136 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



Little did that Hampshire ecclesiast anticipate that 

 the sportsmen of a later period would be shooting ten 

 times that quantity in a day. Could he but have fore- 

 seen these times he would in all probability have been 

 quite as much amazed at the increase among partridges 

 as by the present-day improvements in guns and 

 gunnery. 



The partridge is little hurtful to the interests of the 

 farmer at any time, in fact, throughout the greater part 

 of the year it is extremely useful in ridding the land of 

 many grubs and insect pests, and therefore it has long 

 been looked upon with much favour by all, non-sports- 

 men included. As will be imagined, the largest and 

 heaviest partridges are usually to be met with upon 

 cultivated lands ; these birds, too, are somewhat whiter- 

 fleshed than are those frequenting the heaths and waste 

 lands of this country. The smaller heathland birds, 

 feeding upon heath and berries, frequently acquire a 

 slightly gamey flavour more nearly approaching that 

 of the red grouse. Fully-matured grey partridges are 

 sometimes to be found weighing, fully I Ib. ; their 

 average weight, however, may be put down at from one 

 to two ounces less than this. Exceptionally heavy corn- 

 fed partridges have been shot from time to time, at 

 weights ranging from 17 oz. to 19 oz. I have not yet 

 heard of a grey partridge attaining to a weight of 

 20 oz. ; two birds reported by Mr. J. E. Harting as shot 

 upon the turnip and barley lands of Norfolk, carry the 

 record for weight so far, one weighed 19 oz., the other 

 reached the splendid figure of 19 J oz. a truly remark- 

 able and well-fed brace of birds. 



Partridges usually pair in February, but in mild 

 winters pairs are commonly found in January some 



