94 PROPAGATION OF WILD BIRDS 



come to us are said to be notable for their grain crops. They 

 are largely eaters of seed and grain, and there live amid the 

 grainfields. 



Conditions in Eastern Europe. An article descriptive of 

 this region, written by Mr. Larsen, of the game-exporting 

 firm of Loewith and Larsen, in The Game Breeder is very 

 instructive. In parts of eastern Europe where many thou- 

 sands of these partridges are netted for shipment to America, 

 the following are the conditions : The peasants live in com- 

 pact villages, not on their farm land, and go back and forth 

 to work. For miles there are uninterrupted stretches of 

 grain and crops, no houses to harbour rats or cats, no woods 

 to shelter foxes. The fields provide abundant food and 

 shelter. Young broods, undisturbed, grow up in thousands. 

 Here, on the other hand, they encounter winter starvation 

 and enemies on every hand combined with indiscriminate 

 gunning which is there prohibited. 



Since the species has been brought here, it wiU be worth 

 while to use all possible measures to protect and establish 

 it, so following are some suggestions for management and 

 propagation: 



Method of Liberating. When stock of this or other species 

 is to be liberated for natural breeding, there are certain 

 cautions which should be observed. 



1. Birds should not be released in winter, in strange and 

 rigorous surroundings, when there is every prospect that 

 they will perish from hunger and cold. 



2. They should not be released immediately upon being 

 received, especially if imported from abroad, or after any 

 long journey. Keep them and feed them a while, in suffi- 

 ciently large and comfortable quarters, tiU they are in good 

 physical condition. 



3. Do not release them suddenly, or in alarm. The poor- 



