BRITISH GAME-BIRDS. 217 



We could see nothing of the partridges' for the 

 leaves. Once the ring -tail made a pounce, and 

 we could hear the covey shriek in terror, but no 

 capture was made. Presently the harriers changed 

 their tactics, and they hunted the lines of swedes 

 backwards and forwards for a time, nearly over 

 the whole length ; then they shot back and worked 

 across it, beginning at the far end and working 

 towards us. Not a foot of that field did that 

 pair appear to miss, for the two of us were stand- 

 ing on a bit of a nob of ground overlooking the 

 field. 



"They're workin' on 'em up close now, jist the 

 same as my old dog corners my sheep ; them 'ere 

 partridges wun't be able to put up with much, more 

 on it." 



Nor did they; for at the last flight up, the whole 

 covey dashed out screaming from the corner of the 

 field : like lightning the hawks pounced clap 

 clap ! A cloud of feathers flew as each struck 

 their bird, and that pair of harriers breakfasted on 

 partridges. 



It was the fashion in the days of my youth for the 

 farmers to have sparrow clubs. These murdering 



