4 BULLETIN 16 2, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



the males are in excess, constant fights will take place, often resulting in the 

 elder male ousting the younger from the possession of the female, a most 

 undesirable occurrence when it happens, looked at from the breeding point of 

 view. The old males are not only more pugnacious and stronger birds, but 

 they are also either infertile or much less fertile than the young male and 

 the result of the union is likely to be a small laying, a still smaller hatching, 

 and a large percentage of rotten eggs. Throughout March, while pairing is 

 going on fighting is generally continuous and severe. Tbese fights are very 

 amusing to watch — the two males, bristling with fury, feathers raised and 

 wattles showing, rush at each other striking and buffeting with their wings, 

 generally jumping a few inches from the ground. The " round " may last 3 or 

 4 minutes; the lady, close by picking up a seed here and there and preening 

 herself, is apparently unconscious of the furious rivalry she is exciting. The 

 fighters now separate a little distance and recommence feeding and peace seems 

 to be declared, till one or other approaches too near the female, when war is 

 instantly declared again. So the battle continues with intervals over a con- 

 siderable period, possibly a week or more, until one of the two is finally van- 

 quished and the happy pair are left to their honeymoon. I have often watched 

 fights of this kind, and I never could see that the Partridges inflicted any real 

 damage on each other ; their principal offensive weapon seemed to be their 

 wings. Their bills they rarely used, and their feet they didn't appear to use 

 at all. The studied inattention of the female is most amusing to watch, and 

 I conclude she exercises no choice in the matter at all, beyond promising 

 her hand to the better man. 



Nesting. — The nest of this partridge is a very simple affair, a 

 slight depression in the ground, lined with a few dead leaves, dry 

 grass, or straw. It is usually placed among bushes, or in long grass, 

 fields of clover, or in standing grain. Mr. Jourdain says in his notes : 



It should be noted that during the time of laying (which may last for three 

 weeks) the eggs are carefully covered up by the hen bird with grass or dead 

 leaves. When she comes to the nest to lay she scratches away the covering, 

 deposits an egg, and then replaces it again. Until the clutch is complete the 

 eggs are laid anyhow. When the hen is about to incubate she arranges them 

 with the greatest care and for a single day curiously enough, leaves the eggs 

 uncovered and then begins to incubate. She is a good mother and sits very 

 closely, especially after the first few days. The male bird takes no part in 

 brooding but remains close at hand for defense if necessary. 



Eggs. — Of the eggs Mr. Jourdain says that 



normally the clutch ranges from 8 or 9 to about 20. I have known cases of 

 as many as 21 and 22, which may have been the produce of one hen but the 

 higher numbers which occasionally are met with, 26 to 40 ( !), are undoubtedly 

 due to two hens laying together in one nest. In color they are uniformly 

 olive, sometimes darker, sometimes lighter, but occasionally clutches have 

 been found with almost white eggs, while a bluish type has also been recorded. 

 One hundred British eggs measured by myself averaged 36.8 by 27.4 millimeters. 

 The eggs showing the greatest extremes measured 38.9 by 28.4 and 37.7 by 

 29.4, 33.8 by 26.3, and 37.5 by 25.7 millimeters. 



Young. — Mr. Jourdain writes: 



Incubation lasts not less than 24 full days, as a rule, though Hanroth gives 

 23% as the period in Germany. In England most birds hatch out on the 25th 



