A BO^WHITE FAMILY 137 



tion and expressions of affection lie paid his tribute to the 

 god of bird-love, as winged creatures have done ever since 

 the days when birds first sang, and loved, and mated. 



Ah ! those which followed were glorious days about the 

 Levering farm. For the voices of many spring birds filled 

 the fields, and the swamp lands, and the pine forests all 

 about; and the partridge with his mate lived and whistled 

 and, on tireless legs, roved through it all. Close to a rail 

 fence the nest was built beneath a bunch of grass, and day 

 by day, for nearly two weeks, the white eggs it contained 

 grew in number. Then for many days the mother brooded 

 over her treasures, keeping them warm and guarding the 

 nest from danger. Her mate fed her and at times even sat 

 in the nest while the tired one went away to exercise and 

 search for food. 



Out into the field one day the parents came with their 

 family of babies. Thirteen little brown, fuzzy, down- 

 covered balls were these chicks, for all the eggs had 

 hatched. It was only that day that each white shell had 

 opened before the vigorous pecking of the little bird inside, 

 and let out its prisoner. No weaklings were these bob- 

 whites. They had no notion of remaining in the nest and 

 being fed like young sparrows. No sooner had the sun 

 and wind dried their downy coats than they were ready 

 and anxious to start afield with their parents. 



