PHASIANID.t. 



501 







THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 

 Perdix cinerea, Latham. 



The Common or Grey Partridge is generally distributed through- 

 out England, and is nowhere more abundant than in East Anglia 

 and Hampshire. The cultivation of grain is undoubtedly favour- 

 able to its increase in numbers as well as in size, but birds which 

 have fed on heather, whortleberries &c., in wild moorland districts 

 are by no means inferior in point of flavour. In Scotland the 

 Partridge is local, though plentiful on some of the low grounds ; but 

 it is not widely diffused in the Inner Hebrides, nor does it thrive in 

 the Outer islands, to which, as well as to the Orkneys, it has been 

 introduced. In Ireland its numbers have diminished of late years, 

 from various causes, chiefly poaching. 



In Norway this species exists under difficulties, owing to the 

 rigour of the winter and the abundance of birds of prey, especially 

 the Goshawk ; nor can it be said to flourish in any part of Sweden. 

 It is found in Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France 



