140 PARTRIDGES 



regularly as often as possible, in the height of the nesting 

 season thrice a week. The average number is about 16 

 eggs to the nest. Eggs are lifted from insecure or for- 

 saken nests and added to others. 



Eggs are put into the incubator or under bantams when 

 the bird deserts while sitting ; these eggs, when hatched^ 

 are taken from the incubator or bantam and added to 

 other broods which are known to be hatching off. 



The following is one of many examples : A bird sitting 

 on her nest was found dead and cold near the nest ; she 

 should have hatched off the following day. The eggs 

 were put into the incubator, 17 came out and were put 

 down with a brood that hatched off the same day. 



No partridges are hand-reared. Eggs are changed to 

 a certain extent from different parts of the estate. 



In 1906, 100 brace of Hungarians were turned out, and 

 in 1907, 20 brace. In 1908, 1909, and 1910, 500, 300, and 

 200 Hungarian eggs respectively were purchased through 

 the Egg Guild Association, and distributed among nests. 



There are foxes, but they have not given trouble to 

 any extent latterly, owing to mange having killed a 

 great many. Several devices have been tried to frustrate 

 the foxes, such as : 



(a) Wire entanglement, made of thin wire about 2 feet 

 high, placed round the nest and some distance from it. 

 Result, wires broken and bird killed by fox. 



(6) Placing old iron and sprung traps round the nest. 

 Result, so far as known, to a certain extent successful. 



(c) Reynardine on all nests on roadsides, sprinkled 

 round the nest and along the hedge on either side ; by 

 this means we think that dogs, etc., coming along the 

 road get the scent and follow the trail, which, leading at 

 some distance round the nest, leaves it undisturbed. On 

 one occasion we sprinkled reynardine on a sitting pheasant, 

 and within two days she was taken by a fox. We have 

 also tried liquid carbolic instead of reynardine. 



(d) Luminous paint on iron pins, such as are used in 



