Morning journal and courier., 1881-11-10
A Tame Partridge.
One That Has Been Closely Watched for Nearly Two ears and Makes Friends With Anyone.


 Nearly Two \ ears and Makes Friends With Anyone.
 From the Worcester NIassJ spyl Until last year it was always claimed by sp9rtsmen and others who have made care full study of the habits of ruffed aroused, or, as they are more commonly called hereabouts cartridges, that they could not be tanned
 Last season the story told of the experi- ence with one of these birds at Parker's Mills, in Oakham, which was so,well authen- ticated that even the doubters were convinc- ed, although all were not able to agree as to the sex of the bird. Those who had the best opportunities for judging pronounced it a cock, while others insisted that it WAS hen
 This year it has been established beyond doubt that it is male bird and the case is such a remarkable one that the story is worth telling The bird has been carefully watched for nearly two years, the time covering parts of three open seasons, which extended Sept. 1 to Jan l. In December, 1879, Mr. Parker the proprietor of the mills, was confined to his house by illness. While his boys were at work on some lumber in the woods they first saw the partridge, then a young bird, but thought nothing of it until 1t had been seen in the same neighborhood for several success sive days, and rather appeared to like the company of the men and horses, although it would allow no familiaritieS. description of the birds actions was given to Mir. Park CT. and one of his sons said that he would kill him and bring him home to the sick man, but the invalid protested, and the birds life was spared. When Mr. Parker was able to be about he investigated the case and, with little effort, so far succeeded in gaining the confidence of the bird that he could easily call it at any time. The bird would light on his shoulder and feed from his hand, but promptly resented any efforts to handle him by flying into the brush. The bird seemed to like its now acquaintances, and soon it G,,, the call meeting with the readiest response being the clapping together of two pieces of board, although the common call of 'biddle, biddie" l" the same as barn yard fowls, was sure to find an answer. In the summer of 1SS0 among the boarders at Coldbrook was mute, who, on seeing the bird calling one day, became very much interested, and visit ing the place alone, succeeded in called the bird by clapping two pieces of board togeth- er He also succeeded in catching the fowl, and probably with the intent of securing some souvenirs, pulled out some of it's feath- CTS. The bird took offense at this, and fo1 several weeks was not seen again. So long was it absent that those most interested in the case concluded that it had taken it's de- parture from the locality But 1t again ap- peared and soon became as familiar with visitors as ever All through last winter it was repeatedly seen by frequenters of the neighborhood, and last spring, like any we'll behaved partridge, it mated and assisted in raising and caring for a brood of good size. The hen and chicks took their departure from the locality during the close season, but the head of the flock remained and is still frequenting his old haunts and readily responding to calls from whoever visits the locality. It has been frequently known to light pn the shoulder of visitor who was stranger to the locality, and does not hesitate to light on or fly into the carriage of a visitor who calls it without leaving the vehicle. It is full fedged. healthy bird, differing only from other partridges in it's domestic habits. All sportsmen whe frequent the locality know | the story so we'll that thus far it has escaped injury at the hands of any hunter, and will probably be allowed to live long enough to gain 0 wide reputation, unless it falls a vic- tim to some pot hunter.