21 DECEMBER 1929, Page 14

The same cry about the disappearance of game birds, especially

the partridge, is heard in the Isle of Man, where it has even been suggested that public bodies should encourage, and presumably pay for, the introduction of Hungarian birds. Different opinions prevail about the utility of the Hungarian, and its readiness to stay in the place where it is released ; but it can scarcely be doubted that in some

districts the stock has been vastly increased by introducing the new blood. It is, of course, work for the expert in the psycho- logy of the birds. If a pair are released together they may not improbably fly away. If released separately in the evening, so that they may call and find one another, they are lllcely to decide that this trysting place is home. Another method that has proved very successful on an Essex estate is to keep the birds in a large wire enclosure, and after some period to remove the wires on one side, but toeontinue feeding within the wire. The birds in this way learn to regard the neighbourhood as home.

IV. EEACIEI THOMAS.