THE PARTRIDGE. 281 



tense cold. In Greenland, the Partridge is brown during summer; 

 but as soon as the winter sets in, it becomes clothed with a thick. 

 and warm down, and its exterior feathers assume the color of the 

 snow. 



Partridges have ever held a distinguished place at the tables of the 

 luxurious, both in Europe and America. We have an old distich : 



" If the Partrid2re had the Woodcock's thigh, 

 'T would be the best bird that e'er did fly." 



They pair about the third week in February ; and sometimes, after 

 pairing, if the weather be very severe, they collect together, and 

 again form i nto coveys. In May the female lays her eggs, usually from 

 fifteen to eighteen in number, in a rude nest of dry leaves and grass, 

 formed upon the ground ; these are of a greenish-gray color. The 

 period of incubation is three weeks. So closely do these birds sit on 

 their eggs when near hatching, that a Partridge with her nest has 

 been carried in a hat to some distance, and in confinement has con- 

 tinued her incubation, and there produced young-ones. The great 

 hatch is about the first ten days in June ; and the earliest birds begin tc 

 fly towards the latter end .>f that month. The young brood are able to 

 run about as soon as they are hatched, and tliey are even sometimes 

 seen encumbered with a piece of the shell sticking to them. The 

 parents immediately lead them to ant-hills, on the grubs of which 

 insects they at first principally feed. 



At the season when the Partridge is produced, the various specie* 

 of Ants loosen the earth about their habitations. The young birds, 

 therefore, have only to scrape away the earth, and they can satisfy 

 their hunger with(^ut difficulty. A covey that some years ago 

 excited the attention of the Rev. Mr. Gould, gave him an opportu- 

 nity of remarking the great delight wliieh they take in this kind of 

 food. On his turning up a colony of Ants, and withdra»wing to some 

 distance, the parents conducted their young ones to the hill, and fed 

 very heartily. After a few days they grew more bold, and ventured 

 to eat within twelve or fourteen yards of him. 1'he surrounding grass 

 was high ; by which means they could, on the least disturbance, im- 

 mediately run out of sight and conceal themselves. This is an excellent 

 food for Partridges that are bred up under a domestic hen ; if constantly 

 Bupjilied with Ants' grubs ami I'resh water, the birds seldom fail to 

 arrive at maturity. Along with the grubs it is recommended to give 

 tnera, at intervals, a mixture of millepedes, or wood-lice, and earwigs; 

 fresh curds mixed with lettuce, chickweed, or groundsel, should also 

 be given them. 



The aifection of Partridges for their ofT-pring is peculiarly mterest 

 ing. Both the parents lend tliem out to feed; they point out to them 

 the proper places for their f<K.)d, and assist tliem in finding it by 

 scratching the ground with their feet. 'J'hey frequeutly sit close to- 

 gether, covering the young-ones with their wings ; and from this pro- 

 tection they are not easily roused. If, however, they are disturbed, 

 most persons acquainted with rural affairs know the confusiou thai 



