THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 
61 
this view, however, is the fact, that there was no such decrease 
of partridges in the south-west of Scotland, where the weather 
is very similar to that in the north-west of Ireland. Causes 
tending to the decrease of the species in the north-east of 
Ireland, within the period under consideration, were the increasing 
population of the country, and consequent diminution of farms ; 
the law legalising the sale of game ; and the constant oppor- 
tunities afforded of sending it by steam-vessels to England and 
Scotland. Although over the north of Ireland generally the 
partridge suddenly decreased in numbers, even to its total dis- 
appearance from some places, and did not rally again until the 
last three or four seasons — during which period it has been 
gradually increasing, so as to be as numerous as ever in some few 
favourite districts — I was not prepared to anticipate the same 
result from the south of the island generally."^ Yet from all the 
counties of Munster, and from Wexford, the most southern county 
of Leinster, I have evidence to the same effect. In some parts of 
Clare, Limerick, and Kerry, this species was believed to be 
even extinct. Mr. E. Chute remarked in 1848 : — About twenty 
years ago, there were a good many covies about Tralee, but they 
gradually diminished for the following six or eight years; and 
for the last ten I do not think there has been one bird. About 
Kenmare and Dingle, a few were always to be met with, but 
this yeart they have sprung up in numbers about Dingle. I 
heard of several large covies, and shot a few birds there myself. 
In Wexford they decreased fully two-thirds during the time of 
scarcity, but within the years 1847 and 1848 became more abun- 
dant In Tipperary they greatly decreased of late years, but are 
on the increase again, being pretty numerous this autumn. || Mr. 
Eennell of Ballybrado considers that the occurrence of two wet 
Junes in 'succession, a few years since, destroyed a great quantity, 
and remarked a similar result many years before. This gentleman 
* In tlie few parts of the counties of Antrim and Armagh, where they are now as 
numerous as formerly, an increase became apparent in 1844 and 1845, and has since 
been gradual. 
t 1848. X I’oole. 1| 1848. 
