THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 131 



and have done. Mr Jesse, author of the ^^Gleanings in Natural History/' 

 says at p. p. 22 and 23, with respect to the claws of the Sky-lark, which 

 are particularly long, that they are used by the birds to remove their eggs 

 and young to a place of greater security, when they are threatened with 

 injury or destruction. Having paid close attention for years to the habits 

 of this bird, I have never been fortunate enough to meet with the like 

 occurrence; perhaps some more acute observer may have? and if so, I, and I 

 have no doubt others of your numerous readers, would be glad if they would 

 favour us with their observations on this very singular habit of the Sky- 

 lark. In conclusion, I cannot refrain from adding to my already lengthy notes, 

 the following beautiful lines from the poet Milton: — 



"Hark! hark! the Lark sings 'mid the silvery blue! 



Behold her flight, proud man, and lowly bow; 

 She seems the first that does for pardon sue. 



As though the guilty stain which lurks below 

 Had touched the flowers which droop' d above her brow, 



When she all night slept by the daisies' side; 

 And now she soars where purity doth flow. 



Where new-bom light is to no sin allied. 



And pointing with her wings, heavenward our thoughts would guide." 



THE COMMON PARTRIDGE, {PEBDIX CINEREA.) 



BY J. Mc'iNTOSH, ESQ. 



Your correspondent, Mr. Henry Tuckett, requests information on the 

 incubation of the Common Partridge, perhaps the following notes may prove 

 interesting to that gentleman and others, although not from the pen of a 

 Waterton. In the quotation from the sacred book a query arises. The 

 prophet says "sitteth on eggs;" are we to understand from this, that the 

 eggs were of a different species, or actually the eggs of the Partridge; will 

 some of your clerical ornithological correspondents enlighten our darkness on 

 this subject? 



The Partridge manifests the greatest caution in choosing the place of 

 nidification, (of course there are exceptions to the rule,) and may be observed 

 for a week or ten days, in pairs, near the spot, with a view to ascertain 

 if there should be any enemies in the immediate neighbourhood, that might 

 molest or prove destructive to them or their eggs; and if their suspicion is 

 aroused, they betake themselves off in search of a fresh spot, which is 

 generally in the open corn or grass fields; yet their nests, which are composed 

 of a few pieces of grass and leaves scraped carelessly together, may be 

 found in sn^ll strips of plantation, which are so common in agricultural 

 counties, for the purpose of shelter, in hedge-rows, and on heathy moors, bordering 



