94 TETRAONID.E. 



corn, but upon the seeds of many weeds that grow up with 

 it, and thus far the bird in question does more good 

 than harm ; it is, besides, a certainty, that the good which 

 it does by scratching the ground and moving the sur- 

 face in search of insects, is by far greater than farmers will 

 allow, or may be aware of. The middle of the day is the 

 principal feeding-time of the Partridge ; after which, the 

 family lie or squat down to rest, or dust themselves, ac- 

 cording to the state of the weather. When the corn has 

 been sown, the Partridge does harm, by picking up the 

 uncovered grains, and also scratching up those that lie 

 near the surface, as well as eating the young green shoots 

 that may have come up. During sharp winters, the dearth 

 of food becomes very serious to the Partridge, particularly 

 when the snow remains long upon the ground, and is harden- 

 ed by the frost sufficiently to prevent our bird from getting 

 at green food of any sort. Water is apparently of little 

 value to the Partridge, for it hardly ever is found near that 

 element ; and it seems as if the dew-drops on the turnips 

 or other green leaves are sufficient to satisfy its thirst. 



The Partridge deposits her eggs invariably upon the ground, 

 in many different situations, namely, in corn-fields, among 

 long grass, clover, or peas, on the banks of dry ditches, at 

 the foot of some tree or bush, or near the post of a gate over- 

 grown with weeds, &c. The nest itself is no more than a 

 hollow scratched in the ground, in which a few grasses or 

 stalks are accumulated, upon which the eggs are deposited, 

 the number of which depends on the age of the hen bird, and 

 may vary thus from ten to fifteen, or even more. They have 

 only one brood in the year, unless this is destroyed by some 

 accident, in which case a second attempt is made, and even 

 repeated for a third time, but the number of eggs becomes 

 less, and the young broods are not so strong and hardy. 



After three weeks sitting upon the eggs, the anxious mother 



