THE VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE. 129 



know what sudden change has taken place amongst 

 the birds in the western hemisphere, whilst our 

 eastern birds remain in statu quo. For example's 

 sake, let us examine a waterhen, which, like the 

 partridge, is not web-footed; still it swims remarkably 

 well. Its body is nearly similar in shape to a boat ; 

 the arrangement of its feathers is most admirably 

 calculated to resist the entrance of the water ; 

 while its every motion, when in the act of swimming, 

 is full of gracefulness and confidence. It moves 

 to and fro by a very gentle action of the feet, 

 and it may be seen, for hours together, enjoying 

 itself on the deep, in perfect security. This bird 

 may be truly said to swim surprisingly ; but it is 

 never doomed to keep up a protracted struggle by 

 means of muscular power, in order to save its life, 

 on an element where it runs no risk of perishing. 



Now let us look at a partridge floating on the 

 river. The form of its body is very unlike that 

 of the waterhen, and though it cannot possibly sink, 

 still it is in the utmost fear of death, and tries to 

 reach the shore by an evident and vehement strug- 

 gle. Its feathers immediately become saturated 

 with water, whilst the cold strikes deeply into its 

 body. Death is fast approaching ; the wings are 

 soaked with flapping on the water, and at last appear 

 extended quite motionless on the surface of the 

 stream ; the legs are cramped and stiffened ; the 

 mouth is open ; the head falls, and, after a few con- 

 vulsive efforts to support itself, down it drops for the 

 last time into the water, and the bird dies. This is 

 the fate of the partridge, which Mr. Audubon assures 



K 



