THE FRANCO-GERMAN WAR. 83 
on that frosty morning’s drive to know that war does not 
scare them away, as suggested in “The Field” of March 
rith, 1871,,and by Lord Clifton in the Zoologist, (pp. 2481, 
2561), Again and again, as we rode along the crisp high- 
way, I had to shout to make them get off the poplar trees ; 
and often I longed for a gun to procure some of the singular 
varieties, for few birds vary more than the Common Buzzard. 
I also noticed a good many Kestrels asleep in the trees, 
and now and then a small covey of Partridges (Perdix 
cinerea). The so-called French Partridge* is exceedingly 
rare in Lorraine, and not found at all in Alsace, according 
to Kroener (1. c.). 
After my return to England, Count Cotlosquet had the 
goodness to have shot and to send mea very fine Kite, 
which had its nest in a wood near Metz. 
eight dead rats at once, which was enough to nonplus most Hawks, but 
the undaunted Buzzard proceeded most methodically to split their 
heads open, and eat the brains of every rat in succession. I dare say 
they are still found in limited numbers in that part of Wales. 
* A gunner of the name of Hornigold chanced to see eight birds 
alight in Lynn Wash—that is to say on the water. Wild fowl being his 
livelihood, he lost no time in “lying down” to them in his punt, but 
great was his surprise when instead of Ducks they proved to be a 
worn-out covey of Red-legged Partridges. They may have been a 
band of migrants, though I do not think it. More likely frightened 
and shot at on land, they flew they knew not whither, and losing their 
way in the fog, escaped Scylla to perish in Charybdis. Hornigold 
bagged them, and no doubt thought a covey of eight Red-legged 
Partridges was an unusual booty. 
