PARTRIDGES.] 



SHOOTING, 



[partridge SlIOOTI^'Q. 



after one hen. It should be recollected, that 

 where old birds are left, they will, at the pair- 

 ing season, drive off the young ones, and pre- 

 vent their breeding; for, let any sportsman 

 declare if ever one find a brace of partridges 

 in the shooting season that have not bred 

 (and are termed by sportsmen a gelt pair), 

 whether he has not found a covey near the 

 same place — a circumstance which can only 

 be accounted for by the old birds driving the 

 young ones from the ground, and preventing 

 their breeding there. It is, therefore, a wrong 

 notion that some birds should not be killed 

 every year ; and those gentlemen who have 

 manors, will find, that by not allowing some to 

 \)Q killed, in a short time their grounds will 

 oe entirely destitute of game. The late Earl 

 of Kingston had a great quantity of grouse on 

 his mountains in Ireland before they were 

 preserved ; but he thought that, by leaving 

 them quiet for a couple of seasons, he should 

 have had a much greater abundance ; he 

 therefore did not allow a shot to be fired 

 on those mountains for two seasons ; and, it is 

 well known, they were carefully preserved dur- 

 ing the whole time. On collecting, however, 

 a large party the third season, and going out 

 to grouse, many of the gentlemen who had 

 been in the habit of shooting there prior to its 

 being preserved, were surprised to find so great 

 a scarcity. The reason of this was, that the 

 older birds had driven the young ones off, and 

 all the mountains adjoining his lordship's pre- 

 serves, were swarming with game, although 

 they had not been preserved. 



Tlie principle of domesticity is not very 

 strong in the partridge. Those birds which 

 have been reared under a common hen, soon 

 manifest their disUke to restraint; gradually 

 become wild, and eventually fly off altogether 

 to enjoy their native freedom. We have heard 

 of one being reared by a clergyman, which be- 

 came so tame that it would come to the parlour 

 window to receive its breakfiist, and would, also, 

 occasionally enter the house. It was not, 

 however, completely domesticated. 



It is generally said, that hrohen coveys yield 

 the lest sport ; and that, while the young birds 

 have the old ones with them, they are " up to 

 every move on the board;" but when deprived 

 of tlieir natural leaders and protectors, they 

 seem lost, and have no settled idea of safety. 

 544. 



This is the fortunate time for sportsmen to 

 make play upon them, and press the dogs to 

 their duty in tracing them from one spot to 

 another. 



As the season advances, the size of the shot 

 to be used for partridge shooting should be 

 enlarged. For the first fortnight, Nos. 5 and 

 6 are recommended ; after this, Nos. -1 and 5. 

 In October, No. 3 will be found the most 

 eligible. 



RED-LEGGED OR GUERNSEY PARTRIDGE. 

 This is the Tetrao Bufus of Linnaeus, and 

 is often called the French partridge. It is 

 larger than the grey, and the bill and irides 

 are red. The forehead is grey brown ; the 

 hind head is rufous brown ; the chin and throat 

 white, encircled with black ; and there is 

 likewise a band of white over each eye to the 

 hind head. The fore part of the neck and 

 sides of it are cinereous, with two spots of 

 black on each feather, and the hind part of 

 the neck is rufous brown. The back, winsfs, 

 and rump are of a greyish brown; the breast, 

 pale ash colour. The belly, sides, and thighs, 

 are rufous ; the sides marked with lunular 

 streaks of white, black, and orange. The 

 quills are grey brown, witli the outer edges 

 yellowish. The tail is composed of sixteen 

 feathers ; the four middle ones are rufous on 

 both sides. The legs are red, and the male 

 only, has the blunt knob or spur behind. Mr. 

 Daniel says, that it is a common pastime in. 

 the Isle of Cyprus to use these birds as we 

 do game-cocks, for the amusement of the 

 people. This partridge is abundant in most 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa; in many 

 parts of Italy and France; and also in the 

 islands of Madeira, Jersey, and Guernsey. 



Surprising stories are told of their numbers 

 in some countries. In the Isle of Nauaio, they 

 are so common as to amount to a positive 

 nuisance. The inhabitants make a rule to 

 collect as many eggs as possible every year, in 

 order to lessen the breed, which, in some 

 seasons, have been so numerous as to have 

 eaten up the entire produce of the harvest 

 crops. These eggs, which are taken by thou- 

 sands, are prepared with different sauces, and 

 supply the people for a considerable time. 

 Tournefort says that partridges are so tame in 

 the Isle of Scio, that they are driven to seek 



