290 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



representative would not be commercial if he were impartial, 

 and that the spread of what is called the Euston system would 

 obviate the necessity at once for Renardine and for the more 

 important and more useful game foods sold by the firm 

 named above. 



Another objection to protecting nests by evil-smelling 

 substances or liquids is, that men can smell them too, and 

 if it took a fox a year to know that a peculiar sensation to 

 his olfactory nerves meant partridge, it would not take a 

 reasoning being a day to do so. Indeed, with this guide to 

 nests, the stealing of eggs could be conducted by night as well 

 as it is now by day. Another so-called prevention of foxes 

 consists in small pieces of metal covered with luminous paint, 

 but this again is open to precisely the same human objection 

 as the other. 



Scent is very little understood, but there is no reason why 

 a non-smelling volatile substance should not be discovered 

 some day that will combine with the volatile essence of game 

 and neutralise it, just as the scent of ozone is neutralised in 

 the presence of carbonic acid gas. Ozone is only oxygen in 

 a peculiar molecular form. When one atom amalgamates with 

 the carbonic acid, the others become simple oxygen again, 

 and as part of the air have no scent. An essence that will 

 act in some such way towards the scent of sitting birds 

 appears to be desirable in the interests of game and foxes. 

 But even if it were discovered, it would do nothing to save the 

 nests in heavy rain, when every depression in the ground is 

 flooded, and when partridges, grouse, and pheasants are forced 

 to abandon incubation. 



It is difficult to suggest when precisely it was discovered 

 that partridges would permit themselves to be interfered with 

 upon the nest. 



The credit has been given to Marlow, Lord Ashburton's 

 keeper at The Grange. The author has no reason to dispute the 

 credit, which is probably properly bestowed. At any rate, 

 Marlow made Hampshire famous for partridges, and for years 

 held the record for a day's as also for a three days' bag, and 



