236 BRITISH BIRDS. 



shaft-stripe and usually also a buff subterminal spot. 

 In many specimens the breeding -plumage forms an 

 irregular necklet and produces a very mottled appearance 

 on the head and neck, which is doubtless highly protective 

 to the sitting female (Figs. 3 and 4). 



These spotted feathers are retained till September, 

 and are often plainly visible in old females shot in the early 

 part of that month. That these very interesting plumages 

 have hitherto been overlooked, is no doubt due to the 

 fact that it is most difficult to obtain specimens killed 

 in the " close " season ; and I greatly hope that other 

 ornithologists will assist in looking further into this 

 matter, as it is still uncertain in what month of the year 

 the female begins to assume her partial breeding-plumage. 



The pair of Partridges exhibited with their nest 

 at the Natural History Museum were taken in the 

 beginning of June, and the female shows the spotted 

 breeding-plumage fully developed on the sides of the 

 head and neck. Males shot at the end of May and in 

 June prove that at that season their plumage remains 

 unchanged, but has become much faded and worn. The 

 feathers of the upper-parts of the body are quite grey 

 from wear and exposure, all the rich brown tints of the 

 mantle, back, etc., having disappeared; the wings, too, 

 are much paler, and the conspicuous shaft-stripes of the 

 coverts are almost white. The chestnut on the head 

 and throat has also become pale dull rust-colour. At 

 that season (May to June) male examples from the British 

 Isles are greyer than the greyest examples from north 

 Russia killed in autumn and winter — an interesting 

 point which has not hitherto been recorded. 



