POACHING PARTRIDGES 81 



was in the old days, when local gaols were managed 

 by the magistrates, and the officials enjoyed greater 

 freedom of action than would be tolerated nowadays. 

 The governor of that prison had a weakness for 

 partridges. One of his charges was similarly affected. 

 Accordingly the governor ordered the wily old 

 poacher to proceed to set snares for the birds. That 

 worthy was nothing loth to exercise his favourite 

 trade ; and between the two, the whole covey of 

 birds was successfully trapped. 



