20 REMINISCENCES OF A SPORTSMAN. 



favourite birds, — a cat. His dogs were too generous to 

 molest it. The freaks of nature are sometimes displayed 

 in partridges, for partridges have been known and shot 

 in part white, and even totally white.* In 1796, at 

 South Cave, Mr. Barnard's, was a covey of eight par- 

 tridges ; four of them were of the most beautiful clear 

 white, three were pied ; the eighth bird escaped from 

 under the net by which the other seven were secured ; 

 they were kept alive in the mews, and considered as 

 great curiosities. In 1798 the following occurrence 

 took place at East Dean, Sussex, which shows this bird 

 deprived of all power to use its wings for its own 

 preservation; and may, perhaps, tend to prove that 

 partridges are stationary, and have no powers of mi- 

 gration : — 



A covey of sixteen partridges were disturbed by some 

 men at plough, and directed their flight across the cliff 

 to the sea, over which they continued their course for 

 about three hundred yards, when, as if intimidated or 

 affected by the element, the whole were observed to drop 

 into the water. Twelve of them were soon after floated 

 to shore by the tide, and picked up by a boy, who carried 

 them to Eastbourne, where he disposed of them at nine- 

 pence each. 



The old mode of taking partridges with a setter 

 dog by nets is rarely had recoiuse to ; since the 

 gun provides all that is wanting of this excellent 



* A covey of niue partridges were bred upon a farm of the Hon. J. 

 Olmius, at Sandon, in Essex, four of which were pui-e white, and three 

 of the others were mottled. In 1804 a partridge was killed by Mr. B. 

 Dudey's keeper, that had half the longe.st feather in each wing of a 

 milk white, and the skin of the central claw of both feet was of the 

 same colour. 



