76 
THE COMMON PAETRIDGK. 
ever» comparatively Bctilom wiinp!»fietl or indeed ex- 
ercised, fm' siaturt? haw iinijlfuued anotlier device in 
the groatiT numlj<^rs itf ttiis family, in whith llie or- 
gaiitt of ileffiu'ii ar« in rtaltiy wenk, ajrainst their 
tnfuiy at^sailiint!!!, bothnninml and fifathei'ciL Strata* 
gem is resorted to, and the parent feigns lameness 
and even death to willidmw thp aggressfir. Tito 
noiso and tonfusion vvhicli occurs when a person 
suddenly and unawares comers on a young brood of 
partrieSges is remarhahle. The shrieks of the pan-nta 
apparenily tuiuhlitig and escaping away with broken 
legs and wing!) la well acted, and often ^^ucceeda in 
witlidrawing tlie dug and his yuung attt^ndant be- 
yond the poisihility of discovering tlie hiding places 
of ibc brood. When this is attained, iheir wonted 
strength is t^ooti recovered, a flight to a consiilerHhIc 
distance is taken, but by llie time the afrgressor has 
reat lved llie marked spot, ilie bird has asrain ctrcui- 
touhly coine up with her t harf^^e, and is ready to act 
her i>art if again discovered. 
Partridge fcliooiing is one of the most esteBmed 
sports of the liritish fowier i and when pursued in ft 
Bport^man-like manner, with finely bred dogs, is of 
considerable interest. The county of Norfolk has 
been long celebrated f<n- the number of its parirUJges, 
as well as for her zejdouh agriculturifit, Mr Coke, one 
of the first shots in the kingdom. The following ac 
cx>unt from Fierce Egan's anecdotes, will give some 
ideal both of the Bhundance of the partridge, and the 
excess to which the sport may be carried. 
