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 m.ay 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, w^hilst the cold strikes deeply into its 
body. Death is fast approaching ; the wings are 
I 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 fails, 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 
