18 Attempt to naturalise the Vh^ginian Partridge, 



way as it is by the rufF in the fens during the season of in- 

 cubation. 



Nothing could be more cordial and harmonious than this 

 happy family. When the shades of evening approached 

 they crowded together in a circle on the ground, and prepared 

 for the slumbers of the night by placing their tails all together, 

 with their pretty mottled chins facing to the front in a watch- 

 ful round-robin. 



When food was thrown in for them, which consisted 

 chiefly of spirted barley and wheat, and occasionally bread, 

 the male bird would peck at the grain, but not eat any himself 

 until he had called his family around him, first to partake of 

 the food ; which he did with many soft blandishments, and 

 with much strutting and spreading of the wings and tail. 



I was much disappointed at the loss of this interesting 

 family ; and I waited with some impatience for the result of 

 another season. The season at length arrived : they built 

 their nest again as usual; the hen laid about sixteen eggs; 

 when, to my great mortification, just as she had begun to sit, 

 I found her dead one morning, and can no otherwise account 

 for the circumstance than by supposing that something must 

 have frightened her in the night and caused her to fly up with 

 violence against the wires, which proved fatal to her. Thus 

 ended my hopes of domesticating this elegant little bird, as I 

 have never been able to procure another female, though I 

 have applied in London for that purpose. The guard of a 

 coach informed me that he had the care of a basket of these 

 birds by his coach ; that they all, by some accident, got out 

 and flew away ; and that in the part of the country where they 

 made their escape (which I have now forgotten) they had 

 bred and increased exceedingly. I have also heard of their 

 doing well in some parts of the south of this kingdom. I 

 know that a quantity were turned down upon the large de- 

 mesne of Kdward John Littleton, Esq. M.P., at Teddesley, 

 in Staffordshire, and that they did not breed at all, but 

 straggled away, and some of them were shot ten or fifteen 

 miles from his estate. 



I should feel much obliged by any of your correspondents 

 informing me where I could procure some living specimens 

 of this bird, as I should much wish to breed some more, and 

 turn them out, if I became successful, as they lay many eggs, 

 and are much more easily reared than either pheasants or 

 partridges. 



Staffordshire, October, 1830. J. C. 



