IF

F you live in the country, or have been in it much, you must have seen the birds shown in the picture. They are partridges; and when you rouse them up in the fields, they rise and make a noise that can only be spelled whir-r-r. Away they fly, almost straight, not rising very high, and after sweeping round in a graceful curve they settle again.

Two kinds are found in England,-the common brown partridge, and the red-legged one.

The common partridge may be found in almost

THE PARTRIDGE.

137

any part of the country, but it delights to dwell in corn and turnip fields.

The red partridge is a much more beautiful bird, but not so plentiful. It is fond of dry heathy places as well as fields, and though it thrives with us it is not a true native of England.

The food of the partridge consists of seeds, grain, young plants, and insects; and they are very good food themselves, as no doubt you know.

The habits of partridges are very interesting. They scrape a hole in the ground and line it with a few straws. In this they lay from ten to fifteen round, olive-brown eggs. It is curious that, although a dog can smell a partridge at any other time, yet when the birds are sitting on their eggs, he will walk close by the nest without finding it.

When the young birds are hatched, they are pretty little brown things with feathers like hair. Their *parents take them about, and if any one comes near them the young ones hurry off into the grass, while the old ones pretend to be wounded and unable to fly. They hop in front of the person who disturbs them, and try to lead him away, and in their anxiety to save their little ones will sometimes allow him to come quite close to them. When they have led him far enough away they fly off, and after a time return to their little ones.

In autumn and winter the young birds stay with their parents, and the flock is called a covey. On

the first of September partridge shooting begins, and the birds are hunted up by trained dogs called ⚫pointers.

Partridges are very brave in defending their young. A gentleman once saw two old birds fighting a carrion crow'. They held it down, and were so busy that the gentleman walked up to them and took the young one away without frightening them. The crow had no doubt been trying to get a plump young partridge for dinner, but he was disappointed.

QUESTIONS.-What is a partridge? How do they fly? How many kinds are found in England? What part of the country does it live in? What kind is found most often? What do they feed on? Where do they lay their eggs? How do they lead persons away from their nests and young ones? What is a covey? is a carrion crow? How did the old partridges fight him? What

did the crow want?

What

GRAMMAR.-Write out the first seven verbs and the last seven adjectives and nouns in this lesson.

Sca Fell 3166. and Snowdon 3591ft the highest mountains in England and Wales.

THE RETRIEVER.

re-turn to heel: the retriever will
come back and take his place
just behind his master.
New'-found-land, pr. n., an island

THE

HE name of this breed of dog tells you what it is noted for. Look out the word retrieve in the 'dictionary. You will find it means to bring back; and these dogs will fetch and carry better than any other.

True retrievers are not very large dogs; but when

they have the blood of a Newfoundland in them, they grow to be almost as fine as that breed. Retrievers have curly hair, a bushy tail, a noble head, and their toes are joined by a membrane which is useful to them in swimming.

They jump well, run well, swim well, are brave, 'affectionate, gentle, and fond of fun. That is a list of good qualities that any dog might be proud of, and the retriever possesses them all.

Retrievers are easily trained to fetch things and lay them at their master's feet. They are useful in shooting to retrieve the birds that are shot, and being fond of water they are valuable companions to any one who is shooting ducks and snipe.

A good retriever follows the gun and does not get in front of the sportsman. When a shot is fired the dog darts forward to find the bird. Retrievers are exceedingly fond of this work, and dance and bark for joy when they see their master take down a gun. Their scent is so keen that a good dog never loses a bird, and, what is more, never bites or soils it in bringing it home.

Nothing annoys a retriever more than to go out with a man who is a bad shot. If the bird at which he fires is missed, the dog cannot at first understand it, but keeps on hunting; and when at length he is sure no bird is there, he will return to heel with his tail between his legs, looking the picture of grief. I have known a dog to turn tail and run home