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THE VIRGINIA PARTRIDGE. 587 
of one sounding loud and clear through the snowy air, and 
immediately directs his steps to the spot from where the 
sound came ; after advancing a short distance, he stops and 
waits to hear the call-note again; soon it is heard louder 
than before; he now proceeds with certainty, and sees the 
bird perched on a rotten branch, beneath the snow-bent limb 
of a pine tree, and cautiously getting within range of him, 
he fires; having reloaded his gun he hears another bird in a 
different part of the woods; this one he may find on the 
ground near the roots of a tree, whose wide spreading 
branches and thick foliage bear many snows. He may pro- 
ceed in like manner until he has secured them all. Such a 
day's sport, as a sportsman could have a few years ago, is 
. how of rare occurrence; he may enter the coppice or small 
woodland and find the stillness there, but will not see the 
Whirring game springing before him, nor hear their loud, 
shrill, clear whistle. I know that many flocks of the Part- 
ridge succumb to the rigors of our northern winters ; roost- 
ing as they do on the ground, they seek some sheltered spot 
from the coming storm, such as the lea of a bunch of gray 
birches, barberry bushes, or ferns, and if the snow comes 
deep and heavy, or a crust forms upon its surface in the 
night, they are sure to die. They have not the energy and 
strength to extricate themselves from their situation, and in 
Spring their remains, such as the feathers and bones of a 
Whole covey, are found in such places. But the greatest 
cause for their decrease is capturing them in nets, when 
whole flocks of them are taken at a time; and, unless laws 
are enacted, and at once enforced, for their preservation, not 
only for the. Partridge but for all the game birds throughout 
the country, we shall have cause to regret our delay in not 
suppressing the indiscriminate slaughter that is now carried 
on among them. The male Partridge has not the proud 
mien of the Ruffed Grouse, but his step is stately and his 
manners in the breeding season resemble those of the do- 
Mestic cock. The female usually retires by herself, and is 
AMER, NATURALIST, VOL. III. 68 
