THE PARTRIDGE. 71 



thicket, or conceal themselves 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 

 progeny, 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 tum- 

 bling confusedly before him, running along the ground, hang- 

 ing 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 

 appears 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, screaming and fighting with all vigor to defend their help- 

 less offspring. Several years ago we witnessed a desperate bat- 

 tle 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 he even held on to 

 his affrighted, but nevertheless courageous victim, after we had 

 broken his back with a blow from a large stick. On searching 

 around in the grass, we discovered two very young Partridges, 

 somewhat mutilated, and nearly dead, both of which no doubt 

 had been seized by his Snakeship as a dainty meal, which he 

 was not, however, permitted to enjoy, owing to the bold attack 

 of the parent Bird. 



Such encounters between Birds and Serpents we are con- 

 vinced are not uncommon, but of daily occurrence, as few of 

 us at all familiar with country life but have witnessed like inci- 



