POACHING PARTRIDGES 81 
was in the old days, when local gaols were managed 
by the magistrates, and the officials enjoyed greater 
freedom of action than would be tolerated nowadays 
The governor of that prison had a weakness for 
partridges. One of his charges was similarly affected. 
Accordingly the governor ordered the wily old 
poacher to proceed to set snares for the birds. That 
worthy was nothing loth to exercise his favourite 
trade; and between the two, the whole covey of 
birds was successfully trapped. 
