THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 
59 
pickling seed wheat is what has nearly exterminated partridges in 
many parts of Ireland. The old birds, through the winter 
months, eat freely this poisoned grain, and die from the effects of 
it, which has been often proved to be the case. Gentlemen who 
wish to preserve their game should be cautious how they use 
vitriol, and other such poisonous ingredients, which in pickling 
are not at all necessary 
Before deciding that this is the chief cause of decrease, it 
would be requisite to know whether the practice of using poi- 
sonous ingredients commenced about the period that the dimi- 
nution of these birds was first observed, and whether different 
ingredients are used for that purpose in the parts of England and 
Scotland where partridges abound. I know that in one extensive 
district in the county of Antrim, where these birds were some 
years ago plentiful, and are now very scarce, they have not 
been injured by any deleterious substance being used in the steep- 
ing of grain. With respect to the counties of Antrim and Down 
generally, a gentleman, well known as an agricultural chemist, 
informs me, that he has never known arsenic, nor anything more 
poisonous than a solution of sulphate of copper used in the steep- 
ing of wheat ; and this, he considers, would hardly have any 
effect in diminishing the number of partridges.* 
* Attention was lately called to this matter in England. — Doctor Hemw WOliain 
Fuller, of St. George’s Hospital, sent the following communication to The Lancet : — 
“ For some months past, in certain parts of Hampshire, partridges hare been found 
dead in the fields, presenting a very remarkable appearance. Instead of lying pro- 
strate on their sides, as is usually the case with dead birds, they have been found 
sitting with their heads erect, and their eyes open, presenting all the semblance of 
life. This peculiarity, which for some time had attracted considerable attention, 
among sportsmen in the neighbourhood, led to no practical result until about ten 
days ago, when a covey of ten birds having been found nestled together in this con- 
dition, two of the birds, together with the seeds taken from the crops of the remain- 
ing eight, were sent up to London for examination.” By analysis, Doctor Fuller 
discovered considerable quantities of arsenic in the viscera of the birds ; this was 
traced to the seed-corn in their crops. Inquiry established, that ‘‘ in Hampshire, 
Lincolnshire, and many other parts of the country, the farmers are now in the habit 
of steeping their wheat in a strong solution of arsenic, previous to sowing it, with 
the view of preventing the ravages of the wire-worm on the seed, and of the smut on 
the plant when grown ; that this process is found to be eminently successful, and is, 
therefore, daily becoming more and more generally adopted ; that even now many 
hundreds weight of arsenic are yearly sold to agriculturists for this express purpose ; 
that although the seed is poisonous when sown, its fruit is in no degree affected by 
