8 
CO:\rMON PARTRIDGE. 
increasing om* stock, I determined to kill down all that fell in our way, and ascertain the following 
season if any diminution in the number Avould ho noticed, when if there was a great falling-off some 
hand-reared birds might he turned down. Early in September the hay-field to which the two best 
coveys resorted was not cut ; hut the old farmer, who would always assist in promoting sport, sent word 
that if I wanted a shot at the birds I was not to stop on that account. As they Avere, however 
merely cheepers no larger than Blackbirds, it was advisable to give them another month’s laAA% and in 
the end they afforded capital sport on tAvo or three occasions. One afteimoon early in December, just 
as I had returned from the hill-side, Duncan, the fisherman *, to whom I had given the right of rabbit- 
killing on the condition of his supplying the lodge, informed me that on his way home he had marked 
a IVoodcock in a beech-plantation near the riAmr. As there Avas still sufficient light to reach the spot 
before dark, Ave started at once to try our luck and ascertain if it could he found again. But feiv 
minutes Avere spent in the search, as the bird fluttered off like an Owl, offering the easiest shot 
imaginable, within half a dozen yards of where it had been lost sight of. By the time we had reached 
the outskirts of the plantation, Avhich Aims in this direction surrounded by a Avail, the light had 
commenced to fade rapidly. Just as I Avas on the point of mounting this dry stone dyke, old Duncan 
quietly dreAV my attention, and Avhispcring “ Partridges, Partridges ! ” pointed towards the left, Avhere a 
number of dark shadoAvs Avere to he seen scattered about on the harley-stuhhle heloAV us, Avithin the 
distance of between twenty-five and thirty yards. Pausing for a moment, I comprehended what the 
man had intended, and saAv at once there Aims a chance to ascertain the truth of a statement that I had 
neAmr credited, viz., that these birds Avill not stir Avhen shot at in the gloaming, if only the flash of the 
gun is visible. Keeping low down and well out of sight, I was enabled to cover the birds through a 
small gap, Avhere some blocks of stone had fallen from the dyke, and setting rapidly to Avork, the whole 
covey, nine in number, AA'ere turned over in less than a minute. The fluttering of the wings of a 
Avounded bird, which attempted to make off and Avas instantly stopped by a lucky shot, removed all doubts 
as to whether large stones and clods of earth had not been mistaken in the uneertain light for Partridges. 
At Die close of this season but a small stock of birds remained for breeding-purposes, nearly thirty brace 
having been bagged, still there were, as near as could be judged, at least two or three more coveys the 
following year. It appeared, from the experience I gained during the seasons passed in the glen, that 
should our small stock he entirely spared or nearly all shot down the number of coveys Avoiild be much 
the same the next season. 
hde staying at Tam for the punt-gunning on the firths and lochs in the east of Ross-shire and 
the adjoining counties, during the autumn of 1808 and the following year, I hired from my landlord, at 
a small rent, the shooting over a stretch of land he farmed in a flat district, termed the “Eendom.” 
The greater paid Avas cultivated, and the rest a tract of rough marsh, Avith a few sandy pools and shades 
w lie 1 still remained unreclaimed. Having heard from the owner that the potatoes were sure to hold many 
additional coveys of Partridges beyond their usual complement of residents when the adjoining farms had 
been shot over, I resoh'ed to keep a sharp look-out. This AA'as by no means a difficult undertaking, as 
AAC were generally up and down the firth some part of the day; and it only required to run the punt 
as lore and take a view of the surrounding country from the summit of the sand-hanks, as mv ground 
bordered the shore for about a mile inland from Tain to the furthest point of the » Eendom.” \ve had 
not long to wait, as on a fine morning early in September, after having made our Avay quietly along the 
out I ulTrn T'V' " shooting-lodges in the Highlands, as during the absence of the tenant and his friends while 
was oir anTl " " I T" ^3’ this time of year the fishing-season 
Town ou. r'"' ' " ™ gillie, if required, or in ferreting or shooting rahb ts, as stated a ore, on 
