806 MANUAL OF MODERN FARRIERY. 



some objects on the ground, which, upon approaching, he 

 found to be two partridges, a male and female, engaged in 

 battle with a carrion-crow; so successful and so absorbed 

 were thev in the issue of the contest, that they actually held 

 the crow until it was seized and taken from them by the 

 spectator of the scene. Upon search, the young birds (very 

 lately hatched) were found concealed amongst the grass : it 

 would appear, therefore, that the crow, a mortal enemy to all 

 kinds of young game, in attempting to carry off one of these, 

 had been attacked by the parent birds, and with the above 

 singular success. The ordinary weight of the partridge is 

 fifteen ounces. 



Partridges all move away together to their place of rest 

 for the night, where they congregate on one spot, and from 

 the appearance of their meetings or droppings, which are ge- 

 nerally deposited in a circle of only a few inches in diameter, 

 it would appear that the birds arrange themselves also in a 

 circle, of which their tails form the centre, all the heads being 

 outwards ; a disposition which instinct has suggested as the 

 best for observing the approach of any of their numerous ene- 

 mies, whatever may be the direction, and thus increase their 

 security by enabling them to avoid a surprise. Early in the 

 morning they again visit the stubble for breakfast, and pass 

 the rest of the day as above mentioned. Fields of clover or 

 turnips are very favourite places of resort during the day. 



THE EED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 



So early as the reign of Charles the Second several pairs 

 were turned out at Windsor, with the intention that they 

 should propagate and form a stock for field-sports ; these, 

 however, did not succeed, as they became extinct in a few 

 years. About the year 1770 the Marquis of Hertford and 

 Lord Rendlesham procured eggs of this bird from the Coiiti- 



