868 



STERNUM OF THE PARTRIDGE. 



of powerful wing, which has the plane of greatest 

 strength in its sternal apparatus nearly at right angles 

 to the plane of walking ; and therefore the power of 

 walking in the latter bird is the smallest possible in 

 proportion to the articulation and muscles of its legs, 

 just as the flying power of the gallinaceous, or ground 

 birds, is the smallest possible in proportion to the 

 articulation and muscles of their wings. 



Birds of this order are numerous ; and, though there 

 is perhaps fully as much similarity of habit among 

 them as among the different species of any other order 

 equally numerous, yet there are slight differences. 

 The common partridge, as one which is among the 

 fleetest runners, runs almost the instant it is out of the 

 shell, always rests or squats as well as nestles on 



Common Partridge. 



the ground, and seldom takes the wing, may be con- 

 sidered as one of the most typical ; and it has the 



