132 BIRDS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE. 



The food consists of grain, seeds, berries, insects, especi- 

 ally ants and their eggs, though they also destroy immense 

 quantities of -vvire-worms and aphides and other insect 

 pests. The leaves, tender shoots, and succulent parts of 

 many plants are also devoured by them. 



The nest is merely a hole scraped in the ground, or a 

 natural depression, sparingly lined with fragments of such 

 vegetation as grows near it, and the eggs vary in number 

 from 10 to 15 ; they are of a uniform olive green colour. 

 Incubation takes about twenty-eight days, and is performed 

 by the female alone, though the male keeps near her when 

 she is sitting, and joins with her in the care and defence of 

 the young brood. 



These birds appear to pair for life, and, except during the 

 autumn and winter, are only found in couples. 



They can be kept fairly well in confinement, and Mill 

 sometimes nest and rear young in an aviary, but require a 

 considerable amount of insect food when 3^oung. 



They seldom drink, merely sipping a few drops of dew 

 from the grass, and are fond of rolling in dust, for which 

 purpose the}'' resort to country roads, where they will often 

 run for a considerable distance before a disturber ere they 

 take wing and pop over a hedge, generally on the left hand 

 side of the pursuer. 



Albinos, wholly or in part, are not uncommon. 



Partridges pair early, often in February, and the eggs are 

 laid in April or May ; but a good deal depends on the state 

 of the weather. 



Quail. — The general colour of the quail is grey, but 

 starting from the eye are two circular lines of black, that 

 meet under the chin, and outside each is a white line of the 

 same width. Above the eye is a white curved line, and to- 

 wards the top of the head another ; but this last is very 

 narrow. The head itself is dark brown, with many minute 



