282 
Allen’s naturalist’s library. 
flushed, occasionally perch on a neighbouring tree, which the 
Grey Partridge, so far as we are aware, never does. In the 
pairing season the Red-legs are very pugnacious, fighting 
fiercely not only with the males of their own kind, but also 
with those of the Grey Partridge, which, being much smaller 
birds, are in most cases driven from the field. Eggs of the 
latter specie.s, as well as those of the Common Pheasant, are 
sometimes found in the nests of C. rufa, and are doubtless laid 
there by the females instead of in their own nest, an irregular 
habit by no means rare among Game-Birds.” 
Nest— -“A hollow scratched in the ground under the shelter 
of a hedge, tall grass, or growing crops.” (Grant, l.c.) 
Eggs. “Ten to eighteen in number, and sometimes more. 
Pale stone-colour or buff, more or less thickly dotted and 
spotted, and sometimes blotched with dark reddish-brown. 
Average measurements, 1-55 by 1-2 inch.” (Grant, l.c.) 
THE TRUE PARTRIDGES. GENUS PERDIX. 
Ferdix, Brisson, Orn. i. p. 219 (1760). 
Type, P. perdix (Linn.). 
The genus Perdix, of which our well-known Partridge is the 
type, has the feathers scarcely extending below the tibio-tarsal 
joint, and the tail-feathers are sixteen or eighteen in number. 
The first primary is intermediate in length between the seventh 
and eighth, and the fourth is slightly the longest. The feet 
are without spurs in either sex, and the plumage of both is 
alike or slightly difierent. (Cf. Grant, in Allen’s Nat. Libr ix 
P- I43-) 
Four species of Perdix are known, viz., P. perdix of Europe 
P. daurica of North-Eastern Asia, P. hodgsojiim of Thibet, and 
P. sifamca of Kansu. 
I. THE COMMON PARTRIDGE.* PERDIX PERDIX. 
Petrao perdix, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 276 (1766). 
* Mr. Ogilyie Grant’s account of the difference of the plumaire in the 
sexes IS most interesting and is quoted here in extenso. 
