BRITISH BIRDS. 359 



the pointer come too near, or unfortunately run in 

 upon them, there are few who are ignorant of the 

 confusion that follows; the male first gives the sig- 

 nal of alarm by a peculiar cry of distress, throwing 

 himself at the same moment more immediately in 

 the way of danger, in order to deceive or mislead 

 the enemy; he flies, or rather runs, along the 

 ground, hanging his wings, and exhibiting every 

 symptom of debility, whereby the dog is decoyed, 

 in the too eager expectation of an easy prey, to a 

 distance from the covey; the female flies off in a 

 contrary direction, and to a greater distance, but 

 returning soon after by secret ways, she finds her 

 scattered brood closely squatted among the grass, 

 and collecting them with haste, leads them from 

 the danger before the dog has had time to return 

 from his pursuit. 



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