128 THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIRE. 



The nature of this county in most parts is well adapted to 

 the requirements of the Pheasant, and a certain number 

 maintain themselves in an independent condition, many a 

 'nide'' being hatched out in the hedg-erows far from larg-e 

 covers, and in localities where no especial protection is afforded 

 them; of the large numbers reared and maintained under 

 more or less artificial conditions on some well-preserved estates 

 it is unnecessary to say anything. 



The typical P. colchicus, the original stock brought into the 

 country, is now rarely found, having been largely crossed with 

 the Chinese Ring-necked Pheasant, P. torquatiis, the cock of 

 which possesses a white ring round the neck, and by far the 

 larger number of birds now killed in the county have this 

 mark more or less developed. 



The variety of the Pheasant in which the whole of the 



body below the neck is of a pale buff or stone-colour with 



dark markings, and kno^m as the ' Bohemian ' Pheasant, is 



occasionally killed, as also are pied birds, while pure white 



examples, both cocks and hens, are sometimes met with. 



This last variety has long been known in Oxfordshire, for 



Plot mentioned, in 1677, ^a sort of tvhite and p?/ed Pheasants, 



kept by the Right Honourable James Lord Norreys, of 



Ricot.' 



\ X ''•■, 

 THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 



Perdix cinerea. 

 The Common, or Grey, Partridge is such a well-known 

 resident in this highly-cultivated district that little need be 

 said as to its distribution, but, as a proof of how eminently 

 adapted our county is to its requirements, it may be stated 

 that, in the north of the county, where, except from diurnal 

 poachers, the Partridge has but little protection from its nu- 

 merous enemies, being exposed to the unchecked ravages of 

 innumerable egg-stealing Crows and Magpies, as many as 

 twenty or thirty brace can be bagged in a day. With the 



