Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-11-12
Variety a Law of Nature.

Who has not observed that variety is law
Of creation? In the crystalized rock, in the
sparkling diamonds Of the ever varying snow.
fake, in the unnumbered leaves Of the for
est or the clover field, what an endless vari.
ETY. do we behold. In the human race,
there is likeness, and yet every variety OF
size, complexion, habits, disposition and
character. Each human being differs from
every other human being. If it were not so,
what endless confusion would result. No
one could distinguish his nearest friend from
his most bitter enemy. The criminal at
the bar, and the judge and jury would need
to be labeled to be distinguished from each
other.
And what variety among the iuhabi-
tants of the ocean--from the medusa to the
mighty whale. Every tribe of birds has
some peculiar traits and habits which dis
tinguish them from all other tribes, and
each species of every tribe differs from every
other species. The grouse, for instance,
belongs to the same family as the partridge
both are natives of the United States, but
they differ widely 10 their peculiar habits
and mode Of life. The grouse is found only
in open and dry plains where there are but
few trees, while the partridge seeks high
forests and low, marshy places.
The grouse is a ventriloquist, baving
power to utter sounds 20 deceptive as to
seem OF distance when near, or near when
at distance. This gift is evidently de-
signed to enable the bird to escape its ene-
mics, as compensation for the want Of
swift wings which the partridge has.
The grouse has another popularity worthy
Of notice in this connection. We are told
by the historian that the males have the
habit of assembling together on certain Occa-
siOns for kind Of military parade we will
call it stTuttiHg match,
Towards the dawn of day the company,
some forty or fifty in number, begin to assem-
BILE in some open space among the trees. As
soon as it is light, the signal is given, when
bushes, takes his place in line, and the cere-
mony begins. Each one struts according to
his best ability, aud tries to Guido all others
in pomp and stateliness. As they pass each
other they exchange looks Of insult and def.
ance, which often lead to desperate battles
which sometimes last until the rising Of the
sun, when they ''staok their arms" and re-
tire from the field. This "dress parade, "
like that Of soldiers serves to cultivate the
pride and warlike spirit of these untama-
bic birds.
The habits of the partridge are more soli-
tary. They seem not to be as fond Of mus
ter as of drumming. The male bird, seated
upon fallen tree, strikes his wings upon its
sides, at first slowly and afterwards more
rapidly, producing sound not unlike the
rolling drum. This noise is very deceptive,
often leaving the impression upon the hun
tiers that their game is near at hand. when
in fact it may be half mile distant. The
wonderful sagacity Of the mother partridge
in protecting her young has already been
alluded to as illustrative Of instinct. When
surprised at the head Of her family, she gives
the alarm, and while her young are escaP'
ing she ieigns broken wing or leg to de-
lude the hunter with the false impression that
she can be easily caught, or TO excite hi
sympathy, thus causing him to delay pursuit.
But when her brood are out of danger, the
mother takes wing and is soon out of sight
The quail is kind Of partridge, but diff
fers also in many respects. 1t is smaller
bird seeks the open field builds its nest
on walls or fences or under bush and il