206 WITH THE WOODLANDERS. 



come to grief for every single partridge. I should 

 just like to see the fields at least in the southern 

 counties swept over with gossamer -silk nets in 

 the way some gentlemen, who know so precisely 

 how the thing was done, try to explain so lucidly. 



Partridges pair, and they are devoted parents, 

 not only when the chicks are out, but also when 

 their broods are fully fledged. The wiles and shifts 

 both parents will use to lure you away from their 

 young, whom you so frequently startle from off some 

 of the numerous ant-hills that crop up from the 

 turf and ferns, must be seen to be credited; it 

 would be useless to attempt the description of it. 

 Broken wings, broken legs, fits, and death-throes, 

 all are gone through, close to your feet, in less 

 time than it has taken us to mention these as- 

 sumed afflictions, giving the young plenty of time to 

 get to cover in all directions, and into all sorts of 

 places. Then, again, if you keep very quiet, you 

 will presently hear the old birds call, and in less 

 than a minute the little family will be busy round 

 some ant-heap, as if nothing had disturbed them 

 at all. 



No one ever dreams of hurting the innocent crea- 



