80 WINTER FOOD OF THE PARTRIDGE,—\SOMERS. 
It is taken instinctively, no doubt, though not in sufficient 
quantity to injure it. Kalmia is a narcotic and arterial seda- 
tive and contains a large proportion of tannin, it slows the circu- 
lation and retards the passage of the food through the alimentary 
canal. The active narcotic principle in this plant possesses 
properties similar to those of alcohol, opium, quinia, &c., viz., to 
lessen tissue change, and thus, in a certain way compensates 
for a deficiency in the quantity of food. 
It may be said that the foregoing ideas are more or less 
theoretical, but observations into the life history of our Partridge 
show that in the winter season when there is much snow the 
food of our bird consists largely of matter, not highly nutritive 
amongst them and some not usually taken at an earlier part of 
the season. Jn the winter they are usually sluggish, and are easily 
approached by the sportsman. At this time, also, certain portions 
or the whole of the flesh is often poisonous, producing when 
eaten symptoms like those that would be caused by the action of 
a strong arterial sedative, as a subsequent portion of the paper 
will show. 
Hunters’ stories are not always credible, yet there is one very 
common over the Northern portion of our Continent wherever 
the Partridge abounds, whose universality might answer for its 
truthfulness. This story refers to the extreme stupidity exhibited 
by the behaviour of the Partridge at times. It is well known to 
be shy in early season, but in winter and after heavy snow- 
falls a covey may be captured when roosting, provided the hunter 
begins with the birds on the lowest branches. 
We could well believe this story if the birds were short of food 
and under the influence of kalmia, the narcotic action of the 
plant being well calculated to produce that torpor and want of 
alertness which is said to characterize the Partridge during the 
season of snow. This leads up to the second part of my paper, 
viz., Partridge Poisoning, so-called. I have recently, in my own 
person, experienced the effects of eating poisoned Partridge, and 
may mention here that the circumstances and symptoms of my 
case, which I am about presenting, destroy most effectually the 
idea that Partridge poisoning is due to idiosyncracy, or to putri- 
