap^, with a fmall head, a quick large eye with a Itrong back, his fpurs long, rough, and ftiarp, a little bending inwards. His colour. The grey pile, yellow pile, or red with the black breaft, IS eftee'med the bell ; the pied is not fo good, and the white and dun worft of alU H ,7^ •X}A7^E-C0tvKS Jlnd COCI^-FIGHTINGV 45 If lie is red about the head) like fcarlet, it is a fign-of .(Irength, lull and courage ; but if pale it is a fign of faint^ ncfs and fickiiefs. Hi's courage. His courage is (hewed by his walk, treading, and pride cf his going, and in pen by his frequent crowing : for the fharpnefs of his heel, or, as the cock mafters call it, the narrow heel is only feen in his fighting, or the cock is faid to be fharp heeled, or narrow heeled, which every time he rifes, hits and draws blood of his adverfary, gilding (as they term it) his fpurs in blood, and, every blow threaten- ing the other's death. Of breeding. The breeding cocks for battle, are much different froda thofe of the dnnghili ; for they are like birds of prey, in which the female is of better efteem than the male ; and fb in the breeding be fure that the hens be right, that is, they jnuft be of a right plume, as grey, grizzle, fpeckled or ycllowifli. Black or brown is not amifs, their bodies large, and the bell feafon of the year to breed in, is from the increafe of the moon in February, to the increafe of the moon in March, for a March bir4 is of far greater ellecm than thofe bred at pther tipies. Let the pen where fhe fits be placed warm, with foft iVeet ftraw thereifi for her neft,, they being jnuch tenderer ^n the dunghill liens, and permit fto gthet fo,\yl to comf ' wJieif ife? At«> ioi tiiat will ^ftjjyfb .bei-, Yet, 46 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Tou fllould obferre, if (he be bufy in turning her eggs Jbcing a good fign) if not, do it at iuch times as (he nies from her neil ; and be fure that fhe has always meat and water b^- her, kft when fhe rifes fhe fhould ftay too long to feek food, 2nd fo her eggs fhould be chilled and fpoiled. Likev/ife in the place where fhe fits, let there be fand, gravel, and fine fifted afhes, to bath and trim herfelfat pleafure. In about three weeks fhe will hatch, and obferve that if fhe do not cover and keep the firfl warm till the refl are hatched, take thofe from her, and keep them warm in v/ool by the iire till all are hatched, and then put them under her, keeping both the hen and chickens very warm, not fufFering them to go abroad for three weeks or a month in the cold ; for they are fo tender, that cold will kill them. Let them have plenty of food, as oatmeal, cheefeparings, f.ne fmall wheat, and the like, and a large room to walk in, with a boarded floor ; for diat of earth or brick, is too cold or moifl. After three or four weeks, let tliem walk in your court- yard, or garden, to pick worms, provided there are no links or puddles of itinking water, which is as bad as poifon for them to drink, engendering corrupt difeafes. . After this manner keep them till you can know the cock chickens from the hens; and when you perceive tlieir combs or wattles to appear, cut them off, anoint the fore with fweet butter, till well; and this will make them have fine fmall, flender, and fmooth heads ; whereas if you let the combs grow to that bignefs, and then cut them off, it will caufe them to have gouty thick heads, with great lumps; neither is the flux of blood good, for the leaft lofs of blood in a feathered fowl, is very dangerous^ Let the cock chkkens go with their hens, till they begin to fight one with another; but then feparate them in feverai walks, and that walk is the beft, that is freeit from the refort of others. Let the feeding places be upon foft dry ground, or upo» fcoards j for to breed them upon pavements, or on plaifter floors, will make their beaks biunt and Weak, fo that it will binder their holding faft* An/" Game-Cocks and Cock-Fighting. 47 Any white com, as oats, barley or wheat, is goad food for a cock in his walk ; fo are toall or crufts of bread fteeped in beer or wine, for it will both fcbur and cool them inwardly. If your chickens begin to crow at about fix months clear and loud, or at unfeafonable times, it is a fign of eowardice and falftiood, fo that they are not worth the rearing; for the true cock is very long before he can get his voice, and then he obfer\^es his hours. To one cock four or five hens are fufficient; for they are of fo hot a nature, and will tread fo much, that they foon confume their natural ftrength. At two years old you may put a cock to the battle, as not being before perfed and compleat in every member; for by fuffering him to fight when his fpurs arc but warts, you may know his courage, but not^his goodnefs. You muft alfo be circumfpedl about the perch whereon he roofteth ; for if it be too fmallin the gripe, or crooked, or fo ill placed that he cannot fit without ftradling, it will make him uneven heeled, and by confequence no good ftriker. The beft way is to make a row of little perches, not above feven or eight inches long, and about a foot froni the ground, fo thxat with eafe they may go up to them: and being fet, muft have their legs clofe, the fhortnefs of the perch not admitting otherwife; and it is a maxim, ** He that is a clofe fitter, is always a narrow ftriker." You muft always be careful, that when your cock doth leap from the perch, the ground be foft whereupon he lightethi for hard ground caufeth goutinefs. Of dieting and ordering coch. For dieting and ordering a cock for the battle, which is the principal thing, obferve thefe direftions. » The beft tinjc to take up your cocks, is the latter end of Auguft, and having viewed them well, and they are found, bard feathered, and full fummed, put them in facial pens. Their 4.8 The COMPLETE SPORTSIVfAN. Their pens ftiould be mjrde of clofe boards, well joined together all but the forepart, which muft be made open like a grate, the bar-s abewt two inches apart, and before the grate two large troughs of foft wood, the one for water, and the other for rtiea^; the door of the grate ta be madfe to lift up and down, and of fuch largenefs, as with eafe to put the cock in, and take him out, and to clean the pen daily to keep it fweet. The pen fhouldbe- at leaft three feet high, and two feet fquare, and of thefe many may be joined in one front, accordiftg- to the ufeyou have- for them. For the firft three or four days they are put In their pe»is, feed them only with old wheat bread, the cruft pared away, and cut into little bits, with which feed them at fun rifmg^ and fan fet, giving them about a handful at a time ; and be fure let him not be without good frefh -water. After they have been thus fed four days, and their crops cleared af the corn, worms, and other coarfe feeding, in the morning take them out of their pens, putting a pair cf hots upon each of their heels, which hots are foft bom- bafted rolls of leather, covering their fpurs, that they cannot hurt or bruife one another, fo fetling them down upon the grafs, (that is two at a time) let them fight and bafHe one another for a good while, provided they do not ^ound or draw blood of each other, and this is called fpar- «ng of cocks. The reafon of thus exercifmg them, is to chafe and heat t\\t bodies^ to break the ht and glut' within them, arid' caufe it to come away. Your cocks being fparred fufficiently, and that you fee them pant and grow weary, take them up and untie their hots; then being provided with deep ftraw balkets made for that purpofe, with- fweet foft ftraw to the middle, put into each baflcet a cock, covering him o\xr with the like ftraw to the top; then put on the lid- clofe, fo let him fweat and ilove^till the evening; but before you put him kito the balket, give him a pretty big lump of fweet butter, with white fugar candy, and rofema-ry finely chop- ped. ©fjd, and this fcouring wilk bring away,, -hiisgreiiie,aacl. Weed breath and ftrengtb. - -t ' In the. evening, about, four or five, of, the clock, take tljeiH out of the. ftovir^g balket,. and licking their |lieads. ■ aod , eyes all oypr, put tKem intp the pens, then: ;:^e a good' handful of bread cut frnall, put it to each iiv "their trpughs, and pifs therein, fo that the cock may take the bcead out of the warm urine, and this will fcour and cleanfe both the head and the body extremely. : ., ;The bread that you mull now and afterwards giv.c them* ! muft ^ot be fine white breads but a. fort made for that pur- pofe, after this manner. , Take half a peck of wheat meal, and the I^ke quantity of fine oatmeal; mix thefe together, and knead them in a ftiff pafte, with ale, the whites of twelve eggs, and half a pound of butter. 'This pafte being well wrought, make it into broad. thin cakes, and being three or four days- old, and the bliftec rings cut away, cut it intojittle fquare bits and give it to thecocks., Having fed your cock* thus, after their fparring, the next day let them reft, osly give them their ordinary feed- ing of bread and water; then the next day (which is the fparring} take them into a fair» even greeji clofe, t'lere fet down one of thera, and having a dunghill cock in your arms, iliow, it him, running from him,; enticinghim to follow you; and fo' chafe ham up and down for half an hour, fuffering him now and then to have a ftroke at hirn ; and when you fee him well heated and patiteth, take him up, and carry him to his pen-, and there give him his fcour- ing. Take frefh butter,.ha]i" n pound; beat it in a mor- tar, with the herbs of grace, hyfop, and rofemary, until thje herbs arc incorporated therein, and that the butter is brought to a green falve; and of this give the cock a role or, two, as .big as he -can well fwallow,, then flove- him iri the baHtet, as aforefaid, until the:e\'ening : then take luni oijt, put him in hi3;pen, and feed him as above direded. . ^The next day let jiim reft and- feed, and the day ibllow- i/^.^gain fpaxiimj and this method obferve ev^ry ollser S warts, &c. ■; , 'i'--''- ^ If your cock hath i-eined himfelf, either by narrow- finking, or ether crofs blow, find out the wound, and prefently bind into it thcfoft down of a bare, and it will I'Cth ftaunch it, and cure it. After your wounded cocks are put forth to their walks, ns being fit to go abroad, and when you come to vifit them in about a month or two after, if you find any hard fuelled bunches about their heads, Wackifh at one end, it is a fign of unfound cores; and then with a fharp pen- knife open them, and crufh out the faid cores; then Tuck < ut all the corruption, and fill the whole with frelh butter, which will perfed the cure. COLT S. C"^CLT, in generalj fignifi€s the. male and female oif ^^' the horfe kind ; the firft likewife for oiftinfticn fake, being called a horfe colt, and the other a filly. After the colts have been foaled, you may fuffer them to run with the mare till about Michaelmas, fooner or later, according as the cold weather comes in; then they TTufl be veined, after which let them be kept in a con- venient houfe, with a low rack and manger for their hay and oats, which muH be fweet and good ; with a little wheaten bran mixed with the oats, to caiife them to drink ind to keep their bodies open. • Further, that colts thus fed with grain do not grow thickifn upon their legs, but grow broader, and better knit than if they had eaten nothing but hay and bran, and will endure f^itigue the better. - '. -- • -- • - > ^'- ; ' ;'< But above all, they mult be kept from ,wet and coldji winch are tlie hurtfullQll things 'imaginabfe 40' them^ Hr>thing being more tender than they are.- : ' - '- - - '>J '!For For j>ropr of this take a Spjnilh ftallion, and let him cover two mares, which for age, beauty, and comeliners, may ^idmit of no difference between them ; and if they be both horfe eojts, or both fillies, which is one and the fame thing, let 6ne run abroad, and the other be houfed eveiy winter, k'ept warm, and ordinarily .attended, as aforefaid; ^nd ,that coif that has been kept aJ)road ihall have large fleihy ihoulders, flabby and gouty legs, weak pafterns and ill hoofs; _^nA (h^ll be a dufi heavy jade, in comparifon to the other which is houfed, and orderly kept as before; an^ whichjiyill have a iine fqrehead, be well (hapcd, have good legs and hoofs, and be of a good ftrength and fpirit: by which you may know, that to have the lineft ftallion, and the beautifulleft marc is nothing, if they are fpoiled in breeding up. It is worth obfervation, that fome foals, under fix monttw old, though their dams yield abundance of milk, yet decay daily, and have a cough, proceeding from certainr |)ellicl€Sj or fkins that breed in their ftomachs, which ob- Uruft their breathing, and at laft deftroy them entirely. To remedy this majady, take the bag wherein the colt was foaled, dry it, and give them as much of it in milk as you^can take up with three fingers : but if you have not preferved the bag, procure the lungs of a young fox, and Ui ibmetimes before, fo that he fix upon »o certaiiity but your SiUA _ 0W« ^6 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. own pleafure, and be Aire to have regard to the well carriage of his neck and head, an,d a&4he martingal flackens, ?o Jlraitj^jx^-t from time to time. , t^frrrrrr- — ■ '^ ' - '■/.::.; '-^vy^^b, H O R S E S. ? i^nPHE hoiffe fhould have a broad forehaad^ a gueat JL eye, a lean head; thin, iJendcr, lean, wide ja\ws; a 46ng, hijgh, rearing neck; rearing withers ; aforoaddeep -cheft aaoiody, upright paftern^iand narrow hoofs. ^ There ai* very many things relating to a horfe,andi very neceffary to be known, which will be found under their proper articles ; only there are a few which are not you muftjaot thruft it violently upon him, but by gentle enticements win him thereto, tempting him when he is mofthurigry or moll dry ; if beget but a bit at a time, he will foon encreafe to a greater quantity. Ever let him- have lefs than he defires ; and that he may l?e brought the fooner to it, mi,x the meat he loves beft with that he loves worft, till both be alike familiar, fo ihall he be a llranger to nothing that is good and whole- some, 2. If he finds his horfe fubjetfl to ftiffhefs and lamenefs^ to the furbate or to tendernefs of his feet, then he (ho»14 give him his heat upon fmooth carpet- earrfi, or foybeai? ftrong grounds, hard highways, crofs ruts afi^ furrpws, ^iU extremity compel him. 3. For the condition of a horfe's body, he muft accpunt \hat the ftrongeft ftate wh^ch is the hij^heft and l^aft of flefh, Co it be good, h^rd, without inw,ard k>ul.fullnefs, to be the bed and moft proper for the performing .of matches;? &n4 herein you muft confider, iirft,.thef{hape pf 0;hoi:fe's bod^, ' ^ere being fqme that aJre rQund^plump ^1^ clofcknit *t<}gether, Which will appear fat and wellfhaped, when thof^ are lean and in .pQverty : while others that are ^aw-boned^ .(lender,. fthder, and lodfe' knit, will appear lean and deformed," when they are fat, fbul, and full of ^rofs Hdmoars.- Solikewife for their iridiilations: for Tome hbfits at the fitft , -feedi butwardl/ and^ cany a thick rib/ when they arc inwardly as thin as may be; whereas d'thersaplieasr Icart to' the eyeljwheh they are only' greaie. In \«^hich cafe rfic feeder has two Kelpis to advaritage Wi . knowledge, the botward^and the inwtil-d OM^ 4. The firft is; the out\<^rd handling and feeling the hbrfe*s^ body all OTi?r his ribv but partiedlarly upon his Ihbrt arid hihdcririoft ribs, ahd'if Kis flefli g^ife'rally haxidlc foft'and'loofc, and the fingers fjnk thereih' aS' ih down, he if fbiil without all oheflibn; But |f he b(i haf-d and firrti, and only foft upon the-hindermbflf rib, he has greafe aiid foul matter within him, which muft" be voided whatever comes of it, And for the inward help, that is bnlj^ (harp exercifc^and ffrbn^iftmiring, the firft to diflblve, arid th« . Jalter fo'bririg itiway, ■5-. It-is^thefet'der'sbtlfiiiefs to obferve the horfe's Hones, • for if they hang downwards, or low from his body he is * ofit of luft and heat, and is either fick of greafe of other foul humours ; but in; cafe they lid clofe trufled up, and hid in fmall rooiri, then he is healthful, and in good plight. 6, As to the limbs/ the feeder or proom muft always ° before he runs any matcH'or fore heat, bathe his legs, from the knees and gamfbfels downwards, either with clarified ' dogs greafe, (which ik the beft) or trotter oil, that is next td iti oreHethbbefi'hogV greafe, which is fulHcient, and w^rkit'iti'WjeH with hit'hands; not with fire, for what he gets riof^in the firft night, will be got in the next morning, arid what is not got in then, will be got in when he comes to uncloath at. the end of the courfe; fo that the ointment need be ufed but once, but the rubbing as often as there is opportunit}^ ■ 7. Thefeeder may in any of the latter fortnight's ef a runnirig hbrfe's feeding, if he finds him clear, and his greafe confumed about fix in the evening, give him water in a reafonablc' quantity itiade luke-warni, keeping him fafting for an hour after: alfo, if through thie unf«afonable- *^' 4 nefs 6f The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. nefs of the weather you cannot water him' abroad, then at*^ ybur own watering hours you are to do it in the houfe,. with warm water* and an handful of wheat-meal, bran, or oatmeal, finely. powdered^ (which kft. is, the beft) put inta the water; which is very wholefome. , " • . 8. The rider is farther to note, that if the ground , whereon the horfe is to run his match, be dangerous, and apt for bad accidents, as ftrains, over-reaches, linew-bruifes,, arjd the like, that then he is not bound to give him his heats thereon, but havings made liim acquainted with the Tiiture thereof, let him to^take part of the courfe, as a mile»" two or three, according to the goodnefs of the ground, an4 fo run him forth again, which arc called turning-heats, provided always he «nds his heat at the weighing-poft, and ; make not his courfe lefs, but more in quantity than that he muft run. If for fome fpccial caufes he likes no part of the courfe, he may often, but not ever, give his heat upon any other ground about anyfpacious and large field, where the horfc may lay down his body and run at pleafure. 5. He mutt have fpecial regard to all his airings, breath- ings, an^ other exercifes whatever ; to the fweating of the horfe, and the occafion, as if he fweat on little or no •ccafion, as y/alking a foot place, flanding ftill in the ftable, and the like ; this {hews that the horfe is faint, foul icd, and wants exercife: but if upon good occafions, as ftrong heats, great labours and the like, he fweat, and it is a white froth like foap fuds, he is inwardly foul, and alfo wants exercife : again, if the fweat be black, and as it were only water thrown upon him, without any frothinefs, then le is cleanfed, and in good luft, and good cafe, and may be rid without any danger^ ^ .^^ 10. And laftly, he fhould obfervc his hair in general, but efpecially on his -neck, and thofe parts that are un- covered, for if they lie fleek, fmooth, and..clofe, holding the beauty of their natural colour, thehorfe is in good cafe, but if rough and flaring, or difcoloured,he muft be inwardly coid at heart, and wants both cloaths and wa*m keepings Of , -Horse Shoes. €£ Ofhorfe/hoes, Of thefe thare are feveral forts : i . That called the planch- Ihoe, or pancelet, which makes a good foot, and a bad leg, by reafon it caufes the foot to grow beyond the meafure of the leg; though for a weak heel it Is exceeding good, and will laft longer than any fnoe, being borrowed from the meil, that has weak heels and frulhes, to keep the feet from ftones and gravel. 2. Slioes with calkins, which though they be intended to fecure the horfe from Aiding, yet they do him more harm than good, whereby many times he wrenches his fooi, or ftrains fome fmews, more efpecially upon ftony ways, where the ftones will not fufFer his calkins to erfter, the foot flips with more violence; though fome do not think a horfe well fhod unlefs all his fnoes be made with calkins, either fmglc or double ; however, the double ones are lefs hurtful, for he will tread evener with them than with fingle calkins, but they muft not be over long, or Iharp pointed, but rather fhort and flat. 3. There are fnoes for rings, which were firft invented to make a horfe lift his feet high, though an unhandfome fight : this defeft is incident to mofl: horfes that have not found hoofs, for tender feet fear to touch the ground that is hard : but what is intended for a remedy, proves a prejudice to the horfe, by adding high calkins, or elfe thefe rings to his fhoes, for by that means he is made to have weaker heels than before. . 4. Shoes with fwelllng welts or borders round aboirt them, are ufed in Germany, &c. which being higher thaa the heads of the nails, fave them from wearing; and thefe are the beft lafcing fnoes, if made of well tempered fluff, for they wear equally in all parts, and the horfe treads .equally upon them. . ^ 5. Otliers that ufe to travel mountains v/here fmithsare not fo eafily to be met with, carry fnoes about themwitk vices, whereby tliey faften them to the horfe's hoof without the help of the hammer or nail, notwithftanding it Is more for fliew than any good fervice j for though this fort of G ihoe $2 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. iifioe may fave his feet from ftones, yet itv fo pinches his lioof, that he goes v.ith pain, and perhaps injures it more than the ftones do : therefore upon fuch emergent occafions^ it is better to make ufe of a joint fhoe, which is made of 'two pieces, with a flat rivet nail joining them together in the toe, fo that you may make it both wide and narrow to ferveany foot. 6. The pattern ihoc, is neceffary for a horfe that is burnt in the hip, ftifle, or fhoulder, which will caufe him to bear upon that leg the grief is on, and confequentiy ufe it th^ better. 7. A fhoe proper for flat feet. 8. The pan ton, or pantacle Ihoe, which opens the heels^. and helps hoof binding. Thefe are of admirable ufe, in regard that they neve:f ihift upon the feet, and continue firm in ono place. -9. And laftly, the half panton Ihoe. Of Horfe Rac'mg, As to the method of ordering running-horfes or what ie called keeping, it will be found under the article running- horfes, and therefore we will only here fuppofe a horfe fet to fun for a plate, and that the hour of ftarting is at hand, when the drum beats or the trumpets found, according to 'the cuflom of the place where you run, to give notice for ftripping and weighing; be fure in the firft place, to keep out the wind, and to Itrengthen you : if you are light, that ■you muft carry weight, let it be equally -quilted sn your waiftcoat; but it is better if you are juft weight, for then you have no more to do than juft to drefs you, according ,-to yoiar own fancy ; your cloaths fliouldbe made of coloured Vuk, or of white hoUand, as being very advantageous to the fpe(^ators ; your waiftcoat and drawers muft be mad« dofe to your body, and on your head a little cap tied on.; let your boots be gartered up faft, and your fpurs muft be of good metal ; then mount and come to the ft:arting place^ where going oft"brifkly or gently, as occafion requires, make your horfe perform the courfe or heat, according to your intended defign j particularly, if you would win the fainc. ficRS E R ACl KC. €f fame, and that your horfe excels iii' goodnefs more than fpeed, ftart him roundly, and run him to the very top of what he can do, during; the whole courfe or heat ; and by that means, if the horfe you run againft be not fo good at' the bottom, though he has more fpeed, you will beat him, becaufe he will run off it a great way before he comes to the end. But on the contrary, if your horfe's talent bs fpeed, all that you can do is to wait'upOit the other horfe, and keep behind till you come almbft to the ftand, and then endeavour to give a loofe by him.- Sometimes when you are to run more heats than one, it will be your policy to lofe a heat ; and in that cafe you muft, for the eafmg and fafeguard of your horfe, lie behind as much as you canr provided you bring him in within diiiance. The poll u re to be obferved is, that you pxace yourfelf upon your tv/ift, with your knees firm, and your ftirrupi^ juit at fuch a length, that your feet, when they are thruft home in them, you can raife yourielf a little in .the faddle, ibr your legs, without that aliow^ance, will not be firni when you come to run; the countcr-poife of your body mud be forward, to facilitate your horfe's running,. a«d your dbows muft be clofe to your body; be fure above all things, that you do not incommode your horfe bv fwaggering this or that way, as fome do, for fmce weigm, ia a. great matter in running, and that a troublefome rider' is as bad as fo much more weight, there is no need to fay how neceffary it is to take great care of your feat and hand; you muft therefore beware of holding yourfelf by the bridle, or of jobbing your horfe's mouth upon any occa- fion ; you muft take your right rein in the fame hand, holding up horfe, &cc, as you find it neceffary, and every now and then remove the bridle in his mouth. But thefe things are beft learned by experience and pradice. A plate being run for by heats, every man that ride* muft be juft weight at ftarting, in great fcales for that pur- pofe, and at the end of tl*e fame heat, for if you v/ant of your weight at coming in, you ihalllofe your heat, though you are the firft horfe; you have half an hour between th€ firll and fecond, to rub your horfes, and at the warning G i of 64 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. of the drum and trumpet again, you mount, &c. as before, and fo till all is don'd, which is three, and fometimes three heats and a courfe. , If you do not breed racers yourfelf, be fure you buy no hoife that has not extraordinary good biood in his veins, for the charge of keeping is great, and a good one eats no more than a bad, and requires no m©re attendance ; fome to fave twenty or thirty guineas in the price of a young horfe have loft hundreds by him afterwards. A hcrfe that you have tried once or twice at a twelve ftone plate, you may be fure will make an extraordinary good hunter : and you are to obfene, that the pofture, manr ne'r of riding. Sec. is the fame in a match as in a plate race, only that there being but a fmgle courfe to be run, you muft puOi f * all at that one time ; whereas when there are feverai heats, there is more faving, and variety of play* 0/ hunting Hor/es, A horfe dcfigntd for this manly exercife, his fhape fliould be generally Itrong and well knit together^ making equal proportions; for you are to obferve, that which has an tmequal fhape ihev* s weaknefs, fo equal ones ihew flrength and durance; and what we call unequal, are a great head and a little neck ; a big body and a thick buttock ; a large limb to a little foot, &c. A hunting horfe, while he is at reft, let him have all the quietnefs that may be : let hirn have much meat, much litter, much dreiTmgs, and water even by him ; let him fteep as long as he pleafcs ; keep him to dung rather foft than hard, and look that it be well coloured, and bright, for darknefs fuews greafe, rednefs, and inward heat; and after his ufuai fcourings, let him have exercifes, and malhes of fvv-eet malt, or let bread, or clean beans, or beans and vv heat, mixed together, be his beft food, and beans and oats the moft extraordinary. You may furriifh yourfelf v,ith a horfe for hunting at . fome of Gur fairs, which Ihould have as near as can be, the following fhapes. * . Ahead Hunting Horses. '6^ A head lean, large, and long; a chaul thin and open cars fmall, and picked, or, if they be fomewhat long,^ provided they ftand upright, like thofe of a fox, it is ufu- ally a fign of mettle and toughnefs. His forehead long and broad, not flat, and as-it4s ufually termed hare-faced, rifmg in the midft, like that of a hare, . the feather being placed above the top of his eye ; the con- trary being thought by fome to be a token of blindnefs. His eyes full, large, and bright : his noftrils wide an# red within, for an open noftril is a fign of a good wind. His mouth large, deep in the wikes, and hairy; his thropple, weafand or wind- pipe big, loofe and ilrait, whea he is reined in with the bridle ; for if when he bridles, it bends like a bow, (which is called cock-throppled) it very much hinders the free paffage of his wind. His head muft be fet on to his neck, that a fpace may be felt between his neck and his chaul ; for to be bull-necked is uncomely "to fight, and zlij prejudicial to the horfc's wind. His creft ihould be firm, thin, and well-rifen, his neck long and ftrait, yet not loofe and pliant, which the north- em-men term withy cragged. His breaft flrong and broad, his cheii deep, his chine fhort, his body large and clofe fliut up to the huckle- bone. His ribs round like a barrel, his belly being hid within, riiera. His fillets large, his buttocks rather oval tbau broad, being well let down to the gafcolns, his cambrels upright,, and not bending, which fome call fuckle-hoghed ; though, fome look upon this to be a fign of toughnefs and fpeed. His legs clean, flat, and Ilrait ; his joints fhort, well knit, and upright, efpecially betwixt the pafterns and the hoofs, having but little hair on his fetlocks ; his hoofs black, ftrong, and hollow, and ratlier long and narrow, than big and flat. Laftly, his mane and taif fhould be long and thin, ra- ther than thick, which iscountecj tvy forae a m^k of dul- 66 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. As to marks or colours, though they do not abfolutely give teftimony unto us of a horfe's goodnefs, yet they, as well as his fhape, do intimate to us, in fome part, his dil- pofition and qualities : the hair itfelf does oftentimes receive the variation of its colour, from the different temperature of the fubjed out of whjch it is produced. ^And fome do not fcruple to affirm, that wherever you meet with a horfe that has no white about him, efpecially in his forehead, though he be otherwife of the befl reputed colours, as bay, black, forrel, he is of a dogged and fullen difpofition, efpecially if he have a fmall pink eye, and a narrow faee, with a nofe bending like a hawk's bill. ^he Age, ^c, of a Hunter, Having procured a horfe fuitable to the former defcrip- tions, or your own fatisfaftion at leaft, and which is fup- pofed to be already grounded in the fundamentals of his art, being taught fuch obedience, as that he will readily anfwer to the horfemen's helps and corredions both of the bridle and hand, the voice, the calf of the leg, and the fpurs, that he knov^-s how to make his way forward, and hath gained a true temper of mouth, and a right placing of his head, and that he hath learned to Hop, and turn readily ; for uniefs he has