120 



GAME BIRDS. 



first year, afterwards more or less like the male, and, by the second 

 year, is no longer a mark of distinction ; whereas, by the head, 

 the sexes may always be known ; the bare skin behind the eye, is 

 less conspicuous, and very little red. 



It has been a received opinion, that the male bird alone possessed 

 the horse-shoe marking on the breast, but, after a day's shooting, 

 and a close anatomical inspection, it has been proved that an 

 equal number of males and females possessed the bay-markings 

 on the breast, which cease to be a mark of distinction after the 

 first or second year. 



It is found in all parts of Great Britain, where corn is culti- 

 vated, but never at any great distance from arable land ; it is never 

 seen on the barren mountain. The partridge, the grouse, and the 

 ptarmigan, have each their district ; the first is only found in the 

 glens or valleys; the second, on the first hills; the last, on the 

 highest mountains, and very seldom intrude on each other. The 

 partridge seems to be well known all over the world ; it is found 

 in every country and every climate, and seems to adapt itself to 

 the nature of the climate where it resides. 



The partridge is very prolific, laying from twelve to twenty 

 eggs ; it makes no nest, but scrapes a small hollow in the ground, 

 placing a few contiguous, fibrous brambles therein, to deposit its 

 eggs on ; these are of a light brown colour. The old birds sit 

 very close on their eggs when near hatching ; it is asserted that 

 a hen partridge, taken with her eggs and put in confinement, 

 continued to sit, and brought out her young. 



The time of incubation is three weeks ; the young leave the nest 

 in twelve hours, when they are led by the parent birds to ant- 

 hills, on the eggs of which they principally feed at first. The 

 affection of the female for her young is particularly strong and 

 lively ; she is greatly assisted in the care of rearing them by her 

 mate; they lead them out, in common, call them together, point 

 out to them their proper food, and assist them in finding it, by 

 scratching the ground with their feet. They frequently sit close 

 by each other, covering their young with their wings, like the 

 hen ; in this situation they are not easily flushed, but when, at 

 length, they are compelled to move, the male employs many inte- 

 resting stratagems, such as fluttering along the ground, hanging 

 his wings, and feigning to be wounded, in order to attract the 

 pursuit of the enemy, and afford the female time to escape with 

 her infant brood. 



The birds flock together in broods till the returning spring. 

 Sometimes three or four coveys will assemble in winter, and are 



