BIRDS OF DUMFRIESSHIRE 343 
be distinguished from the old birds by the pointed character 
of the first primary ; and in the earlier part of the season 
the legs and feet of immature specimens are yellowish-brown, 
as compared with bluish-grey in the adults. 
Albinism in this species is not common, but a pure white 
Partridge is recorded as obtained locally in 1884.* 
In defence of their young the parents are most anxious, 
fluttering along the ground with assumed broken wing, and 
doing all in their power to attract the attention of the 
disturber from their precious offspring ; a pair have been 
seen to keep a Kestrel at bay, while their young made good 
their escape. 
The eggs are usually laid in May or even June, and incuba- 
tion lasts twenty-four days ; but in 1822, the weather being 
extraordinarily mild, a covey of young Partridges was 
seen on the estate of Murraythwaite in April.f In August, 
1812, a fowl and a Partridge are reported as sharing a nest 
together near Waterbeck (Middlebie).J A female Partridge 
hand-reared at Capenoch in 1906, consorted with the keeper's 
fowls, with which it regularly roosted, perching like them 
on the branches of some young spruces. 
A terrible monstrosity is thus recorded in 1812 : "A 
few weeks ago in the Parish of Kirkconnel near Sanquhar 
there was found in a Partridge's nest, a young Partridge 
with two distinct bills, three eyes, one of which was in the 
centre of the head, four wings, and four legs. The young 
bird was alive when found, but is since dead. It is now 
in the possession of Mr. Thomson, surgeon in Sanquhar, 
who has preserved it as a curiosity. "§ 
Hybrids of this species, I believe, are unknown ; and the 
story from Langholm Lodge in 1822 that " one of a brood 
of young Partridges brought up under a barndoor hen, 
* Trans. D. and G. Nat. Hist. Soc, November 7th, 1884. 
t Dumfries Courier, June 11th, 1822. 
t Op. cit., August 11th, 1812. 
§ Op. cit., July 14th, 1812. 
