135 



VIRGINIAN PAETEIDGE. 



PLATE CXLIII. FIG. I. 



LATHAM. JEXVNS. 



XIDIFICATION begins early in May. 



The nest, placed under or in some thick tuft of grass that 

 shelters and conceals it, is described as well covered with a hood, 

 an opening being left at one side for entrance, and is composed of 

 leaves and fine dry grass, both birds assisting in its fabrication. 



The eggs, from ten or twelve to fifteen or even twenty-four in 

 number, this latter quantity the joint produce in all probability of 

 two birds laying in the same nest, are pure white, without any spots, 

 and broad at one end, and pointed at the other. 



The hen bird performs the task of incubation for four weeks, and 

 the whole family keep together till the following spring. The young 

 leave the nest at once on being hatched, and are conducted forth by 

 the female in search of food, and from time to time are sheltered under 

 her wings, collected together by a twittering cry. Should danger appear 

 to threaten, she displays extreme anxiety, boldly attacking an intruder, 

 or using every artifice and stratagem to draw him away, feigning lame- 

 ness, 'throwing herself in the path, fluttering along, and beating the 

 ground with her wings, as if sorely wounded, uttering at the same time 

 certain peculiar notes of alarm well understood by the young, which 

 dive separately among the grass, and secrete themselves till the danger 

 is over; and the parent, having decoyed the pursuer to a safe distance, 

 returns, by a circuitous route, to collect and lead them off.' She shews 

 the greatest assiduity and the most sedulous and unremitting attention 

 in their further care. Wilson mentions a curious anecdote of somo 

 young ones which had been hatched under a hen, and which, 'when 



