262 CLASS AVES. 



ment to the francolins, as they subsist for the most part on 

 small bulbous plants, concealed by a hard and often stony 

 soil. It appears, therefore, quite sufficient to distinguish them 

 subgenerically as our author has done. 



Speaking generally of these birds, including the Colins, or 

 American quails and partridges, they are very much multi- 

 plied in temperate climates. The burning sky of the torrid 

 zone appears to be particularly favourable to them. Some 

 species also brave with impunity the cold of the frigid zone, 

 for the grey partridge is found in the extremity of Sweden, 

 and even in Siberia. The partridges live in couples. It 

 most usually happens that, when once united, they seldom 

 separate until, death ; though the female alone is charged 

 with the care of the eggs, the male seldom quits her. He 

 never removes far from the nest, and when the female is 

 employed in providing for her subsistence, the male places 

 himself near the nest to guard it, and prevent the approach 

 of animals that would prey upon the eggs. When the young 

 are excluded, the father and mother assemble them under 

 their wings ; then the male takes an active part in the cares 

 of progeniture. It is he who warns the young by his cries 

 of the least sign of danger, or he takes to flight the first, 

 and at this signal the entire troop follow him. The covey, 

 generally sixteen or eighteen in number, remain united during 

 the entire season, and do not separate until the return of 

 spring. The francolins assemble in the evening in families 

 on the trees, while the true partridges unite in a small space 

 on the ground. In some countries of America where 

 venomous reptiles abound, the colins pass the night on thick 

 branches of trees. They all feed on green corn, on many 

 kinds of grains and seeds, on chrysalids, and on insects. The 

 song of these birds is a certain indication of the approach or 

 decline of day. The francolins have a hoarser and more 

 sonorous voice than the partridges properly so called. The 

 discordant sounds which they utter morning and evening. 



