PAIRING AND NESTING. 63 



the eggs were hatched. When the females departed with 

 their young brood they left but one egg unhatched. The 

 Partridges build their nests in the month of May. The 

 nest is always constructed on the ground, frequently at 

 the foot of a stump, or by a thick tuft of grass, or bush, 

 often in the corners of a worm fence which is grown up 

 with grass, weeds, or briars, and frequently in the open 

 fields, as wheat, clover or timothy. The nest is very sim- 

 ply constructed, it is slightly sunk below the surface of the 

 ground. The materials consist of dry leaves and grass, or 

 stubble and straw, and are so arranged as to form a cover 

 with an opening at the side for an entrance, but they are 

 as often open above, as covered. The female lays from 

 twelve to twenty-four eggs, of a pure brilliant white color, 

 sharply pointed at one end, and obtusely rounded at the 

 other, and is assisted by the male in hatching them. The 

 period of incubation I do not exactly know, but it is said 

 to be about twenty -three days. When the eggs are placed 

 under the domestic hen, it is said to take four weeks to 

 hatch them. During the period of incubation, and when 

 the female is laying, the male may be" heard, a short dis- 

 tance off, standing on the fence, stump, log, or the low 

 limb of a tree, keeping his paramour company, by repeat- 

 ing at intervals his well-known and familiar love notes, 

 Bob- White. The young leave the nest as soon as they 

 are freed from the shell, and are led around in search of 

 food by the female, and are nestled under her wing in the 

 same manner as a brood of young chickens. Should the 

 little brood be come upon and surprised by an enemy, or a 

 huntsman, or a dog, the greatest alarm and consternation 

 tali e place. The female places herself in the way, flutter- 

 ing along and dragging and beating the ground with her 

 wings, as if badly wounded, at the same time using every 

 artifice to decoy the intruder in pursuit of herself, crying 

 at the same time notes of safety, which are instinctively 

 understood by the young birds, who squat and hide among 

 the grass, and keep themselves close until all danger is 

 passed. The female after having succeeded in leading the 



