Practical Game-Preserving. 150 



the natural strength of constitution and peculiarity of 

 habit which enable their less pampered congeners either 

 to escape the malady or to withstand its attack. 



Another cause of loss among the ranks of the " nut- 

 browns " is one which must call up a sympathetic feeling 

 in the breasts of sportsmen namely, the formation of clay 

 balls upon the feet of young partridges present upon 

 lands of a clayey nature. In damp weather the soil clogs 

 on the little birds' feet, often to such an extent as to 

 render movement impossible, when they must needs lag 

 behind the brood, drop down, and die of exhaustion or 

 starvation, or from both combined. Nothing can be done 

 for it beyond watching the coveys closely, and driving 

 them some little distance carefully ; any encumbered chicks 

 will soon be noticed, when they can often be caught and 

 relieved. 



