260 



CLASS AVES. 



favourable climate, where the Nile and the majestic Niger 

 spread fecundity around. 



The opposite figure, from the drawings of General Hard- 

 wicke, appears to refer to a variety of this species which 

 inhabits India. The head, neck, and breast are greyish-white. 

 Each side of jaw and throat incline to rufous. A transverse 

 crescent of black beneath this, and a double bar of black 

 across the breast. It is pale towards the vent, with trans- 

 verse dusky lines. The back and wing-coverts dusky-brown, 

 the quills and tail black, and the latter very cuneiform, 

 with the feathers white at the end. Such is the variety 

 which Dr. Latham thinks is probably a female ; but General 

 Hardwicke's bird differs in having the fine rufous, beginning 

 at the chin, and passing round the neck below the nape, more 

 than an inch broad. The tail is not much cuneiform, ferru- 

 gineous-buff, mottled dusky, and barred with black ; the ends 

 of the feathers are black and pointed. A short spur above 

 the hind toe is wanting in both. This perhaps is a male. 



Among the birds over which man has acquired a sort of 

 empire, the Partridges deserve enumeration. Though 

 their wild disposition will not bend to a complete and per- 

 manent servitude, it has nevertheless in our countries assumed 

 a very sensible inclination toAvards a state approaching to 

 domestication. These shy inhabitants of our fields have at 

 least become our tributaries, and we have even succeeded in 

 bringing up some species in a domestic way. They do not, 

 however, propagate so well as the pheasants, though, with a 

 view to the table, they are not without their share of use- 

 fulness. 



The partridges are not only persecuted by men, but are also 

 exposed to the frequent attacks of small carnassial quadru- 

 peds and rapacious birds. These carry on against them an 

 obstinate and destructive warfare. Pursued on the surface 

 of the earth, which they do not quit but on the most immi- 



