110 
AMERICAN ORTYX. 
it so much, esteemed for the table as the common 
grey partridge. There are a few birds distributed 
over southern Europe, Africa, and India, which are 
nearly allied to it in colouring and in markings, and 
which seem to have more skulking habits, and to be 
much more difficult to force upon the wing ; all of 
these, we have little doubt, might be introduced to 
our parks, and would thrive equally well with the 
common red-legged bird. It appears to have been 
introduced so long since as in the time of Charles 
the Second ; and several English noblemen, during 
the last century, are recorded as having bred them 
from continental eggs, and turned them out on their 
respective manors. Mr. Yavrell, in his British Birds, 
has stated various instances where they have been 
killed, or are now breeding, in several of the south- 
ern and eastern English counties ; while the possi- 
bility also is suggested, of some straggling birds, 
occasionally met with on the coast, having made a 
flight, or been driven from Guernsey or Jersey. It 
has not appeared or been naturalised in any parts 
of Scotland or Ireland. 
Virginian or American Ortyx, Ortyx Vir- 
giniana, — Is another beautiful little bird, more 
lately introduced into some of the English counties, 
but with even less claim to a right in the British 
fauna , the success of its introduction having been 
scarcely yet ascertained. It belongs to a group of 
birds more strongly formed, having a stronger bill, 
