72 PAETEIDGE SHOOTING. 



would be as vain to attempt the suppression of the 

 one as the other. In short, I would back the double- 

 mounted gent against the great squire and his stud. 

 Two on a horse, and the cad to be helmsman, is an 

 excellent way of giving the shooter the liberty of his 

 hands, the moment the covey springs unexpected. 

 Recollect, too, in wood about five feet high, a mounted 

 man can shoot, where one on his legs cannot see ; 

 and again, if a hare runs straight away, she may be 

 killed ten yards further, if you are well above her, 

 and catch her head and pole clear of her high rump. 

 All these little et cetera are what may be called the 

 finish ; as to ordinary sporting, in the present day, we 

 may as well tell a man how to eat his dinner." The 

 colonel treats the position of his young scholars with 

 somewhat of a high hand. 



The common Partridge, of British authors, is 

 abundant in Europe; and plentiful in almost all 

 parts of our own island. It is one of the game 

 birds that delights in the cultivation that follows the 

 steps of man. The cunning of this bird can only 

 be equalled by its laziness. Finding a plentiful 

 harvest in the grain of the labourer, it will often 

 make its nest in the young corn and grasses, and 

 by this means perish ; for before the young brood is 

 hatched, the harvest has sometimes commenced. The 

 partridge pairs very early in spring, although the 

 young are frequently not more than half grown by 

 the beginning 'of September. Their nests are selected 

 variously. The wildest birds have been known to 



