The Common Partridge 119 
Common Partridge deserted her nest and never returned, whilst the red-leg came back 
and successfully hatched off her brood. 
Some keepers and sportsmen think it unlucky to find a Partridge's nest, probably 
for the reason that the hens are apt to desert; and yet there are many instances on 
record of females being taken from their nests and handled and replaced without 
subsequent injury, the explanation being easy to all who closely study birds and animals 
and make allowance for temperamental diversity. 
May is the month when English Partridges lay their eggs. There are instances, as 
recently as the year 1891, of a brood of Partridges being discovered at Longframlington 
in Northumberland, in the middle of January, and in exceptional springs a few hatch 
out as early as March and April, but such occurrences are quite abnormal and must 
be considered rare. I have seen a nest with fresh eggs on Sept. 3rd in Perthshire, and 
there is a record of one in October. Under normal conditions, if the food supply is 
plentiful and the weather propitious, the hen seldom lays more than twelve eggs, although 
such numbers as eighteen or even twenty have been laid and incubated by a single bird. 
Two hens often lay in the same nest, and an instance is given in The Partridge (p. 39) of 
a combined total of thirty-six Partridge eggs and one pheasant in one nest, of which thirty 
Partridges and one pheasant were successfully hatched. When Partridge and pheasant 
lay in the same nest the duties of incubation are generally undertaken by the smaller 
bird, but there are many instances in which the pheasant hen has hatched and mothered 
the mixed family in her own indifferent fashion. Doubtless the larger bird could easily 
drive off the smaller when it comes to blows, as there is no Solomon to adjudicate in 
such matters, but persistence and pluck is on the side of the lesser mother, and she 
can usually gain her rights against one whose matrimonial duties never exercise an 
overburdening influence. 
In three weeks young Partridges release their small bodies from the egg-shells, 
and are tended by both parents with scrupulous care. So mindful are these birds of 
their young that their affection has passed into numerous proverbs and sayings. We 
have all seen the intense concern and broken-winged deception of both parents as they 
trail their plumage in the dusty road in the hopes of luring us from their beloved 
chicks, and the sight is so common as to need no further description. I have not seen 
Partridges so bold in defence of their young as ptarmigan. They will not come so 
close, and the cock will not fly in your face as I have seen the hill bird do; but 
perhaps he knows man better and trusts him more, for in the case of stoat, weasel, fox, 
or dog touching the young, Partridges will actually strike them and risk their lives for 
the sake of the family. 
With such a host of winged and four-legged foes, Partridges are ever on the 
watch. When moving about, the male often runs ahead and stands for minutes 
together acutely observing the landscape and sky. If all is safe he advances, uttering a 
low note like "zut-zut," whilst the female with crouching body follows with the brood, 
which constantly search for seeds and insects as they run. She calls them together 
with a low clucking note, and will run into cover with them at once on the first sign 
of danger. In England adult Partridges have on the whole but few enemies, as most 
of their natural foes are now scarce, but the chicks and poults have many difficulties 