been perfedly taught thefe things, he can never proceed effedually. The horfe being thus prepared, Ihould be five years old, and well wayed before you begin to hunt him : for al- though it is cuftomary with fom^ to hunt at four years gid, yet at that age his joints not being well knit, nor he attained to his bell ftrength and courage, he is unable to perform any work of fpeed and roughnefs, and will be in great danger of flrains, and other m-aladies, and alfo a daunting of his fpirits, and abating his natural courage. Your horfe being full five, you may, if you pleafe, put Ilim to grafs from the middle of May till Bartholomew-tide, for then the feafon will be fo hot, it will not be conveni-. ent to work him. Bartholomew-tide being now come, and tlje pride and ftrength of the grafs nipped by the fevere frofts and cold dews-. Hunting Horses. • * 67 dews, fo that the nourilhmont of it turns to raw cmditifs, and tlie coldnefs in the night abates as much ofhisflefh and hift as he gets in a day : take him from grafs while his coat lies fmooth and lleek» Having brought him home, let your groom fet him up that night in fome fecure and fpacicus houfe, where he may evacuate his body, and the next day flable him. The firfi forttiigW s Diet for a Hunting Hoife. ; or the ordering of a Himter for the firft fortnight. Your horfe being fuppofed to have evacuated all his grafs, and his fhoes fo well fettled to his feet, that he. may be fit to be ridden abroad without danger ; I fhall now, in a more particular manner, diredl an unexperienced groom how he ought to proceed to order his horfe accord- ing to art. Firft, he ought to vifit his horfe early in the morning, to wit, by fiVe o'clock in fumraer, and fix in winter ; and having put up his litter under his ftall, and made clean his ftabies, to feel his ribs, his chaul, and his flank, tliey being the principal ngns by which he muft learn to judge of the good or ill ftate of a horfe's body. . He ought to lay his hands on his Ihort ribs near the flank, and if his fat feels to be exceeding foft and tender, and to yield as it were under his hand, then he may be can- lident it is unfound, and that the leaft violent labour or travel will diiTolve it ; Vv'hich being diifolved before it be hardened by good diet, if it be not then removed by fcour- ing, the fat or greefe belonging to the outward parts of the body will fall down into his heels, and fo caufe gouti- nefs and fwelling. After, by feeling on his ribs, he has found his fat foft and unfound, then let him feel his chaul ; and if he finds any fleihy fubitance, or great round kernels or knots, he may be affured that as his outward fat has been unfound, fo inwardly he is full of glut, and purlive, by means of grofs humours cleaving to the hollow places of his lungs. This ^^The COMPLETE SPORTSMAK. "This fat is to be enfeamed and hardened by moderate exercife, warm cloathing, and gentle phyfic, to cleanfe away his inward glut. The fame obfervations mull be made from the flank, which will always be found to correfpond with his ribs and chaul, for till it is drawn, it will feel thick to your gripe, but when he is enfeamed you will perceive nothing but two mm ikins ; and by thefe three obfervations of the rib, flank, and chaps, you may at any time pafs an in- difl-erent judgment of the horfe's good or bad condition^ Having made thefe remarks on your horfe^s Itate and condition of body, then fift a handful or two (but not more) of good old oats, and give them to him to preferve his flomach from cold humours which might opprefs it by drinking faltiag, and likewife tx) make him drink the better. When he hath eaten them, pull off his collar, and rub his head, face, ears, and nape of the neck, with a clean rubbing cloth made of hemp, for it is fovereign for the head, and difiblves all grofs and filthy humours. Then take a maffle, and wafh it in clean water, and put it on his head, drawing, the -rein through the headftall ta prevent his flipping it over his head, and fo tie him up to the rack, and drefs him thus : Firfl:, take a curry comb, faitable to your horfe's ikin, in your right hand; that is, if the coat of your horfe be Ihort and fmooth, then mull the curry-comb be blunt; hut if it be long and rough, then the teeth mull be long and fliarp; Harding with your face oppolite the horfe's, hold the left cheek of the head-ftall in youj left hand, and curry him with a good hand from the root oC his ears, ail along his neck to his flioulders ; then go over all his body with a more moderate hand j then curry his buttocks down to the hinder cambrel with a hard hand again ; then change your hand, and laying your right arm over his back, join your right fide to his left, and fo curry him gently from the top of his withers, to the fewer part of his Ihoulder, every now and then fetching. yoar Hunting Horses. 6icker, comb down his mane and tail. with a wet mane-comb, then fpurt fome beer in his mouth, and fo < draw him out' of the liable. Then mount him, rake or walk him either to fome run-- ing river or frefh fpring a mile or two diftant from the ftable, and there let him drink about half his draught at iirll, to prevent raw crudities ariling in his ftcmach. After he has drank, bring him calmly out of the water, and ride him gently for a while ,- for nothing, is more un- becoming a hoifeman than. to put his horfe upon a fvvift-^ gallop as foon as he comes out of the water, for thefc three xeafons. 1. He dees not only hazard the breaking of his wind, . but afluredly hazards the incording orburlling him. 2. It begets in him an ill habit of ninning away as foon as he has done drinking. 3. The forefight he has of fuch violent exercife, makes him often times refufe to quench his thirlt,. and therefore walk him a little way and then put him into a gentle gal- lop for five or fix fcore paces, and give him wind ; and after he has been raided a pretty while, Ihew him the water again, and let him drink as much as he will, and then gal- lop him again, and repeat this tilihe will drink no more; but be fure to obferve always, that you gallop him not fo . muvh as to chafe or fwcat.him. Here; H U N T I N <5 IT O R S E S. 7i Here take notice, that in his galloping after water, (after tke firft weak'senfeaming) if fometimes you give him a watering-courfe (harply of tv/elve or twenty fcore paces, according as .you find your hoife, it will quench his fpirit, and caufe him to gallop more pleafantly, and teach him 40 manage his limbs more.mmbly, and .ftretch forth his vbody largely. When your hoffe has done drinking, then rake him to the top of an hill (if there be one near the watering- place) for there, in a morning, the air is pureil; or elfe to fome fuch place, where he may gain the moft advantage both by fun and air, and there air him a foot-pace for an hour, or longer, as yen in your judgment fliall think fit, for the iiate of his body, and then ride him home. During the time of your horfe's airing, you may eafily perceive feveral tokens of his fatisfadion, and the plea- iure that he takes irr his exercife. For be will gape, yawn, and as it were fhrug his body. If he offers to fiand ftill to dung or ftale, which his air- ing will provoke, be fure give him leave; asalfo to ftare about, neigh, or liilen to any noife. Thefe airings are advantageous to the horfe on feveral .accounts. 1. It purifies the blood (if the air be clear and pure ;) it purges the body of many grofs and fuffocating hu- mours, and fo hardens and enfeams the horie's fat, that it is not near fo liable to be diiTolved by ordinary ex- ercife. 2. It teaches him how to let his wind rake, and equally keep time with the other adtions and motions of his body. 3. It is of great advantage, both to hunters and gai- loppers, which are apt to iofe their ftomiichs through excefs or want of exercife, for the fharpnefs of the air will drive the horfe's natural heat from the outward parts to the inv/ard, which heat by furthering^.concoftion creates appetite, and provokes the ftomach. 4. It creates luft and courage ia the horfe, provided he be not aired too early. VVhea 72 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. When you are returned from airhig, and are difmount- ed, lead the horfe on the ftravv, which Ihould ahvays lie before the ftable door, and there whiftling and ftirring up the litter under his belly, you will provoke him to itale, which he w-ill-be bronght to do with a little practice, and it will be advantageous to the health of the horfe, and a means of keeping the ftable cleaner : tlien lead him into his ftall, (having firft been well littered :) then tie up his head to the empty rack, take off the faddle, rab his body and legs all over with the frelh butter,- then with tlie hair patch, and lail of all with the woollen cloth. Then clothe him with a linnen cloth next to his body, and over that a canvas cloth, and both made fit for him^ to cover his breaft, and to come pretty low down to hts legs. - Then put over the before-mentioned a body-cloth of fix or eight ftraps, which is better than a furcingle and pad iliift v/itn whifps, becaufe this keeps his belly in ihape, and is not fo fubjed: to hurt him,. Now thefe cloths will be fuificient for him at his firll ilabling, becaufe being inured to the cold, he will not be fo apt to take cold, the weather being indiiferently warm ; but when lliarp, weather comes on, and you find his hair rife about thofe parts that are unclothed, as neck, gaf- coins. Sec. then add another cloth, which ought to be of woollen; and for any horfe bred under the climate, and kept only for ordinary hunting, this clothing will be fufiicient. . Having already given direftions as to the clothing of the horfe, I Ihall only add this one general rule ; that a rough coat is a token of want of deaths, and a fmooth coat of clothing fufficient, therefore, if notwithftanding whatcloaths you have given him, his coat ftiil. ftares, you muft add more cloaths till it lie. But if when he has been in keeping fome tim.e, you perceive him apt to fweat in the night, it is a fign he is over fed, and wants exercife; but if he fweat at his firft coming from grafs, t"hen there is reafon to add rather than diminilh his cloaths before direded for him at his houfing ; 3 for Hunting Hors ejs, 75 for It proceeds from the foul humours that opprefs nature, and \^hen they are evacuated by exercife, nature will ceafc working, and he will continue in a temperate ftate of body all the year after. When you have clothed him up, pick his feet clean with an iron picker, and walh his hoofs clean with a fpungc dipped in clean water, and dry them with ftraw or a linea cloth, then leave him on his fnafRe for an hour or more, which will aflift his appetite. Then vidt him again, dud a handful of hay, and let the horfe teaze it out of your hand, till he hath eaten it ; then pull off his bridle, and rub his head and neck cleaii with your hempen-cloth j pull his ears and Hop his nof- trils, to caufe nim to fnort, which will bring away the moid humours which opprefs his brain, and then put on his collar, and give him a quartern of oats clean drelfed in a fieve, having firft cleaned his locker or manger with a whifp of ftraw and a cloth. V While he is eating his corn, fweep out your ftable, and fee that all things are neat about him ; then turn up hi* eloaths, and rub his fillets, buttocks, and gafcoins over with the hair-patch, and after that with a woollen cloth ; then fpread a clean flannel fillet cloth over his fillets, and buttocks, which will make his coat lie fmooth, and turn down his houfmg-cloths upon it ; then anoint 1ms hoofs round from the cornet to the toe with this oint- ment. Take 4 ounces of Venice turpentine, 5 ounces of the beft rofm, of bees-wax 2 ounces, i pound of dog G H O R S E S, 77 The firft fortnight being expired, and the bread prepar- ed, you ought then to pitch upon a day for his going abroad after the dogs, and the day before you hunt, he mutt al-vV'ays be ordered after this manner. In the morning proceed in your ufual method as before, only obferve that day to give him no beans, becaufe they are hard of digeftion, but give him moft of bread if you can draw him to eat it, becaufe it is more nourifhing than Oats ; and after the evening, which ought to be fomewhat earlier than at other times, give hmi only a little hay out of your hand, and no more till the next day that he returns from hunting ; and to prevent his eating his litter, or any thing elfe but what you give him, inftead of a muzzle put on a cavefTon, joined to a head-ilall of a bridle lined with leather, for fear- of hurting him, and tying it fo tight as to Jhinder his eating 4 and this will prevent ficknefs in your horfe, which fome horfes are incident to when their muzzle is put on, notwithftanding the invention of the lattice window fo much ufed ; but by taking this method, the horfe's noftrils are at full liberty, and he will not sfrow fick. But as to corn, give him his meals, both after his watering, and at nine o'clock, and at that time be fure to litter him well, that he may take his reft the better that night, and then leave him till morning. The next morning vifit him early, at about four o'clock, and put a quarter of a peck of clean dreffed oats into his locker, pourin» into it a quart of good ftrong ale, mixing the oats and ale well together ; then put back his dung and foul litter, and clean the ftable ; but if he will not eat walhed oats, give him dry, but be fure not to put any beans in them. When he has done eating, bridle him, and tie him up to the ring and drefs him : having dreffed him, laddie him, and throw his cloth over him, and let him ftand till the hounds are ready to go out. Take care not to draw the faddle girths toq ftreight till you are ready to mount, left that (hould caufe him to gro\^ iick. H 3 ^ Tl^Q- 7B The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Tho' old horf* are generally fo crafty, that when a groom goes to girt them up hard, they will extend their bodies fo much by holding their wind (on purpofe to gain eafe after they are girt) that it will feem difficult to girt them, but when they let go their wind their bodies fall again. When the hounds are unkennelled, (which fhould not be before fun-rifmg) go into the field along with them, and rake your horfe up and down, gently till a hare is ftarted ; always remembering to let him fmell to the dung of other horfes, if tliere be any, which will provoke him to empty himfelf ; and fuffer him to Hand ftill till he does fo ; and if there be any dead frogs, rufhes, or the like, ride him upon them, and whittle to him, to provoke him to Hale and empty his bladder. The hare being ftarted, follow the hounds as the other hunters do : but remembering it to be the firft time of his hunting, he is not fo well acquainted with the different ibrts of grounds, as to know how to gallop fmoothly and with eafe on them, and for that reafon you ought not yet to put him to above half his fpeed, that he may learn to carry a ftay'd body, and to manage his legs both upon .fal- lows and green fv/arth. Neither fhonld you gallop him often, or any long time together, for fear of difcouraging him, and caufmg a dillike of his exercife in him : and take care to crofs £elds to the beft advantage ; you Ihould make into the hounds at every default, and ftill keep your horfe, (as much as thefe direftions will allow you) within the cry of the dogs, that he may be ufed to their cry ; and by fo do- ing, in a very fhoit tim^e he will take fuch delight and yleafure in their mufic, that he will be eager to follow them. And if it happens that the chace is led over any carpet ground^ or fandy highway, on which your horfe may lay out his body fmoothly, there you may gallop him for a ,. quarter or half a mile, to teach him to lay out his body, \o^ father up his legs, to lengthen and ftiorten his ftroke, jind according !» the different earth he gallops on, as if on $ grecB, H tr N T r N G- H O R S E S*> f§ green fwarth, meadow, moor» heath, &c, then to {loop' and run more on the Ihoulders ; if amongft- mole-hills, or over high ridges and furrows, then to gallop more roundly or in left compafs, or according to the vulgar phrafe, two up and two down, that thereby he may flrike his furrow clear, and avoid fetting his fore- feet in the bottom of it, and by that means fall over ; but, by the way^ galloping, tho' he {hould happen to fet his feet in a furrow, yet carry- ing his body fo round, and refting on the hand in his gal- lop, would prevent his falling ; and to his perfection, no- thing but ufe, and fuch moderate exercife, can brings him. According to thefe dire^ltons^ you may hunt till about three o'clock in the afternoon, at v till he fweat at the roots of bis ears, a little on his neck^ and in his flank ; but it muft be done of his own voluntary motion, without the corapulfion of whip or fpur : and then when he is cool as aforefaid, have him home and ftable him, and by no means waMc him in hand to- cool him, for fear of his cooling too faft, nor do not walh him, for fear of cauling an obftruftion of the natural courfe of the humours, and by that means caufe an inflammation in his legs, which is the original caufe of the fcratchcs. His ftall being well littered againft he comes home, fet him up, tying his head to the ring with the bridle, and then rub him well down with dry ftraw all over his head, neck, fore bowels, belly, flank, buttocks, and legs, and after that rub his body over with a dry cloth, till he has not a wet hair left about him ; the place where the faddle was, dry, in like manner, and cloath him immediately with his ordinary 'cloaths left he take cold ; and if you fup- pofe him to be very hot, throw a fpare cloth over him, that he may not cool too faft, which you may abate when you pleafe, and fo let him ftand on his fnaffle, two hours Of ?a The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. or better, no\y and then ftirring him in his ftall with yQtjr ^'hip, tp j3re\ent him from growing ftifF in the legs and joints. When that time is expired, and you think he is thoroughly cold, draw his bridle, rub his head, pick his feet from dirt or gravel, and put on his collar, and give him a quart or three pints of fifted oats, mixed with a handful of clean dreHed hempfeed ; but give him not more than the quantity prefcribed, for fear of taking away his llomach, whicli will be very much weakened through the heat of his body, and want of water. Then take off the fpare cloth, (if it has not been done before) for fear of keeping him hot too long; and when he Mas eaten his corn, throw a pretty quantity of hay, clean dufted, on his litter, and let him reft two or three hoars, or thereabouts. Then having prepared him a good mafh, made of half 3 peck of malt, well ground, and boiling hot water, fo much as the malt will fweeten and the horfe will drinky ^ir them well together, and cover it over with a cloth, till the water has extrafted the ftrength of the malt, which will be almoft as fweet as honey, and feel ropy like bird- lime ; being but little more than blood-warm, give it the horfe ; but not before, left the fteam go up his noflrils and offend him ; and when he has drank up the water, let him, ifhepleafes, eat the malt too. But if he refufe to drin^ it, you muft not give him any other water that night, but place this drink in fome place of his ftall, fo that he m^y not throw it down, and let it ftand by him all night, that he may drink it when he pleafes. This mafij, or as it is called, horfe-caudle, will com- fort his ftomach, and keep his body in a due temperate heat after his day's hunting ; it \yiU cleaafe and bring away all manner of greafe and grofs 4iumours, which have been diffolved by the day's labour ; and the fume of the malt grains, after he has drank the water, will difperfe the watery humours which might otherwife annoy his head, and Hunting Horses. ti and is allowed by all {killed in horfes, to be very advan- tageous on that account, . . After he has eaten his mail\,' ftrip him of his cloathes, and run him over with a cuny-comb, French brupi, hair patch, Vv'oollen and cloth, and cloath him up again^ and cleanfe his legs as vvell as his body, of all dirt and filtfi which may annoy them, and then remove him into ano- ther ftall,' (that you may not wet his litter) and bathe his- legs all over from the knees with warm beef-broth, (or whicli is bette. ) with a quart of warm urinej in v/hich four ounces of falt-petre has been diiTolved ; then rub his- Jegs dry, fet him again into his Hail, and give him agood home feeding "ci oats, or bread, which he likes heft, or both, and having Ihook good ftore of litter under him, that he may reit the better, and thrown him hay enough for all night, Ihat the ftable door clofe, and leave him to his reft till the next morning. About fix or feven o'clock the next morning, go to him again, but don't difturb him, for the morning's reft is as refreftiing to a horfe as to a man ; but when he rifes of his own accord, go to him, put back his dung from his litter, and obferve what colour it is of, whether it be greafy, and Ihinc outwardly, and alfo break it with your i'ttty to fee if it be fo inwardly: for if it be greafy and foul, which you may know by its fhining outwardly, and by the fpots like fc^ap that will appear within, or if it ap- pear of a dark brown colour, and harder than it was, it is a token that the hunting of the day before has done hini good, by diifolving part of the inward glut which wais within him ; and therefore the next time you hunt> yoa Ibould increafe his labour but a little. But if you perceive no fueh fymptoms, but that his dung appears bright, and rather foft than hard, without ^reafe, and in a word, that it holds the fame pale yellow <:olour that it did before he hunted, it is a fign that a day's hunting made no dilTolution, but that his body re- mains in the fame ftate ftill, and therefore the next day's- hunting you may almoit double his labour^ Having t£ The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Havinig made thefe remarks on his dung, then vou may proceed to order him as on his days of reft ; that is to fay, you fhall give him a handful or two of oats before water, then drefs, water, air, feed, &c. as in the firft fortnight. ^ If you find him quick, an^that he retains his bread but a little while, then' only chip his bread lightly ; but if it be flow, and He rettiins it long, then cut away nl\ the craft and give it to fome other horfe, and feed the hunt- ing horfe only with the eramb,- for that being light of- di- geftion, is food converted into chyle and excrements, but' the cruft being not fo foon digeftible, requires, by reafon of itshardnefs, longer time before it is coneofted.- The^ next day after your horfe has refted, you may hunt hirri' again as y®u did the firft day, obferving from the remarks you have made, to hunt him more or lefs ac- cording as you find his temper and conftitution ; and when yoa'come home,. put-in prsftice the rules juft now given. And^ thus j'-ou may hunt him three times a v/eek for a fortnight together, but do not fail to give him his full feeding, and no other fcourings but mafhes and hemp-feed, which is equal in its virtue with the: former, and only car- ries ofiTupeifiuousnuraours in. the dung.. ^he third fortnight' s diety l^c. for a Hunting Korse. By this time the horfe will be drawn fo <:lean, his flefti will be fo enfeamed,. and his wind {o improved, that he will be abic to ride a chafe of three or four miles without blowing or fwcating ; and you may find by his chaul and- fiank, as well as his ribs, that he is in an indifferent good ftate of body, and therefore in this next fortnight you muft iHcreafe his labour, and hy that meansyOu will b^ able to make a judgment of what he will be able to do, and whether or no he will be ever fit for running for plates, oramatch. When your horfe is fet over night, and fed early in the morning, as has been directed for the fecond fortnight,, then go into the field with Iiim, and when he is empty, (^s he will be by that time yon have ftarfed your game) follow the dogs at a good round rate, as at half fpeed, and fo H U N T X N « Horse s. :S| To continue till yqa have either killed or loil your firft hare. This will fo rack your horfe, and he will hai^e fo empti^ 'cd hirafclf, that he will be in a fit condition to be- rid the next chafe brlHcly, which as foon as it is begun, you may follow the dogs at three qunr!:ers fpeed, and as near as is- :fit for a good horfeman, and fkilful huntfraan i but be furc .to take care not to ftrain him. Daring this day's riding, you ought to obferve nicely, ■your horfes fv/eat, under his faddle and fore-bowels, and if it appear white, like froth or foap-fuds, it is a fign of (•inward glut and foulnefs, and that your day's exercife was 'enough for Iiim, therefore ride him home, and order him as before diiedled. But if it has happened that your exercife has been fo ^eafy as not to fvy-eat your horfe thoroughly, then you •ought to make a train-fcent of four miles in length, or thereabouts, and laying on your fleeteft dogs, ride it brifkly, and afterwards cool him in the iield, and ride him home and order him as has been before dlreded. A train-fcent, is the training of a dead cat or fox, (and in cafe of neceflity a red herring) three or four miles, ac- cording as the rider fhall pleafe, and then.la}an^ the dogs on the fcent. It will be proper to keep two or fkree couple of the fleeteft houndstliat can poflibly be procured, for this purpofe,. When you take off your horfe 's bridle, give him a good quantity of rye-bread inftead of hemp-feed and oatSj, and for that purpofe bake a peck loaf, for this being cold and moift, will be of ufe to cool his body after his labour, and prevent coftivenefs, to which you will find him addic- ted ; then give him hay, and afterward* a mafli, and order him in all things as before direfted. The next morning, if you perceive by his dung that hl« body is dlftempered, and that be k hard and bound, then take fome crumbs of your rye-bread, and v/ork it with as much fweet frefh butter as will make it into a pafte, and make it up into balls about the bigiiefs of a large walnut, of which give him iive or fix in a morning. After «4 The COiMPLETE SPORTSMAN. After this put the faddle on upon the cloth, get up ani gallop him gently upon fomc grafs plot -or clofe that is near at hand, till he begins to fweat under his ears, and then carry him into the ftable again, rub him well and throw a fpare cloth over liim, and a good quantity of frefh. Utter under him, and let him ftand two hours on the bridle ; then gi^^e him a quantity of rye-bread, and fome hay to chew upon, then procure him a warm mafh, and feed him with bread and corn, as much as he will eat, and alfo as much hay as he will eat. The next day water him abroad, and order him as it is before di reded for days of reft. The next day you may hunt him again, but not fo hard as you did the time before, till the afternoon ; but then ride him after the dogs brifkly, and if that does not make him fweat thoroughly, make another train- fcent, and follow the dogs three quarters fpeed, that he may fweat heartily : then cool him a little, and ride him home, and as foon as he is come in the ftable, give him two or three balls as big as walnuts, of the following excellent fcouring. Take of butter, eight ounces ; lenitive ele^uary, four ounces; gromwel, broom, and purfly-feeds, of each two ounces ; annifeeds, liquorice, and cream of tartar, of eack one ounce; of jalap, two ounces; reduce the feeds to a powder, then ftir them into a pafte with the eleduary and butter ; knead it well together, put it into a pot, and keep it clofe ftoppcd for ufe. As foon as the horfe has taken thefe balls, rub him dry, drefs him, and cloath him warm, and let him ftand two or three hours upon the fnaffle ; and afterwards give him two or three handfuls of rye-bread, and order him as you have been dircded before, as to hay, provender, maih, &c» and fo leave him till the morning. In the morning take notice of his dung, whether it ftill letains the true colour, or be dark, black, or red, and high-coloured : in thS ne^t place, whether it be loofe and -tkin, or hard and dry. Hunting Horses. 