132 THE BIRDS OF OXFORDSHIEE. 



along the top of it. I once killed a leash at a double shot out 

 of a covey rising from a large heap of slate chippings at 

 Fawler, and I have seen more there than anywhere else, en- 

 tirely in my opinion owing to the quantity of stony, uneven 

 ground caused by the digging of slates/ 



At Burford, I was informed in 1888 that the Red-legged 

 Partridge was often killed in the neighbourhood, but it is still 

 discouraged there, the eggs being destroyed when found. 



At Brize Norton, Mr. John Worley reports them not 

 uncommon, mentioning three coveys on his own land in 1887 

 {in lit. to Eev. J. W. B. Bell). 



About Bampton, from evidence adduced by the Rev. J. W. 

 B. Bell in 1888, it is rare, though a specimen was killed as 

 long ago as twenty years previously, and a covey was found 

 at Aston some ten years since. 



From information obtained by Mr. W. H. Warner it seems 

 to be still quite rare in the neighbourhood of Standlake, but 

 a single one was shot in September, 1887; others have been 

 killed at an earlier date at Stanton Harcom't. 



Such, so far as I have been able to discover, is the present 

 distribution of the Red-legg-ed Partridge in Oxfordshire, but 

 there is little doubt but that before many years have elaj)sed 

 it will become numerous in all parts of the county, although 

 naturally more abundant in those districts best suited to its 

 habits. 



The Red-legged Partridge is more commonly found in 

 rough pastures, on grassy hill-sides interspersed with patches 

 of gorse, juniper, or ling, and at the edges of thin woods, than 

 on the corn lands; to this circumstance may in part be 

 attributed its abundance in the Chilterns, and also to some 

 extent its delay in pushing on into the north-western part of 

 the county, where the bleak, open corn-fields presented but few 

 attractions to this handsome bird. Although usually placed 

 upon the ground, the nest has in several instances in Oxford- 

 shire been fomid on the top of a corn- or straw-rick. 



