THE PARTRIDGE. 35 



closely do these birds sit on their eggs when near hatching, 

 that a partridge with her nest has been carried in a hat to some 

 distance, and in confinement she has continued her incubation, 

 and there produced young ones. The great hatch is about the 

 middle of June ; and the earliest birds begin to fly towards the 

 atter end of that month. The young brood are able to run 

 about as soon as they are hatched, and they are even sometimes 

 seen incumbered with a piece of a shell sticking to them. The 

 parents immediately lead them to ant hills, on the grubs of which 

 they at first principally feed. 



At the season when the partridge is produced, the various 

 species of ants loosen the earth about their habitations. The 

 young birds therefore have only to scrape away the earth, and 

 they can satisfy their hunger without difficulty. A covey that 

 some years ago excited the attention of the Rev. Mr. Gould, 

 gave him an opportunity of remarking the great delight they 

 take in this kind of food. On his turning up a colony of ants, 

 and withdrawing to some distance, the parent birds conducted 

 their young to the hill, and fed very heartily. After a few days, 

 they grew more bold, and ventured to eat within twelve or four- 

 teen yards of him. The surrounding grass was high ; by which 

 means they could, on the least disturbance, immediately run 

 out of sight, and conceal themselves. The excellence of this 

 food for partridges may be ascertained from those that are bred 

 up under a domestic hen, if constantly supplied with ants' grubs 

 and fresh water, seldom failing to arrive at maturity. Along 

 with the grubs it is recommended to give them, at intervals, a 

 mixture of millepedes, or wood lice, and earwigs, to prevent 

 their surfeiting on one luxurious diet ; fresh curds mixed with 

 lettuce, chickweed, or groundsel, should also be given them. 



The affection of partridges for their young is peculiarly in- 

 teresting. Both the parents lead them out to feed ; they point 

 out to them the proper places for their food, and assist them in 



