ORDER GALLIN.E. 26 1 



nent danger, their flight, though usually of short duration, is 

 accompanied with other perils. It is then that the kite, the 

 hawk, the kestril, and other predatory devastators of the air, 

 dart upon them with the rapidity of lightning, or harass 

 them by continual pursuit. 



Inhabitants of the plains and open fields, the partridges 

 show a decided preference for corn countries. They do not 

 take refuge in coppices or vineyards, except when pursued 

 by their common enemies. They are never known to retire 

 into thick forests, or perch on trees whose umbrageous foliage 

 presents to other species of the gallinse a sure asylum against 

 the cruel fangs of the tyrants of the air, and where they 

 may escape even from the obstinate pursuit of man, though 

 environed with all the apj^aratus of destruction which human 

 ingenuity has contrived. 



Certain divisions adopted by our author in the genus Per- 

 dLv, have been necessitated by the differences of conformation 

 or habits observed in certain of its numerous species. The 

 true partridges, as we have observed, never live in forests ; 

 they do not perch habitually, and never frequent humid or 

 marshy situations. 



All the Francolins live in forests along the banks of rivers. 

 They perch on trees during the day, and always at night 

 they frequent marshes and humid places, where they find a 

 different sort of aliment from that which the true partridges 

 are habituated to seek in open plains and cultivated fields. 

 These are marked differences of habits and manners ; but the 

 disparity of form is not so great. The existence of one or 

 two spurs on the tarsi of the males of francolinus can hardly 

 be admitted as an essential difference ; were it so, the females 

 of these birds should be ranged with the genuine partridges. 

 It is perhaps equally hazardous to admit as the only distinc- 

 tive character of the francolins a longer and more curved bill 

 than is found in some partridges, as this may be found in 

 other subdivisions. A bill of this kind is an useful instru- 



