COMMON PABTRIDGE.— EED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 187 



During the Brighton Volunteer Review^ Partridges, alarmed 

 by the movements of the troops, have flown out to sea and 

 alighted on the water, being picked up by fishermen in their 

 boats. (' Field,' December 23, 1882.) 



RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 



Caccabis rufa. 



This bird, generally known in Sussex as the French Partridge, 

 is said to have been introduced into England about 1770, but 

 was very rare in this county, a few being now and then met 

 with on the Downs, which were considered by sportsmen to 

 have immigrated from the Continent.* For a long time they 

 did not spread to the Weald. 



Mr. Knox mentions that two coveys were hatched and 

 reared under domestic Hens, and turned down at Kirdford, 

 near Petworth, in July 1841, which suddenly disappeared 

 (O. R. p. 169). In September of the same year a covey of 

 five were found at Bolney, a brace of which were shot and 

 sent to me, by Mr. Marshall, of that place. Since that year 

 they have rapidly spread over the whole of the Weald, and 

 are considered a nuisance by sportsmen, as they spoil the 

 dogs by running long distances, and then getting up out of 

 shot. The flesh is not much esteemed for the table. They, 

 however, offer excellent sport when driven by a large party 

 of beaters. They nest in similar situations to those chosen 

 by the common species, using the same materials. Their 



* I have heard that a number of these birds were turned out by one of 

 the Curzons of Parham, on the South Downs, many years ago, but I can- 

 not ascertain the date. It is very improbable that they migrated from 

 the North of France, as the species is hardly to be found there. 



