QUIET PARTRIDGE-SHOOTING 



It came into her possession as a tiny chick, and dis- 

 played extraordinary affection and intelligence. It had 

 the run of the house, but its favourite abiding-place 

 was the dining-room, where, perched on the back of 

 its mistress's chair, it was in her presence thoroughly 

 happy. In the absence of this lady it showed un- 

 doubted marks of grief and concern. At bedtime it 

 invariably followed its mistress upstairs and took up its 

 position near the head of her bed. Other instances 

 of the successful taming of young partridges are well 

 authenticated. It is a fact worth knowing that tame 

 partridges, kept about a place in the country, are useful 

 in attracting a stock of wild birds near home. The late 

 Mr. Francis Francis, the well-known angler and sports- 

 man, fully established this circumstance at his place in 

 South Bucks. 



A good deal of misconception still exists touching 

 the handsome horseshoe marking which is so often 

 found adorning the breast of our English birds. It 

 ought to be remembered that this marking is either 

 entirely absent, or very imperfectly developed, in the 

 full-grown female. It distinguishes the adult male, but 

 not the immature male bird ; while it is, curiously 

 enough, to be found on the breast of the young female. 



Why does the partridge tower ? That is a question 

 once hotly debated, but now set completely at rest. A 

 towering bird has been so hit that it suffers from an 

 escape of blood into the lungs or windpipe. It chokes, 

 and, in its piteous desire for air, flies upward and 

 upward until it can fly no longer. Then it falls, rocket- 

 like, to earth, and is found stone-dead, usually on its 

 back. 



An abnormally dry season (preceded by a good 

 nesting-time), such as those of 1893 an d 1897, suits 

 partridges better than any other. There probably never 



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