152 



GAME BIRDS AND SHOOTING-SKETCHES 



proved to be a very curious melanistic variety of the 

 Partridge. 



There does not seem to be any reason why the Grouse 

 and the Partridge should not occasionally interbreed, but I 

 have never seen an example. The blood-red variety of 

 the Partridge, of which there are several beautiful examples 

 in the Newcastle Museum, sometimes leads sportsmen to 

 think they have got a hybrid of the above-named birds. 

 I have taken several journeys in the hope of discovering 

 this new cross, but in every case the birds proved to be 

 Partridges. 



