PHASIANIDA. 501 
THE COMMON PARTRIDGE. 
PERDIX CINEREA, Latham. 
The Common or Grey Partridge is generally distributed through- 
out England, and is nowhere more abundant than in East Anglia 
and Hampshire. The cultivation of grain is undoubtedly favour- 
able to its increase in numbers as well as in size, but birds which 
have fed on heather, whortleberries &c., in wild moorland districts 
are by no means inferior in point of flavour. In Scotland the 
Partridge is local, though plentiful on some of the low grounds ; but 
it is not widely diffused in the Inner Hebrides, nor does it thrive in 
the Outer islands, to which, as well as to the Orkneys, it has been 
introduced. In Ireland its numbers have diminished of late years, 
from various causes, chiefly poaching. 
In Norway this species exists under difficulties, owing to the 
rigour of the winter and the abundance of birds of prey, especially 
the Goshawk ; nor can it be said to flourish in any part of Sweden. 
It is found in Denmark, Germany, Holland, Belgium, and France 
