GALLIFORMES. 369 



it is also said to be decreasing. They are subject to much vari- 

 ation in colour, according to the soil. Breeding takes place in 

 February, and in April the hen lays from 1 2 to 30 or more eggs, 

 which hatch out in three weeks. 



The French Partridge {G. rufa) was introduced into England 

 in 1770 ; from that date it has spread, and is now firmly 

 planted in the eastern counties and some parts of the Midlands, 

 &c. In the west it has taken no hold — in fact it thrives best on 

 poor, bare, and dry lands. The red legs, rudimentary spurs, 

 and running habits soon distinguish it from our native species. 

 The eggs, too, are very different : those of cinerea are olive-brown, 

 those of i-ufa are yellowish-white, blotched with rusty-brown. 



The two species live, feed, and breed apart, and have no 

 influence upon one another. The food of the grey partridge 

 consists of insects, snails, weed-seeds, and grain ; the red-legged 

 partridge feeds especially on dry fallows and waste -land. 

 Although some grain is destroyed by both, yet they may be 

 said to do more good than harm, for countless insects and 

 weed-seeds are eaten at the same time. 



The Eed Grouse {Tetrao scoticus) is indigenous only to the 

 British Isles. It is generally distributed over the Scottish moors. 

 In England it is found from Yorkshire and Derbyshire down 

 the Pennine Range as far as the Trent; it is also found in 

 Staffordshire, Shropshire, Cheshire, Lancashire, and on many 

 of the Welsh moors, especially in Merionethshire. It has been 

 introduced on Dartmoor and the Surrey heaths, but has soon 

 died out. They pair early in spring, making a rough nest near 

 a tuft of heather. Young and old feed on the tips of the ling 

 heather, and on bilberries, &c. 



The Blackcock (T. tetrix) is found on Exmoor and in South 

 Devon, Somerset, Dorset, Wilts, &c. Farther north and in 

 Scotland it is abundant. Blackcocks are polygamous, but separ- 

 ate from the females, the " Grey-hens,'' for a short time in the 

 autumn. 



The Capereaillie {T. wogallus) or Wood Grouse became ex- 



2 a 



