Practical Game-Preserving. 168 



be varied and modified to suit particular requirements. 

 These modifications are generally due to an effort 

 to fit the plan to less pretentious requirements. The 

 end then held in view is to secure the mating in con- 

 finement of such a number of pairs of birds as may be 

 deemed necessary, and their eventual nesting within the 

 limits of a pen. It will "be easily seen how this may be 

 achieved by turning down a much larger number of pairs 

 of birds within a main enclosure) and then as soon as they 

 commence to pair to draw them off into movable pens 

 of sufficient size in which they remain and brood. Of 

 course, up till such time as the hen commences to nest, the 

 pens require regularly moving twice or three times a week, 

 according to what class of ground they are placed upon ; 

 the birds require very careful feeding, and the amount of 

 time and trouble consumed is correspondingly greater. On 

 the other hand, the plan is less expensive, but it is equally 

 less successful, nor can the same amount of additional 

 eggs be drawn for hand-rearing purposes. The great 

 point to be observed in these matters is to disturb the birds 

 as little as possible; but where the movable pens are 

 employed the reverse is largely the case, with correspond- 

 ing disadvantage. Personally, I do not see that much is 

 gained by thus modifying the original system over ordinary 

 hand-rearing as regards numbers and safety of the broods ; 

 but there is less packing, it is true, and the youngsters are 

 reared under more natural conditions. 



The feeding and general management of penned 

 partridges will be dealt with in the following chapter, and 

 it is now necessary to devote attention to another system 

 worked in connection with the higher preservation of 

 partridges, namely, that of sanctuaries. 



A partridge sanctuary is, speaking roundly, a portion 

 of a manor reserved from the rest, and upon which, except 



