PARTRIDGES. 415 



Aboukir had managed to tame. All these facts abundantly prove 

 that, with a little patience, it would be possible to raise the 

 Partridg-e to the dignity of a domestic farm-yard fowl. 



The Partridge is highly esteemed by epicures ; it is also the 

 delight of the sportsman, because it lies well to dogs. On account 

 of its abundance, especially of the Grey variety, this may be 

 called the " favourite game " of the French empire. Partridge- 

 shooting, moreover, is what is generally chosen for the education 

 of the inexperienced shot ; the dog, too, by its pursuit, acquires 

 such sagacity that renders him a valuable assistant to the disciple 

 of St. Hubert. 



Let us now take a rapid glance at the various species of the 

 Partridge. The Grey Partridge [Perclix cinerea) is the most 

 common ; it is very plentiful over the whole of Central Europe, 

 the North of France, Belgium, Holland, and Great Britain. 

 In these countries it frequents the cultivated districts, the vast 

 plains covered with crops, and the artificial meadows, in all of 

 which it lives and breeds. This bird is not altogether harmless to 

 the pursuits of agriculture, as, after seed-time, it is not satisfied 

 with the grain left on the surface, but digs out those that are 

 growing. It also devours the young green shoots of corn, and 

 attacks the ears when they come to maturity. Its increase on a 

 large scale might, therefore, produce serious mischief, which would 

 hardly be compensated for by the services which it renders in 

 destroying worms, insects, and grubs. 



The Grey Partridge furnishes a variety of smaller size, the 

 Migratory Partridge, which is not known in England. It is 

 remarkable for its vagrant character, and forms a singular con- 

 trast to the stay-at-home habits of the genus generally. It makes 

 its appearance in large flocks at the most diverse seasons and in 

 the most varied latitudes. Not migratory in the proper sense of 

 the word, its journeys seem undertaken under the influence of 

 some unknown cause, and are wanting in regularity and con- 

 stancy. It does not always follow the same route, and its journeys 

 are intermittent. This bird is of a very shy nature, and is fre- 

 quentlj^ met with in the East (Turkey, Syria, and Egypt) ; it is 

 sometimes noticed in France, where it is called the Damascus 

 Partridge. 



