QUAIL, OR PARTRIDGE. 417 
The Partridge, on her part, has sometimes been employed to hatch 
the egos of the common domestic Hen. A friend of mine, who him- 
self made the experiment, informs me, that, of several Hen’s eggs 
which he substituted in place of those of the Partridge, she brought 
out the whole ; and that, for several weeks, he occasionally surprised 
her in various parts of the plantation, with her brood of Chickens; on 
which occasions she exhibited all that distressful alarm, and practised 
her usual mancuvres for their preservation. Even after they were 
considerably grown, and larger than the Partridge herself, she con- 
tinued to lead them about; but, though their notes or call were those 
of common Chickens, their manners had all the shyness, timidity, and 
alarm of young Partridges ; running with great rapidity, and squatting 
in the grass exactly in the manner of the Partridge. Soon after this, 
they disappeared, having probicsly been destroyed by dogs, by the 
gun, or by birds of prey. Whether the domestic fowl might not by 
this method be very soon brought back to its original savage state, 
and thereby supply another, additional subject for the amusement of 
the sportsman, will scarcely admit of a doubt. But the experiment, 
in order to secure its success, would require to be made’in a quarter 
of the country less exposed than ours to the ravages of guns, traps, 
dogs, and the deep snows of winter, that the new tribe might have 
full time to become completely naturalized, and well fixed in all their 
native habits. : 
About the beginning of September, the Quails being now nearly 
full grown, and associated in flocks, or coveys, of from four or five to 
thirty, afford considerable sport to the gunner. At this time the notes 
of the male are most frequent, clear, and loud. His common call 
consists of two notes, with sometimes an introductory one, and is 
similar to the sound produced by pronouncing the words “ Bob 
White.” This call may be easily imitated by whistling, so as to 
deceive the bird itself, and bring it near. ‘While uttering this, he is 
usually perched on a rail of the fence, or on a low limb of an apple 
tree, where he will sometimes sit, repeating, at short intervals, “ Bob 
White,” for half an hour at a time. When a covey are assembled in 
a thicket, or corner of a field, and about to take wing, they make a 
low twittering sound, not unlike that of young Chickens; and, when 
the covey is dispersed, they are called together again by a loud and 
frequently-repeated note, ‘peculiarly expressive of tenderness and 
anxiety. ' 
The food of the Partridge consists of grain, seeds, insects, and 
berries of various kinds. Buckwheat and Indian corn are particular 
favorites. In September and October the buckwheat fields afford 
them an abundant supply, as well as a secure shelter. They usually 
roost at night in the middle of a field on high ground; and from the 
circumstance of their dung being often found in such places in one 
round heap, it is generally conjectured that they roost in a circle, 
with their heads outwards, each individual in this positiom forming a 
kind of guard to prevent surprise. They also continue to lodge for 
several nights in the same spot. 
The Partridge, like all the rest of the gallinaceous order, flies with 
aloud whirring sound, occasioned by the shortness, concavity, and 
rapid motion of its wings, and the comparative weight of its body. 
