i io GALLINACEOUS BIRDS PARTRIDGES 



in grass or weeds. There are from twelve to fifteen 

 eggs, sometimes more, and while the hen is sitting on 

 the nest, the male bird from near-by fence or stump 

 whistles his familiar notes. The young are precocious 

 in the extreme, and run and pick at food as soon as 

 they leave the shell. They have wonderful ability to 

 hide, and when danger comes, the hen sounds a warn- 

 ing note, and the little birds disappear as if by magic. 

 Often the old bird flutters away as if badly injured 

 and unable to fly, and so attempts to lead her enemy 

 away. 



Some say this partridge will rear two broods in a 

 year. I believe they sometimes do. Certain it is that 

 if the first young birds are destroyed, the hen will nest 

 again. Such nests are often found late in the summer. 

 A nest was discovered last year in New Jersey contain- 

 ing fourteen eggs, which were hatched as late as the 

 middle of October, and every sportsman has seen very 

 small birds as late as the beginning of that month. 



The food of this partridge consists largely of seeds, 

 berries, and grain. It is distinctly a bird of the farm, 

 and thrives best in civilization. In the summer it be- 

 comes tame, but as the fall approaches is quite wild 

 again, and it seems impossible to domesticate it. Bob- 

 white is said to be partia/ly migratory. I had always 

 doubted this until a few years ago when I found a 

 number of coveys just before the season opened, which 

 were gone before that date. They were quite near my 

 house, and the birds had not been shot at, so I was con. 

 vinced when good dogs failed to find them that they 

 at least were gone. In dry seasons, or when the food 

 gives out, partridges are compelled to move, since they 



