140 



STORIES OF BIRD LIFE 



prowling cat. Another fell into a deep post hole and never 

 got out again. 



When some weeks had passed and the young had learned 

 much about taking care of themselves, the mother sud- 

 denly forsook the family. Close beside a rarely used road 

 which ran through the open pine woods, she scratched a 

 slight hollow in the ground at the base of a small pine, 

 lined and covered it over with grass, and there laid another 

 setting of eggs. In due time a second brood appeared. 

 Fifteen more little fuzzy balls of life started on that long 

 journey, fraught with so much danger, from the days of 

 down toward the days of feathers. 



Scarcely had their mother led them from the nest when a 

 storm came on. For hours the rain fell in torrents. Water 

 ran ever^^where. The road was turned into a stream. In 

 the woods it stood in pools. Night closed down and the 

 storm continued. In vain did the anxious partridge strive 

 to cover and protect her brood. The water rose under her. 

 The little ones became soaked and chilled; some were 

 drowned outright. Wlien the light came again and the 

 rain had ceased, only six small voices were able to cheep 

 a feeble response to their mother's calls. 



The two families, now depleted in numbers, united. 

 Father and mother, big brothers and sisters, and little 

 brothers and sisters all associated together. When danger 



