CHAPTER NINE ANIMAL INSTINCT 



or other means of defence, he actually got so frightened at 

 her threats that he laid down the two young ones and went 

 his way. He returned presently with a stick he had found, 

 but both old and young had disappeared. Even a partridge 

 will do battle for her young. A hen partridge one day sur- 

 prized me by rushing out of some cover (through which I 

 was passing by a narrow path) and flying at a large dog 

 whoaccompanied me; she actuallyspurredandpeckedhim, 

 driving him several yards along the road; and this done, 

 she ran at my heels like a barn-door hen. As I passed, I 

 saw her newly-hatched brood along the edge of the path. 

 I have known a pheasant do exactly the same thing. Wild 

 ducks, snipes, woodcocks, and many other shy birds, will 

 also throw themselves boldly within the reach of destruc- 

 tion in defence of their young. 



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