74 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



employer. But the artist does most of his own 

 scouting, smoking a short clay pipe under the shelter 

 of green lanes without incurring a shadow of suspicion. 

 The presence of a stranger in any quiet neighbour- 

 hood is apt to excite attention, it is true ; but our 

 friend has no desire to court publicity : on the con- 

 trary, he usually errs on the side of modesty, or, if 

 challenged, is ready with an ingenious tale which 

 more than accounts for his presence. In reality, his 

 best attention is devoted to ascertaining the precise 

 haunts of the different coveys, with a view to economis- 

 ing labour and reducing the risk of possible discovery. 

 It wouldn't answer his purpose to go out netting 

 partridges unless he knew precisely the corner of the 

 field in which a covey of partridges were sure to 

 'jug 'for the night. Their movements are learnt 

 partly by observation, partly by the harsh call-note 

 of the leader of the covey, since his authority is 

 supreme. 



Another consideration which enters into the cal- 

 culations of the poacher is the device of studding the 

 surface of fields with stakes. A delicate net would 

 soon be rendered useless if it came into contact with 

 a quantity of briars. The poacher operates in such a 

 manner as to reduce the risks of failure to a minimum. 

 His engine is a light net generally measuring about 



