380 SHOOTING. 



or the grouse, and hence the pursuit of them is one 

 of the chief sources of recreation to the shooter. 

 They are more plentiful in England than either in 

 Ireland or Scotland. Though not so highly prized 

 by the sportsman as the birds last mentioned, the 

 abundance in which partridges are found, wherever 

 they are preserved, renders the sport sufficiently 

 attractive. At the commencement of the season, 

 when they have not been much disturbed by per- 

 sons breaking dogs, they are as tame as could be 

 wished by the most inexpert sportsman, and at 

 that time afford capital diversion to the young 

 shooter, and to those rheumatic and gouty old 

 gentlemen who too fond of their ease to brush 

 the covers or range the mountains in the lowland 

 valleys, " shoulder their crutch, and show how 

 fields were won."" Partridges are most plentiful in 

 those countries where much grain, pulse, and white 

 crops are grown. While the corn is standing 

 which is no uncommon occurrence in the northern 

 counties in September it is very rare that many 

 shots can be obtained, for the coveys, on being dis- 

 turbed, wing their way to the nearest corn-field, 

 where it is forbidden the shooter to follow them, or 

 to send his dogs in after them. 



The habits of the partridge should be studied by 

 the shooter. In the early part of the season, par- 

 tridges will be found, just before sunrise, running to 

 a brook, a spring, or marsh, to drink ; from which 

 place they almost immediately fly to some field 

 where they can find abundance of insects, or else 

 to the nearest corn-field or stubble-field, where they 



