20 The Natural History of British Game Birds 
border counties, a disappearing species. On the subject of their recent and present range 
in England, I have compiled the following summary : — 
Cornwall. — A few existed till recently on the Bodmin Moors and in the districts of 
Kilmar and Dosmare Pool. Now almost extinct. (J. Clark, Vict. Hist. Cornwall, 
vol. i.) 
Dorset. — A few may still breed in the county ; occasional stragglers come from the 
east, but nowhere resident except about Chamberlayne's Heath and Hyde Heath, and the 
heaths between Alderholt and Knighton. 
Devonshire. — Scattered in small numbers throughout the moorland districts and 
resident in Dartmoor on the public parts of the moor, and in the adjoining private 
estates. Rapidly decreasing in numbers. They are found on the Haldon and Blackdown 
hills, and on the borders of Exmoor. 
There was a considerable stock of Blackgame on Dartmoor twenty years ago, but 
during recent years, since its discovery by the painter, the novelist, and tourist, the 
stock of birds has greatly decreased. The chief causes of the decrease are the presence 
of sheep and ponies, with the chronic disturbance by men and dogs during the nesting 
season. Moreover, of late years moor-burning has been so carelessly done as to extend 
right into the haunts of the bird, and at a time the females are nesting. Above 
Dartmeet was almost a favourite nesting ground. Of recent years as many as fourteen 
broods have been seen on fifty acres on this ground, 1 and the late Mr. Robert Torrens 
always had large numbers of Blackgame on his estate, until Eastertide " swaling " 
proved too much for him. Recently, too, some of the best grounds for Blackgame 
were about the prison ; now too many gun and game licences are issued, and the small 
stock of birds is overshot, and unless the Duchy authorities take the matter in hand 
and do something to preserve what is left, Blackgame will soon be a thing of the past 
on Dartmoor, except in the preserves of a few private grounds adjoining the public 
portion of the moor. 
Somersetshire. — Formerly plentiful all over the heather and wild regions of Exmoor 
and adjacent estates. Until 1886 bags of twenty brace and more were often obtained, 
but now decreasing in numbers. Their favourite resorts are the Quantock and Brendon 
hills, and the northern skirts of the Mendips, Winsford and Oare. 2 
Surrey. — Until 1888 a few Blackgame were always to be found in the Aldershot, 
Witley, and Farnborough districts. Those introduced in 1875 to Witley Common helped 
the old stock for a while, but the species may be said to have become almost extinct 
by 1900. (J. A. Bucknill, Zool, 1901, p. 253.) According to Mr. G. W. Swanton, 
two pairs (?) bred in 1905 in "a certain wild tract of country," and a single Greyhen was 
seen in the spring of 1906 (L. B. Mouritz, t. c. 1907, p. 93). In 1885 I saw a Blackcock 
and a hansom cab both in view at the same moment near Farnborough. There were 
one or two Blackgame on the Pudmoors near Godalming and about Frensham Common 
between 1890 to 1896. 
Bedfordshire. — It is interesting to learn from particulars kindly supplied me by 
the Duchess of Bedford that the introduction of this species to Woburn, Bedford- 
shire, has met with considerable success. Experiments began in August 1901, when 
1 Field, Nov. 14, 1908. 2 See Harting, Field, Sept. 8, 1900. 
