PARTRIDGE 



223 



desert her eggs, but towards the end of incubation she sits very close. The number 

 of eggs varies according to the age of the hen, young birds laying fewer than older 

 ones. If there are nine eggs in the nest, these are laid by a bird whose first clutch 

 has met with an accident ; if the nest contains seventeen or more eggs they have 

 been laid by two birds. 



So soon as their feathers have been dried by the warmth of the mother, the 

 young birds leave the nest for ever. The whole family are much attached to one 

 another. First of all, the mother teaches the chicks to find their food, during which 

 time she creeps about cautiously in situations where she is not easily seen. The 

 cock informs 

 his family of 

 every danger, 

 courageously 

 meeting all 

 enemies, and 



often trying to ^^«i. . . ■**'• 



divert atten- __ '• ,,'* A 



ti( m from the 

 young by pre- 

 tending to be 

 lame, in which 

 endeavour he is 

 supported by 

 the hen. The 

 latter always 

 escapes in an 

 opposite direc- 

 tion to the cock 

 but returns as 

 soon as possible 

 in secret to the 

 chicks, which 

 have hidden 

 among grass 

 and leave s. 

 While atten- 

 tion is monopolised by the male bird, the mother leads her chicks away. As 

 soon as all is safe, the cock calls to the hen, and when she answers returns 

 to his family; and by means of different calls, and the general acuteness 

 of their senses, the two find each other very quickly. So long as the chicks are 

 small the hen shelters them under her wings, not only at night, but also in bad 

 weather and after meals. If they grow too big for all of them to be covered by 

 the hen's wings, the cock takes some of the little ones beneath his own. When 

 the chicks are grown up, they escape from their enemy by flight, and, if chased 

 a second time, by dispersing in all directions. When in fear, they press their 

 bodies close to the ground and await the intruder's approach without taking to 



A COVEV OF PARTRIDGES. 



