204 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



though fairly destructive not too common, and, as it 

 demands more care to watch and detect, merits a 

 short description. 



It is almost always practised by men employed to 

 work in the fields, whether regular farm hands or 

 'casuals.' Having observed a convenient bare place 

 in a turnip field, usually in white turnips sown broad- 

 cast, an ordinary rabbit-trap or gin, easily carried in 

 the pocket, is set, slightly sprinkled with mould. A 

 few grains of corn are then scattered on and around 

 it. All this is done while crossing the field and 

 passing near the spot in the ordinary course of the 

 day's work. The trapper may then lie under the 

 hedge and watch, but he need not even do this if at 

 work close by ; for on a bird being caught, the snap 

 of the trap and fluttering of the prisoner will cause 

 the rest of the covey to rise alarmed, and give him 

 warning that he has taken a prize. To saunter care- 

 lessly by and put trap and bird in his pocket is very 

 simple, and it can be easily reset in another part of 

 the field. A good many brace are made away with in 

 this manner, where the keeper does not have a watch- 

 ful eye for what is going on on the land. 



Practical protection of nests from foxes and other 

 vermin is strangely neglected. A single strand of 

 wire about ten inches above the ground, stretched 



