BRITISH GAME-BIRDS. 221 



soil. As to this, I am not able to say anything. 

 The red-legged partridge is now well established in 

 some of the eastern and southern counties. It has, 

 I know, the character of driving away our native 

 bird the grey partridge ; but this is not correct, the 

 habits of the two birds are different. I have never 

 seen the two birds in the same locality, and I have 

 never known a case of inter-breeding. But my 

 experience may be of a limited nature, and I assert 

 nothing. 



The bird appears to me to be somewhat akin to 

 the francolins. Here, in suitable localities, it breeds 

 if let alone ; but I fear more birds are quietly got rid 

 of for their supposed ill-feeling towards our native 

 bird than any one hears about. I know something 

 of the process. There is the beautiful creature on 

 her eggs under a torey tuffet laced with sprigs of 

 young thorn. A figure draws near with stealthy 

 footstep and raised stick. Down comes the stick, 

 the bird is killed, and the eggs trampled under foot, 

 as if the bird was a hen-harrier. " Them 'ere damned 

 Frenchies kills t'others," is the explanation surlily 

 given, if you ask for one ; a poor one certainly, for 

 they have never once been caught by them doing 



