142 REMARKS ON THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 



Art. VIII. — Remarks on the Red-Legged Partridge (Perdix rubra, 

 Briss.) By W. Bernard Clarke, M.D. 



Thinking some remarks upon the red-legged partridge, which 

 is now rapidly spreading over our island, may prove interest- 

 ing to some of your many readers, I venture to send them for 

 insertion in your ' Magazine of Natural History.' 



Red-legged Partridge. 



Perdix rubra; Brisson. 



barbarica; 



rufa major ; Gesner, & Jonston. 



— alba; Brisson. 



grceca ; Ray. 



Tetrao rufus; Gmelin. 



Red Partridge ; Albin. 



Greek or Great red Partridge ; Willughby . 



Greek Partridge, and Guernsey Partridge ; Latham. 



Red-legged Partridge ; Ray, Willughby, & 



from Barbary ; Edwards. [Albin. 



Barbary Partridge ; Shaw's Travels. 



Bartavelle ; Buffon. 



This partridge is called the " red-legged bird " by sports- 

 men, to distinguish it from the common species, which is de- 

 signated the "grey bird." 



The red-legged partridge is found in France and the south- 

 ern parts of Europe, in Italy, Greece, and the islands of Jersey 

 and Guernsey ; it is also said to frequent the woody moun- 

 tains of Asia and Africa. It is generally about half as large 

 again as the common species, from which it is at once dis- 

 tinguished by the variety of the plumage. The colour of the 

 crown of the head and back is a reddish brown ; throat of a 

 pure white, bordered by a dense black band, which passes 

 upwards as far as the eyes ; breast of a bluish ash colour, the 

 upper part of which is beautifully mottled with black ; abdo- 

 minal surface of a reddish tint : the feathers on the sides of 

 the body, which overlap the wings when closed, are marked 

 with bluish-ash, white, black, and chestnut, so disposed as to 

 present a series of somewhat crescent-like spots, giving to the 

 whole a very elegant appearance : the bill and tarsi are red, 

 the latter, in the adult male, are furnished with a strong tu- 

 bercle on the inner surface. 



This species was introduced into England about the year 

 1790, by the Marquis of Hertford and Lord Rendlesham, each 



