58 
TETEAONIDiE. 
On this island we killed a great many ptarmigan as well as grouse. The ptarmigan 
frequent the most broken parts of the mountains ; and scrambling after them, for 
walking I cannot call it, was hard work. As there were great quantities of ice 
among the rocks, which, in many places, were quite coated with it, and also a great 
deal of snow, which hid the dangerous places, and brought us into many a trap, we 
got numberless severe falls, I am astonished we did not break our necks. We have 
all deserted grouse -shooting, and stick to the ptarmigan. It is much more difficult, 
and therefore we like it better. Being obliged to come to an anchor in this passage, 
and remain there several days, before we could get clear of it, we blazed away at the 
ptarmigan. I should like to see some of our dandy sportsmen at such rough work. 
Disappointment ensued at Karlso, which is a small island, only six brace of birds 
having been obtained. This was accounted for by the low cover, (which the grouse of 
Norway like,) having been destroyed ; also by the migratory disposition of the birds, 
rendering the falling in with them in any great numbers at a particular place a matter 
of uncertainty.” 
THE COMMON PARTEIDGE. 
Perdix cinerea, Briss. 
Tetrao perdix, Linn. 
Until of late years inhabited cultivated grounds and their 
vicinity throughout the island in moderate quantity ; 
but never prevailed to the extent that it does in 
many parts of England, and in the south of Scot- 
land. 
Fifteen to thirty years ago-— previous to its becoming scarce — 
six to eight covies would be about the largest number met with 
during a day’s shooting in the best partridge districts, within a 
dozen miles of Belfast. The cause of this scarcity, extending 
even to the extinction of the species in many places, is sought to 
be accounted for in various ways, but, generally, by too limited a 
view of the subject being taken. The following paragraph ap- 
peared in the Northern Whig of October the 28th, 1813 : — 
Causes of the Scahcity of Paetridges in Ireland. — All 
sportsmen are aware that wet summers and cur dogs are very 
destructive of game ; but few know that the present system of 
