62 
THE COMMON AMERICAN PARTRIDGE. 
the birds. In this manner, fifteen or twenty Partridges are c-aught 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, Avhen 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 this 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, 
