i62 Northern Observations of Inland Birds 



the wing that they fall to the most indifferent shot, and 

 some men seem quite incapable of discriminating between 

 old birds and young. 



Like the pheasant, the red-legged or French or Guernsey 

 partridge is a naturalized bird of comparatively recent 

 date. An effort was first made to establish it during the 

 reign of Charles II, but so far as one can ascertain this 

 first endeavour met with little success, and it was not 

 until about one hundred and fifty years ago that the 

 French partridge really took root. 



In character, colour, and choice of environment it 

 is an entirely different bird from the brown partridge. 

 It is less vociferous, but its call-note is more musical. 

 As a sporting bird it is not equal to the common 

 partridge, nor is it considered such a good table bird. 



The term '* run like a Frenchman '' is very commonly 

 heard, but the sportsman might be forgiven for questioning 

 whether it has anything to do with Waterloo. Is it 

 purely a sporting term, for which the French partridge 

 is responsible ? These birds, on perceiving the approach 

 of danger, are not given to crouching, as is the common 

 partridge, but if possible they will run for cover and 

 remain there. I have even seen them running ahead of 

 the sportsman within easy range, and when one is wounded 

 it often requires quite a speedy dog to overtake it. 

 Should a wounded bird get away and hide, it is sometimes 

 exceedingly difficult to find, causing considerable delay, 

 and I remember on such an occasion, while all were 

 searching for the wounded bird, one old retriever 

 eventually came to the set, his nose against a chink in a 

 low stone bridge across a stream in the centre of the 

 meadow ! 



*' The old fool has found a rabbit," observed one of 

 the party, at which the dog, still rigidly pointing, became 

 the centre of amusement ; but its owner, in the interim, 



