120 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



by a gentle flow pace you may make them run and 

 go which way you will, and at laft drive them into 

 your Net, and fo difpofe of them at your pleafure.' 



Thus the worthy Nicholas Cox, in the ' Gentle- 

 man's Recreation,' printed in 1686. What would he 

 say, I wonder, could he resume this mortal habit, and 

 see us driving partridges nowadays ? ' The Driving of 

 Partridges is more delightful than any other way of 

 taking them ' and so it is ; but what a contrast 

 between this old-world fowler of the time of James II. 

 with his nets, his ' engine ' of a canvas horse stuffed 

 with straw, for 'driving partridges,' and the keeper of 

 to-day, ashplant or flag in hand, commanding a line 

 of 40 men across well-hoed turnips or bare stubbles, 

 to bring the birds to another line where modern 

 breechloaders and smokeless powder, cracking lightly 

 like the musketry fire of battle, bring down these 

 swerving racing birds ; to be tossed in clusters after- 

 wards into the modern game-cart, with its protecting 

 roof, its hooks for partridges and hares, its confusion 

 of magazines, cartridge-bags, gun-covers, and over- 

 coats, and its trusty pensioner with book and pencil 

 to keep the tally of the slain. 



Not but what the old fowler knew a thing or two, 

 not to be despised by the driver of to-day. Observe 

 how, ' having found out the Covie,' he directs you 



