RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 77 



which obey the voice of the conductor with wonderful docility, and it is most probable 

 they Avere birds of this species which Willoghhy notices, "That a certain Sussex man 

 had. by his industry, made a covey of Partridges so tame, that he drove them before 

 him. upon a wager, out of that county to London, though they were absolutely free and 

 had their wines ffrown." 



This speaks a good deal for the docility of the Partridge, but very little for the 

 wisdom of the teacher, who might, we think, have spent his time much more usefullv 

 both to himself and others. 



The Eed-legged Partridge is, like our common species, monogamous. 

 According to Meyer, its call-note sounds like the word 'cockileek,' and is frequentlv 

 uttered during the spring by the male bird. 



The food of this bird is much the same as that of the bird last described, consisting 

 of numerous kinds of insects, such as ants, spiders, grasshoppers, flies, caterpillars of all 

 kinds, small snails, corn, young shoots of grass, clover, etc. 



The time of pairing is about the same as that of the Common or Gray Partridge, 

 early in the spring; and at this season they are very pugnacious, and tight hard for 

 their "lady loves." 



The nest, which consists of a small quantity of dry leaves or grass, is placed ou the 

 ground in much the same situations as that of the Common Partridge. The female lays 

 from fifteen to eighteen eggs, which have a reddish yellow white ground, spotted and 

 speckled with reddish brown. They are in length one inch seven lines and a half, by 

 one inch three lines in breadth. The habits and food of the young birds are said to 

 be similar to those of the young of the Common Partridge. The Eed-legged Partridge 

 will not breed when in confinement, and indeed is not very tolerant of any attempts to 

 domesticate it. 



The cock bird does not assist the hen in incubation, but deserts the nest till the vounsc 

 birds are half-crown, when he ioins the hen in her care of them. 



The adult male has the bill and naked space about the eye, bright red, the irides 

 red. The upper parts of the head and the hind neck are reddish brown; the forehead, 

 ash gray. The back, wings, and upper tail coverts, and four middle tail feathers are 

 reddish brown, tinged with gray. A portion of the outer web of all the primaries, 

 except the first, and of seven of the outer secondaries, are ochre-yellow. The six lateral 

 tail feathers on each side, brownish red. The throat and cheeks are white, tinged with 

 gray : a band of black from the bill to the eye, and thence down the side of the neck, 

 becoming broader, and meeting its fellow on the fore part, where it expands. Sides and 

 fore part of neck, grayish white, tinged with brown, and spotted with black. This part 

 is margined below with grayish brown, succeeded by a broad band of ash gray. The 

 middle of the breast, abdomen, lower tail coverts, and tibial feathers are light red. 



