QUAIL, OR PARTRIDGE. 
229 
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 were 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 Partridge, 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 her- 
self, she continued to lead them about ; but, though their 
notes or call were those of common 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 disap- 
peared, having probably been destroyed 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 secure 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 
four or five to thirty, afford considerable sport to the gunner. 
At this time the notes of the male are most frequent, clear, 
