66 PARTRIDGE. 



When they found they could not alight in consequence of the number of carriages and 

 spectators, they continued their course, and alighted within two hundred yards of the stand, 

 and on the bare course. One of the birds, separating from the rest, wheeled back over 

 the heads of the mob, and by one of them was ultimately caught. Encouraged by this 

 strange capture, many ran to the spot where the remainder had been marked, and after 

 a series of running chases, the whole number were secured. Only one bird attempted a 

 flight, but, alarmed at its pursuers, it dropped after rising about two yards, and in this 

 manner the whole covey were secured." 



Mr. Daniel mentions a still more singular fact: — 'Tn Blickling Park, Norfolk, during 

 the races there, at the very height of the sport, a covey of Partridges sprung up, and 

 were flying across the ground, when, overcome with alarm at the noise and bustle of 

 the scene, they fell lifeless among the throng, and were picked up by some of the spectators." 



Another equally curious circumstance is also related by him: — "A covey of sixteen 

 Partridges were disturbed by some men at plough, and directed their flight across the 

 cliff to the sea, over which they continued their course about three hundred yards; when, 

 as if intimidated or affected by the element, the whole were observed to drop into the 

 water: twelve, of them were soon after floated to shore by the tide, and picked up by 

 a boy, who carried them to East-Bourne, where he disposed of his birds at ninepence each!" 



That the Partridge may be tamed and will become extremely familiar has often been 

 proved, but we never remember reading a more interesting account than the following 

 by Arthur Hussey, Esq., of Eottingdean; we extract it from the "Zoologist." He says 

 "1 was not myself acquainted with the bird, but heard of it, I think during its life, 

 from very intimate friends of its mistress, whose brief notice below, of its habits and 

 peculiarities, mentions, I have reason to believe, but a portion only of those amusing 

 traits by which it was distinguished. — 'On the 5th. of July, 1839, I received a small 

 hamper, containing a parcel of cotton wool, in the midst of which was a young Partridge, 

 about a day old. The little wild thing could not be induced to eat, so I was obliged 

 to feed it with boiled rice. I never expected to bring it up, having always heard that 

 to handle a Partridge was a sure way to destroy it; but there is no rule without an 

 exception, and this little creature was hardly ever out of my hands. It soon became 

 quite tame, and whenever I put my hands together before it, it would creep in, and go 

 to sleep very well contented. Warmth being indispensable, I used to pin it up in a fleecy- 

 hosiery for the night, and in the morning fed it quite early, leaving it to sleep again. 



Rice, bread, and ants' eggs were its food, upon which it thrived. It soon showed it 

 liked to be always with me, and was perfectly happy in my lap; or when I have been 

 painting, it would sit on ray left arm, dressing itself, or sleeping in entire security. 

 When it outgrew the flannel, and I could no longer have it pinned up, I used to 

 take it into my mother's room, and if it could lie on her gown at her feet it was 



