THE PARTRIDGE. 157 



tained by the swollen river for a few days, 

 and came up at last to the ranchos for shelter 

 and food, and a miserable, starved set of mor- 

 tals they looked. I had no food to give them, 

 but got my horse and gun and started out in 

 the heavy rain, and came back within an hour 

 with a fine stag and two of these fine birds. 



The partridge is abundant, but never 

 leaves the forest, and is not seen on the 

 savannah. It is unlike any other partridge 

 I have seen in America, but very far better 

 eating ; the only time they can be easily 

 killed is for about two months after the 

 burning of the forest underwood, at which 

 time only can they be discovered on the 

 ground ; and if the hunter wants partridge 

 for dinner he must condescend to shoot them 

 there^ for they will not rise, and if they did, 

 could not be shot in such a cover. Snakes, 

 cuyotes, foxes, and tiger-cats are their only 

 enemy, for an Indian would never waste a 

 charge of powder and shot on so small a bird. 



There is also a wild, moor-looking fowl 

 found in some of the woods, about the size 

 of a black-cock, but slighter made, colour 

 brown, with a handsome black tuft on the 

 head : it is a game-looking bird, and very 

 well flavoured. 



