Concord, Mass.
1902
March 9
(No. 2)
the longer upper branches while one or two were
perched on the very topmost twigs of the tree, boldly
outlined against the gray sky and looking as big
as Hen-hawks. All were busily engaged in "budding"
an operation which I have never before witnessed
to good advantage. It was most interesting as
well as surprising to see birds ordinarily so shy
and retiring, and so very stately and dignified of
bearing, hopping and fluttering about in the top of
a leafless, isolated tree near a house with the
utmost activity, sprightliness and apparent fearlessness.
There were times, however, when they would all
sit erect and motionless for a moment evidently
looking about and listening.
Partridges "budding"
  Those feeding near the ends of the slenderer 
branches maintained their foothold with no slight
effort, jerking up their tails and fluttering their
wings to preserve their balance as they stretched
forward or even, for an instant, bent almost 
straight downward after the manner of Redpolls
or Pine Siskins, picking off and swallowing the
buds in rapid succession with much the same
quick, bobbing motion of the head as that of
a Hen picking up corn. The supply within reach
(at least of such buds as they chose to take) seldom
lasted more than a minute or two; when it became
exhausted the Partridge would either work its way 
still further out among the terminal twigs or
fly to another part of the tree.
  The birds which resorted to the larger branches
behaved somewhat differently and with much greater
19