176 BIRD LIFE IN ENGLAND. 



unlike the pheasant, roosts upon the ground, choosing if 

 possible a dry, elevated spot, such as a sandy meadow under 

 a hanger, or bit of woodland sufficient to keep off the north 

 wind. In such a spot the whole covey will collect at dusk, 

 filling the vale with their pipings to gather the family and 

 recall stragglers. Our poets have noticed this peaceful 

 sound of the twilight. Burns speaks of " paitricks scraichin' 

 loud at e'en," and Hurdis says, " I love to hear the cry of 

 the night-loving partridge," while Grahame describes how 

 at evening " stillness, heart-soothing, reigns, Save now and 

 then the partridge's late call." But our poacher, as he sucks 

 his short clay and leans on the weather-worn field gate, notes 

 the soft sound, too, and not only the calling of one covey, 

 but that of half a dozen, making his plans forthwith. Two 

 or three men are required for this nefarious work, with a 

 dogcart, if possible, to carry the spoil and facilitate escape. 

 As soon as the pink glow is out of the sky in the east, and 

 keepers may fairly be supposed to be enjoying an after- 

 dinner smoke before setting forth for their evening patrol, 

 the work begins, the trap is driven quietly to the scene of 

 action, and while one hand stays by it to watch, two others 

 take each the extreme ends of a long, fine drag-net, and 

 walk slowly across the field, including, of course, all those 

 spots where coveys have been marked down at sunset. That 

 the men are loth to lose nets and gear when surprised, and 

 will defend them with bludgeons or worse, may be under- 

 stood when it is remembered these nets are sometimes of the 

 finest silk thread throughout, as light and strong as they 

 are costly. When birds are reached it is known by one or 

 two rising tumultuously into the meshes ; then the net is 

 lowered instantly, and probably the whole covey, which sits 

 close in a circle, tails inwards and heads out, is enclosed. 

 Very short shrift then falls to the luckless brood, all of them 

 finding their way before many minutes are out to the ready 

 sack under the dog-cart seat, whereupon the net is ready 

 again for another beat over the fallows or grass lands, 



