BRITISH BIRDS. 



OO 



yellowish dots ; the breast has a reddish tin^e, is covered 

 with small hair-like black lines ; the under parts are greyish 

 white, a few darker spots appearing at the sides of the 

 belly. All the upper feathers have yellow shafts, and are 

 crossed by two dark grey bars. The primaries are brown, 

 spotted like those of the partridge with dots of a lighter 

 shade. The bill is horn, and the legs and feet grey. The 

 female is paler generally, and destitute of the black and 

 white crescentic lines. Length of male, 8 inches ; of the 

 female a little less. 



These birds are found sparingly throughout the British 

 Islands, where they are migratory, arriving in May and 

 departing in September. 



They are thought to be polygamous, but at any rate the 

 males are extremely pugnacious. The eggs, which va.vy in 

 number from six or seven to twice the latter number, are of 

 a creamy white colour, more or less spotted with brown ; 

 they are laid in June or July. 



The food is the same as that of the partridge, in company 

 with which these birds are often found. They are rather 

 impatient of confinement, especially at the migratory 

 seasons, when they often seriously injure themselves by 

 rising and striking their heads violently against the roof of 

 their abode. 



Quails are in much request for the table, and extra- 

 ordinary prices are paid at the commencement of the 

 season, as much as thirty shillings having been given for a 

 single bird. 



Red-Legged Partridge. — Bill short, thick, and red ; 

 top of head brown, sides grey ; a broad black line starts 

 from the corners of the mouth, passes round the ej^es, down 

 the sides of the face and neck to about the middle of the 

 throat ; the enclosed space under the chin is greyish white ; 

 the neck and front of the neck and the breast are grey, the 



