1(56 SPORTSMEN'S EXTEDIKNTS. 



piece of parclimcnt, previously wetted, is drawn over 

 and secured to one end of the implement. When tin- 

 skin is dry, a perforation is made in the middle with a 

 needle, and a single horse-hair, douhly knotted at the 

 end, passed through it from within, and remains hanging 

 on the outside. When the " Kapphims-pipa" is brought 

 into use, the horse-hair is drawn between the finger and 

 thumb (after they have been previously moistened), when 

 the pipe emits a sound exactly resembling the call-note 

 of the Partridge. Provided with this implement, the 

 gunner proceeds in quest of the covey, and when he has 

 found and dispersed the birds, he. after a time, imitates 

 their call-note, to which responses are presently given. 

 Thus, he not only ascertains their whereabouts, but, in 

 many instances, succeeds in luring one or other of them 

 within reach of his murderous weapon. 



But, after all, the expedients mentioned to beguile tin- 

 poor Partridge are not more objectionable than some of 

 those resorted to by us in England for the like purpose; 

 as, for instance, flying a huge paper kite, fashioned in 

 measure as a bird of prey, over a turnip-iield, as I myself 

 have seen done in Norfolk, to make the birds lie close. 



As regards the gun, however, the great destruction 

 that takes place amongst the Partridges is during t In- 

 winter, when the ground is covered with snow, and they 

 are in consequence very conspicuous; for the peasants 

 and others then slaughter them without mercy, something 

 like a whole covey Ixjing often annihilated at a single 

 discharge. During very severe \\inters, again, especially 

 after heavy snow-storms, when these poor birds draw near 

 to the homestead, not a few are captured by hoys and 

 others, by means of a common sieve, and in like manner 

 as sparrows w ith us. 



M-iny of the !'<> inters one sees in ih,. IVninsiila are 

 wdl-hred and \\ell-looking; but, speaking generally* maob 



