THE PARTRIDGE. 



constitutes the plumage of the ordinary Pheasant. These are absurdly named 

 Bohemian Pheasants, from the common practice of giving to all variations 

 geographical names, which are almost invariably inaccurate and misleading. 



Family PH A SIANIDAL. 



THE PARTRIDGE. 



Perdix cinerea, LATH. 



IN England we have two very distinct birds known as Partridges, the common 

 Grey Partridge belonging to the genus Perdix, which is distinguished by 

 having eighteen feathers in the tail, and is without spurs; and the Red-legged 

 Partridge, Caccabis rufa, in which the tail is composed of fourteen feathers, and the 

 males are usually spurred. The true Partridges, of which our common grey bird 

 may be taken as the type, are inhabitants of the cultivated ground. They associate 

 in coveys, and when flushed rise together in strong flight with a loud whirring 

 sound. They do not perch, and make their nests on the open ground. 



The Grey Partridge occurs over the temperate parts of Europe, but it does 

 not extend into Africa. In Great Britain it is generally to be found in all 

 cultivated localities, though scarce in the northern parts of Scotland. In Ireland, 

 although present in the cultivated districts, it is by no means as common as in 

 Great Britain. During winter the Partridges remain together in their coveys, the 

 old pair and the young birds associating together, but in the early spring these 

 coveys break up, and the birds pair previous to nesting. The nest is a mere 

 depression in the ground, and is occasionally placed under the shelter of a bush. 

 The usual number of eggs is from twelve to sixteen. Sometimes two hens lay 

 in the same nest, and as many as twenty-five or thirty eggs have been found 

 together. 



VOL. V. D 



