Birds, 1317 



Common Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus. Common throughout the 

 year, and breeds with us. 



Black Grouse, Tetrao tetrix. Black game have at different times 

 been turned out in Norfolk, but have hitherto increased very little. 

 A few birds are, however, occasionally met with in those parts of the 

 county where the attempt has been made to introduce them. 



A gentlemen informs us that he recollects a specimen of the red 

 grouse (Lagopus Scoticus), being killed many years since in West 

 Norfolk, we believe not far from Downham. It is, however, possible 

 that this may have been a young bird of the preceding species. Sir 

 Thomas Browne, in his account of Norfolk birds already referred to, 

 has the following paragraph. " The heathpoult, common in the North, 

 is unknown here, as also the grouse ; though I have heard some have 

 been seen about Lynn." 



Common Partridge, Perdix cinerea. Very common throughout 

 the year, and breeds in Norfolk. 



Red-legged Partridge, Perdix rufa. The red-legged partridge is 

 very common on most of the light lands in Norfolk, remaining through 

 the year, and breeding. From its disinclination to rise, and its habit 

 of running before the dogs, it is considered useless to the sportsman, 

 and from its pugnacious disposition, is supposed to interfere with the 

 nesting of the common species. Its eggs are in consequence often 

 destroyed by gamekeepers, by which means, its increase is greatly 

 checked. Sir Thomas Browne says, " Though there be here very 

 great store of partridges, yet the French red-legged partridge is not to 

 be met with." 



It was introduced into this part of England, in the course of the 

 last century, but has also been occasionally known to migrate to our 

 coast, and may, therefore, be claimed as a Norfolk bird, inde- 

 pendently of its introduction by artificial means. 



Virginian Colin, Ortyx Virginiana. Some of these birds were 

 turned off several years ago by the late Earl of Leicester, in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Holkham ; and, there is reason to believe that the species 

 still exists in small numbers in the county. 



Common Quail, Cotumix vulgaris. A regular summer visitant, 

 and nests with us. Its numbers are however very limited, and it is 

 very local in its habits, showing a decided preference to sandy soils. 

 It was formerly a far more numerous species in Norfolk than at pre- 

 sent ; so much so, that fifty years ago it was not uncommon for 

 a sportsman to kill on light lands early in the month of September, 

 three or four brace of these birds in a day. We have never heard a 



