132 THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 



on cultivated districts, on the top of hay-stacks, and we have even found them 

 in holes of decayed trees in hedge-rows, about four feet from the ground. 



During the time of incubation, and in fact till that operation is completed, 

 the hen will, and always does, remain upon her eggs till hatched, with a 

 pertinacity unequalled by almost any other bird; we have seen this strikingly 

 exemplified, in many instances even ending in the death of the bird, and 

 it yearly occurs in the operation of mowing for hay, when many birds meet 

 with their death by the accidental blow from the scythe of the mower, rather 

 than leave their eggs exposed. We have frequently captured the hen while 

 sitting on her eggs, and have passed our hand down her back without her 

 moving or showing the least fear; but if we touched the eggs, she would 

 immediately peck at our hand in a fierce manner, as much as to say, you 

 have no business there. Montagu records an instance of one which allowed 

 itself and eggs to be deposited and carried into captivity in a hat, and 

 brought forth her young. The time of incubation is from three to four weeks, 

 and sometimes less. They begin to pair in February, and commence laying 

 in May and June. 



The affection for her young is peculiarly strong: in carrying out which 

 she is greatly assisted by her companion : they lead them out, and call them 

 together to feed, which food, while young, consists principally of the larvae of 

 ants, with flies, and other small insects. In the case of danger, if not too 

 near, the hen will hide her young under her wings, and the male will 

 flutter along, as if its wing were broken, to allure the approaching enemy to 

 a considerable distance, will then suddenly drop, as if quite dead, then by a 

 circuitous route, will hasten to the spot lately occupied by itself, partner, and 

 young, to announce that the danger is past. 



The sensual ardour of the male has been the theme of many writers, and 

 there are instances out of number in which the parental solicitude of the 

 female has justly called forth their eulogistic admiration. Partridges are 

 frequently hatched under the care of the Domestic Hen, and, when able to 

 feed themselves, let loose in the preserves of gentlemen. They are easily 

 tamed, and will breed in confinement; we have had them so tame as to peck 

 crumbs from the hands of strangers with a degree of familiarity not surpassed by 

 the common domestic fowls of the farm-yard. On this taming subject we 

 shall perhaps be quoted by some sage zoologist, as we have been with respect 

 to the Cu:jkoo and Black Woodpecker; should it not meet with that scientific 

 gentleman's approbation, he will, I hope, refrain from inserting any portion of 

 it in his pages, however greater the publicity it may obtain in his pages, over 

 those of our juvenile "Naturalist." 



Charminster, Dorset, April 24:th, 1851, 



