140 THE GUN: AFIELD AND AFLOAT 



published some time ago by the Entomological Society 

 of London, and this recommends a solution of 1 5 grains 

 of salicylate of soda in 1 500 grains of distilled water, to 

 be mixed with the water given to hand-reared birds. 

 Turpentine is said to be in some degree efficacious when 

 applied to the windpipe of the sufferer by means of a 

 feather. But in this case the trouble must not have 

 become too deep-seated, or the remedy will be quite 

 ineffectual, and it, of course, is not applicable in the 

 case of wild birds. 



Albinisms and variations of colour in the plumage of 

 the partridge are not uncommon. As far back as 1796, 

 a covey of partridges at South Cave, in East Yorkshire, 

 was noted as containing four albinos of the purest white, 

 three others of the same brood being pied. Buff or 

 cream-coloured varieties are not rare, whilst those having 

 white horseshoes upon their breasts, in place of the 

 usual chestnut shoe, are sometimes seen. The plumage 

 of our grey partridge, like that of many other birds, 

 will be found adapting itself in some degree to its 

 environment. Birds from deep-coloured soils or gravels 

 are frequently of a rich rufous red ; in other districts 

 may be found considerable alteration in the general 

 tone of colour, some birds, in extreme cases, being 

 found almost as light in colour as are the pale-plumaged 

 partridges of the Russian snowfields. 



THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 



This bird, also known in this country as the French 

 partridge, appears not to have been an indigenous 

 species, its introduction apparently dating from the 

 time of Charles the Second, during whose reign several 



