42 
PARTRIDGE. 
casionally in each other’s nests. Though I have never myself 
seen a case of this kind, I do not think it altogether improbable, 
from the fact, that they have often been known to drop their 
eggs in the nest of the common hen, when that happened to be 
in the fields, or at a small distance from the house. The two 
Partridges above mentioned' were raised in this manner; and 
it was particularly remarked by the lady, who gave me the 
information, that the hen sat for several days after her own eggs 
where hatched, until the young Quails made their appearance. 
The Partridge, on her part, has sometimes been employed to 
hatch the eggs of the common domestic hen. A friend of mine, 
who himself made the experiment, informs me, that of several 
hen’s eggs which he substituted in place of those of the Part- 
ridge, she brought out the whole; and that for several weeks 
he occasionally surprised her in various parts of the plantation, 
with her brood of chickens; on which occasions she exhibited 
all that distressful alarm, and practised her usual manoeuvres for 
their preservation. Even after they were considerably grown, 
and larger than the Partridge herself, she continued to lead 
them about; but though their notes, or call, were those of com- 
mon chickens, their manners had all the shyness, timidity and 
alarm of young Partridges; running with great rapidity, and 
squatting in the grass exactly in the manner of the Partridge. 
Soon after this they disappeared, having probably been de- 
stroyed by dogs, by the gun, or by birds of prey. Whether the 
domestic fowl might not by this method be very soon brought 
back to its original savage state, and thereby supply another 
additional subject for the amusement of the sportsman, will 
scarcely admit of a doubt. But the experiment, in order to se- 
cure its success, would require to be made in a quarter of the 
country less exposed than ours to the ravages of guns, traps, 
dogs, and the deep snows of winter, that the new tribe might 
have full time to become completely naturalized, and well fixed 
in all their native habits. 
About the beginning of September, the Quails being now 
nearly full grown, and associated in flocks, or coveys, of from 
