Was it Frank Kelly or someone else who worked out the full implications of the accumulation? - 1st day, a partridge, 2nd day 2 turtle doves and a partridge - by day 12 the recipient had acquired 12 partridges, 22 turtle doves, 30 French hens, 36 colleybirds, 42 geese (a-laying, so there might have been more) and 42 swans. Plus 40 maids a-milking (which suggests there must have been a few cows around too) and another hundred assorted bodies (dancing ladies, leaping lords, pipers and drummers drummers). No wonder she needed a drink (at least she had the 40 gold rings to pay for one).

The Kipper Family used to perform the Poacher's Christmas, starting with a partridge in a sack. On one of the days there were rabbits, all with dirty habits, so the total would have been increasing exponentially.....

Kitty