85 - If it be of a pale yellow, which is the right colour, it is a fign of health, llrength, and cleannefs ; if it be dark, or black, then it is a fign there is greafe and other ill hu- mours ftirred up, which are not yet evacuated ; if it be red and high coloured, then it is a fign that his blood is fever- i(h and dillempered, by means of inward heat: if it be loofe and thin, it is a fign of weaknefs; but if hard and dry, it Ihews the horfe to be hot inwardly, or elfe that he is a foul feeder ; but if his dung be in a medium between hard and foft, and fmell ftrong, it is a fign of health and vig- our. When thefe obfervatlons have been made on his dung, then feed, drefs, water. Sec, as on his ufual days of rcll, always letting him have variety, and his fill of corn and bread. The next day have him abroad into the field again, but do not by any means put him to any labour more than taking him from hill to hill after the dogs, keeping hi» "within found of their cry ; for the intent of this dav's ex- ercife is only to keep him in breath, and procure him an apj->etite. In riding, let him ftand dill to dung, and look back on it, that you may be able to judge of his Hate thereby. When the day is nearfpent, ride him home without the lead fweat, and order him as at other times, except that you are not to give him any fcouring, or rye-bread. You may, if you pleafe, this day, water your horfe, both at going into the field and coming out, gailoping him after it, to warm the water in his belly. The next day being to be a day of reft, order him m the fame manner in every refpeft as on other days of reil ; and as you have fpent this week, you muil fpend the next, without any alteration ; and by this time, and this management, you may depend upon it, that your horfe has been drawn clean enough for ordinary huntin^^. Having thus drawn your horfe clean accordin«j- to art. you will perceive thofe figns before mentioned vcrv plain- ly, for his flefli on his fhort ribs and buttocks \;ill be as hard as brawn, his flank will be thin, and nothing to be felt but a double Ikin, and chaps fp clean from fat, glut, I or m The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN, or kernels, that you may hide your fifts in them ; and above all, this exercife will give plain demonftration of the efFedualnefs of this method of ordering him, for he will run three or four miles three quarters fpeed without Aveating, or fcarce fo jimchas blowi»ng. Wlien the horfe has been brought to this ftate, you muft life no more fcouring after hunting, becaufe nature has nothing to work on^ but rye-bread and maih, except the liorfe be nov/ and then troubkd with fome little pofe in his head : and then bruife a little muftard feed in a fine Jmen rag, and ileep it in a quart of llrong ale, for three cr four hours, and then untying the rag, mix the muftard feed and the ale with a quarter of a peck of oats, and give t to him. In the laft place, the horfe having been thus drawa clean, you ought to take care not to let him grow foul again, through want of either airing or hunting, or any other negligence, left by that means you make yourfelf a double troubk. Of hreedhtg Hunting and'KkCz HoRSES. Procure either an Arabian, a SpaniiTi, orTurkifh horfe, or a Barb for a Stallion, which is well-fhaped, and of a good colour, to beautify your race i and fome advife thajc he be well marked too, tho' others are of opinion, that marks are not fo fignificant as Mr. Blundeville and Fre- derigo Griftbne would have us believe. Thofe who have travelled into thofe parts report, that the right Arabian horfes are valued at an almoft incredible rate, at five hundred, and others fay, two or three thoufand pounds an horfe ; that tlie Arabs are as careful of keeping the genealogies of their horfes, a? princes are in keeping tlieir pedigrees ; that they keep them with medals ; and that each fon's portion is ufually two fuits of arms, two fcymeters, ^nd one of thefe horfes. The Arabs boaft^ that they T^ill ride eighty miles a day without drawing bitt; which is no more than has been performed by feveral of e exported, But if you fhould attain a liberty fo to do, and travel by land, unlefs you have a Turk or two for a convo}', you will be fure to have them feized on by the way. Andbefides, you will find the fame difficulties of a long journey, for you mull come through Germany, which is -a ver\' long way, and the fame charge attending it, that is, a groom and a farrier, who muft be careful that they intruft no pcrfon whatfoever with the care of him but themfelve^' efpccially in (hoeing him, for 'tis the common prae h'.m up and down to warm him, and then bring him to the water again and let him drink his fill, galloping him again as before, never leaving the water till he hath drank as much as he will. By this means you will prevent raw crudities, which the coldnefs ot the water would otherwife produce, to the detriment of his Romach, if you had permitted him to drink his till at firil, whereas by allov/ing him his fill (tho* 1b)' degrees) at lall, you keep his body from drying too fall. As for other rules for the ordering him after wateiin* and the kours of feeding, clc. they will be more proper. When the ftallion is in lull, and the time of covering is come, which is beft to be in May, that the foals may fall in the April following, otherwife they will have little or no grafs. Then pull off his hinder (hoes, and lead him to the place where the llud of mares are which you intend for covering, which place ought to be a clofe, well fenced, and in it a little hut for a man to lie in, and a large Ihed with a manger, to feed your ftallion with-bread and corn during his abode with the mares, and (helter for him in the heat of the day, and in rainy weather : and this clofe ought to be of fufHcient largenefs to keep the mares well for two months. Before you pull off his bridle, let him cover a marc or two in hand, then turn him loofe among them, and put all your mares to him, as well thofc that are with foal, as thofe which are not, for there is ao danger in it ; and by tl^t J Hunting Horses. 91 that means they v:i\\ all be ferved in the height of their luft, anki according to the intention of nature. When your ftallion has covered them once, he will try th^m all. over again, and thofe that will admit him-, he, will ferve ; and when he hath done his bufinefs, he v»ill beat againil the pales, and attempt to be at liberty, which when your man tinds, (who is to obferve them night and- day, and to take care that no other mares are put to your horfe, and to give -]^"ou an account which take the horfe> and which not, ivc.) then take him up, and keep him well as you did before, firft giving him a mafh or two, to help to rellore nature ; for you will find him littk but Jkin and bones, and his mane and tail will rot offT Be fure never to give him above ten or t^veIve mares in a feafon at moft, otherwife you will fcarce recover him. againft the next covering feafon. Some advife to covering in hand,, as tfie other is called^ • covering out of hand, and is as follows : When you have brought both your horfe and your mare to a proper con- dition for breeding, by art and good feeding, then fct fome ordinary ftonc nag by her for a day or t\so,. to woo her, and that will make her fo prone to lull, that (he will', readily receive your ftallion, which you (hould prefent to hc% either early in the morning, or late in an evening,' for a day or two together, and let him cover in hand once or twice, if you pleafe, at each time obferving to give the horfe the advantage of ground, and have a perfon ready with a bucket of cold water to throw on the mare's Ihape immediately upon the difmounting of the horfe, whiclr will make her retain the feed (he received the better;, ef- pecially if you get on her back, and trot her up and down" lora quarter of an hour, but take care of heating or ft rain- ing her : and it will not be amifs if you let them faft two hours after fuch ad, and then give each of them a warm raafh, and it is odds but this way your mares may be as well fervedas the other, and your ftallion willlaft you much longer. If you take care to hou(e the mares all the winter, and keep th»m wcU, their colts will prove the better, 0/ 9* The COMPLETE SPQRTSMAN. Of riding a Hunting-match or Heats for a Plate, The firft thing requifite is a rider, who ought to be a faithful one, in whom yon may confide ; and he fhould have a good clofe feat, his knees being held firm to his faddle ikirts, his toes being turned inwards, and his fpurs outwards from the horfe's fides, his kft hand governing, the horfe's mouth, and his right commanding the whip, taking care, during the whole time of his trial, to fit firm in the faddle, without wavering, or flanding up jn the ftirrups, which aftions do very much incommode a horfe,^ notwithftanding the conceited opinion of fome jockies, that it is a becoming feat. In fpurring his horfe, he ftioutd not flrike him hard with the calves of his legs, as if he would beat the wind out of his body, but juft turning his toes outwards, and bringing his fpurs quick to his fides; and fuch a fharp ilroke will be of more fervice towards the quickening of the horfe, and fooner draw blood. Let him befure never tofpurhim but when there isoc-^ cafion, and avoid fpurring him under the fore-bowels, be^- tween his flioulder and girths, near the heart, (which is tha tenderefl place of a horie) till the lafl extremity. As to the whipping the horfe, it ought to be over the- fiioulder on the near lide, except upon hard running, and when you are at all, then ftrike the horfe in the flank, with a flrong jirk, the fkin being tenderefl there, and mofl fenfible of the lafh. He mufl obferve, when he whips and fpurs his horfe», and is certain that he is at the top of his fpeed, if then he claps his ears in his pole, or whiiks his tail, then he may be fure that he bears him hard ; and then he ought to give him as much comfort as he can, by fawing his fnafEe to and fro in his mouth, and by tliis means forcing him tD o^n his mouth,, which will comfort him and give him. wmd. If in the time of riding there is any high wind flirring,^ if it be in his face, he fhould let the adverfary lead, he holding hard behind him till he fees an opportunity of giv- ingr Hunting Horses. 93 mg a loofe ; yet he muft take care to keep fo clofe to himj that his adverfary's horfe may break the wind from his, and that he, by liooping low in his feat, may (lielter him- felf under him, which will affiil the ftrength of his horfc. But on the contrary, if the wind be at his back, he muft ride exadly behind 'him, that his own horfe may alone enjoy the benefit of the wind, by being as it were blown forward, and by breaking it from his adverfary as much as poiTiblc. In the next place, obferve what ground your horfe de- lights moft to run on, and bear the horfe (as much as your adverfary will give you leave) on level carpet ground, be- caufe the horfe will naturally be defirous to fpend him more freely thereon : but on deep earths give him more liberty, becaufe he, will naturally favour himfelf there- upon. If you are to run up hill, don't forget by any means to favour your horfe, and bear him, for fear of running him out of wind, but if it be down hill (if your horfe's feet and flioulders will endure it, and you dare venture your neck) always give him a loofe. This may be obferved as a general rule, that if you find, your horfe to ha\-e the heels of the other, that tlien you be careful to preferve his fpeed till the lait train fcent, if yon are not to run a ftrait courfe ; but if fo, then till the end of the courfe, andfo to hufband it then alfo, that you may be able to make a pufh for it at the lafl: poft. In the next place, you are to acquaint yourfelf, as well as ) ou can, of the nature and temper of your adverfary's horfe, and if he be fiery, then to run juft bchii-id, or juft. cheek by joul, aud widi the whip make a« much noife as you can, that you may force him on failer than his rider would have him, and by that means fpend him the fooner; or elfe keep juft before him, on fuch a How gallop, that he may either over-reach, or by treading on your horfe's heels (if he will not lake the leading) endanger falling over. Take notice alfo on what ground your opponent's horfc runs the worft, and be fure to give a loofc on that earth, that 94- The COMFLETE SFORTSMAN. that he being forced to follow you, may be in danger of^ tumbling, or clapping on the back finews. In this like manner, in }i>ur riding obferve the feyeral helps and correftions of the hand, the whip, and ^ur, and when, and how often he makes ufe of them ; and when you perceive that his horfe begins to be blown, by any b( the former fyraptoms, as clapping down his ears, whifk- ing his tail, holding out his nofe like a pig, &c. you may then take it for granted that he is at the height of what he can do; and therefore, in this e^fe, take notice how. your own rides, and if he runs chearfuUy and ftrongly, ' without fpurring, then be fure to keep your adverfaryto the fame fpeed, without giving him cafe, and by fo doing, you will quickly bring him to give out, or elfe diftance him, Obferve at the end of every train fcent what condition the other horfe is in, and how he holds out in his labour, ©f which you may be able to make a judgment by his looks, the working of his flank, and the ilacknefs of hi* girths. \ For if he looks dull. It is a lign that his fpirits fail him ; }f his flanks beat much, it is a token that his wind begins to fail him, and confequently his llrength will do fo too. If his wind fail him, then his body will grov/ thin, and appear tucked up, which will make his girths, to the eye, feem to be flack ; and therefore you may take this for a lule, that a horfe's wanting girting, after the firit fcent, provided he were girt clofe at his firft ftarting, is a good fign ; and if you find it fo, you need not much defpair of winning the wager. After the end of every train- fcent, and alfo after every heat for a plate, you muft have dry ftraw and dry cloths, both linen and woollen, which have been lleeped in urine and falt-petre a day or two, and then dried in the fun, and alfo one or two of each muft be brought into the field wet ; and after the train has been ended, tv/o or three perrons muft help you ; and after the groom has, with a knife of heat, fcraped off all the fweat from the horfe's neck, body, 4fQ^ then they n^uk rub him well down dry, all over, firft wlik 'A M-^^^^"^ H IT N T I N'G HORSES. 95 lcxt, as foon as the time allowed for rubbing be ex- piij^, which is generally half an hour, they Ihall command il^em to mount, and if either rider refufe, it may be kw- "ful for the other to Hart without him ; -and having beat hirti the diftance agreed on, the wager is to be adjudged on his fide. Next, the triers fhall keep off all other horfes from crofling the riders ; only they themfelves may be allowed ■to inftrudl the riders by word of mouth, how to ride, whe- •ther flow or faft, according to the advantages he perceives jmay be gained by his directions. Laftly, if there be any weight agreed on, they Ihall fe^ (that both horfes bring their true weight to the ftarting-place, and carry it to the end of the train, upon the penalty of iofing the wager* Now ^G The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Now in running for a plate there are not fo many ob- fcrvations to be made, nor more diredions required, than vhat have been already given, only this ; if you knew your horfe to be tough at bottom, and that he will ftick at mark, to ride him each heat, according to the bcft of his performance, and avoid as much as poffible cither riding at any particular horfe, or (laying for any, but to ride each heat throughout with the beft fpeed you can, * But if you have a very fiery horfe to manage, or one that is hard-mouthed and difficult to be held, then Hart him behind the reft of the horfes, with all the coolnefs and gentlenefs imaginable ; and when you find that he begins to ride at fome command, then put up to the other horfes, and if you find they ride at their eafe, and are hard held, then endeavour to draw them on faftcr ; but if you find their wind begin to rake hot, and that they want a fob, if your horfe be in wind, and you have a loofe in your hand, keep them up to their fpeed till you come within three quarters of a mile of the end of the heat, and then give a loofe and pufh for it, and leave to fortune and the goodnefs of your horfe the event of your fuccefs. . Laftly, when either your hunting-match or the trial for the plate is ended, as foon as you have rubbed your horfe dry, cloth him up and ride him home, and the firft thing give him the following drink to comfort him. ,r Beat the yolks of three eggs, and put them into a_ pint and a half of fweet milk, then warm it luke-warm, and put to it three pennyworth of faffron, and three fpoonfuls of failad oil, and give it him in a horn. Having done this, drefs him flightly over with the curry-comb, bruih, and woollen-cloth, and then bathe the place where thefaddle ftood with warm fack, to pre vent warbles ; and wafh the fpurring places with pifs and fait, and afterwards aniont them with turpentine and pow- der of jett, mixed together ; then litter the liable very well, clothing him up as quick as poffible, and let him ilani for two hours. Then feed him with rj'c-bread, after that with a good malh. H U N T I K G H O R S E. S. QfJ mafh, and give him his belly fall of hay, sand what corn and bread he will eat. Then bathe his legs well with urine and falt-petre, leave him corn in his locker, and folet him reiltill the next inorn- ing, at which time order him as bstbre dire^ikd in his days of reft. Honx} to order a horfe for a match or plate. When you ha\'e matched your horfe, or defign to put him in for a plate, you fnouid confider that you ought to referve a month at leaft, to draw his body perfectly clean, and to refine his wind to that degree of perfection that is capable of being attained by art. In the firft place, take an exact view of the ftate of his body, both outwardly and inwardly, as whether he be low. or high in fiefh, or whether he be dull and heavy when abroad, and if this has been caufedby-too hard riding, or by means of fome greafe that has been difiblved by hunting, and hai not been removed by fcouring. If he appear lluggifli and melancholy from eith^^r of thefe caufes, then give him half an ounce of diapente in a pint of good old Malaga fack, v/hich will both cleanfe his body and revi^^e his fpirita. , . . , Then for th-, firft week feed him continnallvw^ith bread,' oats, and fplit beans, giving him fometimes the one and fometimes the other, acccrding t«> what Iiq likes beft, al- ways leaving hun fome in his locker for hisn to eat at leifure when you are abient : and when vou reti^m ac your hours of feeding, take away what is left and give him freih>^ till you have mad", him wanton and playful. To this purpofe, taive notice, that tho' you ride him every day morning and evening, on airing, and every other day on hunting, yet you are not to fv/eathiin, or put hvm to any violent labour, the defign of this week's ordering being to ke^p him in wind and Iweath, and to prevent purfivenefe. But take notice of this, that your oats, beans, and bread, are now to be ordered after another manner than what they were before ; foi' tirll, the oats rnuib-be .well d:'\cd. in the / / / / 95 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. fun, and then put into a clean bag and foundly beat with a flail or cudgel, till you think they are hulled, then take them out of the bag and winnow them clean, both from hulls and duft, and give them to yonr horfe as there is oc- 'Cafion. After the fame manner muft you order your beans, fepa- 'Tating them from^ the hulls, which are apt to breed the •glut, and mull either be thrown away, or given among chaff, to fome more ordinary horfe. And as for the bread, which was only chlpt before, now 'the cruft muft be cut clean off, and be othenvife difpofed of^ it being hard of digellion, and will be apt to heat amd dry the horfe's body- and befides, you mult make a finer '^bread than before, as follows. Take two pecks of beans, and a peck of wheat, and let them be ground together, but not too fine, to prevent' too much bran being in the bread ; and drefs one peck of the meal through a iine range, and knead it up with new ale yeaft, and the whites of a dozen new laid eggs, and bake this in a loaf by itfelf; but drefs the reft of the meal 'through a boulter, and knead it only with ale and yeaft, .and ufe it in all other points as^tl?€i former : the peck loaf is to be given the horfe when you fet him, and the other a; ordinary times. 'Having treated of the condition of thofe horf^f which^ are melancholy and low of flefh, I Ihall now fpeak of thofe which are brifk and lively : If your horfe be fo^ that •when you lead him out of the ftable he will leap and play a^cut you, then you m.uft not only omit giving him the ifcouring of fack and diapente, but any other whatfoever, for there being no foul hum.ours, nor fuperfluous matter left in his body, for the phyfick to work upon, it will jsrey upon the llrength of his body, and by that means weaken it. If your horfe be engaged in a hunting match, you muft fwcat him twice this week, but not by hunting him after ;tl?e hare, but by train-fcents, fince the former on this oc- .caiion m^^y prove deceitful.: for^tho' the hounds Ihould be ■very fwiit, y^ the icent being cold, the dogs will very often Hunting Horses. 99 often be at a fault, and by that means the horfe \vlll h.ue nrdny fobs: fo that when ne comes to ran traiii-fcents in earned, he will expe<^ eafe for his wind. Therefore lead your train-fcents with a dead cat, ov.^r fuch grounds as you are likely to run on, and bell agrees with the humour of your horfe, and alfo chufe the fleet', t hounds you can get, and they will keep your horfe up to the height of his fpeed. As to the number of train-fcents that you Ihould ride at a time, that is to be ordered according to the match you are to run, or rather according to the ftrength of your.horfe, and ability forper'!jrming his heats ; for if you labour him beyond his flrength, it will take him off his fpeed, weaken. bis limbs, and daunt his fpirit. If you give him too little exercife, it will render hiii- liable to be purfive, and full of ill humours, as glut, &«. and incline him to a habit of lazinefs, fo that when Ivi comes to be put to labour beyond liis ufual rate^hewiit grew reftive and fettle, like a jade. . . . , But fo far may be faid by way of dIre ^hat tke articles exad ; only obferve, that as- to the iharp- K 2 nvii ICO The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. nefs of them, they muft be regulated according to his ftrength, and the goodhefs of his wind. And wJien }ou heat him, provide fome horfes upon the ccurfe to ran againil: him; this will quicken his ipirits ?.nd encourage iiim, when he finds he can command them at his pleafure. And here you mufl obfen-e the fame rule, not to give the horfe a bloody heat for ten days or a fortnight, before the plate be to run for ; and let the laft heat you give him before the day of trial be in all his cloths, and juft ficelp it over, which will make him run the ne;:t time the more vigoroufly, when he {hall be ftript naked and feel the cold air pierce him. During this month, and qn his refting days, -and after his fweats on heatir^g days, (if there be any occafion for fweating him) you mull obferVe the fame rules which have been given for the hrfi week of the third fortnight's keep- ing, only you mud omit all fcou rings but rye-bread and miiflies, linceyour horfe being in fo perfeft allate of body, has no need of any, except you (hall judge there is occafion, and that the horfe proves thirfty, about eight or nme o'clock at night you muft give him tlie following julep, to cool and quench his thirft. Take two quarts of barley-water, three ounces of fvrup- of violets, two ounces of fyrup of lemons, and having liiixcd them together, give them the horfe to drink, and if he refufe, place it fo that he may not throw it down, and let It ftand by him all night. raring the lafl; fortnight you muft give him dried cats thnt have been bulled by^ heating, and having walked half a ftrike. of cats in the whites of a dozen or tv.enty eggs, ftir them together, and let them lie all night to foak, and fpread thern abroad in the fun the next morning, till they are as dry as .they were at firft, and fo give them to your horfe, and when thefe are fpent, prepare another quantity after the fame manner. But if you f nd your horfe inclinable to be coftive, then give him cats waftied in two or three whites of eggs and ale beaten up together, to cool his body and keep it moift. Give yy Mar e s. ioi Give him not any mafh for the laft week, only the ■ barley-water before c}ire<5led, but let hini have his fill. of; hay, till a day before he is to ride the match, when you miift give it him more fparingly, that he may have time to • digeft that he has eaten,^and then, and not before, you.jnay, muzzle him with your caveilbn; and be fure that, day, , and not till the morning he is led out, to feed him as much ■ as poffible, for fach a day's labour wi'tl require-.fomething^:; to maintain his ftrength. Therefore in the morning before you are to leadout,*. give him a toaft or two of white bread fteeped in faclc^ ,, which will invigorate him ; and when you have done, , lead him out into the field. Kut if you are to run for a plate, wliich' commonly as s not till three o'clock in the afternoon, .then by all means-.s have him out early in the morning air,, that he may emptyy his body, and when he is come in from airing, feed h'tinr. with toails infack ; confidering that as too much fulnefs-. will endanger his wind, . fo too lQng_ failing will -caufftc fuintnefs. .^ When he has eaten whiit you thought .fit ta give hti-nv, put on hiscaveiToni and having after\yards foundly chafed { his legs with piece-greafe and brandyrwarmed tagetherj Qt ■ train-oil. (-vt^hich likev/ife ought to be ufed daily at- nociV,,. for a week before the match, or longery-if you fee caufeH (hake up his litter and fhut the ftabk- op clofe, and talye • care that there is no noife made near him, .and let him x^^, t-jli the hour comes that he is to go out into the iieid, , ^ A Mare may becovered'XVli^nihe is paffed'two yttn'>. old,., though the bell time- is after four, years -oIU, ^ wjien- Ihe will ; nourifn her cglt be{l|^and thauGrh;.{li:t - may -breed, till thirteen^ yet .when fae is> palt , ten it doc?- not do 1^ welli: for commonly aa q\^ mare V colt, will /(h,^.. heavy in. labour. •. The proper time for coveriAig, ijs reckoi'* .- «d froHi-the .eod of ihe fixft quartai to.the fulLraoon,. ,or ii: t. 102 Txhe COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. .the full ; for thofe colts will be ftronger and hardier of na- ture; whereas 'tis obferved in thofe that are co\ered after the change,, that they will be tender and nice: but before "the mare is covered, fte ihould be taken into the houfe about fix vveeks, and be well fed v/ith good hay and oats, well fifted, to the end fne raay have ftrength and feed to ■perform the ofnce of generation. As for tlie manner of covering, fhe mnft be brought out irto icmc broad place, and tied to a port ; then bring out foDie ftone jade to dally with her, to provoke her to appe- tite ; after which let the llallicn be led out by two men, rnd let him leap her in the m.crning falling, and when he is difmcuniing, let a pail of ccld v/ater be thrown upon htrfnnpe, vJiich by rcafcn of the coldnefs will make her fhrink in, and trafs up her body, whereby ihe is caufed to retain the feed the better : then take away the ftallion, and let the mare be pat cut cf the hearing of the horfe, and let her neither eat cr drir.k in fcur or live hours after, and then give her a mafh and v. hite water: you may know if ft-ie.ftands to b^ir covering, by her keeping a good ilomach arid her not n^eighing at ifie f glu cf a horfe ; fo likev/ife if file dees not ftale often, nor frequently open and iliut her 'ifi-.ape ; or that her belly fcur days after covering be m.ore gaunt, the hair be more fleek and clofcto her fl-'in, and the like. Seme there are v.ho put the horfe and mare toge- ther into an empty houfe for three or four nights, and take the horfe av»'ay in the morning and feed him well, but the mare ' fparingly, and el^'et'iaiiy they give her but little .water.. Now as for the ordering the mare after covering, let her be kept to the fame diet aa -before, for three weeks or a mrnth, led tlie feed be im^^ai/ed before it be formed in the ' womb ; and let her be kept Vweet and clean, without any cxercife, during three wcel:^ or a month : and in the houfe tilt mid-day, with her feet v.'tU pared, and with a thin pair cf'ihoe^on : take her up again about the latter end o^Sep- texrberj if ^iot before, and keep her to the end of her M A RES 1©3 If {he cannot foal, hold her noftrils fo that fhe cannot take her wind ; or if that will not do, take the quantity of a walnut of madder, diffolve it into a pint of rJe, and give give it warm to her; and in cafe flie cannot avoid her 8ecundine, then boil two or three handfuls of fennel in running-water, and put half a pint thereof in as much fack, or for want thereof, a pint of ftrong beer or ale, with a fourth part of fallad oil, mixed together, and give It her lukewarm in her noftrils> and hold them clofe for a good fpace ; or for want thereof, give her good green wheat or rye, but the laft is bell, and they arc as effeftiial; and let her not eat her clean, for thai is very unwholefom.e and will dry up her milk.. Vv'hen Ihe has foaled and licked Jier foal, milk and flroke her before the celt fucks, which will both caufe her to bring down her milk and make it to multiply, and keep it fo that it do not clod ; and in cafe Ihe becomes dry, boil as much milk as you can get from her with the leaves of lavender, and fpike, and bathe the udder with it warm, tiir it be broken, and the knobs and knots diilolved : her water now muft be white water, which is bran put into water, and give her fv/eet maflies ; and a month after foal- ing, let her have a mafh with fonie brimflone and faven in it, which will be a great pi-efervation to the colt ; after which, if fhe he m.oderately laboured at plough or harrow, "both (he and the colt will be the better, provided Ihe be kept from raw meats while fne remains in the ftable, which w'xW both increafe her m^ilk, and caufe her colt to thrive the .better; and care mufl be taken not to fuffcr the colt to fuck her when (he is hot, left thereby you furfeit the colt. In cafe ycu are def rous no mare fhould go barren, m the month of July, or in the beginning of Auguil, get a mare or two that have not been covered that year before, and enforce them to be horfed ; when they fhall be ready to be covered, you muft turn them, withfom.e other horfe which you elleem not as your belt horfe^ am.ong your flud of marc5, and fo he covering the mare or rnares you turned in with him into the ftud, fnall caufe the rell of them, if any. of them have nctccnceivcd at their firft coverings, to 2 eome 104 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Gome to that liorfe again ; whereby y&a fhall be fare to * keep no mare barren all the year, but have a colt of every raare, though notofycur belt horfe. You may fafferyour horfe to run amongft your mares three weeks or a month;, but if yxDu turn him into your {lud, putting in no mare- with liim ready to be covered, he v/ill at his firft entering beat all the mares, and perhaps hurt thofe that had con- ceived before, and fo do more hurt than good. . Some reckon the beil recipe tc bring a mare in feafon and make her retain, is to gi: e her to eat, for tl^e fpace of eight drys before you bring her to the horfe, about two quarts of hernp-feed in die morning, nnd the fame at night ; . butif-fte refufes to eat it, mix with it a little bran or cats, or clfe let hex faS, for a while : and if the ftallion . ea.t5 alfo of it, it will contribute much to generation. It is a maxim, that a mare fnouid never be horfed while • fhe is bringing up her foal, becaufethe foal to which llie is . giving fuck, .as well as that in her belly, will receive pre- judice thereby, and the mare herfeif will be alfo fooner ■ fpent ; but if you would have your mares covered, let itr te^feven or eight days after Ihe has foaled, that (he may h^ve.time to cleanfe ; and if it may be conveniently done, , do not give her the ftallion till fhe dcfires him, and alfo in- ■ creafe, by all means poflible, that paffion, |Dy ftrong feeding, . Ax. For the producing of males, ,the mare muft fee brought - in feafon, and covered very early in the morning, any day before the. fourth day of the moon until it be full, but' never in the increafe : and thus Ihe will not fail to bring forth a male colt.. Mares, befides the many diftempers they are Kable to ■ ia common with horfes, and whi<:h will be found under their feveral names, have fome others, peculiar to their ■, kind only, of which we (hall fpeak briefly ^ and their cure. If your mares be barren.boil good flore of the herb agnus - in the water fhe drinks ; or Itamp a good handful of leeks , ■with four or five fpoonfuls of wine, to which put fome v cantharides, and flrain them altogether, with a fuificient., q^aatity of ,watet to fetve her two days together, by pourr Stallion. 