GAME BIRDS AND WILD FOWL. 53 



Nevertheless, it is met with commonly enough on the fields in 

 haunts affected by its British ally, but it is always even more 

 skulking, and ever tries to run and hide amongst the cover rather 

 than use its wings. Another peculiarity sure to be impressed 

 upon the observer is the bird's habit of frequently perching in 

 trees, on corn-stacks, or on hedges and fences ; whilst during 

 snowstorms it often quits the open fields entirely, and seeks 

 shelter amongst bushes and brushwood. It is a shy and wary 

 bird, ever on the look-put for danger, craning out its neck and 

 peering in all directions at the least alarm, and continuing to do 

 so as it runs quickly towards the cover. It flies well and strongly, 

 with rapidly beating wings which make a loud whirring noise, 

 whilst on the ground it is capable of running with amazing speed. 

 The note of the Red-legged Partridge is a shrill treble crik-ik-ik, 

 which is said to be common to both sexes. Its food is not 

 known to differ in any important respect from that of the 

 Common Partridge, and its habits from the time the broods are 

 reared, onwards through the autumn, are very similar. It lives in 

 coveys, which sometimes join into flocks, but which soon scatter 

 when alarmed, each bird making off to some refuge. In con- 

 sequence of this peculiarity, the Red-legged Partridge affords 

 poor sport. It will not lie close in the cover until flushed by the 

 gunner, but is ever on the run ; so that driving is absolutely 

 necessary to obtain a decent bag. 



NidifiCEbtion. — The Red-legged Partridge pairs early in 

 April, sometimes towards the end of March, and during this 

 period it becomes rather pugnacious, and combats are of 

 frequent occurrence between the cock-birds. The female goes 

 to nest rather earlier than the Common Partridge, the eggs 

 usually being laid towards the end of April, or early in May. 

 The nest is slovenly and slight, placed amongst the dense 

 herbage of a hedge bottom or a dry ditch, or amongst growing 

 grain, clover, or mowing grass. Sometimes it is placed amongst 

 the thatch of a stack, or even in the side, and not unfrequendy 

 in a very exposed situation by the side of a footpath or highway. 

 It is merely a hollow into which a few bits of dry herbage and 

 leaves are scraped. Here the hen lays from twelve to eighteen 

 eggs, pale brownish yellow in ground colour, spotted and speckled 



