PARTRIDGES AND PHEASANTS. 155 



person desire to experiment by importing prairie chickens 

 into England, I will do all in my power to aid him. 



"(Sergeant) G. H. BATES." 



"Saybrook, Maclean County, Illinois, U.S.A., Dec. 13, 1883." 



But some of our own authorities decry the bird as of 

 ignoble, skulking habits. Mr. Harry Greenwood says one 

 could hardly wish for more delightful or better shooting than 

 the Virginian quail affords. He flies like a rocket, and in the 

 superb autumn days of America, when he is full grown and 

 strong, and vigorous on the wing, it requires both a true eye 

 and a rapid hand to cut him down. 



Other birds have been recommended, nor can there be 

 any reasonable doubt that if the opportunities were forth- 

 coming we might find amongst sand grouse, the lesser game 

 of the Mediterranean shores, or even the pheasant-haunted 

 rhododendron thickets of the Himalaya, some birds that 

 would thrive and multiply amongst our coppices and downs. 

 Meantime we have enough game at hand to fulfil every 

 reasonable need. The farmers, who must ever have much 

 of the sportsman's enjoyment within their control, are for 

 the most part wisely content to let things remain as they 

 stand ; and if the veto of ignorant politicians receives the 

 contempt it deserves, we may still for many years hear the 

 crow of the cock pheasant as he comes out to feed " in 

 the dewing," and notice how tenderly the partridge cherishes 

 his lavender and cinnamon bride, how faithful and gallant 

 he is to her and to his school of dainty striped chicks who 

 people the corn and clover lands, and nestle under that 

 " field of the cloth of gold " which means the yellow harvest 

 of fertile England is ripe once more. 



OCTOBEE BY COVERT AND HEDGES. 



From heather to stubble, and then from corn lands to 

 oak coppices, and, later on, the holly thickets for woodcock, 



