
The only other disease, found in but three birds, was a 
paratyphoid infection of Salmonella. The type and species were not 
identified. 
As with most partridges some infestations of roundworms and, 
less commonly, tapeworms were observed in the redlegs held in quaran- 
tine pending shipment. 
Two external parasites were also observed. Lice were not 
uncommon and posed a problem when the birds were kept penned for the 
requisite 2 months before shipment. Accordingly, all birds were dusted. 
against this parasite at the same time as they were injected against 
Newcastle disease. Ticks, especially about the head, were found on a 
few birds. 
Analysis of Competing Interests 
Relation to agriculture 
In considering the advisability of introducing a foreign 
species of game bird into the United States, no question is more care- 
fully considered than that of the species’ relation to agricultural 
pursuits in its native region. Throughout the investigations of the 
red-legged partridges, close contacts were established, both with the 
farmers and with the Ministry of Agriculture in each country visited, 
and this question was always raised, in order to obtain the broadest 
possible cross-section of opinion. 
Generally it is easy to get positive answers to this question 
if a game bird species is really injurious to crops. In Spain, it was 
unusual to hear a word of complaint against the red~-legged partridges. 
These birds seem to be universally loved and admired there. 
In truth, like the chukars in the Middle East, they have taken 
their place along with the sunrise and the green of growing wheat in the 
consciousness of the country people as one of the more rewarding features 
of country living. If their call, like that of the bobwhite in the 
South, is missed in early morning their presumed absence from their 
favorite haunts is a matter of considerable voluble concern. 
Yet the redlegs do sometimes feed on crops. In the fall they 
occasionally graze on sprouted wheat, but I found no record of their | 
stripping the heads of ripening grain. In dry summers and in the fall 
they will now and then pick a few grapes from a low-hanging bunch, but 
they showed preference for the over-ripe ones that have already fallen 
to the ground. Neither of these activities is thought to reduce the 
yield of these crops in Spain. 
26 
