THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 627 



About the middle or end of February, according to the mikhiess or inclemency of the 

 season, the Partridge begins to jmir ; and as the male birds are very numerous, they tight 

 desperate battles for the object of their love. While engaged in combat, they are so deeply 

 absorbed in battle, tliat they may be approached quite closely, as they whirl round and 

 round, grasping each other by the beak, aud have even been taken by hand. So strong, 

 however, is the warlike instinct, that, when released, the fm-ious birds recommenced the 

 quarrel. 



The females take no part in these battles ; waiting quietly, like the strong-minded 

 heroines of romance, to abide the issue of the combat, and to reward the victors with their 

 love. Not that they are devoid of courage, but they reserve its display for a lietter purpose, 

 namely, the defence of their young. Should a hen Partridge be disturbed while in 

 charge of her little brood, she will endeavour to put them out of danger, and to draw the 

 intruder aside by the exertion of many a crafty wUe. But should the enemy come upon 

 them too suddenly to be deceived by cunning, she will boldly dash at the foe, and, with 

 self-sacrificing courage, attack with beak, foot, and wing, until the enemy has left the 

 ground or herself is killed, knowing that her young charge are taking advantage of the 

 time to place themselves in safety. Small though the bird may Ije, it can strike with 

 considerable force, and has been known to inflict some painful wounds on the faces of 

 human beings who have suddenly disturbed a brood of young. 



Though strong and rapid of flight for a short distance, the Partridge loves not to trust 

 itself over much to the air, and cannot fly to any gi'eat distance without alighting. When 

 these birds are forced to pass over wide rivers or arms of the sea, they are often so 

 wearied that they fall into the water, aud these are mostly drowned, having but little idea 

 of swimming, beyond the idea that they are to sit still and trust to their ibrtuue. A bird 

 thus fallen into the sea will sometimes be washed to shore, should the tide be favourable, 

 but in fresh water it is generally drowned, or snapped ixp by a hawk from above, or a big 

 pike from below, should such fresh-water sharks feed in that locality. 



The plumage of the Partridge is brown of several shades above, mingled with grey. 

 The breast is grey, with a horseshoe-like patch of rich chestnut on its lower portion, and the 

 sides and flanks are barred with chestnut. The total length of the male Ijird is rather 

 more than a foot ; the female is smaller than her mate, and the chestnut bars on the flanks 

 are broader than those of the male. 



The Red-legged Paeteidge is a larger and stronger bird than the common species, 

 from which it may at once be distinguished by the black bar over the forehead, liehind the 

 eye and round the breast, as well as by the lilack streaks that pass from the neck towards 

 the tail, and the conspicuous grey, fawn, and black bars on the flanks. 



This bird is common in France and Italy, and also is a denizen of the Channel 

 Islands, whence it has been introduced into our country, and thrives so well that, like 

 the Norwegian rat, it has in some places fairly driven away the original breed, and 

 usurped their territory. It is much stronger on the wing than the common Partridge, 

 and yet is so swift and active of foot that it cannot easily be induced to rise, but ruus 

 away from the dogs with such speed that it often baffles their best efforts to start it 

 within shot range. According to Yarrell, they are difficult of capture even when wounded, 

 as they have a habit of running into rabbit-holes or similar sanctuaries, whence they 

 cannot be dislodged without costing too much of the sportsman's time. These birds seem 

 to prefer heaths and commons to the turnip and corn fields as frequented by the common 

 Partridge. 



The eggs of this species are very numerous, averaging sixteen or seventeen in each 

 nest ; and their colour is unlike those of the ordinary species, being yellowish white with 

 a dash of yellow, and covered with spots of reddish brown. The food is the same as tliat 

 of the ordinary breed. 



The plumage of this bird is altogether smoother than that of the last-mentioned species. 

 The upper parts of the body are soft brown. Before and behind the eye there is a line of 

 white, and a bold stripe of black runs over the forehead to the eye, then starts from 

 behind the eye, and runs along the sides of the neck over the breast, where it is veiy broad. 



ss 2 



