7484 Birds. 



known as the Black Mountain disliict, although so well known to the 

 sportsmen in the neighbourhood, seems to have escaped the notice of 

 naturalists. 



Materials. Ling, heath, bents, very little of either, the bird scratching 

 a hole in which to lay her eggs. The hen bird only incubates, the 

 cock remaining in the neighbourhood, and flying short distances 

 before the intruder, to lead him away from the nest : as soon as the 

 young come forth the cock and hen are equally assiduous in taking 

 care of them. 



Effffs, 7 — 13. Gray, sometimes white, blotched with umber- 

 brown. 



Ptarmigan, Telrao Lagopun. 



Siiuation. On the ground on the stony mountain tops of Scotland 

 and adjacent islands. 



Materials. None : the hen scratches the ground, and lays her eggs 

 in the cavity thus formed. 



Eggs, 7 — 15. Pale-red brown, blotched with two shades of darker 

 brown. 



Partridge, Perdix cinerea. 



Situation. On the ground, in corn fields, standing grass, among 

 weeds, &c., throughout all arable districts. 



Materials. Nothing more than the stems of the corn-weeds growing 

 in such places, scratched and trampled down. 



Eggs, 10 — 20. Pale yellow-brown, unspotted : they are usually 

 hatched about Midsummer Day, not the middle of July, as stated by 

 most authors. 



Redlegged Partridge, Perdix rubra. 



Situation. On the ground in clover and corn fields in the eastern 

 counties, particularly Norfolk and Suffolk. Mr. Newton mentions 

 (Zool. 4073) an instance of a bird of this species building a nest and 

 sitting on thirteen eggs on the thatch of a stack of barley. 



Materials. Dried leaves, in addition to the crop, whatever it may 

 be, in which the bird chooses its site. 



Eggs, 12 — 18. Yellow-gray, spotted with red-brown. 



Quail, Perdix Coturnix. 



Situation. Generally in corn fields, among green corn. 



Materials. None, unless the trodden and scratched blades of 

 growing corn can be thus called. 



Eggs, 12 — 20. Pale yellowish brown, speckled, spotted or blotched 

 with brown. 



