31 
I 
pahtridge. 
CHAPTER III. 
PARTRIDGES AND QUAILS I THE COMMON AND RED-LEGGED 
PARTRIDGES COMMON, ANDALUSIAN, VIRGINIAN, AND 
CALIFORNIAN QUAILS. 
PERDEX is the name given to the typical genus of the 
Ferdicince, Perdicine birds, or Partridges, which are 
mostly robust birds, with full and rather heavy bodies, and 
short necks ; short strong, and slightly-curved beaks ; small 
and rather oblong heads, and short, stout legs, covered with 
scales or feathers. Some species have a spur behind, de- 
noting their affinity with the Gallince^ all of which have it. 
They have full, soft, compact plumage, generally of grey, 
brown, and dusky red colours, prettily mottled and blended 
so as to produce an harmonious eifect. The Partridges are 
pretty generally distributed over the world, but occur mostly 
in warm and temperate climates. They live on vegetable 
substances, such as seeds, buds, and the herbaceous parts 
of plants. They are of timid and retiring habits, have a 
strong whirring flight, and run with great speed when 
obliged to leave the covert which they prefer. "We have 
two species in Britain, but the one most esteemed by sports- 
men is 
The Common Partridge — {Perdex cinerea) — the best 
known, and perhaps most highly esteemed, of British game 
birds, than which none is more widely and generally 
