THE PARTRIDGE AT HOME AND ABROAD 13 



wherever they were suffered to exist. Some thirteen 

 years ago a Christchurch friend of ours was taking a 

 country walk near Oxford, when a beautiful hen 

 harrier singled out a fine partridge and struck it down 

 dead at his feet. Similarly, the kite must have 

 accounted for a few young partridges in the days 

 when kites were common in this country, to judge 

 from the pertinacity with which we have seen a fine 

 red kite hovering morning after morning over a field 

 in which a covey of young partridges lay concealed. 



Doubtless the young of all the game-birds are 

 much exposed to enemies, both furred and feather, 

 during the first few days of their existence. The 

 bravery with which the helpless chicks are defended 

 from their enemies by their parents be the odds 

 against them what they may will always claim 

 a certain share of admiration. This feeling is 

 strengthened by the pacific appearance of the par- 

 tridge, which possesses a larger modicum of courage 

 and of self-devotion than those who know little of 

 its habits might be inclined to give it credit for. 



