46 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



self-preservation ; the acuteness with which they take 

 advantage of the best points of cover is wonderful to 

 recognise. 



' Once,' says Mr. Warner, ' in the month of June, 

 the mowers came across a partridge nest in the centre 

 of a clover field. In order to give the old birds every 

 chance of rearing their young, the men left a tuft 

 of herbage round the nest unshorn. The old birds 

 did not desert, but they evidently disliked the exposure 

 of their nest that had taken place. When obliged to 

 go away in search of food, they left together, and on 

 their return would pitch in the field within a few 

 yards of their nest. Having anxiously scanned the 

 view, the hen bird, still true to her love of conceal- 

 ment, crouched close to the ground, and crept quietly 

 back on to her eggs. When these hatched, the young 

 were at once led to a safer retreat.' l 



1 Science Gossip, 1873, p. 211. 



