72 LEWIS'S AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



I 



the first alarm, the young birds instinctively skulk in the deep 

 grass and remain perfectly motionless, while the old ones resort to 

 every artifice within their power to ward off the impending danger. 



It is interesting to observe the earnest solicitude with which 

 both the parents watch over their young, and the wonderful 

 instinct they exhibit in guarding them when surprised by the 

 huntsman before they are sufficiently fledged to fly off. The old 

 birds take to the wing, and the young ones run with all speed into 

 the nearest thicket, or conceal themslves in the brushwood, or long 

 grass that abounds at this season on their feeding-grounds. The 

 hen, after flying a few hundred yards, alights, and returns by a 

 circuitous route to the place she just abandoned; and, calling 

 in subdued tones, she soon collects around her the scattered pro- 

 geny, and quickly leads them off from the scene of danger. The 

 cock partridge at the same time is using every effort to distract 

 the attention of the intruder by flying or rather tumbling con- 

 fusedly before him, running along the ground, hanging his wings, 

 fluttering as if badly wounded and unable to escape his every 

 grasp. By such like artifices, the male bird strives to delude the 

 eager observer, and deceive, perchance, his no less anxious dog; 

 for, leading them both away, step by step, from the young covey, 

 sufficient time is gained for the female to perform her important 

 task. When the danger is passed, the hen bird, by her joyful call, 

 directs the mate to her retreat. 



It is not only in devices of this kind that partridges display 

 a strong and lively affection for their young, but where there ap- 

 pears a probability of success they will not hesitate to attack any 

 enemy that assails them; and it is no uncommon thing for the old 

 ones to be seen flying up at hawks, or other birds of prey, scream- 

 ing and fighting with all vigor to defend their helpless offspring. 

 Several years ago we witnessed a desperate battle between a cock 

 partridge and a black snake, which rather singular combat would, 

 however, have soon proved fatal to the former if we had not so 

 opportunely come to his rescue, as the serpent had already caught 

 the exhausted bird by the wing ; and so deadly was the grasp that 



