THE REARED PHEASANT 257 



have been lifted, for they have a tendency 

 to wander further afield before nesting 

 again ; also their second nest being later, 

 is near in time to the first effort of the 

 partridge, a coincidence of little advantage 

 to the smaller bird. 



The number of pheasants allowed to 

 nest outside the coverts should always be 

 carefully considered, and whatever limit 

 is fixed strictly enforced. A friend in 

 Norfolk, with a rare knowledge of game 

 birds in their relations to sport, has told 

 me that on his 5000 acres of shooting, 

 with 200 acres of woodland and all the 

 remainder arable, he considered about 1000 

 partridges the desirable stock ; and that 

 he would never allow more than 200 

 pheasants to nest outside the coverts. 

 From these figures may be taken the 

 rough proportion which cannot be ex- 

 ceeded on the most favourable soil with- 

 out undue interference with the stock 

 of partridges. 



When compiling a series of notes on 

 partridges for the companion to this 



17 



