114 PHASIANID^. 



commoE. Birds from a gravelly soil are frequently very rich 

 in colour, whilst those from the clay are often poor, and some 

 Cambridge and also Devonshire birds are said to be nearly as 

 grey as an autumn Ptarmigan. The neighbourhood of Saffron 

 Walden produces sandy-coloured birds. In Flanders a toler- 

 ably constant pale variety is known by the name of Perdix 

 de marais, and has been accorded specific rank by Demeeze- 

 maker as Starna palustris. Mr. Harvie-Brown has specimens 

 of a local variety which seems to be on the increase, and in 

 which the horse-shoe mark is white ; and Mr. J. H. Gurney, 

 Junr., informs the Editor that several similar examples 

 have been shot near Northrepps in Norfolk. Mr. J. Hancock 

 (Nat. Hist. Tr. Northumb. and Durham, pis. xi. and xii.) 

 has figured some remarkable varieties ; and from his remarks 

 it would appear that these aberrant states of plumage are 

 mostly found in young birds which were gradually assuming 

 the normal dress of the adult. A very red variety has been 

 figured by the late Sir William Jardine (Nat. Lib. Ornith. 

 iv. pi. ii.) under the name of P. montana. 



Hybrids between the Partridge and any other species are 

 uncommon, but Mr. F. Bond has a bird shot on Blubber- 

 house Moor, near Harrogate, in August 1866, by the 

 present Lord Walsingham, which appears to be the result of 

 a cross with the Bed Grouse ; the bill being strong and 

 Grouse-like, the tarsi and feet partially feathered, the breast 

 and body mottled with pale reddish-brown with a sprinkling 

 of grey, the quill-feathers dirty white, with lavender-grey 

 outer webs. The brown colour of the upper parts is not 

 very significant, but the feathering of the tarsi and feet 

 seems tolerably conclusive. A few instances are also on 

 record of hybrids between this species and the Ked-legged 

 Partridge. 



