80 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAN. 



on the part of these Birds. We do not know what to attribute 

 it to, and are even at a loss to venture an opinion. If the Birds 

 did not commence running quite so early in the season, we 

 might be disposed to believe that a scarcity of food in their 

 previous haunts impelled them to wander in search of it in 

 other localities, like others of the feathered race ; but this can 

 hardly be the motive, as they are found on these excursions so 

 early as October, when the weather is not often sufficiently 

 severe to shut up the usual channels of food, but, on the con- 

 trary, is generally such as is most congenial to the habits of the 

 Bird. 



FLIGHT OF THE PARTRIDGE. 



The Partridge, when full grown, is a very vigorous and 

 powerful Bird, flying with great rapidity, and, like others of 

 the gallinaceous order, when on the wing, makes a loud whir- 

 ring noise, which often not a little disconcerts the Tyro, who, 

 alarmed at the sudden springing of a large covey, knows not 

 where to turn, or in what direction to point his gun. This 

 startling, but, to the ear of a Sportsman, agreeable sound, 

 is produced by the shortness, concavity, and rapid motion of 

 the wings, as they fly by a succession of quick flaps, and then 

 sail till nearing the ground, when they break their fall by a few 

 more flaps. When Partridges rise on wing of their own free 

 will, the whole covey takes the same course ; when disturbed, 

 they all seek safety by separating. When compared with the 

 weight of the body, there are few, if any, game Birds, in any 

 portion of the globe, that fly with the same rapidity or force, and 

 consequently require such quick action on the part of the Sports- 

 man as the Partridge of America. They spring suddenly, and 

 dart off' with a celerity and regularity of purpose that appears 

 almost impossible for an}^ Bird to possess, pursuing a rapid and 

 headlong flight through the mazes of our thickest forests and 

 impenetrable coverts ; and we hardly suppose that any of our 

 brother Sportsmen ever saw one of these Birds either entangled 

 or otherwise impeded in its progress through the rank and 

 poisonous vines that so often intercept the flight of other less 

 strong and clear-sighted Birds. The American Bird flies with 



