The Confessions of a 'Poacher. 49 



at the same time. September once in, there 

 was never a sun-down that did not see one of 

 us on our rounds making mental notes. It 

 was not often, however, that more than three 

 coveys were marked for a night's work. One 

 of these, perhaps, would be in turnips, another 

 among stubble, and the third on grass. Ac- 

 cording to the nature of the crop, the lay of 

 the land, wind, ffc., so we varied our tactics. 

 Netting partridges always requires two persons, 

 though a third to walk after the net is helpful. 

 If the birds have been carefully marked down, 

 a narrow net is used ; if their roosting-place is 

 uncertain a wider net is better. When all is 

 ready this is slowly dragged along the ground, 

 and is thrown down immediately the whirr of 

 wings is heard. If neatly and silently done, 

 the whole covey is bagged. There is a terrible 

 flutter, a cloud of brown feathers, and all is 

 over. It is not always, however, that the draw 

 is so successful. In view of preventing this 

 method of poaching, especially on land where 

 many partridges roost, keepers plant low 

 scrubbv thorns at intervals. These so far 



