1()4 FRANK SCHLEY'S PARTRIDGE AND PHBASANT SHOOTING. 



of lakes, especiallj' where the forests have been partially 

 cleared ; perching on trees in the winter, but keeping to the 

 ground in summer; and, at all seasons, met with in small 

 flocks of from ten to sixteen. They are said, early fn 

 spring, to select some level place, Avhere a covey meets 

 every morning and runs round in a circle of about twenty 

 feet in diameter, so that the grass is worn quite bare. If 

 any one apj)roaches this circle, the birds squat close to the 

 ground ; but if not alarmed by a too near approach, they 

 soon stretch out their necks to survey the intruder, and 

 resume their circular course, some running to the right 

 and others to the leit, meeting and crossing each other. 

 These "partridge-dances" are said to last a month or more, 

 or until the female begins to incubate. This Grouse rises 

 from the ground with the usual Avhirring noise, and alights 

 again at a distance of a few hundred yards, sometimes on 

 the grouiul or on the l)ranches of a tree. In Avinter they 

 hide in the snow, and make their way with ease through 

 the loose drifts, feeding on the buds of the willows, larches, 

 as])ens, etc. In summer and autumn their food is princi- 

 pally berries. They are said to lay about thirteen eggs 

 early in June; the nest being on the ground, formed of 

 grasses lined with feathers. 



The eggs of this variety closely resemble those of the 

 robiiiihianKS, hut are generally of a decidedly darkev 

 ground. They average 1.75 inches in length Ity 1.28 in 

 breadth. Their gi-onnd is a dark tawnj^-brown, minutely 

 dotted with (hirk-er spots of bi'own. — Balnl, BrcKCi' ami 

 Rid (J If III/. 



