PARTRIDGE SHOOTING. 383 



grass or fern, and close to the dog. When a bird 

 has been running about some time, dogs easily 

 come upon the scent of it ; but when it has not 

 stirred since alighting, and has perhaps crept into 

 a drain, or run into a hedge-bottom, or the sedgy 

 side of a ditch, no dog can wind it until close upon 

 it, and the very best dogs will sometimes flush a 

 single bird. In the month of October, and after- 

 wards, the shooter will find it difficult to approach 

 within gun-shot of a covey, nor can he disperse 

 them, except by firing at them when he chances to 

 come close upon them. Should he then be so for- 

 tunate as to disperse a covey, he may follow them 

 leisurely, for they will then lie several hours in 

 their lurking-place, which is chosen with much 

 tact, as a patch of rushes, a gorse bush, a holly 

 bush, the bottom of a double bank fence, or a cop- 

 pice or wood. The length of time that will trans- 

 pire before a dispersed covey will re-assemble, de- 

 pends too on the time of the day, and state of the 

 weather. In hot weather, they will lie still for 

 several hours. A covey dispersed early in the 

 morning, or late at night, will soon re-assemble. 

 A covey dispersed between the hours of ten and 

 two, will be some time in re-assembling. A covey 

 found in the morning in a stubble-field, and dis- 

 persed, will next assemble near the basking-place. 

 A covey dispersed after two o"* clock, will next 

 assemble in the stubble-field at feeding time. A 

 covey disturbed and dispersed late in the afternoon, 

 or evening, will next re-assemble near the jucking- 

 place. A covey being disturbed on or near to their 



