194 BIRD-LIFE OF THE BORDERS 



as a game-bird. The hill-country is altogether too cold and 

 bleak for his more tender constitution. Needing shelter 

 and grain, his loves lie amid cornlands and cultivation. 

 Here, where his fare is confined perforce to simple 

 grasses and trefoils (neatly cut into regular half-inch 

 lengths for stowage in the crop), the partridge neither 

 thrives nor increases. There is, however, a point of 

 interest about him which is here recorded before the intro- 

 duction of Hungarian and other exotic strains shall have 

 stamped out all individuality of race. 



The true fell-partridge (by which is meant those that 

 have seldom or never seen corn for generations) differ in 

 plumage from their relatives of the stubble in having the 

 chestnut-red colours on head, scapulars, and flank-feathers 

 distinctly paler and less vivid. The whole colour-plan 

 has, moreover, a pale ashen-grey cast that recalls the 

 partridges exposed for sale in game-shops in spring, and 

 said to come "from Russia." These hill-partridge weigh 

 — cocks, 13 to 15 oz., hens, 12 to 13I oz. 



Scarce as they are, the little fell-partridges are, never- 

 theless, a welcome feature of the "fringe of the moor." 

 For in a wild country, habits assimilate with environment, 

 and their flights over open grass and bare hillside are far 

 and wide. For a mile, and more, they skim away far 

 beyond the range of vision ; whereas, in cornlands, with 

 frequent hedges to hide their course, they seldom fly 

 beyond a field or two. The pursuit of the partridge in 

 unenclosed country thus entails a lot more "hunting" : it 

 needs fast and good dogs and good dog- work. These are, 

 of course, ideal conditions, such as a sportsman (of old- 

 fashioned school) ever seeks ; but in this case, alas ! they 

 avail not. For the fell-partridge are altogether too scarce, 

 their struggle for existence too keen. You may take your 



