480 THE PARTRIDGE. 



The mother-bird sits very closely, and is not easily frightened from her charge ; and during 

 the last day or two of incubation she is so fearless that she will not suffer herself to be dis- 

 turbed, and will allow the scythe of the mower to kill her on her nest rather than desert her 

 home. Sitting Partridges have sometimes allowed themselves to be taken by hand. When 

 imminent danger threatens the nest, the mother-bird has been known to carry off the eggs and 

 convey them to a place of safety, executing the task in a wonderfully short space of time. Mr. 

 Jesse mentions one such instance, where there were twenty-one eggs, the whole of which were 

 removed to a distance of forty yards in about twenty minutes. It is probable that the cock 

 bird assisted his mate in her labors. 



When the young are hatched they are strong on their legs at once, running about with 

 ease, and mostly leaving the nest on the same day. The mother takes her little new-born 

 brood to their feeding-places, generally ant-hills or caterpillar-haunted spots, and aids them in 

 their search after food by scratching away the soil with her feet. The nests of the wood-ant, 

 which are mostly found in fir plantations or hilly ground, being very full of inhabitants, very 

 easily torn to pieces, and the ants and their larvae and pupae being very large, are favorite 

 feeding-places of the Partridge, which in such localities is said to acquire a better flavor than 

 among the lower pasture lands. 



The young brood, technically called a "covey," associate together, and have a very strong 

 local tendency, adhering with great pertinacity to the same field or patch of land. When 

 together they are mostly rather wild, and dart off at the least alarm with their well-known 

 whirring flight, just topping a hedge or wall and settling on the other side till again put up ; 

 but when the members of the covey are separated they seem to dread the air, and crouch 

 closely to the ground, so that it is the object of the sportsman to scatter the covey and to pick 

 them up singly. They are always alarmed at a soaring bird, whether of prey or not, and squat 

 closely to the ground. When they are very wild and shy, the sportsmen take advantage of 

 this propensity, and fly a kite shaped like a hawk over them, thus inducing them to lie 

 frightened on the ground until the dog can point them in the proper fashion. Even a common, 

 long- tailed, round-shouldered boy's kite will answer the purpose well enough. Some punctil- 

 ious sportsmen, however, denounce the kite as a trick only worthy of a poacher, and would 

 rather walk after the birds all day without getting a shot than secure a full bag by the use of 

 such a device. 



About the middle or end of February, according to the mildness or inclemency of the 

 season, the Partridge begins to pair ; and as the male birds are very numerous, they fight 

 desperate battles for the object of their love. While engaged in combat, they are so deeply 

 absorbed in battle, that they may be approached quite closely, as they whirl round and round, 

 grasping each other by the beak, and have even been taken by hand. So strong, however, is 

 the warlike instinct, that, when released, the furious birds recommenced the quarrel. 



The females take no part in these battles ; waiting quietly, like the strong-minded heroines 

 of romance, to abide the issue of the combat, and to reward the victors with their love. Not 

 that they are devoid of courage, but they reserve its display for a better purpose, namely, the 

 defence of their young. Should a hen Partridge be disturbed while in charge of her little 

 brood, she will endeavor to put them out of danger, and to draw the intruder aside by the 

 exertion of many a crafty while. But should the enemy come upon them too suddenly to 

 be deceived by cunning, she will boldly dash at the foe, and, with self-sacrificing courage, 

 attack with beak, foot, and wing, until the enemy has left the ground, or herself is killed, 

 knowing that her young charge are taking advantage of the time to place themselves in 

 safety. Small though the bird may be, it can strike with considerable force, and has been 

 known to inflict some painful wounds on the faces of human beings who have suddenly dis- 

 turbed a brood of young. 



Though strong and rapid of flight for a short distance, the Partridge loves not to trust 

 itself over much to the air, and cannot fly to any great distance without alighting. When 

 these birds are forced to pass over wide rivers or arms of the sea, they are often so wearied 

 that they fall into the water, and these are mostly drowned, having but little idea of swim- 

 ming, beyond the idea that they are to sit still and trust to their fortune. A bird thus fallen 



