PARTRIDGE, any one of certain game-birds. The name was originally applied to the grey partridge (Perdix cinerea), the only species indigenous to Britain. The excellence of its flesh at table has been esteemed from the time of Martial. For the sport of partridge-shooting see SHOOTING.
The grey partridge has largely increased in numbers in Great Britain in the last century. During incubation the normal scent of the hen is suppressed. Allied species occur in eastern Siberia and in Tibet.
The common red-legged partridge of Europe, generally called the French partridge, Caccabis rufa, is considered the type of a separate group. This bird was introduced into England in the last quarter of the 18th century. It prefers heavy clay soils or the most infertile heaths.
In Africa north of the Atlas is the Barbary partridge, C.
petrosa; in southern Europe another, C. saxatilis, which extends
eastward till it is replaced by C. chukar, which reaches India. Two desert forms are Ammoperdix heyi of North Africa and Palestine and A. bonhami of Persia. The francolins and snow partridges are generally furnished with strong but blunt spurs. Of the former, Francolinus vulgaris used to be found in many parts of the south of Europe; it extends to India, where it is known as the black partridge. The snow-partridges (Tetraogallus) are the giants of their kin, and nearly every considerable range of mountains in Asia seems to possess its specific form.
The name "partridge" has been loosely applied in Nortn America to the ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), the Virginia quail (Ortyx virginianus) and other species. In South America the name is given to various tinamous (q.v.).