238 TOUR IN SUTHERLANDSHIRE. 



but in some districts considerable numbers are caught with 

 horse-hair snares set upon the sheaves of corn. Netting 

 does not seem to succeed to any great extent, although it has 

 frequently been tried by poachers. I confess that I do not 

 see why netting game should be considered a more destructive 

 and poaching-like system than shooting it I mean of course 

 if it is carried on legitimately and as an amusement. I 

 admit that the whole covey or pack is caught at once, but 

 that they should all of them have their necks wrung is by 

 no means a necessary seguitur. There is, also, a great degree 

 of skill and perfect training required in the " setting dog," 

 which gives much interest to this way of sporting. It should 

 be borne in mind also, that when a covey of partridges is 

 caught they are not injured, and the sportsman can set at 

 liberty all that he does not require; whereas in shooting, 

 very many birds are, of necessity, uselessly wounded and 

 left to perish. 



The system of netting partridges at night time, as it is 

 carried on by the poachers in some parts of England, is most 

 destructive ; and unless checked is certain to clear the 

 country of all its birds. The only way to prevent this silent 

 and wholesale robbery is to stake and bush the grass-fields. 

 Partridges, when undisturbed, roost, or rather sleep, regularly 

 in the smoothest grass or barest stubble. They seem to feel 

 more security with an open expanse around them than in 

 any kind of concealment. The whole covey sits crouched in 

 a space that might almost be covered with a hat, so closely 

 are they huddled together. After having made their evening 

 meal in the stubbles, which they always do in the autumn 

 and winter, between the hours of three and five, the old birds 

 call their brood and collect them together ; they then fly off 

 to some grass field or other very bare ground, and having 

 run about, apparently in play, for a little while, as soon as 

 the light begins to fail, they fly off to some favourite spot in 

 the field, and huddling up together in a furrow, take up their 

 quarters for the night. Unluckily all this is done with a 

 great deal of noise; the birds constantly calling to, and 

 answering each other, and running to and fro with their 

 heads most conspicuously erect, thus plainly showing the 

 netting-poacher, who is sure to be on the look-out, where he 

 may expect the best luck during the night. While this 

 work is being carried on, you may see some fellow, often 

 dressed more like a schoolmaster than a poacher, lounging 



