PARTRIDGE. 121 
PARTRIDGE. 
PERDIX CINEREA, Lath. 
Pl. XVIIL,, fig. 2. 
Geogr. distr.—Temperate Europe generally; rarer in the south 
(not occurring in N. Africa); does not extend far into Asia: generally 
in Great Britain. 
_ Food.—Seeds, grain, berries, young leaves, Mollusca, worms, and 
insects. 
Nest.—Usually a mere hollow in the ground, lined with a few dry 
straws or grasses; but occasionally a tolerably compact nest is made 
of these materials, apparently capable of being lifted out entire. I 
have twice seen such nests, whereas on another occasion I found the 
eggs in a bare hole into which water had oozed, so that they were 
partly imbedded in the mud. 
Position of nest.—Under stunted bushes, in open places in woods 
or plantations, in open fields, under hedges, in grass-grown ditches, or 
hollow places in crumbling cliffs on the coast. 
Number of eggs.—Usually 12-16; I have, however, known them to 
vary from 5-26, the latter number being deposited in three layers in a 
compact-looking nest on a small waste piece of ground at the junction 
of two country roads; they were covered with a little dried grass, 
which effectually concealed them, the nest being placed under a 
straggling bramble. 
Time of nidification.—V. 
It has been stated that the Partridge occasionally lays 
in the nest of the Pheasant. In two instances as many as 
thirty-three eggs have been found in one nest, but it is 
supposed that such large clutches are produced by more 
than one female; the fact that (so far as I have seen) 
large clutches are generally placed in a nest far more 
compact than usual, seems to point to the agency of two 
females in its construction. 
Though readily tamed, this bird has rarely been known 
to breed in confinement. It is a strictly monogamous 
species, choosing its mate probably about the end of 
April, but, as Mr. Seebohm says, ‘‘the poor bird has so 
many enemies, that it seldom happens that a pair enjoy 
each other’s society for many seasons in succession.” 
When pursued by a dog it has been known (like the 
Pheasant) to take to the water and calmly puddle away 
with apparently as much ease as a Moorhen (see Zool., 
1878, p. 349). 
