196 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



This is not a wholesale accusation of English 

 keepers, for often I may say usually there is no 

 connivance on their part with poaching or robbery. 

 But the average preservation of partridges has not 

 kept pace with the increased numbers and advantages 

 of the poacher, the egg-stealer, and the egg or game 

 dealer. The indifference of the latter as to the source 

 whence he procures his wares is sad, but hardly 

 a crime. But the calm neglect with which the nests 

 and eggs of partridges are treated in the nesting 

 season, and the birds themselves during the shooting 

 months, is, from a good partridge- keeper's point of 

 view, so culpable as to become almost criminal. A 

 very little bushing, and that only in the grass-fields, 

 appears in many places to be all that is thought 

 necessary to preserve partridges. Often in such places 

 you would find on enquiry that there is a deadly and 

 perennial feud between the keepers on one side and 

 the farmers and labourers on the other. 



What on earth can be expected under such con- 

 ditions? Naturally, the stock of birds is almost 

 always below the proper mark, and the owner is 

 constantly disappointed. He finds that, however 

 favourable the season, he can never get the bag that 

 in spite of his neglect he is always hoping for. The 

 birds and eggs are left, while the keepers are busy all 



