BREEDIXG PHEASAXTS. 69 



and across the market-place. No one was surprised at 

 seeing him in this singular costume, having been long 

 accustomed to his eccentric habits. As an antiquary, 

 Mr. C. Bowles's reputation stood high. He devoted 

 much time to antiquarian researches, and was often 

 applied to by families to elucidate abstruse and difficult 

 points in genealogy and heraldry. He was also a col- 

 lector of ancient coins. The father of these gentleman 

 was a clergyman and had the living of Donhead near 

 Lord Arundel's, Wardour Castle.* 



Both pheasants and partridges are very partial to 

 making their nests in clover fields, and as these are 

 mown sooner than the natural grass, many nests are 

 frequently destroyed, and there are instances of old birds 

 sitting so close as to be actually killed by the scythe. 

 Gramekeepers who well understand their busiuess, in the 

 early part of the breeding season, disturb the clover 

 fields with their dogs, to prevent the pheasants and 

 partridges nesting in them. JNIany gentlemen keep 

 bantam hens, some of which are ready to sit in the 

 breeding season, and the mowers for a small reAvard will 

 bring the eggs they may find, to be hatched by the 

 bantams. They are very careful in rearing the young 

 birds : but on this subject, I shall dwell more largely in 

 treating on the best mode of rearing pheasants and 

 partridges. 



* Lady Blanche, daughter of the Earl of "Worcester, and wife of Lord 

 Arundel, celebrated for her brave defence of Wardour Castle, against the 

 parliamentary army, which consisted of 1300 men; and although the 

 little garrison mustered only 45, yet she maintained the place for six days 

 and then capitulated. She died in 16-19, aged 66. In the modern resi- 

 dence of the Earl of Anmdel, is a fine collection of paintings, chiefly of 

 the Italian School, which was open to the public at the time I was 

 quartered at Shaftesbury. 



