132 THE SHOOTER'S GUIDE. 



The Partridge. 



The partridge is a bird well known all over the 

 world, as it is found in every country and every cli- 

 mate, as well in the frozen regions near the poles, as 

 the burning tracts of the equator. Wherever it re- 

 sides, it seems to adapt itself to the nature of the cli- 

 mate. In Greenland, the partridge is brown in sum- 

 mer; but as soon as the icy winter sets in, its outward 

 plumage assumes the colour of the snows among 

 which it seeks its food, and it becomes clothed with 

 a warm down beneath. Thus the latter defends it 

 from the extreme cold, and the former prevents its 

 being so easily seen by its enemies. Those of Bara- 

 konda are longer legged, much, swifter of foot, and 

 choose the highest rocks and precipices to reside in. 

 Partridges, however, all agree in one general charac- 

 ter, of being immoderately addicted to venery, and if 

 we are to credit some writer, even to an unnatural de- 

 p'ee; certain it is that, the cock bird will pursue the 

 hen to the nest, and break her eggs rather than not 

 indulge his inclinations. 



The partridge is of a cowardly disposition, fearful, 

 simple, and easily deceived or beguiled with many de- 

 vices, particularly that of being driven into a tunnel 

 net, by which poachers seldom miss taking the whole 

 covey at once. 



These birds, in general, pair about the second 

 week in February, but in this respect they are much 

 influenced by the weather 5 as, in a mild season, they 



