218 PARTRIDGE-NETTING. 
partridge-netting was, perhaps, as much in vogue in 
Shakespeare’s day as now. 
In Much Ado about Nothing, allusion is again made to 
the partridge by Beatrice, who, referring to the ill-humour 
of Benedick, says,— 
“He ’ll but break a comparison or two on me; which, 
peradventure, not marked or not laughed at, strikes him 
into melancholy ; and then there’s a partridge wing saved, 
for the fool will eat no supper that night.”—Much Ado 
about Nothing, Act ii. Sc. 1. 
As we speak of a “covey” of partridges, so we say a 
“bevy” of quails :— 
“And many more of the same bevy.” 
FHlamlet, Act v. Se. 2. 
It was formerly the practice to keep Quails, and make 
them fight like game-cocks. Solon directed that quails 
should be made to fight in the presence of the Athenian 
youths, in order to inflame their courage, and the Romans 
held quail-fighting in still higher estimation. Augustus 
punished a prefect of Egypt with death for buying and 
bringing to table a quail which had acquired celebrity by 
its victories.* 
Shakespeare was doubtless alluding to this sport when 
he wrote:— 
® [de Julius Pollux, ‘‘ De ludis,”’ lib. ix. 
