PARTRIDGE, Perdix, a genus of gallinaceous birds, of the family telraonida, having a short, strong bill, naked at the base; the upper mandible convex, bent clown at the tips; the wings and tail short, the tarsi as well as the toes naked, the tarsi not spurred. —The COMMON PARTRIDGE, or GRAY PARTRIDGE (P. cinerca), is the most plentiful of all the game-birds in Britain, and becomes increasingly plentiful as cultivation is extended, whilst the range of the moorfowl is restricted. It is not found in the outer Hebrides. On the continent of Europe it is abundant in almost all districts suitable to its habits, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, and is found also in the n. of Africa, and in sonic parts of the w. of Asia. It varies considerably in size; those found in rich lowlands being generally the largest, and about 124 in. in entire length; while those which inhabit poorer and more upland districts are rather smaller. The female is rather smaller than the male. • The upper parts of both are ash-gray, finely varied with brown and black; the male has a deep chestnut crescent-shaped spot on the breast, which is almost or altogether wanting in the female. A variety called the onountain partridge has the plumage brown. The partridge is seldom found far from cultivated land. It feeds on grain and other seeds, insects and their larva; and pupa', and the pupa' of ants are generally the food sought at first for the young. The nest is usually on the ground, among brushwood and long grass, or in fields of clover or corn, and generally contains from 12 to 20 eggs. The young run as soon as they are hatched. Both parents show a very strong attachment to their young, and great courage in repelling assailants; they have also recourse, like many other birds, to stratagem, to draw off the most powerful and dangerous enemies. such as dogs, in another direction, fluttering close before them
as if broken-winged, whilst the brooch escape. Until the end of autumn, the parent birds and their brood keep together in a covey; late in the season, several coveys often unite into a pack, when it becomes much more difficult for the sportsman to approach them. The flight of the partridge is strong and rapid fur a short distance, but it does not seem to be capable of it long-sustained flight. The eggs of partridges are often hatched, and the young birds reared. by the domestic hen, the chief requisite being a plentiful supply of ants when the birds are very young. Partridges thus reared become very tame, but they seldom breed in the aviary.— f he HED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE (P. ruf us, or eacrabia the genus or. subgenus eaerabis being distinguished by a rudimentary blunt spur on the tarsi) is a native of the s. of Europe and of the Channel islands, and is now also plentiful in some parts of England. particularly Norfolk and Suffolk, into which it has been intro duced. It is rather larger than the common partridge, stronger on the wing, and less easily approached by the sportsman, whilst it is also less esteemed for the table. The upper parts are of a reddish-ash color; the throat and checks white, bounded by a collar of black, expands in black spots on the breast; and the sides exhibit bars of black. The is smooth.—Two other species, nearly allied to this. are found in some of the southern parts of Europe. India has a number of species. Elie habits of all the species much resemble those of the common partridge.—The name partridge is sometimes extended so as to include the species of ortyx (see VIRGINIAN QUAIL), and in South America is sometimes given to the tinamous.