" To the sportsman, I think nothing ought to be more interesting, and certainly nothing is more necessary, than a knowledge of the natural history and habits of the animal which he hunts. Of these, then, the common partridge claims the first consideration.

"These interesting birds break the covey (or pair off, as we more commonly express it), in the months of April and May, and when the spring is very early, as soon as March. They lay from twelve to fifteen eggs, and these generally in the months of June and July. The time of incubation is about the same number of days. Its nest is beautifully and judiciously built; generally under a hedge of grass, the rails of a fence, or by the side of an old stump. Its shape is a recumbent cone, opening to the horizon, and so well and closely constructed as to protect it on all sides from the weather. The early strength and activity of the chicks are remarkable. They generally move off the first day, and very often you will find the young with a part of the shell still attached.

"The hunting season commences with us about the first of November. Earlier than this, a number of them are found unfledged, and it affords but poor amusement to the genuine sportsman to take them in this helpless state.

" Their daily habits, times of feeding, of resting, the fields and places which they prefer, are also interesting.

"They leave their huddle (the mode of collecting, or huddling at night, has interest: they all form an exact ring, or circle, with their tails pointing directly to the centre; and, of course, their bodies and heads coming out as radii, in which situation, they are prepared for any alarm), soon after the first dawn of day, and never without the most cheering little noise, (which seems to be general amongst them,) as if congratulating each other on the light of the new day. When these salutations are over, they run off feeding, (apparently the happiest creatures in the world,) and continue until about midday, when they again collect, roll themselves in the dirt, or sit about in the grass. They now do not ramble much until late in the afternoon, when they again commence feeding rapidly, until near the close of the day. If one should accidentally wander too far, or they should be scattered by the huntsman, they collect themselves again by rather a plaintive little whistle, answered from one to the other.

" The above is the course for a still and clear day; but rain, cold, and wind, always produce a variation. When raining, they travel but little, and when snowing never. They then generally shelter themselves under fallen bushes, or in the corners of the fence, or in thick broom sedge, or weeds. Cold and windy days they mostly keep close, not venturing far; and if they dp, they seek a sunny hill-side, which protects them from the wind.

" Their places of feeding I have also observed. Grass seed they prefer to every thing else. Can a field be found which has not been cultivated, nor much grazed for a number of years, and in which the grass and weeds have grown luxuriantly, there the sportsman may find much good shooting.

"They are very apt also to visit oat or wheat stacks once or twice per day; and, in the winter, when the seed become more scarce, you will generally find them around our wheat or rye fields, along the fences, or the adjacent branch, that they may feed upon the tender sprigs and have a ready covert to which they may flee in case of danger. They seldom venture far in the field; but, in very cold weather, when the earth is covered with snow, they become much more tame, through necessity, venturing to the farm-pens and barn-yards.

"We have delightful sport with them. During the last season we killed a great many. One day, Mr. I., Mr. G., and myself, rode to Mr. C's fields. Owing to delay, we did not reach it until eleven o'clock, (a bad hour,) and met with little success at first. We stayed but a few hours, and bagged fifty-six birds. Mr. I., this day, excelled beyond expectation. He fired forty-three times, killed thirty-eight birds, and wounded four, only missing clearly once. He used a double-barrelled flint-gun, whirled and fired five times, with both barrels, in different directions, killed nine birds, and wounded the tenth. This is good shooting with us, and requires a ready hand and a quick eye. A party of us made a hunt, some time ago, and we bagged one hundred and forty-seven. Of these Mr. I. killed fifty.

"Our dogs, Cato and Ponto, behaved remarkably well throughout the season. They never flushed, and a straggler could scarcely escape. Cato is the best of dogs. He has a slow, but regular lope, hunts remarkably close, and the powers of his nose would, if the various instances were related, seem incredible. When we would flush, he would always wait for orders as to the course he should go, and as soon as he found the bird was near, he almost invariably looked back at you, as if asking, ' are you ready V and soon took his stand. He is a large dog, liver-coloured, with spots, and of untiring powers. Of his pedigree I know nothing, save this, that the sire and slut were both imported." *

* We are sorry and ashamed to have forgotten, if we knew, the real name of such an agreeable writer.