AS CONCERNING PARTRIDGE-NESTS 43 



as she flutters in the dust at his feet, is very delight- 

 ful to observe. Equally touching is the devotion 

 which induces a female shoveller to dash around the 

 enemy, whose presence in the reed thicket in which 

 her newly-hatched ducklings are skulking has dis- 

 turbed her peace of mind. Gallantly does she risk 

 her own safety for her brood, when her first attempt 

 to wheedle you into the belief that her young are 

 somewhere else has failed to obtain credit. Similarly, 

 if we startle a pair of partridges while engaged in 

 protecting their chicks, we are pretty certain to be 

 entertained with some charming attempt on their 

 part of perpetrating deception upon us. Rising from 

 the tall grass at our approach with startled cry, away 

 they scurry, as if in hot haste. But they do not fly 

 far ; no sooner have they traversed a safe distance 

 from their young than they check their course. 

 Alighting in the open field within full view of us, 

 they endeavour to persuade us that they are des- 

 perately wounded, 'and might be captured with a 

 little trouble. Male and female alike trail their 

 plumage through the dusty soil, in their resolution to 

 beguile us with their ingenious devices. Their distress 

 becomes intense if we capture and withhold their 

 youngsters. 



But they have more dangerous enemies than man 