105 ing the fame Into her nature, with a gllfter-pipe mnde fo^ that purpofe ; and at three days end ofter the horfe to her, and if he covers her, wafn her naturc twice together with cold water, or take a little quantity of nitrum, fparrows dung, and turpentine, wrought together, and made like a furpofitory, and putting that in her nature, it wiH do. If you would have her be fruitful, boil goodftore of mo- therwort in the water Ihe drinks. If fhe lofe« her belly, which Ihews a confumption of the womb, give her a quart of brine to drink, having mug- wort boiled therein. If through good keeping fhe forfakes her food, giro her for two or three days together, a ball of butter and agnus callus chopped together. • If (he be fubjea to caft her foal, keep her at grafs very warm, and once a v/eek give her a good warm malh of drink, which fecretly knits beyond expeftation. You are to obferve, that mares go with foal eleven months and as many days as they are years old; as for m- ftance, a mare of nine years old, will carry her foal eleven months and nine days ; fo that you may fo order the co- vering of your mares, that their foals may be brought forth, if you will, at fuch times as there is abundance of |;raf§, ^§9§TALi,i9N andCoLT, 0/ Stallions. A Stallion is an ungelt horfe, defigned for the covering of mares, in order to propagate the fpecies : and when his iiones are taken away, and he is gelt, is called a geld- ing. Nov/ In the chuiing (lone-horfes, or ftallions for mares, you ought to take great care that they neither have moon- e)-es, watery-eyes, blood- fliotten-eyes, fplents, fpavins, curbs, nor, if poffible, any natural imperfesftions of any kind whatfoever ; for if they have, their celts will takd t,hem hereditary from their parents, BXit let them be the beft, ableft, higheil^fpirited, faip coloured and Unefc Ihaped^ and a peribn fliould inforin himfelf ro6 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. himfelf of all natural defeds in them, of which none are free. As for his age, he ought not to be younger, to cover a mare, than four years old, from which time iorward he will beget colts till twenty. ^ Let the ikliion be fo high fed, as to be full of kft and vigour, and then brought to the place where the mares are ; take oiF his hinder ihoes, and let him cover a mare m hand twice or thrice, to keep him fober; then pull ofFhis bridle, and tarn him loofe to the reft of the mares, which muft be in a convenient clofe, with ftrong fences and good food, and there leave him till ke has covered them all, fo that they will take horfe no more; by which time his courage will be pretty well cooled. Ten or twelve mares are enough for one horfe in the fame year; it wHl be alfo neceffary to have fome little ftied or hovel in the field, to which he may retreat to de- fend him from the rain, fun, and wind, which are very weakening to a hxrfe : let there be likewife be a rack and a manger to feed him in, during his covering-time, and it woi]ld^not be amifs if one were to watch him during that time, for fear of ^ny accident, and the better to know how often he covers eacli mare. When ^e has done his duty, take him away from ^e mares, and remove them into fome frefh pafture. Take notice that when you would have mares covered, either in hand or otherwife, that both the ftatlidn and mare ought to have the fame feeding, viz. if the horfe be at hay and oats, which are commonly called hard meats, the mare Ihould be alfo at hard meat, otherwife Ihe will not be fo fit to hold. In the like manner, if the ftallion be at grafs, yOQ muft alfo put the mare to grafs. Thofe mares which are in middling cafe, conceive the moll eafily ; whereas thofe that are very fat, hold with great difficulty ; thofe of them that are hot and in feafon, retain a great deal better ; their heat exciting the ftallion, who, on hi§ part, performs the a(^iofl with greater vigour and ardour. And S T A R L E S. 107 And when you cover a mare in hand. In order that fhe may the more certainly hold, let the flallicn and the marc be fo placed in the liable, that they may fee each other, keeping them fo for fome time, which will animate them both, and then they will hardly fail to generate. For the ordering of a ftallion, fome give the following inftrudions : Feed the ftallion, for three months at lead, before he is to cover, with good oats, peafe, or beans, or with coarfe bread, and a little hay, but a good deal cf wheat ftraw, carrying him twice a day out to water, waUiing' him up and dov/n for an hour after he has drankj but without making him fweat. If the ftallion be not thus brought into wind before he covers, he will be in danger of becoming purfey, and broken winded : and if he be not well fed, he will not be able to perform his tafs:, or at beft the colts would be but pitiful and weak ones ; and though you ftiould take great care to nouriih him, yet you will take him in again very weak. If you put him to many mares, he will not ferve you fb long, but his mane and tail will fall away by reafon of po- verty, and it will be a diffieult matter to bring him to a good condition of body, againft the year following. He ought to have mares according to his ftrength, as twelve or fifteen, or at moft not above twenty. 0/ S T A B JL E S. AS lo the fituatlon of a ftable, it ihouM be in a good air, and upcn hard, firm, and dry ground, that in the winter tlaife horfe may come and go clean in and out ; and if it may be, it will be beft if it b^ fituated upon an afcent, tliat the urine, foul water, or any wet, may be conveyed . away by trenches or finks cut out for that purpofe. By no means let there be any hen-roofts, hog-fties, or houfes of eafement, or any other filthy fmells near it, for len-dung or feathers fwallowed, oftentimes prove mortal, and io8 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. and the ill air of a jakes fometimes caufes blindnefs ; and the fmell offwine is apt to breed the farcin; and there is no animal that delights more in cleanlinefs, nor is more offended at unwholefome favours than a horfe. Brick is better for building llables than ftone, the latter being fubje(5l to fweating in wet weather, and the dampnefs and mciilure caufes rheums and catarrhs. . Let the walls be of a good convenient thicknefs, at leaft a brick and a half or two brick thick, both for the fake of fafety and warmth in winter, and to defend him from being annoyed with the heat in fummer, which would hinder his digelling his food. It will be proper to have windows both on the eall and on the north fides, that he may have the benefit of the north air in fummer, and of the morning fun from the call in the winter. Let the windows be glazed, and if they be falhed it will not only be the handfomer, but will be more convenient tO' let air in at p-leafure; and let there be clofe wooden {but- ters, that you may darken the Itable in the middle of the day, which will incline the horfe to take his reft as well in the day as in the night. That part of the floor on which the horfe is to ftand fliould be made of oaken planks, for they will be both eafier and warmer for the horfe to , lie upon than ftones ; and be fure to lay them level, for if they are laid, higher before than behind, (as they generally are in Inns and Horfe- courfer's ftabies, that their horfes may appear' to ' more advantage in ftature) his hinder legs will fwell, and he never can lie eafily, becaufe his hinder parts will be ilill flipping down. Lay the planks crofs-ways, and not length-w^ys, and fmk a good trench underneath them, which may rcceiv'Gi the urine through the holes bored in the planks, aridcom'ejr. it into fome common receptacle. .^ ; , > Raife the ground behind him even with the planksi> that he may continually ftand upon a level, and let the fioor behind him be paved with fraall pebble ; and be fare to. Stables. 109 to let that part of the flable where the racks fland be well wanifcoted. Place two rings at each fide of his (tail for his halter to ran through, which fhould have a light wooden logger at the bottom of it, to poife it perpendicularly, but not (o heavy as to tire the horfe, or to hinder him from cat- . Some recommend a drawer or locker made in the wain- fcot partition,, rather than a iixt manger, for him to eat his corn .out of, which may be taken out to cleanfe at pleafure. Some again difapprove of this way of feeding, thinking it may fpoil his cheft, and that his blowing upon his hay will make it naufeous to his palate: but others again an- fwer, that as to the fpoiling of his cheft, it rather Itrength- ens it and rnakes it lirm ; whereas on the contrary, ths liftihg of his head up high to the rack, will make him withy-cragged. But the way before-mentioned he will feed as he lies, which will be for his eafe. And as to tlic hay, that may be given him by fmall quantities at a time ; and there will be this advantage in receiving his hay on the ground, the prone pofture will cleanfe his head from rheum or pofe, which he may happen by any ways to have gotten, and induce him to fneeze and throw out all man- ner of watery- humours that may annoy his head. If you have ftahle room enough you may make parri'^ tions, and at the head, towards the manger, board them to that height that . one horfe m.ay not moleil or fmell to another, allowing each horfe room enough to turn about and lie down at pleaf a re. One of the ilalls may be made convenient for you groom to He in, in cafe of a match, or tlie ficknefs of : horfe. Behiuv! the lialls may be made a range of prelfes, with pegs to hang up faddks, bridles. Sec. and Hielves for other atenfils, pots for ointments, &c. I.et the floor over the liable be cieled, whether you make it a granary, or a lodging room for your groom, that no dull may fall from it upon your horfes, L There ^to The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN There are alfo other requifites, as a dung-yard, a pump, a conduit ; and if fome pond or running water were near^' it were better. -Courjlng nvith Greyhounds, IS a recreation in great efteem ^vith many gentlemen. It affords greater pleafure than hunting in fome refpeds. As, firft, becaufe it is fooner ended. Secondly, it does not require fo much toil. Thirdly, the game for the moll part always in fight. Fourthly, in regard to the delicaie qualities and (hape of the greyhound. There are three feveral courfes with greyhounds, viz. at the deer, at the hare, and at the fox. For the deer there are two forts of courfes, the one in the paddock, and the other cither in the foreft or pur- lieu. For the paddock, there mufl be the greyhound, and the terrier, which is a kind of mungrel g;reyhound, whofe bufmefs is to drive away the deer before the greyhounds are ilipt, and moft ufually a brace or lealh are let flip; feldom more than two braces. Hare-Hunting. THE bell way in this, is to go and find out one fitting, which is eafily done by walking crofs the lands, ei- ther ftubble, fallow or corn, and calling your eye up and do^^ n ; for in the fummer feafon they frequent fuch places for fear of ticks, which are common vsn woods j alfo the rain and the fall of the leaf offend them. The reft of the year you muil heat up and down with poles to Hart them out of their forms and retreats, and fome hares will not ftir, until they are almoft touched, and it is a certain fign that fuch hares will make an excellent couifet U H.A R E-H U x\ T I N G. Iir If a hare fit near any clofe or covert, and have her head towards the fame with a fair field behind her, you may ride with as much company as you have between her and the covert before fhe is put up, and then fhe is likely t j make her courfe towards the champaign, for fhe fcldom takes the fame way that her head is, when Ihe fits in her form. When a hare is firft ftarted, you give her ground or law, which is eommonly twclvefcore yards or more, according- to the ground where fhe fits, or elfe you loofe much of your fporr, ^jy putting an end to it too foon ; and it is very pleafant to fee the turnings and windings, that the hare v/iii make to fa-ve herfelf, which fometimcs proves effeclual to her. There are four forts of hares ; fome live in the moun- tains, fome in the fields, forae in marfhes, fome every where, without any certain place of abode. The moun- tain hares are the fwifteft, the field hares are not {o nimble, 2nd thofeof the marfhes are the flowcft ; but the wandering hares are mofl dangerous to follow, for they are fo cun- ning in the ways and mazes of the fields, running up the hillti and rocks, bccaufe by cuflom they know a nearer way, with other tricks, to the canfufion of the dogs, and djfcouragement of the hunters. The hares of the mountains often exercife themfelves in the valHes and plains, and through pradice grow ac- quainted with the neareft ways to their forms, or conftant places of abode ; fo that when at any time they are hunted in the fields, fuch is their fubtil dodging, that they will dally with the huntfman till they feem to be almoft taken, and then on a fudden take the neareil way to the mountains, and fo take fancluary in the inaccefiible places, to which neither dogs nor horfes can or dare afcend. Hares which frequent buflies and brakes are not able to endure labour, nor are very fvvift, becaafe of the pain in the feet, growing fat by means of idlenefa, aad not ufmg themfelves to running. The field hare being leaner of body, and oftener chafed, is mor-e difficultly taken, bv reafon of her fm^ular ao-ilitv-' L 2 ioi- iia The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. for when fhe begins her courfe, (he bounds up from the ground as if fhe flew, afterwards paffes through all bram- bles,, over thick buflies and hedges, with all expedition ; f?^ ^^. ^^ Cometh into deep grafs or corn, Ihe eafily de- livers lierfelf and flides through it, always holding up one ear, and bending it at pleafure, to be the moderator of her ciiacG. Neither is ihe fo improvident and prodigal of her ilrength, as to fpend it all in one courfe, but fhe has regard to tlie force of her purfuer, v/ho if he be flow and fluggifh, ihe is net profufe of her ftrength, nor ufes her utmofl: iwiftnefs, but ofily advances gently before the dogs, yet faftly fiom their clutches, referving her greatefl ftrength for the tune of greatefi neceifity, knowing the can out- run the dogs at her pleafure, and therefore will not ftrain her- felf more than fhe is urged. 'Eiit if fr.e be purfued by a dog that is fwifter than the reft, then flie pius en with all the force Ihe can, and hav- ing once left the hunters and dogs a great way behind her, ihe makes to fomc little hill, or rifing ground, where fhe raifes herfcif upon her hinder legs, that thereby fhe m.ay cbferve hov.' far off, or how near her purfuers are. The younger hares, by reafon of their weak limbs, tread heavier on the earth than the older, and therefore leave tlic greater fcent behind them. At a year old they run very fwiftly, and their fcent ia (Irongcr in the woods than in the plain fields ; and if they lie down on the earth (as they love to do) in red fallow grounds, they are eanly defcried. Their footfteps in winter are more apparent than in fum- mer, becaufe as the nights are longer, they travel farther ; neither do they fcent in winter mornings fofoonas it is day, till the fiolt is a little thawed: but efpecially their foot- ftcps are uncertain at the full of the moon, for then they leap and play togedier, fcattering or putting out their fcent or favour; and in the fpring time alfo, when they do •engender, they confound one another's footflepsby rnuki- tades. Flares H A R E-H U N T I N G. H^ Hares and rabbits are mifchlevous to nurferies and new- ly planted orchards, by peeling off the bark of the plants; for the prevention of which fome bind ropes about the trees to a fufficient height ; fome daub them with tar,^ which being of itfelf hurtful to young plants, the mifchiet is prevented by mixing with it any kind of greaft, and boiling it over a fire, fo as both may incorporate; then with a brufli or little broom, daub over the ftem of the tree as high as a hare or rabbit can reach ; do this in No- vember, and it v/ill fecure the trees for that whole year, it being in the winter tinae only in which they feed upon the bark^ Alfo fome thin fluff out of a honfe of office, or the thick tempered with water, has been often applied with good fuccefs ; or the white walli made ufe of by plaiikrers for whiting houfes, done once a year over the trees with a brulh, will prefer^-e them from hares, deers, and other animals. As for fuch hares as are bred in warrens, the warreners have a crafty device to fatten them, which has been found by experience to be effedual ; and that is, by putting wax into their ears to make them deaf, and then turning them into the place where they arc to feed, where, being freed from the fear of hounds, and for v^^ant of hearing, they grow fat before others of their kind. It is generally believed, that a hare naturally knows the change of weather from one twenty-four hours to ano- ther. When fhe goes to her form, (he will fuffer the dew tb touch her as little as fhe can, but takes the highways and beaten paths; again when fbe rifes out of her form, ifibe couches her ears and fcut, and runs not very fall at firit, it is an infallible fign that fhe is old and crafty. They go to buck commonly ia January, Fehruarv, and March, and fometimes all the warm months ; fomctimcs feeklng the buck at feven or eight miles diltant from the pkce thfey ufually fit at, following the biohwa\-s^ kc^ ^ • '' ^ 3 Tf 114 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. To diftinguilh a male hare from the female, you may know him as you hunt him into his form^ by his beating the' hard highways : he alfo feeds farther out in the plains, and' iiaakes his doublings and croiTmgs much wider, and of greater compafs than the female doth ; whereas the female will keep clofe by fome covert lide, turning and winding. ia the bafhes like a coney ; and if {he goes to relief in the c )rn fields, flie feldom croiTesover the furrow, but follows them along, 'Haying upon the thickeft tufts of corn to feed. You may likewife know a buck at his rifing cut of hisr^ form, by his hinder parts, which are more upon the whit- ifh ; and his Ihoulders,. before he rifes, v.^ilf be redder than the doe's, having fome locfe long hairs growing on t'lcm. Again, his- hea^d" is iliorter and Belter trullcd, his hairs about his lips longer, and his ears ihorter and more grey : the hair upon the female's chin, are of a blackifh grey. And bcfides, when hounds hujit a female hare, flie will, nfe more crciling and doubling, feldom making out end- ways before the hounds : v/hereas the maleadts contrarily, . for having once made aturn or two about his^ form, then fare wcriiounds, for he will frequently lead them. five or fix miles before ever He v^^ill turn his head. "When you' fee that your hounds have found 'where '8 ■i hare hath pa^ed to relief upon the highway fide, and hath.; mucK doubled and crolled upon dry places, and never RiuGhbrckcn out nor relieved in the corn, it is a lign fne is but lately come thither, and then commonly file will ftay upon fome high place to look about her, and to ch ufe <)ut a place to foria in, which fae will be loth to part with._ The crsft and fiihillty of a Hare* As of all chafes tke hare rhakes the greateft pailtme and pkafure,,fo it is a great delight and faiisfadion to fee the craft of this fmaj,! animal for her felf-prefervation. And Lh# better to underfland them, confider what wea- ther ii isi ifit-is rainy, thea the hare will hold 'the high- WilVS Hare-Hunting. 115 ways more than at any other time, and if fhe come to the fide of any young grove or fpring, Ihe will fcarcely enter; but fquat down.by the fide of it till the hounds have over- fhot her, and then fhe yvili return the very fame way fhe came, to the place from whence fhe was darted, and will not go by the way info any covert, for fear of the wet and dew that hangs upon the boughs. In this cafe the huntfman ought to flay an • hundrcci" paces before he comes to the wood- fide, by which means he will perceive whether fhe returned as aforefaid, which if fh.e do, he muft halloo in the hounds, and call thetn back," and that prefently, that the hounds may not think it the counter ihe came firft. The next thing that is to be obferved; is the place where the hare fits, and upon what wind fhe makes her form,- . either upon the north or fouth wind ; fhe will not will- ingly run into the wind, but run up, en a Mq, or down . the wind: but if fhe form in the water, it is a lign fhe is foul and rneafled: if you hunt fuch a: one, have a fpecial regard all the day to the brook-fides, for there, and near . plafies, fhe Vv'ilimake all her cro flings-, doublings, &c. Some hares have been fo crafty, that as foon as they have heard the found of the horn, they would inftantly ftart out of their.form, though it was the diftance of a quarter of a mile, and go and fwim in fonae pool, and reft upon fome ru(h bed in the midft of it, and womld not flir from thence till they have heard- the horn again, and then have ftarted out again, fwimming to land, and have flood up before the hounds four hours before they could kill them, fwimming and ufing all fubtilties and croiTmgs in the water. Nay, fuch is thenatural craft and fubtiity of a hare, that fometimes after flie has been hunted three hours, Ihe will , flart a frelh hare, and fquat into the fame form. Others having been hunted a coniiderable time, wi>l creep under the door of a fheep cote, and there hide them- felves amoag the fheep, or v/hen they have been hard hunt- ed, will run in among a flock of fheep, and v/ill by no means be gotten out from among them, till the hounds are coupled up and the ftst^ driven into their pens,- Some ri6' The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Some of them (and that feems fomcwhat ftrange) will take^ the g^round like a coney, and that is called going to the vault. Some hares will go up on one fide of the hedge and come down the other, the thicknefs of the hedge being the only diftance between the courfes.- A hare that has been forely hunted, has got upon a- quick-fet hedge, and ran a good way upon the top there-- of, and then leaped off upon the ground. And they wili'^ frequently be-take themfelves to furz« buihes, and will leap from the one to the other, whereby^ the hounds are frequently in default. - Some aftirm that a hare, after (lie has been hunted two hours or more, has at length, to fave herfelf, got upon an old wall, i\x feet high from the ground, and hid herfelf- in a hole that was made for fcafFolding ; and that fomc hares have fvvam over the rivers Trent and Severn. A hare is fuppofed not to live above feven years at the moll, efpecially the bucks, and if a buck and a doe fhall keep on<5 quarter together, they will never fuffer any ftrange hare to iit with him ; and therefore it is faid by way of proverb, *' the more you hunt, the more hares you Ihall have i" becaufe when you have killed one hare, another will ' come and poiTefs his form. A hare hath a greater fcent, and is more eagerly hunt- ed by the hounds, when Ihe feeds and relieves upon green^ corn, than at any other time in the year; and yet there are fome hares that naturally give a greater fcent thaa • others, as the large wood hares, and fuch as are foul and meafled keeping near to the waters : but the fmall red hare, which is not much bigger than a coney, is neither of fo ftrong a fcent, norfo eagerly hunted. The females are more crafty and politic than the males, they double, and turn Ihorter than they, which is unplea- fant to the hounds ; for it is troublefome to them to turn fo often, delighting more in an end-way chace, running with all their force : for thofe hares which double and crofs fo often, it is requifite at default, to caft the greater compafs about, when you beat to make it out : for To you will H A R E-H ir N T I N G. II7 will find all her fubtilties, and yet need not ftick upon any ©f them, but only where (lie went on forward : by this means you will abate her force, and compel her to need doubling and crofling. Honx) to enter Hounds /o <2 Hare. Let the Huntfman be fure in the firft place to make them very well acquainted with himfelf and his voice, and let them underftand the horn, which he fnould never blow but when there is good caufe for it. When you enter a young kennel of hounds, have a fpe- cial regard to the country where you make the firft quarry, for fo they are like to fucceed accordingly ; fmce their being entered firft in a plain ^id champaign country, Vv'ill make them ever after delight more to hunt therein than elfewhere ; and it is the fame with the coverts. The beft feafon to enter young hounds, is in September and Oftober, for then the weather is temperate, and neither too hot nor too cold ; and this is the feafon to find young hares that have never been hunted, which are filly, and ig- norant of the politic croffings, doublings, &c. of their fires, running commonly end-ways, frequently fquatting, and ?s often ftarting ; by which encouragement the hounds are the better entered. - Some hares hold the high-beaten ways only, where the hounds can have no fcent ^ therefore when the huntfmeii finds his hounds at a default in the highway, let him hunt on until he find where the hare hath broken from the high- way, or hath found forae dale or freih place where the hounds may recover fcent, looking narrowly on the ground as he goes, to fee to find the footing or pricking of the hare. There are other places wherein a hound can find no fcent ; and that is, in fat and rotten ground, which flick to the feet of the hare, and this is called carrying, and fa of confequence flie leaves no fceat behind her. There are fifo certain months in the year in which a hound can find no fcent, and that is in the fpring-time^ by reafon of the fragrant fcent of flowers, and the like. {i8 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. But avoid hunting in hard frofty weather as much as you can, for tiiat will be apt to furbate or founder youi hounds, and caufe them to lofe their claws; befides, at that time a hare runs better than at other times, the foles of her feet being hairy. What time of the year is hejl for Hare Jyunting; honu to find her, fiart her, and chafe her. The beft time to begin hare hunting, is about the middle of September, and to end towards thelattej end of February ,- left you deftroy the early brood of leverets. And befides, wlien the \vinter comes on, the moiftnefs and coolnefs of the earth increafes, which is agreeable t© the nature of the hounds, and very acceptable,- they not liking extremes either of hot or cold weather, Thofe hounds that are two years old and upwards, may; be exercifed three times a week ; and the hunting fo often - will do them good, provided they be well fed -, and they may be kept the greateft part of the day, both to try their ftoutnefs, and to make them ftout. If any hound Ihall have found the trail of a hare, whea jfhe hath relieved that night, the huntfman- ought not to be too hafty, but let the hounds mak^ it themfelves; and when he perceives that they begin to draw in together,, and to call on frefhly, then he ought to encourage them, efpecially that hound which hunteth beft, frequently call- ing him by his name. Here you may take notice, that a hare lea vcth better fcent when 'i!^^ goes to relief than when ihe goeth towards her form ; for when ftie relieves in the field, fhe coucheth her body low upon the ground, paffing often over one piece of ground, to find where the bell food lies, and thus leaveth the beft fcent, crofting alfo fometimes ; befides, when flic goes to her form fhe commonly takes the highways, doub- ling, crofting, and leaping as lightly as flie can; in which place, the hounds can have no fcent by reafon of tlie luft,. &c« and yet they will fquat by the ftdes of highways, and therefore let the huntfman beat very well, the fides of thofc highways,- Now- H A R E-H U N T I N G^ II9 Now having found where a hare hath relieved in fome pafture ox corn-field, you muft then confider the feafon of the year, and what weather it is ; for if it be in the fpring time or fummer, a hare will not then fit in bulhes, becau^ they are frequently infefled with pifmires, fnakes and ad- ders, but will fit in corn-fields and open places. In the winter- time, they fit near towns and villages, in tufts of thorns and brambles, efpecially when the wind is northerly or foutherly. According to the feafon and nature of the place where tke hare is accuftomed to fit, there beat with your hounds, and ftart her; which is much better fport than trailing of her from her relief to her form. After the hare has been ftarted, and is on foot, then flep in where you faw her psifs, and halloo in your hounds, until they have all undertaken it, and go on with it in full cry; then recheat to them with your horn, following fair and foftly at firft, making not too much noife either with horn or voices for at the firft, hounds are apt to overihoot the chace through too much heat. But when they have run the fpace of an hour, and you fee the hounds are well in with it, and ftick well upon it, then you may come in nearer with the hounds, becaufe by that time their heat will be cooled, and they will hunt more foberly. But, above all things, mark the firft doubling, which muft be your diredlion for the whole day ; for all the doublings that fhe Ihall ma^e afterwards will be like the former, and according to the polices that you fhall fee her ufe, and the place where you hunt, you muft make your compaifes great or little, long or Ihort, to help the defaults, always feeking the raoifteft and moft commodious places for the hounds to fcent in. To conclude ; thofe who delight in hunting the hare, muft rife early, left they be deprived of the fcent of her foot-fteps, by which means the dogs will be incapacitated fo follow their game; for the nature of the fcent is fuch that it will not remain fo long, but fuddenly in a manner every hour vaniiheth awav. 120 The COMPLETE SPORT SMAK. The laivs oh/erved In courjing theYih'^Y., 1. That he that is chofen Fewterer, or that lets loofe the greyhounds*, fhall receive the greyhounds matched to run together into his leafh as foon as he comes into the field, and follow next to the hare- finder, or he who is to Hart the hare until he come unto the form, and no horferaan or footman is to go before, or on any fide but direftly behind, for the fpace of about forty- yards. 2. You .ought to courfe a hare with no more than a brace of greyhounds. 3. The hare-finder ought to give the hare three fo-hoes before he puts her from her form or feat, to. the end the dogs may gaze aboAJt, and attend her flarting. 