PIGEON SHOOTING AT ITS WORST
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SUI,—Are we not hypocrites in this question of shooting pigeons at Monte Carlo ? I have watched this, shooting and have seen coursing in .this country, and from my ,point of view coursing is a far more cruel form of so-called sport. When I have seen shooting at Monte Carlo, few birds have escaped instant death, and those few that were not killed were quickly retrieved and dispatched.
As to coursing, to see the wretched hare trying to escape from the dog after .a long and gruelling run is a most dis- tressing sight, and I am convinced the hare goes through far greater agonies than the wounded pigeon. I have not attended a coursing meeting for years as I think it is so cruel.
Again, in ordinary shooting of game in this country such as partridges, pheasants, &c., a number—in fact a great number —I am afraid are partly hit, maimed, and get away to die a lingering death—many more now than since before the War, as undoubtedly shooting is worse owing to the class of people who have lately gone in 'for this sport and have had little experience of shooting. No, first let us take the mote out of our own eye before condemning a form of sport prevailing in a foreign country. I am afraid we are rather humbugs.--
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