A Book on Birds 



he is becoming rare in Pennsylvania, except 

 in some mountain districts, where the 

 drumming of his wings is still a well-known 

 and highly cheerful sound, especially in 

 winter. 



However, Mr. ''Bob White" (Partridge, 

 or no Partridge) is a jolly good fellow just 

 the same; and it is a source of regret that 

 from causes not fully understood he also 

 should be gradually disappearing. His trick 

 of starting up like a flash at your near 

 approach and flying straight away with the 

 rush and roar of a misdirected rocket is 

 quite inspiriting. It is the very thing, in 

 fact, above all others, to enliven a bird- 

 quest which has lagged a little, perhaps; 

 never failing to put one on the alert again 

 for a while. 



And Mrs. ''Bob White," in turn (be it 

 not overlooked) is interesting too; and 

 exceptionally so, I think, when in company 

 with her newl3^-hatched brood. Most birds 

 emerging from "the great unknown" are 

 naked and blind at first, and therefore 

 unattractive in appearance; but not these, 



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