1902.
May 25
(No 6)
  We then withdrew a few rods and lay down behind
a knoll from whence we could see the place where
the young were scattered about. For about ten minutes
the old Partridge made no sign. Then she walked
forth from her cover and standing erect & motionless
began calling quit-quit-quit, kr-r-r-r, kree-er-r-r,
kree-ar-a-a, quit-quit-quit, kree-at-a-a etc.
The quit note was somewhat metallic in quality, the
kree-ar-a-a rather husky & not unlike the bark of
a Gray Squirrel. Seton thought that the bird saw us
and was cautioning the young to remain quiet.
Certainly no one of them moved or peeped until some
time later when the mother changed her call to
the low, nasal, Nuthatch-like qua-qua-qua-qua
qua-qua (repeated rapidly & without cessation very many times)
which I heard a hen Partridge use under similar
conditions a year or two ago. As on that occasion it
was almost immediately answered by the feeble peep-peep,
peep-peep (invariably doubled now but I think given simply
in peep, peep when the young were scattering) of the young
two of which we saw toddling towards their mother
picking their way rather slowly through the fallen
branches & other obstructions that littered the ground.
We saw only one of these join the old bird but then there were
probably others with her when she started off
into the bushes. Fearing to lose sight of her we
followed at once & at a run but we heard
nothing further for she rose & flew to some distance
before we got sight of her again.
105