4. They ought to have tu'elve fcore yards law before the dogs are loofed, unlefs there be any danger of loofing her. 5. That dog that gives the firfl turn, if after that there be neither cote, flip, or wrench, he wins the wager* 6. If one dog gives the firfl turn, and the other bears the hare, he that bears the hare ihall win the wager. 7. Ago by^ or bearing the hare, is accounted equiva- lent to two turns. 8. If neither dog turn the hare, h^ that leads laft to the covert wins. 9. If one dog turn the hare, fer/es himfeTf, and turns her again, it is as much as a cote, and a cote is eiteemed two turns. 10. If all the courfe be equal, he that bears the hare fhall -win ; and if he be not born, the courfe ihall be ad- judged dead. 11. If a dog take fall in his courfe, and yet perform his part, he may challenge the advantage of a turn more than he gave. 12. If a dog turn the hare, ferve himfelf, and gh^e divers cotes, and yet in the end {land Hill in the field, the other dog, if he turns home to the coverts, although he gives no turn, fhall bt adiudged to win the wager. 2 13. If Coursing the Fox. 121 ft 13. If by misfortune, a dog be rid over in his courfe the courfe is void, and to fay the truth, he that did the reifchief ought to make reparation for the damage. 14. If a dog give the firli and laft turn, and there be no other advantage betwixt them, iie that gives the odd turn ihall win. 1 ^. A cote is when the greyhound goeth end-ways hy his fellow, and gives the hare a turn. 16. A cote ferves for two turns, ar.d two trippings or jerkins for a cote ; and if fne turneth not quite about fiie only wrencheth, 17. If there be no cotes given between a brace of grey- hounds but that one of them ferves the other at turning i then he that gives the hare moft turns wins the wager : and if one gives as many turns as the other, then he that- bear- cth the hare wins the wager. 18. Sometimes the hare doth not turn but wrench; fot fne is not properly faid to turn, except fhe turn as it -were round, and two wrenches (land for a turn. 19. He that comes in firil to the death of the hare, takm her up, and faves her from breaking, cherifheth the dogs, add cleanfes their mouths from the wool, is adjudged to have the hare for his pains. ■20. Thofe that are judges of the leafh, rauft give their judgment prefently before they depart out of the field. CMrftKg the F OX. JN courfmg a fox, no other art is required than (land- • ing clofe, and on a clear wind on the outfide of fcnnc grove, where you ^are to exped his coming out, and then give him head enough, otherwife he will turn back to the covert : for the floweft greyhound will be fv/ift enough to overtake him,; and all the hazard of this courfe is the fpoil- ing your dog by the fox, which oftentimes happens ; ao.d for this reafon, you Ihould not run any that are worth much at this chafe : but fuch that are hard bitten dogs that will feize any thing. M Tox ja2 The .COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Fox Hunting. The fliapeand proportion of this beaft is fo well known, being fo common, that it is needlefs to defcribe him. His nature is in many refpeds like that of a wolf, for they L^nng as many cubs at a litter the one as the other ; but in this they differ, the fox littering deep under the ground, but the wolf doth not. A bitch fox is very difficult to be taken when flie is bragged and with. cub, for then fhe will lie near herbuj- row, into which (he runs, upon hearing the leaft noife: and indeed at any time [it is fomewhat difficult j for the •fox (and fo tiie wolf) is a very fubtle creature. Fox-hunting is a very pleafant exercife, for by reafon of his ftrong, hot fcent,' he makes an excellent cry ; and as his fcent is hotted at hand, {o it dies the foondl. And befides, he never fiies far before the hounds, truft- ing not to his legs, ftrength, or champagne grounds, but flrongeft coverts. When he can no longer ftand before the ground, he then taketh earth, and muft be dug out. If greyhounds courfe him on a plain, his lall refuge is to pifs on his tail,, and flap it in their faces as they come near him ; and fometimes fquir ting his thicker excrements -upon them, to make them give over the courfe of pur- fuit. When a bitch fox goes a cllcketting and feeking for a ■doo-, ilie cries with a hollow voice, not unlike the bowl- ine- of a mad dog, and in the fame manner ftie cries v/hen fhe miifes any of her cubs ; but never makes any cry at all vvhen ihe is killing, but defends herfelf to the laft gafp. A fox will prey upon any thing he oin overcome, and will feed upon any fort of carrion : but their dainties, and the food they moft delight in is poultry. _ They are very injurious and deftruftive to coney- war- rens, and will fometimes kill hares by deceit and fubtilty, hut not by fwift running. The fox is taken with hounds, greyhounds, terriers, nets, and gins. For F O X-H U N T I N G. 123 For Hunting aho've ground. To hunt a fox with hounds, you muft draw about groves, thickets, and bufhes, near villages : for in fuch places he lurks to prey upon poultry, &c, but if you can find one, it will be neceffary to ftop up his earth the night before you intend to hunt, and that about midnight, ior then he goes out to prey ; and this mufl be done by laying Xwo white ilicks acrofs in his way, which will make hirn imagine it to be fome gin or trap laid for him, or elfe they may be ftopped up clofe with black thorns and earth to- gether. The bell hunting a fox above ground, is in January, February, and March,, for then you fliall beft fee you^r Hounds hunting, and befi: find his earthing ; and befides, at thofe times the fox's {kin is beil in feafon. Again, the hounds hunt the fox beR in the coldeft wea- tlier, becaufe he Ijaveth a very ftrong fcen: behind him ; yet in cold weather it diiils fafteil. At firfl only call ojEF your fare finders, J^nd as the drag mends, fo add more as you dare trull them ; avoid calling off too many hounds at once, becaufe woods and coverts are full of lundry chaces, and fo you may engage them in too many at one time. I^t fuch as you call oif at firll be old ilaumch hounds which are fure, and if you hear fuch a hound call on mer- rily, you may call ofr fome others to him, and when they run it on the full cry, call off the rell, and thus you Ihall eompleat your pallime. The words of comfort are the fame which are ufed in other chafes, attended with the fame hallooings, and other ceremonies. The hounds Ihould be left to hill the fox themfelves, and to worry and tear him as much as they pleafe : fom« hounds will eat him with eagernefs. When he is dead, hang him at the end of a pike-HaffJ and halloo in all your hounds to bay him ; but reward them not with any thing belonging to the fox ; for it i« not good, neither will the hounds in common eat it, M 2 . Of 4-24 The COMPLETE SPGRtSMAR ©/■Hunting*? Fo x under ground. If in cafe a fox does iofarefcape as to earth, country- xr:en muft be got together With Ihovels, fpades, mattocks, pickaxes, &c. to dig him out, if they think the earth not too great. '.I, '^^^^^^ ^'^'^^ ^'?^^^ ^^n\'.s as near as they cari in ground triat IS hard to dig, as in clay. Honey ground, or amongll the roots of trees ; and their earths have commonly but one itOiC ; and that is ilraight a long way in before you come at their couch. ^ 'sometimes craftily they take poircvfion of a badger's old burrov/, which hath a variety of chambers, holes and' angles. Now to facilitate this way of hunting the fox: the h-jntfman muii be provided witii one or two terriers to put into the earth after him, that is to fix him in an angle : for the earth often ccnfifts of many angles : the ufe of the terrier is to know where he lies, for as foon as he finds h«ii he continues baying or barking, fo that which way the iKrife is heard that way dig to him. However, i Ihall here add, that in the iirft place you niuil ha'/e fuchas arc able to dig, fo your terriers mull be garniHied with bells hung in collars, to make the fox bolt the fociieri belides, the collars will be fome defence to tiie terriers. ^ The inftrumer.ts to dig ^Ithaf are thefe ; a Iharp point- ed fpade, which ferves to begin the trencli, where the ground is hardell, as broader took will not fo well enter ; the round hollowed fpade, which is ufeful to dig among roots, having very inaxp edges; the broad flat fpade to dig withal, when the trench has been, pretty v^cll opened, and the ground fcfter ; m.attocks and pickaxes to dig in hard ground, where a fpade will do but iiitle fervicc; the coal rake to cleanfe the hole, and to keep it from Hopping up ; clamps, wherev/ith ycu may take either fox or badger out alive, to make fport with afterwards*- ^ And Dogs. i^: And It would be very convenient to have a pail of water to refrefh your terriers with, after they are come out of the earth to take breath. Of DOG S. AS there is no country in the world where there Is not plenty of dogs, fo ho animals can boaft of a greater variety, both in kind and fhape ; fome being for buck, others for bear, bull, boar, and fome for hare*, coney and hedge-hog, while others are for other ufes, according to their various natures, properties and kinds: neither are the ufes and kinds of them fo general, but their bringing ap is alfo as eafy, there being no great regard to be had as to their food, for they will eat any thing but the flefh of their own fpecies, which cannot be fo dreffed by the art of man, but they will find out by their fmelling, andfo avoid it. A black hound Is not to be defpifed, efpecially if mark- ed with white, and not red fpots ; feeing this whitenefs' proceeds from a flegmatic conftitution, which hinders him from forgetting the leilon he is taught, and makes liinf obedient; whereas dogs that have red fpots are for the moft part very fiery, and hard to be managed, by reafon of the bilious humour that prevails, and caufes this irregularity within them ; and therefore a black dog with white fpoi5 is valuable, being ufaally hardy enough, will hunt well, is Urong and fwift, and holds out a long time : he will, not forfake the chace, and when you are beating the wa- ter for fport, he v/ill not be frighted at it ; and laftly, he is the more eileemed, becaufe thofe dillempers incident t© dogs, feldom befal him. Tihere are fome grey coloured dogs that are good, and others you ought not to meddle with ; ^that is, mongrelsj, which come from a hound bitch that has been lined by a dog of another kind, or from a bitch of another kind, that has been lined by a hounjd : hounds cannot be good if they do not entirely retain the nature that is peculiar to M3 thenj:. 126 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. them,; and when they do, grey dog& are to be coveted, ■ becauTe they are cunning, never faulter, and grow not dif- cou raged in the queft. Yellow dogs, are thofe which have red fpots, inclining to brown ; and as choler is the moll predominant humour in this animal, fo he is found to be of a giddy nature, and impatient, when the beaft he follows makes turns,, feeing he Hill runs forwards to find him, which is a great fault j and therefore they are feldom made ufe of to hunt any other than the wolf, or fuch black beads as are tarely in- clined to turnings : they are too Cwift, open but very little,^ efpecially in very hot weather ; they are naturally impa- tient, and therefore hard to be taught, as they areuneafy under corredion. Oppofite to the deep mouthed or fouthern hound, are the long and (lender hounds, called the fleet, or northern hound ; which are very fwift, as not being of fo heavy a body, nor having fo large ears : thefe will exercife your horfes, and try their llrength ; they are proper for open, level, and champagne countries, where they may run in view, and full fpeed ; for they will hunt more by the eye than by the nofe, and will run down a hare in an hour, and fometimes fooner : but the fox will exercife them longer and better. Between thefe two extremes there are a middle fort of ^ogs, which partake of both their qualities as to ftrengtk and fwiftnefs, in a reafonable proportion : they are gene- rally bred by crofling the ftrains, and are excellent in fuch countries as are mixed, viz. fome mountains, fome inclo- fures, fome plains and fome woodlands; for they will go through thick and thin, neither need they be helped over hedges, as the huntfmen are often forced to do by others* A true, right Ihaped, deep-mouthed hound^ Ihould have a round, thick head, wide noflrils, open and wide up- wards, his ears large and thin, hanging lower than his chops, the fleeces of his upper lip Ihould be longer than thofe of his nether chops, and chime of his back great and thick, ftrait and long, and rather bending out than in- clining in; his thighs well trufled, hi& haunches large, his 3 fillets Dogs. 127 fillets round and large, his tail or ftern ftrong fet on, wax- ing taperwife towards the top, his hair under his belly- rough and long, his legs large and lean, his feet dry and hard, with ftrong claws and high knuckles : in the whole, he ought to be of fo juft a fymmetry, that when he flands level, you may not difcern which is higheft, his fore or hinder parts. - For the nortliern or fleet hound, his head and nofe ought to be ilender and longer, his back broad, his belly gaunt, his joints long, and his ears thicker and fhorter ; in a word, he is in all parts flender made, and framed after the mould of a greyhound. By croiTmg thofe breeds, as before obferved, yx>u may- bring your kennel to fuch a compofition as you think fit, every man's fancy being to be preferred ; and it is a well known faying. So many men, fo Tttany minds ; So many hounds y fo many kinds » Though I fhall refer the reader to the difeafes inclderit to dogs, under their refpedive heads, yet their being bit- ten or ftung by fome venomous creatures, and others be- ing not fo eafily reducible to an article by itfelf, it fhall be added here : and when they are flung by fome adder, or other infeft of that nature, you muft take an handful of the herb crofs-wort, gentian, and as much rue, the fame quantity of Spanifh pepper, thin broth, ends of broom and mint, of all an equal quantity ; when this is done, take fome white wine, and make a decoftion of the whole, letting it boil for an hour in a pot ; then ilrain the whole, into which put an ounce of diilolved treacle, and let the dog fwallow it, and obferve to wa(h the bite therewith : if a dog is bitten by a fox, anoint it with oil wherein you have boiled fome rue and worms. Of DoG-MADNESS. Dog madnefs Is a diflemper very common among all forts ©f dogs ] eafy to be preventedj but hard to be cured : there f28 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. there ara no lefs than feven forts of ra&dnefs, amongft which feme are elleemed incurable. The fymptonis of this difeafe are many, and eafily dif- cerned ; when any dog feparates himfdf contrary to his former ufe, become melancholy, or droops his head, for- bears eating, and as he runs fnatches at every thing ; if he o^n. iook| upwards, and that his ftern at his fetting on be a liale ereft, and the reft hanging down: if his eyes be red, his breath ilrong, his voice hoarfe, and that he drivels and foams at the mouth, -you may be affured he has this diftemper. The feven forts of madnefs are as follow : of which the two firft are incurable, viz. the hot burning madnefs, and running madnefs ; tliey are both very dangerous ; for all things they bite and draw blood from, will have the fame dillemper; they generally fei2e on all they meet with, but chiefly on dogs : their pain is fo great,, it foon kills them. The five curable madneffes are : Sleeping madnefs, fo called from the dog *&^ great drowfi- nefs, and almoll continual fleeping ; and this is caufed by the little worms that breed in the mouth of the ftomach, from corrupt humours, vapours, and fumes which afcend to his head : for cure of which, take fix ounces of the juice of wormwood, two ounces of the powder of hartfhorn burnt, and two drachms of agaric; mix all thefe together in a little white wine, and give it the dog to drink in a drenching horn. Dumb madnefs lies alfoin the blood, and caufes the dog not to feed, but to hold his mouth always wide open,, frequently putting his feet to his mouth, as if he had a bone in his throat : to cure this,, take the juice of black, hellebore, the juice of fpatula putrida, and of rue, of each four ounces : ftrain them well, and put thereto two drachms of unprepared fcammony, and being mixed well together, pnt it down the dog's throat with a dl^nching horn, keeping his head up for fome time, left he call it out again ; then bleed him in the mouth, by cutting two or three veins in his gums. Lank Dogs. 129 Laiik madnefs Is fo called, by reafon of the dog's lean- Kefs and pining away ; for cure, give them a purge as be- fore direded, and alfo bleed them ; but fome fay there is no cure for it. Rheumatic, or flarering madnefs, occafions the dog's head to fwell, his eyes to look yellow, and he will be fflways ilavering and drivelling at the mouth ; to cure w-hich, take four ounces of the powder of the roots of polypody of the oak, fix ounces of the juice of tennel roots, with the like quantity of the roots of mi Hetoe, and four ounces of the juice of ivy : boil all thefe together in white wine, and give it to the dog as hot as he can drink it, in a drencliing horn. Falling madnefs is fo termed becaufe it lies in the dog's hrad, and makes them reel as they go, and to fall down : for cure, tal:e four ounces of the juice of briony, and the fame quantity of the juice of peony, with four drachms of lla vefac re pulverized ; mix thefe together, and give it to the dog in a drenching horn; alfo let bim blood in the ears, and in the two veins that come down his fn.oulders ; and indeed bleeding is neceffary for ail forts of madnefs in €k)gs. To prevent -dogs from being mad that are bitten by mad dogs, that is done by batlibg them ; in order to which-take a barrel or bucking tub full of water, into which put about a budiel and a half of foot, which muft be ftirred well, that it may be difiblved; then put in the dog that is bitten, and plunge him over head and ears feven or eight times therein, and it will prevent his being mad ; but he fhould alfo be blooded. When dogs happen to be bit as aforefaid, there is no- thing better than their licking the place with their own tongues, if they can reach it ; if not, then let it be wafhed with butter and vinegar made lukewarm, and let it after- wards be anointed with Venice turpentine : it is alfo good to pifs upon the wound ; but above all, take the juice of the ftalks of ftrong tobacco, boiled in water, bathe the place therewith, alfo wafh him in fea water, or water ar- tificially made fait : give liim likewife a little mithridate * inwtvrdly ^30 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAH; inwardly in two or three fpoonfuls offack,.and fo keep mm apart; and if you find him, after fome time, ftill to. aroop, the bed way is to hang him. It may not be amifs to add what a late author advifes every one who keeps a dog, which is to have him wormed,. 5ind is a thing of little trouble and charge, and what he believes would prevent their being mad ; and if they are;,, ile IS of opinion that it prevents their biting any other creature ; for he aflerts he had three dogs bit by mad dogs, at three feveral times, that were wormed, and though they died mad, yet they did not bite, nor do any mifchief to ^any thing he had ; and having a mind to make a full ex- periment of it, he Ihut one of them up in a kennel, and put to him a dog he did iK>t value: thasthe mad dog . would often run at the cthe? dog to bit-ehini; but he found his tongue fo much fwelkd in his mouth, that he could not make his teeth meet ; that that dog, though he kept him with the mad dog till he died, yet he did not ail an/ tiling, though he kept him two years afterguards, and gave. him no remedies to pi-eventanyhcmn^. which, might ccmc . from the bitlr.g of the mad dog. ^ Ihe bed remedy is this; take white hellebore and grate It with a grater to jxiwd^r, which muil be mixed v»'itU but- ter, and ^r/tn to the dog; tiiedofe mul^ be prop'ortioned to-- tiie lize of the dog; to a very fmall lap-dog you may give three grains, to a large m.aftiff fixteen grains, and fo in pro- portion to other fizes. He- adds, that the bell way is, to give hlin a fmall quantity at iirft, that it may be increafed as it is fxiund to work, or not to work; but that as it is a ftrong vomit, and will make the dogs fick for a little time, fo they 'mull be kept warm that day it is given them, and the next night, and they mufi not have c©ld water ; but when it has done working, towards the afternoon give them fome warm broth, and the next morning give them the fame before you let them out of the hcufe or kennel. The fam.e author fays this is an extraordinary remedy for the mange ; that he never knew three dofes fail of curing any dog that had it, except he had a furfeit with it ; which if he had, let him blood aifo, and anoint liim two or three times- 1^ O G S* »131 ^times o\'er with gunpowder and foap, beat It up together and it will cure hira. ^he choice of a T) o G and ^irc a for breeding good Whelp-3. The bitch ought to be one of a good kind, being .ftrong and well-proportioned in all parts, having her ribs and.flanks great and large. Let the dog that lines her be of a good fair breed ; and ' let him be young, if you intend to have light and hot hounds ; for if the dog be old, the whelps wiii participate of his dull and heavy nature. If your bitch do not grow proud of her own accord fo foon as you w^ould have her, you may make her fo by giv- ing her the following broth : Boil two heads of garlick, half a cailor's ftone, the juice ofcrefles, and about twelve Spanifh flies, in a pipkin that holds a pint, together with fome mutton, and make broth of it ; and give of this to the bitch two or three times, and fhe will not fail to grow proud, and the fame pottage given to the dog, will make him inclinable to copulation. After your bitch has been lined and is with pu])py, you muft not let her hunt, for that will be the way to make her call her whelps; but let her walk up and down uncon- hned in the houfe and court : never locking her up in her kennel : for (he is then impatient of food, and there- fore you muft make her fome hot broth once a day. If you would fpay your bitch, it muft be done before flie has ever had a litter of whelps; and in fpaying her take not away all the roots and firings of the veins ; for if you do, it will prejudice her reins, and hinder her fwift- nefs ever after : but by leaving fome behind, it will make :her much the llronger, and more hardy. But by no means do not fpay her while fhe is proud, for that will endanger her life : but you may do it fifteen days after; but the beft time of all is when the whelps are Chaped within her. Of 132 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Of the Water Spaniel; hoiv to train, and order him for the game infoivling. The water dog is of fuch general ufe, and fo common amongft us, that there needs no great defcription of him ; but there are great differences amongft them, as well in proportion as otherwife. As to colour, the curious will make a diiference, as the black to be the beft and hardieft ; the fpotted or pied, quickeft of fcent, and the liver-hewed quickefl: in fwim- niiag ; but, in truth, colour is nothing material, for " without doubt there are good and bad of all colours, and that by experience is found : but his breedings training up, and coming of a good kind, are the chief things ; yet it muft be confefTed, that as to handfomenefs, the colour is to be regarded, fo is the proportion as to his ihape ; and then his head Ihould be round, with curled hair, his ears broad and hanging, his eyes full and lively, his nofe fhort, his lips like unto a hound's, his neck thick and fhort, his ftoulders broad, his legs ftraight, his chine fquare, his ribs with a copipafs, his buttocks round, hjs thighs braw- ny, his belly gaunt, his pafterns ftrong and dew- clawed, and his fore-feet long and round, with his hair in general long and curled, not loofe and Ihagged.; for the firft fhew- eth hardinefs and flrength to endure the water, and the other much tendernefs and weaknefs. Now for the training and bringing him up ; you can't begin too early to teach him obedience, when he. can but lap, for that is the principal thing to be learned ; for being made to obey, he is then ready to do your commands ; therefore fo foon as he can lap, teach him to couch and lie clofe, not daring to ftir from that poUure without your commands ; and the better to effed this, always cherilh him when he does your will, and corred him when he difobeys ; and be fure to obfer-v^e, that in the firft teaching him you never let him eat any thing, but when he does fomething to deferve it, that The may thereby know, that food is a thing that cometh not by chance, or by a liberal hand. Dogs.- 13;^ hand, but only for a reward for well-doing ; and this will make him not only willing to learn, but apt to remem- ber what he is taught without blows ; and to that end, have no more teachers than one, for variety breed con- fufion, as teaching divers ways, fo that he can learn no way well. ^.nother thing is, you muft be very conftant to the words of diredlion by which you teach liim, chufmg fuch as are moft pertinent to that purpofe ; and thofe words that you lirft ufe, do not alter, for dogs take notice of the found, not of the Englilh, fo that the leaft alteration puts them to ?^ ftand : For example, if you teach him to couch at the word dov/n, this will be a known command into him ; and I am of opinio*, that to ufe more words than is neceflary, for one and the fame thing, is to overload his memory, and caufe forgetfulnefs in him. And this method Ihould be obferved as to the fettin^- dog. You muft teach him alfo to know the word of correc- tion, and reprchenfion, for noleifen can be taught v/ithout a fault ; and no fault ihould efcape without reprehenlion, or at the leaft of ckiding, and in this be conftant to a word ; as. Go too, iirrah, rafcal, or the like, which at iirft fliould be ufed with alafli or jerk, to make him know that it is a word of wrath or anger; neither mult fuch words proceed from you lovingly, or gently, but with paffion and roughnefs of voice, together with liercenefs of looks, that the whelp may tremble when he hears you fpeak thus. You muft have certain words of cheriiliing when he hath done well, that he may be thereby encouraged, as. That's a good boy, well done, or the liks, ufmg therewith chear- fulnefs of fpeech, without adlions of favour, as fpitting in his mouth, clapping him on his back, and the like ; you muft alfo ttfe fome words of advice, that when he is at his fport, he may the better perfc-rm the fame, and they may ferve to fpur or put him forvva-- 1 with more chearfulnefs of fpirit, as. Take heed, hem, or ch: like. Wlien your whelp' is brought up to underftand thefe fe- verai words, viz. of inftrudion, correction, cheriftiing, and N advice. 