PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING. 803 



browD, barred and speckled with black ; breast, pale orange or 

 chestnut-brown, barred and speckled with black and brown ; 

 the belly greyish-white, barred with black and brown. 



The females make a slight nest on the ground, frequently 

 under the shelter of some low thick bush, in which they de- 

 posit from six to eight dirty- white eggs, of a yellowish-white, 

 spotted and speckled with orange-brown. The task of incu- 

 bation is performed by the female, and being deserted by 

 the male, upon her alone devolves the care and provision of 

 the brood. In summer the black-cock feeds upon seeds, the 

 tender shoots of heath, leaves, and various insects. In au- 

 tumn they live on crowberries, cranberries, whortleberries, 

 and the trailing arbutus. In winter, and during severe and 

 snowy weather, they eat the tops and buds of birch atid 

 elder, as well as the embryo shoots of various firs. They also 

 feed on stubble-grounds, which may be contiguous to their 

 accustomed haunts. 



The flesh of this bird is sweet, and highly flavoured, not 

 of so deep a colour as that of the red grouse : the internal 

 muscle of the breast is remarkably white, and is esteemed 

 the most delicate part. 



Male black-cocks have sometimes weighed so much as four 

 pounds, and females generally average two pounds. 



PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING. 



Both setters and pointers are used in partridge-shooting. 

 Pointers are the most serviceable in an open country where 

 partridges are plentiful. But setters are preferable in a 

 rough country, or where game is scarce. 



The best time for partridge-shooting is in the morning, 

 commencing about two hours after sunrise, until mid-day : 

 rest until half-past two or three o'clock, and continue until 

 dusk, because, during the heat of the day, partridges resort 



