72 A LONG DAY \WIDH. THE: BIRDS 
to thirteen inches in length, the French 
species being the larger as already noted. The 
English birds have a curious way of roosting 
in the open in a bunch, all facing outwards. 
This renders them a prey to poachers, who 
net them at night time. But this may be 
prevented by sticking branches in the ground 
here and there which catch the nets. These 
branches are a familiar sight in fields in game 
country. Many partridges kill themselves 
by flying against telegraph wires. I have 
heard it said that a bird has been known to 
fly right through a moving train crosswise 
between the carriages without injury! I 
do not believe the story that a bird has 
been seen to fly right through a train from 
the engine to the last carriage! The food 
of’ partridges ;is | insects». (beetles; picanen. 
pillars, etc.), and worms, and also wheat, 
beans, and probably any berries and seeds. 
They are also very fond of ants’ eggs—and 
devour snails and grubs, for which they scratch 
in the earth. They delight in a dust bath 
like domestic hens, sparrows, and some other 
