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CHAPTER V 
GROUND, STOCK, AND POACHING 
PopuLaRr as pheasant-shooting undoubtedly is, and 
great as are the improvements in this branch of sport 
which the present generation has witnessed, whether 
in the science of rearing the stock, or of realising 
from it in a workmanlike manner, yet if you were to 
poll the shooting men of Great Britain at the present 
day, you would assuredly find that the great majority 
would rather have a good day at partridges than 
pheasants. The partridge is the popular bird, not only 
of to-day, but also of the future. 
It is, therefore, worth while to enquire whether 
owners, sporting tenants, and keepers have studied 
and improved their methods of producing and pre- 
serving partridges to the point required by the un- 
doubted demand for this branch of sport. 
I should say, without hesitation, that for the most 
part they have not; and if I offend or surprise the 
shooting world by some of the remarks I propose to 
