RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 43 



shot in this county and it was regai»ded with as much 

 curiosity as if a ptarmigan had been shot there. Its 

 plumage is olive-green on the back, ashy-biue breast, 

 rufus belly, white throat, set off by a black spotted 

 necklace, and bright red legs and beak, which render it 

 a most attractive looking bird ; the fifth primary quill 

 feather is the longest. The old cock is furnished with 

 blunt spurs ; the eggs, generally eight or nine in number, 

 are each larger than those of the common species, and 

 are very different in colour, closely resembling in that 

 particular those of the guinea-fowl ; they commence 

 laying and hatch about the same time as the grey par- 

 tridge; the nest is generally exposed, the top of a bank 

 being a favourite nesting place. The flesh is white, but 

 when roasted it is dry and flavourless compared with 

 the English bird; served like a boiled fowl they are 

 much more palatable. Though very wary, it can scarcely 

 be called a shy bird, for it does not attempt, like the 

 common partridge, to conceal itself. 



Enter a field where there is a covey, and provided the 

 cover is not too high you will see them set off running ; 

 walk after them, and they will continue to run, until 

 you approach nearer than they consider safe, and over 

 they pop, two or three at a time, into the next field, 

 scattering in all directions ; stand still, and you will 

 hear them all directly begin calling, chuck-chuck- 

 chuckar, chuck-chuck-chuckar, and if left alone, if ever 

 so much dispersed, they will get together in a very short 

 time. They avoid high cover, and if driven into it, will 

 get up in all parts of a field immediately a gun is fired ; 

 or perhaps one or two birds will run down a furrow 

 before 5"ou and get up against the hedge, just out of 

 shot. They seem more partial to fallows and baidey 



