2o8 A YEAR OF SPORT AND NATURAL HISTORY. 



Probably, however, the fact that grain crops are no longer reaped 

 by the sickle, but shorn by the scythe or the machine into stubbles 

 that no longer can hide a titmouse, let alone a fat Partridge, is the 

 chief cause of the doing away of dogs. The stubble being no longer 

 tenantable by the covey, the cover area is reduced to clovers, colzas, 

 lucerne and saint-foin, all broad-sown crops, or to such cover as 

 bracken, gorse, heather or other rough wild growths, in which the 

 Partridges now lie comparatively thicker on the ground than used 

 to be the case, and the birds can be walked up by men in line 

 without help of pointer or setter to quarter and search the fields, 

 as was required when the area they lay over was greater. 



So much for putting up of birds by "guns " and beaters without 

 use of dogs, but late in the season, when partridges get strong on the 

 wing and shyer of man, with more experience of that too common 

 and dangerous predatory biped, this method of attack fails, and the 

 birds would be left in peace till the ensuing autumn if no newer 

 method of attack had been invented. If none had been invented 

 three deplorable consequences would ensue. First, larders would 

 be barer. Secondly, the older birds would accumulate, they 

 being the most cunning, and the last to fall victims to the gun in 

 the ordinary way of shooting ; the old birds being peculiar in this, 

 that when they are coupled for the season, they suffer no brother 

 birds near the nest ; consequently, the existence of many old birds 

 on an estate means a small stock of Partridges in the ensuing 

 season. Thirdly, the Red-leg Partridge would escape too frequently, 

 and preponderate, were the shooting by Hues of " guns " and beaters 

 only, by his habit of running away unseen, whereas the gamer Grey 

 Partridge flies up and is shot. 



In 1845, Lord Huntingfield met these three difficulties by 



