73 SHOOTING. 



some countries. In the Isle of Nansio they are so common as to 

 Amount to a positive nuisance. The inhabitants make a rule to 

 collect as many eggs as possible every year, in order to lessen the 

 breed, which, in some seasons, have been so numerous as to have 

 eaten up the entii'C produce of the harvest crops. These eggs, 

 which are taken by thousands, are prepared with different sauces, 

 and supply the people for a consideraJ^le time. Tournefort says 

 that partridges are so tame in the Isle of Scio, that they are driven 

 to seek their food in the fields, like so many sheep, and that each 

 family intrusts its partridges to the common keeper, who brings 

 them* back in the evening, and he calls them together with a whistle, 

 even in the daytime. Another miter tells us that in the country 

 around TrelDizond, a man was seen leading above four thousand 

 partridges ; he marched on the ground, while the birds followed 

 him in the air, until he reached a certain camp, three days' journey 

 from Trebizond: when he slept, the birds alighted to repose around j 

 Mm, and he could take as many of their number as he pleased. We 

 are told that in Provence, in Prance, persons have acqmred the art 

 of assembHng numerous flocks of partridges, which obey the voice 

 of their conductors with wonderful docility. Willoughby mentions 

 that a man in Sussex had, by great skill and attention, made a 

 covey of partridges so tame, that he drove them before him, upon 

 the strength of a wager, from out of the county to London, although 

 they were free, and had their wings . fully grown, and in right 

 feather. / • • j 



These red partridges make choice of mountainous regions, and 

 well covered with wood ; their flesh is tender and white, ^and by 

 many gastronomes are considered of a richer flavour than the gray 

 partridge. In Prance they make them into pies, which are highly 

 esteemed. 



They differ from the common partridge in some points— they are 

 found 111 flocks, while the common species are only known in coveys, 

 and the red bird perches likemse on trees, which the ordinary bird 

 never does. 



CHAPTEH yn. 



PHEASANT SHOOTING. 



" All ! what avails his glossy, varyins: (lyes, 

 J His purpled crest, aud scarlet circled eyes, 

 'J'he vivid ereeu his shining pkimes unfold, 

 His painted wings, imd breast that ilames with gold!" Pope. 



There are two sporting varieties of the pheasant, the Phasif/^ius 

 Colchicus, Linn., and the Phasicmm TorquaUis of Ternwick. They 



