214 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 



is every reason why you should shift the eggs from 

 such nests as are in a dangerous position, and either 

 add them in detail to those in your centre ground or 

 set them under hens. 



If your neighbours are friendly game preservers, 

 and will act upon the same plan, so much the better ; 

 if not, you will always be the gainer by leaving your 

 ground very quiet, and will, to a certain extent, 

 attract their birds. When they show jealousy or 

 greediness by continuing to kill close, this will only 

 serve them right. 



In conclusion of this branch of the subject, I 

 should like to make what I believe to be a novel 

 suggestion. This is the construction, alongside of 

 artificial belts or cover, or even of your best natural 

 breeding fences, of long, low penthouses, formed of 

 rough 1 1 -inch boarding, say three or four boards 

 wide, supported on stout rough posts, and about two 

 feet high in front and three at the back. On heavy 

 soil, where the birds suffer much in a wet season, 

 these would, I imagine, be a great protection for the 

 young birds to run under during continued heavy 

 rain, and if set on a slight slope, and the means are 

 at hand, the ground under them could be covered 

 with a slight coating of gravel. All the gallinaceous 

 birds suffer greatly from wet feet, and I believe they 



