12 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



species was not originally found in any part of 

 Scandinavia, but its introduction into Sweden is 

 believed to have occurred as early as the beginning 

 of the sixteenth century. It is resident in Sweden, 

 in suitable situations, as far north as 60 north 

 latitude, a limit which is frequently exceeded in 

 favourable seasons, when the birds often succeed in 

 pushing northward, and even maintain their footing 

 in such boreal regions until an extra severe winter 

 decimates their ranks, and compels the survivors to 

 retreat further south. It is interesting to notice that 

 in Scandinavia and Russia the partridge is much 

 persecuted by birds of prey. In the British Isles our 

 falcons were, no doubt, to blame in former days. 

 When hen harriers abounded in Lincolnshire, we can 

 well believe that partridges were scarce, however 

 excellent the pristine stubble of our forefathers may 

 have been in the days when scythes and reaping 

 machines were entirely unknown. 



The goshawk, which is such a deadly foe to 

 partridges on the Continent, has never been suffi- 

 ciently plentiful in the British Isles to do the game 

 preserve a mischief. On the other hand, the hen 

 harrier must have claimed many a victim. The 

 harriers have now become rare in most parts of 

 Britain ; they always exhibited a spice of daring 



