THE PARTRIDGE. 87 



net rudely fixed up for tbe purpose, and set about in different 

 parts of the plantation where the Birds are most apt to pass ; 

 sometimes, a trail of grain leading to it conducts the unsuspect- 

 ing Birds into captivity before they are aware of their proximity 

 to danger. Nooses of horsehair are also attached to twigs of 

 low bushes or frames set up for the purpose, across the path 

 most likely to be traversed by these armies, and considerable 

 numbers are taken in this way. 



Great numbers of Partridges, as well as Pheasants, more pro- 

 perly speaking, Ruflfed Grouse, are taken by the aid of horse- 

 hair nooses, in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, more particu- 

 larly in the district of country adjoining our city ; and it is no 

 unusual circumstance for Sportsmen to come across long cords 

 of several feet in length, stretched from stake to stake, on the 

 borders of some favorite feeding-ground, hung with five, ten, 

 fifteen, or twenty hair nooses, and even many more, with corn, 

 wheat, or other grain, strewn about for the purpose of luring 

 the poor victims into these deceptive and fatal snares. The 

 Birds are most usually caught around the neck, and thus 

 strangled to death; but not unfrequently by the wing, and some- 

 times leg. Our Dogs have often come to a stand upon the poor 

 victims thus entrapped, and we never scruple to help ourselves 

 to the spoils on such occasions. 



As the winter progresses and food becomes more scarce, the 

 common figure of 4 trap, constructed of laths, corn-stalks, or 

 other suitable material, comes into requisition by every idle 

 farm hand, and lazy negro boy, and thus again large numbers of 

 these Birds are mercilessly destroyed. It is no uncommon thing 

 to take covey after covey, in these rude traps, during severe 

 weather, without allowing one single member of the family 

 to escape ; as these Birds, more than any others, are disposed to 

 run in clutches, and are seen constantly crossing and recrossing 

 each other when feeding, and when alarmed instinctively cluster 

 together, and follow blindly their leader, no matter what course 

 he adopts. As we cannot approve of this wholesale slaughter 

 of game, any more than we can justify the robbing of their nests, 

 for the purpose of eating their eggs, as is pursued to a con- 

 siderable extent by the Negroes in the slave-holding States, 

 and often with the full connivance of their masters, we will not 



