170 YEARS OF THE FIELD: From the archives

Summer evening rabbit stalking by The Man in the Cap, 6 September 1879

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TO THE sportsman who is a lover of nature (and he must be an unappreciative and degenerate mortal who is not, and but little worthy of the title) many summer occupations are denied. It is not in the power of each and all to have the chance of whipping a Norwegian stream for the king of fishes, or to be permitted to throw a fly in the salmon rivers of Scotland, or even to get a frequent opportunity of whiling away the time on the banks of an English trout stream.

To thousands of inland sportsmen such pleasures are unknown. Still, in the reach of many is the pleasant summer evening's stroll, gun in hand, round the leafy woods and hedgerows of our native land, and the green slope of down that stretches away from the gorse plantations. I have for many years enjoyed this privilege in Hampshire, Berkshire and Wiltshire, and it may amuse you to hear a few of my experiences.