22 



PARTRIDGE. 



tation, in such places as they are known to frequent. These are 

 formed of lath, or thinly split sticks, somewhat in the shape of an 

 obtuse cone, laced together with cord, having a small hole at top, 

 with a sliding lid, to take out the game by. This is supported by 

 the common figure 4 trigger, and grain is scattered below and lead- 

 ing to the place. By this contrivance ten or fifteen have some- 

 times been taken at a time. These are sometimes brought alive 

 to market, and occasionally bought up by sportsmen, who, if the 

 season be very severe, sometimes preserve and feed them till 

 spring, when they are humanely turned out to their native fields 

 again, to be put to death at some future time secundem artern. Be- 

 tween the months of August and March great numbers of these 

 birds are brought to the market of Philadelphia, where they are 

 sold from twelve to eighteen cents a-piece. 



The Quail begins to build early in May. The nest is made 

 on the ground, usually at the bottom of a thick tuft of grass that 

 shelters and conceals it. The materials are leaves and fine dry 

 grass in considerable quantity. It is well covered above, and an 

 opening left on one side for entrance. The female lays from fif- 

 teen to twenty-four eggs, of a pure white without any spots. The 

 time of incubation has been stated to me by various persons at four 

 weeks, when the eggs were placed under the domestic hen. The 

 young leave the nest as soon as they are freed from the shell, and 

 are conducted about in search of food by the female; are guided 

 by her voice, which at that time resembles the twittering of young 

 chickens, and sheltered by her wings, in the same manner as those 

 of the domestic fowl ; but with all that secrecy and precaution for 

 their safety which their helplessness and greater danger require. 

 In this situation should the little timid family be unexpectedly sur- 

 prized, the utmost alarm and consternation instantly prevail. The 

 mother throws herself in the path, fluttering along, and beating the 

 ground with her wings, as if sorely wounded ; using every artifice she 

 is master of to entice the passenger in pursuit of herself, uttering at 



