116 LAND BIRDS 
It was made of leaves and stems of this plant and lined 
with feathers, and in it lay ten eggs of the Plumed 
Partridge. They were nearly ready to hatch, — how 
ready I did not guess, —and with a hope that no one 
would molest them in the meantime, we departed, re- 
solving to come back the next day. But I reckoned 
without my host, for having eaten luncheon and rested, 
I stole back alone for a last peep at them, and two had 
pipped the shells while a third was cuddled down in 
the split halves of his erstwhile covering. The distress 
of the mother was pitiful, and I had not the heart to 
torture the beautiful creature needlessly ; so going off a 
little way, I lay down flat along the “ misery,” regardless 
of the discomfort,-and awaited developments. Before I 
could focus my glasses she was on the nest, her anxious 
little eyes still regarding me suspiciously. In less time 
than it takes to tell it, the two were out and the mother 
cuddled them in her fluffed-out feathers. This was too 
interesting to be left. Even at the risk of being too late 
to reach my destination, [ must see the outcome. ‘Two 
hours later every egg had hatched and a row of tiny 
heads poked out from beneath the mother’s breast. I 
started toward her and she flew almost into my face, so 
closely did she pass me. Then by many wiles she tried in 
vain to coax me to go another way. I was curious and 
therefore merciless. Moreover, I had come all the way 
from the East for just such hours as this. But once more 
a surprise awaited me. There was the nest, there were 
the broken shells ; but where were the young partridges ? 
Only one of all that ten could I find. For so closely did 
