Partridge. RASORES. PERDIX. 435 



birds have recourse, in order to deceive, and draw off the in- 

 truder. Their parental instinct, indeed, is not always con- 

 fined to mere devices for engaging attention ; but where there 

 exists a probability of success, they will fight obstinately for 

 the preservation of their young, as appears from many in- 

 stances already narrated by different writers, and to which 

 the following may be added, for the truth of which I can 

 vouch. A person engaged in a field, not far from my resi- 

 dence, had his attention arrested by some objects on the 

 grovnid, which, upon approaching, he found to be two Par- 

 tridges, a male and female, engaged in battle with a Carrion- 

 Crow ; so successful and so absorbed were they in the issue 

 of the contest, that they actually held the Crow, till it was 

 seized, and taken from them by the spectator of the scene. 

 Upon search, the young birds (very lately hatched) were 

 found concealed amongst the grass. It would appear, there- 

 fore, that the Crow, a mortal enemy to all kinds of young- 

 game, in attempting to carry off one of these, had been at- 

 tacked by the parent birds, and with the above singular suc- 

 cess. 



By a careful attention to diet, Partridges may be easily 

 reared in confinement, and become very tame*, but they have 

 never been kno^vn to breed in this state. In some parts of 

 England great numbers are annually hatched under domestic 

 fowls, and brought up by hand ; which are afterwards set 

 at liberty, to increase the stock upon preserved grounds. In 

 the above process the gapes has been found very fatal, but 

 since the discovery of a specific -|- for this distemper, the loss 

 from such a cause may be easily prevented. 



The Partridge is found to vary considerably in size, 

 according to situation, and the different nutritive qualities 

 of food ; thus, the largest are met with in districts where 

 an abundance of grain prevails, whilst, upon the precincts 



• See Montagu's Supplement to Ornith. Diet, article Partridge. 



■\ See preceding account of the Pheasant. 



Ee2 



