THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 



481 



into the sea will sometimes be washed to shore, should the tide be favorable, but in fresh water 

 it is generally drowned, or snapped up by a hawk from above, or a big pike from below, should 

 such fresh-water sharks feed in that locality. 



The plumage of the Partridge is brown of several shades above, mingled with gray. The 

 breast is gray, with a horseshoe-like patch of rich chestnut on its lower portion, and the 

 sides and flanks are barred with chestnut. The total length of the male bird is rather more 

 than a foot ; the female is smaller than her mate, and the chestnut bars on the flanks are 

 broader than those of the male. 



The Red-legged Partridge is a larger and stronger bird than the common species, from 

 which it may at once be distinguished by the black liar over the forehead, behind the eye and 







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it" 



RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE.— OaccaMs rubra 



round the breast, as well as by the black streaks that pass from the neck towards the tail, 

 and the conspicuous gray, fawn, and black bars on the flanks. 



This bird is common in England, France, and Italy, and thrives so well that, like the Nor- 

 wegian rat, it has in some places fairly driven away the original breed, and usurped their 

 territory. It is much stronger on the wing than the common Partridge, and yet is so swift and 

 active of foot that it cannot easily be induced to rise, but runs away from the dogs with such 

 speed that it often baffles their best efforts to start it within shot range. According to Yarrell, 

 they are difficult of capture even when wounded, as they have a habit of running into rabbit- 

 holes or similar sanctuaries, whence they cannot be dislodged without costing too much of the 

 sportsman's time. These birds seem to prefer heaths and commons to the turnip and corn- 

 fields as frequented by the common Partridge. 



The eggs of this species are very numerous, averaging sixteen or seventeen in each 

 nest ; and their color is unlike those of the ordinary species, being yellowish-white, with 

 a dash of yellow, and covered with spots of reddish-brown. The food is the same as that of 

 the ordinary breed. 



The plumage of this bird is altogether smoother than that of the last-mentioned species. 

 The upper parts of the body are soft brown. Before and behind the eye there is a line of 

 white, and a bold stripe of black runs over the forehead to the eye, then starts from behind 



Vol. II.— 61. 



