218 PRAIRIE AND FOREST. 



CHAPTEK XIV. 



ORTIX. 



(Ortix.} 



THE Virginian ortix is to be found from the Gulf of Mexico 

 to Upper Canada, and from the Atlantic sea-board to the 

 confines of the western settlements eastward of the Rocky 

 Mountains, its vagrant habits occasionally causing it to 

 stray so far north as to cause thousands to perish through 

 the severity of the winter; for, although so reckless of 

 consequences, they are far from hardy. They are sought 

 for in the same manner as partridges are in England, viz. 

 with setters and pointers ; but from their being a smaller 

 bird, and laying closer, it is desirable, when in their pur- 

 suit, to use smaller shot. If justifiable to envy your 

 neighbours the possession of anything, I think the sports- 

 man who has killed this game must often have wished in 

 his heart that it was abundant in England. 



If all who have travelled abroad or sojourned in foreign 

 lands had done so with their eyes shut, or if, not keeping 

 their orbits closed, they had refused to give their country- 



