prc eec E 
536 THE VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE. 
them is seldom met with. It is not in the clearing away of 
our forest and the cultivation of the land, nor the increase 
of population, that makes the decline in their numbers, for 
they are birds whose habits do not lead them to the retire- 
ment of the deep forest, but rather to the cultivated fields, 
to small patehes of woodland, and to bushy pastures; in 
fact, in winter they not unfrequently visit the hay and corn 
rick and barnyard of the farmer, and are sometimes so 
familiar as to come from the fields and feed with his poultry. 
The great inducement which leads to the destruction of the 
Partridge is the delicious flavor of its flesh; and the most 
common modes used to take them, are traps that secure a 
whole covey at one time. Many of them are taken by means 
of the gun ; not so many fall by it, however, as are captured 
by the snare or trap ; although a good gunner can secure a 
flock if he selects the right kind of a day, in the right 
season of the year. The best season to hunt the Partridge 
is in the winter, on a snowy day ; and the faster it snows the 
more sure is he of success and of good sport. On such days 
the birds usually leave the more open lands and resort to 
sheltered situations, such as small pine woodlands, if any 
such are in their vicinity. The sportsman enters the woods. 
Not a sound is heard. The fall of his footsteps are as silent 
as the fall of the snow around him ; no rustling of leaves, or 
the erackling of dried sticks beneath his feet is heard to dis- 
turb the stillness. He walks silently on, with his mind 
prepared for a surprise shot; as yet the silence prevails, 
when, sudden as thought, up rise before him a covey of 
Partridges on loud whirring wings, and fly in different direc- 
tions; he selects the one which flies directly before him and 
fires; by being prepared, and not excited by the sudden 
springing of the birds, he brings her down. Although they 
Separate when flushed, they are gregarious and are fond 
each other's company ; and when they are thus separated, 
y their well known call-note is sounded for a reunion. a 
bo 3 The hunter stands in his tracks, and soon hears the notes 




