THE PARTRIDGE. 



101 



Dogs will hunt with more vigor and energy after this truce, 

 and the Birds will have had time to collect together their 

 scattered forces ready for another onset, provided we should 

 retrace our steps over the morning's grounds. Fresh Birds 

 will also have left their watering-places, and be busily occu- 

 pied in the stubble-fields feeding. A selfish disposition is to 

 be despised in any one, but when it occupies a large space 

 in the heart of a sporting character, it is more frequently and 

 disgustingly displayed than in any other person — at least, such 

 is our opinion of the matter; and a Shooter who has such a 

 wild furor for killing Birds that he cannot remain quiet for 

 half an hour during this period of the day, or sufifer his faith- 

 ful Dogs to snatch a few moments of respite from their arduous 

 duties, but, on the contrary, considers such an intermission of 

 his sport as an actual loss of time, we are forced to class him 

 with that enviable race of beings known as Pot Hunters, or at 

 all events but one degree above them, and of course, mean and 

 narrow-minded in the extreme. 



"Some greedy Elves, 

 Pot Hunters vile ! appear to grieve, 

 If forced a single Bird to leave. 

 Such men avoid, and be your pride 

 "With those that soon are satisfied." 



