THE EED-LEGGED PARTEIDGE. 365 



least cultivated districts of France, especially those between 

 the Cher and the Loire, and between the Loire and the 

 Seine. Towards the east they do not extend beyond the 

 hills of Epernay, and do not cross the valley of the Meuse. 

 The flesh of the Eed Partridge is considered inferior to 

 that of the Grey, and the bird itseK is less esteemed by 

 sportsmen as an object of pursuit. In England it; seems 

 to retain its natural taste of preferring bushy heaths to 

 inclosed land. In the mode of incubation and rearing the 

 young the two species are much alike. 



THE BAEBAEY PARTEIDGE. 



PERDIX PETROSA. 



Upper part of the head of a deep chestnut, which spreads on the sides of the 

 neck into a collar, narrower in front and spotted with white ; feathers near 

 the ears rust-red ; throat and a band over the^eye bluish ash ; upper plumage 

 ash-red ; on the wing eight or ten spots, light blue bordered with orange ; 

 flanks barred transversely with white, black, and oi'ange ; beak, orbits, and 

 feet red. Length thirteen inches. Eggs dull yellow, speckled -nith greenish 

 yeUow. 



This bird is of about the same size as the Eed-legged Par- 

 tridge. In Europe it is confined to the mountainous dis- 

 tricts of the south and the islands of the Mediterranean. In 

 Algeria it is the most common species. Its habits resemble 

 those of the preceding, though it is somewhat more easily 

 induced to perch on trees. Two specimens only are known 

 to have been killed in England, which may have been 

 hatched from foreign eggs, or they may have found their 

 way hither as stragglers. In either case this bird has little 

 claim to be considered British. It nests in the fields or 

 in bushy places among the mountains. 



