150 British Birds, 



the Black Grouse, and the Common Fowl. The cross 

 last named is by no means uncommon, and a remark- 

 ably fine male specimen of the produce of a Cock 

 Pheasant and Speckled Hen occurred here (one of four 

 birds which were hatched) a few years since. The 

 Pheasant's tail and head and general shape as well as 

 fashion of feathers (with access of size) were united 

 to the shades and markings of the plumage of the 

 mother. The bird in question was so inveterate in 

 his visits to the neighbouring farm-yards in order to 

 challenge the cocks who dwelt there, and so sure to 

 kill them outright, or maim or maul them so severely 

 that they had to be killed, that it became necessary 

 to put him out of the way himself, and his present 

 (1860) memorial is his remarkably well-stuffed skin. 

 —Fig. % plate VI. 



COMMON PARTRIDGE— (/'^^^/;t; cinered). 



Much too familiar a bird by appearance, voice and 

 flavour to require any very lengthened notice from 

 us. The Partridge pairs pretty early — by the end of 

 January often — and once paired they never separate 

 again throughout the season. At pairing time the 

 cocks fight fiercely, and I have sometimes seen, and 

 even in my garden here, three or four engaged in the 

 conflict, with another, probably the female " apple of 

 discord," sitting quietly by the while. I have seen 

 the male, too, in the evening, when summoning his 

 newly-married wife, stand on the top of one of our 

 stone walls and call repeatedly. The nest is made on 

 the ground in a field of grass or corn, or on a dry 

 hedge bank, or at the foot of a wall among the long 



