THE PARTRIDGE. 99 



thoroughly admitted as truth. How long, for instance, has it been 

 observed, and with regret, by sportsmen, that the best dogs could 

 not discover certain birds of value, such as partridges, in places 

 where they were seen to settle themselves! and yet years have 

 rolled away without a single individual advancing the only rational 

 idea of the proper cause. The truth never reached them that 

 these persecuted little creatures had been granted the power of 

 withholding odor, to preserve them from their ruthless destroyers. 

 Noble dogs have been censured as wanting or careless, when the 

 often-repeated fact, in almost every day's hunt, made it manifest 

 that the fault did not lie with them. Many years ago I noticed 

 this fact, and after frequent and earnest observation I adopted 

 the conclusion already given. 



I will state some of my observations and experiments. Precise 

 dates are of no consequence, as the facts are general, and open to 

 the study of all who are interested. It is now twenty years 

 since I was one day in company with my friend and companion, 

 the late learned ornithologist, Alexander Wilson, assisting him in 

 his endeavors after the birds of this country. We encountered a 

 well-appointed party of gentlemen, who were shooting partridges. 

 They had seven dogs, apparently of the best quality. They were 

 in a large stubble-field, having small patches of low bushes and 

 briers in several places. From one of these was flushed a very 

 large covey of partridges, which, after having been rigorously fired 

 upon, settled nearly in the centre of the field, in a place slightly 

 depressed, where the stubble was unusually high, with rank clover 

 underneath. The sportsmen pursued with due caution, giving the 

 proper instructions and ample time to the dogs. Some of the 

 birds were put up and killed, but not near as many as had taken 

 refuge there. After considerable search, the party left the ground. 

 Why so few of the birds were roused puzzled me exceedingly, and 

 I, in common with every one, censured the dogs. Immediately 

 adjacent to the stubble was a body of open woodland, in which 

 Mr. Wilson was several hours engaged in his usual ardent study 

 into the habits and manners of a number of small birds sporting 



