54 NATURAL HISTORY OF THE PARTRIDGE 



CHAPTER VI 



THE COLOURS OF PARTRIDGES 



THE plumage of the partridge varies in shade in 

 different localities. Speaking broadly, birds bred on 

 high, poor land tend to become small in size and 

 grey in colour, while such as are reared in highly 

 farmed districts are often large and highly coloured. 

 The partridge has the forehead, throat, and two sides 

 of the head, chestnut ; the upper parts exhibit a har- 

 monious blend of russet brown and grey, varied with 

 dark bars and buff streaks. The rump and upper tail 

 coverts are 'pepper and salt,' set off to great advan- 

 tage by rich rufous markings. The tail is pure chest- 

 nut red, with the exception of the central feathers. 

 The breast is grey, finely barred with black ; the 

 abdomen is white, adorned with a blackish chest- 

 nut horse-shoe. The distinctions which mark the 

 sexes of this bird have been variously described by 

 authors. Mr. Ogilvie Grant, who has made the study 

 of game birds peculiarly his own, recently devoted 



