OF THE BEITISH ISLANDS. 55 



Habits. The great strongholds of the Partridge are the well-cultivated 

 districts where the fields are not too large, the hedges dense and affording cover 

 during the breeding season, and where grain is grown in abundance. It may be 

 aptly described as a bird of the farm-lands, although it is by no means rare in 

 many moorland districts, and in some counties is fairly plentiful on commons and 

 rougher ground. It shows no partiality for wooded districts, and is so thoroughly 

 a ground bird that the known instances of its perching in trees are remarkably 

 few. The Partridge lives upon the ground, and at all times shows more or less 

 reluctance to fly. Should danger threaten, it prefers to squat close to the earth 

 or to run with great quickness to the shelter of standing crops or thick hedges, 

 where its movements are so rapid as to enable it to elude pursuit with ease. 

 When flushed, however, it not only rises quickly and suddenly but flies well and 

 with no small speed, its rounded wings as they rapidly beat the air making a loud 

 whirring noise. Sometimes the bird holds its wings stiff and arched and skims 

 along for a short distance before alighting. The Partridge obtains its food on the 

 ground, and is most active in search of it during morning and early evening. 

 In the hottest part of the day it is fond of lying close in cover, and frequently 

 resorts to some bare spot in the fields to dust its plumage and to bask in the sun. 

 Its food consists of shoots and leaves of herbage, insects and their larvae, snails, 

 grain and seeds, and various wild fruits. From the time the broods are grown 

 until they are thinned down by the sportsman, the Partridge lives in coveys of 

 varying size, which feed and sleep in company. At night each covey has a 

 particular resort to which the birds retire to rest, usually sleeping in a circle on 

 the ground, each with its head turned outwards so that approaching danger is 

 readily observed. The note of the Partridge, which is uttered by both sexes, is a 

 peculiarly shrill kir-r-rrrick, most frequently uttered towards evening and in the 

 pairing season. In districts where the birds are not persistently chased by 

 the sportsman the Partridge shows gregarious tendencies during autumn and 

 winter, several coveys joining into a flock. During severe weather the Partridge 

 will visit the rick-yards, and is occasionally met with in very unusual localities, 

 tempted thither by food. When fired at this bird has been known to fly out to 

 sea for a considerable distance, returning to land in a very exhausted condition. 

 Before the introduction of the modern reaping machine and turnip drill, when 

 the weedy stubbles were left long by the sickle, and turnips were sown broadcast, 

 Partridges were shot over pointers and setters ; but now, when the straw 

 is shaved off almost flush with the ground, and the stubble ploughed as soon as 

 the crop is harvested (unless sown down with clover), and root crops are grown 

 in rows or " ridges," dogs are of little service, and driving has been resorted to. 

 This is regretted by some sportsmen of the old school chiefly, but certainly 

 preferred by the more modern gunner ; especially so as this method of Partridge 

 shooting serves to prolong the season of sport and to furnish birds in prime 

 condition. 



