European gray partridge (often 

 called Hungarian partridge) is a fine, big, 

 brown bird somewhat larger than our 

 quail or partridge, but it is no better on 

 the table and by no means so good a 



bird in the field as our bob-white. I have had compara- 

 tively little experience with these birds. My only experi- 

 ment consisted in the liberation of about a hundred on land 

 which undoubtedly did not suit them. It was an especially 

 dangerous place because thousands of pheasants and wild 

 ducks were reared under wire on the adjacent land and many 

 foxes and other predaceous animals, which were attracted 

 to the place, found it easier to chase gray partridges than it 

 was to get at the birds in the inclosures. The result was all the 

 partridges were destroyed or left the place, and I became con- 

 vinced that fields near those where hand-reared birds are con- 

 fined are not as safe or desirable, for either quail, grouse or 

 partridges, as fields which are not so attractive to vermin. 

 A few partridges were shot in the Fall several miles east of the 

 place where my birds were liberated, but the following season 

 local gunners told me they were extinct. The grounds were 

 well shot over for miles about by quail shooters with excellent 

 dogs and no partridges were observed anywhere. 



I have no doubt the State Game Departments and clubs and 

 individuals may successfully introduce these excellent game 

 birds, but I feel sure that beat keepers must be employed before 

 any good results will be obtained. The State Game Warden of 

 Ohio is making an experiment this year on the lines suggested 

 and he has sent me an excellent photograph showing a partridge 

 nest which was taken in an unprotected field. Birds have 



59 



