44 BRITANNY AND THE CHASE. 



abouts. Partridges are thinly scattered over the country, 

 perhaps a covey to a square mile. In this square mile is 

 land of various kinds, and the birds change their place 

 often ; but a good sportsman will rarely miss finding them. 

 Sometimes the land is well disposed, and the finds easy. 

 Tor instance, in a furze heath of perhaps 500 acres are two 

 or three acre patches, which the industry of man has won 

 from the waste, and sown with corn. To know all these 

 patches well is a point gained ; but it is not so easy. No 

 help will be given by the natives, as each keeps the secret 

 well to himself; but there morning and evening the covey 

 will probably be found, and once found may be marked to 

 another patch, if you know its direction and the path to it. 

 Similar patches are to be found in the woods, with similar 

 results. Marking is most difficult, unless wuth this know- 

 ledge. The birds wheel round a clump of wood, or dive 

 into a hollow, and under such a cover skim quietly to their 

 favorite haunt, perhaps far distant ; for a flight of a mile is 

 not uncommon. The high hedges intercept the view in 

 the enclosed country ; and to these, and the impregnable 

 furze, is the preservation of game owing. But for these, it 

 would have long disappeared before the army of chasseurs 

 continually in pursuit of it. The number of sportsmen is 

 enormous, beyond all English ideas. For instance, in this 

 commune, containing about 20,000 inhabitants, are 400 

 licensed chasseurs ! Think of that. Englishmen need not 

 come here for shooting, that is certain. 



The woodcock is an eccentric character — a bird sid 

 generis, changing his quarters without apparent cause; 

 but even he has his customs also, and his favorite re- 



