82 VIRGINIAN PARTRIDGE. 



that a nest, with numerous white eggs, was found at Barton, in Norfolk, which, there 

 is little doubt, was that of this bird; for a bird like a Partridge, but smaller, was 

 seen not far from the spot. Mr. Lubbock also states that Mr. Coke turned out a number 

 of these birds at Holkham, in the same county, but he did not know with what success. 



A male and female were shot at Rotherfield, near Tunbridge Wells, "a few days 

 before" the 4th. of January, 1850, and were seen by Mr. Walter W. Beeves, of that 

 place. The female rose with some Partridges, with which it was apparently feeding. 

 Mr. Reeves could not ascertain that any had been turned out in that district. The 

 record is in the "Zoologist," for 1850. 



Mr. Yarrell states that a specimen of this bird was shot within the last few years in 

 the county of Northumberland, which found its way into the collection of Mr. J. Hancock, 

 of Newcastle-upon-Tyne; "and another was shot off a tree near Bristol, as mentioned by 

 Mr. Hewitson, in the second edition of his work on the eggs of our British Birds. In 

 September, 1844, a couple were shot near Egham, as they rose from a pea stubble. On 

 the 29th. of October, in the same year, a pair were killed out of a small covey of seven 

 or eight, in a copse near Egham, by Wyatt Edgell, Esq. This latter occurrence was 

 communicated to me by G. R. Marten, Esq., who very kindly allowed me an examination 

 of the birds; and in April of the present year, 1845, a very fine old male bird was 

 obtained between Weybridge and Chertsey by a boy, who, hearing the call-note of a 

 bird, whistled a similar note in answer; the bird was deceived by the imitation, and 

 came so close up to him that he killed it with a stone." 



The Virginian Partridge is found throughout nearly the whole of North America, as 

 far north as Canada and Nova Scotia. In the middle and southern states it is stationary, 

 but in Canada and Nova Scotia it is migratory. 



As an article of food, Wilson says, "The flesh of this bird is peculiarly white, tender, 

 and delicate, unequalled in these qualities by that of any other of its genus in the 

 United States." 



The habits of this bird are a good deal like those of the Partridge, but it appears 

 considerably more arboreal, in not only perching readily in trees, but sometimes even 

 roosting in them; the borders of woods, too, are among their haunts, though it would 

 appear that the progress of cultivation induces them so far to change their natural habits, 

 as to frequent the corn-fields for food and shelter. Their mode of sleeping or jugging is 

 similar to that of the common Partridge, in a small circle, with their heads outwards. 



They are said to be very pugnacious, and to assemble in large flocks or packs. 



They are monogamous, and incubation is performed by the female alone. 



The note of this bird is thus described by Wilson: — -"At this time, (early in September,) 

 the notes of the male are most frequent, clear, and loud. His common call consists of 

 two notes, with sometimes an introductory one, and is similar to the sounds produced by 



