73 



PAKTKIDGE. 

 Case 86. 



It is a curious fact that Partridges and 

 Pheasants, if driven over water or towns, appear to 

 get bewildered, and losing all power of flight drop 

 down and suffer themselves to be picked up rather 

 than rise again. 



Some people have a mistaken idea that a land 

 bird is unable to rise from water, but I have 

 repeatedly seen several species that have fallen 

 wounded rise from either fresh or salt water with 

 the greatest ease. 



The first year that the Easter Volunteer 

 Review was held on the Downs in the neighbour- 

 hood of Brighton the wind was from the north, 

 and during the sham fight great numbers of 

 Partridges were disturbed by the crowds and noise 

 and becoming confused flew out to sea where they 

 fell into the water. Several boats which happened 

 to be under the cliffs profited by their misfortunes, 

 one alone getting between twenty and thirty birds. 

 Next year over a score of boats were on the spot 

 awaiting the coming of the unfortunate Partridges, 

 but the wind luckily blowing from the south, 

 carried the affrighted birds inland, and not one 

 came out to sea. 



I was going early one morning to the station 

 at St. Leonard's when I observed a covey of ten or 

 a dozen partridges drop into a small open square in 

 the back part of the town. On being chased by 

 some boys and dogs they never attempted to use 

 their wings, but sought shelter in the open doors or 

 fluttered helplessly down the areas. 



The specimens in the case were shot at 

 Potter Heigham near Yarmouth in Norfolk in 

 December, 1873. 



