692 PARSON-GULLPARTRIDGE 



including the human voice. 1 In fine weather, as remarked by Mr. 

 Layard (Ibis, 1863, p. 243), this species has the habit of mounting 

 aloft in parties of half a dozen or more and indulging in various 

 aerial evolutions. Another merit it possesses is that of being an 

 excellent bird for the table, but probably few in future will have 

 the opportunity of tasting its good qualities. Dr. Gadow has de- 



PROSTHEMATODERA. (After Buller.) 



scribed (Proc. Zool Soc. 1883, pp. 67-69, pi. xvi. figs. 6, 7) the 

 peculiar lingual apparatus and mode of feeding of this bird. 



PARSON-GULL, a common name for the adult of either of the 

 Black-backed GULLS, Larus marinus and fuscus. 



PARTRIDGE, in older English Pertriche, Scottish Patrick, 

 Dutch Patrijs, French Perdrix, all from the Latin Perdix, which 

 word in sound does not imitate badly the call-note of this bird, so 

 well known throughout the British Islands and the greater part of 

 Europe 2 as to need no description or account of its habits here. 

 The English name properly denotes the only species indigenous to 

 Britain, often nowadays called the Grey Partridge 3 (to distinguish 

 it from others, of which more presently), the Perdix cinerea of 



1 Sir "W. Buller tells us how that having addressed a Maori assemblage in 

 the course of a negotiation, at the end of his speech the chiefs tame Tui ex- 

 claimed "Tita" (false), whereupon the dignitary remarked that the arguments 

 were no doubt good, but they had failed to convince his bird. 



2 More than one local form has been said to exist on the continent if not in 

 Britain. One such, inhabiting the north-west of Spain, seems worthy of notice. 

 It was described by Df. Reichenow (Journ. fur Orn. 1892, p. 226) as P. his- 

 paniensis, which Dr. Sharpe (Zool. Rec. xxix. Aves, p. 27) has rendered P. his- 

 paniolensis. 



3 In India the name Grey Partridge is used for Ortygornis ponticerianus, 

 which is perhaps a FRANCOLIN (cf. Jerdon, B. Ind. iii. p. 569). 



