350 THE BIRDS OF THE BRITISH ISLES. 



down, pale and unspotted on the head, but mottled with 

 blackish brown on the back, where there are three yellowish 

 longitudinal streaks. Dr. Bureau, in his elaborate work on the 

 Partridge, gives details of the moults of the young, and shows 

 how the age can be told at any time. 



The mature bird has the upper parts hair-brown, tinged rufous 

 on the back and grey on the forehead ; the white face and throat 

 are framed by a black line, which starts at the bill, runs through 

 the eye, and then curves down the neck to form a gorget. Below 

 this the lavender breast is speckled with black ; the flanks, also 

 lavender in ground, are barred with white, black, and chestnut. 

 The bill, eye- rims, and legs are bright red. The black on the 

 breast, and slate on the head and flanks, is mainly replaced by 

 brown in the young bird. Length, 13-5 ins. Wing, 6'25 ins. 

 Tarsus, 17 ins. 



Partridge. Perdix perdix (Linn.). 



The sportsman is mainly responsible for the abundance of 

 the Common or Grey Partridge (Plate 159), a bird of Europe 

 and western Asia which is resident in the lowlands of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, though decreasing in the latter island. 

 Distinctly a bird of cultivation, it is most abundant on farm 

 land, though thinly distributed on upland pastures and occa- 

 sionally nesting on the moors. From the point of view of 

 the sportsman who wants big bags it is a delicate bird, yet 

 hardy enough to hold its own in small numbers where little 

 protection is afforded. Coveys on sand-dunes and marshes, 

 apparently unsuitable spots, are by no means rare. 



The Partridge, like the Pheasant, is too familiar to need 

 much description. It is a ground bird, running swiftly, and 

 lying squat until we are upon it, then rising with a curious 

 sound, a mixture of its creaking voice and whirring wings. Its 

 aerial spurts are rapid and not long sustained, its flight an 



