THE PARTRIDGE. 135 



On this the dog returned nearly to the place 'where 

 the young ones lay concealed in the grass ; which the 

 old bird no sooner perceived than she flew back, and 

 tumbled just before the dog's nose, and again acted 

 the same part, tumbling and rolling before him, till 

 she drew off his attention from her brood, and thus 

 succeeded in preserving them. 



The partridge when reared by the hand soon ne- 

 glects those who have the care of it ; and, on its full 

 growth, generally estranges itself altogether from the 

 house where it was bred. Among the very few in- 

 stances of the partridge remaining tame was that of 

 one reared by the Rev. Mr. Bird. This, after its full 

 growth, attended the parlour at breakfast and other 

 times, received food from any hand that gave it, and 

 stretched itself before the fire, the warmth of which 

 it seemed much to enjoy. It was at length destroyed 

 by a cat. 



Partridges are not equally abundant every year, as 

 their number depends much upon the weather, not 

 "only during incubation, but also from the time they 

 are hatched till they become strong and have plenty 

 of feathers. If it is very wet while they are sitting, 

 it is very apt to chill the eggs, and then they perish; 

 and often when the young ones leave the shell, the 

 cold or rain benumbs them (as they are at this time 

 both weak and tender) and they die. But if the 

 months of June and July are dry, you may expect an 

 abundance. It is certainly a mistaken notion that in 

 a very dry season young partridges are lost by falling 



