35^3 THE NESTS AND EGGS OF BRITISH BIRDS. 



moorlands), wherev^er it is preserved or has been intro- 

 duced. 



Breeding habits : The partridge is a resident in the 

 British Islands. Districts most favourable to the pre- 

 servation and increase of the Partridge are the well- 

 cultivated farm-lands, where the fields are not too large, 

 Avhcre the hedges are low and dense, and afford plenty 

 of bottom cover, and where grain is grown in abundance. 

 It also frequents many other localities, but does not 

 thrive so well, such as on the borders of moorlands, on 

 commons, and rough unenclosed ground. Although the 

 Partridge is gregarious in autumn and winter, it becomes 

 solitary during the breeding season, each pair keeping 

 to themselves until the young are reared. It is mono- 

 gamous and very probably pairs for life, but as many 

 birds are widowed during the shooting season, a con- 

 siderable amount of mating must take place annually. 

 The nest is frequently made in a dry hedge-bottom or a 

 ditch, amongst growing crops of all kinds, or in coarse 

 vegetation on rougher ground. Nests are frequently 

 made near public footpaths, close to a gate-post, or 

 even on the top of a stack. The nest is a mere hollow, 

 scantily lined with a little dry grass or other herbage, 

 sometimes a few dead leaves. The bird sits closely, 

 often allowing itself to be taken rather than leave its 

 eggs, but when flushed makes little or no demonstration, 

 and hurries into cover. 



Range of egg colouration and measurement : 

 The eggs of the Partridge vary, according to the age of 

 the hen, from ten to fifteen or twenty in number, but 

 occasionally even larger clutches are found, as main- 

 as thirty-three having been recorded in a single nest. 

 They are somewhat pyriform in shape, smooth in tex- 

 ture, with some polish, and generally pale olive-brown 

 in colour : white and pale green varieties are, however, 



