THE PARTRIDGE 205 



the protection of nests and eggs from the depredations 

 of poaching. Any slacker method can only lead to 

 disastrous results in so far as the size of the coveys 

 is concerned. Egg-stealing is a very profitable busi- 

 ness, and is conducted with ease, owing either to the 

 carelessness or the dishonesty of the keeper or his 

 underlings. This carelessness is a form of neglect of 

 duty that should bring any self-respecting keeper to his 

 senses, and if not, should bring him to the rightabout. 

 Of course, as in other matters, the criminal neglect 

 of duty by the keeper is merely a reflex of the casual 

 indifference of the master here, again, we touch on a 

 matter of explanation, but not on a matter of excuse. 

 In the matter of the depredation of nests and eggs the 

 keeper has to deal with six types of enemies, each of 

 which must be watched closely and frustrated. These 

 are ( i ) vermin including foxes, (2) farmers and farm 

 labourers, (3) casual poachers from neighbouring vil- 

 lages, (4) professional poachers, (5) stray dogs, and (6) 

 mowing machines. Each of these enemies is dealt 

 with in individual chapters treating of the specific sub- 

 ject concerned. As for the general habits of a great 

 number of keepers, all that is done to prevent the steal- 

 ing of eggs and the poaching of young coveys seems 

 to be an occasional sleepy stroll slantways across a field 

 that may contain six or seven nests or young broods, 

 and the occasional slipshod " bushing " in the grass 

 fields. Every corner of every field should be gone 

 over carefully at the beginning of the season, until a 



