The gentleman's recreation in four parts, viz. hunting, hawking, fowling, fishing : wherein these generous exercises are largely treated of, and the terms of art for hunting and hawking more amply enlarged than heretofore : whereto is prefixt a large sculpture, giving easie directions for blowing the horn, and other sculptures inserted proper to each recreation : with an abstract at the end of each subject of such laws as relate to the same.

How to take PARTRIDGES several ways, either by Net, Engine, Driving, or Setting.

PArtridges are naturally cowardly, fearful, simple, and foolish, and therefore most easily to be decei∣ved or beguiled with any Train, Bait, Engine, or o∣ther Device whatever, whether by Enticement, Call, or Stale.

It will he necessary in the first place to consider their Haunts, which are not (like the Pheasants) certain, but various; any covert will serve their turn, and sometimes none at all.

The places they most delight in are the Corn-fields, especially whilst the Corn grows; for under that co∣vert they shelter, ingender, and breed. Neither are these places unfrequented by them when the Corn is cut down, by reason of the Grain they find therein, especially in Wheat-stubble; and the height thereof they delight in, being to them as a covert or a shel∣ter. Now when the Wheat-stubble is much trodden by Men or Beasts, then they betake themselves to the Barley-stubble, provided it be fresh and un∣trodden; and they will in the Furrows amongst the Clots, Brambles, and long Grass, hide both themselves and Covies, which are sometimes twenty in

number, sometimes five and twenty: nay, I have heard of thirty in a Covie.

Now after the Winter-season is come, and that these Stubble-fields are plough'd up, or over-soiled with Cattle, then do these Partridges resort into the up-land Meadows, and do lodge in the dead Grass or Fog un∣der Hedges, amongst Mole-hills, or under the Roots of Trees: Sometimes they resort to Copses and Under∣woods, especially if any Corn-fields are near adjacent, or where grows Broom, Brakes, Fern, or any Covert whatsoever.

In the Harvest-time, when every Field is full of men and Cattle, then you shall find them in the day-time in the Fallow-fields which are next adjoyning to the Corn-fields, where they lie lurking till the Evening, and then they feed among the Shocks or Sheaves of Corn; and so they do likewise early in the Morn∣ing.

When you know their Haunts according to the scitu∣ation of the Country and season of the year, your next care must be to find them out in their Haunts; which is done several ways. Some do it by the Eye onely; and this Art can never be taught, but learned by fre∣quent Experience, distinguishing thereby the colour of the Partridge from that of the Earth, and how and in what manner they lodge and couch together: for which purpose you may come near enough to them, for they are a very lazy Bird, and so unwilling to take the Wing, that you may even set your foot upon them before they will stir, provided you do not stand and gaze on them, but be in continual motion; otherwise they will spring up and be gone.

There is another way to discover them, and that is by going to their Haunts very early in the Morning, or at the close of the Evening, which is called the Jucking-time, and there listening for the calling of the

Cock-Partridge, which will be very loud and earnest; and after some few calls the Hen will answer, and by this means they meet together; which you shall know by their rejoycing and chattering one with another: upon the hearing of which, take your range about them, drawing nearer and nearer to the place you heard them juck in; then cast your eye towards the Furrows of the Lands, and there you will soon find where the Covie lies, and so take them as your fancy shall lead you.

The best, safest, and easiest way for finding of Par∣tridges is by the Call, having first learn'd the true and natural Notes of the Partridge, knowing how to tune every Note in its proper Key, applying them to their due times and seasons.

Being perfect herein, either Mornings or Evenings (all other times being improper) go to their Haunts, and having convey'd your self into some secret place where you may see and not be seen, listen a while if you can hear the Partridges call; if you do, answer them again in the same Note, and as they change or double their Notes, so must you in like manner: thus continue doing till they draw nearer and nearer unto you. Having them in your view, lay your self on your back, and lie as if you were dead without motion, by which means you may count their whole number.

Having attained to the knowledge of discovering them where they lie, the next thing will be a ready way how to catch them.