away to a greater distance.* The parent birds exhibit great affection
for their young in leading them out and calling them together to
feed. Hen birds have been found dead with their broods under their
wings, perishing themselves from the effects of cold and hunger,
sooner than leave them to exposure in severe weather. The male is
very pugnacious in spring, driving off all i n t r u d e r s , and endeavouring
to guard his mate. Mr. Selby tells of a pair which attacked a
( ' r ow who threatened their young, and held him till taken from
them by a person who came u p ; and Marwick says that he saw a
pair fly up at and buffet a Kite which had been hovering over their
brood. They are believed to pair for life. The male birds have
combats together in the spring, and use their claws as offensive
weapons. I have seen two fighting like game cocks, j u m p i n g up and
pecking at each other. I have also observed one run at and drive
away a Rook which approached too nearly to where he was feeding,
at this season also they may be seen running along in pairs or
singly for quite a long way, on a road before some traveller who
lias disturbed or alarmed them; on and on they run, without attempting
to take wing, until at last on a sudden they start over the
hedge.
A hen Partridge has been known, on perceiving that her nest was
discovered, to cover the eggs over with leaves so completely that it
could not again have been casuallv noticed; and each morning as
she laid a fresh egg. she covered all over again. Indeed the nest is
always most carefully concealed, and covered with the surrounding
herbage, and care is taken not to leave any track to or from it. T
h a r e j u s t heard of another similar instance from W. H . Rudstnn-Read,
E s q . , of Hayton.—A Partridge was found the other day sitting on
h e r nest among some loose straw1 , of which only it was made, in a
f i r m - y a r d in that parish. She covered the nest with straw when she
went off to feed. Montagu mentions one which, being taken with
her eggs, continued to sit on them, and brought out. the young. He
gives an instance of a Partridge being taken away with her eggs in
a hat, in which she continued to sit, and hatched them, suiting the
action to the word.
Mr. Jesse relates a curious anecdote of a Partridge which, being
disturbed by a plough driven close to her nest, removed the eggs,
nineteen in number, assisted perhaps by her mate, to a distance of
forty yards under a hedge, before the return of the plough, an interval
of twenty minutes: such instances have more than once occurred.
Of another he savs. <A farmer discovered a Partridge sitting on its
eggs in a grass field. The bird allowed him to pass his hand down
its back without moving or shewing any fear; but if he offered to
touch the eggs, the poor bird immediately pecked his hand.' One
has been known to fly at and attack a person who picked up one of
her young running in a road, on hearing its cry.
Of another it is related in the 'Zoologist,' pages 1601-2, by Arthur
Husscy, Esq., ' I t soon shewed it liked to be always with me, and
was perfectly happy in my lap; or when I have been painting, it
would sit on my left arm dressing itself or sleeping in entire security.
I used to take it into my mother's room, and if it could lie on her
gown at her feet, it was contented, hut was always on the watch for
my coming back, and on seeing me would j u m p up and run to meet
me. It was now so tame and pleased with being fondled as to excite
much astonishment. My mother soon became very fond of it,
and by degrees it was more with her than with me. Its cage was
never inhabited; it would never sleep in confinement; therefore was
awake and quite alive all the evening, being either in the lap or on
the sofa. When he had changed his feathers and attained his full
plumage, he refused to be handled, but his habits were as sociable as
before. His knowledge of every one was most extraordinary; his
likings and dislikings were very strong; and he was so curious and observant,
that no piece of furniture could be moved without his finding
it out, and if the carpet was not smooth, he would set to work
instantly to render it so by pecking and scratching.
He was very fond of gay colours, and no new cap or gown could
be put on without its catching his attention. He never offered to go
up or down stairs, and very rarely used his wings. On being gently
chastised when he did fly, he would run and hide himself like a
child, as if he knew he had done wrong. A box of earth was given
him to rub in, which he thoroughly enjoyed. His feathers were
always glossy and in the most perfect order, which I attribute to his
always having plenty of green food, such as grass and clover cut
small. In the winter he liked wheat, hut rarely touched it in the
summer; was very fond of sugar and cake; drank very little water;
and liked his food dry. He never forgot any one he had made acquaintance
with, and the return of any of the family after many
months absence, caused him so much joy and excitement that I have
been compelled to shut him up. He would distinguish their voices
even before they got out of the carriage. His partiality for my
mother was very great, and if she was asleep, nothing would tempt
him to quit her, but he never liked her to be in the drawing-room.
In the evening he always came into the drawing-room, and remained
till we retired. He slept at my bed-side, and never disturbed me,