SPORTSMAN'S DICTIONARY; CONTAINING Περὶ μὲν αὐτῶν τῶν πράξεων τῶν ἐν τοῖς κυνηγεσίοις εἴρηται· ωφελήσονται δὲ οἱ ἐπιθυμήσαντες τότε τὸ ἔργο πολλά, ὑγιειαν F4099.84.20 HARVARD COLLEGE LIBRARY GIFT OF DANIEL B. FEARING 30 JUNE 1915 RICHARD TAYLOR and Co. Printers, THE PREFACE. 13911 THE mind of man is incapable of a constant application, either to study or business; it is therefore highly necessary to relieve it, at convenient seasons, by such relaxations as may refresh its faculties, and recruit the animal spirits that have been dissipated by laborious pursuits, or a length of strict attention. And when the amusements to which we have recourse, on such occasions, are friendly to health, delightful to the senses, and perfectly consistent with innocence, they have all the recommendations we can possibly desire. The subjects of these sheets are entirely of this nature, and are so peculiarly adapted to scenes of rural life, that a just knowledge of them is considered as a necessary accomplishment in gentlemen, who devote their vacant hours to the country. It would be needless to enlarge on the satisfactions and advantages they are capable of affording us. No prospect of nature can awake more pleasing ideas in the imagination, than a landscape distributed into verdant woods and opening lawns, with the diversity of extended plains, flowery meadows, and clear streams: the heart of a contemplative beholder melts into secret raptures at the enchanting view, and he is immediately prompted to hail the Great Benefactor who sheds such a profusion of beauties around him. But when he likewise regards them as so many rich magazines, intended for the accommodation of his table, as well as for the improvement of his health and the solace of his mind, he begins to think it a reproach to him to be unacquainted with the manner of acquiring these enjoyments, that were created for his use with so much liberality; and he is then convinced that Hunting, Fowling, Fishing, Riding, &c. &c. are more necessary to his welfare than at first he might imagine. In order therefore to render these, and other rural recreations, as intelligible and familiar as possible, we have carefully collected the best observations that have been made on each article; we have consulted a variety of authors on this occasion, and have selected every particular from them, that we thought would contribute to pleasure, interest, and improvement; and, as we were desirous to render this work as complete as possible, we have prevailed upon several gentlemen of distinguished abilities and experience, to favour us with a great number of interesting passages, that we are persuaded will be very acceptable and instructive to those who have an inclination to gain a competent knowledge of these agreeable subjects; and we have selected from some modern publications, various articles that may improve and elucidate the subjects herein treated of, particularly from the valuable production of Mr. LAWRENCE, who has obliged the public with some excellent observations relative to horses, &c. As our intention was to make this performance equally perspicuous and regular, we have digested it into the form of a Dictionary, in which we have been careful to |