258 THE COMPLETE SHOT 



"5.1 have not tried an unpaired cock partridge to take 

 chicks, but I think he will, as the ones I tried had lost their 

 partners long before I tried them : this was always successful. 



"6. How to obtain the average turn-out of chicks. Some 

 birds lay more than they are able to hatch ; these eggs are given 

 to barndoor fowls along with other eggs that are laid outside, 

 by wild birds, on roadsides and dangerous places : these eggs 

 are given to the fowls only on the days that the partridges in the 

 pens start to brood, so that they hatch out at the same time. 

 Say one hen broods June ist, you can make her up in the way 

 I have stated by setting 4 or 6 eggs on the same date under 

 a fowl, according to the number (as you like) the partridge 

 has. You can put more eggs in below fowl next day, if 3 or 4 

 partridges have then brooded. This is the great advantage: 

 there is no waste of eggs on a partridge estate. I could turn 

 out 30 chicks to the brood, only I think 18 or 20 quite sufficient. 

 Without outside help at all, with eggs that are over-laid in 

 pens, the coveys will easily run from 1 6 to 1 8 to a brood. This 

 is not a hay-growing place, but if any nests were going to be 

 spoiled by the cutting of hay they can all be put to account by 

 this system. 



" In wet weather you can turn out chicks on dry ground. 



"On large estates I would give each keeper 10 or 12 pens 

 for the paired birds; this would give them an interest, and 

 greatly help their show on shooting days. 



" Sir William must have grasped a wrong idea about me taking 

 away her [partridge's] first consignment of eggs. I interfere as 

 little as possible with them and their nests at that time. To 

 take away their first eggs would throw them too late; this 

 would mean probably three weeks later, or thereabouts. 



" When I said I have had a large experience with partridges 

 I did not mean in this system, but I have always been among 

 partridges and have seen lots of plans tried, but I am convinced 

 this is the best. I remain, sir, your obedient servant, 



"(Signed) ROBERT BELL" 



One word must be added to the above letters : it is not safe 

 to rely on imported Hungarian, and home produced, partridges' 

 eggs hatching in the same number of days ; the former will often 

 take the longer. 



