The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-04-28
SPEED ov GAME BIRDS.
the Partridge surpassed by the Gseass
AMI Blackjack.

the Partridge surpassed by the creass
AMI Blackjack.
We were talking this over In the
yun-room the other morning after
breakfast, and almost everyone said
the partridge" or rather IA driven
partridge" | ventured to disagree,
and now I will explain why. 1t may
be as well TO say at the start that it is
by no means certain that a driven
partridge flies any faster than any
partridge not driven. We look upon
the rock as a slowfiying bird. and yet
rock, when chased by peregrine
falcon. can put on pace ia IN as
founding manner. Yes. | admit that
And | think quite possibly partridge
with fiend of some sort at his tail
! would hurry up also. But the driven
partridge, put up in one field. IL simply
flying over To another. although. NO
doubt. especially with the wind behind
him. he goes along at a good round
pace; and no one. probably. could have
performed the feat of killing com
plete covey OF five birds out Of hand
except the man who did it-Lord de
GREY.
Now, il is obviously difficult TO estl-
mate accurately the speed of any bird,
and those who talk giibly about zone
hundred and fifty miles an hour" and
so on. are only making shots. We have
. pretty good idea of the speed of car
rier pigeon. because we have the two
fixed points of departure and arrival
from which TO reckon. But in the casa
~ - -.
but two ways in which TO get at It.
We could, in the first place. no
doubt, after much time and pa
thence, arrive at the absolute
speed of many birds by means
OF stop watch. IN this wsy
IL would be possible 20 time a bird
from point 10 point in an open eoun-
try, or. in an inclosed district. from
hedge TO hedge. / do not know that
il has ever been tried, but il opens mp
a very pretty line of experiment., and
] think shall attempt IL myself some
day. Now for a test of relative speed.
II is my good fortune TO shoot every
season in a rough. open country. half
moor, half grass and crops Grouse.
blackgame and partridge frequent'iu
common those bits Of heather which,
border on the cultivated land. Time
after time, as the grouse go Swimming
low down over the moor. they give a
warning 90 these other neigh boris, who
rise and join them. Time after timel
when the men are driving toward tho
butts. they put up grouse and black4
game. grouse and psrtridges. Or nee
III -. Al
then. Is a criterion. What does Il teilT
This-that pArtridges starting to ry
with grouse are very soon lef. heh!udt
that blaekgame can fly right away
from grouse. and almos. leave thu
partridge. "standiug still"
partridge gives the greater impress
sion Of speed because 1. IL the snail.t
bird and moves its wings more quick
ly. Whereas blackjack. . large and
heavy bird. does not 20 away in = vhirS
or "brrst." 50 70 say. but climbs away
through the air with the most decep-
tive ease Of motion So IL comes n bout
that q young hand. who can very likely
shoe. psrtridzes well. will miss black
cock after blackjack. because he shoots
behind them. i; 10 40 very difficult "a
believe that this great bird. which
never seems 20 10 in hurry, IL really
at an enormous speed Yet
20 IL Is And IL any man will take ~.
trouble 20 20 out FOR . Few consecutive
days simply 20 Observe srouss and
slaek9sne-sasing note Of the marvel
oas manner In which in few seconds
IA old blackjack viii span the vide
roor and Be out Of sigh.-hs will then,
venture 20 believe. have no longer
my hssifatsoa in proaouncins the
ysoH.e faster than the partridge and
ne blackjack probably The fasssss
rane bird shat fssA