REMARKS ON THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 143 



of whom had eggs procured on the continent, carefully brought 

 to England, and placed under domestic fowls ; the former at 

 Sudbourn (near Orford, in Suffolk), one of his shooting resi- 

 dences ; the latter on his estates at Rendlesham, a few miles 

 distant from Sudbourn : from the above-mentioned places the 

 birds have been gradually extending themselves over the ad- 

 jacent counties, and in the ratio of their increase the grey 

 partridge appears to have diminished, and from the pugna- 

 ceous character of the former species, it threatens ultimate 

 destruction to the latter; for wherever it establishes itself, 

 the grey bird is driven from the inclosures. 



For several years after its first introduction it was much 

 prized and sought after by sportsmen, as it was a larger bird 

 for the table, although very far inferior in richness of flavour 

 to the common grey partridge; and it is still preferred by some 

 from its flesh being whiter and more delicate. Being also a 

 bolder bird in habits, more alert, and rising at a greater dis- 

 tance than the common species, it was consequently more 

 difficult to secure, and was thought to reflect more sportsman- 

 like credit upon him who possessed the skill required to bring 

 down the object of his pursuit. At length its habits became 

 better known, and it was then found that one great difficulty 

 attending the shooting this species of game arose from the 

 peculiar habit which it possessed of running to a distance af- 

 ter alighting from its flight; on which account the dogs, com- 

 ing upon the scent, were baffled, being induced to draw upon 

 their game, and even then the birds would not rise except at 

 a very considerable distance, generally far out of gun-range. 

 As it is the habit of the bird to run to a distance upon being 

 disturbed, very little sport can be expected in the pursuit, un- 

 less the weather is extremely wet, when they appear less in- 

 clined to run ; they rise at a less distance, and the sportsman 

 consequently secures a greater number of shots. But the most 

 effectual means of securing them, and one which is resorted 

 to by many sportsmen, who are anxious to exterminate the 

 breed, finding they are destroying their sport and rapidly re- 

 ducing the numbers of grey birds, is to attack them during 

 severe weather, in the snow, when the birds resort to the 

 hedge-rows for shelter, whence they may be dislodged, and 

 thus made to present easy shots for the sportsman. Instan- 

 ces have been known of these birds alighting in the midst of 

 a field deeply covered with snow, into the depths of which 

 they sunk, and were afterwards taken out alive by hand. In 

 the shooting season, when they have been disturbed, I have 

 observed them to rise from one field, fly, and alight in the 

 midst of the next, run over the remainder of that field, take 



