1 94 Trails to Woods and Waters 



drumming log. We'll keep our eyes open 

 and see if we can find it. The partridge's 

 drumming is a part of his courtship and early 

 married life. One can usually find the nest 

 within five or ten rods of the log. The par- 

 tridge drums for his mate, just as the wood- 

 pecker does, but the female partridge does not 

 answer as does the female woodpecker. Mrs. 

 Partridge is more modest than that. Now I 

 guess we had better attend to our fence mend- 

 ing." 



The following day we searched for the nest, 

 but at first were unsuccessful in finding it. 



" You see," said Ben, when we had about 

 given up the search, " the female partridge 

 will lie very close when she is on the nest, and 

 you have nearly to run over her before she 

 flies ; she hates to disclose the precious spot. 



" Sometimes it is in a brush heap, and 

 sometimes under the edge of an old log, but it 

 is always hidden wonderfully well. Mrs. 

 Partridge does not want the red squirrel to 

 find it and eat her eggs. It would be still 

 worse to have the weasel find the nest. Now 



