THE GAME-BIRDS AND RAILS 



female friends join company" and march away. The caper- 

 callie is jealous of trespassers on his domain, and instances 

 are on record where people have been attacked when so 

 infringing. 



Like the capercallie, the BLACKCOCK must be sought in 

 the woods, whence he sallies forth to the moors and stubble- 

 fields to feed. The GREY-HEN, as the female of this species 

 is called, lays from six to ten eggs, of a buff colour, spotted 

 with rich brown : both in number and colour they resemble 

 those of the capercallie. 



PARTRIDGES, QUAILS, AND PHEASANTS. 



The birds which come under this head are so many 

 in number they may be reckoned by the hundred, and 

 include several forms of exquisite beauty. The legs of 

 many are armed with formidable spurs, with which the 

 males, who are exceedingly pugnacious, fight furiously with 

 their rivals for the possession of some coveted female. 



Of the more conspicuous forms we may mention the 

 RED-LEGGED and COMMON PARTRIDGES. In England the 

 former is known more generally as the FRENCH PARTRIDGE 

 why, it is hard to say. It is a native of South-eastern 

 Europe, whence it was introduced towards the end of the 

 eighteenth century. It is a handsome bird, but not in high 

 favour with sportsmen, since it prefers to escape by run- 

 ning rather than by flight. 



fhai tf IT. P. Dando, F.Z.S. 



GOLDEN PHEASANT 



This bird is moulting. In full dress the cape seen 

 in the upper figure is golden -with blue-black ban 



P>M> by C. 



GOLDEN PHEASANT 



This bird is often kept in aviaries, on account of its magnificent livery 



i, K.B. 



