12 
RURAL HOURS. 
it scarcely occurs half <a dozen times in the course of a winter ; and 
it is the same with the hoar-frost on the branches, which is by no 
means so common a spectacle as a Cockney might fancy. This 
morning both these specimens of winter’s handiwork are united, 
and the effect is very fine, though it looks as if spring might yet 
be a hundred years off. 
Friday, 10 ili . — A bimch of ten partridges brought to the 
house ; they are occasionally offered singly, or a brace or two at 
a time, but ten are a much larger number than are often seen 
together. Last autiunn we frequently came upon these birds in 
the woods — they were probably more numerous than usual. Sev- 
eral times they even found then- way dorvn into the village, which 
we have never knomi them to do before ; once they were sur- 
prised in the cluirchyard, and twice they were foimd feeding 
among the refuse of our omi garden. 
When this valley was first peopled by'' the Avhites, quails were 
also found here in abundance, among the common game-birds of the 
region, but they have noAv abandoned us entii'cly ; one never hears 
of them, and it is said that they soon disappeared after the coun- 
try had been cleared. This is not according to their usual habits, 
for generally they’ are found to prefer the farm lands to the forest, 
feeding on different kinds of grain, building about fences, and 
rarely resorting to the woods. In some of the oldest parts of the 
country they' are quite common, and so familiar, that in winter 
they will occasionally mingle Artth the poultry in the bam-yard. 
Instead of fearing the advance of civilization, they' Avould delight 
in it, Avere it not for the sportsman’s gun. It is true that in this 
coimty Ave approach the northern limits of the quail, for they arc 
found from Il'nduras t: Massachusetts only; oirr Partridge or 
