Practical Game-Preserving. 138 



like spiders and slugs. In late summer and autumn corn 

 is also eaten by the partridge, but it rarely pulls an ear 

 of corn down which is not within its reach, so that during 

 the time our cereal crops are ripening the partridge, 

 although a constant frequenter of the fields, does no 

 damage to the grain. Its express aim in being there is to 

 feed upon the thousands of insects always present and 

 upon the seeds of the many weeds now ripening; but, of 

 course, if there be any ears of grain within reach it soon 

 empties them. It is after the corn is cut, however, that 

 the partridge consumes most grain, for it lies, some in 

 the few fallen ears and some shaken out on the ground, 

 the food for any bird that likes to consume it. 



As soon as feeding is completed, the birds repair to 

 some particular place to pass the day. In winter this is 

 generally some grass field or low brake where they find 

 good shelter and warmth, but it often occurs that food is 

 so scarce or so difficult to obtain, that they may pass the 

 whole day before obtaining sufficient to make a meal. 

 During the remainder of the year and according to the 

 particular part of the season, clover, potato, or turnip 

 fields, short gorse, or broom covers, or the edge of the moor 

 if it be near, and last but not least the stubbles, are all 

 acceptable as midday retreats. Towards evening the birds 

 again go on the feed, and generally make their " squat " 

 for the night about sundown, when they " jug " or 

 " juck," the technical word for the cry they make at this 

 time. The brood and the old birds remain always 

 together until the next mating-time, when the covey breaks 

 up and the pairing begins. Sometimes two or more coveys 

 will join together and so remain in peaceful unison, and 

 at the end of the season they " pack " like grouse, forming 

 into, comparatively speaking, large flocks. 



Hen partridges, probably more than any other game- 



