138 PARTRIDGES 



Partridge shooting should begin September 21st and 

 end on December 31st. Exclusive of the birds in the 

 pens, a brace for every 17 to 20 acres is thought a fair 

 stock over the whole estate ; a brace for every 10 or 12 

 acres is considered an average bag, and a brace for every 

 6 acres in very good seasons. The stock generally is 

 always well kept up, and is, if anything, increasing. 



Before the French system was started, the average for 

 five years was 450 brace, all shooting being then walking 

 in line. For the last five years, despite bad seasons and 

 the ground being lightly shot, the average is just under 

 600 brace, all shot by driving. 



PRESTON HALL, NEAR EDINBURGH 

 (Notes by Lord ELPHINSTONE.) 



Extent of ground 4019 acres, of which 1825 acres are 

 cultivated (1195 acres in grain crop, 630 acres turnips), 

 and 2194 acres are pasture. The soil is on the heavy side, 

 with some clay. 



To improve the natural nesting ground, double hedges 

 are made in places, and any natural rough hollow or bank 

 wired to keep out dogs. Every keeper has a chart of his 

 beat and marks down all the nests he can find. Nests are 

 visited once a day, generally between 7 A.M. and 9 A.M., 

 occasionally about 4 P.M. 



Average number of eggs per nest : on first beat, 15 ; 

 second beat, 14 ; third beat, 14 ; fourth beat, 14. Some birds 

 lay as many as 17. Some eggs are lifted and put in other 

 nests. Personally I would rather change eggs than put 

 down Hungarians. I once put down 100 brace of Hun- 

 garians, and think they did good, but only by keeping 

 them six weeks or so in pheasantries, and getting them 

 strong and healthy, and less wild. In my opinion, im- 

 porters of Hungarians are wrong in advising buyers to 

 turn them out the same night they arrive. 



