42 PARTRIDGE. 



casionally in each other's nests. Though I have never myself 

 seen a case of this kind, I do not think it altogether improbable, 

 from the fact, that they have often been known to drop their 

 eggs in the nest of the common hen, when that happened to be 

 in the fields, or at a small distance from the house. The two 

 Partridges above mentioned were raised in this manner; and 

 it was particularly remarked by the lady, who gave me the 

 information, that the hen sat for several days after her own eggs 

 where hatched, until the young Quails made their appearance. 



The Partridge, on her part, has sometimes been employed to 

 hatch the eggs of the common domestic hen. A friend of mine, 

 who himself made the experiment, informs me, that of several 

 hen's eggs which he substituted in place of those of the Part- 

 ridge, she brought out the whole; and that for several weeks 

 he occasionally surprised her in various parts of the plantation, 

 with her brood of chickens; on which occasions she exhibited 

 all that distressful alarm, and practised her usual manoeuvres for 

 their preservation. Even after they were considerably grown, 

 and larger than the Partridge herself, she continued to lead 

 them about; but though their notes, or call, were those of com- 

 mon chickens, their manners had all the shyness, timidity and 

 alarm of young Partridges; running with great rapidity, and 

 squatting in the grass exactly in the manner of the Partridge. 

 Soon after this they disappeared, having probably been de- 

 stroyed by dogs, by the gun, or by birds of prey. Whether the 

 domestic fowl might not by this method be very soon brought 

 back to its original savage state, and thereby supply another 

 additional subject for the amusement of the sportsman, will 

 scarcely admit of a doubt. But the experiment, in order to se- 

 cure its success, would require to be made in a quarter of the 

 country less exposed than ours to the ravages of guns, traps, 

 dogs, and the deep snows of winter, that the new tribe might 

 have full time to become completely naturalized, and well fixed 

 in all their native habits. 



About the beginning of September, the Quails being now 

 nearly full grown, and associated in flocks, or coveys, of from 



