I 62 BRITISH BIRDS. 



GENUS CXXXIX. PERDIX, Brisson (1760). 

 Bill much as in Phasianus, but shorter. Tarsus 

 lacking the spur. Tail rather short, slightly rounded. 



253. Perdix einerea, Lath. COMMON PARTRIDGE. 

 Hab. Temperate Europe and Western Asia. 

 Common throughout British Isles. 



GENUS CXL. COTURNIX, Bonnaterre (1790). 

 Characters much as in Perdix. 



254. Coturnix eoturnix, Linn. QUAIL. 



Hab. Palaearctic region and whole of Africa. In 

 winter migrating from N. Europe. 



Easily distinguished from the Partridge by its small 

 size ; length 7*00 ; wing 4 '30. Male differs from female 

 in having a blackish patch on upper throat. 



Locally but widely distributed in summer, while a few 

 often remain through the winter. Eggs : 7 to 10 ; creamy- 

 white, variably clouded or blotched with chocolate-brown ; 

 no by '90. 



Family Tetraonidae. 



GENUS CXLI. LAGOPUS, Brlsson (1760). 



Bill short, strong, the base clothed with feathers, tip of 

 upp^r mandible decurved. Tail moderate, even. Feet 

 feathered to claws. Hind toe short. 



255. Lagopus mutus (Montin). " PTARMIGAN. 



Hab. Mountains of Europe and Central Asia. 



Male : bare skin over eye red ; lores and a stripe 

 through eye black ; crown and breast mottled with black ; 

 upper parts freckled and barred with grey and brown ; 

 wing-quills white ; tail black, tipped with white ; belly 



