THE PARTRIDGE 217 



as follows : He erects enclosures each 8 ft. by 

 5 ft. at various parts of his partridge ground. The 

 enclosures are about 3 ft. high, and are made of 

 wire-netting fixed on stout poles, covered at the top 

 with packsheet to prevent the birds hurting themselves 

 in their attempts at flight. One end of each enclosure 

 is movable, and is virtually a wired gate. Inside and 

 all round each enclosure are placed fir branches, which 

 act as excellent cover. From six to eight birds are 

 placed in each and are fed on barley and hay seeds for 

 eight days. At the end of that time they are settled 

 down. Food is then scattered outside of the enclos- 

 ures, and on a dark night the " gate " end is opened. 

 Lord Walsingham's modification of this plan, as far 

 as it affects the letting out of a few birds at a time, is 

 probably an improvement. 



But whatever method be adopted, on no account 

 should the practice which we have observed on more 

 than one occasion be followed of letting the birds out 

 on the night of their arrival and after being hustled 

 about for days in the process of travelling. Where 

 such a procedure is practised, the birds immediately 

 take flight, and, flying hard, fall exhausted many miles 

 from where they were laid down. 



The questions of (5) The Destruction of Vermin, 

 (6) Poachers and Poaching, and (7) The Good Under- 

 standing with Farmers and their Employees, are dealt 

 with elsewhere. It is only necessary to conclude this 

 part of the subject by referring to the question of the 



