PARTRIDGES IN THE FIELDS 23 



heart's content. They are particular, of course, in 

 their choice of such a rendezvous. The sort of place 

 which seems to suit them best, on the whole, is a nice 

 sandy knoll on the side of a hill, screened from incon- 

 venient observation by a light covering of bracken 

 or lady-fern. In such a spot as this the birds are 

 thoroughly at home, and it is delightful to study their 

 sense of enjoyment. Overflowing with exuberance of 

 spirits, they dust their plumage in a sand bath to their 

 heart's content, preening their feathers with grace and 

 skill. 



At such a time their attitudes are free and fear- 

 less. Some of the number are sure to be seen resting 

 on their sides, thrusting their feet through their wing 

 quills, as if indulging in the luxury of stretching their 

 relaxed limbs, drinking in the warmth, so to speak, 

 with easy contentedness. Country folk in the north 

 of England are well acquainted with this trait, which 

 they express by the word 'balming,' a term which 

 has extended its meaning by common use, so that it 

 has in its turn created the term a ' balm ' to describe 

 a covey of partridges ; the designation is informal 

 enough, but it completely meets the case. The 

 situations to which the birds withdraw to enjoy their 

 noonday siesta are generally chosen for their retired 

 position ; but the partridge is an adaptive species, and 



