169 Partridges. 



under particular circumstances, no shooting takes place. 

 Of course, upon the average preserve, or even upon an 

 ordinary but possibly extensive partridge manor, any- 

 thing of the kind is practically out of the question. It is 

 only upon estates specially requisitioned for partridge- 

 preserving upon a very large scale, and where the sport of 

 shooting driven partridges has been brought to a degree 

 of perfection unattainable elsewhere, that the institution 

 of these sanctuaries is feasible or necessary. Two main 

 reasons may be adduced for the establishment of these 

 sanctuaries that of a refuge for the birds during the 

 shooting-season, upon the one hand, and that of a nursery 

 from which the manor may be restocked, upon the other. 

 Generally speaking, a partridge sanctuary may take the 

 form of a more or less wide belt of country sandwiched in 

 between the several beats. Its boundaries may be either 

 artificial, or secured by the natural divisions of the ground 

 by hedgerows or otherwise, and the width may be that of 

 two or more narrow fields, or of one of sufficient breadth. 

 The planting and tillage of the ground covered are made 

 subservient to the requirements of the game and not to those 

 of the agriculturist, although, of course, it is sought to 

 assimilate the two interests where such may be necessary. 

 It will be apparent that a reservation of this kind may 

 be employed in either way, and that once birds commence 

 to take refuge in such, it can afford a means for assembling 

 large quantities of birds for occasions of special shooting 

 importance. The circumstances, however, which permit 

 or encourage the institution of partridge sanctuaries are so 

 exceptional in the ordinary run of game-preserves that it is 

 beyond the scope of this work to deal with them in detail, 

 and more than passing reference to such a comparatively 

 unique feature in partridge-preservation is uncalled for. 



