ENEMIES OF THE PARTRIDGE 171 



home. The old man was a true naturalist, in 

 every sense of the word ; and the days I spent 

 with him " looking for 'oodcock " were among 

 the happiest of my life. Every field on the hill- 

 side was in full view from the farmstead, and 

 poachers, aware that their presence would be 

 unwelcome, rarely, if ever, crossed the thick 

 boundary hedge at the brow of the slope, 

 except on a fair-day, when they believed that 

 the farmer would be from home, or on Boxing 

 Day, when by immemorial custom everybody 

 who owns a gun may " blaze away " to his 

 heart's delight on any farm whither his fancy 

 leads him, and, moreover, may claim the hospi- 

 tality of the festive board when he tires of 

 his fun. 



On the farm, or, rather, on the particular 

 hillside I have mentioned, partridges were 

 always to be found in fair number during the 

 season, till the young paired off and sought 

 homes elsewhere. I shot also over the lands 

 between our village and the farm, and, early 

 in the season, could obtain sport on my way 

 to see my old friend. But those lands were 

 also frequented by men whose favourite even- 

 ing recreation was to take a stroll with gun 

 and spaniel. No very deadly marksman was 

 among the members of the party, but all were 

 expert in ascertaining the direction of a part- 



