92 
MATURE NOTES. 
THE PARTRIDGE.* 
This is an instalment of the “ Fur and Feather Series,” edited by Mr. E. T. 
Watson, and the first 8i pp. of the present volume, in which Mr. Macpherson 
deals with the natural history of our graj' partridge, is the portion which most 
concerns the readers of N.\ture Xotes. The writer treats, in his well-known 
style, in successive chapters, of the partridge at home and abroad, in the fields, 
its love and courtship, its nests, as pets, of its colours, and of poaching it. In 
tracing the range and distribution of the partridge, the author touches upon the 
question of migration, and points out that “ on the Continent the partridge is pro- 
bably a more decided migrant, or semi-migrant, than in our country.” But 
even here it is a “quasi-migrant, since coveys frequently perform short journeys 
— as, for e.vample, across the Solway Firth.” Something upon this point has ap- 
peared in a recent number of The Zoologist. In the following chapters the life- 
history and habits of our partridge are pleasantly sketched at some length. Mr. 
Macpherson truly remarks that the habits of the partridge have altered somewhat 
of late years. But, speaking from our own e.xperience of the district best known 
to us, we only wish we could agree entirely with him when he says that “ the fre- 
quent destruction of nests in the open meadows has convinced many female par- 
tridges of the advantages supplied to nesting birds by the shelter afforded by the 
briars and brambles that festoon the banks of the older and untrimmed hedge- 
rows.” Quite as many partridges’ nests, we fear, are mown out now-a-days (when 
the grass is cut before the end of June), as was the case formerly. This is per- 
haps partly owing to the fact that higher farming has reduced the size and propor- 
tions of the old-fashioned “ hairy” fence. An interesting chapter on the colours 
of the partridge introduces us to the “ varieties ” of this bird which are known to 
have occurred, and w'e have also a useful resume of Mr. Grant’s observations upon 
the characteristics by w’hich the male may be distinguished from the female. 
“Poaching partridges” — apparently a subject not easily e.xhausted — is full of in- 
teresting incidents ; but surely the author is a little too hard on our sporting fore- 
fathers in the matter of “netting.” They, at least, if we mistake not, pursued 
this form of sport in the daytime, and used the “ setting-dog.” Partridges as pets 
will be appreciated by lady readers especially, and indeed, the book as a whole 
will commend itself highly to the field naturalist. 
The subject of shooting partridges is a little out of the province of this perio- 
dical, although a good shot, who kills his birds cleanly and well (and has, there- 
fore, a smaller proportion of wounded birds than the “duffer,”), should be well 
pleasing to those who, while they eat partridges very willingly, yet “ deplore the 
cruelties of sport.” We must be content, therefore, with saying that Mr. Stuart- 
Wortley’s contribution (which forms the bulk of the book) is the work of a master 
hand. To prove, however (if, indeed, any proof was wanted), that the modern 
shooter, the avowed advocate of “ driving,” is not necessarily less apt to observe 
and appreciate the natural objects around him, one e.xtract will suffice. It is a 
sample of the author’s pleas.ant style ; — 
“ Again the scene is changed. You stand on Itchen Down, and while you 
sniff the bracing air you strain your eyes to mark, amid the blue distance, beyond 
the rolling slopes of sheltering woods and open fields, the spire of Salisbury, or 
the clustering towers of William of Wykeham ; to trace the specks of light that 
tell where the silver stream of Test gives back the November rays ; or to wonder 
whether, far in the south-west, your eye can reach to where the great ocean liners 
are thundering up and down the Solent. The tinkle of sheep-bells strikes sharply 
on the ear, and you watch on the lower stretch of down opposite how the shep- 
herd guides the sheep, down past the chalk-pit cutting like a white wound in the 
hill, through the junipers and straggling patches of gorse to the great yew tree 
overhanging the gateway, till the flock pours like a stream of oil into the turnip 
field where they are to feed. A feeling of contentment spreads over you as you 
* The Partridge. Natural History by the Rev. H. A. Macpherson ; Shooting 
by A. J. Stuart-Wortley ; Cookery by George .Saintsbury. Illustrated ; pp. i.-vi., 
276. Longmans : 1893. Price 5s. 
