THE AUDUBON BU Die iin 
ARGH RARZO Nai OG 
[IS WORTH [WO ONGITE ROOE 
by ALICE M. CLA 
The coldest days of winter were brightened for us this yea 
a most unusual way. On our return from a Christmas-sea 
vacation in Arizona, we were surprised to find we had gai 
a nightly guest. Male or female, we didn’t know, nor did 
care. You see, it isn’t everyone who could boast that a chu 
partridge roosts every night just outside his window! 
A small stand with a surface about 15” X 15” had t 
left on the porch when frost had necessitated bringing in 
plants for the winter. It was on this small table that the chu 
chose to roost where he was sheltered from the winds | 
could absorb some warmth from the house. 
At first, we were afraid to approach the window for 
of startling him, but day by day, we crept a little closer u 
only the window pane separated us. From close range, 
could admire his light olive-brown back, his creamy um 
parts, and the chestnut bars on his shoulders. A black bo; 
starting above his beak crossed his red eyes and extended 1 
curve meeting below his lightcolored throat. His reddish 
were hidden as he fluffed out his feathers and settled down 
the night . . . looking quite dumpy, indeed. Even the sud 
snapping on of the dining room light during the night did 
seem to disturb him, a fact for which we were grateful. 
It was fun to watch him from our breakfast table. As 
sun came up, he would awaken, preen himself, hop to 
railing, bask for a minute in the sunshine, and then fly dc 
to the ground below where he gracefully strutted off. 
As, dusk approached, our little friend signaled his ret 
by pecking on our windowpane. This never ceased to pu' 
us as he appeared to be swallowing the imaginary food 
stretched his neck to reach. He rarely sampled the sunflower 
other seed we placed on the table for him. Our farmer bro 
explained that he prefered to scavenge for the grain which 
to the ground when feed was ground for the stock. Our far 
dog who has been trained to leave poultry alone could « 
quite close before the chukar decided to move, and even ther 
wouldn't take wing but would just keep a few steps aheac 
the curious dog. | 
