14 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



CHAPTER II 



PARTRIDGES IN THE FIELDS 



THE partridge is one of the most sociable of game- 

 birds, at least during the greater part of the year. 

 The season of love, it is true, develops its disposition 

 to find happiness in monogamy ; but the gregarious 

 habits characterising birds of this genus are soon 

 resumed, even if suspended for a few weeks, in 

 obedience to the laws of increase. The incautious 

 individuals of the race were long ago exterminated 

 by their natural enemies, and the survivors are the 

 descendants of such individuals as proved to be as 

 superior in craft to their less fortunate fellows as they 

 were found to be in the lists of love. Thus it has 

 come about that no covey of birds seeks to roost in 

 thick cover, or in undisciplined order. The senses 

 of these persecuted birds have been so preternaturally 

 sharpened in course of time that they avoid cover 

 at night-time, and ' jug ' together in the open field, 

 taking advantage of any natural features of the ground 



