266 



BRITISH BIRDS 



to maintain existence in its new surroundings. Owing to its swift- 

 ness of foot and excessive wildness it was difi&cult for the sportsman 

 to get within shooting distance of it, when partridges were shot over 

 dogs. On this account it was dishked ; so much so in some cases 

 that attempts were made to extirpate it. But in spite of persecution 

 it continued to increase, and is now found distributed over a large 

 part of England, from the southern counties to Westmorland. 



Fio. 90. — Red-legged Paktkidge. ^ natural size. 



It differs from the common partridge in language and habits, as 

 well as in its more conspicuously marked plumage and bright red 

 legs. It is not a bird of the homestead, being partial to dry, sandy 

 soils, to commons, and uncultivated lands. Its call-note is a musical, 

 piping cry. It breeds early, and makes a slight nest on the ground. 

 The eggs are fifteen to eighteen in number, yellowish white in ground- 

 colour, and blotched with brown. 



An allied species, the Barbary partridge {Caccabis petrosa), has 

 been included, as a rare straggler to England, among British birds. 



