58 TETRAONIDiE. 



On this island we killed a great many ptarmigan as well as grouse. The ptarmigan 

 frequent the most broken parts of the mountains ; and scrambling after them, for 

 walking I cannot call it, was hard work. As there were great quantities of ice 

 among the jocks, which, in many places, were quite coated with it, and also a great 

 deal of snow, which hid the dangerous places, and brought us into many a trap, we 

 got numberless severe falls. I am astonished we did not break our necks. We have 

 all deserted grouse -shooting, and stick to the ptarmigan. It is much more difficult, 

 and therefore we like it better. Being obliged to come to an anchor in this passage, 

 and remain there several days, before we could get clear of it, we blazed away at the 

 ptarmigan. I should like to see some of our dandy sportsmen at such rough work. 

 Disappointment ensued at Karlso, which is a small island, only six brace of birds 

 having been obtained. This was accounted for by the low cover, (which the grouse of 

 Norway like,) having been destroyed ; also by the migratory disposition of the birds, 

 rendering the falling in with them in any great numbers at a particular place a matter 

 of uncertainty." 



THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 



Per dice cinerea, Briss. 

 Tetrao perdicc, Linn. 



Until of late years inhabited cultivated grounds and their 

 vicinity throughout the island in moderate quantity ; 

 but never prevailed to the extent that it does in 

 many parts of England, and in the south of Scot- 

 land. 



Fifteen to thirty years ago — previous to its becoming scarce — 

 six to eight covies would be about the largest number met with 

 during a day's shooting in the best partridge districts, within a 

 dozen miles of Belfast. The cause of this scarcity, extending 

 even to the extinction of the species in many places, is sought to 

 be accounted for in various ways, but, generally, by too limited a 

 view of the subject being taken. The following paragraph ap- 

 peared in the Northern Whig of October the 28th, 1813 : — 



" Causes of the Scaecity of Paeteidges in Ieeland. — All 

 sportsmen are aware that wet summers and cur dogs are very 

 destructive of game ; but few know that the present system of 



