122 BRITISH BIRDS’ EGGS. 
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 
CaccaBis RuFA, Linn. 
Pl. XIX, fig. 3. 
Geogr. distr.—Madeira, the Azores, Western and Southern Europe; 
tolerably common in Great Britain, occuring as far north as Scotland. 
Food.—Clover, leaves, berries, grain, seeds, insects, Mollusca, 
and worms. 
Nest.—More perfect than is usually the case with the Common 
Partridge, composed of dried grasses mixed with feathers. 
Position of nest.—Upon the ground in woods, and in heathy 
districts. 
Number of eggs.—10-18. 
Time of nidrfication.—V. 
Although I have not personally found the nest of this 
species in England, I have on several occasions heard of 
its occurrence in the Kentish woods; but, as the keepers 
(I believe invariably) smash all the eggs which they come 
across, under the impression that, if allowed to breed freely, 
this bird would supplant the common species, it is not 
surprising that the Red-legged Partridge has become rare 
in this county; its occurrence in Norfolk and Suffolk is 
far more frequent. 
Two or three years ago I received an egg of the Red- 
Legged Partridge, along with eggs of Terns collected for 
me in the vicinity of Romney Marsh. 
In habits this species differs considerably from the 
Common Partridge ; its flight is less noisy and more rapid ; 
it has a disinclination to rise, and runs before a dog; all of 
which points are objectionable to the sportsman, whose 
pleasure seems to increase in proportion to the number of 
birds which he can either kill or maim, rather than to the 
skill required to obtain a fair shot; thus the crafty bird is 
despised and the silly victim esteemed. Unlike the 
common species, the males of C. rufa are said to desert the 
hens when they are sitting and rearing their young, and 
assemble in coveys. Such a practice would, no doubt, be 
esteeemed a redeeming feature in its character by many 
club-frequenting Benedicts of our species. 
