436 RASORES. PERDIX. Partridge. 



of moors, where but an inconsiderable portion of arable land 

 is offered to them, they are much inferior in size, although 

 perhaps by no means evincing a similar inferiority in point of 

 flavour. The feeding time of these birds (as of all the other 

 members of the Gallinaceous order, in a wild state) occupies 

 two or three hours after sunrise, and again before sunset. 

 During the middle of the day, they retire to bushes, or bask 

 in the sun on the dry banks of hedges, and are busily en- 

 gaged in dusting, and afterwards in preening their feathers. 

 They roost upon the ground, generally about the middle of 

 a field, chusing a part very scanty in herbage, or other cover 

 likely to draw the attention of night-feeding animals of prey ; 

 and the whole covey sit closely crowded together. They 

 go to rest {or jug, as it is frequently termed) a little after 

 sunset, previous to which they may be heard calling and 

 answering each other, after having been separated in feed- 

 ing, or by any accidental cause. 



This species is found throughout the greater part of Eu- 

 rope, but is most abundant in the temperate and northern 

 parts. — It also visits Egypt and the coast of Barbary, being 

 migratory in some countries. 



Plate 61. Male and female. Natural size. 



General Bill pale bluish-grey. Irides brown. Behind the eye is a 



descrip. naked red papillose skin. Cheeks, throat, and eye-brows 



tion. ^ ^ . 



Male. pale brownish-orange. Neck and breast bluish-grey, 



with fine zig-zag black lines. On the belly is a large 

 patch of deep reddish-brown, in the shape of a horse- 

 shoe. Flanks grey ; the feathers banded with pale 

 orange-brown. Back, wings, rump, and upper tail- 

 coverts brown, with transverse black lines and spots. 

 The scapulars and wing-coverts have the shafts of the 

 feathers yellowish-white, edged with black. Quills 

 blackish-grey, with brown bars. Tail reddish-orange. 

 Legs and toes bluish-grey. 

 Female. The female differs from the male bird in having less of the 



