26 FEATHEEED GAME 



eggs. When the chicks are half grown the 

 family is again united, the male bird usually 

 joining during the latter part of August. 



The mother bird thus left to her own devices, 

 displays great bravery in defense of her young, 

 and will often fly at an intruder in the same 

 fashion as a hen defending her brood. I re- 

 member once when accompanied on a stroll 

 through the woods by a bull terrier dog, that 

 we came suddenly into a little opening among 

 the trees and well-nigh stepped into a brood of 

 little ''cheepers." The dog being in advance, 

 mother partridge made a furious dash at him, 

 and when the astonished animal refused to be 

 frightened, she made still another desperate 

 charge right into his face, when he at once 

 struck her down and stood with this new species 

 of hen under his feet, making as though he 

 would finish her at once, but, being an obedient 

 fellow, and perhaps with the remembrance of 

 former whippings for chicken killing, he reluct- 

 antly let her go with no more damage than a few 

 ruffled feathers. She lost no time in getting 

 away when set free, for her point was won and 

 not a chick was in sight. 



Failing by force to repel an invasion on her 



