THE PARTRIDGE A FRIEND TO THE FARMER. 5 



mere chick when it came into her possession, and 

 no dog or parrot .ever presented a more perfect 

 model of affection and docility. Although it had 

 the run of the house, its favourite quarters were in 

 the drawing-room, where it would sit for hours 

 on the back of the chair usually occupied by its 

 beloved mistress, and never fail to exhibit every 

 symptom of grief and concern during her occa- 

 sional absence. When she retired to rest it 

 would accompany her to her chamber, and take 

 up its position near the head of her bed. No 

 wonder then that many a tear was dropped when, 

 from an untimely accident, it ' went the way 

 of all ' pets. 



The partridge is decidedly a friend to the 

 farmer, even more so than the pheasant; as his 

 consumption of grain is less, and the quantities 

 of injurious weeds and noxious insects devoured 

 by him at all seasons of the year are more 

 considerable, in proportion to his size. The Rev. 

 G. Wilkins, who has bestowed much attention 

 to agriculture in Essex, thus addressed a neigh- 

 bouring farmer who had solicited his advice. 

 " If you have a nest of partridges, encourage 

 them. All the summer they live upon insects, 

 wire worms, &c., and consider how many millions 

 a covey will destroy in a single summer ! " He 

 might have added, and in the winter and spring ; 



