392 VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE. 



ground, along with which they pick up a quantity of sand or gravel. 

 Towards autumn, when the young have nearly attained their full size, 

 their flesh becomes fat, juicy and tender, and being moreover white and 

 extremely agreeable to the palate, is in much request. Twenty years 

 ago, they were commonly sold at twelve cents the dozen ; but now they 

 are more commonly sold at fifty cents. They suflPer greatly in the Mid- 

 dle Districts during severe winters, and are killed in immense numbers. 



This bird has been introduced into various parts of Europe, but is 

 not much liked there, being of such pugnacious habits as to drive off the 

 common Grey Partridge, which is considered a better bird for the table. 



In the Plate I have represented a group of Partridges attacked by a 

 Hawk. The different attitudes exhibited by the former cannot fail to give 

 you a lively idea of the terror and confusion which prevail on such oc- 

 casions. 



Perdix virgikiana, Lath. Ind. Ornith. vol. ii. p. 650 Ch. Bonaparte, Synops. of 



Birds of the United States, p. 124. 

 Tetrad virginiantts, Linn. Syst. Nat. vol. i. p. 277. 

 Quail or Partridge, Perdix virginiana, Wils. Americ. Ornith. vol. vi. p. 21. 



PI. 47. fig. 2. Male. 



Adult Male. Plate LXXVI. Fig. 1, 1, 1, 1. 



Bill short, robust, rather obtuse, the base covered by feathers ; upper 

 mandible with the dorsal outline curved, the sides convex, the edges 

 overlapping, the tip declinate ; under mandible nearly straight in its 

 dorsal outline, arched on the edges, the sides convex. Nostrils concealed 

 among the feathers. Head and neck of ordinary size. Body short and 

 bulky. Feet of ordinary length ; tarsus anteriorly scutellate, a little 

 compressed, spurless ; toes scutellate above, pectinate on the sides ; claws 

 arched, obtuse. 



Plumage compact, glossy. Feathers of the upper part of the head 

 erectile into a tuft. Wings short, broad, much curved and rounded, the 

 fourth quill longest. Tail short, rounded, of twelve rounded feathers. 



Bill dark brown. Iris hazel. Feet greyish-blue. The forehead, a 

 broad line over each eyej and the throat and fore-neck, white. Lore, au- 

 ricular coverts, and a broad irregular semilunar band on the fore-neck, 

 more or less black. Upper part of the head, hind and lower part 

 of the neck all rovmd, reddish-brown. Upper back and wing-coverts 



