PARTRIDGE NESTING HABITS 148 



that the desire of spring was strong within his 

 quick-beating heart, equally ready for love or 

 battle, he reached the knoll and surprised his 

 companion of the morning as she was about to 

 enter the tangle of the grass. 



At first she paid slight heed to his gentle pur- 

 ring notes of affection, and treated his advances 

 with cold disdain. Every note and movement 

 of the birds seemed eloquent. *' I have found 

 you at last, at last, little love," he said. And 

 she, with indignant gesture, made answer, '' Who 

 are you, who are you, seeking me at supper- 

 time in the twilight of the grass ? " *' Pretty 

 brown bird," he contmued, ''don't you know 

 me ? Don't you see the bright russet horse- 

 shoe on my breast ? Don't you remember 

 that I met you in the furze-brake after sunrise, 

 and we were together for hours till the plough- 

 man came and frightened us into hiding from 

 the stubble ? " And plainly she rejoined, '' Go 

 away, go away ; I do not choose to call to mind 

 what happened this morning." Nearer and still 

 nearer her suitor approached. In pretended 

 fright she abandoned her haughty manner and 

 ran to the far side of the knoll, but before she 

 could look around he was at her side. Again and 

 again she attempted to escape, only to discover, 

 however, that her persistent admirer could with 

 ease out-distance her. Secretly admiring his 



