Imagine a poacher ringing a bell nowadays! Then, partridges were peculiarly liable to be taken; now, perhaps, they escape better than any other kind of game.

Except with a gun the poacher can hardly touch them, and after the coveys have been broken up it is not worth his while to risk a shot very often.

If only their eggs could be protected there should be little difficulty with partridges.
Pheasants are more individual in their ways, and act less together; but they have the same habit of running instead of flying, and if a poacher did but dare he could take them with nets as easily as possible.

They form runs through the woods--just as fowls will wander day after day down a hedge, till they have made quite a path.

So that, having found the run and knowing the position of the birds, the rest is simplicity itself.