62 THE COMMON AMERICAN PARTRIDGE. 



the birds. In this manner, fifteen or twenty Partridges are caught at one 

 driving, and sometimes many hundreds in the course of a day. Most 

 netters give liberty to a pair out of each flock, that the breed may be 

 continued. 



The success of driving depends much on the state of the weather. 

 Drizzly rain or melting snow are the best, for in such weather Partridges 

 and gallinaceous birds in general will run to a great distance rather than fly; 

 whereas if the weather be dry and clear, they generally take to wing the 

 moment they discover an intruder, or squat so that they cannot be driven 

 without very particular care. Again, when the flocks are found in the 

 woods, they run off so briskly and so far, that it is difficult for the net-bearer 

 to place his machine in time. 



The net is cylindrical, thirty or forty feet in length, by about two in 

 diameter, excepting at the mouth or entrance, where it is rather larger, and 

 at the extremity, where it assumes the form of a bag. It is kept open by 

 means of small wooden hoops, at a distance of two or three feet from each 

 other. The mouth is furnished with a semi-circular hoop, sharpened at 

 both ends, which are driven into the ground, thus affording an easy entrance 

 to the birds. Two pieces of netting called wings, of the same length as the 

 cylindrical one, are placed one on each side of the mouth, so as to form 

 an obtuse angle with each other, and are supported by sticks thrust into the 

 ground, the wings having the appearance of two low fences leading to a 

 gate. The whole is made of light and strong materials. 



The Virginian Partridge is easily kept in cages or coops, and soon 

 becomes very fat. Attempts -at rearing them from the eggs have generally 

 failed, probably for want of proper care, and a deficiency of insects, on 

 which the young feed. The ordinary food of the species consists of seeds 

 of various kinds, and such berries as grow near the surface of the ground, 

 along with which they pick up a quantity of sand or gravel. Towards 

 autumn, when the young have nearly attained their full size, their flesh 

 becomes fat, juicy and tender, and being moreover white and extremely 

 agreeable to the palate, is in much request. Twenty years ago, they were 

 commonly sold at twelve cents the dozen. They suffer greatly in the 

 Middle Districts during severe winters, and are killed in immense numbers. 



This bird has been introduced into various parts of Europe, but is not 

 much liked there, being of such pugnacious habits as to drive off the common 

 Grey Partridge, which is considered a better bird for the table. 



This species occurs far up the Missouri; and is extremely abundant in 

 Texas, where it principally keeps on the prairies. In the Floridas I found 

 it all over the pine barrens; but none were seen on any of the Keys. In 

 Texas, the Floridas, and as far eastward as the neighbourhood of Charleston, 



