2 Sporting Sketches in Pen and Pencil. 



juniper bushes, with favourite dusting pits interspersed about ; for dogs and 

 cats, stoats, weasels, rats, hedgehogs, and other vermin, with man and gun, 

 make partridge run more risks than you'd determine — (Hem ! you can put the 

 " Pome" in proper order, if you please ; — for my part, modesty forbids) ; and, 

 however simple the little brown bird may appear, he or she is quite capable 

 of becoming as clever an old general as any bird that flies. How exceedingly 

 wide awake an old hen often is, even before September is out, if her brood 

 has been shot at once or twice ! How often you may walk over a field in 

 tvhich you know there is a good covey, and yet never happen on them — aye, 

 and even with a good dog by your side ! I don't know whether, as it was 

 contended by some eminent writers years ago, some partridges have to a 

 certain extent when at rest the power of retaining their scent. I have not 

 seen sufficient to warrant my agreeing in that theory entirely and without 

 reservation; but still, partridges are often very hard to find, and are very 

 cunning in getting out of danger. 



Some shooting I had once lay along a line of hills, taking the entire 

 hill for about two miles and a half on each side, down into the valley ; and 

 many a time have I walked along one side of the hill from end to end, and 

 missed the birds all along, getting only a very few shots, and then, when 

 I had got to the end of the ground, turning round, I have come back over 

 the same grovmd and had capital sport. Partridges very soon get to know 

 your line of beat ; and the moment they hear you — no matter how far off — 

 they take their measures for getting out of your way ; and this should be a 

 warning to the shooter, that he should make as little noise,- and, beyond 

 all, open his mouth as seldom and as quietly, as possible ; and, if they chance 

 to see you, of course, like the Quaker and the bailiff, they flee from you. 

 "You never heard of the Quaker and the bailiff ? " Dear me ! I thought 

 everybody had heard that. A Quaker was " wanted " — no matter what for — 

 and a bailiff or process server waited on him. He knocked at the door; the 

 wife looked out of an upper window. " What dost thee want, friend ? " 

 " I want to see Mr. Broadbrim, please." " He shall see thee, friend ;" and 

 the lady withdrew. Ten minutes passed, and Ephraim did not come; a 

 quarter of an hour, and " the boguey " knocked again, and out came Mrs. 

 Ephraim's head. "What dost thee want, friend?" "Wantl why, Mr, 



