266 BRITISH BIEDS 



to maintain existence in its new surroundings. Owing to its swift- 

 ness of foot and excessive wildness it was difficult for the sportsman 

 to get within shooting distance of it, when partridges were shot over 

 dogs. On this account it was disliked ; so much so in some cases 

 that attempts were made to extirpate it. But in spite of persecution 

 it continued to increase, and is now found distributed over a large 

 part of England, from the southern counties to Westmorland. 



FIG. 90. BED-LEGGED PARTKIDGK. natural size. 



It differs from the common partridge in language and habits, as 

 well as in its more conspicuously marked plumage and bright red 

 legs. It is not a bird of the homestead, being partial to dry, sandy 

 soils, to commons, and uncultivated lands. Its call-note is a musical, 

 piping cry. It breeds early, and makes a slight nest on the ground. 

 The eggs are fifteen to eighteen in number, yellowish white in ground- 

 colour, and blotched with brown. 



An allied species, the Barbary partridge (Caccabispetrosa), has 

 been included, as a rare straggler to England, among British birds. 



