78 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



gentlemen are responsible for the freightage of a 

 variety of goods. It may not be inappropriate to 

 instance here a recent experience, albeit not concerned 

 with partridges. A fellside farmer captured a raven 

 in a trap set for a mountain fox. The man of flocks 

 seized the bird and struck its head against a stone. 

 The lifeless body was then rolled up in brown 

 paper and committed to the charge of an itinerant 

 carrier who chanced to call that day. The parcel 

 was duly delivered at the birdstuffer's. When the 

 package was opened, out hopped Mr. Raven, 

 who, having recovered from a momentary swoon, 

 flew on to the kitchen table and proclaimed his 

 return to the upper world with a harsh unmusical 

 croak. 



Carriers of the Barkis type are nothing loth to 

 earn an extra shilling by the porterage of parcels 

 which, if examined officially, might not unfairly be 

 deemed contraband. They are in touch with local 

 shopkeepers and willingly act as middlemen. But if 

 the poacher has arranged a contract with a game- 

 dealer like-minded to himself, the modus operandi is 

 enormously facilitated. The game-dealer is happy to 

 supply his agents with his own printed labels convey- 

 ing the terms of his licence to deal in game. All 

 that is necessary, under such circumstances, is for the 



