The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-04-01 00:00:00

FIEED SPORTS FOR APRIL.

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(From the Aruba* if Splainal
lire have before noticed the early conjunction of the hare.
Many of these animals were, during the latter part of the
season (in the month of Febru..zy, for instance, and the
beginning of March), killed in a state of gestation: circum-
stancts of this sort, indeed, uniformly occur towards the
close of every season, but not to the extent which has re-
cently happened, in consequenet: of the almost unparalleled
mildness of the weather. According to some of the news-
papers, the rot bas made considerable havoc amongst
bares.

The courtship of the feathered tribes, though it com-
menced at a very early period, was several times interrupted
by the repeated occurrence of hard weather and occasional
falls lof snow. It is a well-krioWn fact, with regard to
the partridge, that, although the pairing may have actually
commenced, yet unfaiourable weather chills the genial
desire so much, that congregation again takes place, and
numbers of individuals unite, not in coveys, hut form so-
cieties which are well known by sportsmen under the de-
signation of packs.
The pheasant is a more solitary bird than the partridge;
and though the weather seems to have neatly a similar in-
fluence on its desires, yet it appears rather to pine in soli-
tude than to seek the company of its kind, and share the
general sorrow.

The wild duck, the teal, and, indeed, all the duck trihe
approach each other early in the spring; and, at this
period, great numbers leave the vicinity of the sea shore,
in order to seek that seclusion from the flock which seems
so congenial with love, and thus the nestling frequently
takes place in situations sought and freqesntsti only at this.
particular period. Ilut in this case, as in that of the par-
tridge, hard weather will induce these birds which have
separated themselves to recongregate, and to continue in
flocks till the return of a more congenial season. Many of
the young of these birds are destroyed when they are what
are denominated flapperers; or, in other words, when they
have attained a considerable size, but are unable to fly; in
this stare they are hunted (by poachers) with water spa-
niels, and generally with elects,: it is true, at the com-
mencement of the pursuit, the advantage appears com-
pletely on the ride of the duck, and the dog would appear
to have but little chance of attaining his object. The
young duck no sooner perceives even the distant approach
of danger, than it hides itself from the sight of its pursuer
by diving. The bird dives with uncommon dexterity, and
to a casual observer, appears in very little danger of cap-
ture from the evident inequality of the contest at its com-
mencement; but perseverance will do much ; and the dog,
as fond of the sport as his master, waits the re-appearance
of his victim with the utmost confidence: thus the ehace
continues till the young duck's strength is so exhausted
that it is no longer able to force its way under water; and,
as it cannot rise in the air, it vainly endeavours to escape
from its invincible pursuer by swimming, and endeavour-
ing to accelerate its languid motion by flapping its wings
on the surface of the water. The energies of the dog seem
to increase as those of his object decline; and, when the
duck is no longer able to dive, the chace may be considered
as very near its termination. In August, young ducks are
able to get on the wing, and at this period will afford some
diversion to the shooter.

The dotterel is a bin! occasionally sought after by sports- I
men. Some extraordinary tales are recorded of this bird
by those who have written on the subject, too ridiculous,
however, to be related here. Naturalists also observe, that
these birds " are migatory appearing in flocks of eight or
ten, about the end of April, and staying all May and
June, when they become very fat, and are much eateemed
for the table. They are found in tolerable plenty (say
they) in Cambridgeshire. Lincolnshire, and Derbyshire ;
but in other parts of the kingdom they are scarcely known."
The dotterel is, beyond all doubt, not generally known in
England, and on this account its habits are but imperfectly
understood. It is a bird of the plover tribe, and is fre-
quently found in company with the golden plover. When
it is seen in this country, it is in places where its food is to
be met with ; and as its habits are analagous to those of the..
common pewit, or "lapwing, so it resorts to similar situations.
The dotterel, we are of opinion, may be found in abund-
ance on the heaths, plashes, and fenny districts, of the
more northern regions: it is very common in the Highlands
of Scotland, particularly in the remote parts of this moun-
tainous country ; and on the heaths and moister parts of
Caithness, dotterels are very numerous. Here they breed,
and are to be met with during the whole year. They are oc-
casionally seen in the northern parts of England, and few
sportsmen, we should suppose, have regularly visited the
grouse mountains without having sometimes met with the
dotterel.

