130 EXTRACTS FROM NOTE-BOOKS. CH. XXVIII. 



caught with horse-hair snares set upon the sheaves 

 of corn. Netting does not seem to succeed to any 

 great extent, although it has frequently been tried 

 by poachers. I confess that I do not see why 

 netting game should be considered a more destruc- 

 tive and poaching-like system than shooting it — I 

 mean of course if it is carried on legitimately and 

 as an amusement. I admit that the whole covey 

 or pack is caught at once, but that they should all 

 of them have their necks wrung is by no means a 

 necessary sequitur. There is, also, a great degree 

 of skill and perfect training required in the "setting 

 dog," which gives much interest to this way of 

 sporting. It should be borne in mind also, that 

 when a covey of partridges is caught they are not 

 injured, and the sportsman can set at liberty all 

 that he does not require ; M^hereas in shooting, very 

 many birds are, of necessity, uselessly wounded and 

 left to perish. 



The system of netting partridges at night time, 

 as it is carried on by the poachers in some parts of 

 England, is most destructive ; and unless checked 

 is certain to clear the country of all its birds. The 

 only way to prevent this silent and wholesale 

 robbery is to stake and bush the grass-fields. 

 Partridges when undisturbed roost, or rather sleep, 

 regularly in the smoothest grass or barest stubble. 



