120 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 
by a gentle flow pace you may make them run and 
go which way you will, and at laft drive them into 
your Net, and fo difpofe of them at your pleafure.’ 
Thus the worthy Nicholas Cox, in the ‘ Gentie- 
man’s Recreation,’ printed in 1686. What would he 
say, I wonder, could he resume this mrtal habit, and 
see us driving partridges nowadays? ‘The Driving of 
Partridges is more delightful than any other way of 
taking them ’—and so it is; but what a contrast 
between this old-world fowler of the time of James II. 
with his nets, his ‘engine’ of a canvas horse stuffed 
with straw, for ‘driving partridges,’ and the keeper of 
to-day, ashplant or flag in hand, commanding a line 
of 40 men across well-hoed turnips or bare stubbles, 
to bring the birds to another line where modern 
breechloaders and smokeless powder, cracking lightly 
like the musketry fire of battle, bring down these 
swerving racing birds; to be tossed in clusters after- 
wards into the modern game-cart, with its protecting 
roof, its hooks for partridges and hares, its confusion 
of magazines, cartridge-bags, gun-covers, and over- 
coats, and its trusty pensioner with book and pencil 
to keép the tally of the slain. 
Not but what the old fowler knew a thing or two, 
not tobe despised by’ the driver of to-day. Observe 
how; ‘having found out the Covie, he directs you 
