of the Norfolk and Suffolk Birds. 35 



2. P. cinerea (Partridge). 



The Partridges at Blakenham in Suffolk, where the soil is 

 chalky, are said to be of a lighter colour than they usually are 

 seen upon other soils. We know not whether the same remark 

 has been made upon those which inhabit the other chalky dis- 

 tricts of the kingdom. Temminck, in his Natural History of 

 Pigeons and Gallinaceous Birds, observes, that the Common Par- 

 tridge, as well as other birds, is subject to vary both in size and 

 colour from local causes, particularly from the abundance or 

 want of food. We have seen a brace of White Partridges, which 

 were killed last year at Kittleburg in Suffolk : through the 

 white, the markings of the feathers, on dose inspection, faintly 

 appear. 



The bills of young Partridges are dusky at the base, with horn- 

 coloured tips. Those of the old ones are of a pale lead colour. 

 The legs of the young birds have a yellow tinge, which in the 

 old ones is changed to a blueish tint. 



3. P. Coturnix (Quail). 



This species used formerly to be very common in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Diss. It is now become scarce, but still occasion- 

 ally breeds in that part of the covnitry : and not long since two 

 Quails' nests were found by some workmen mowing clover. In 

 one of them there Avere seventeen eggs ; in the other, twelve. We 

 have also received its eggs from the neighbourhood of Hunstan- 

 ton in Norfolk. These birds are also become scarce in those 

 parts of Suffolk where they formerly abounded. 



Genus XXXVIII. Otis. 

 1. 0. Tarda (Great Bustard). 



These noble birds still continue to breed in the open parts 

 both of Norfolk and Sufiblk, though they are become much 



F 2 scarcer 



