i8 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



afforded by the richer meadowlands that lie in the 

 valleys below, snugly screened from the blast of the 

 east wind, which cuts like a knife and sometimes levels 

 everything that opposes its free progress. During the 

 early part of the year, heavy snow-wreaths cover up the 

 favourite nooks of the partridge for many weeks in suc- 

 cession, or the pitiless rain fills the ghylls of the moun- 

 tains, so that they rise in flood and overflow their narrow 

 banks. But the partridge heeds not the havoc and 

 confusion of the elements. In the face of a thousand 

 disadvantages, this sturdy native doggedly maintains 

 an uphill fight for existence, and on the whole with a 

 very fair measure of success ; waiting hopefully for 

 the solace of courtship, and the joys of the nesting 

 season, to reimburse him for a sheaf of hardships. 



After all, the fell partridge possesses some special 

 advantages. He gleans many a ripe berry, and knows 

 how to adapt himself to difficulties better than his 

 fellow in the low-country. Nor is he a starveling. 

 ' Plump and well-conditioned ' is the verdict given by 

 most sportsmen of the hill race of partridges at least, 

 if shot in the months of autumn, before the hardships 

 of winter-time have pinched his frame ; the slightly 

 inferior size of the sub-alpine bird is no great draw- 

 back to any one except pot-hunters, a class of gentle- 

 men who need little consideration. 



