BY MANY HANDS 173 



partridges, except when washed into the soil early in 

 autumn. 



Our beats are compactly situated and 1200 acres each 

 in extent. 



We consider a brace of partridges for every 10 acres a 

 fair stock to leave. Our stock has been decreasing of late 

 years, chiefly owing to bad seasons, but partly from 

 changes in crops, very few roots being grown now, and 

 the corn-fields getting ploughed up so early, leaving little 

 feeding ground for the winter. 



In a good year we have killed 1 bird to 2^ acres all 

 over the ground ; in an average season 1 bird to 4^ acres, 

 and in the last three years only 1 bird to 12 acres. 



ORWELL PARK, IPSWICH, SUFFOLK 



(From notes by M. J. READER, head-keeper to 

 Capt. E. PRETTYMAN.) 



Several thousand acres of a light soil, mostly under 

 the plough, on a four-course shift. No artificial nesting 

 ground is provided. Each man has about 1000 acres to 

 look after. It is found impossible to know of all the 

 nests, but every nest found is visited daily. 



The average number of eggs varies greatly according 

 to the weather. All roadside eggs are lifted and put into 

 other nests, no partridges are reared. Eggs are occasion- 

 ally changed ; Hungarians have been turned down, but 

 were thought to have done far more harm than good. 



Partridges are never fed. There are no foxes. Rats 

 and stoats are found to be the worst vermin, owls and 

 kestrels are only occasionally found to do any harm, while 

 hedgehogs, though destructive, are very scarce. Hares 

 are considered quite harmless. 



Pheasants and French partridges lay in the grey bird's 

 nests, but if well looked after in the nesting season, are 

 found to cause little harm. 



