THE HABITS OF THE PARTRIDGE. 2G7 



the fox-hunting of all gun sport. But even these 

 hitherto wild sports have, by the battueing system 

 of the age, been shorn of as much labour in the 

 pursuit as possible, by the over-crowded quanti- 

 ties of the game preserved on certain moors and 

 manors. 



The habits of the partridge are little understood 

 by the generality of sportsmen, who, where there 

 is a scarcity of game, often beat over unnecessarily 

 a great quantity of ground, and tire their dogs to 

 no purpose. As soon as the morning dawns par- 

 tridges leave their roosting ground to feed on the 

 stubbles, where they remain until nine or ten 

 o'clock in the morning. In enclosed countries 

 they then draw away to dry pastures, sunny 

 banks, potato-grounds, turnip-fields, or seed clover, 

 which is a very favourite resort. Old and dry 

 fallows also are much frequented, where they pick 

 up small snails and worms. About three o'clock 

 in the afternoon they invariably return to their 

 fee ding- ground, on wheat, barley, or oat stubbles, 

 where they remain until the evening closes in ; 

 then calling themselves together, they take flight 

 to their roos ting-place, which generally is on a 

 piece of old rough fallow ground, when the stub- 

 bles are much disturbed by shooters. 



According to the hour of the day an experienced 



