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William Priest - Travels in the United States of America
coveys are taken in traps, and brought alive to market. They fly swiftly, and afford an excellent shot; but
if the same covey be shot at a second time, they will often seek a refuge in the woods, whence it is
difficult to dislodge them. They are very hardy, and will bear almost any degree of heat and cold; this
circumstance, and their being so prolific, I should think would make a breed of them in England a very
desirable acquisition. I am determined to bring over a few couples, by way of experiment.
We are visited by a sort of woodcock in July and August; we have also a kind of grouse, plover, dove,
and wild pigeon, snipe, wild fowl, and a wonderful variety of small birds; among which, the
reed-bird [Footnote: So called from their note resembling the word reed.], or american
ortolan, justly holds the first place: they visit us from the south, and are found at certain seasons as far as
the West Indies in that direction.
The back woodsmen, and indeed all western settlers, affect to despise our mode of shooting; they all use
rifles, and throw a single ball to a great degree of certainty. The riflemen in the last war were all of this
description, Their game are deer, bear, beaver, and other animals. The only bird they
think worthy their attention is the wild turkey. An american naturalist (Bartram) says, "Our turkey of
America is a very different species from the meleagris of Asia and Europe. I have seen several that have
weighed between twenty and thirty pounds, and some have been killed that have weighed nearly forty
pounds."
Why do not the Americans domesticate this noble bird? They are much better adapted to bear this
climate than the puny breed their ancestors imported from England. The few that are shot so far to the
eastward as to be brought to our markets bear a great price.
The shooting of the back settlers is rather business than sport. When they are inclined for
a frolic of the latter sort, they meet in large parties to shoot the gray squirrel: the devastation made on
these occasions is incredible; the following is from the Kentucky Gazette; and I have no doubt, that it is
strictly true: -
"Lexington, July 13th.
"At a squirrel-hunt in Madison county, on the 29th and 30th ult., the hunters rendezvoused at captain
Archibald Wood's, and upon counting the scalps[Footnote: By scalp is here meant skin, which is
an excellent fur.] taken, it was found they amounted to 5589!"
This sport is not confined to the back woods, but is in such general estimation, as to be preferred to all
other shooting. They find this game by means of a mongrel breed of dogs, trained for that purpose; the
squirrel, on being pursued, immediately ascends one of the most lofty trees he can find; the dog follows,
and makes a point under the tree, looking up for his game. The squirrel hides himself behind the
branches, and practises a thousand manoeuvres to avoid the shot; sometimes springing from one tree to
another, with astonishing agility. Nature has given him a thick fur; this circumstance, and the height of
the trees, make a long barrel, and large shot, indispensable in this kind of shooting. The best method of
cooking the squirrel is in a ragout; this I learnt of a french epicure, who always speaks with rapture of
this bonne bouche: it has a high game flavour, and is justly thought by the Americans to be an
excellent dish; but we have many English, who, through mere prejudice, never tasted this animal; their
antipathy also extends to bear, opossum, racoon, and cat-fish: - "Oh!" say the english ladies, "the
sight of such frightful creatures is quite enough for me!"'
Fishing parties among the farmers, and in small towns in some parts of America, are very agreeably
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