Hidden Coveys Those friends and denizens of the harvest fields,
the partridges, are also early. I saw coveys strong on the wing in June ; but not even game. keepers can prophesy with any confidence whether it will be a good or indifferent season. It seems to be a general experience that the compara. tive paucity of keepers has allowed the multiplication of the worst enemies of nesting birds. In the market-garden districts of Bedfordshire (where, oddly enough, the French partridge greatly outnumbers the English) magpies were seen in quite large flocks ; and from other districts come laments of the number of stoats and even foxes. Near the sea, especially in the North-West, gulls are said to have destroyed many nests; but the pessimists are usually the most vocal ; and the partridge is both skilful in concealment and brave in defence. As to foxes, the shooting of them is no longer looked upon as an unmentionable crime. It is, of course, arf acknowledged virtue in the sheep country of the Lakes, where foxes really do inflict heavy losses on farmers, while in the South they may do good service by killing rats.
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