PARTRIDGES 45 
attractive, but diffused, nesting cover, the worst of 
a few fine hedgerows is that they are also fine high- 
ways for vermin. When, as is often the case, scores 
of nests are packed in a few hedgerows, wholesale 
losses are only too possible, no matter how keenly 
vermin is kept down. A fox, by way of a single 
night’s devilish dissipation, may clear off sitting 
birds wholesale. A family of travelling stoats may 
take an undesirable route, with the inevitable con- 
sequence that untold nests are spoilt before there 
is any possibility of the invasion being discovered 
by the most alert keeper. 
Harking back to the question of partridge coverts, 
I should be the last to look upon the good sports- 
man of shallow pocket as a fool because he failed, 
on a small rented shoot, to lay out elaborate 
coverts especially for partridges; but I should like 
to see him help our bonny British partridges to 
increase—cheaply—by helping them to help them- 
selves. As one cheap but effective means to that 
end, I recommend more satisfactory nesting accom- 
modation than the birds at present usually have. 
This can be attained quickly—and profitably, too 
—even on a shoot rented for a short term. On 
ordinary partridge ground there is no spot in which 
a nest stands a better chance of hatching than some- 
where in an open field. It is practically safe from 
the human nest-spoiler, and to a maximum extent 
from foxes and vermin. So far, so good. But early 
