Page:Field key to the land birds .. (IA fieldkeytolandbi00knob).pdf/36

6 FIELD KEY TO THE LAND BIRDS.

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with gray and black spots iinderparts white, with black and gray bars a black ruff on the side of the neck; tail gray or red-brown. This is a thorough wood bird, feeding on seeds, berries, and insects, and in winter on buds, particular^ those of apple and Young Partridges are able to run black birch trees. almost as soon as they are hatched, and when sur;



The old birds are prised jump and liide like mice. celebrated for the ingenious tricks by which they draw any danger away from the young and centre the enemy's attention on themselves. With much ado they play at being wounded or crippled, and allow man or dog almost to touch them, fluttering farther and farther until they think the young ones quite Then they suddenly disappear, behind a tree safe. or stone wall, and fly unseen back to the j^oung, leaving their pursuer wondering where they have gone. Partridges stay together in flocks until early fall, and then seem to live singly, though often in close neighborhood on some favorable feeding ground. They remain in a district or even in a single favorite spot for several seasons, and when not hunted are not shy, though never really tame. They are never found in

open grounds, and even on their grasshopper hunts

stay on the edges of the woods.

4. PRAIRIE HEN, PINNATED GROUSE, HEN, TymTympanuclius americamis^ and panuohus cupido^ are, with the exception of a few very small differences, exactly alike. Length, 18 Buff above and white below, barred with inches. black and brown the side of the neck adorned with

HEATH



The a tuft of long, narrow, and straight feathers. Prairie Hen inhabits the prairie lands of the Mississippi, though not in so great numbers as formerly. The Heath Hen used to inhabit the Eastern coast, but is now reduced to a few birds on Martha's Vineyard, which, though protected, do not seem to prosper.