134 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. advice, and that he will couch and lie down at your feef; how, when, and as long as you pleafe, and that with a word or look onjy ; then teach him to lead you in a line or collar, and to follow at your heels, without coming too clofe or hanging back; the meaning of this is, to teach him Jto be more familiar and obedient unto you. Having brought him to perfect ob>€dience, to follow you in a line, the next thing muft be, to make him follow you in like manner loofe, without a line, and always to be at your heels, and to lie down by you without your leave to the contrary ; this is as necefTar}" a leflbn as can be taught him, for he muft be fo but upon fpecial occafion, a^ to faife up fowl from their haunts, and find out, and bring what you have fhot or killed unto you. The next leflbn to learn him is, to fetch and carry-. any thing that you fhall command him ; and this you may be- gin to teach him by the way of fport, as by taking your glove and fhaking over his head, making him to catch at it, and TO play v/ith it^ and fometimes let him hold it in his n]o«th, and iVrive to pull it from you ; then call: it a little way from you, and let hin:i muzzle it on the ground ; then take it from him gently, giving him cheriHiing, as. That's a good boy. Well done, or the like. After you have fpent fome time in this, and that you £nd him to take it from the ground, and to hold it in his mouth, as it were from you ; then begin to call it further and further, giving him your command, faying, Fetch, or bring it, firrah ; and if he brings it, then cherifli and reward him with meat, or a cruft of bread, and let him have no food,- but what he deferves by doing- his leffon, and by your continual pradice he will fetch your glove, or any thing tlfe you throw out for him. If at any time he offers to run away with your glove, - or tofs it up and down' wantonly, not bringing it to you orderly, then firil give him your word of initrudliQn. And if that will not do, your word of correclion ; and if neither avail, then proceed to blows, and give him. no- thing to eat as a rcvrard, until he doth as you com- mand. Wh«n Dog s. 13s When by this means yqu have made him perfeft, and that he will fetch a glove readily wherever you throw it, bringing it to you, altho' in company, and all call him to come to them ; you muil then make much of him, and reward him very well : and having trained him to fetch -^'oar giove, then proceed to teach him to fetch whatfoever you throw from you, as ftaves, fticks, ftones, m.oney, or anv thing that is portable. As alia teach him- to carry live or dead fov.'l, and with a' tender mouth, that when you have occailon to ufe him fox thefport, he may bring them to yon without tearing, or fo much fis bruiiing a feather. -As you walk with him in the Helds, drop foniething behind yCu unknown to him ; and being gone a little way, fend him back to feek it, by faying. Back, firrah, I have lod ; and if at firil he ftand amazed, urge him ftill, and ceafe not by pointing to him the way you would have him go, until by feeking out he finds that which you fo drop- ped ; which make him take up, by faying. That's it, and to bring it after you ; then drop it again, going twice as far as formerly, caufing him to go'back to feek it, not leav- ing him till you have made him fl nd it, and bring it to you, for which cherifh and reward him; and where he fails, there chaftife or chide him, fometimes with angry vv'crds, other times widi blows, and fpmetimes keep him fairing, according to his ofFence^ and thus do until he will hunt the way back which yaa vyeut, were it above a mile. But if your dog happens to bring you a wrong thing, you muil receive it from him, and cherifh him ; but fend him back prefently again, faying. Away again, or, 1 have loit more, and be not fatisiied until he hath brought you the right thing; and if he return v^ithout any thing, then be fare both to chide and beat him for his floth and negli- gence. When he will thus fetch, carry, and find out things thus loft, then train kirn to hunting, beginning firft with tame fowl, which by your help (when they dive, or other- N 2 wife) 136 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. wife) you may with little labour make him take, which will hearten and encourage him to the fport. After this make him ufe all his cunning without your affiftancc, whether he gets or lofes the game, and accord- ing to his defert^ reward or correft him : by this pradice he win become mafter of his game ; and be fure always, that he brings his game (when taken) to the fhore unto you without hurting it. Your next buiinefs fhall be, to train him unto your fowling-piece, caufmg him to follow, as it were. Hep by Hep behind you, and under the covert of your fhadow until y\Du have (hot, or elfe couch, or lie clofe, where you appoint him, by faying, 'Lie clofe, until you have fhot ; and then upon the leaft notice or beckoning, fpeedily to come and do what you command. Somie are fo expert, as to have their eyes upon the game, and upon the gun's going off immediately run to fetch it ; hut 'tis adjudged not fo good, for the place fhould not be a warning to him, but your command; but if you give him his liberty at your {hooting, when you come againll: your nets or iime-t\^'igs, as foon as he feeth the fowl en- tangled, and flutter their wings, he will prefently rufh in amongil them, and will occafion the fpoiling your lime rods, and the tearing or entangling yonr nets. The fpaniel is of great ufe in the moulting time, that is when the v/ild fowl call their feathers, and can't fl)/-, but lie lurking about in fecret places ; which feafon is be- tween fummer and autumn : at which time take your dog into fuch places where they refort, caufmg him to hunt about : and when he finds them, they are eafily talcen,be- caufe they can't fly. In fenny countries, where fowl do much refort, great quantities m.ay be taken, driving them into places where 3^ou mufl have nets ready hxed, as in narrow creeks, or the like. " t a Thefe fowl, if taken and kept tame, and fed with bealts livers, whey, curds, barley, pafle, fcalded bran, and the like, are excellent food, 'far furpaffing thofe abfolutely wild, both in plumpnefj^-Jatnefs of body, and alfo for fweetnefs of tafte, ^/ Dogs. ^ i37 Of Lurchers. Lurchers are a kind of hunting dogs muci; like a mon- .grel greyhound, with pricked ears, and fliagged coat, and generally of a yellowifh white colour: they are very fwift runners, fo that if they get between the burrov/s and the conies, they feldom mifs ; and this is their cQmrnrHi pradlice in hunting ; yet they ufe other fubtilties, as the tumbler ,dces, fome of them bringing in their game, and thofe are the beft. It'is'alfo obfervable that a lurcher will run down a hare at a llretch. l^he Tumbler, So called becaufe in hunting they turn and tumble, winding their bodies about circularly, and then fiercely and violently venturing on the bead, do fuddenly gripe at the very entrance or mouth of their holes and receptacles, before they can make any recovery of felf fccurity. This dog ufeth alfo another craft and fubtiky; namely, when he runneth into a warren, or fetcheth a courfe about a coney-burrow, he hunts not after them, nor does any way affright them ; he (hews no fpite againll: them, but diffcmbling friendlhip, and pretending favour, pafies by with quietnefs and filence, marking their holes diligently, 'wherein he is feldom deceived- \^Tien he comes to a place where there is a certainty of conies, he coucheth down clofe with his belly to the ground, provided always that by his fkill and policy, that the wind "be againil him in that enterprize, and the conies difcover him not where he lurketh, by which means he gets the fcent of the conies, which is carried to him by the v/ind and air, either going to their holes or coming out, either paffmg this way or running that way, and by his circum- fpedion fo orders his matters, that the filly coney is 'de-. barred quite from his hole (which is the haven of his hope, and harbour of his fafety) and fraudulently circumvented and taken before he can reach his hole. Thiit having caught his prey, he immediately carries it to his mafler, who waits for the retuhi of his dog in fome convenient lurking place. N 3 Thcfe 13S The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. T^-efe dogs are fomewhat leffer than the hounds, being laHker, leaner, and fomewhat prick-eared. By the form and fafhion of their bodies, they might be called mungrel greyhounds, if they were fomewhat bigger. But though they do not equal the greyhound in fize, yet they will, in the compafs of one day, kill as many conies as fhall be a fufficient load for a horfe ; for craft and fub- tilty are the inflruments whereby they make this fpoil, A Setting-Dog. A dog trained up to the fetting of partridges, &c, from a whelp, till he comes to perfection ; you muft pitch upon one that has a perfedand good fcenr, and is naturally ad- dicted to the hunting of fowl, and this dog may be either a land-fpaniel, water- fpaniel, or a mungrel between both, or indeed the (liallow-flew'd, hound, tumbler, lurcher, or fmall baftard-maflifr, but none is better than the land- ijpaniel ; he Ihould be of a good nimble iizc, rather fmall tlian thick, and of a courageous mettle, which, though not to be difcerned being very young, yet you may very well know it from a right breed, w hich have been known to be ftrong, lufty, and nimble rangers, of aftive feeJ:, wanton tails, and bufy noflrils. * HaX'^ing made choice of a dog, begin to inftruft him at four months old, or fix at the fartheit, and the firft thing you Ihould do, is to make him loving to, and familiar with you ; the better to ef?eft this, let him receive his food, as much as can be, from no other hand but your own, and corred him rather wdth words than blows. When he is fo far trained as that he will follow none but yourfelf, and caii diftinguifli your frowns from your fmiles, and fmooth words from rough, teach him to couch and lie clofe to the ground, firft by laying him often on the ground, and ■ crying lie clofe, and then rewarding X)r chaftizing him, ac- cording as he deferves ; in the next place teach him to come creeping to you, and if he offers to raife his body or head, you muft not only thruft the rifing part down, but threaten him with aa^angry voice, which if he feems to Dogs. 13^ flight, give him a fmall jerk or two with a whipcord lafh, and often renew his leffon, till he becomes very perfeft in them. Then teach him to lead in a firing or line, and to follow you clofe at your heels, without trouble or ftraining his collar : after he has learned thefe things, take him into the fields, and give him his liberty to range, but flill in obedience to your command, and if he committi a fault, give Jiim due corredion. As foon as you fee him come upon the haunt of any partridge (which may be known by his greater eagcrnefs m hunting, as alfo by a kind of whimpering and v/hinin<^ voice, being very defirous to open, but not daring) vou ought then to fpeak to him, bidding him to take h'eed', or the like ; but yet, if he either rufh in or fpring the par- tridge, or open, and fo the partridge efcapes, then he ought to be feverely correfted, and caft him off again, and let him hunt in fome place where you knovv' a covey lies, and fee" whether he has m.ended his fault ; and if you catch anv with your nets, give him the heads, necks and pinions fo^r his encouragement. O/" Greyhounds. The befl fort of them has a long body, ftrong and pretty large ; a neat (harp head, fparkling eyes, a long mouth and (harp teeth ; little ears with thin griftles, a ftrait, broad and ftrong breaft, his fore legs ftrait and fhort, his hind legs long and ftrait, broad llioulders, round ribs, flefhy but- tocks, but not fat; a long tail, and ftrong and full fmews. Of this kind, thofe are always fitteft to be chofen among the whelps that weigh lighteft, for they will be fooner at the game, and fo hang upon it, hindering it's fwiftnefs, till the heavier and ftrong hounds come to offer their afCftance ; and therefore, befides what has been al- ready faid : 'Tis requiiite for a greyhound to have large fides, and and a broad midriff, fo that he may take his breath in and out more eafily: his belly fhould alfo^ be fmall, (which ©tlierwife would obftru(fi: the fwiftnefs of his courfe) his kgs no The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. legs long, and his hairs thin and foft : the Huntfman is to lead thefe hounds on his left hand, if he is on foot, arid on the rightifonhorfeback. The beft tin^e to try to train and lead them to their game; is at twelve months old, tho' fome begin fooner with them ; W4th the males at ten months, and the females at eight months old, which laft are generally more fwift than the dogs : they muft alfo be kept in a flip while abroad, till they can fee their courfe ; neither Ihould you run a young dog till the- game has been on foot a confiderable time, left being over greedy of the prey he ftrains his limbs tpo much. It is a received opinion, that a greyhound bitch will in common beat a greyhound dog, by reafon that (he excels him innimblenefs; but if it be confidered that the dog is longer and ftronger, that opinion will feem to be a vul- gar error. Here you may take notice as to the breeding of grey- hounds, that the beil dog upon an indifferent bitch, will: not get fo good a whelp as an indifferent dog upon a good bitch. And obfen'e this in general as to breeding ; let the dogs and bitclies, as near as you can, be of an equal age, not exceeding four years old ; Iwwever, to breed with a young dog and an old bitch, may be the means of produc- ing excellent whelps, the goodnefs of which you may know by their fhapes, in the following manner. In the breeding of greyhounds, in the firft place. The dieting of Greyhounds connils in tlaefe four tfiingSj, food, exercife, airing, and kenneling. The general food of a greyhound oufi;ht to be chippings, crufls of bread, foft bones an'd griftles, the chippings fcalded in beef, mutton, veal or venifon broth : and when it is indifferent cool, then make your bread only float in good milk, and give it your greyhounds morning afid evening, and this will keep them in a good Itate of body. But if your dog be poor, fickly and weak, then take ijieeps heads, wool and all, clean walhed, andjiaving broken them to pieces, put them into a pot; and when it boils, fcuni D o G s. 141 iTcum the pet, and put good ftore of oatmeal into it, and fuch lieibs as pottage is ufuaHv: made with ; boil thefe till the flefh is very tender, and feed yciir dog v/ith this morn- ing and evening, and it will recover him. If ycu defign your greyhound for a wager, then give him his diet-bread as follows : Take half a peck of good wheat, and half a peck of the fineft. dried oatmeal, grind them together, boult the meal, and having Mattered in it an indifferent quantity of liquo- rice and annifeeds, well beaten together, knead it up with the whites of eggs, and bake it in fmall loaves indifferent hard, then foak it in beefdr other broths: and having walked him and aired him half an hour after fun-rife in the, morning, and half an hour before fun-fetting, give him fome of it to eat. ^e Exercifeof a Greyhound. He ought to be courfed three times a week, rewarding him with blood, which will animate and encourage him to profecute his game; but forget not to give the hare all the juil and lawful advantage, fo that fhe may ftand long before the greyhound, that thereby he may fhew his ut- moft drengthand Ikill before he reap the benefit of his la- bour. If he kill, do nst fufrer him' to break the hare, but take her from him, and clean his chaps from the wool of the hare ; give him the liver and lights, and then take him up in your leafh, lead him home, and wafh his feet with fome butter and beer, and put him into the kennel, and half an hour afterwards feed him. Upon . the courfing days, give your hound a^oaft and butter or oil, in the morning, and nothing elfe, and then kennel him till he go to the courfe. The kennelling greyhounds after this manner breeds in them lull, fpirit and nimblenefs: it alfo prevents feveral dangerous cafualties, and keeps the pores clofe, fo as not to fpend till time of necelTity ; therefore fuffer not your hound to gQ out of the kennel, but at the hours of feeding, walking, courfmg, or other neceifary bufmefs, . ' Of 14* The eOMPLETE SPt>RTSMAl^f (y Terriers. A Terrier is a k,ind of hound, ufed chk% for hunting •- the fox or badger: fo called, becaufe he creeps into the ground, as the ferrets do into the coney-burrows, and there nips and bites the fox and badger, either tearing them in pieces with his teeth, or elfe hauling and pulling them by force cut of their lurking holes ; or at kail driving them out of their hollow harbours, to be taken by a net or other- wife. 'The huntfnien have commonly a couple of terriers, to the end they may put in a frefh one, -as oeeaiion ferves, - to relieve the other* 'I'ht time proper for entering thefe- terriers is, v*fhen thfy are near a year old ; for if it be not done within that time, they will hardly after be broug]it to take the earth,, - and this eittering and tleiliing of them may be performed - feycral ways. Wlien foxes and badgers have young cubs, talc e your old terriers, and enter tliem in the grouiid ; and when they btgin to bay, you muft hold every one of your terrier* ~ at a particular hole or mouth of the earth, that they may- liften, and hear tlie old ones bay. After you have taken the old fox or badger, fo that, nothing remain within but the young cubs, couple all your old terriers, and put the young ones in their ftead i en- CCi;i:Agiiigtiirm by cryii!" to hims= to hirn,- "" And if they take any young cub within the ground, let them alone to do what they will v/ith him; and do not for- get to give the old terriers their rev/ard ; which is blood and livers fried with cheefe, and fome of their greafe, fnewing the heads and Ikins to encourage them. Another way is, to take an old fox or badger, and to cut his nether jaw away, leaving the upper to ftiew the fury ot* the beaft, though he can do no harm with it, or elfe break out all his teeth ; then dig aA earth in fome conve- nient place in the ground, making it wide enough, that your terriers may the better turn therein, and have room enough for two to enter. ^ Cover ;B u c K-H u N T I N G. 14:3 •'Covet the hole with boards and turf, firft putting the* ■fox orbsdg-erin, and then )T>ur terriers, both young and old, which when they have bayed fufficiently, begin todja w'ith fpade's and mattocks, : to encourage them, agai-Dlt ■fiich times as you are to dig over them ; aftei-wards, take out the fox or badger, with the chumps or pinchers, .•kilhng it before them ;. or let a greyhound kill it in their .flight. 0/ BUCK HUNTING. HAVING, under the article Hart, (which fee) treated fo largely, as to their nature, and the wa} s of hunt- ing them, there needs the lefs to be faid as to hunting the buck, and the rules for taking him ; for he that can hunt a hart orftag well, will not hunt a buck ill. Befides, fallow deer being common among us, and thofe ufually in parks and inclofures of divers lituations and fta- tures, different from one another; it would be a difficult two, have retarned of therafelves, chudng rather to die where they have been -acquainted than in a llrange place. The. buck groans and trots as the hart belleth, and with a worfe noife and rattling in the throat, leaps lighter at the rut than the llag ; neither will thefe two beafts come near one another's layer, and they have feldom or never any other relays than the old hounds. They alfo herd more than the hart does, and lie in the drieft places, though if they are at large, they herd but little from May to Auguft. Now the greateit fubtilty a huntfman needs to ufe in hunting the buck, is to have a care of hunting, counting, or change, becaufe of the plenty of fallow-deer that ufe to come more diredly upon the hounds, than the red deer does. The does begin to fawn about the end of May, and continue till Midfummer. The bucks mew or fhed their horns or heads every year, about, or in April, and part of May, and their new ones are burnilhed about the end of Augult. The buck makes his Fewmifhing in divers manners and forms as the hart, according to the diverfity of food, and the time of the day, morning and evening ; but they are moll commonly round. The buck comes in feafon the eighth of July, and goes out at holy-rood, which is the fourteenth of September. The doe comes in feafon when the buck goes out, and goes out at Twelfth-tide. In buck-hunting the fame hounds are ufed as in running the ftag. In foreils and chafes, as they lie at layer, fo they are hunted. In parks where they are inclofed, the fport is not fo di- verting by reafon of the greater change and foil, unlefs they break oat and run the countr}^, which they feldom do. But deer that i'ie out though near the park^ make for llie generality better chafes than foreft deer. ^'/^e Harts. i4S TJife keeper Jhooting c Bwck to he run doiVH, In order to facilitate the chafe, the keeper commonly feleds a fat buck out of thaherd, which he (hoots to maim him, and then he is run down by the hounds. As to the method of hunting the bu<:k ; the compaay generally go out very early for the benefit of the morning, fometimes they have a deer ready lodged, {^ not, the coverts are drawn till one is rouzed; or femetimes m a park a deer is pitched upon, and forced from the herd, then more hounds are laid on to run the chafe ; if you come to be ^t a fault, the old (launch hounds are only to be relied upon till you recover him again : if he be funk and the hounds thruft him up, it is called an imprimc, and the •ompany all found a recheat ; when he is run down, every one (Irives to get in to prevent his being torn by the hounds, fallow-deer feldom or never (landing at bay. He that firft gets in cries hox)-up, to give notice that he is down and blows a death. When the company jirc all come, they paunch him and reward the hounds ; and' generally the chief perfon of quality amongil them takes fay, that is, cuf his belly open, to fee how fat he is. When this is done, every one has a chop at his neck, and the head being cut off is Iheu'ed to the hounds to encourage them to run only at male deer,, vvhich they fee by the horns, and to teach them to bite only at the head .: then the company all (landing in a ring, one blows a iingle death, which being done, all blow a double recheat> and conclude the chace with a general hallo of hoo-up, and de- part the field to theic feveral homes, or places of meetincr^ and the huntfman or fome other, hath the deer crofs the buttocks of his hoik, and fo caifies him home. o cy 146 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. 0/ H A R T S. A HART is the moft noble and ftately beaft, and in the firft year is called a hind-calf, in the fecond a knobber, in the third a brock, in the fourth, a Haggard, in the f Trh, a ftag, and in the fixtb, a hart. Harts are bred in moft countries, but the ancients prefer thofe of Britain before all others, where they are of divers colours. Thefe excel all others in the beauty of their horns, which are very hieh, yet do not grow to their bones or fcalps, but to their ikms, branching forth into many fpcars, being folid throughout, and as nard as ftones, and fall off once a year. But if they remain abroad in the air ; and if they arc by that means foretimes wet andfometimes dry, they grow as light as any other lefs folid fubftance ; by which it (hould fccm they are of an earthy fubftance, concrete, and har- dened with a ftrong heat, made like unto bones. They lofe their horns every year in the fpring. At one year oW they have nothing but bunches, that are fmall fignificators of horns to come : at two years they appear more perf&ftly, but ftrait and fmgle : at three years they grow into two fpears ; at*four into three, and fo in- creafe every year in their branches till they are fix ; and above that time their age is not certainly to be known by the head. Having loft their horns, in the day-time they hide them- felves, inhabiting the fhades, to avoid the annoyance of flies, and feed, during that time, only in the night. Their new horns come out at firil like bunches, and af- terwards (as has been faid before) by the increafe of the fun's heat they grow more hard, covered with a rough Ikin, which is called a velvet head ; and as that fkin drieth, they d^ly try the ftrength of their new heads upon trees, which not only fcrapeth off the roughnefs, but by the pain they feel by thus rubbing them, they are taught how long to forbear the company of their fellows j for at laft, when in Iheif Hart s. 147 their chaffing and fretting of their new herns againfl: ihc trees, they can feel no longer pain and fmait ia them, they feem as if they thought it were high time to forfake their foHtary dwellings, and return again to their former con- d'tion. It has been obferved, that when a hart pricketh up liis ears, he windeth (harp, very far and fure, and difcovererlV ali treachery againft him ; but if they hang down and wag, he perceives no danger. Their age is difcerned by their teeth ; they Iravc four on' both fides, with which they grind t!ieir meat, befidcs two others, which are much larger in the male than in the fc- jnale. AH thefe beafts have worms in their heads, underneath their tongues, in a hollow place where the neck bone is joined to the head, which are no bigger than ily-biovvs. The blood of the hart is not like that of other bealls,- fof it hath no fibres in it, and therefore it is hardly con- gealed. His heart is very great, andfo arc thofc of fearful bculls. having in it a bone like a orofs.- He hath no gall, and that is one of the caufcs oi' hi^ long life, and therefore are his bowels fo bitter, tliat the dcgs will not touch them unlefs they be very fat. The genital part of a hart is all nervous, the tailfmall, and a hind hath udders between her thighs, with four fpeaiis; like a cow, Thefe are, above all other beads, both ingenious and fearful, who although they h:ve large horns, yet their de- fence againft other four-footed bealls is to run away. The hart is ilrangely amazed, when he hears any one caH or whiftle in his filt : for trial of which, fome feeing a hart in the plain in motion, have called afterhim, crying, ware, ware, take heed j and thereupon have feen him inllantly turn back, making fome little ftand. He hears very perfctftly when his head and cars are ere<5t- ed, but imperfedly when he lets them down; -^ When he is on foot, and not afraid, he admires every thing he fees,, and takes a pleafure to gaze at them. O 2 * A-hart 148 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. A hart can naturally fwim a great way, infomuch that ^ feme which have been hunted in forefts near the fea, have "plunged into it, and have been killed by fifhcrmen twelve jniles from land. It is reported of them, that when they go to rut, and for that purpofe are obliged to pafs fome great river or arm of the fea, they alTemble in great herds,, the ftrongeft going in firft, and the next in ftrength following him, and fo one after the other^ relieving themfelvcs by flaying their heads on the buttocks of each other. The hind commonly carries her calf eight or nine months, which ufually falls in May, although fome of them have two at once, and eat up the flcin wherein the calf did lie. As the calf grows up, fhe teaches it to run, leap, -the way it muft take to defend itfelf from the hounds. Harts and hinds are very long lived, living commonly an hundred j'-eaf* and upwards. 0/"Hart-Hunting. The huntfman muil firft of all cncompafs the beafi in- his own layer, and Co unharbour him in the view of the do^s, that fo they may never Icfe his flot or footing. Neither muft he fet upon every one, either of the herd, or thofe that wander foiitary alone, or a little one, but partly bv fight, and partly by their footing and fumcts, m^ke a judgment of the game, and alfo obierve the large- j\cu of his layer. The huntfman having made thefe difcoverles in order to the chafe, takes off the couplings of the dogs, and fome on horfeback, and others on foot, follow the cry with the greateft art, obfervation and fpeed, remembering and in- tercepting him in hisfubtle turnings and headings : with all flgilitv leaping hedges, gates, pales and ditches : neither fearing thorns, down hills nor woods, but mounting frefh horfe'^if the firft tire : follow the largeft head of the whole herd, which muft be fmgled out of the chafe, which the dogs perceiving mui^ follow i not following any other. The Hart s. i49 The dogs are animated to the fport by the winding of horft3 and the voices of the huntfmen. Butfometimes the crafty beaft fends forth his littfe fquire , to be facrificed by the dogs and hunters inftead of himfelf, . lying clofe the meantime* In this cafe, the huntfman. muft found a retreat, break off the dogs, and take them • in, that is, ieam them again, until they be brought to the fairer game ; which rifeth with fear, yet ftill driveth by flight, until he be wearied and breathlefs* . The nobles call the beaft a wife- hart, who, to avoid 'allJ his enemies, runneth into the greatell herds, and fo brings^ a cloud of error on the dogs, to obftrudl thtir farther pur- fuit ; fometimes alfo beating fome of the herd upon his- footings, that fo he may more eafily efcape, by amufmg the- dogs. Afterwards he betakes himfelf to his Keels- again; (lilil running with the wind, not only for the fake of reffefn-* ment, but alfo becaufe bythat means he can the more eafily hear the voice of his purfuers, whether they be far fr.in'^ him or near to him. But at laft being difcovered by the huntcrs,^ and fagaci-- cus Tcent of the dogs, he flies into the herds of cattle, as> cows, Iheep, &rc. leaping on a cow or ox, laying the-. fore- parts of his body thereon, that fo touching the earth only with his hinder feet, he may leave a very miall orno fcenti at all behind for the hounds to difcern. A chief huntfman to Le\f is XII. of France, affiams thaC on a time, they having. a hart in chace, on a fuddcn the ' hounds were at a fault, fo as the game was out of fighr, . and not a dog would once ftir his foot, at which the. hun- ters were all amazed ; at , laft, . by cafting, their eyes about, they difcovered the fraud of the crafty beall. There was agreat white thoniy which grew in a ftiadowy - place, as high as a moderate tree, which was enccmpi'.nici ; about with other, fmall (hrubs j into this the hart ■ having leaped, flood there a-lofti the boughs fpreading from one to another, and there remained till he was thruil through bv the huntfman, rather than he would yield hi«ifrlf up a- prey to. the hounds his m^rtaLenemies^ O 3 £.ut 150 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. But their tifual manner is, when they fee themfelves hard befet, and every way intercepted, to make force at their enemies with their horns, who firft comes upon him, un- lefs they be prevented by fpear or fword. When the bead is flain, the huntfman with hig horn windeth the fall of the beaft, and then the whole company comes up, blowing their horns in triumph for fuch a con- queft; among whom, the fkilfulleft opens the beaft, re- wards the hounds with what properly belongs to them, for iheir future encouragement, for which purpofe the huntfmen dip bread in the blood and fkin of the beaft, to give to the hounds. Of the nit c/" Harts. Their rutting time is about the middle of September, and continues two months ; the older they are the hotter, apJ the better they pleafe the hinds, and therefore they go to rut before the young ones ; and being very fiery, they T.V ill not fuffer any of them to come near the hinds, till they have fatisficd their venereal appetite. But for all this, the young ones are even with the old j • for when they perceive that the old are grown weak by ex- cefs of rutting, the young will frequently attack them^ ajid make them quit the place, that they may be matters of the rport. They may be eafily killed in rutting-time, for they follow the fceut gf the hinds with {o much eagernefs, lay-'- ing their nofcs to tl^ ground, that they mind that only and nothing elfe. It is dangerous for any man to come near them at that time, for then they will make at any living creature of a different kind. • in Come place their luft arifes in Oftober, and alfo in May; and then, whereas ^t other rimes the males live apart from the females, they go about like lafcivious lovers, feeking the company of the females. The naales, \\\ theii racing luft, make a peculiar noife. % One H A K T S". 151 One male will cover many females, continuing In this appetite for one or two months. The females feem chafte, and unwilling to admit of co- pulation, by reafon of the vigour of the genital of the male; and therefore they fmk down on their buttocks when they begin to feel his femen, as it has been ob- ferved in tame harts; and if they can, the females run away, the males driving to hold them back with their fore feet. It cannot be well faid that they are covered ftanding, lying, or going, but rather running ; for fo ^re they filled with greateft feverity. When one month or fix weeks is over of their rutting, they grow much tamer ; and laying afide all iiercenefs, they return to their foiitary place, digging every one by him- felf a feveral hole or ditch, in which they lie to afluage the ftrong favour of their luft ; for they ftink like goats, and their face begins to look blacker than at other times : and in thofe places they live till fome Ihowers of rain fall ; after which they return to the pafture again, living in flocks as they did before. The females having been thus filled, never aflbciate again with the male till (he is delivered of her burthen, which is in a^out eight months, and produces generally but one at a time, very feldom two ; which Ihc lodges cunningly in fome covert. If fhe perceive them ftubborn and wild, Ihe will beat them with her feet tiU they lie clofe and quiet. She oftentimes leadeth forth her young ; teaching it to run, and leap over bufli«s, ftones, and fmall fhrubs, and fo continuethall the fummerlong, while their own ftrength is the moft confiderable. It is very pleafant to obferve them when they go out to rut, and make their vault : for when they fmell the hind, they raife their nofe up into the air ; and if it be a great hart, he will turn his head and look about to fee whe^ ther there be none near him to interrupt andjfpoil his fport. Upon 152 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAK Upon thifr, the young fly away for fear ; but if there be any of equal bignefs, they then drive which fhall vault iirft ; and in the oppofmg each otlier, they fcrape the ground with their feet, fhoc].:ing and butting each other fo fiirioully, that they may hear the noife they make vvith their horns, a good half mile, fo long till one of them, is conqueror. The hind beholding this encounter, never IHrs from her ftation, expeding, as it were, the vaulting of him who {hall get the maftery, who having got it, bellows, and then inilantly covers her. Of^the coats and colours a/" Harts. The coats of harts are of three different forts, brown, led, and fallow ; and of each of thefe coats there pro- ceeds two forts of harts, the one great and the other fmall. Of brown harts, there are fome great, long and hairy, bearing a high head, of a red colour and well beamed,, who will ftand before the hounds very long, being longer of breadth, and fwifter of foot than thofe of a fhorter nature., . There are another fort of brown hart, which are little, (hort and well fet, beating commonly a black mane, and are fatter and better venifon than the former,, by. rcafon of- their better feeding in young coppices. They are very crafty, efpecially when in greafe, and < will be hardly found,, becaufe they know they arc then raoit enquired after; befides they are feniible they cannot, ftand long before the hounds. If they be old and feed on good ground, then are their, heads black, fair, and w?U branched, and commonly, palmed at the top. The fallow harts bear their heads high and of a whitifh . colour, their beams fmall, their antlers long, flender, and. ill grown ; having neither heart, courage, nor force. But thofe that are of a lively red fallow, having a: black or brown lift down the ridge of the back, arc ftrong. Harts. 