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THE COMMON PARTRII X'.K. 

 Perdix cinerea, Latham. 



The Common or (irey Partridge is generally distributed through- 

 out the United Kingdom, and nowhere is it more abundant than in 

 those eastern counties of England in which, according to a recent 

 author, " it has been partially exterminated by the Red-legged 

 Partridge, but still occurs locally." The culti\ation of grain is un- 

 doubtedly favourable to its increase in numbers as well as in size, 

 but birds which have fed on heath, whortleberries &c., in wild 

 moorland districts are by no means inferior in point of flavour. In 

 Scotland it is decidedly 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. 



In Norway this species exists under difficulties, owing to the 

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



