G A L L I N I D JE. 



599 



but it is common in the isles of the channel, and it is 

 on this account that it has got the name of the 

 Guernsey partridge. It has been introduced into 

 various parts of the south of England, with different 

 success in different instances, though in many parts it 

 is now fully established. It is generally reported 

 that when the red-legged partridge establishes itself, 

 the grey partridge disappears, and it probably is driven 

 off by the stranger, which is the larger and more 

 powerful bird. It is doubtful, however, whether the 

 exchange be a wise one. The red-legged partridge 

 is certainly larger than the common partridge, and it 

 is also a more handsome bird ; but it is questionable if 

 its flesh is as good for the table ; it is whiter in the 

 colour than the flesh of the grey partridge, but it is 

 inferior in flavour and not so juicy. It seems indeed 

 to be a law in wild birds, that those which have the 

 flesh exceedingly white have it with less flavour : it is 

 also a much less social species than the last ; and the 

 same degree of union does not exist among its flocks. 

 The male does not partake in the incubation, and 

 leaves the care of the family entirely to the female : 

 she forms her nest in the fields and bushes, and lays 

 from fourteen to eighteen eggs, of a dirty yellow, 

 marbled with large red spots, and powdered over with 

 small ash-coloured points. 



THE GREEK PARTRIDGE (P. saxatilii). The upper 

 parts of this species are bluish grey, the front and 

 naked skin round the eyes black, the cheeks, throat, 

 and upper part of the neck pure white, divided by a 

 band of black ; the scapulars and principal coverts ash 

 colour with yellowish tips ; the top of the head and 

 sides of the neck ash grey ; the flanks furnished with 

 grey feathers, crossed by alternate bands of black and 

 white, and reddish brown at the terminations ; all the 

 under parls yellowish, fourteen ash-coloured feathers 

 in the tail, the five lateral ones on each side with red 

 tips ; and the bill, a small circle round the eye ; and 

 the feet red. The length of the male bird is about 

 fifteen inches. The colours in the female are less 

 bright. This species, if species it be, and not merely 

 a variety, differs from the Guernsey partridge in 

 nothing but in being rather larger, and more inclining 

 to ash-colour : it is found in the south of Europe, and 

 also in the west of Asia, in which last country and in 

 Greece it is very abundant ; and in some places the 

 people engage the males in pitched battles. There 

 are several other partridges mentioned as occurring in 

 the south of Europe, but they have no great claims to 

 popular distinction. The rock partridge, for instance, 

 is very like the Guernsey ; and, indeed as the charac- 

 ter of the ground changes, there are considerable 

 changes in the partridges. This holds in Asia as well 

 as in Europe, where the red partridge, or Greek par- 

 tridge especially, appears to be broken down into a 

 number of varieties. We shall merely mention one 

 or two of the names : 



Hcys Partridge occurs in Arabia, and also in 

 Nubia and Upper Egypt. Upper part clear grey ash 

 clouded with cream-colour ; head reddish ash ; wing- 

 coverts cream-colour, finely streaked with brown ; 

 quills brown marked with white on their outer webs ; 

 tail-feathers rather long and reddish ; under part 

 reddish brown, beak yellow, feet ash-coloured ; length 

 only eight inches. 



Yellow-bellied Partridge. Inhabits west of Africa, 

 south of the Desert. Upper part deep grey, marked 

 with black and red ; under part the same colour, 

 unbroken except by a yellow band across the belly ; 



bill ash-coloured ; feet yellow ; length about nine 

 inches. 



Eyed Partridge. An Indian species. Pore part 

 bright red ; back banded with black and white ; 

 rump marked with triangular spots of chestnut ; wing- 

 coverts olive with black spots. 



From the specimen which we have given of those 

 foreign partridges, and if mere differences of size and 

 colour were to be made grounds of specific distinction, 

 the list might easily be extended to several dozens. 

 There is, however, no interest for the general reader 

 in such distinctions, because the main character of the 

 birds and their manners vary little, notwithstanding 

 those modifications of external appearance ; and when 

 the character and habits of one species or one variety, 

 such for instance as the common grey partridge, has 

 been well explained, it will answer for all the rest ex- 

 cepting in the very trifling circumstances of locality 

 and colour. 



THE FRANCOLINS need not detain us long. We 

 have already mentioned that their enlarged bills, 

 longer tails, and spurs on the tarsi distinguish them 

 from the true partridges ; and that it is generally 

 these birds, and not the real partridges, which are en- 

 gaged in pitched battles for gambling purposes. One 

 species at least inhabits the south of Europe, and 

 indeed the name francolin is nothing else than the 

 Italian Francolino, which means " free," and as applied 

 to birds, it really means such as are not free, at least 

 to all the people, but such as are prized as game, and 

 protected accordingly. 



It is not, however, in the differences of structure to 

 which we have alluded that the chief distinctions be- 

 tween the partridges and the francolins consist. The 

 partridges are birds of the open champaigns, reposing 

 at night on the ground. The francolins prefer the 

 shade of woods, and perch for the night in trees. 

 They also feed more upon animal matters, such as 

 mollusca and worms, and they resort more to marshy 

 places, and find part at least of their food by search- 

 ing the mud of these with their bills. The difference 

 in their structure accords with their habits. The en- 

 larged tail enables them to rise with more facility 

 than the partridges ; and the more powerful bill ena- 

 bles them to poke in the mud and mire. Their voices 

 are also much louder and harsher than those of the 

 partridges ; and they utter loud calls in the morning 

 when they leave their perches, and in the evening 

 when they return to them. But though they perch 

 on trees for the night, the females nestle upon the 

 ground, and rear their young very much after the 

 manner of partridges, at least until they are so far 

 fledtred as to be able to fly to a perch. 



Collared Francolin (P. Francolinus). This is the 

 species which is found in the south of Europe. 

 The upper part is black, rayed with white ; the top 

 of the head and the nape black, with yellow edges to 

 the feathers ; there is a white band under the eyes ; 

 the forehead, the space over the eyes, the throat, and 

 all the under parts are deep black ; but there is a 

 broad distinct collar of maroon brown round the neck. 

 The coverts of the wings are brown, with rays and 

 spots of red, and the quills are black. The under 

 tail-coverts are red ; and there are large white spots 

 on the flanks. The bill is black, the legs are reddish, 

 and the spurs brown. The length of the full grown 

 male bird is about twelve or thirteen inches. The 

 female is rather smaller, of a yellowish fawn in the 

 ground colour, streaked with red, grey, and brown on 



