THE RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE. 885 



Portugal) is considerably darker on upper- and under-parts and 

 more slatish, less olive-brown on rump and upper tail-coverts than 

 A. r. rufa ; A.r. intercedens (E. and S. Spain) is more like A. r. rufa 

 but paler and rump and upper tail-coverts more slaty ; A.r. 

 australis (Canary Is.) is much like A. r. intercedens in colour but has 

 larger bill. Olive-brown upper -parts, barred flanks, black streaked 

 gorget, red legs and bill distinguish species. 



Field -characters. — Rather larger than Common Partridge which 

 it resembles in build and, speaking generally, in habits too, but is 

 more restricted to chalk-lands and sandy heaths, often perches on 

 low trees, fence-rails and the like, and is even more addicted to 

 running. At close quarters white cheeks and throat bordered by 

 black band, barred flanks, and bright red legs distinguished Redleg 

 at once, but at a distance the two species are much alike. Call, a 

 deliberate harsh " chuck-chucka, chuck-chucka," is distinctive. 



Breeding-habits. — Haunts open country. Nest. — A hollow in 

 ground often in hedgerow or under shelter of bush, occasionally on 

 stacks, scantily lined with dead leaves, grasses, etc. Eggs. — Usually 

 12-16, but 17 to 20 on record ; yellowish -white to pale yellowish- 

 brown, spotted rather sparingly with ochreous-red and ashy shell- 

 marks. Average of 100 British eggs, 41.37x31.04. Max. : 43.6 X 

 32 and 41.9X32.7. Min. : 38.6x31.3 and 40x29.5 mm. Breeding- 

 season. — Full sets usually not before end April or more often in May. 

 Incubation. — By female alone. Period 23-24 days. Single brooded. 



Food. — Both animal and vegetable matter : insects, including 

 coleoptera, orthoptera, hymenoptera (ants and their pupae) and 

 diptera ; spiders, mollusca (small snails) : also grain, seeds, young 

 shoots of growing corn, clover, etc. 



Distribution. — England. — Resident. Introduced Suffolk about 

 1770, and subsequently many places, now found in Yorks., midlands 

 and southwards, west to Somerset and sparingly north Wales, and 

 by recent introductions in many other parts. Slight evidence of 

 occasional immigration on east and south-east coasts. 



Distribution. — Abroad. — Belgium, France, Italy, to west and 

 south Switzerland, and Balearic Isles. Replaced by very closely- 

 allied forms in Spain, (possibly Corsica), and Canaries, but evidently 

 introduced in Madeira and Azores. 



