281 PARTRIDGE. 
surprise. They also continue to lodge for several nights in the same 
spot. 
The Partridge, like all the rest of the gallinaceous order, flies with a 
loud whirring sound, occasioned hy the shortness, concavity, and rapid 
motion of its wings, and the comparative weight of its body. The 
steadiness of its horizontal flight, however, renders it no difficult mark 
to the sportsman, particularly when assisted by his sagacious pointer. 
The flesh of this bird is peculiarly white, tender and delicate, un- 
equalled, in these qualities, by that of any other of its genus in the 
United States. 
The Quail, as it is called in New England, or the Partridge, as in 
Pennsylvania, is nine inches long, and fourteen inches in extent ; the 
bill is black ; line over the eye, down the neck, and whole chin, pure 
white, bounded by a band of black, which descends and spreads broadly 
over the throat ; the eye is dark hazel ; crown, neck, and upper part 
of the breast, red brown ; sides of the neck spotted with white and 
black, on a reddish brown ground ; back, scapulars and lesser coverts, 
red brown, intermixed with ash, and sprinkled with black ; tertials edged 
with yellowish white ; wings plain dusky ; lower part of the breast and 
belly pale yellowish white ; beautifully marked with numerous curving 
spots or. arrow heads of black ; tail ash, sprinkled with reddish brown ; 
legs very pale ash. 
The female differs in having the chin and sides of the head yellowish 
brown, in which dress it has been described as a different kind. There 
is, however, only one species of Quail at present known within the 
United States. 
