Genre:

Letter, Spoof

Subjects:

Hunting, Military Technology, Animal Behaviour, Taxonomy, Heat, Instruments

    The author describes his experiences of 'blackcock shooting' in Coolmer Forest. Notes how he used a thermometer to gauge the coolness of the early morning on which he arose to shoot the birds, and complains of the small range of guns with the exception of William G Armstrong's. Plagued by flies at Coolmer, recalls how he 'wished that Nature had provided them with a better occupation', and boasts how virtuous he was to follow regulations and not shoot the hens. Notes how he observed a 'fine old cock' on 'Pigmoor', which 'owes its name to Roger Bacon calling for 'more pig' when he was at a pic-nic there', and describes the game birds which he could have shot.