78 



Points on Care and Breeding of Pheasants, etc. 



Hungarian Partridges 



About 15,000 Hungarian partridges were imported into this country in 1908. They will 

 be the coming game birds of the United States, and will soon take the place of our Bob White 

 quail. They are raised on the same principle as pheasants. These birds are found all over 

 Europe. I shall never forget the grand time afforded me shooting these partridges in Muf- 

 rica, a northern Province in Hanover, Germany. They are most plentiful in Austria Hun- 

 gary where the weather is very hot in summer and extremely cold in winter. Snow covers 

 the ground for four or more months, often up to two feet deep ; but in spite of this, these 

 birds thrive well in that part of the country. About 1,000,000 Hungarian partridges are 

 exported yearly from Hungary to go to many parts of the world. In breeding season they 

 pair off like our native quail. During fall and winter the Hungarian partridges live in 

 flocks together, 15 to 25, and at night assemble in little groups a short distance from each 

 other gathered in a circle with faces turned outward, being always on the lookout for animals 

 and birds of prey. They make their nests on the ground, mostly in green fields or under 

 shelter of brush, the hen averaging from 15 to 20 eggs before she will become broody. A pair 

 will raise two broods in a season. The greatest feature of these birds is that they are abso- 

 lutely nonmigratory, they are extremely hardy and prolific, and bear confinement well. In 

 size they are more than twice as large as the Bob White quail. For stocking game preserves 

 at least 12 birds should be liberated at the same time They get their living almost any- 

 where, and on any land and climate and make a most delicious game course for the table. 

 They are best adapted to the covert. I know of no other game bird exceeding them to 

 answer the purpose of training a hunting dog. They lie and hold excellent before a pointer, 

 and are a grand shot for the sportsman. 



They measure from ends ^^^^^ of wing, spread out 24 ins. ; 



from head to tip of tail about ^^* ^ inches long. The most 



important point in Hungarian partridges is their hardi 



ness and strength. They 

 apparently do not suffer 

 much from extreme 

 changes of heat or cold. 



The birds are extremely 

 sociable, peaceable and 

 faithful to one another 

 and they inhabit the same 

 districts the pheasants or 

 Bob White quail do, in 

 fact they have been seen 

 together with Bob Whites 

 and found in the same 

 flock to show that they do 

 not frighten our native 

 quail, but live amiable 

 with them and enjoy their 

 company just the same as 

 with their own kind. As 

 for sport in the field these 

 partridges are more swift 

 in flight than Bob White 

 and usually lie much closei 

 to cover, giving the dogs a 

 better chance to nose and 

 hold them. 







HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE 



(Continued on page 84) 



