116 LAND BIRDS 



It was made of leaves and stems of this plant and lined 

 with feathers, and in it lay ten eggs of the Plumed 

 Partridge. They were nearly ready to hatch, — how 

 ready I did not guess, — and with a hope that no one 

 would molest them in the meantime, we departed, re- 

 solving to come back the next day. But I reckoned 

 without my host, for having eaten luncheon and rested, 

 I stole back alone for a last peep at tliem, and two had 

 pipped the shells while a third was cuddled down in 

 the split halves of his erstwhile covering. The distress 

 of the mother' was pitiful, and I had not the heart to 

 torture the beautiful creature needlessly ; so going off a 

 little way, I lay down flat along the " misery," regardless 

 of the discomfort, and awaited developments. Before I 

 could focus my glasses she was on the nest, her anxious 

 little eyes still regai'ding me suspiciously. In less time 

 than it takes to tell it, the two were out and the mother 

 cuddled them in her fluffed-out feathers. This was too 

 interesting to be left. Even at the risk of being too late 

 to reach my destination, I must see the outcome. Two 

 hours later every egg had hatched and a row of tiny 

 heads poked out from beneath the mother's breast. I 

 started toward her and she flew almost into my face, so 

 closely did she pass me. Then by many wiles she tried in 

 vain to coax me to go another way. I was curious and 

 therefore merciless. Moreover, I had come all the way 

 from the East for just such hours as this. But once more 

 a surprise awaited me. There was the nest, there were 

 the broken shells ; but where were the young partridges ? 

 Only one of all that ten could I find. For so closely did 



