480 
THE PARTRIDGE. 
The mother-bird sits very closely, and is not easily frightened from her charge ; and during 
the last day or two of incubation she is so fearless that she will not suffer herself to be dis- 
turbed, and will allow the scythe of the mower to kill her on her nest rather than desert her 
home. Sitting Partridges have sometimes allowed themselves to be taken by hand. When 
imminent danger threatens the nest, the mother-bird has been known to carry off the eggs and 
convey them to a place of safety, executing the task in a wonderfully short space of time. Mr. 
J esse mentions one such instance, where there were twenty-one eggs, the whole of which were 
removed to a distance of forty yards in about twenty minutes. It is probable that the cock 
bird assisted his mate in her labors. 
When the young are hatched they are strong on their legs at once, running about with 
ease, and mostly leaving the nest on the same day. The mother takes her little new-born 
brood to their feeding-places, generally ant-hills or caterpillar-haunted spots, and aids them in 
their search after food by scratching away the soil with her feet. The nests of the wood-ant, 
which are mostly found in fir plantations or hilly ground, being very full of inhabitants, very 
easily torn to pieces, and the ants and their larvge and pupee being very large, are favorite 
feeding-places of the Partridge, which in such localities is said to acquire a better flavor than 
among the lower pasture lands. 
The young brood, technically called a “covey,” associate together, and have a very strong 
local tendency, adhering with great pertinacity to the same field or patch of land. When 
together they are mostly rather wild, and dart off at the least alarm with their well-known 
whirring flight, just topping a hedge or wall and settling on the other side till again put up ; 
but when the members of the covey are separated they seem to dread the air, and crouch 
closely to the ground, so that it is the object of the sportsman to scatter the covey and to pick 
them up singly. They are always alarmed at a soaring bird, whether of prey or not, and squat 
closely to the ground. When they are very wild and shy, the sportsmen take advantage of 
this propensity, and fly a kite shaped like a hawk over them, thus inducing them to lie 
frightened on the ground until the dog can point them in the proper fashion. Even a common, 
long-tailed, round-shouldered boy’s kite will answer the purpose well enough. Some punctil- 
ious sportsmen, however, denounce the kite as a trick only worthy of a poacher, and would 
rather walk after the birds all day without getting a shot than secure a full bag by the use of 
such a device. 
About the middle or end of February, according to the mildness or inclemency of the 
season, the Partridge begins to pair ; and as the male birds are very numerous, they fight 
desperate battles for the object of their love. While engaged in combat, they are so deeply 
absorbed in battle, that they may be approached quite closely, as they whirl round and round, 
grasping each other by the beak, and have even been taken by hand. So strong, however, is 
the warlike instinct, that, when released, the furious birds recommenced the quarrel. 
The females take no part in these battles ; waiting quietly, like the strong-minded heroines 
of romance, to abide the issue of the combat, and to reward the victors with their love. Not 
that they are devoid of courage, but they reserve its display for a better purpose, namely, the 
defence of their young. Should a hen Partridge be disturbed while in charge of her little 
brood, she will endeavor to put them out of danger, and to draw the intruder aside by the 
exertion of many a crafty while. But should the enemy come upon them too suddenly to 
be deceived by cunning, she will boldly dash at the foe, and, with self-sacrificing courage, 
attack with beak, foot, and wing, until the enemy has left the ground, or herself is killed, 
knowing that her young charge are taking advantage of the time to place themselves in 
safety. Small though the bird may be, it can strike with considerable force, and has been 
known to inflict some painful wounds on the faces of human beings who have suddenly dis- 
turbed a brood of young. 
Though strong and rapid of flight for a short distance, the Partridge loves not to trust 
itself over much to the air, and cannot fly to any great distance without alighting. When 
these birds are forced to pass over wide rivers or arms of the sea, they are often so wearied 
that they fall into the water, and these are mostly drowned, having but little idea of swim- 
ming, beyond the idea that they are to sit still and trust to their fortune. A bird thus fallen 
