Hai Collection, Middle Volume Radical: Bird (niǎo) Gu Kangxi Strokes: 16 Page 1486, Entry 17 Pronounced gu According to the Explaining Graphs and Analyzing Characters (Shuowen Jiezi), the partridge is a bird similar to a small turtle dove. According to the Amplified Elegant (Piya), it has white circular spots on its breast. It often chirps in pairs and always flies facing the sun. It fears frost and dew, rarely appears in the early morning or late evening, and when flying at night, it covers its back with tree leaves. Its intent is always toward the south, as it is unwilling to go north; even when circling or flying in other directions, whenever it spreads its wings to begin its flight, it invariably heads south first, which is why it is also known as the one that yearns for the south. In the Jiangdong region, it is called the shadow chaser. Its call sounds as if it is calling to itself: gouzhou gezhe, it is impossible to go, elder brother. In the poems of Lin Tong, it is noted that the forest trees call out gouzhou. Note: This is the partridge calling to itself. For further details, refer to the entry for the character zhe.