COMMON PARTRIDGE. 109 



plants ; others dusting themselves in any dry spot where 

 the soil is loose, and this would seem to be a constant 

 practice with them in dry weather, if we may judge by the 

 numerous dusting-places, with the marks and feathers, to be 

 found about their haunts ; and sportsmen find, in the early 

 part of the shooting-season, that young and weak birds are 

 frequently infested with numerous parasites. In the after- 

 noon the covey repair to some neighbouring field of standing 

 corn, or, if that be cut, to the stubble, for the second daily 

 meal of grain ; and, this completed, the call-note may be 

 heard, according to White, as soon as the beetles begin to 

 buzz, and the whole move away together to some spot where 

 they jug, as it is called that is, squat and nestle close 

 together for the night ; and from the appearance of the 

 mutings, or droppings, which are generally deposited in a 

 circle of only a few inches in diameter, it would appear that 

 the birds arrange themselves also in a circle, of which their 

 tails form the centre, all the heads being outwards, a dis- 

 position which instinct has suggested as the best for observ- 

 ing the approach of any of their numerous enemies, whatever 

 may be the direction, and thus increase their security by 

 enabling them to avoid a surprise. In the morning early 

 they again visit the stubble for a breakfast, and pass the 

 rest of the day as before. Fields of clover or turnips are very 

 favourite places of resort during the day. Mr. Harvie-Brown 

 informs the Editor that when the snow lay upon the ground 

 he has known a covey to roost regularly on a limb of a large 

 tree ; and he has also seen Partridges " treed " by a dog. 



Many Partridges are annually reared from eggs that are 

 found, or mowed out in cutting clover or grass, these eggs 

 being hatched under hens. The young birds should be fed 

 with ants'-eggs, curd, grits ; small grain and some vege- 

 tables, when the birds are old enough. Partridges thus 

 hatched and reared become so tame as even to be trouble- 

 some, running close about the feet of those who are in the 

 habit of supplying them several times daily with food. 

 Although they live for years in an aviary, records of the Par- 

 tridge breeding in confinement are rare. Sir Thomas Marion 



