ENEMIES OF THE PARTEIDGE 169 



ridges face the wind immediately, and rise almost 

 vertically into the air. Expert poachers, aware 

 of this habit, work against the wind, and hold 

 their sweep-nets in such a position that while 

 the lower meshes trail along the ground, the 

 upper meshes, to intercept the frightened birds, 

 can be instantly thrust forward and " clapped." 

 If, under ordinary circumstances, forced to leave 

 their roosting-places, partridges on a dark night 

 rise to a greater height than by day. 



I have noticed that, when they have thus 

 ascended in the dark, it is well-nigh impossible 

 to judge of the direction in which they turn ; 

 their movements become strangely silent, as if, 

 with slow flight, they were endeavouring to 

 ascertain their whereabouts and guard against 

 the dangers of the gloom. Occasionally the 

 young birds utter soft, musical notes ; but 

 these are strangely illusive to the human ear, 

 much as are the harsh calls of the corncrake 

 in the summer grass. 



The partridges were accustomed to the noise 

 and the activity which by day were inseparable 

 from the ordinary life of the summer fields. 

 Intelligent and high-spirited, they were not 

 daunted by what they usually saw and heard as 

 their neighbours wandered near in search of 

 food. Straying among the sheep and the 

 cattle that drowsed in the shade of the hedge- 



