ADVENTURES OF A BROOD. 223 



were then again placed in the nest, which was 

 further patched with a piece of drugget, fastened 

 into the fracture through which they had fallen. 

 They were doomed, however, to go through more 

 trials. It happened some nights after that there 

 was a heavy rain, which so completely soaked the 

 nest, and the drugget which had been placed in it 

 as a lining, that the young ones were found the 

 following morning almost drowned, and to all 

 appearance lifeless. They were again brought to 

 the fire and thoroughly dried ; after which they 

 were placed in the empty nest of another bird, 

 which was substituted for the old one, and placed 

 in a currant bush, a few yards from the wall 

 where the ivy was. The young ones, which 

 were half fledged when they got this wetting, still 

 continued to receive the attentions of their parents ; 

 and in due time they were all safely reared, and 

 flew away. During this eventful part of their 

 history it is stated that it was interesting and 

 curious to observe the familiarity of the old birds, 

 which always sat close by, and never appeared to 

 be in the least alarmed at the liberties taken with 

 their progeny. 



The common partridge supplies us with a beau- 



