THE COLOURS OF PARTRIDGES 59 



birds ' had been induced by food, looking at the 

 almost perfect grouse-like colour, especially of the 

 male.' 



Mr. J. E. Harting has recorded the occurrence of 

 a similar bird in Northumberland, and others, which 

 must apparently be referred to the same variety, were 

 secured by the late Mr. John Hancock. ' A remark- 

 able feature in the colour of this variety,' wrote Mr. 

 Hancock, ' is the entire absence of the grey ash tint 

 that so agreeably diversifies the neutral colouring of 

 the normal plumage. The whole of the head and 

 neck is of a pale buff or chestnut, similar to that or 

 the front of the head and neck of the ordinary bird ; 

 the upper parts are a dark red-brown, each feather 

 having the shaft pale and the extremity with a large 

 spot of obscure white ; the upper tail coverts are pale 

 chestnut like the head, with dark brown bands ; the 

 tail feathers are of the same chestnut colour, but 

 darker than those of the normal bird ; the under-tail 

 coverts are brown clouded with darker colour. The 

 whole of the under parts is of a uniform dark chesnut 

 colour, as if the usual horse-shoe mark had been 

 extended ; on the breast in front, where this dark 

 brown meets the pale chestnut or buff on the neck, it 

 is not abruptly defined, but breaks into it irregularly ; 

 the thighs are pale obscure buff, and so are the feathers 



