i8 BIRD PARADISE 



fact, it sometimes appears as though they really 

 enjoyed it. How is it that so much affection 

 apparently can be felt for a time, and then all 

 disappear, as with a turn of the hand ? To-day 

 strong, to-morrow nothing. In brief, now ready 

 to die in the defense of the child, but soon for- 

 getting that the child ever was. Verily life's 

 paradoxes are many and varied. 



I hear the drumming of the partridge from the 

 coverts of the swamp. It is a spring sound, and 

 I sometimes think it is the fellow's way of doing 

 his singing. Once in my boyhood I saw the 

 bird in the act itself. As he went along the log 

 upon which he was moving, he brought his 

 wings together in front of him, making the hol- 

 low sound which we give the name of drumming. 

 I enjoy watching these birds. They have an 

 independent way of doing things which renders 

 them quite attractive. In their leisure moments 

 they do some playing, but I fancy it does not 

 come quite natural to them. Of all our native 

 birds there is none that excels the partridge in 

 shyness. He is ever on the watch. , How he can 

 get in a stroke of anything else is a problem. 

 Occasionally one comes into my lawn trees, but 



