FOES OF THE PARTRIDGES. 71 



FOES OF THE PAETEIDGES. 



J^HE Partridges, like the Pheasants, have numerous 

 I foes to contend with, and are destroyed in various 

 ^^' ways, independent of man. To enumerate the foes 

 'yf which destroy them, I shall begin with the snake, 

 which crawls and creeps by day and night, through field, 

 wood, and brake, and is ever ready to spring upon its 

 prey. This reptile destroys numbers of young birds be- 

 fore they can fl}^ The little sparroAv hawk is a foe of the 

 Partridges, and is a very active bird by da3^ It sits perch- 

 ed upon a fence stake, or upon a dead tree top, and there 

 watches, and, if any young birds cross its pathway it will 

 pounce upon them with great quickness. This little hawk 

 only destroys the birds when they are weak and quite 

 young. In the summer season, crows are bold, cunning, 

 and persistent plunderers of the nest of these birds. The 

 red and grey fox are destructive foes; they travel their 

 rounds by day and night through woods, fields, and brakes, 

 and with their acute sense of smell, sight, and hearing, 

 they can readily detect these birds, and, creeping within 

 springing distance, they leap upon them like a cat. These 

 cunning robbers destroy great numbers of these birds, 

 both young and old. Minks also make sad havoc among 

 both the old and young birds, in winter as well as in sum- 

 mer. These nimble roaming animals mostly prey upou 

 them in the night, and in travelling their run-ways, they 

 search everj^ nook, hole, and corner in their beat, and frwn 

 their love of killing they destroy more than they can con- 

 sume. The little weasel is a very destructive foe, it puts 

 to death more than it can carry off. This active wiry little 

 animal seizes its prey near the head, and the place where 

 its teeth enter is so small a wound that it can scarcely be 



