40 THE PARTRIDGE. 



In the East, as these birds cannot fly very far with- 

 out lighting, it is said they are hunted, by watching 

 the spot where they light, and then suddenly starting 

 them again ; and that by doing this several times, they 

 become so fatigued as to be taken without difficulty, 

 even with the hand. 



It is probable, that it is to this mode of hunting 

 them, the allusion is made ; and it strikingly repre- 

 sents the defenceless condition of David, and the hum- 

 ble and lowly opinion he had of himself. He was 

 as innocent before Saul, as this harmless bird was be- 

 fore the hunter, and as incapable of resisting his cruel 

 enemy, except by the interposition of the Almighty, 

 as the Partridge is of standing against the force of its 

 pursuer. But David trusted in God for protection 

 and safety, against all the power of his cruel enemy ; 

 and in this he was not disappointed, for the Almighty 

 delivered him unhurt from all the snares of his pur- 

 suer. 



The other passage where this bird is mentioned, is 

 in Jeremiah, chapter 17, and verse 11, and is in allu- 

 sion to the curse which attends riches, when obtained 

 by fraud or oppression. " As the Partridge sitteth on 

 eggs, and hatcheth them not ; so he that getteth riches, 

 and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his 

 days, and his end shall be a fool." 



The Partridge lays her eggs on the ground, and, as 

 w r e have already stated, takes very little pains in the 

 construction of her nest. When she begins to sit, 

 her instinct teaches her to expect a large brood, but it 

 often happens, that by reason of the rain, or some other 



