218 SHOOTING THE PARTRIDGE 
rule. The two best years of the first decade under 
the walking system yielded as follows : 
Year Partridges 
1868 . F ; ‘i e + 3,308 
1869 . . . . : » 3,385 
The two best years. of the second decade, after 
driving became the exclusive practice, yielded as 
follows : 
Year Partridges 
1885 . . . . . . 8,100 
1887 . ‘ : - é + 7,512 
As I am assured that no extraneous or artificial 
means have been introduced for the increase of the 
stock since the driving began, I think it is hardly 
necessary to go farther in order to settle for ever the 
question as to the effect of the latter system upon the 
totals of a partridge manor. I confess these figures 
show an increase which exceeds what I should have 
expected in partridges, although it is well known that 
with grouse the increases are, on many moors, much 
larger in proportion. The fact that 1887, known as 
the ‘Jubilee’ year, was the most productive season 
known, say for a quarter of a century, makes the 
value of the total for 1885 still more remarkable. 
To turn to another famous game county, though 
vastly inferior to Norfolk in conditions of soil and 
