BIRDS. 



273 



Perdix cinerea, Lath. Partridge. 



Old Gaelic name, Cearc thomain (old Statistical Account^ xvii. p. 249). 

 This is a name — like so many Gaelic names — admirably descriptive 

 of the habits and haunts of the Partridge, as it would be known in the 

 past to most Highlanders both in our present area and among the 

 further and narrower glens of the Highlands — such as around Aber- 

 feldy, and the upper reaches of Tay and its tributaries, and elsewhere 

 that it deserves special mention. The meaning of the name is 

 "The cock or hen of the Little Mounds." 



" The Partridge has become much more numerous in the upper 

 valleys, extending even to the edges of the moors, due to the greatly 

 increased areas opened up to agriculture — say since 1825 to 1877 or 

 so. But it has apparently correspondingly decreased in the lowland 

 districts, or many of them, due to the drainage and filling up of 

 ditches, and causing a scarcity of water." Such is Col. Drummond 

 Hay's account in 1880 ; and though there may be probably other 

 causes, I am inclined to give the above reasons for the increase on 

 the one hand, and the decrease on the other, considerable weight. 



The Partridge is still abundant in the east of Forfar, and indeed 

 through Forfar generally; and we might expect this, because the 

 foothills of the eastern Grampians overlooking the great stretches 

 of Strathmore undoubtedly ofifer splendid holding ground with their 

 knolls (tomains), well- watered valleys, abundance of gravelly "grit," 

 and wealth of wild seeds and fruits and insect life, which latter again 

 is in no small measure dependent upon the richness of the botany of 

 these slopes and valleys, not to mention that these slopes " lie fair to 

 the sun," and a short flight will convey the birds often to a change 

 in diet when required. 



But again in the south-west of our district— as, for instance, around 

 the head of Loch Earn and in the defile of Glen Ogle — Partridges are 

 scarce, though near at hand in Forth and south of the watershed 

 they are abundant. This too is to be expected, of course, as in all 

 isolated glens and uncultivated wilder places, unless the geological 

 conditions affecting the botany and giving foothold to suitable wild 

 seeds, etc., form together a sufficient inducement to the species. 

 There are quite patent exceptions to this rule, as may well be 

 exampled by certain of our western islands — such as, for instance, 

 Colonsay of the Inner Hebrides, and some few places on the west 

 coast ; but if the causes be inquired into carefully, it will .be found 



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