74 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 
employer. But the artist does most of his own 
scouting, smoking a short clay pipe under the shelter 
of green lanes without incurring a shadow of suspicion. 
The presence of a stranger in any quiet neighbour- 
hood is apt to excite attention, it is true ; but our 
friend has no desire to court publicity : on the con- 
trary, he usually errs on the side of modesty, or, if 
challenged, is ready with an ingenious tale which 
more than accounts for his presence. In reality, his 
best attention is devoted to ascertaining the precise 
haunts of the different coveys, with a view to economis- 
ing labour and reducing the risk of possible discovery. 
It wouldn’t answer his purpose to go out netting 
partridges unless he knew precisely the corner of the 
field in which a covey of partridges were sure to 
‘jug’ for the night. Their movements are learnt 
partly by observation, partly by the harsh call-note 
of the leader of the covey, since his authority is 
supreme. 
Another consideration which enters into the cal- 
culations of the poacher is the device of studding the 
surface of fields with stakes. A delicate net would 
soon be rendered useless if it came into contact with 
a quantity of briars. The poacher operates in such a 
manner as to reduce the risks of failure toa minimum. 
His engine is a light net generally measuring about 
