BY MANY HANDS 167 



give trouble, and a sharp look-out must be kept for them. 

 Hedgehogs suck eggs and also kill young birds. Rooks 

 should be very carefully watched. I have seen them 

 hunting for eggs in quite a systematic way all along a 

 fence. If not stopped, they would do great damage, for, 

 having once taken an egg from a nest, they will come 

 back to the same nest till no egg is left. I do not allow 

 owls to be killed ; I have been told they do harm, but no 

 case has ever come under my personal notice. 



There are many hares on this shooting, but I cannot 

 say that they affect my stock of partridges, though they 

 are a nuisance when driving. Pheasants ought to be kept 

 to a very limited number on a good partridge shoot. It 

 is my opinion that many partridge shoots have been spoiled 

 by too many pheasants being reared. Partridges require 

 a clean, healthy soil not tainted by numbers of pheasants 

 running over it. Pheasants disturb the partridges, are 

 very fond of laying in their nests, and I have seen a 

 partridge chick killed by an old spiteful cock-pheasant. 



There are only very few French partridges on this 

 shoot ; I do not consider their presence harmful, but 

 would not care for too many. I believe in feeding 

 partridges from January almost to the time of the breed- 

 ing season. Wheat I consider the best food, for it keeps 

 them warm when no other grain can be got by them, 

 and gets the birds into good condition for the laying 

 season. I have often been complimented on the size 

 and fine condition of the birds killed on this place, and 

 there is no doubt that they are good fliers and give 

 sport. 



I have not found that artificial manure is injurious to 

 birds. 



I employ two keepers : the shooting being a very open 

 one, they are sufficient to look after it. Besides, the 

 farmers, shepherds, and labourers are all good fellows 

 here, and take an interest in my shooting. 



I rarely shoot partridges after Christmas, except, 



