556 THE COMMON OR GREY PARTRIDGE. 



in a strip of wood, or on the fields ; the eggs from twelve to 

 twenty. In leaving her eggs, the hen covers them with dry 

 grass or leaves. They are pale brown, If by 1J. She sits 

 three weeks. The young are known from the adult by their 

 yellow legs before the first moult. As soon as they are hatched, 

 the young, covered with down, run about, the male joining the 

 covey for defence and care. In their youngest state, if disturbed 

 they scatter and hide amongst the long grass or undergrowth to 

 defy being caught. They seem to vanish out of sight — like the 

 witches in Macbeth — which I have seen when suddenly come 

 upon, the hen to help them feigning lameness, and running at 

 the risk of being caught — in her maternal care. But when not 

 with her young, Burns (when Willie came across " blooming 

 Nelly" sleeping in the wood) gives a true picture when he 



" As flies the partridge from the brake 

 On fear-inspired wings. 

 So Nelly, starting, half awake, 

 Away affrighted springs." 



Although easily reared in confinement and tamed, it does not 

 breed in this state. Ecclesiasticus says — chap, xi., verses 20-30 

 (but why, I know not) — " Bring not every man into thy house, 

 for the deceitful man has many trains. Like as a partridge 

 taken (and kept) in a cage, so is the heart of the proud j and 

 like as a spy, watcheth he for thy fall." We all know the 

 danger of parading our treasures, and Shakespeare says — 

 " Beauty provoketh thieves sooner than gold," which he 

 portrays in " The Kape of Lucrece," when Colatine 



" The night before, in Tarquin's tent, 



Unlock'd the treasure of his happy state. 

 What priceless wealth the heavens had him lent 

 In the possession of his beauteous mate." 



For female attraction is universal and all-powerful — innate and 

 natural — with man as well as bird. Witness King David with 

 Bathsheba ; the sparring of the partridge (though void of 

 spurs), and the deadly combat of the an tiered stag — unless the 

 females ape the male — like woman — doff the petticoat, take long 

 swypes at the golf, ride bicycles, smoke cigars, and don the 

 soldier's uniform— but not the "garb of Old Gaul," for the 

 kilt would only add fuel to the fire of honest Nature's life- 

 giving love. In pairing time, some sportsmen, thinking there 

 were too many males, have shot half a dozen at different times 



