188 BBITISH BIIiDH' NESTS. 



even as tliirtj-'tliree have been recorded, but such 

 a large number is undoubtedly the production of 

 two females. Pale olive-brown or greenish-yellow, 

 unspotted. Size about 1-4 by 1*1 in. Easily dis- 

 tinguished from those of the Ked-Legged Partridge 

 by smaller size, colour, and lack of spots. 



Ti)}ie. — May and June, although nests with 

 fourteen egg's in have been found as earlv as 

 April 18 ; and I have seen sitting hens have their 

 heads shaven off in grass-fields by the mower's 

 scythe as late as the middle of July. 



Remarlxs. — Resident. Notes, tunvit (call) ; ((JicJ:, 

 jich (alarm). Local and other names : none. Sits 

 very closely, and is of very uneven temper. Some 

 individuals will suffer a great amount of intrusion, 

 and others will forsake their eggs upon the slightest 

 molestation. 



PARTRIDGE, RED-LEGGED. 



Description of Parent Birch. — Length about 

 thirteen inches and a half. Bill short, curved 

 downwards, and red. Irides red. Crown bright 

 chestnut ; back of neck, back, rump, wing and tail- 

 coverts, brownish ; v\dng-quills darker and tipped 

 with light yellowish - brown ; tail - quills chestnut 

 and greyish-brown. A black streak runs from the 

 nostrils to the eyes, then turns downwards, making 

 a collar of black from which spots and streaks of 

 the same colour extend towards the upper part of 

 the breast. Breast pearly grey ; belly, vent, and 

 under tail-coverts fawn colour ; sides and flanks 

 transversely variegated with crescent-shaj)ed marks 

 of black, wbite, pearly-grey, and fawn colour. 

 Legs, toes, and claws brown. 



The female is not so large or bright and 



