August 


the bird strongly resembles that name, which is 
commonly uttered twice. As one hears this 
masculine name called again and again, with 
no response, he would infer that it is uttered by 
the female, and that ‘‘ Bob”’ is very indiffer- 
ent and ill-mannered to make no reply. But 
it should be remembered that in the feathered 
world loquacity is the characteristic of the male, 
and not of the female, so that these loud ring- 
ing notes from the pasture will be rightfully 
attributed to him rather than to her. 
The color of the bird is so complicated as to 
be difficult of exact description ; but the im- 
pression at a distance is that of a reddish- 
brown; the head of the male with black and 
white trimmings which the female modestly 
foregoes. Its length is about that of the robin, 
but with a succulent, meaty build that makes it | 
appear larger. Wherever it resorts it is per- 
manent almost the year round, being said to 
retire toward the sea-shore for two or three 
weeks in the fall, after which it returns to its 
original haunts. 
Wilson gives an interesting account of the 
stratagem of the partridge when, as she leads 
about her family, becoming aware of danger, 
she uses ‘‘ every artifice she is mistress of to 
247 
