224 PERDIX CIXEREA. 



rather than expose their teuder charge to the iucleiiieiicy of tlie 

 weather. Mr. Selby relates that two partridges, to protect 

 their young brood from a Carrion Crow, gave battle to the 

 ravenous bird, and actually held him until he was seized and 

 taken from them by a person who happened to be engaged in 

 a field in the neighbourhood. The principal food of the young 

 is insects and larvre, and especially those of ants ; at least al- 

 most all authors so allege, and I am unable to confirm or con- 

 tradict the statement, not having dissected them at this early 

 stage. During autumn and winter the brood remain ^vith their 

 parents, and towards the commencement of the latter season, 

 several families sometimes unite into a pack. 



Partridge-shooting is a favourite and exciting diversion, 

 which, in districts aboimdiug in this kind of game, is liberally 

 engaged in. But. notwithstanding the vast numbers annually 

 destroyed, these birds seem to be rather increasing than dimi- 

 nishing in number, so that, as an article of food, they are not 

 beyond the reach of the middle classes of society, the average 

 price of a pair being hah-a-crovm. 



Young. — At first, the bill is greyish-brown, the tip of the 

 upper mandible yellowish. The general colour of the do^vn 

 is li^ht greyish-yellow ; the forehead, sides of the head and 

 neck, back, sides and wings, marked ^vith black spots ; the top 

 of the head chestnut-bro^ATi. patched with brownish-black ; 

 the wings and rump clouded with brown : the feet yellowish- 

 brown. The yoimg of the Brown Ptarmigan are very similar, 

 but have the top of the head darker, the fore-neck more brown. 

 and are always easily distinguished by ha^'ing the tarsi and 

 toes covered with down. 



When fledged, they have the bill and feet greyish-brown, 

 the face and throat pale yellowish-red. the upper parts greyish- 

 brown, barred with brownish-black, the wings and scapulars 

 patched with brownish-red. 



Progress toward Maturity. — After their first moult they 

 resemble the old birds, but are darker above, with larger mark- 

 ings ; the red patch on the breast is smaller, in the females 



