The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1910-05-18

/ crown Oh DOOtn sexes is DlaCker IN
summer and the buff markings paler
There are from 10 to IS white eggs
laid on the ground in skillfully con-
structed nest and the bird is an adept
at drawing off a person or animal that
comes too near for comfort.
In this connection, / shall waste no
time discussing the reasons for insist
ing on the name partridge, although
Frank M. Chapman and DR.. T. S. Pal
mer of the biological survey at Wash
ington have tried to cajole me into
adopting the nickname bob White
as a compromise. Among Southern
gentlemen the bird has always been
the partridge. The South has always
controlled the supply for attempts to
introduce them out of their range
have failed. The classification of the
bird, was made first by Linnaeus fl ON
specimen sent from Virginia, hence
the Virginianus which denotes the
| species.
| ridge belongs to the gallinae or order
| Of scratching birds and that he be-
longs to the grouse family, to which
all the finest game birds beIong-nOt
all, for the woodcock and snipe do MT
belong to it-but at least most Of the
finest birds-the pinnated grouse. the
ptarmigan and willow grouse.
The northern limit Of the partridge
is set down as Southern Maine and
Minnesota and the Southern the Gulf
of Mexico. But there are few part
ridges even in Virginia and above this
they are scattered as not to be worth
counting, despite vigorous attempts
to introduce and cultivate them. The
real limit is from the northern boun-
Diary of North Carolina to Texas,
sweeping around in a crescent. In
both Texas and Florida there are sub
species. These are smaller and have
different markings.
Moreover we shall have to dispense
with a discussion Of the various spe-
cies Of partridge found in other parts
Of the country. This one bird furnish
es>so much matter that any man at all
conversant with it's history could write
volume on it alone.
1t Is the aim Of this article to pre-
sent the partridge in such an aspect
as will lead to more serious consid-
Grafton than is generally accorded
him.
OF all the birds that inhabit our
woods and fields the partridge de-
mands the largest amount Of common
sense and well-balanced judgment to
treat properly. He has so many sides
that it is easy to exalt any one at the
| expense of the others. But to proper
| ly appreciate the bird account must
be had of all his qualities and traits.
There are farmers who will not per-
NIT a partridge to be shot on their
premises under any consideration.
| There are few who regard the bird
as an enemy to their crops One
| heard of last year poisoned every bird
he could with the result that he lost
his whole crop by cutworms and this
was the treatment he deserved. The 4
comes the sportsman who wishes tC
shoot them in moderation as game
birds and lastly the game hog and the
pot hunter who destroy all they can.
out of this confused medley one has
to try to pick his way. The partridge
IS properly a game bird and certainly
may be shot in moderation, but at
| present it ought to be in extreme
moderation. On the other hand, the
birds work is Of the last importance
to the farmer. Only Is per cent Of
the years food consists Of insects, but
these insects are eaten at time when
they are doing most damage to crops
and they are among the worst insect
pests known. Remember another
thing; II per cent. I'm the case of 4
partridge means more than 100 per
cent in the case Of some birds, 50
great is the total amount of food con-
sumcd.
Did YOU ever hear of the chinch
! bug? Probably not, except some cas-
ual reference or some short article.
Vet this is the greatest post American
agricultur" has ever encountered. He
| is dCStroNiDg more in actunl NnIuc cN-