OF

Hunting.

_Hunting_, being a Recreation that challenges the sublime Epithets of
_Royal_, _Artificial_, _Manly_, and _Warlike_, for its Stateliness,
Cunning, and Indurance, claims above all other Sports the Precedency;
and therefore I was induced to place it at the Head to usher in the
rest; and of which take this concise Definition, _viz._ That since
Nature has equally imparted unto every Beast a wonderful Knowledge of
_Offence_ and _Security_, herein we may observe, _The curious Search and
Conquest of one Creature over another, hurried on by an innate natural
Antipathy, and performed or wrought by a Distinction of Smells._

And now to come to the Purpose, and the Design of this Tract, briefly to
inform the young _Hunter_, as yet raw in the true Knowledge of this
_Royal Sport_, with what is meerly _necessary_ and _useful_, without
amusing him with _superfluous_ Observations for his Instruction: I shall
therefore observe throughout this Treatise this Method: 1. The several
_Chases_ or _Games_ which fall under the first Denomination, _Hunting_.
2. The genuine or infallible _Rules_ whereby we are to direct our
selves, for the obtaining the true Pleasure in prosecuting the same, and
the desired Effects of it.

Know then; There are five _Beasts of Venery_ or _Forest_, viz. The
_Hart_, _Hinde_, _Hare_, _Boar_, _Wolf_.

As likewise five Wild Beasts, or _Beasts of Chace_, viz. The _Buck_,
_Doe_, _Fox_, _Martern_, _Roe_.

The _Beasts of Warren_, are three, _viz._ _Hares_, _Coneys_, _Roes_.

_Note_, The _Hart_ and _Hinde_ before spoken of, though they are of
_one_ kind, yet, because their _Seasons_ are several, are esteemed
_distinct_ Beasts; and in the _Hart_ is included the _Stag_, and all
_red Deer_ of Antlier.

And because I reckon it the most necessary part of the _Hunter_ to
understand the _Names_, _Degrees_, _Ages_, and _Seasons_ of the
aforesaid different Beasts of _Forest_ or _Venery_, _Chace_, and
_Warren_; I shall therefore, in the next place, present him with these
following

_Beasts of Forrest_, &c.

The _Hart_, the first Year is called a _Hinde-Calf_, 2 A _Knobber_, 3 A
_Brock_, 4 A _Staggard_, 5 A _Stagg_, 6 A _Hart_.

The _Hinde_, the first Year a _Calf_, 2 A _Hearse_, 3 A _Hinde_.

The _Hare_, the first Year a _Leveret_, 2 A _Hare_, 3 A _Great Hare_.

The _Wild-Boar_ and _Woolf_, being no _English_ Chace, I omit.

_Beasts of Chace._

The _Buck_, the first Year is called a _Fawn_,