162 A GAMEKEEPER'S NOTE-BOOK 

 the points of evidence upon which he will be able to 

 base a final judgment of the season's prospects. In 

 June there are many signs which go to make 

 up a long story ; thus, nest after nest may 

 be found to contain egg-shells, all broken in the same 

 way nearer the round than the pointed end telling 

 of the successful hatching of partridges. Then the 

 keeper becomes so accustomed to encountering 

 parent partridges who threaten to bar his way, while 

 their downy chicks magically vanish, that he grows 

 almost indifferent to their agitation. But in July, 

 to judge the welfare of game is extremely difficult. 

 Hedges and woodlands are in the prime of their 

 growth ; and in midsummer days luxuriant vegetation 

 hides nearly all birds on the ground. By chance a 

 keeper may happen on a brood ; he notes that sixteen 

 have dwindled to ten, and wonders whether the heavy 

 shower three weeks ago come Sunday, or the old 

 vixen he knows too well, or the widow's tortoiseshell 

 cat, must bear the responsibility. But most game- 

 birds seen are old ones birds perhaps whose nests 

 have been destroyed too late for a second nesting, or 

 birds whose young ones have met with an untimely 

 fate. Wary old birds with families are specially 

 cautious to keep well out of sight. Distressing, then, 

 as it is continually to see barren birds, there is con- 

 solation in the knowledge that naturally they are more 

 in evidence than parents with thriving young ones. 

 With July the days pass that are most risky to young 

 game safe days lie ahead ; and with the cutting 



