294 PARTRIDGE. 



back ; sides of the head and throat light bluish ash ; behind the 

 ears a dusky spot; round the neck a ring of chestnut, spotted with 

 white ; shoulders blue, edged with orange ; rump and middle 

 feathers of the tail, ash-coloured, the side ones half ash, half dirty 

 orange ; the sides of the body covered with beautiful feathers, 

 variegated with orange and black; fore part of the neck cinereous; 

 breast rose-colour; belly, thighs, and vent pale brown ; legs red, and 

 in the male a blunt spur at the back of the leg. 



This species inhabits Barbary, and I have been assured that it is 

 clearly distinct from others. They are in plenty on Gibraltar Hill, 

 where they multiply sufficiently, and as they cannot get corn upon 

 the hill, are supposed to feed on worms, snails, insects, berries, and 

 roots: are not known in Spain, only retained at Gibraltar by a strict 

 prohibition against killing any. Mr. White, however, mentioned, 

 that the whole brood were destroyed, on which the Hon. General 

 Cornwallis caused a fresh supply to be had from Barbary, and turned 

 loose. In a few years they multiplied to a great degree, and became 

 a pleasant ornament to the spot, and from not being persecuted, were 

 become so tame, as frequently to stand in coveys on the tops of bare 

 rocks, and gaze at passengers with unconcern. They are a tender 

 bird, and though many have been taken by the Moors alive, and 

 sent to England, they have never survived in this climate long. Mr. 

 White's observation amounts to this — that the Red-legged Partridge, 

 or Greek Partridge, which is apparently the same with the Guernsey 

 Partridge, is the vulgar sort of all Southern Europe, and the only 

 one known in Spain ; as to our British Species, it is very rare in Italy, 

 and there esteemed of foreign extraction, therefore known by the 

 name of Starna, a corrupt expression for externa. That the breed 

 of the Red Partridge is extremely plentiful throughout Spain, 

 though the Spaniards are not only dexterous marksmen, but likewise 

 expert in the use of nets : they breed up the young cocks tame in 

 cages, for the purpose of call birds, and an old one thus familiarized, 

 and trained, sells for a good price ; but so little are Game Laws 



