A FRIEND TO AGRICULTURE 93 



Even when they devour grain, they are innocent 



of doing harm, for they eat only such grain as is 



shed on the stubbles waste grain which none 



Partridge could grudge them. They never seek out 



and the grain newly sown, like the rooks. When 

 Peewit 



a field has been harrowed, directly the 



men and horses have gone, the partridges gather 

 in numbers to feed, and though they may come after 

 the field has been sown, they come as readily before, 

 as it is not the grain, but the slugs, grubs, worms, 

 and insects they are seeking ; bits of weeds and their 

 seeds, aphides, earwigs, and ants' eggs are eagerly 



devoured. 



$ ;* * 



The partridge is disheartened when a broad acreage 

 is laid down to grass ; insect food grows scarce, 

 and he soon takes his departure. On arable 



land thrown out of cultivation the birds 

 Friend will thrive, because of the hosts of weeds 

 to Agri- that spring up, and give them food and 



shelter ; insect food is found on the sur- 

 face, and partridges multiply. But nothing suits 

 them better than highly cultivated arable land. 

 The more the soil is worked, as by harrows, the more 

 food they are able to find and the more good they do 

 by destroying insects and grubs that injure delicate 

 roots. Where land is needed for partridges there 

 is every need also of the peasant ; and partridges 

 bring the peasant many a shilling for nests, and, 

 when work is scarce, many a day's employment at 



