102 lewis' AMERICAN SPORTSMAX. 



EARLY DAWN. 



Before leaving their roosts in the morning, Partridges appear 

 to welcome the return of a new day, and to congratulate them- 

 selves on the general safety of the family circle, by a low, 

 shrill, twittering noise, somewhat resembling the sounds pro- 

 duced by young Turkeys, or perhaps more cheerful and har- 

 monious than that often heard issuing from a covey w^hen in 

 the act of springing, if disturbed while feeding in an open 

 field. These mutual greetings at an end, the covey take their 

 flight to some favorite feeding-ground, most generally the ad- 

 joining field, or perhaps run off in quest of food immediately 

 around them; but they are not very apt to roost in the same 

 field where they habitually feed. 



The reason why Partridges seldom or never roost in the same 

 field where they feed is perhaps owing to a natural instinctive 

 precaution that they possess — that is, the dread they have of 

 leaving a trail behind them, by which they could be traced or 

 scented out by some one of their numerous enemies during the 

 night, and suddenly pounced upon either by the prowling Fox, 

 Raccoon, Polecat, or any other nocturnal animals common to the 

 districts of country that they frequent. To prevent this trail 

 being left behind them, which would necessarily be the case if 

 they ran to roost, they very cunningly take a short flight to an 

 adjoining field, and settle down for the night immediately on 

 the spot where they alight, thus leaving no trace of their pre- 

 sence behind them. 



SNOW. 



If it should snow, the Birds keep close huddled together 

 under some brushwood, in the deep sedge, or in the corners 

 of what are called snake or worm fences. They never go 

 about during a snow-storm, and consequently are often covered 

 completely up by a deep fall, and find great difficulty in freeing 

 themselves from their cheerless prison Avhen the tempest has 

 abated. When the weather threatens to be severe, and the snow 



