262 OF SHOOTING, 



then cease from urging him farther, and take 

 your circumference walking fast, with a care- 

 less eye looking straight before the dog, and 

 thereby see how the covey lies, whether 

 close or straggling. Then commanding the 

 dog to lie still, draw forth your net and prick 

 one end to the ground, and spread your net 

 all open, and so cover as many of the par- 

 tridges as you can, which done, make in 

 with a noise and spring up the partridges, 

 and they will no sooner rise than be en- 

 tangled in the net. If you let go the old 

 cock and hen, it will not only be the act of a 

 fair sportsman, but also a means to increase 

 your own pastime by preserving the breed. 



THE PHEASANT, 



Is of the size of a common dunghill- cock, 

 and a superb bird in his plumage, with a 

 proud and noble gait, This of course is on- 

 ly to be understood as relating to the male, 

 for the plumage of the female has little splen- 

 dor, and resembles the quail^ which makes 



