PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 109 



their food consists mainly of browse, the tender buds 

 of the black birch, from which tree they take their 

 name. 



The most comfortable, I may say the most aristocratic 

 way to shoot partridge, is to drive slowly along a wood 

 road ; but this luxurious sport is not within reach of 

 everyone, and a few words about the regular "pattridge 

 gunner " of the country may not be amiss. There is one 

 in every back settlement, sometimes in every house 

 a tall, powerful, long-haired young fellow, in a red shirt, 

 and homespun continuations tucked inside his boots. 

 His accoutrement consists of a long single barrel, a cow- 

 horn full of powder, and a bag of shot. He is also the 

 proud owner of a "pattridge dog," which ranges the woods 

 in an independent way, scorning either call or whistle, 

 now close to its master's heels, now a mile off in the bush. 

 But this matters not, for the beast knows his business : 

 mutely he hunts every likely - looking spot, treating 

 hares, squirrels, &c., with contempt; perseveringly he 

 puzzles over cold scent, till at length it grows hot, and he 

 runs right into the middle of a covey. With a great 

 whirr and rustling, they " tree " all round him. Now is 

 the time that calls forth the good qualities of the " pat- 

 tridge dog." Finding birds is nothing, any dog with a 

 nose can do that ; but the thing is to show them to his 

 master, who is perhaps half a mile off. Does he point or 

 set ? No ! he sits down calmly on his tail, and fixing his 

 eye on the " treed " birds, he commences to bark and yell 

 and howl with all his might, and never ceases nor stirs from 

 the spot until his master comes up. Be it long or short, 

 five minutes or five hours, there he remains, making all 



