284 The Partridge or QuaiL 



ARTICLE XLIV. — On some of the Game Birds of Canada^ 



The Partridge or Quail, (Orti/x Virginiana.) 



This bird, so well known in Western Canada, does not, so far a? 

 we have been able to learn, occur in any part of the Province 

 ^ast of Kingston, at the lower end of Lake Ontario. Even there, 

 we are informed, it is but rarely seen. It is probable that the pine 

 <3lad forests of the Laurentian series of rocks have been an effectual 

 bar against its progress in that direction. The bird is a denizeii 

 of the treeless plains, or open forests ; and as these seldom occur 

 on the ruo-^red ridofes of hills, which characterize the formation? 

 we have mentioned, the Partridge cannot there support existence. 

 So true it is that the Geology of a country exerts an influence 

 over its Zoology. Ko doubt that if the plains of the west ex- 

 tended further to the east the Partridofe would also be found 

 ranging into Lower Canada. It is a species, however, of the warmer 

 and more temperate regions, and it could not therefore proceed 

 much further north of its present dominion. The following 

 accounts of the natural history of this bird, we have gleaned from 

 several authors : 



" In their natural, undisturbed state, Pai-tridges delight in the 

 open country, frequenting without fear the stubble fields apper- 

 taining to the well-cultivated farms of our agriculturists, w^here 

 they can obtain a plentiful supply of loose grain. The morning 

 and evening is the time when Partridges feed. When the weather 

 is favorable, they leave their roost at an eaily hour of the day, 

 and, being very industrious feeders, they are soon able to retire 

 from the open fields to some favorite and secluded spot, to bask 

 themselves in the mid-day sun, or roll themselves in the dust tf« 

 rid their plumage of the vermin with which all birds more or less 

 are infested. 



" Partridges are not strictly migratory birds, as the greater por- 

 tion of them remain distributed throughout the northern portions 

 of our country during the whole winter, and not unfrequently 

 -suffer immensely from the intense cold and deep snows ; still, at 

 that period of the autumn known as the " running season,^' large 

 Slumbers abandon their former haunts, and, continuing along tht- 

 borders of our rivers, take up their abode for a time in the lo\y- 

 JaDds, hundreds of miles, perhaps, fi'om their breeding-places. Ju 



