§. III. 



The common Partridge. Perdix cinerea. 



THe Cock weighed fourteen ounces and a quarter 3 the Hen thirteen and an half. 

 The length [of the Cock] from the Bill to the Claws was fourteen inches 

 and a quarter, to the end of the Tail twelve and three quarters. The Bill from the 

 tip to the corners of the aperture or flit of the mouth three quarters of an Inch, to the 

 Eyes an inch. The breadth was twenty inches. 



The Bill in young Partridges is of a dusky colour, but in old ones it grows white. 

 The hides of the Eyes are a little yellowiih. Under the Eyes are certain red ex- 

 crefcencies. The Chin and fides of the Head are of a deep yellow or Saffron-colour. 

 The Cock hath on his Breaft a red mark of a femicircular figure, refembling a Horfe- 

 fhooe. The Hen hath not fo much red on her Breaft. Below the Chin, as far as the 

 Horfe-ihooe mark, it is of a blue cinereous, adorned with tranfverfe black lines: Be- 

 neath the mark the colour fades into dirty or yellowifh cinereous. The longer fea- 

 thers on the fides of the Breaft and Belly have each of them a great tranfverfe red 

 fpot, their (hafts being white. The upper fide of the body is particoloured of red 

 cinereous and black. This Naturalifts call a teftaceous or potlheard colour. 

 ; The Prime feathers in each Wing are about twenty three in number, of which the 

 foremoft are dusky, with tranfverfe yellowiih white tpots. The longeft feather is 

 five inches and a quarter. The interiour covert-feathers of the Wings, and the long 

 feathers fpringing from the (houlders have their (hafts of a yellowifh white. 



The Tail is compofed of no lefs than eighteen feathers, and is in length three 

 inches and an half: The four middle feathers are of the fame colour with the reft of 

 the body - the other (even on each fide of a fordid yellow, with cinereous tips. 



The Legs below the Knees are bare 5 they have no .footftep or appearance of any 

 Spur. BotrrLegs and Feet are in young ones ofagreenifh colour, but in old ones 

 they grow white. The Toes are joyned together with a membrane as in Heathcocks. 



It hath a great Craw, a mufculous Stomach or Gizzard, and a gall-bladder. For 

 the tafte and wholfomnefs of itsflefti it is defervedly preferred before all other birds. 

 It feeds upon Ants and Ants Eggs, upon the grains of Corn, and alio upon the green 

 leaves. But in Wifiter-time, when it feeds upon green Corn, its fleih is lefs com- 

 mendable, than in Summer and Autumn when it feeds upon the Kernel or grain. 



The Common Partridge is a multiparous bird, laying fixteen or eighteen Eggs ere it 

 fits. With us in England it is moft frequent. The Italians call it Starna^ as much to 

 fay as extema^ox outlandifh 5 and in fome places alCoPernice. Itis more rare with them, 

 and fells dearer than the red-leg d Partridge. 



The Partridge ( underftand it of all the feveral forts ) by reafon of the heavinefs 

 of its body , and fhortnefs of its Wings, can neither fly high, nor long continue its 

 flight, howbeitfor thofe fhort flights it makes it flies very fwift and ftrongly. 



In Winter-time they fly in company: For they are of that nature, that they breed 

 and bring up fifteen or fixteen young together, which company all Winter with the 

 old ones. But in the Spring time, when they pair together, they fly by two and 

 two 5 for then the old ones beat away the Young from them. This out of Bello- 

 raus : Which is true, not only of birds of this kind, but alio of Pheafants, Heath- 

 cdcks, &c. 



Bellonius faith, that thefingingof Partridges is a certain fign of day approaching. 

 We have often heard them crying and calling one another after Sun-fet. 



Partridges (faith Ariftotle) when any one comes near their N eft, caft themfel ves 

 down before his feet that looks for 'it, running and flying as if they were lame, by 

 that means drawing him away from their Nefts, -and enticing him to follow them 5 

 which wtei^they have done, themfelves fly away, and afterwards call together 

 their Brood, which fo foon as they hear the voice of their Dams prefently run to 

 them. 



§. IV. 