1^3 (Irong, bearing fair and high heads, well furnilhed and beamed. Of tht heady arid hranches of Harts. As there are feveral forts of harts, {o alfo have they different heads, according to their age, country, reft and feeding. Here you muft take notice, that they bear not their firl^ head (which we call broches, and in the fallow deer' pricks) until they enter the fecond year of their age. In the third year they bear four, fix, or eight fmall branches; at the fourth, they bear eight or 'ten : at the fifth, ten or twelve : at fix, fourteen or fixteen : and the feventh year, they bear their heads beamed, branched and fummed, which is as much as ever they will bear, and do' never multiply but in greatnefs only. The time of lAkKTS meowing ^r cajiing their heads. An old hart cafteth his head fooner than the young, and. the time is about the months of February and March. Here note, that if you geld a hart before he hath a head, he will never bear any ; and if you geld him when he has a head, he will never after mew and caft it : and fo if he^ be gelded when he hath a velvet head, it will ever be fo, without fraying or burnilhing. As foon as they have caft their heads, they inftautly withdraw into the thickets, hiding themfelves in fuch con- venient places where they can have good water and ftrong feeding, near fome ground where wheat and peafe are fown : but young harts do never betake themfelves to the. thickets till they have borne theiir third head, which is the fourth year. After they have mewed, they will begin to button in March and April ; and as the fun grows ftrong, and the feafon of the year puts forward the crops of the earth, fo will their heads increafe in all refpefts ; fo that by the middle of June, their heads will be fummed as much as they will bear all the ysar, \ , ■ The li^ The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. ^lie names 4ind dinjerfitj of Beads ^ according to the ternu u/ed by Hunters, The part which bears the antlers, royals, and tops is called the beam, and the little ftrcaks there are called gutters. That which is about the cruft of the beam is termed pearls, and that which is about the bur itfelf, formed like little pearls,^ is called, pearls bigger than the reft. The bur is next the head,^ and that which is about the bur is called pearls ; the firft is called antler, the fecond fur- antler: all the reft which grow afterwards until you come to the crown, palm, or croche, are called royals, and fur-royals ; the little buds or broches about the top, are called croches. Their heads alfo go by feveral names ;^lie fixft liead is called a crowned top, becaufe the croches are ranged ia form of a crown. The fecond is called a palmed top, becaufe the creaches- are formed like a mnn's hanti. Thirdly, all heads which bear not above three or fbur^ the croches being placed aloft, all of one height, in form of a clufter of huts, are to be called heads of io maR/ croclies. "Fourthly, all heads "wHch bear two in top, or having their croches doubling, are to be called forked heads- Fifthly,. all heads which have double burs, or the antkrs, royak and croches, turned downwards, cwitrary to other heads, are called heads. Mcni} to knoTM an old Hart :^ the Jlot, entries ^ aha-tures, foil, ferdomatSy gate 4ind or by. being overtakei*- with the night, or the like. If it Ihould happen fo, do as follows. • Firft, they who follow the hounds, muft- mark the place- where' they left the chace, and at break of day bring the- blood hound to it, with the kennel after him. If any hound vents, whom he knov/s to be nC liar nor- babbler, he fliall put his hound to it, whooping tv/icCj or biov/ing two notes with-^ his horn, to call -all his fellows about him ; and if he find where the hart is gone into fome likely covert or grove, then mull he draw his hounds, about it,, and if he there renews the Hot ar view, let him firft confider v/hether it be right or not, jf it be right let - Iu^Mqw, hisi^oxn*- P 2 And i\ 200 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. And if he happens to find five or fix layers, let it not feem ftrange, for harts hunted and fpent do frcquently inake many layers together, becaufe they canHot iland, but lie and feed. Harts which are hunted, moft commonly run up the wind, and jftralt forwards as far as they are able, and finding any water or foil, do ftay a long time therein, by vvhich means their joints are fo benumbed and ftiffened, that coming out, they cannot go fai, nor ftand up long, and therefore are forced to take up with any harbour they can f.nd which may be a prefent covert to them. Hcvj to find a Hart in high nxoods. In the feeking of a hart in high woods, you muft have regard to two things ; that is, the thickets of the forefl and the feafen. \^ it be in vtry hot weather, gnats, hor{e-flies, and the like, drive tlie iker out of the high woods, and they rlifperfe themfelves into fmall groves and thickets, near places of good feeding. According to the covert§ which are in the forefl, fo muft the Huntfman make his enquiry; for fometiraes the hart lies in the tufts of white- thorn, fometimes under little trees, other Vv'hiles under great trees -in the high woods, and fometimes in the fk.irts of the forejil, under the fhelter of lirtle groves and coppices. And therefore tJie Huntlman muft make his ring-walk large or frnall, according to the largenefs of thofe harbours or coverts. Ho<^i.v to unharhoiir a ^^k'^T and cafi ojf the hounds, A^'hen the relays arc well fet and placed, let the Huntf- man with his pole walk before the kennel of hounds ; and b( ing come to the .bkmifhes, let him take notice of the Hot, and fuch other marks as maybe obferved/rora i.t view of the deer, in order that he may know whether ^ the hounds run riot or not. Then the huntfman muft cail abroad about the covert, to , n. H A R T s. 16 r t6 difcover the hart when he is unharboured, the better to diftfnguilh him by his head or otherwife. If the blood-hound, in drawing, chance to overfhoof, and draw wrong or counter, then the huntfman mull draw him back, faying, back, back, fcft foft, until he hath {tt him right again; and if he perceive that thcjiound hath mended his faulty by his kneeling down and obferving the ilot or ports, he muft then cheriib him, by (flapping him 041 the back, and giving him encoun^ging words; thus iTiuft he draw on with his hounds till he defcrics the deer. Some deers are fo cunning and crafty, that when, they are unharboured from their layer, . they will coaft round about tc find fome other deer, whereby the hounds may be confounded in the change of' huts. If the huntfman hatii a hart in view, he ought ftill to draw upon the Hot," blowing and hallooing till the hounds are come in. When he finds they are in full cry, and taker it right, he then may mount, keeping under the w:..d and . coaft, to crofs the hounds that are in /chafe to help them. at . default, if need require. ^he fiihtiliks 'Vihich are ufed in .hunting a Hart.y?/ fine. , A huntfman ought never to come nearer to thehouadg In cry, then fifty or fixty paces, efpecially-at thefirft.iin- tpupiing, or at cafting- off the relays ; for if a hart .make doublings, or : wheel * about or acrofs before the hounds, , (as he feldom does) if then yoe come in too hailin> yon : will fppil the flot or:viewi and fo the hounds, for want, of / fcent, will be apt to.overlhoot the chace. . But if after you have -hunted, an hour/ the himtfmanr perceives that the har^ 'makes out end -ways before, the- hounds, and that ■ they follow in-full cry, taking it right/, thbn h,e may come iu-nearcT, and^biow a :reche:\t to the hbunds, to encoutage thera*-. I^reupon the hart v/ill frequently feek other deer r.t * kyer, and roufe them^ on pu-rpofc to make the hounf's^ bunt chace, and will lie down in -fome of their layers fiaf-- upon his belly, and fo fuffer the hounds to over-ihoot hi'n : ; a^ f^t they. may net .either fcent. or; venthiin, he wJl P'5.- • ' gathe.fv i62 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. gather up all his four feet under his belly, and will blow or breathe on Come moift place of the ground, fo that the hounds may pafs by him, poffibly, though within a yard, and never vent him. For which caufe huntfmen fnouldblemilh at thofe places, where they fee the hart enter ^nto a thicket, to the end, tliat if the hounds fhould fall to change they may return to thefe blemiiTies, and put the hounds to the right flcft and view, until they have rouzed and found him again, A hart has another way to bring the hounds to change, snd that is, when he fees himfclf clofely purfued, and that he cannot fnun them, he will break into one thicket after another to find deer, rouzing and herding with them, con- tinuing fo to do fometimes above an hour, before he will part from them, or break herd. Finding himitlf fpent, he will break herd, and fall a ('o-jbling and crolling in fome hard highway that Is much beaten, or elfe in fome river or brook, in which he will keep as long as his breath will permit him : and if he be far before the hounds, it may be then he will ufe the for.'ier device, gathering his legs under his belly, as he lies flat stl^ng upon fome hard dry place. Sometimes he will take foil and fo cpver himfelf un- der the water, that you fhall perceive nothing but his nofe. In this cafe the Huntfman fnuit have a fpecial regard to his old' hounds, who v^ill hunt leifurely and fearfully^. W'Herc^s the young hounds will over fhoot their game. If the hounds happen to be at a default, and liunt in ieverai jtompanies, then It may be guelTed that the hart has broken lierd' from the freib deer, and that the frelh deer have feparated them.fclves alfo : then notice is to be taken bow the old ^anch hounds make it, and to obferve the Aot ', and where you fee any of the old hounds- challenge,, fherifn and encourage that hound or hounds,, haftening the reft in to him, crying hark to fuch a hound,, calling; him by his name. Here it is to be noted, that they cann-ot make It fo well in the hard highways as in other places, becaufe they can- - not have . there fo perfeft a fcent, either by reafen of the a tra^ Hart s. i 6^ tracks or footing of divers forts of beafls, or by reafon of the fun drying up the moifture fo that the duft coverexh the {lot. Now in fuch places (fuchis the natural fubtilty of the bead for feif-prefervation) the hart will make many crofTings and doublings, holding them long together to make the hounds give over the chafe. In this cafe, the f.rft care of the Huntfman is to make good the head, and then draw round apace; tirll down the wind, though deer ufually go up the wind ; and if the way is too hard to flot, then be fure to try far enough back,. Expert hounds will often do this of themfelves. But if a hart break out into a champaign coimtry, and in the heat of the day too, i. e. between noon and threo of the clock, then if the^ Huntfman perceive his hounds out of breath, he ought not to force them but comfort^ them ; and though they do not call upon the flot or view, yet it is fjfficient if they do but wag their tails, for b,s^ "mg almoft fpent it is painful for them to call; The laft refuge of a hart that has been forely hunted^ , is the water, which in terms of art is called the foil ; fwifn- . ming ofteneft dov/n the ftream, keeping the middle, fear- ing left by touching any bough by the Vv'ater fide, he may, give fcent unto the hounds. Whenever you come to a foil, (according to the old- rale. He who will his chafe find, let him firft try up river and down the wind) be fure, if your hounds challenge. but a yard above his going in, that^ lie has gone up the river ; for though he Ihould keep the very middle of the ftream, yet will that, with the help of the wind, lodge part of the ftream ,and imbofh that comes from him on the bank, it may be a quarter of a mile lov/er, which hath de- ceived. Therefore nrft try up the ftream, and where a deer firlfc. breaks foil, both man and hound will beft perceive it. Now the ways to know when a hart is fpent, are thefe : Firft, He will run ftiff, high and lompering. Secondly, If his mouth be black and dry, without any foam upon it, and his tongue hanging out ; but they will ©ften clofe their mouths to decciv-e fpeftatOES. Thirdly, 1164 The GGMPLETE SPORT5SMAN. Thirdly, Ry his flot ; for oftentimes he will clofe hi^ claws together as if he went at leifure and prefently.aj^ai^- open them wide, making great glidings, and hitting his dew-glaws upon the ground, following the beaten paths without doublings, and fometimes going all along by a ditch fide, feeking fome gap, not having ftrength to leap it: yet it has been often feen, the dead-run deer, have taken very great leaps. . A huntfrnan muft therefore govern himfelf according to the fubtilty and craft of "the deer, obferving the doub- lings and croilings, and the places wheie they are made; ijiaking his rings little or great, according to the nature of the place, time, and feafon; for hounds are apt to Ihoot where herbs and flowers have their moH lively fcent-andi odoriferous fmeU. . Neither is the perfedion or imperfection of the hounds, t€i be difregarded. And if thefe things be done, it will be iiftuch if you lofe a hart by default. To kill a Has^t ai bay. It is, very dangerous to go in to a hart at bay, and ef- pecially, at rutting time, for at that time they are moil. ferce. There are two forts of bays ; one on the lanc}^ and (4»e other in the water. Now if the hart be in a deep water, where you-cnnnot well come at hira, then coupk up your dogs-; for ihould they continue long iathe water^ it would endanger their furbating or foundering. . . In this cafe, get ^bpat and fwim to him, with a dagger drawn., or.elfe with a rope that has a noole, and throw it. ever his horns-; for if the water be fo deep that the hart, fivims, there is no danger in approaching him; otherwife you muft be very cautious... As to a la^id-bay, if a hart be burnilhed, then you muft confider the place; for if it be in a. plain and open phee, , ^•here. there is no wood nor cov^ert, it is dangerous and dif- ficult to come in to him ; but if be be on a hf dge fide» Q^'v^^ tliicketj. thep^ wiiilp.. ^c ^art is Itarting on the iioyndsi H A R T S. 165 houiK^s, you may come foftly and covertly behind him and cut his throat. IF you mifs your aim, and the hart turn head upon you, then take refuge at fome tree ; and when the hart is at bay, couple up your hounds ; and when you fee the hart turn head to fly, gallop in roundly to him, and kill him with your fword, Dire^iom at the death 66 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. blow a horn and found a horn ; and now the French or- German horns are in reputCr In many cafes, formerly, leafing was obferved ; that is, one was held either crofs a faddle or on a man's back, -and, with a pair of dog- couples, receive ten -pounds and a purie, that is, ten ftripes (according to the nature of the crime, more or lefs fevcrc) and an eleventh that ufed to.bQ as bad as the other ten called a purfe. There are many faults, as coming too late in the field ; miftaking any term of art ; thefe are of the leiTer fort; the greater are hallooing a wrong deer, or leaying the field be- fore the death of the deer, &c,. Of RABBETS (»r CONIES. 'T^ H E rabbet begins to breed at a year old, l3ears at JL leaft fe-vKn times a year ; fhe carries her young in h^r belly thirty days, if Aie litters in the month of iVIarch^ apd as foon as fhe has kennelled, goes to buck again > nei- ther- can they fuckle their young till they have been with^^ buck. Tame rabbets, above all other beafts, delight i» imprifonm.ent and folitarinefs ; they are violently hot in the- a^l of generation, performing it with fuch vigour and ex- cefs, that they fwoon, and lie in trances a good while after the aft. The males being given too much to cruelty, kill all the young ones they can come at, therefore the females, after they have kennelled, hide them, and clofe up the holes ia- fuch manner, that the buck may not find them; they in- creafe wonderfully, bringing forth every month, therefore ufhen kept tame in huts, they muft be watched, and as foon as. they have kennelled muil be put. to the buck, for they will otherwife mourn, and hardly bring up their young. The huts in which tame rabbets -are to be kept, fhouI4 be made of tliia wainfcot boards, fomc about two feet> f(^uare Rabbets or Conies. 167 fqiiare, and one foot high, which Tquare muft be divld<;d into two rooms, one with open windows of wire, through which the rabbet may feed, and a lefs room without light, wherein ihe may lodge and kennel; and a trough, wherein to .put meat and other neceifaries for her, before each of them ; and thus you may make box upon box in divers ftories, keeping the bucks by themfelves as alfo the does, uulcfs it be fuch as have not bred, with-which you may let the buck lodge. Further, when a doe has kennelled one nefV, and then kennelled another, the firft muft be taken from her, and be put together into feveral boxes, amongft rabbets of their own age, provided the boxes be not pef- tered, but that they have eafe and liberty. For the choice of tame rich eonies, it needs not to look to their (hape, but to their richnefs ; ©nly that the bucks muft be the largeft and richeft you can get ; and that'fkin^ is efteemed the beft, that has' the equalleft mixture of black' and white hair together, yet the black fnould rather- ihadow the white : a black fkin with a few filver ■hairs, being mach ^richer than' a white &in with a few black ones. ■As to the profit of tame rich conies, ereiy one that is killed in feafon, that is,'- from Martinmas till after Candle- inas, is worth- five others, as being much better and lar- ger ; and when another ikin is worth two- pence or three- pence' at the - moft, thefe are worth a ihilling or upwards. Again, the increafe is more; the tame ones, at one kind- Rng, bringing forth more than the wild do ; befides, they «re akvays ready at hand for thf;, difti, -winter and fummer, without'the chai-ge of nets, ferrets,- &c. and their fkins al- ways paying their keeper's- expence, with intereft. The beft food for your tame conies, is the fweateft, fhbrteft, and beft hay you can get ; one load wiU feed two hundred couple a year, and" out of the ftock of two hundred, may be fpent in the hotife as many as are fold in the market, and yet a' good ftock maintained to anfweraii cafualties. The hay muft be put to them in little cloven fticks, that they may with eafe reach and pull it out of the lame, but fo as Qot te fcatteror wafte any ; -aiad fweet oats, and i6S The COMPLEjTE SPORTSMAN. and water, fliould be put for them in the troughs under the boxes : and this Ihould be their ordinary and conftant food, all other being to be ufed phyfically ; as that you may, twice or three times in a fortnight, to cool their bodies, give them mallows, clover-grafs, four docks, blades of corn, cabbage, or colewort leaves, and the like, alt which both cools and nourifhes exceedingly ; but fvveet grain fhouid be feldom ufed, fmce nothing rots them fooner. Great care muft be had, that when any grafs if> cut for them where are weeds, that there is no hemlock amongft it, for though they will eat it greedily, yet it is prefent poifon for them, apid fuddenly kills them. Their buts alfo muil be kept fweet and clean every day, for their pifs and ordure is of fo ilrong and violent a favour, as will annoy themfelves as well as thofe who look after them. The infirmities to which tame conies are fubjetfl, are two fold. 1. The rot; which. comes by giving them green rrieat , or gathering greens for them, and giving them to theiti with the dew o^; therefore let them have it but feldom^ and then the drynefs of the hay will even dry iip the m'oifture, knit themVand keep them found. 2. There is a certain rage of madnefs engendered from corrupt blood, fpringing from the ranknefs of their keep- ing, and which is known by their wallowing and tui:ibling with their heels upwards, and leaping in their hiits] to cure which, give them tare-thiitle to eat. Wild rabbets do a great deal of damage to vineyards, and ail forti of corn, their teeth fparing nothing that they come near; and in fuch countries as abound with vineyards, thev will eat the young fnoots as foon as they feegin to ap- pear, and will do them fo much damage, that it-w^Il en- . ' danger their ruin without fome proper remedy : to prevent which take fome very fmall fticks of willow, well dried, dip one end of them into fome melted brimftone, and ftick the other into the ground ; let them be about a fathom • diftant from each other, and {et fire to them and this will prevent the rabbets (who hate the fmelijl from entering iutu Rabbets 9r Conies. 169 into any vineyard, on the fide of which thofe fticks are fet : the fmell will laft four or five days, at the expiration of which you mull renew it, and fo a third time, info- much, that in about fixteen days, the ilioot of the vine will be (o ftrong as not to be in danger of t'le infults of thofe animals. Tlie ways of taking thefe creatures are various, particu- larly fuch as ftray from their burrows may be taken with fmall greyhounds^ or mungrels bred up for that purpofe ; and their places of hunting are a. nong bullies, , hedges, corn-fields, and freih paftares ; and though you lliould mifs killing them, yet they are hereby drove back to their burrows, over whofe holes- you may lay purfe-nets, and then put in a ferret clofe-muffled, which will quickly make them bolt out again to the net, and fo are caught. The ferret fometimes fi.nds a rabbet alleep, which fhe furprifes and kills, fuoks her blood, lies upon her, and fleeps there ; in which cafe your are obliged either to kill her, or wait till (he awakes, which will be often five or fix hoars ; and therefore you muft fire five or fix time into the hole to awake her, upon which fne will come out ; - but you mull always let her deep an hour before you fire, oi: ^\(-t the noife will fignify nothing. When -you take any of the does you mud turn them loofe, that you may not depopulate your y/ai-rens, and ilit their ears, that they may not be killed by others, who fornetimes lie in wait to Ihoot the.n. To force rabbets out of their barrows without a ferret, take forne powder of orpine and brimftone, old (hoes, parchment, or cloth, and burn fhem at the mouth of the burrow, upon that fide which the wind blows, and {j^sreads your purfc-net under the wind. Soa}2 put a crab or two into the holes, which will force them out. 'Nets to take Rabbets aid Hap.es. Thefe nets mud be made in the fame manner ^3 h.illiers, Vaerewith they takt partridgt\^. The meih Ihould be aa V " inuh 170 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. inch and a half broad, madeof good ftrong thread, and treble twifted ; but if you would make mefhes lozenge, wife, ycu muft allow four and twenty, and three fathom in lebgth, and let them U well verged with long twilled thread of a brown colour. But the net with fquare melhes will do better, in which cafe they allow five feet in breadth or height, and three or four fathom in length, according to the place ; and in this no verging is required. The firft of thefe nets are to be placed in any path or traft, in any coppice or furrow ; for rabbets and hares al- ways follow the moft eafy and beaten path : You muft take notice how the wind fetg that you may fo fet the net, that the creature and wind may come toge- ther, if the wind be fide- ways, it may do well enough, but never if the wind blows over the net into the creature's face ; for he will fcent both it and you at a great diftance, cfpecialiy a hare. T/^e nuq)' of taking either becaufe the male claweth her with Iiis nails, or by reafon-- of the roughnefsofhis genital. The ferret ufuaily brings forth feven or eiglft at a tinje, . carrying jthem in her belly for forty days : the young asies are blind for thirty days after they are littered, and ■ 0^2 they. 1-2 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. they r.'jiy be ufed for procreation, as their dam Is, within iorty days after they can fee. ^A hen they have been tamed, they are noiirifhed witli Tinlk, or barley bread, and they can faft a very long time. When they go they contract their long back, and make it ftand upright in the middle round like a bowl : when they are touched they fraell like a martel, and they fleep very much. '1 he ferret Is a bold audacious animal, an enemy to all ethers but his own kind ; drinking and fucking in the blood of the beaft it biteth, but eateth not the fleSi. When the warrener has occafion to ufe his ferret, he firfl r/.akcs a noife in the warren to frighten the conies who are abroad iato their burrows, and then he pitcheth his nets ; after that he puts his ferret into the earth, having muzzled her mouth, fo that fhe may not feize but only irighten the conies out of their burr®ws, who are af- terwards driven by dogs into the nets or hays, planted for thcnr, ■ C/ O T T E R S. SOME are of opinion that the otter is of the b«arcr kind, being an amphibious creature, living both ih water and en the land ; befides, the outward ibrm of the parts heareth a likenefs of the beaver; fon';e fay, were his tail off, he v/ere in parts like the beaver, differing in nothing but habitation, for the beaver frequents the f»lt water as v-xll as theXrefii, but the otter rjever goeih to the falt.^ • Though the otter llveth In the water, yet he dcth not, like fiit^es,- breathe through the bent'nt of the water, he taketh breath like other four footed beafts, yet will remain a long time underneath the water without refpiration. If he wants prey in the waters, then he will quit them for Otter s. i73 ft'r the land J and if by painful hunting on fhore he can not fill his belly, he will feed on herbs, fnails, or frv^i.; neither will he take lefs pains in the water to fatij-fyLs hunger, for he will fwim for two miles together againit the ftream, that fo when he has filled his belly, the current may carry hiai down again to his dengned lodging> whici;. is always near the water, very artificially built with boughs, fprigs and fticks, couched together in exeelleoL order, wherein he fits to keep him from the weti . In the hunting of filh, he often puts his nofe jibove.water - t© take breath : he is a creature of wonderful fwiftnefs > and adiyity in taking his prey, and f)Qr.-greedirieii^ ..takes . zncre than-he knows what to do witho . He is a very fubtii and crafty beaft, and endowed wi-th a . wonderful fagacity and {qpSq of fraelling, infomuch tha^t r he can.diiedly wind the fifhes in the-watej amik.or two diftance from him. The flefh of this beaft is both cold and filthy^, becaufs it-feedeth on flinking-fiih, and tlierefcre not ht to be eatea.:^ . yet it is eaten in , Germany, and the Carthuiian i?xiar£ii^ who are- forbidden the eating of all manner of fi'eill^.of'. other four-footed beads, yet they are not prohibitexl the «]?(=> - ing of otters. There are thofe in England, who lately h-iVe ; highly yaluc.dan otter pie— much good may dc xhem v/iihitj . Of: Ot T E 2.'HlJ N T I N G ,. This -is", performed by dogs, calkd otter-hourids, and 1 with a fort of inftruments* palled otter-fpears, with which. • when they find themfelves wounded^ they make to land ^ and ^fight with the dogs, and that furiouOy,. as if tht;y were fenfible, thA the. cold v/ater would annoy tlieir. green i woun4s*-. There is-indeed craft to be ufed in the hunting them ;_ ; bttt they.may.be. catched.in fnares underwater, and by, tiyer fides ; but great, care muft be taken, for tli^y bite/ fprf-Ufi .and venOimoufly, aad if they happen to remain 5 long in the frtare, they will, not fail to get fhemfelves fi'ce ..: by. tlieirjeeth.;. 174 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. In hunting them, one man muft be on one fide of the river, and another on the other, both beating ♦•he banks? with dogSy and the beaft not being able to endure the water long, you will foon dircover if there be an otter or not in that quarter, for he muft come out to make his fpraints, and in the night fometimes to feed on grafs and herbs. If any of the hounds find out an otter, then view the foft grounds and moift places, to find out which way he- bent his head ; if you cannot difcover this by the marks, 3'ou may partly perceive it by the fpraints; and then fol-- low the hounds, and lodge him as a hart or deer. But if you do not find him quickly, you may im-agine he is gone to touch fomewhat farther off from the ri-,er i fi^r fometimes they will go to fte:d a corifiderable v/ay fronj the place of their reft, chafing rather to go up the river than dov/n it. The perfons that go a banting otters, muft carry their fpears, to watch his ^-ents, that being the chief advantage ;. and if they perceive him fwimming under water, they ijiuft endeavour to ftrike him with their fpears, and if 'they mifs, muft purfue him v/ith the hounds; which, (if they be good, an4 perfeftiy entered) v/ill eo chanting and trail- ~ing along b)- the river fide, and will beat every root of a tree, and of.er bed, and tuft of bull-rulhes ; nay, they will fometimes take water, and bait the beaft, like a fpa- niel, by which means he will hardly efcape. C/ B I R D - L I M. E. Birdlime is ft^aiF prepared after different, wap ; the co-mm.on method is to peel a good quantity of holly bark about midfammer, fill a pan with it, put fpring water to it; boil it till the grey and white bark arife from' the green, which will requilt twelve hours boiling; then •take it oiF the fire, drain the v/ater weii from it, feparate the barks, iay the green bark oa the ground in. fom-e cool- a . cellar. Birdlime. 