LETTERS TO LORD WALSINGHAM 99 



here, but we have so many footpaths, and conse- 

 quently boys, besides foxes and other vermin, 

 that they have not done so well as I had hoped 

 they would. They have, however, bred freely, 

 in spite of three most unfavourable seasons. I 

 am anxious to get them established in England, 

 and shall be very glad if you will try some, and 

 let me know how to address them. 



' Believe me, yours truly, 



' LlLFOED.' 



To the same. 



' Lilford : December 19, 1872. 



1 1 have just written to John Buckle to say 

 that I will send off seventy pair of Colins on 

 Saturday to Watton Station, and have recom- 

 mended him if he has a good-sized pen or 

 aviary to put them into, not to turn them out 

 till April. I fancy that in their own country 

 they find a great many berries which do not 

 grow in this part of the world. They are very 

 fond of crushed Indian corn, and, in fact, any 

 kind of pheasant food suits them well. I do not 

 think that they are such devourers of insects as 

 our own grey partridge. 



H 2 



