PARTRIDGE. 213 



as to excite much astonishment. My mother soon became 

 very fond of it, and by degrees it was more with her than 

 with me. Its cage was never inhabited; it would never sleep 

 in confinement; therefore was awake and quite alive all the 

 evening, being either in the lap or on the sofa. When he 

 had changed his feathers and attained his full plumage, he 

 refused to be handled, but his habits were as sociable as before. 

 His knowledge of every one was most extraordinary: his 

 likings and dislikings were very strong; and he was so curious 

 and observant, that no piece of furniture could be moved 

 without his finding it out, and if the carpet was not smooth, 

 he would set to work instantly to render it so by picking 

 and scratching. 



He was very fond of gay colours, and no new cap or gown 

 could be put on without its catching his attention. He never 

 offered to go up or down stairs, and very rarely used his 

 wings. On being gently chastised when he did fly, he would 

 run and hide himself like a child, as if he knew he had done 

 wrong. A box of earth was given him to rub in, which he 

 thoroughly enjoyed. His feathers were always glossy and in 

 the most perfect order, which I attribute to his always having 

 plenty of green food, such as grass and clover cut small. In 

 the winter he liked wheat, but rarely touched it in the summer; 

 was very fond of sugar and cake; drank very little water; 

 and liked his food dry. He never forgot any one he had 

 made acquaintance with, and the return of any of the family 

 after many months absence, caused him so much joy and 

 excitement that I have been compelled to shut him up. He 

 would distinguish their voices even before they got out of the 

 carriage. His partiality for my mother was very great, and 

 if she was asleep, nothing would tempt him to quit her, but 

 he never liked her to be in the drawing-room. In the evening 

 he always came into the drawing-room, and remained till we 

 retired. He slept at my bed-side, and never disturbed me, 

 nor got up himself, till I was called, and then he had a 

 particular call if he fancied I was gone to sleep again. Once, 

 from being frightened, he flew out of the window, and being 

 recovered after much trouble, (it was in a town,) he never 

 again offered to get out. After this we had nets at the 

 window, and the net being one day left down in my room, 

 by running up to my mother and then into my room he 

 attracted her notice, and she followed him, he standing before 

 the window, and when the net was replaced shewing himself 



