46 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 
self-preservation ; the acuteness with which they take 
advantage of the best points of cover is wonderful to 
recognise. 
‘Once,’ says Mr. Warner, ‘in the month of June, 
the mowers came across a partridge nest in the centre 
of a clover field. In order to give the old birds every 
chance of rearing their young, the men left a tuft 
of herbage round the nest unshorn. The old birds 
did not desert, but they evidently disliked the exposure 
of their nest that had taken place. When obliged to 
go away in search of food, they left together, and on 
their return would pitch in the field within a few 
yards of their nest. Having anxiously scanned the 
view, the hen bird, still true to her love of conceal- 
ment, crouched close to the ground, and crept quietly 
back on to her eggs. When these hatched, the young 
were at once led to a safer retreat.’ ! 
' Science Gosstp, 1873, p. 211. 
