EXOTIC BIRDS FOR BRITAIN, 
95 
greater part of England. Even more remarkable 
is the case of the pheasant, with its rich plumage, 
a native of a hot region ; yet our cold, wet climate 
and its unmodified bright colours have not been 
fatal to it, and practically it is one of our wild 
birds. The large capercailzie has also been suc- 
cessfully introduced from Norway. Small birds 
would probably become naturalized much more 
readily than large ones ; they are volatile, and can 
more quickly find suitable feeding-grounds, and 
safe roosting and nesting places ; their food is also 
more abundant and easily found ; their small size, 
which renders them inconspicuous, gives them 
safety ; and, finally, they are very much more 
adaptive than large birds. 
It is not at all probable that the red-legged 
partridge will ever drive out our own bird, a con- 
tingency which some have feared. That would be 
a misfortune, for we do not wish to change one bird 
for another, or to lose any species we now possess, 
but to have a greater variety. We are better oflf 
with two partridges than we were with one, even 
if the invader does not aflTord such good sport nor 
such delicate eating. They exist side by side, and 
compete with each other; but such competition is 
not necessarily destructive to either. On the con- 
trary, it acts and re-acts healthily and to the 
improvement of both. It is a fact that in small 
