The Birds of Pembrokeshtre. 79 
natural to conclude that the climate of the south-west of the 
kingdom is too humid for it. We cannot think of any other 
reason to account for its refusing to establish itself in the various 
(in all other respects) suitable districts on which it has been 
turned out. 
PARTRIDGE, Zerdix cinerea —Although not to be numbered as 
ranking among the Partridge counties, owing to the comparative 
scarcity of cornfields and its generally “mountain ’’ character, 
Pembrokeshire, nevertheless, seems to be well adapted to this 
well-known and favourite bird, and in the southern districts, 
notably on Lord Cawdor’s estates in the parishes of Castle 
Martin, &c., it is fairly plentiful, and very good bags are made. 
In good seasons, such as the Jubilee year, for instance, it is 
also sometimes abundant in the wilder parts of the county, and 
we have had excellent sport. In hard winters, when snow lies 
long upon the ground, great numbers of Partridges perish. 
Many are starved and frozen, and many more fall victims to 
vermin that can then more easily discover them, and we have 
found their remains lying about the fields. A wet June, when 
there are frequent thunderstorms, is also disastrous, as then the 
young broods perish almost to a bird, and the sportsman will 
find the fields bare of coveys when September comes. We 
have had our own stock reduced to almost a vanishing point, 
but a couple of good seasons will work like magic; the birds 
seem to spring up again from nowhere, and plenty of em- 
ployment is again provided for setters and_breech-loaders. 
Owing to the quantity of furze and other rough cover, the 
Pembrokeshire partridges, in the north of the county especially, 
suffer little at the hands of poachers, as it is almost impossible 
to take them with nets. 
QUAIL, Coturnix communis——An irregular summer visitor. One 
or two are noted every season, and in certain years it is 
numerous. Mr. Tracy writes: ‘I receive a specimen or two 
almost every autumn, or during the winter.” The only occur- 
