206 LEAVES FROM A GAME BOOK. 



the habits of nesting game birds, for Marshall, the head 

 man at Plashett's, was an exceptionally well-spoken, 

 intelligent one, who, while freely telling me all he knew, 

 was yet quite open to change any of his own methods 

 for those likely to prove more efficacious in the pre- 

 servation of game 



As birds were rather scarce on the shooting, Wynne 

 asked me to order fifty brace of Hungarian partridges, 

 so to Cross, of Liverpool, the order was sent, and, as 

 both gentlemen and keepers appear to be in some 

 doubt as to the best way of turning them out, it may 

 interest them to hear how I proceeded. 



On the appointed day the birds duly arrived at 

 Isfield station, perfectly packed in lots of five brace in 

 each basket. Previously to this we had selected, in the 

 centre of the ground, a thick furze hedge, by the side of 

 which ran a rill of spring water, along which we strewed 

 a plentiful supply of barley sweepings and some Indian 

 corn. Then, having kept the birds at Marshall's cottage 

 tili about an hour before dusk, we carted them to the 

 vicinity of the chosen spot, and, after studying the 



