CHAPTER V 



GROUND, STOCK, AND POACHING 



POPULAR as pheasant-shooting undoubtedly is, and 

 great as are the improvements in this branch of sport 

 which the present generation has witnessed, whether 

 in the science of rearing the stock, or of realising 

 from it in a workmanlike manner, yet if you were to 

 poll the shooting men of Great Britain at the present 

 day, you would assuredly find that the great majority 

 would rather have a good day at partridges than 

 pheasants. The partridge is the popular bird, not only 

 of to-day, but also of the future. 



It is, therefore, worth while to enquire whether 

 owners, sporting tenants, and keepers have studied 

 and improved their methods of producing and pre- 

 serving partridges to the point required by the un- 

 doubted demand for this branch of sport. 



I should say, without hesitation, that for the most 

 part they have not ; and if I offend or surprise the 

 shooting world by some of the remarks I propose to 



