THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE 169 



clutches are the produce of several females. Two or three 

 nests are frequently made close together in the same field. 

 The eggs are remarkably handsome ones, yellowish-olive in 

 ground colour, boldly spotted, blotched, and freckled with dark 

 brown and olive-brown. The males throughout the laying 

 period are very pugnacious, and combats are constantly taking 

 place between rival birds. The young, like Partridges, run 

 as soon as they are hatched, and the female takes the entire 

 charge of the brood. Quails do not join into coveys in 

 autumn, but seem to live a singularly lonely life until migra- 

 tion time. The Quail's resemblance to the Partridge in colour 

 and form is very noteworthy, but the bird may instantly be 

 recognised by its small size. 



