THE COMMON PARTEIDGE. 179 



seen frequenting the bare moor about three miles above 

 Byrecleugh. 



Before fowling-pieces came into use Partridge hawk- 

 ing seems to have been a favourite amusement of some 

 of the proprietors in the county ; for we find Godscroft, 

 in his MS. History of the Homes of Wedderhurn, relating 

 that his brother, Sir George Home of Wedderburn, who 

 was born about 1550 and died in 1616, " had Hawks called 

 Merlins and Falcons, and afterwards another kind called 

 Tercells, which he delighted in, even in his old age. He 

 caught both Partridges and Muir-fowl." ^ 



In later times nets with setters were used for taking 

 Partridges, the dog lying down on pointing a covey and 

 the net being then drawn over the birds by the men who 

 carried it. 



When milder Autumn Summer's heat succeeds, 

 And in the new-shorn field the Partridge feeds, 

 Before his lord the ready spaniel bounds, 

 Panting with hope, he tries the furrow'd grounds ; 

 But when the tainted gales the game betray, 

 Couch'd close he lies and meditates the prey. 

 Secure they trust the unfaithful field beset. 

 Till hovering o'er 'em sweeps the swelling net. 



Pope. 



Shooting game while on the wing did not come into use 

 until towards the middle of last century, after which 

 period Partridges were killed with the gun over pointers 

 and setters. This method was carried on so long as 

 corn was cut with the sickle, and the stubble left rough 

 enough to afford good cover for the birds, but with the 

 advent of the reaping machine about I860 and the con- 

 sequent closely shaven stubble, the system of driving the 

 birds into the cover of turnips and then walking them up 

 in line, without the use of pointers or setters, began to be 



'^ MS. History of the Homes of Wedderhurn, by David Home of Godscroft, 

 1611. 



