NORTHERN OCEAN, 
tafting thofe large partridges, will readily allow 
that they excel the common fort as much in fla- 
vour asthey doin fize. It is remarked in thofe 
birds, as wellas the Rock Partridge, that they 
are provided with additional clothing, as it may 
be called ; for every feather, from the largeft to 
the fimalleft, except the quills and tail, are all 
double. ‘The under-feather is foft and downy, 
fhooting from the fhaft of the larger; and is 
wonderfully adapted to their fituation, as they not 
only brave the coldeft Winters, but the fpecies 
now under confideration always burrow under 
the fnow at nights, and at day light come forth 
to feed. In Winter they are always found to fre- 
quent the banks of rivers and creeks, the fides of 
lakes and ponds, and the plains which abound 
with dwarf willows; for it is on the buds and 
tops of that tree they always feed during the 
Winter. in fummer they eat berries and {mall 
herbage. Their food in Winter being fo dry 
and harfh, makes it neceflary for them to {wal- 
low a confiderable quantity of gravel to promote 
digeftion ; but the great depth of {now renders 
it very fcarce during that feafon. The Indians 
having confidered this point, invented the me- 
thod now in ufe among the Englifh, of catching 
them in nets by means of that fimple allurement, 
a heap of gravel. The nets for this purpofe are 
from eight to twelve feet fquare, and are {ftretch- 
ed in a frame of wood, and ufually fet on the ice 
of rivers, creeks, ponds, and lakes, about one 
hundred 
41S 
