NATURALISTS CABINET. 



Proper food for the young. 



their habitations. The young birds therefore 

 feave onl} r to scrape away the earth, and they can 

 satisfy their hunger without difficulty. A covey 

 that some years ago invited the attention of the 

 Rev. Mr. Gould, gave him an opportunity of re- 

 marking the great delight they take in this kind 

 of food. On his turning up a colony of ants, and 

 withdrawing to some distance, the parent birds 

 conducted their young to the hill, and fed vejy 

 heartily. After a few days, they grew more bold, 

 ,nd ventured to eat within twelve or fourteen 

 yards of him. The surrounding grass was high ; by 

 which means they could, on the least disturbance, 

 immediately run out of sight, and conceal them- 

 fcelves. The excellence of this food for partridges 

 may be ascertained from those that are bred up 

 under a domestic hen, if constantly supplied with 

 ants' grubs and fresh water, seldom failing to ar- 

 rive at maturity. Along with the grubs it is re- 

 commended to give them, at intervals, a mixture 

 of millepedes, or wood-lice, and earwigs to pre- 

 vent their surfeiting on one luxurious diet; fresh 

 curds mixed with lettuce, ehiekweed, or groundsel 

 should also be given them. 



The parents frequently sit close by each other, 

 covering their young brood with their whigs. In 

 this situation they are not easily flushed ; and a 

 ^ attentive to the preservation of his 

 , wil'l avoid disturbing them in a perform- 

 ance of a duty so truly interesting. If, however, 

 tt dq.g .should approach ttw? near,, the male always 



