The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-02-22
SPEED OF GAME BIRDS.
The Partridge Surpassed by the
Grouse and Blackjack.
Mestmlnstar Gazette

Westminster Gazette
We were talking this over in the cunroom
The other morning after breakfast, and almost
every one said 'The partridge" or rather "a
driven partridge" l ventured TO disagree, and
row l will explain why. 1t may be as we'll 10
say at The start that il is by no means certain
that driven partridge flies any faster than any
partridge not driven. We look upon the rock
as a slow-fyng bird, and yet rock, when
chased by peregrine falcon, can put on a pace
in All astounding manner Yes, l admit that.
And l think quite possibly partridge with
fend OF some sort al his tail would hurry up
also. But The driven partridge, put up in one
field. is simply flying over to another. although,
no doubt, especially with the wind rhind him,
he dos come along at good round pace; and
no one, probably, could have performed the feat
OF killing complete covey OF five birds out of
hand except the man who did lt-LOTd de Grey.
Now, IL is obviously difficult TO estimate dc-
curatey The speed of any BIZ d, and those who
talk gllbly about $50 miles an hour" and so
on, only making shots. We have pretty
good idea of the spe OF a carrier pigeon, be-
cause We have the TWO fixed points OF departure
and arrival from which 10 reckon. But IN the
case OF other buds there would seem TO be but
two ways in which % gel at Ii. We could, IN
the first place, no doubt, after much time and
patience, arrive at the absolute speed OF many
birds by ans of stop watch. In this way IL
would be possible TO time bird from point TO
point 10 an omen country, Or In an inclOsed dis
trict, from hedge to hedge. / do not know that
il has ever been tried but il opens I'D yety
pretty line Of experiment, and l think i shall
tempt II myself some day. Now for a test OF
relativ speed.
1t Is my good fortune TO shoot every season
In rough, open country, half moor, half grass
and crops. Grouse, blackgame and partTidges
frequent In common those bits OF heather which
border on the cultivated land Time after
time, as the grouse go Skimming low down over
the moor. they give a warning to these other
nelghbors who rise and join them. Tim after
time, when The men are driving toward the
butts, they put up grou>e aud blackgame,
grouse and partridges, or, not seldom, all the
three together. Here, then, is a criterion.
/ Wbat does il tell me? This-tbat partridges
! starring TO fly with grouse are very soon left
behind; that blackgame can fly right away
| from grouse, and almost leave the cartridges
standing Sill"
partridge gives the greater impression of
| speed because II is the smaller bird aud moves
! It's wings more quickly. Whereas a black
cock. large ana heavy bird, does not 20
away in a whirr burst" so TO say, but
| deceptive ease OF motion. So il comes about
| that young hand. who can v ry likely shoot
] paTtrldgeS we'll, will miss backcOck after
| blackcOcN, because he shoots b hind them. II
/ is so very difficult TO believe that this great
/ bird. which never seems TO be in a hurry is
! really travelling at an enormous speed. Yet so
/ IL Is. And II any man will take the trouble to
! go out for few consecutive DAYS simply 10 OBJ
| serve grouse and blackgame- akiug note Of
| the marvellous manner in which I'm q few sec
OEds an old blackjack will span the wide moor
ana be out of sight-he will then, / venture TO
believe. have no longer any hesitation In pro-
nOuDcne the grouse faster than the partridge
and the blackcock probably the fastest game
bird that flies.