284 PARTRIDGE. 



surprise. Thcj also continue to lodge for several nights in the same 

 spot. 



The Partridge, like all the rest of the gallinaceous order, flies with a 

 loud whirring sound, occasioned by the shortness, concavity, and rapid 

 motion of its wings, and the comparative weight of its body. The 

 steadiness of its horizontal flight, however, renders it no difficult mark 

 to the sportsman, particularly when assisted by his sagacious pointer. 

 The flesh of this bird is peculiarly white, tender and delicate, un- 

 equalled, in these qualities, by that of any other of its genus in the 

 United States. 



The Quail, as it is called in New England, or the Partridge, as in 

 Pennsylvania, is nine inches long, and fourteen inches in extent ; the 

 bill is black ; line over the eye, down the neck, and whole chin, pure 

 white, bounded by a band of black, which descends and spreads broadly 

 over the throat ; the eye is dark hazel ; crown, neck, and upper part 

 of the breast, red brown ; sides of the neck spotted with white and 

 black, on a reddish brown ground ; back, scapulars and lesser coverts, 

 red brown, intermixed with ash, and sprinkled with black ; tertials edged 

 with yellowish white ; wings plain dusky ; lower part of the breast and 

 belly pale yellowish white ; beautifully marked with numerous curving 

 spots or arrow heads of black ; tail ash, sprinkled with reddish brown ; 

 legs very pale ash. 



The female diff"ers in having the chin and sides of the head yellowish 

 brown, in which dress it has been described as a diff'erent kind. There 

 is, however, only one species of Quail at present known within the 

 United States. 



