CHAPTER II. 



PROTECTING NESTS AND SITTING BIRDS. 



Driving methods have so increased the sporting 

 capabiHties of partridges, that as game birds they 

 are held in far greater esteem than they were a few 

 decades ago. Consequently, more attention is 

 paid to their increase, and it is a pity the partridge 

 is not as amenable as the pheasant to artificial 

 assistance in that direction. 



Several methods of affording protection from 

 foxes to partridges during their breeding season 

 have been evolved, the most notable of these 

 being the French and (so-called) Euston systems, 

 which latter recent events have proved never to 

 have been carried out on the celebrated partridge 

 estate of that name. With reference to the first, 

 little comment is necessary, although it has been 

 reported a great success in the country of its 

 origin ; but on this side of the channel failure, 

 whole or partial, has been the fate of nearly all who 

 have endeavoured to put it into practice. In 



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