The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-03-09
BIRDS THAT DISAPPEAR
Magic Trick Of the Little California
PsTtrfdRes-

M0RiC IFtCh OF t9E A>tftt8
Psrtridges-
Young birds have 10 be taught q
great many things. but there are some
feats which they know without insfruc-
ton. In large open-air cage In the
sew York geological park IL a covey Of
six California parfridges. about one
third grown. and their little bantam
stepmother. She dozes al one end Of tho
range or walks slowly about. pecking
among the blades Of grass The small
sextet keep close together. and II we
watch them for several minutes we
will see some OF the things which must
have come 20 them as their feathers
and little bills came-froIn the egg
Unlike the hen. they are suspicious
OF your every movement, but In short
time they forget that you are not a
lleeless tree trunk or other harmless
object near their cage. They select a
sunny SPOT always On the dead leaves,
rerer on the green grass, and here.
after much cuddling and pushing. but
never peep. they squat. usually In an
irregular circle with heads outward
Unless there are dead leaves or some
similarly colOred surface in their cage
they never settle down coDtentediy for
a sun bath.
We watch them nestle close 70 the
ground and close their eyes; then some
movement on the part OF the hen may
attract our attention for moment and
on looking back again we are amazed
10 find the little birds have disappear
ed. II is fact that IL we lose sight
Of them even for short time the eye
al first refuses 10 distinguish them
from the dried leaves Their little
backs are dull. dark brown in color.
broken by irregular fine white lines.
very much like the mold lines on fallen
leaves. while the lighter sides OF the
head, instead OF being az all conspicu-
GUS. are exactly like the lighter shades
Of some old leaves. the imitation being
more perfect from the fact OF the color
ing being thus broken up Even the
little brush OF appraised feathers in
their beads-hints OF the beautiful re-
curved helmets OF the old blrds-sp-
pear like small. frayed-out pieces OF
grass or leaf.
II we look toward them with half
closed eyes not trace OF the birds is
visible. All appear sound asleep. and
the little heads sag drowsily TO one
side, but at the slightest noise each
black bead Of an eye Is wide open and
six scurrying pairs of legs or rounded.
whirrlng wings. carry their owners TO
the farther side OF the cage. as II an
unfelt wind had suddenly caught up
some OF the dead leaves before us and
tossed them along the ground IL is all
q beautiful bit OF magic. which never
becomes less wonderful. no matter how
many times we witness it.
When we see bow wonderfully these
little cartridges are protected from dan
ger by their color we cease 10 wonder
how the mother partridge keeps hidden
during her three weeks vigil on her
nest. The male bird is iDdescr1bsbly
beautiful-dotted and slashed. stained
and shaded with different tones OF col
or, some Of his feathers looking almost
like the scales Of fishes His bead ia
decorated " two interlacing white
lines and the tall helmet Of beautiful
recurred feathers. which. added to his
black throat. make him a very con-
spicuous bird We find that his little
wife while to s certain degree sharing
many Of his besuties. has them In such
subdued tones that they do not make
her al all noticeable among surround
nSs OF dried grass and weeds
The young birls are still further pro-
rided with means Of escape from their
many enemies. for almost from the
moment they are Matched their little
wing feathers shoot out. and when only
/ day old they can iiutier a fun yard
INTO the air In fact says c. VIII
lam Becbe in the New York Tribune.
I have known one Of these hardy
hicks to fall out OF a nesting box
Eighteen inches from the floor. and
omehow get back alone on the day OF
Imagine a common chicken
tempting this.-