340 BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 
eggs through the netting (they could only just P^s^ through 
2 mesh) and was sitting on them m a new nest on the 
opposite side of the fence. „ . y 
As regards the utility of the Pheasant, Mr Fred. V 
ThtbSd states : " Some farmers complain of Pheasants 
I^d Partridges. Certainly the former scratch up some 
:redlm £ cause minor inconveniences, but the com- 
ierrmust not forget that they do an enormous amount 
Cod bTdestroying various grubs, and those who preserve 
iname'are do^g more good than harm to thejarm^s 
wpll as providing themselves with sport. Game biras 
ly werbeTrotectfd, not only from the sportsman's poxnt 
""^^iribiect of " record bags " is not here considered as 
it is obviously only a question of how many hand-reared 
Jirds arl tumed oZ ; but it is improbable that ^er courts 
fT" showing " Pheasants can exist than are to be found 
round Drumlanrig. nntnhpr 26th 
Sas^t have often been noted, usually in the case of 
edgJof Scaur Water, walk into the river and then s^v.m 
^IriUShire it has always been the -iet^^^j;^ 
bag that has rendered sport so enjoyable, and i^ s to 
u \a tViat ciome of the attention and expenditure now 
Sef S « rearing may be ^ivei.^^^^^^^^ 
late towards more fitting species, such as the Black Wou 
and Partridge. 
• Science Progress, 1907, Vol. II., PP. 281, 282. 
