172 BIRDS IN TOWN AND VILLAGE 



observation are scarcely needed to prove to us 

 that the exotic, strange to the conditions, and 

 where its finest instincts would perhaps be at 

 fault, would have no chance of surviving. Never- 

 theless, odd as It may seem, the small stock of 

 facts bearing on the subject which we possess 

 point to a contrary conclusion. It might have 

 been assumed, for instance, that the red-legged 

 partridge would never have established itself 

 with us, where the ground was already fully oc- 

 cupied by a native species, which possessed the 

 additional advantage of a more perfect protective 

 colouring. Yet, in spite of being thus handi- 

 capped, the stranger has conquered a place, and 

 has spread throughout the greater part of Eng- 

 land. Even more remarkable is the case of the 

 pheasant, with its rich plumage, a native of a 

 hot region; yet our cold, wet climate and its un- 

 modified bright colours have not been fatal to it, 

 and practically it is one of our wild birds. The 

 large capercailzie has also been successfully in- 

 troduced from Norway. Small birds would 

 probably become naturalized much more readily 

 than large ones; they are volatile, and can more 

 quickly find suitable feeding-ground, and safe 



