PARTRIDGE. 295 



known among them, that they bring a greater quantity of Partridges 

 to market in the pairing, and breeding season, than at other times 

 of the year, and to recommend them for sale, it is a common argument 

 to affirm, that the hens are full of eggs, He adds, that in all the 

 Red-legged Partridges which he has seen, the legs were furnished 

 with a double spur, but that the British and Barbary Species have 

 but one on each leg. From the above gentleman's observations, 

 which, during my correspondence with him, I had occasion to value 

 much, it should seem, that the two Red-legged Partridges so called, 

 form but one Species, and that the Barbary* one is totally distinct ; 

 and further, that the Common, or Grey Partridge is no where so 

 numerous as in Great Britain. 



It is probably the Barbary Partridge, rather than the others with 

 red legs, which is common in India, except it should hereafter prove 

 a species different from either ; but I fancy I have seen both sorts, in 

 drawings from India. However this may be, the individuals are 

 fourteen inches long ; and very common there, especially on the 

 Coast of Coromandel, where they are kept tame, and called Cheuc- 

 quoir, by the English Firelock, and Fire-eater, as they will peck at 

 sparks of fire on the ground. The largest of the kind is at Bahar, 

 and by some called Chittagong Partridge. 



A beautiful one among General Hardwicke's drawings, rather 

 exceeded thirteen inches. Bill and legs red ; sides of the head and 

 neck fine buff-colour; crown bluish ; from the nostrils a black band 

 passes through the eye, growing broader behind, and curving on the 

 neck before ; in the middle of this, on the ears, rufous brown ; the 

 rest of the upper parts of the body and wings pale chocolate brown ; 



* The Moors have a peculiar way of hunting the Partridge. In the Plains of Akker- 

 mutte and Jibbel Hedded, in Shedrna, they take various kinds of dogs with them, from the 

 greyhound to the shepherd's dog, and following the birds on horseback, and allowing them 

 no time to rest, they soon fatigue them, when they are taken by the dogs; but as the 

 Mooselmiu eats nothing but what has had its throat cut, he takes out his knife, and ex- 

 claiming Bismillah, in the name of God, cuts the throat of the game.— Jackson's Morocco, 

 p. 121. 



