PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 



shot again till six, and then went home to dinner, 

 having killed fifty partridges and a hare, with only 

 missing two very long shots, though he invariably 

 used both his barrels whenever the coveys rose within 

 gunshot. To this one dog he bagged in all, at dif- 

 ferent times, in a wild country, 3163 head of game. 



Much game as I have seen killed in a September 

 day, I do not recollect one solitary instance of any 

 thing extraordinary being done very early in the 

 morning. With regard to where, and how we are to 

 beat for game, &c. &c. it would now be unneces- 

 sary to inform even a schoolboy ; and, indeed, others 

 having mentioned all particulars, is a sufficient reason 

 for my not imposing on the reader's patience with 

 what he will have seen before, and what, to describe, 

 would lead me into the very subject of other sporting- 

 authors. Suffice it therefore to say, that the great 

 object is, first to have good markers * judiciously 

 placed, and then to disperse the birds ; the best way 

 to do which is to head your dogs, by taking an ex- 

 tensive circle. The second is, to make no more noise 

 than what cannot absolutely be avoided, by doing as 

 much by signal and whistling, and as little by halloo- 

 ing as possible. Thirdly, go first on hills to find, 



* Always be sure to tell a young marker that he must carry 

 his eye well forward when a covey of birds begin to skim in their 

 flight, and consider, that as they may continue doing so for a field 

 or two, he cannot safely say that he has marked them down, till 

 he has seen them stop sod' flap their wings, which all game must 

 do, before they can alight on the ground. 



