18 MATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 
afforded by the richer meadowlands that lie in the 
valleys below, snugly screened from the blast of the 
east wind, which cuts like a knife and sometimes levels 
everything that opposes its free progress. During the 
early part of the year, heavy snow-wreaths cover up the 
favourite nooks of the partridge for many weeks in suc- 
cession, or the pitiless rain fills the ghylls of the moun- 
tains, so that they rise in flood and overflow their narrow 
banks. But the partridge heeds not the havoc and 
confusion of the elements. In the face of a thousand 
disadvantages, this sturdy native doggedly maintains 
an uphill fight for existence, and on the whole with a 
very fair measure of success ; waiting hopefully for 
the solace of courtship, and the joys of the nesting 
season, to reimburse him for a sheaf of hardships. 
After all, the fell partridge possesses some special 
advantages. He gleans many a ripe berry, and knows 
how to adapt himself to difficulties better than his 
fellow in the low-country. Nor is he a starveling. 
‘Plump and well-conditioned’ is the verdict given by 
most sportsmen of the hill race of partridges—at least, 
if shot jn the months of autumn, before the hardships 
of winter-time have pinched his frame ; the slightly 
inferior size of the sub-alpine bird is no great draw- 
back to any one except pot-hunters, a class of gentle- 
men who need little consideration. 
