192 BIRDS 



doors, I well remember photographing the nest 

 of an English Partridge which was built in a 

 very dark place (as Partridge's nests so often are), 

 and when the photograph was taken it was blow- 

 ing a regular blizzard. When the plate was 

 developed it was found that the herbage surround- 

 ing the nest was out of focus, this being caused by 

 the gale of wind blowing the grass about in a hope- 

 less manner. A comparison between such a picture 

 and one taken when the elements are more kind 

 and the wind fiend is not lashing his wrath upon 

 the countryside will at once show the young photo- 

 grapher what a vastly different result may be 

 obtained. The nest and eggs of the French, or 

 Red-legged, Partridge is a fine subject to photo- 

 graph, the excellent detail and clearness showing 

 up well when compared with the homestead of its 

 English relative. It will also be observed that the 

 French bird certainly makes a bolder attempt at 

 building a nest than our English species. The 

 Frenchman is a curious bird. I knew of the 

 owner of a nest who forsook its own nest for a time 

 and sought out an English Partridge's homestead. 

 Therein it laid some eggs, but after a week's 

 absence from its own nest it went back and hatched 

 out twelve eggs! The eggs of the French bird 

 show up much brighter in a photograph than 

 those of the English bird because the nest is not 

 usually situated in such a dark place as that of 