175 eelTar, covered with any green rank weeds, Aich as dog thiftles, hemlock, &c. to a good thicknefs; let it lie fo fourteen days, by which time it will be a perfeft mucilage ; thert pound it well in a Hone mortar, til] it becomes a rough pafte, and that none of the bark be difcernable ; next after waih it well in fome running ftream, as long as you per- ceive the leaft motes in it : then put it into an earthen pot to ferment, f<^m it for four or live days, as oftCR as any thing rifes, and when no more comes, change it into a frelh earthern refTel, and preferve it for ufe in this manner. Take what quantity you think fit, put it in an earthen. pipkin, and a third part of capons or goole-greafe to it, \yeU. clarified, or oil of walnuts, which is better, incor-. porate them on a gentle fire, and iiirit continually till it is cold, and thas it is nnilhed. To prevent froft ; take a quantity of as much oil of petroleum as you do goofe-greafe, and no cold will congeal i,t : the Italians make theirs c;f the berries of the mifleto tree heated after the fame manner, and mix it with nut- oil, an ounce to a pound of lime, and taking it off from the fire, add half an ounce of turpentine, v.^4ch- qualifies it alfo for the water.. Great quantities of bird-lime are brought from Damaf- cus, fuppofed to be made of febeileas, becaufe we fome-' times find the kernels, but it is fabjed to froU, impatient, of wet, and will not lall: ahoye a year or two good. There comes alfo of it into England from Spain, which refills water, but is cf an itt fcent. It is faid the bark of our lantona, or way-faring (hrubs, will make as good biid-lime. as any. HblV to ufe RZRDLIM-E. > When youx lime is. cold, take your rods and; warm them) a little over the firej thea take, the lime, and wind it about^ the top of your rod, then draw your rods afunder one from afiother, and clofe them again, continually plying and working them together, till by fmearing one upon another, ypM have equally beUo'A^ed on eagh rod a fuifici^nt propor- tion of lime, . 1^6 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN.. If you lime any ftring, do it v^hen the lime is very hotc and at the thinnelt,^efmearing the firings on all fides, by.- folding them together arwi unfolding them again. If you lime ftraws, it.muft be done likewife when the • Kme is very hotj. doing a great quantity togeirker,.and work- ing them before the fire till they are be fineared, every, ftraw having its due proportion, of lime j having fo done,,, put them up in cafes of leather*^^. till yovi have occafioa to ufe them. The hefi ^joay of making WaUr BlKJyLiM-E».. Buy what quantity you- think fit of the flrongeft bird^ Ijme you can procare, and walh it in a clear fpring water, , till you find it very pliable, and the hardnefs thereof re- ^ moved; then beat out. the water extraordinary well, till^' you cannot perceive a drop to appear,, then dry it well ; after this put' it into an earthen pot, and nangle therewith ■ capons greafe unfalted, fo much as will njake it run, then add thereto two fpoonful-s of ftrong vinegar, a fpoonful of the befl faliad oil, and a fmall quantity »f Venice turpen- tine: this is the allowance of thefe ingredients, which muft be added to every pound of ftrong bird lime asiifore-- iVid, ■ Having thus ..mingled tliera, boil all gently over a fmall-; ^e, flirring it continually, then take it from the fire, let* i^ cool; when at any time.- you. have occafion to ufe ity., warm it,, and then anoint, your twigs or itraws, or any other ftnall things, and no water will take away the: f|rength thereof. This fort pfliiiie h beftj efpccially fpr fnijg>es and feld*. £stres. . Qf iakiftgjkiii/ BlKDS njuMh u/f hidgei and hufiei twitb The great lime bufh is beft fbr this ufe, which yo» muft ^kc after this manner : cut down the main branch or bough:^? of any bufhy tree, whofe branch and twigs are long, thick, „ iMOO^h, and jttiaitj without, either pricks or knots, ofi Birdlime. 177 which the w'fUow or birch tree are the beft ; when you have pricked it and trimmed it from all fuperfluity', making the twigs neat and clean, then take the beft bird-lime, well mixed and wrought together with goofe greafe, or capons greafe, which being warmed, lime every twig therewith within four fingers of the bottom. The body from whence the branches have their rife muft be untouched with lime. Be Aire you do not daub your .twigs with too much lime, for that will give diftafte to the birds, yet let none want its proportion, or have any part left bare which ought to be touched ; for as Wo much wall deter them from coming, fo too little will not hold them when they are there. Having fo done, place your bufti in fome quickfet or dead hedge near unto towns end, back yards, old houfes, or the like ; for thefe are the refort of fmall birds in the' fpring time ; in the ftimmer and harveft, in grcv&s, bulhes, or white-tkorn trees, quickfet hedges, near corn iields, fruit trees, flax and hemp lands, and in the winter about houfesi hovels, barns, ftacks, or thofe places where ftaad ricks of corn, or fcattered chaff, &c. As near as you can to any of thcfe haunts, plant yoat lime bufh, and plant yourfelf alfo at a convenient diftance undifcovered, imitating with your mouth feveral notes of birds, which you muft learn by frequent praftice, walking" the fields for that purpofe very often, obferving the variety of feveral birds founds, efpecialiy fuch as they ^all one another by. Some have been fo expert herein, that they could imi- tate the notes of twenty feveral forts of birds at leaft, by which they have caught ten birds to another's one that was ignorant therein. If you cannot attain it by your induftry, you muft buy then a bird-call, of which there are feveral forts and eafy to be framed; fome of wood, forae of horn, fome of cans, and the like. Having learnt firft how to ufe this call, you fliall fit and call the birds unto you, and as many of them light on your bufti, ftei> not out unto them till you fee theni iuf- 17S The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. fufficiently entangled, neither is it requifite to ran to every fingle bird, but let theiu alone till more come, for the fluttering is as good as a ftale to entice them more. This cxercife you may ufe from fun riling till ten o'clock in the morning, and frOra one till almoft fun fet. ^ You may take thefe fmall birds, only with lime twigs without the bulh^ Some boys have taken two hundred, or three hundred fmail twigs, about the bignefs of ruihes,, and about three laches long, and have gone with them into a field where there were hemp cocks: upon the tops of half a fcore lying, all round together, they have ftuck their twigs, and then have gone and beat that field, or the next to ir, wher« they faw any birds, and commonly in fuch fields, there are infinite numbers of linnets and green birds which are great lovers o£, hempfeed. And they flying in fuch vaft flocks, they have caught at one fall of them upon the cocks eight dozen at a time. But to return ; there is a pretty way of taking birds with lime twigs ; by placing near them a ftale or two made of living baitr, placing them aloft that they may be vifible to the birds thereabout, who will no fooner be perceived, i)ut every bird will come and gaze, wondering at the ftrange- nefs of the fight, and having no other convenient lighting- place but where the lime- twigs are, you may take what number you lift of them. But t|Se owl is a far better ftale than the bat, being bigger and^ more eafily to be per- ceived, bcfidcs he is never feen abroad, but he is followed and perfecuted by all the birds that are near. If you have not a living bat or ©wl,. their {kins will ferve as well, ftuiTed, and v/ill laft you twenty years : there arc fome who have ufed an o^vl cut in wood and naturally painted, with, wonderful fuccefs. Another method of taking all ma?mer of fmall) BiRPS iMitk Birdlime. In cold weather, that is in froft or fnow, all forts four hours ; but if the water be a little warm, twelve hours may be enough-; then drain the water from the feed, and put. a third of white bread to it, and a little canary-feed in flower, and mix them all together. Ihen with a fmall ftick, take up a little at the end of it, and give every bird fome, tv/o or three times over ; for if you overcharge their ilomachs at lirft, they feldom thrive after it. For you mull know that the old one^ give thern hut a little at a time, and the meat they receive from them, is warmed in the ftomach before they give it them, and then all the rape is hulled, which lies notfo hard at the llomach, as thofe feeds which have the fkin on. Neither mud their rneat be made too dry; for then they will be apt to be vent burnt, becaufe all the feeds are hot. For it is obfervable that the old ones conftantly drink after they have eaten feeds, and a little before they feed their young ones : and they commonly fit a quarter of an hour feeding them, to keep them warm, that the meat may the better nourifh them ; therefore when you have fed them, let them be covered up very warm, that their meat may the better digeft with them. Laf^ly, not to omit the feveral names of thefe birds at ' different times and ages : fuch r.s are above three years old are Partridges. 185 are called Runts, thofe above two are named Erefles, and thofe of the firft year that the old ones bring up are called Branches ; thofe that are new flown and cannot feed themfelves Pufhers, and thofe that are bred up by hand Neft lings. Of PARTRIDGES. PARTRIDGES being naturally a cowardly, fearful, fimpic bird, are eafily deceived or beguiled with any device whatever, by train- bait, engine, call, ilale, or other enticement. I Jliall begin in the firft place to confider their haunts, which arc not (like the pheafants) certain, but various, any covert will ferve their turn, and fometimes none at all. The places they delight in moft, are corn-fields, efpe- cially while the corn grows, for under that covert they ftielter, ingender, and breed ; neither are thofe places un- frequented by them when the corn is cut down, by reafon of the grain they iind therein, efpecially in wheat ftubble, and the height thereof they delight in, being to them as a covert or flielter. Now when the wheat-ftubble is much trodden by men or beafts, they then betake themfelves to the barley ftubble, provided it be frefh and untrodden ; then will, in the furrows, among the clots, brambles, and long grafs, hide both themfelves and covies, which are fometimes twenty in number, or twent^^five ; nay I have heard of thirty in a covey. Now after the winter feafon is come, and that thefe flubble-lields are ploughed up, or over foiled with cattle, then do thefe partridges refort in the up- land meadows, and lodge in the dead grafs, or foo; under hedges among raole-hills, or under the roots of trees, fometimes they refort to coppices and underwoods, efpecially if any corn- fields are near adjacent to, or where grows broom, brakes, fcr«, or any covert whatfcever, In the harveft-time, when every f.eld is full of rcen R ; and i86 The COMTLETE SPORTSMAN. and cattle, then in the day-time you will find them in the fallow fields which are next adjoining to the corn-fields, where they lie lurking till evening, and then they feed among the fheaves of com ; as alfo early in the morning. When you know their haunts, according to the fituation of the country and feafon of the year, your next care mud be to find them qui in their haunts, w^hich is done feveral ways. Some do it by the eye only ; and this art can nev^er be taught, but learned by frequent experience, dif- tinguifliing thereby the colour of the Partridge from that of the earth, and how, and in what manner they lodge and coufh together ; by which method you may come near enough to them, they being a very la^y bird, and fo un- willing to take wing, that you may almoft fet your foot upon them before they will llirj provided you do not lland and gaze on them, but be in continual motion, otherwife they will' fpring up and be go^K. Another way to difcover them, is by going to their haunts very early in the morning, or at the clofe of the O'ening, which is called the jucking-time, which is rery loud and carncft, and after fome ftw calls, the hen will anAver, and by this means they meet together, which you may know by their rejoicing and chattering one with ano- tlier ; upon hearing of which take your range about them, drawing nearer and nearer to the place you heard them juck in ; then caft your eye towards the furrows of the land, and there you will foon find where the covey lies. The bell, furefl, and eafieil way for finding of Par- tridges, is by the call, having firll learned the true and natural notes of the Partridge, knov/iag how to tune every note in it's proper key, applying them their due time and feafons. Being perfe(51: herein, either mornings or evenings, (all other times being improper) go to their haunts, and having conveyed yourfelf into fome fecret place where you may fee and liot be feen, liften a- while if you can hear the Partridge call, if you do, anfwer them again in the fame notes, and as they change or double their notes, fo mufl: you in like manner j thus continue doing till they draw nearer Partridges. 187 nearer and nearer to you : having them in your view, lay yourfelf on your back and lie without motion, as if you were dead, by which means you may count the whole number. Having attained to the knowledge of difcovering where they lie, the next thing is how to catch them, Firft runts, jacobins, turbits,; helmets, nuns, tumblers, barbs, petits, owls, fpots, truni*- peters,, (bakers, turners, and finikins, from which pro- ceed, when they are contrary matched together,, ballard • bred pigeons, fuch. as are called from the cropper, or pow- tcr and the carrier^ powting-horfemen; from the tumbler,, and the horfemen, dragoons : of the generabty of thefe I ftiajl fay but little, they being only kept for fancy, anJt^ not for the profit of the table, though the fame method is to be ufed in breeding them. •S3 - There 196 The COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. Thefe are difFerent forts of runts, one called Spaniili units, generally of a blood-red, or mottled colour ; they are ver}' loofe feathered, and large bodied, b»t breed not fo often as the fmaller forts. Horfemen are excellent breeders, and are not eafily loft ^' the Gommon Englifh runt is a good fized pigeon, and* breeds well. The pigeon called the Leghorn, is a fort of runt, only diflinguifiied by a little wattle over his noftril ; he is a full' hotiicd pigeon, whofe feathrrs lie clofe to his body, and is in excellent breeder, and generally of a grizzled colour,, crrnined round the neck. 'I'o thofe who keep pigeons for the fake ©f good breed*^ ing, I would recommend baflard-bred pigeons, fuch as powting-hcrfemen, powting-dragoons, from a pov^ter or kToj }'er, and Leghorn ; the reafon is, fuch pigeon will breed nine cr ten pair of voung ones in a year, for the lit- tle piifr cf wind thrown in from the powter, gives them a hear and mirth ; they will contimially be playing or cou'r^- i:^g, and when they have young ones, will feed them well, which a cropper, by reafon of the bignefs of his crop^, feldom doth. Carriers breed but flowly, three or four pair a year for- them, is much, by reafon of their- cold nature ; they are' eondant lovers,, and very rarely tread any but their own mate, and therefore hard to match when feparate ; they will often take three months time. ' Cn the ccnTrc5rv, a powter will tread any hen that will' let him, i-t anytime; and take him from his own mate, and he will ma'tAjh to another in a day or two ; fo that- baftard-bred pigeons are moft ferviceabk for thofe who. breed them to fiif ply the table. Great care mull be taken to make convenient pl&ces to ' breed in, each pair of pigeons mu'ft be fure to have two nells, with baikets in them is beft, for before one pair can go out of the neft. or feed themfelves, the eld ones will Iciyandbe fetting; nay, I have often fcen afecondpair hatched before the fiirft cculd feed themfelves, and the old ones feed both pair. Be fure when you take the young ones,. Pigeons, ^97 ones, clean the neft, or put in a clean balket, for cleanli- nefs is a great help. Never let them want meat, for if you do they cannot be provided with foft meat in their crop when the young hatch, which if wanting, the young ones certaml} die ; or if you feed the old ones by hand, they will go feed their young immediately with what they get; which they not be- ing able to digeft, kills them, fx) that the beft' way is to let them have meat always by them in a box, with a hopper iff it made for that purpofe, . Breed young ones for ftock in the fpring, thofe bred in the winter being generally cramped, and never prove good breeders* The reafon why I recommend bafkets to breed in, is, tame pigeons felc^om build their nefts, the want- of which balkets fupply.. Ue fure take care no vermin comes among them. Of thofe bred in pigeon-houfes, the grey pigeon, in- clining to afa colour and black, is the beft ; and (he ge- nerally (hews her fruitfulnefs by the rednefs of Iter eyes and feet, and by the ring of gold colour which is about her neck. There are two feafons of the year wherein you may ftock your pigeonrhoufe, the firft is in May ;- forafmueh as thefe firft pigeons have much ftrengthened themfelves du- ring tbe winter, are in a condition foon to yield profit to the buyer. Secondly in Auguft, for at that time there are i great number of young pigeons that' have been well fed with the corn which their dams, both cocks and hens, have plentifully fupplied them with, from the harveft in that feafon. You muft take care to furnifli your pigeon-houfe accord- ing to the bignefs of it ; if you put but a few in it, it will be a great while before you will have the pleafure of eat- ing young pigeons, for you muft take none out of the pi- geon-houfe before It is well ftocked. Be fure to feed them in hard weather, and in bentino- tiHie, which is when the corn is in the ear, and keep out the vermin and you will never want ftock. It is good to give them loom, mixed with fait and cum- S 3 n\'m i<)^ Tlie COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. min feed, mixed well, made up in lumps, and dried ^ it provokes luft,. and helps them in breeding. Be fure never to let them want frefli -water. The befl food is tares ; the mornings and evenings are proper times to give them their meat, and never at noon, for fear of breaking their reft, which they iifually take at that hour, which rooft is very ncceflary to make them thrive with the food which tliey eat.. ^ Seer St to hinder Pigeon's ft-om quitting the pigeon -houfe* Take the head and feet of a gelt he-goat, and boil them together till the fleih feparates from the bone : take this rleih and boil it again in the Aime liquor, till .the whole is confumed; bruife into this decoftion, which is very thick, fome potters earth, out of which you are to rake ail the ilones^ vetch, dung, hemp, food and corn; the whole nluft be kn?aded together and reduced to a parte or dough, which form into fmall loavgs about the tScknefs of two fifts, and dry them in the fun or oven,. and take care it do not burn;. when they are baked, lay them in fe vera! parts of the pi- geon houfe,. and as foon- as they are fet there' the pigeons Ivill amufe themfelves with- pecking them, and finding .:^3me tafte thterein which pl^afes them,' they will keep fo clofe to It that;they wiil.not afterwards leave it but with xegrct.. Othet-3 take a handful of" fait, \^^ii<:h they candy, and afterwards put it into the pigeon houfe. Some take ■^ goat's head and boil it in water, with fait, cummin, hempy and urine,- and dien expofe it in the pigeon-houfe, with v.hich they amufs the pigeons. Laftly, there are thofe whcx frv millet in honey, adding a little water thereto to prevent its burning to : this preparation is a repaft to them-,, and will caufe them to have fuch an afFeftion for their ordi- ;Rarv habitation, that ihey will be fo far from abandoning it ishcmfeLves that ^ley will draw ftrange pigeons to it. Pieeons will i-ive eight years, but they are only prolific fior 'the firll four years, afterwards they are worth nothing,, fpr when thev are once paft that ag^,' all they do i^^ to de- •rjrjve vou of the profit your might reap by others that are voun-'^er,. It is fomethin'g dilf.cul.t to know how to diftin- gulih their ag^c,.. M Shoot in g. 199 " If you would furnifh your table with young ones in the winter, and feed daintily, you muft not tarry for them till they can fly, but take them when they are grown pretty ftrong ; pluck the largell quills out of their wings, which- will confine them to their nefts ; others tie their feet, bt^lfe break the bones of their legs, by which means they will be fat in a very fliort time, becaufe the fubftance of the nourifliment they receive being then not ib- much- difperfed^ turns into fat. PiGEON-HoTTSE, a piccc of ocConomy, ®f which a great deal may be faid, tliere being an infinite number of things to be obferved, in* order to get a plgeon-houfe that may- be advantageous and profitable to you : to begin therefore;; the firft thing is to pitch upon a convenient place, ofwhldv none is more proper than in the middle of a court-yard, which is fuppofed to be fpacious enough, or without the. houfe, by reafon pigeons are naturally. of a fearful difpoli- tion, and the leaft noife they hear frightens them ; hence it is, that they always make pigeon-houfes with much carej and a great deal of reafon, at fuch a diilancc, that the ruf- ling noife of the trees fliaken by the v-ind', and* the over murmurings of the water, may not afFrigat them-. As to the bignefs of the pigeon-hcufej that depends upon the fancy of thoie' who build them; bat it is better they Ihould he fpacious than- too little ; and for its forraj the round is to be preferred before the fqaare ones, becaufe rats cannot fo eafily come at" one as at the other; and the round houfe is alfo more commodious, by means of a lad- der turning upon an' axis, you eafily vifit alithafis withint- the pigeon-houfe, and come near the nefts without bein-y propped, and f^ke the pigeons in them ; fo that )^ou may cffed that by conveniency of this ladder here, which carx- not be done in fquare pigeon houfes. Now to hinder rats from getting upon the outfide into' a pigeon- houfe, they faftcn tin plaies to a certain height, and in fuch places where the rats might pafs, at the outwatd angles of a fquare pigeon-houfe ; thefe plates ought to be a foot high, and railed above half a foot on the fides, that when the rats cometo them and cannot catgh. hold of them, . the^ iTie COMPLETE SPORTSMAN. tliey fall; upon the iron fpikes which are ufually fixed at the bottom oT the place where you forefee they may fall. Moreover, care lliould be had that the pigeon-houfe Ihould be placed fome fmall diftance from water, that fo the pigeons may carry it to their young ones ; and the fame be- ing a little warmed in their bills it will be more whole- Ibme for them than when it is coldr Care fhould be taken that the boards which cover the; pigeon houfe lliould be well joined together, in fuch man-^ ner that neither rats nor wind can pafs through ; the cover- ing alfo Ihould be fuch that no rain may penetrate through it ; efpecially, it ought to be raifed on good folid fouuda- lions, the floor good, the building folid, and well cemented,- becaufe pigeons dung has an ill property of ruining foun- dations ; they muft be hard plaiftcred, and white-wa(hed,., within and without, that being the colour moll pleafmg to^ the pigeons. It muft be a (^nftant caution, that there be no window or opening of the pigeon-houfe to the ealVward,. but they muft always^ as much as may, be placed to the; fouth, for pigeons love diredlly to feel the fun, and efpe- cially in winter ; but if by reafon of the fituation of the place, you can do no otiicrwife than make the window of the pigeon-houfe to face the north, you muft always keep it; fnut clofc in cold v.'eather,. and open it in fummer, that the cooling air may have paflage into the place, which is refrefli* ing and delightful to pigeons in that feafon of die year. The pigeon-houfe Ihould have two cindures built without either of me-ftone or parget, onfe of which is to reach to the middle of the pigeon-houfe, and the other under the win- dov^, through which the pigeons go in and out ; thefe two in.Iofiireii are made on purpofe that the birds may reft upon when they returu out of the fields. Of Shooting, a^^d Shooting Flying. GO early into the field, take with you fome rum in a wicker bottle that will hold about a gill; this wiU keep out or expel wind, cure the gripes, and give fpirits when fatigued i- but do not take too much-, for too much„ will P I G E O N' S> 201 will make your light unfteady. When- you- have got youc gun, aturn-fcrew, worm, and ftlnts ready, call your pora- ters, and take with you' a partridge-wind : with this care- fully clean the touch- hole, then charge anxi>prime, but prime not too full, becaufe the lingering lire will difappoint your aim. Charge in- the field,, and not the night before >. ram- the powder well, but the ihot lightly ; let one third of ther charge be powder,., and two thirds fhot, fecuring the charge with tow. When you are about to fire, take time, and keep- your temper quiet And unrufHcd as a Stoic. When you have rired, charge again immediately before the air gets into- the piece, and do not lofe timre iu charging it, for if it cods it will be covered with a. clammy fweat that will render tlie effeft of the charge uncertain, Befides, you- Ibouid be- rcady to fecure your game, for a wounded pheafant will eften rife when you go to take her, and if you are not ready to bring her down again, may totally efcape; this, however, rarely happens to woodcock-s or fnipes. Permit your mark to be diftant at leail fort}^ yards before you. fire ;- ibr if the diftance be lefs,. you will either rnifs, the Hiotnot having time to fpread,_ or you v/ill.tear it to pieces, but do- not let it be much farther, left you wound too flight to. bring the bird down.. The flying marks, with refped to their motion and p.ofition. are five, i ft, moving towards ymi in a direft line : 2dly, from you in a direft line ; 3<^lr>. crofs you;. 4thly,, circularly ; 5thy, obliquely.. Let the firft mark pafs, then take aim by advancing, the mouth of the piece above her head. AinT.at the fecond by railing 3four piece till there is no fpace between the object and the light. When you have a traverfe or crofs mark, w^aittilL ii comes in fomc degree lineal ,. by getting forty yards to the right or left, for this pofitijoavvill better allov/^ eiglit feet, in the aim, than the other will two inches.. When the mark>, is circular,, watch the courfe, moving round with your gun. till you gain t-Iie furtheft lineal point, and then fire. h\ firing at a covey, always confine y cur aim to one. After the harveft, when the birds are become Iby, watch their flight foon after fun-fet, you will b.edirefted by their call,, and the next morning^ ycu will know where to find them. » ■ V\'hen. 302 The COMPJ.ETE SPORTSMAN, When a quail rifes, do not be irl too much hafte to fire during her iirft flight; her flight is ahvays Ihort, and you may be Aire to fpring her a fecond time, when you are aware of her, and better prepared. To fhoot larks in frofty wea- ther, load with as much powder as ihot, and fire among them as they rife, for their wings being then expanded, you will kill many more than if you fire at them oh the ground. Never fire at a mallard till you can get behind him, for no Iho't can enter his bread. Do not fire full againil the wind when it blows hard, for it will then dri^'e the powder into your face; and if it rains, immediately give over your fport. Never blov/ at the mouth of your piece after it has miffed fire, left fome latent fpaik difcharge it through your head*, Keep your gun always direded from you, and your thumb on the Hint, which you fhould aever hammer, becaufe the. fparks may fall into the pan, and kill abye-flander,. 0/ B O W L I N G. TH E firfl and greateft cunning to be obietved in bmr- ling, is- the right chufiiig your bowJ, 'which muft be furtahle to the ground y^ou defign tO' run on. Thus for the^ clofc alleys your bell choice is the flat bowL 2. Xoi open! grounds of advantage, the round bytiffed bowl. 3.. For green fV/ards that are plain and level, the bovtfl that is as round as a^ball. The next thing that requires your care,, is the chufmg ont your ground, and preventing the winding hangings,. a-nd many turning advantages of the fame, whetlier it be in open wide places, as bares and bowling-greens, or in_^clofe bowling alley^. Laflly, have your judgment about you, to obferve and diflinguifh the rifmgs, fallings, and advantages of the places where you bowl ; have your wits.aboutyou, to avoid being rooked of y^ur money ; and have your underflanding about you, to know your beft time and opportunity for this re- creation ; and finally, a fludious care of your words and- paiHons ; and then bowl away,, and you- may deferve, well have you. bowled indeed. F r N ■ I S- A'M^WIm^^^- La No, Set wit Ag har M( ■of Ca No i£x IGtbrta Ro Pla No be (ofl 2 V filers large K of OM J iriieft when e6(i* Jrfioo ema> 8 V(t e the C ^ I c= ^ o Albert Unhip iUrrrtU i> in vered 1 thi) ina)a ijmay: >and- IV. ^ S . ^ I 1 this being the only full and fatisfadory Account (in this ShTolV"^ ^ O the whole Difcovericsof this eminent Navigatir" printed V.r § ^^ batim from the Folio Edition) of r^wi-ea v«r.^| g, c^ ^ HOGG'S Octavo Edition of Capt. COOK's celebraf*^ vnv I O ^ IS u o -< plates, Map., Charts, ^c.-Ther^fore beVleSd rXve'^'hl; o^ the correa and genuineOaavo Edition is printed onlv forMrHOGP ^ No.^6 Paternofter-Row, in Sixpenny Numbers o^o^i or ^.^^i"^ g ,^f which may be had at a Time : The Whole imendertomak!' Eight large handfome Volumes in Oftavo, Price al. 8s. bound? Vo. I. (To be completed in only 'sixty Numbers, in large Folio THORMTOm'' "v'^ "^^."P^"' punaually delivered pra't s) o'' THORNTON'S New, Comp ete, and Univerfal Hrtj-rnov DESCRIPTION, and SURVEY of the CI TlES of LONDO>} and WESTMINSTER, the BOROUGH of SOUTHWARK ?„. the Parts adjacent, with all the late Improvements. Prfcf^' /.^ aearly bound is Calf and Leuered. *^* '^^' 5- O o .^' 'M^^ "m. '(^ ^ liiii