AXD NEIGHBOURHOOD. 305 



is commonly called, has firmly established himself at 

 all events in the northern division of onr county, and 

 at Lilford we and one of onr neighbours have at 

 various times added to our own stock by importations, 

 chiefly from the eastern counties. Most of our 

 readers are probably aware that this bird is not an 

 indigenous British species, the main importation, 

 according to Yarrell, having been made about the 

 year 1770 by the Marquis of Hertford and Lord 

 Eendlesham, who turned out a considerable number 

 of Eed-legs, hatched from eggs obtained from the 

 continent, on their estates in Suffolk ; whence, with 

 several more recent importations into that county, 

 the birds have spread, thriven, and become very 

 numerous in suitable localities throughout Norfolk, 

 Suffolk, Essex, and the adjoining counties. The 

 Red-leg is of a running and roaming disposition, and 

 may often be searched for in vain in a locality in 

 ■which numbers have been found a few days previously. 

 The nesting-habits of this species resemble to a great 

 extent those of the Grey Partridge, but it commences 

 to lay somewhat earlier, and does not seem to object 

 to nesting in thick brushwood, which is not a common 

 practice with the latter bird. The eggs average 

 from twelve to sixteen, and are of a creamy yellow, 

 with rust-coloured spots and freckles. To those who 

 shoot over pointers the Red-leg is a very objectionable 

 bird, as his first impulse on being alarmed is to run 

 off at full speed, with occasional halts for observation, 

 and if really hard pressed to top the fences generally 

 at a comer of the field, and alighting immediately to 

 set off to cross the next field diagonally on foot. It 

 has been, in our experience, quite an exceptional 

 event to get a fair shot at a bird of this species on 



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