THE PARTRIDGE. 95 



till I could have every one on the ground brought to the spot. 

 This was done; but there was no intimation given that there 

 was a Bird near us. We left the ground without remark or 

 explanation, and retired to breakfast. In an hour, we took the 

 field for the day. I requested the gentlemen to indulge me 

 again by an advance upon the stump, leading the van myself 

 with the Pointer Bitch. She instantly pointed, and the other 

 Dogs backed her. The Bird was flushed and shot. I now ex- 

 plained myself fully, and Mr. Edward Tilghman, well known 

 to most American Sportsmen, was greatly struck with it. He 

 expressed great pleasure too at it, as he said it would save 

 many valuable animals from unmerited censure. He told me, 

 moreover, that he had more than once noticed the same fact 

 with Pheasants and Grouse. I think it highly probable that 

 these Birds are endowed with the same power ; but I have not 

 had sufficient experience to speak of them with any certainty. 

 Last week, on one of our steamboats, Colonel S. B. Davis, for- 

 merly of the United States Army, a great Sportsman in his day, 

 asked me, without any previous conversation on the subject, 

 why the best Dogs could not, sometimes, find a single Partridge 

 in open ground ? The fact was forced upon him, but he had 

 no thought of the solution here advanced. 



Yours, respectfully, 



SAMUEL B. SMITH, M. D. 



Although this communication occupies some space in our 

 work, we are satisfied that every one will feel pleased with its 

 perusal, as it presents a plain unvarnished relation of facts, that 

 admit of no doubting or misunderstanding. So far as our 

 experience has enabled us to judge of this matter, we are in- 

 clined to coincide with Doctor Smith in his original notions 

 on the subject, and we also might enumerate many instances 

 of like nature with those advanced by him, and as fully corro- 

 borative of what he wishes to establish. But having already 

 devoted much space to the subject, we must pass on to other 

 less obscure points in the habits of this Bird. 



