124 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



though louder than the second, not as loud as the first. These 

 call-notes are perfectly familiar to every sportsman, as they are 

 often resorted to, to decoy the poor birds from their lurking-places. 

 If the birds be young, they will soon reassemble or be decoyed by 

 the imitative whistle of the sportsman; if, however, they be old 

 and cunning, each one will remain perfectly quiet for a long time, 

 and not venture to call each other till towards the close of the day, 

 when all danger is removed. A low, twittering sound is frequently 

 heard issuing from a covey when terrified and about to spring 

 from before the dog ; this sound somewhat resembles the chirping 

 of a brood of young chickens when nestling themselves under their 

 mother's wings towards nightfall. 



ROOSTING. 



Partridges, when pursued, as before stated, generally take to 

 the woods and thickets for protection ; but instinct and long habit, 

 on the other hand, have taught them that the open plain is a more 

 secure place for roosting during the night, and consequently they 

 almost invariably choose a little mound of rising ground in the 

 centre of a cleared or stubble-field for this purpose. 



To afford greater security and prevent a surprise, we imagine, 

 partridges roost in a circle, with their heads all turned outwards, 

 and their tails joining each other in such a manner that they pre- 

 sent a guard on every side ; and when thus disturbed the whole 

 covey are enabled to fly off in a direct course without interfering 

 with each other. If undisturbed, they are apt to resort to the 



