I WAS ON the bridleway when a grey partridge peeped out from the corn. Although it seemed shocked to see me, rather than flying away it tottered free of its cover and stumbled down the path in full view. Wing held out gingerly, the bird seemed injured. I stopped to let it get away, but it didn’t seem to want to escape; in fact, it came back towards me, holding out the wing even more markedly. Only when I stepped forward did the partridge scurry away.