THE EED-LEGGED PAETEIDGE 



(Perdix rufa) 



THE Eed-legged Partridge is not indigenous to this country, 

 but was introduced here, like the Pheasant, so long ago that 

 we have quite got to look upon it as a bird of the southern 

 fields. There is much in the habits of this handsome bird 

 that is interesting to the naturalist habits acquired amongst 

 very different surroundings, and which it still retains in its 

 new home. Unlike the Pheasant, its immigration has not 

 been attended with very great success. Fortune has not been 

 kind to it, and it only lives in a few localities well adapted 

 to its needs. It must have a warm sandy soil if 'it is to 

 thrive ; it dislikes clay and heavy ground ; and wet seasons 

 are singularly unfavourable to its increase. The Eed-legged 

 Partridge belongs to a little group of Partridges, all very much 

 alike in their habits and the colour of their plumage, which 

 frequent dry and mountainous country. I have often studied 

 the habits of its cousin, the Barbary Partridge, in the wild 

 upland districts of Northern Africa and they are all thorough 

 birds of the wild. It is perhaps fortunate that the Eed- 

 legged Partridge does not thrive very well in this country, 

 because in all the localities in which it has established itself 

 the Common Partridge has sensibly decreased in numbers, 

 and in some places has been completely exterminated by the 

 larger and much more pugnacious species. Game preservers 

 have not been slow to recognise this peculiar habit of the Eed- 



