PARTRIDGES 45 



attractive, but diffused, nesting cover, the worst of 

 a few fine hedgerows is that they are also fine high- 

 ways for vermin. When, as is often the case, scores 

 of nests are packed in a few hedgerows, wholesale 

 losses are only too possible, no matter how keenly 

 vermin is kept down. A fox, by way of a single 

 night's devilish dissipation, may clear off sitting 

 birds wholesale. A family of travelling stoats may 

 take an undesirable route, with the inevitable con- 

 sequence that untold nests are spoilt before there 

 is any possibility of the invasion being discovered 

 by the most alert keeper. 



Harking back to the question of partridge coverts, 

 I should be the last to look upon the good sports- 

 man of shallow pocket as a fool because he failed, 

 on a small rented shoot, to lay out elaborate 

 coverts especially for partridges ; but I should like 

 to see him help our bonny British partridges to 

 increase cheaply by helping them to help them- 

 selves. As one cheap but effective means to that 

 end, I recommend more satisfactory nesting accom- 

 modation than the birds at present usually have. 

 This can be attained quickly and profitably, too 

 even on a shoot rented for a short term. On 

 ordinary partridge ground there is no spot in which 

 a nest stands a better chance of hatching than some- 

 where in an open field. It is practically safe from 

 the human nest-spoiler, and to a maximum extent 

 from foxes and vermin. So far, so good. But early 



