ADDENDA 185 
most towns. It was introduced into this 
country many centuries ago. The eggs are 
often hatched under hens. As soon as Octo- 
ber 1st has arrived (the date on which the 
shooting of the ‘ long tails,’ as sportsmen call 
them, commences) rows of them are seen in our 
poulterers’ shops. The cock is a handsome 
fellow, measuring almost 3 feet from the tip of 
the beak to the end of the tail, and boasts of 
scarlet, green, blue, yellow, red, purple and 
black in his plumage. The green iridescent 
neck stands out sharply. The female is only of 
a light brown, dusky marked colour. I have 
before mentioned the cock’s note, by which 
he betrays his whereabouts if approached. 
It is a single discordant warning ‘craa-k.’ 
The female gives a shrill piping whistle. The 
nests are carefully watched by keepers, and it 
is difficult to get a photograph of one, as these 
valuable game birds must not be disturbed. 
The nest is built on the ground in much the 
same positions as those of partridges (which see, 
p. 65) and like them too are loosely made of 
sticks, stalks, and grass. Eggs, six to ten, or 
