[Footnote 387: _Spectator_, No. 122.] Shooting flying was not an ordinary accomplishment: it was but just coming in, and most people took 'pot shots,' and would not risk shooting at a bird on the wing. The dreadful Sound the springing Pheasant hears Leaves his Close Haunt, and to some Tree repairs; The Dog, aloft the painted Fowl surveys, Observes his Motions, and at distance Bays. His noisie Foe the stooping Pheasant eyes, Fear binds his Feet, and useless Pinions ties, Till the sure Fowler, with a sudden Aim, From the tall Bough, precipitates the Game. Partridges, because they flew well, and strongly, were then not shot, but snared, by means of a trained dog. Now the warm Scent assumes the Covey near, He treads with Caution, and he points with Fear. Then lest some Sentry Fowl his Fraud descry, And bid his Fellows from the Danger fly, Close to the Ground in Expectation lies, Till in the Snare the flutt'ring Covey rise. 'But if I miss Sitting, I commonly hit 'em Flying,' says Bellair in Mrs. Centlivre's 'Love at a Venture,' which shows that it was only when the former failed, that he tried the latter plan. And, in an advertisement for a gamekeeper, it is noticed: 'Any one that is a very good Coach man, and can Shoot flying, perfectly well, may hear of a good Place.' If being a good coachman was useful to a gamekeeper, what can we say to this: 'Any Gentleman that wants a Man for Shooting, Hunting, Setting, or any Manner of Game, may hear of one well qualified. He is a good Scholar, and shaves well.' Luttrell notes, Mar. 15, 1707: 'Yesterday the lords past the bill for the preservation of the game, in which is a clause, that if any poulterer, after the 1st of May next, sells hare, pheasant, partridge &c. shall forfeit 5_l._ for every offence, unless he has a certificate from the lord of the mannor that they were not taken by poachers.' The killing of game must have been earlier then than now, for, appended to _Spectator_ No. 156, Aug. 29, 1711, is the following: 'ADVERTISEMENT--Mr. _Spectator_ gives his most humble service to Mr. R. M. of _Chippenham_ in _Wilts_, and hath received the Partridges.' There were rifle matches in those days. One was shot at the artillery ground, Finsbury, on July 16, 1703, for a cup value twenty-five guineas: 'No gun to exceed 4 foot and a half in the Barrel, the distance to be 200 yards, and but one Shot a piece, the nearest the Centre to win.' On July 7, 1709, was a match for four pieces of plate: 'to stand 100 yards distance from the Target.' A deer, value 50_s._, was to be shot for more than once--and the prize once sank as low as 'a pair of breeches.' There was one very singular prize: 'A very fine brass Gun, in the form of a Walking Cane, to be us'd as a Gun or Pistol, and in it a fine Prospect Glass, and a Perpetual Almanack engrav'd about the Head, and a Sun Dial in the Head, and several other ingenious Utensils.'