152 PARTRIDGES 



Since driving commenced in 1898, I think our stock 

 increased steadily till 1905, since when the weather has 

 been all against us. In 1905, our best year since driving 

 began, we killed 1600 partridges, shooting over each beat 

 once only ; our best day that year was 156 brace. A large 

 stock was left, perhaps too large, but the following three 

 years were the worst on record, and very few birds were 

 killed, with the view of keeping up a sufficient stock. 

 This year (1910) we have left a better stock than ever 

 before, excepting perhaps the great year 1905. 



STAPLETON, SHROPSHIRE 

 (Notes by R. LL. PURCELL LLEWELLIN, Esq.) 



It would be fallacious to take my estate as an example, 

 because I sold nine-tenths of it three years ago, and have 

 only kept about 1000 acres. In days before the steady 

 decrease of partridges began, I have commonly killed from 

 20 to 25 brace in a short day, shooting alone over setters. 

 If I had, like my neighbours, shot with a large party of 

 six guns or more and a number of beaters, I could have 

 killed 60 or 70 brace or more ; now, even if I tried, I 

 could not get more than ten or a dozen brace. 



This part of the country is ideal partridge land, light, 

 loamy, turnip and barley soil ; half arable, half pasture, 

 plenty of brooks for water, and a dry soil. The nesting 

 is chiefly in the thorn hedges. There is no rough or 

 uncultivated laud, as all is well farmed. The worst vermin 

 are foxes, which are highly preserved. Farmers' dogs 

 are a nuisance too ; wherever a man goes, nine times out 

 of ten a sheep-dog (collie) follows, and even when hoeing 

 turnips the dog is there, often occupying himself in the 

 hedges. There are also collieries not more than a couple 

 of miles off, and there is sometimes not a little poaching. 

 The country is well keepered, the keepers are good, the 



