PARTRIDGES 47 



planted and fenced partridge coverts or sanctuaries 

 are all very well for those who can afford them and, 

 of course, for the partridges. And if these luxuries 

 are systematically installed over an estate, the 

 process of driving the birds is considerably simpli- 

 fied. However, the chief use of such permanent 

 coverts is for the betterment of the birds' nesting ; 

 but if you want the partridges to take full advantage 

 of them, the stuff of which they are composed must 

 be kept thin and short. 



So far as its practical form goes, the interest 

 taken by the average man who owns or rents 

 partridge ground is none the better for its sudden 

 blossoming forth when September is getting near. 

 It is really of little more use to the birds' welfare 

 than the compassion of the ordinary non-shooting 

 man in the country, who corresponds to the so-called 

 ' man in the street ' in town. The former does not 

 think about partridges at all till the latter end of 

 August ; then he may remark casually probably 

 at dinner that he supposes the first of September 

 will soon be here, and metaphorically will smack his 

 lips in view of the annual prospect of a brace of 

 birds from someone. It never enters this individual's 

 head that partridges do not come with the month 

 more or less as mushrooms, or spring flowers, or 

 June roses. I do not expect him to believe that 

 partridges would show an appreciable return were 

 they to receive a tithe of the attention which is 



