Genus PERDIX, Latk
C n * n . B i l l short, strong, naked at the base; upper iitem/Nile ooriAli with the noint
t a t t l in g considerably downwards, N o s tr ih basal, lateral, piwoed in a lari»- membrane
Mid partly concealed by an arched naked scale. , Winirs short, concave, 3¡¡I' iiret three
« • *» *borter * " » .* * fonrtl1 i“W fifth, tvhieh are the longest if of fourteen or e%htcen
.for tliens, generally bending towards the ground. Ret with three toes before, which ,,«>
Slated by a membrane as far as the first articulation, and one behind. Tarsi in th ‘ Val
cnai frequently with one or jnoiv liian one spur or tubercle.
R E D - L E G G E D P A R T R I D G E .
• I I I éitvtu hva , May.
jLé Péyá^iit. rouge,
F¡spiii peculiar and beautiful gresg* íéjii: Óomó&a P¿*tr¡c|g.c may with em it »mw-iety be sena-ated
ÍÍWSr fealiHa. »ml characters Vary e»»ti(terably, • tb« • Red-legsf'tób»g • »purred, arid v.- lomc authors
ul* trees> which the common species never does; and it is also destitute o f Spurn,
O f the Red-legs five*8istmct species áre now recognised, three o f which are raiivc* o f Europe ¡ o f ¿ e a r tfe
here; represented is the most Common, and is, we believe, confined eptirWy to the Continent and the
isfttlMfe o f Guernsey and Jersey. Like the Pheasant, the Red-leggéd Partridge is now «aturaíked in .the Bri-
t i * fcfcnds, but it must nevertheless be considered an introduced species, and consequently as opt strictly be-
■fengiog to our Fauna j and, we much question whether, those who have them on their estates have no* cause
««regret iueir introduction, for although highly ornamental in their abearance, their flesh is not equal toihat
o f t t e Coinmcn Partridge (Verdi# cinerea), which from its diminutive size and less pugnacious habits is com*
pelted. to retreat and give place to its more powerful opponent. It is more shy and wary than the common
species, and is very difficult to approach, even at the eominencejment. o f the shooting-seasoii, a covey bcino-
ftiddom flushed withofíl' hnving rwibefore the dogs for a cottsiderablc distance, when they mostly rise out o f gun
Shot It is now becoming cxtrcin-eiy numerous in many parts | | England, particularly Suffolk and the ud-
jm m g counties. Although it cUtnrmcK- .«ell in p r e s s e d misan», arable lands, . ^ , ‘stiji it appear»’ to
c^M^^{mrtid%Tor »terite waste* i«ad íü-athv jErAitods. is w very abimdant throughout the plains o f France
laying from fifteen to eighteen eggs.' o f a?.- Orat$» yoiiow freckled afi <wr i.
c-^hw. The 3'omig before the second moult V Ml felta&Mfte MWHfted lifrtKi'MnlTrri't
o f tiie common spedes, but by the cud uf ih'ia *?!• •.’'«•"•i-vvi'vWi -u“v £&» trtinsverw-'r I
w-ww«! plumage o f the adult: the oid- h'rds sexes iwv »i» and imtrlin
inMt W'i e it not for the blunt spur; which always forms a*i afcHW*itdÉÉ$ á'fosfj-f: fáiti?-, it would -¡'H dsKVtilt
■' V » 11 U “ >- 1*1 *»< Consiste o f wheat and other "raim, ¿«¡foil) insects, &c. Its M is whiter
tirftfr? (ify than that of the common specie*. gg#
tFwilc has the forehead grey; crowii of the head and.whole of the upper surface gfeyish brown with a
4?ufbus; throat white surrounded bj' a botclt hand, which d ila te upon the chest and the sides o f tin
tm « number o f small black spots on a grey ground s ahdomat and uuder {aflkeon'rts sandy red ; íes-1
léittii* tl«* flanks grey at their base, to which succeedjs a broad transverse band o f black, the tips k b r
r c t l; outer tail-feather« rufous, the eiewti'f* ones more grey ; legs, bill, and. eyelids’ red.
•¿V;r■ represents a mate o f the natural alee.