THE PARTRIDGE. 91 



already, unfortunately, is familiar to every one residing in the 

 country. We sincerely trust that every one perusing these pages 

 will discountenance, as far as lies in his power, the cruel practice 

 of eating the eggs of the partridge, and prevent the negroes or 

 others ahout his farm from desecrating the nests of these interest- 

 ing birds. 



This season of 1855 and 1856 has been particularly destructive 

 to the feathered race, in consequence of the long-protracted and 

 intensely cold weather which has so generally prevailed throughout 

 our broad expanse of country. This severe spell, coupled with the 

 deep, hard snow which has thrown its chilling mantle over so wide 

 an extent of land, penetrating even far into the regions of the 

 sunny South, has driven all descriptions of game to great ex- 

 tremities in search of food. 



The havoc and slaughter, not only by the mercenary and cruel, 

 but by the thoughtless and improvident, have, consequently, been 

 very great, both of birds and animals. Thousands of buffaloes, 

 deer, and hares, hundreds of wolves, panthers, and bears, as well 

 as myriads of partridges and hecatombs of grouse, have been slain 

 and trapped. The markets of all our principal cities have been 

 most bountifully supplied with every description of game — in fact, 

 filled to repletion with partridges and grouse; not, however, as 

 many suppose, with birds alone coming from the far, far West, but 

 by incredible numbers of half-starved victims snared in our own 

 and the neighboring States, or mercilessly shot down, whole coveys 

 at a "blow," as they sit huddled together on the treacherous snow, 

 stupefied and benumbed with the chilling blasts of the North. 



At such times, when every vestige of herbage is entirely hidden 

 from view, and the scanty undei'brush of the thickets afford but 

 little secrecy or protection to game of any kind, every thoughtless 

 and mercenary lounger in the country shoulders his rusty weapon 

 and wanders lazily forth to kill and destroy whatever of animated 

 nature may lucklessly cross his path. 



What a shame ! what a pity that we have no laws rigidly en- 

 forced to protect from such foul play not only the game-birds at 



