110 BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR EGGS AND NESTS. 
twenty. But it is no uncommon thing for two Partridges to lay 
in the same nest, and an instance came to my knowledge two or 
three years since, in which a Red-legged Partridge had laid 
several eggs in a Common Partridge’s nest. When two birds 
' lay together thus, the covey sometimes amounts to thirty or 
thirty-five birds. I knew one instance of forty, about three 
years since. The male Partridge is known to help his mate, when 
the hatch is drawing on, by sitting at her side and covering some 
of the eggs. When there are two layings in the same nest, it is 
an interesting question whether the two hens sit together, or the 
criginal owner of the nest is simply assisted by her mate. The 
young birds are able to run and “ fend for themselves” almost as 
soon as they are hatched. The eggs are of a uniform pale olive- 
brown hue.—f7g. 6, plate VT. 
157. RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE—(Perdiz rufa). 
French Partridge, Guernsey Partridge.—A much more striking 
bird in appearance than the Common Partridge, and said also to 
be a powerful enemy to it. Certainly, in districts where it has 
been encouraged and preserved, it seems to have prevailed to 
the comparative exclusion of the indigenous species. It is sup- 
posed to have been first introduced about the time of Charles II. 
For long it seems to have increased and spread but very slowly, 
but now there are many districts of the south where it is exceed- 
ingly abundant. These birds form a slight nest of dry bents and 
leaves upon the ground, amid some growing crop of grass or 
corn. Instances, however, have been asserted in which the nest 
was a good deal elevated above the ground, as on the top of a 
stack. The eggs, very hard-shelled, are from ten to fifteen or 
sixteen’ in number, of a cream colour, well spotted with small 
speckles of reddish or cinnamon brown.—Lvg. 7, plate VI. 
