46 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



on this varied surface, getting in the first hour about a dozen 

 shots at ducks, of which only seven were successful, owing to 

 the birds hardly giving us a chance in the thick cover, and 

 then the reeds gave out, and our forces met where the lagoon 

 narrowed up to the mountain torrent that had given it rise. 

 Here we rested for a moment to fill the pipe of peace, but 

 this necessary operation was hardly done when the sharp ears 

 of the Corsican guide caught the cry of some partridges 

 higher up, and though likely to be "red legs" and great 

 runners, we set off after them at once, getting two as they 

 rose from under the side of a rock, the others if there were 

 others making good their retreat to the nearest strong cover. 



Forthwith W 's enthusiasm for partridges rose to a high 



point, in which I backed him up, for the lovely sweet- 

 scented macchie was much superior to the marsh below ; so 

 we changed our duck-shot cartridges for smaller shot, and 

 marched into the red legs' territory. 



A lovely shooting ground it was not particularly easy to 

 work, but delightful from an aesthetic point of view. Noble 

 hill-sides gleaming and warm under the bright Mediterranean 

 sun, dotted about with clumps of olive and oak, over which 

 the kites and hawks swept in circles, frightening out as the 

 shadow of their wings passed along whole herds of small 

 birds from the deep foliage of the myrtles and arbutus. 

 Gardens of orange and peaches, just coming into flower, luxu- 

 riated on the warm southern terraces ; here and there the 

 white walls of a farm-house peeping out from amongst the 

 verdure or the little peaked roof of a wayside chapel, in which 

 the image of a saint standing under a ceiling of blue, spangled 

 with golden stars, called on the passer-by to drop on his knees 

 and breathe a prayer. Amid this charming hunting ground 

 we strayed all the morning, taking things rather too easily 

 for making much of a bag, but picking up a hare, three or 

 four partridges, and a brace of quails out of a bevy of which 

 we ought to have got more ; but we were not on the look-out 

 when they suddenly rose and dodged round a rock with their 



