THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 61 



this view, however, is the fact, that there was no such decrease 

 of partridges in the south-west of Scotland, where the weather 

 is very similar to that in the north-west of Ireland. Causes 

 tending to the decrease of the species in the north-east of 

 Ireland, within the period under consideration, were the increasing 

 population of the country, and consequent diminution of farms; 

 the law legalising the sale of game; and the constant oppor- 

 tunities afforded of sending it by steam-vessels to England and 

 Scotland. Although over the north of Ireland generally the 

 partridge suddenly decreased' in numbers, even to its total dis- 

 appearance from some places, and did not rally again until the 

 last three or four seasons — during which period it has been 

 gradually increasing, so as to be as numerous as ever in some few 

 favourite districts — I was not prepared to anticipate the same 

 result from the south of the island generally.* Yet from all the 

 counties of Munster, and from Wexford, the most southern county 

 of Leinster, I have evidence to the same effect. In some parts of 

 Clare, Limerick, and Kerry, this species was believed to be 

 even extinct. Mr. R. Chute remarked in 1848 : — " About twenty 

 years ago, there were a good many covies about Tralee, but they 

 gradually diminished for the following six or eight years; and 

 for the last ten I do not think there has been one bird. About 

 Kenmare and Dingle, a few were always to be met with, but 

 this yearf they have sprung up in numbers about Dingle. I 

 heard of several large covies, and shot a few birds there myself. 

 In Wexford they decreased fully two-thirds during the time of 

 scarcity, but within the years 1847 and 1848 became more abun- 

 dant." % I n Tipperary they greatly decreased of late years, but are 

 on the increase again, being pretty numerous this autumn. || " Mr. 

 Fennell of Ballybrado considers that the occurrence of two wet 

 Junes in succession, a few years since, destroyed a great quantity, 

 and remarked a similar result many years before. This gentleman 



* In the few parts of the counties of Antrim and Armagh, where they are now as 

 numerous as formerly, an increase became apparent in 1844 and 1845, and has since 

 been gradual. 



t 1848. i Mr. Poole. II 1848. 



