BIRDS IN THE CORN 
a case is on record in which a sitting partridge, 
seeing that the plough was coming dangerous- 
ly near her nest, actually removed the whole 
clutch of eggs, numbering over a score, to 
the shelter of a neighbouring hedge. This was 
accomplished, probably with the help of the 
male, during the short time it took the plough 
to get to the end of the field and back, and 
is a remarkable illustration of devotion and 
ingenuity. Not for nothing indeed is the 
partridge a game bird, for it has been seen to 
attack cats, and even foxes, in defence of the 
covey ; and I have seen, in the MS. notes of 
the second Earl of Malmesbury, preserved in 
the library at Heron Court, mention of one 
that drove off a carrion crow that menaced 
the family. Both partridge and landrail sit 
very close, particularly when the time of 
hatching is near, and Charles St. John saw a 
partridge, which his dog, having taken off 
the nest, was forced to drop, none the worse 
for her adventure, go straight back to her 
duties ; though, as he adds, if it had not been 
that she knew that the eggs were already 
chipping she would in all probability have 
deserted her post for good and all. 
109 
