8 GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 



here, now there, like a ' Will-o'-the-Wisp ' as 

 the sagacious dog quarters the ground rapidly, 

 yet with as much care and precision as if he 

 were working for a legitimate sportsman in open 

 day. Suddenly it ceases to move, then advances 

 slowly, stops, moves once more, and at last be- 

 comes stationary. Two of the men then take 

 the net, and making a circuit until they arrive 

 in front of the dog, shake out the meshes and 

 place it in a proper position on the ground. Then 

 standing opposite to each other, and holding 

 either end of the string, they draw it slowly 

 and noiselessly over their quadruped ally whose 

 exact position is indicated by the lantern fre- 

 quently capturing at the same time an unsuspect- 

 ing covey huddled together within a few inches of 

 his nose. When this operation is carried on by 

 experienced hands, an entire manor may be effec- 

 tually stripped of partridges in an incredibly short 

 space of time. 



Although the quail (coturnix vulgarls) is known 

 only as a summer visitor in most parts of England, 

 yet in Ireland it has of late years been met with 

 in considerable numbers during the winter. The 

 London market is well supplied by quantities 

 which are netted in France and sent alive to 

 this country in the spring, where they are sub- 

 sequently fattened for the table. Mr. Yarrell 



