42 Grey Partridge 



and attending to their needs according to my lights. So that, 

 while I entirely disclaim any scientific knowledge, I do lav claim to 

 being something of a specialist in the ways of the Partridges as 

 I found them on this particular ground, and I have been surprised 

 to notice how widely many of the habits and ways of this bird differ 

 from the descriptions published in many of our best-known books. 



I propose to occupy your time in following the life history of 

 a pair of [Grey Partridges) from January to September, dealing with 

 the various enemies they have to face, their courtship, nesting and 

 famil}' cares ; to contrast their ways with those of the French 

 Partridge, and, finally, to consider them both together as sporting 

 birds, and to indicate what, in my opinion, is the best way of 

 protecting them and of increasing their numbers on such grounds as 

 are suitable to them. 



By the end of February, almost all the coveys have split up 

 and separated into pairs — indeed it is by no means unusual, if 

 January is open, to find them paired off before the end of that 

 month ; but, in that case, thev commonlv reunite into coveys if 

 cold, frosty weather sets in. This reunion of pairs into coveys is, 

 no doubt, mainly due to the greater warmth which the birds obtain 

 when huddled up close together at night, in the ordinary position 

 of a covey, shoulder to shoulder, forming a circle with their tails 

 in the centre ; * but also partly because the cold abolishes for the 

 time their amatory instincts. 



February' and March are ver}- good months during which to 

 study what Partridges you have on the ground. Partridges feed 

 mainly in the morning, and again in the afternoon. During the 

 middle hours of the day, if they ha\'e been able to secure sufftcient 

 food at their morning feed, they are found resting in such cover 

 as there is, dusting and cleaning themselves. Now, there are 

 comparatively few spots at this time where the birds can get the food 

 they like best. The majority of the fields are ploughed, the roots 

 are pulled, and even the grass and other seeds shed on the rough 

 lands and in the hedgerows are gone. 



But there is one exception to the nakedness of the land from 

 the birds' point of view. I refer to the clover fields. In Suffolk, 

 we commoni}' sow clover seed with the barley. When the barley is 

 cut, 3'ou have a stubble rich in grains that have been spilt in the 

 harvesting, and through the stubble, a fine crop of young clover 

 coming up — a " maiden layer," as we call it. As the autumn wanes, 

 the birds gather the spilt corn, and in the winter there is a fine 

 crop of young tender clover. In the following summer, the clover 



* J. G. Millais (" Xat. Hist, of British Game Birds," igog, p. 115) describes the heads as 

 being directed inwards, towards the central point, and, in a letter to myself (i6th Oct., tgiS), 

 he confirms this, as being the result of his own observations. On the other hand, Macgillivray, 

 Dresser, Swaysland, Lilford, Seebohm, Stonham, Rev. C. A. Johns, Hudson and others agree 

 with Mr. Ogilvie in stating that the heads of the " jugging" birds are turned outwards, and the 

 tails towards the centre. This seems obviously to he the more practical arrangement, since, 

 not only would the birds fit together better in the small space, but they would also be able to 

 observe the approach of enemies, — Editor. 



