ACROSS THE OPEN FIELDS AND DOWNS. 81 



I think it was in the Zoologist. I can assure this 

 reviewer that in some parts of Kent the " Red- 

 leg" is detested, and its eggs broken wherever 

 and whenever found ; and as an instance of its 

 antipathy to the English Partridge I can name 

 reliable witnesses of actual fights between the two 

 birds ; nay, more, where it has actually been 

 watched killing an entire brood of English Part- 

 ridges just as they had got their first set of quills ! 

 Comment is needless. A very noteworthy habit 

 of the Red-legged Partridge is that of perching in 

 trees and on walls and even stacks. But as a 

 rule it is a skulking creature, running through the 

 herbage and up the hedges rather than taking 

 wing. Its food is not known to differ from that 

 of the English Partridge ; and it has also the 

 same gregarious instincts in autumn, and the 

 same partiality for the stubbles and the turnips. 

 Its loud, shrill treble whistle is heard most fre- 

 quently in spring, about the period of pairing. 

 The nesting season begins in April and lasts 

 through May. The nest is placed in precisely 

 similar situations to that of the preceding species, 

 and is composed of much the same material. The 

 eggs, however (from ten to sixteen in number), are 

 very different, being pale brownish yellow, spotted 

 and speckled with light and dark brown. But 

 one brood is reared in the year, and both parents 

 assist in the duty. In autumn and winter this 

 bird not unfrequently wanders from the fields into 

 the adjoining plantations and common lands. 

 The uniform brown upper plumage, showily 

 barred white, black, and chestnut flanks, and 

 bright red legs, easily distinguish this species 

 from the common Partridge. 



