26 FEATHERED GAME 
eggs. When the chicks are half grown the 
family is again united, the male bird usually 
joining during the latter part of August. 
The mother bird thus left to her own devices, 
displays great bravery in defense of her young, 
and will often fly at an intruder in the same 
fashion as a hen defending her brood. I re- 
member once when accompanied on a stroll 
through the woods by a bull terrier dog, that 
we came suddenly into a little opening among 
the trees and well-nigh stepped into a brood of 
little ‘‘cheepers.’’ The dog being in advance, 
mother partridge made a furious dash at him, 
and when the astonished animal refused to be 
frightened, she made still another desperate 
charge right into his face, when he at once 
struck her down and stood with this new species 
of hen under his feet, making as though he 
would finish her at once, but, being an obedient 
fellow, and perhaps with the remembrance of 
former whippings for chicken killing, he reluct- 
antly let her go with no more damage than a few 
ruffled feathers. She lost no time in getting 
away when set free, for her point was won and 
not a chick was in sight. 
Failing by force to repel an invasion on her 
