176 Field and Forest Rambles. 



which I was present, a very degenerate and -diminutive re- 

 presentative of the genus raised a covey of birch partridges in 

 thick cover, but when we came to inspect the trees not a bird 

 was to be seen, and we were on the point of departure when 

 the dog became much excited and set to barking furiously 

 under a large maple. In vain we looked, for no partridge 

 was to be seen ; still the dog barked, and began to bite and 

 tear off the bark, when at length three birds were discovered 

 standing motionless on the moss-covered boughs, and within 

 a few yards of us. The owner informed me that whenever 

 the creature lost patience, and took to biting objects around 

 a tree, it was a sure sign that there were birds on the 

 branches, and that he seldom left the lumber and logging 

 paths in search of them until he heard the bark, 



