PARTRIDGE REARING 
To take the importation of Hungarian adult birds first. There is a great 
difference of opinion as to how these birds should be turned down, grave 
doubts having been expressed whether Hungarians do not sometimes 
bring with them disease in some form or other. Having had considerable 
experience in the importation of them, I venture to give my opinion 
for what it may be worth. If you have made up your mind to take this step, 
go to a trustworthy importer. There are several who advertise, or who 
can be communicated with through game protection societies. 
Kill down as many of your old birds as you can very early in the season, 
and import the fresh stock early in October, whilst there is still plenty 
of food to be found in the fields. 
On arrival, look them over very carefully, and knock on the head any 
that appear to be unhealthy or diseased. This will save money in the end. 
Place these imported birds in enclosures twenty yards square by four feet 
high in lots of from fifteen to twenty brace, dotted about on various parts 
of the ground. The sides of these enclosures should be of string netting, 
so that the birds will not injure themselves by beating against them. 
Some covert of boughs should be placed inside so that the birds may 
hide themselves, and there should be a heap of gravel grit and a pan of 
clean water. Feed them regularly morning and evening with dari, small 
corn, and if possible ants’ eggs, so that they may regain their strength 
after their long journey. 
In ten days or so lift up one side of the netting, the birds will gradually 
find their way out, and will settle down in the immediate neighbourhood 
of their original feeding place. Of course it is advisable to scatter a little 
food near where the enclosure was during the winter. This will help to 
keep the visitors from wandering. If on the other hand the birds are 
turned out immediately on arrival, they will be weak and starving, and 
will be set upon by any native birds that may be in the neighbourhood, 
and be either driven off the ground or killed. 
If turned down in the middle of January they will be probably too late 
for pairing with the native birds that year ; whereas if turned out by 
the end of October they will have had time to familiarize themselves 
with their new surroundings, and very likely have found English mates. 
Some people think that the Hungarian cross tends to weaken the English 
breed, as the former are not accustomed to our fogs and damp climate, 
whilst our home-bred birds have gradually become acclimatized to the 
damp ; but this is not the experience of many importers. 
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