412 BIRDS OF NORFOLK. 



parent. It is said, however, that the running 1 habits 

 of the French birds* are generally fatal to the English 

 nestlings, which, to use a thoroughly Norfolk expression, 

 are " drabbled" to death in attempting to keep up with 

 such untiring pedestrians. I mention this, only as a 

 common belief amongst game-keepers, being unable 

 to vouch for its accuracy ; but I have more than once 

 observed, in the shooting season, a pair of old French 

 birds rise from the turnips at the head of a covey of 

 English, though, of course, it is quite possible that 

 in such cases the red-legs had "run up" the grey 

 partridges, and thus all had risen together. 



French partridges, both on the wing and in the 

 field, are easily recognized at a distance by their larger 

 size and darker tints of plumage, to say nothing of the 

 difference in the noise of their wings in flying. When 

 alarmed they carry their heads erect, turning them in 

 all directions to catch the sound of any approaching 

 danger, and continue this even when running at their 

 greatest speed. If undisturbed, however, and feeding 

 leisurely, their appearance (as seen through a glass) 

 is very different, and with feathers puffed out and 

 rounded backs, whilst slowly searching the ground for 

 grain and insects, they look almost as large as pheasants. 

 They are partial to the shelter of thick hedge-rows and 

 plantations, but unless driven into such cover, are seldom 



* M. Julian Deby, in his "Notes on the birds of Belgium," 

 published in the "Zoologist" for 1845-6, makes the following 

 statement respecting the red-legged partridge: "The habits of 

 this species differ materially from those of the common partridge, 

 the males leaving the females and assembling in coveys, while the 

 latter are sitting and rearing their young." I know of no English 

 author that has noticed this peculiarity, but red-legs at that 

 particular season are frequently seen consorting together on the 

 lands, whether all males or not I cannot say, and are then more 

 easily ridden down than at any other time. 



