44 
BRITISH BIRDS. 
head is of a bluish ash, fading into a rusty chesnut 
behind, where the feathers are somewhat elongated, 
and which it can erect or depress at pleasure; the 
hinder part of the neck is of the last named colour, 
and is formed into a stripe, which falls down towards 
the shoulders; the rest of the neck is of a pale ash, in- 
clining to blue, with numerous longish spots of black ; 
below this, to the shoulders and breast, the plumage 
is of a rusty brown, with a vinous reflection ; the belly 
and thighs are of a pale rusty chesnut ; the breast is of 
a pale lead colour; the sides are beautifully ornament- 
ed with stripes composed of black, bright reddish ches- 
nut, and white ; the upper parts of the plumage are 
rusty brown, somewhat tinged with olive grey; the 
quills nearly the same, but of a darker cast, with the 
outer edges yellowish ; the vent brownish ash : the 
tail consists of sixteen feathers, the middle ones grey- 
ish rusty brown, the outer ones deep reddish chesnut ; 
the under coverts of the tail nearly the same : the legs 
are furnished with a singular knob instead of a spur. 
These birds are said to be found in various parts of 
Europe, Asia, and Africa; in Germany, France, and 
Italy ; the islands of Madeira, Guernsey and Jersey ; 
but the accounts of their breeding in England, are 
contradictory. In a wild state, it is said they prefer 
woody and heathy wastes, to inclosed ground, and that 
they are easily tamed, and soon become offensively 
familiar. Latham says they are 66 now and then met 
with in England, but do not breed there.” Montagu 
says, “ Notwithstanding many gentlemen have turned 
out the Red-legged Partridge upon their estates, with 
a view to propagate the species at large, few have sue- 
