94: lewis' ameeican spoetsman. 



1821, I obtained a pup of high pedigree, and took the charge 

 of his education upon myself. No animal of his kind ever 

 surpassed him, but even with him I was often unable to flush a 

 scared Partridge. I now first admitted the idea that these Birds 

 were endued with the occasional power of holding that eflQuvium 

 which exposed them to their direst enemy. My remarks were 

 general, but tended to strengthen the opinion I had adopted. 

 For instance, I excursed very many times with large parties, 

 where they might be said to be a pack of Dogs from their 

 numbers, and most of them approved hunters. Often have I 

 seen, in large clearings, five or six coveys of Partridges flushed, 

 amounting probably to a hundred Birds, and although scarcely 

 a brace of them would leave the open grounds, not more than 

 a fifth part of them could be recovered. The Sportsmen did 

 not seem to think of their failure, and no one would disparage 

 the truth of the charming Venuses, Junos, Dianas, and Coras, 

 so sedulously engaged for his amusement. After such a field, 

 I have made it a practice to return alone to it after the lapse of 

 sufficient time, and I always found that the Birds had not left it, 

 but that, having resumed their natural or usual habits, were 

 easily flushed. In October, 1824, 1 became assured of the truth 

 of my doctrine. I was then in company with five gentlemen, 

 in a fine Partridge country. We had eleven Dogs (setters and 

 pointers) of approved value. The party concluded to range a 

 field or two before breakfast ; but I did not go out with them. 

 I soon heard rapid firing in a new-cleared ground in sight of 

 the tavern-house. I hurried to join them. There was a small 

 meadow-land, and a little brook intervening between us. On 

 the margin of this meadow stood a large pine stump, covered 

 with running dewberry vines, and surrounded by small oak 

 shrubs. I was within sixty yards of it, and parallel to it, when 

 two Partridges came directly towards me, across the meadow. 

 Having but one barrel charged, I fired upon the nearest Bird 

 and killed it. The other made a sudden dart from its line, and 

 took refuge among the shrubs and briers about the stump. I 

 had my favorite Dog and a very valuable Pointer Bitch with me. 

 Having recharged, I approached in guard upon the marked 

 Bird, but the Dogs gave no point. This was the proper time 

 to test my belief; I therefore called ofi" the Dogs, and waited 



