The Oregon Sportsman 



Volume II JULY 1914 Number 7 



THE EUROPEAN OR HUNGARIAN PARTRIDGE. 



The bird generally known as the European or Hungarian 

 partridge (Perdix perdix) imported into Oregon from Europe, 

 is also variously called the English, Gray, Bohemian and 

 German partridge. All of these are in reality the same bird, 

 although it is likely true that the partridges of Hungary and 

 Bohemia are a little larger than those of Germany and 

 England. 



This partridge ranges all through Europe. In size, \t is 

 half way between a bobwhite quail and a ruffed grouse. From 

 tip of bill to end of tail, it measures twelve to fourteen inches. 

 The extent with wings spread is from eighteen to twenty-two 

 inches, and the weight is from twelve to thirteen ounces. 

 The plumage in both sexes is similar, gray and reddish brown, 

 darker on the back and wings. The face is creamy-buff. 

 The male, and sometimes the female, has a horseshoe-shaped 

 patch of dark chestnut on the lower breast. Perhaps the 

 most distinguishing feature of this bird when in flight is 

 the reddish-brown color which shows when the tail feathers 

 are spread. 



The European partridge is a bird of the field and gar- 

 den. In Bohemia it lives to a large extent in the beet and 

 hop fields where it feeds mostly on insects. Like the bob- 

 white quail, the European partridge sleeps on the ground. The 

 birds roost in a circle with their heads pointing outward so 

 as to detect an enemy from any direction and scatter if in 

 danger. 



The partridge is not polygamous, but mates the same as 

 quail. The nest is built on the ground under cover of a weed 

 or bush. From ten to twenty eggs are laid. In a nest that 

 was found last year near Salem, there were eighteen eggs, 

 fifteen of which hatched. 



Fagre three 



