326 WILD LIFE IN A SOUTHERN COUNTY. 



the helpless intruder ? Higher sentiments than those 

 usually attributed to the birds and beasts of the field 

 may, I think, be traced in some of their actions. 



To the number of those birds whose call is more 

 or less apparently ventriloquial the partridge may be 

 added ; for when they are assembling in the evening 

 at the roosting-place their calls in the stubble often 

 sound some way to the right or left of the real posi- 

 tion of the bird, which presently appears emerging 

 from the turnips ten or fifteen yards farther up than 

 was judged by the ear. It is not really ventriloquial, 

 but caused by the rapid movements and by the cir- 

 cumstance of the bird being out of sight. 



We constantly hear that the area of pasture in Eng- 

 land is extending, and gradually overlapping arable 

 lands ; and the question suggests itself whether this, 

 if it continues, will not have some effect upon bird 

 and animal life by favouring those that like grass 

 lands and diminishing those that prefer the ploughed. 

 On and near ploughed lands modern agriculture en- 

 deavours to cut down trees and covers and grub up 

 hedges, not only on account of their shade and the 

 injury done by their roots, but because they are 

 supposed to shelter sparrows and other birds. But 

 pasture and meadow are favourable to hedges, trees, 

 and covers : wherever there is much grass there is 

 generally plenty of wood, and this again if hedges 

 and small covers extend in a corresponding degree* 

 with pasture may affect bird life. 



A young dog may be taught to hunt almost any- 



