212 PARTRIDGE. 



observer, does she resume her power and wing away to a 

 greater Distance.' The parent birds exhibit great affection 

 for their young in leading them out and calling them together 

 to feed. Hen birds have been found dead with their broods 

 under their wings, perishing themselves from the effects of 

 cold and hunger, sooner than leave them to exposure in severe 

 weather. The male is very pugnacious in spring, driving off 

 all intruders, and endeavouring to guard his mate. Mr. 

 Selby tells of a pair which attacked a Crow which threatened 

 their young, and held him till taken from them by a person 

 who came up; and Markwick says that he saw a pair fly 

 up at and buffet a Kite which had been hovering over their 

 brood. They are believed to pair for life. The male birds 

 have combats together in the spring, and use their claws as 

 offensive weapons. 



A hen Partridge has been known, on perceiving that her 

 nest was discovered, to cover the eggs over with leaves so 

 completely, that it (the nest,) could not again have been 

 casually noticed; and each morning as she laid a fresh egg, 

 she covered all over again. Montagu mentions one which, 

 being taken with her eggs, continued to sit on them, and 

 brought out the young. Mr. Jesse relates a curious anecdote 

 of a Partridge which, being disturbed by a plough driven 

 close to her nest, removed the eggs, nineteen in number, 

 assisted perhaps by her mate, to a distance of forty yards 

 under a hedge, before the return of the plough, an interval 

 of twenty minutes: such instances have more than once 

 occurred. Of another he says, 'A farmer discovered a Partridge 

 sitting on its eggs in a grass field. The bird allowed him 

 to pass his hand down its back without moving or shewing 

 any fear; but if he offered to touch the eggs, the poor bird 

 immediately pecked his hand.' One has been known to fly 

 at and attack a person who picked up one of her young 

 running in a road, on hearing its cry. 



Of another it is related in the 'Zoologist,' pages 1601-2, 

 by Arthur Hussey, Esq., 'It soon shewed it liked to be 

 always with me, and was perfectly happy in my lap; or when 

 I have been painting, it would sit on my left arm dressing 

 itself or sleeping in entire security. I used to take it into 

 my mother's room, and if it could lie on her gown at her 

 feet, it was contented, but was always on the watch for my 

 coming back, and on seeing me would jump up and run to 

 meet me. It was now so tame and pleased with being fondled 