The preceding observations will, in a great degree. ap-
ply to the tuff, and the reeve, the godwit, Sic. which con-
sequently need no further notice in this place.
As far as relates to the shooting sportsman, the month of
April may be considered as a blank ; the clamorous cawing
of the old rooks, as well as the eager cries of the young
ones, towards the latter end of the month, may remind
him of the cross-bow or the air-gun, and rook-shooting
may while away some of the idle hours of May ; but he
cannot expect any satisfactory sport till the appointed sea-
son arrives for that princely diversion—grouse-shooting.
ANGLING.—In the course of this month almost all
kinds of fresh-water fish will take the bait in rivers and
brooks, and towards the latter end of it, perch, carp, tench,
&c. will be on the feed in ponds, pools, metes, and other
still waters. Now, too, should the gudgeon-angler apply
his art, for these little fish—one of the best species of fresh-
water dainties—will be past their prime after the " May
flowers" come in. Gudgeons are now full of spawn, and
thousands of them are making their way from the Thames
into the Lea at this period.
In the course of the month, barbel and bream get into
the sharp currents and quick waters, and not refuse a
choice bait. Eels now run strong in dark nights, and
may be taken with leger lines, dead lines, and floated lines,
even in the day time as well. These baits for eels are,
however, in some waters very :ojurious to the sport of the
more expert angler, for the trout is too frequently captured
by means of the night-line and minnow, when it should
only fall a prey to the fly. Lampreys arc a deadly bait for
eels, and the professors and connoisseur in the capture of
this latter fish would do well to provide themselves with
such, and they may rest assured of taking the finest and
largest eels upon books well baited with these enticements.
The trout, that " beautiful and spotted swimmer" of the
deeps, should not yet arouse the angler's ambition for his
capture. Though fast getting rid of his wintry shape and
dusky hue, the golden spots, and the broad shoulder, are
not yet completely formed and perfreted. Of hundreds of
trouts killed in April, hardly a brace will be found fitting
for use. Let then the April showers blow over, anglers,
before you spin your minnow, or whip your dun-flies, your
palmers, and your red-hackles, about the haunts where the
yellow king of the fresh-waters feeds. At present, and till
May, disturb not his sovereignty, for he is, as yet, but
a taper and dark-hued monarch. Just now, and to keep
his hand in, the fly-fisherman may amuse himself by whip-
ping for slieggars on the sharps and scours—this handsome
little fish being now on the move, and when the weather
is genial he will rise freely. Grayling may now also be
taken. But it is in the next and the few subsequent months
that we shall be in all our glory, fellow-fishermen ; there-
fore see that you have not a ring loose, a splice unmade, a
probable want unprovided for, in all your paraphernalia.
Look over your Waltons and your Salters, and submit to be
instru.•ted, and then, in " the merry, merry month of
May," let us jog to the brook-side together, and exemplify
in our art, patience, perseverance, and success.

On Thursday last the East Sussex Fox Hunt dined at
the Star, Major Catnr, the director of the said hunt, in the
chair. Rumour, which is ever busy, says that there is not
that perfect good understanding among the subscribers,
which is necessary on all such occasions to give eclat to the
object in view, and that a transfer of the dogs will he made
to Colonel Wyndham, who undertakes to hunt the easte►n
as well as western parts of the county. We do not vouch
for the correctness of the atatetuent.—Lewes Paper.
The valuable library of the late Mr. Langles, the King's
librarian, is now selling at Paris. This collection of books
is, in several departments, one of the most extensive ever
collected by a private individual, and, in some departments,
as the history and geography of Asia, it is almost without a
riraL It contain, a number of extremely scarce travels.

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P•afftrsazima. -

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