chocolate-colored) but, strange to say, I could find no 
primaries, nor secondaries, not tail feathers, nor any 
fragments of flesh or bones or head or feet. That the 
deed had been committed by either a Hawk or an Owl was 
clearly indicated (l) by the fact that all the feathers 
had been pulled out, not bitten off and (2) by the three 
or four large plashes of white, chalky excrement on the 
pine needles. The presence of these "chalkings", close 
together, near a convenient perch afforded by a fallen 
branch and surrounded by the feathers, was equally good 
evidence to my mind that the bird of prey — whatever he 
was — made a hasty meal before leaving the spot. When 
he finally flew away he may have taken with him what 
remained of the Partridge or it may have been eaten after 
his departure by some prowling Fox or Skunk. 
