Poachers and Poaching. 



close to the ground, and sleep with their heads 

 tucked together. A covey in this position re- 

 presents little more than a mass of feathers. 

 They always spend their nights in the open, for 

 protective reasons. Birds which do not perch 

 would soon be extinct as a species were they to 

 seek the protection of woods and hedge-bottoms 

 by night. Such ground generally affords cover to 

 vermin weasels, polecats, and stoats. Although 

 partridges roam far by day, they always come 

 together at night, being partial to the same fields 

 and fallows. They run much, and rarely fly 

 except when passing from one feeding ground to 

 another. In coming together in the evening their 

 calls may be heard at some distance. These' sounds 

 the poacher listens for and marks. He remembers 

 the nest under the gorse bush, and knows that 

 the covey will not be far distant. 



Partridges the poacher considers good game. 

 He may watch half-a-dozen coveys at once. 

 Each evening at sun-down he goes his rounds 

 and makes mental notes. Three coveys are 

 marked for a night's work one in turnips, 

 another among stubble, and a third on grass. 

 At dark he comes and now requires an assistant. 

 The net is dragged along the ground, and as the 

 birds get up it is simply dropped over them, when 

 usually the whole covey is taken. In view of 

 this method of poaching and on land where 

 many partridges roost, low scrubby thorns are 



