PARTRIDGE (OF. perdris, perdriz, pertrix, Fr. perdrix. IL prrdice, perniee, from Lat. perdis, front Gk. rIptie,S, partridge). A popular name for various gallinaceous birds, or other birds superficially like them. the precise applica tion of which depends not only on the country, but on the rill of the country where the term is used. The name was originally given, and prop erly belongs, to birds of the grouse family, of the genus Perdix, all of which are confined to the Old World. They have a short, strong bill, naked at the base; the upper mandible convex, bent down at the tip; the wings and tail short, the tarsi as well as the toes naked, the tarsi not spurred. In North America the term is hardly applicable properly, as our larger Calhi14ao are while the smaller ones are preferably known as quails, although not precisely the same as the true quails (Coturnix) of the out World. In the Northeastern United States the ruff.] grouse (see GnousE) is almost universally called while in the Southern States the common quail (q.v.) receives that name. and the grouse is known as Fhe tern I most properly applied in to the small of the Pacific Coast, such as I partridge, and the and tridges of California. In South America tina mous (q.v.) are called The true partridge of the ()Id World is typified by the common gray partridge (P(rdix city rco) of Great Britain and Europe generally, which is the most plentiful of all the game birds in Great Britain, and becomes increasingly plentiful as cultivation is extended. On the Continent of Europe it is abundant in almost all suitable tricts from Scandinavia to the Alediterranean, and is found also in the north of Africa and in Western Asia. It varies considerably in size; those found in rich lowland; are generally the largest. and about I inches in entire length, while those which inhabit poorer and more ]and are rather smaller. The female is somewhat smaller than the male. The upper parts of both are Mady with brown and black; the male has a deep chestnut spot on the breast, which is most or altogether wanting in the female. partridge is seldom found far from cultivated land. It feeds on grain and other seeds, insects and their and and the 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 or corn, and generally contains from 12 to 20 eggs. Until the end of autumn the parent birds
and their brood keep together in a corcy: hate in the season several coveys often unite Mto a pack, when it becomes much more difficult for the sportsman to approach them. The flight of the partridge is strong and rapid for a short dis tance, but the bird dips not seem to be capable of flight. The eggs of partridges are often hatched. and the young birds reared, by the domestic lien, the chief requisite being a plentiful supply of ants when the birds are very young. Partridges thus reared heroine very tame, but they seldom breed in the aviary. Other species occur in Asia.
Of a different genus is the red legged or French partridge rut,), a native of Southern Europe and now plentiful in the. south of Eng land, where it has been introduced. It is rather larger than the common partridge. stronger on the wing, and less easily approached by the sportsman, while it i; also less esteemed for the table. The Upper parts are of a reddish ash color; the throat and cheeks white, bon hid by a collar of black, which expands in black spots on the breast ; and the sides exhibit bars of black. The plumage is smooth. Two other species ly allied to this aro found in Southern Europe. India has a number of the habits of which much resemble those of the common tridge, the best known of which is the elinkor (q.v.). In India, however, the name is extended by sportsmen to a large variety of small birds, more or less like the true partridge, sue.' as the baintsscpartridges, and traneolins (of which the the Eastern r rancan region is a familiar . in .111. tralia one of the I Tedious nins• n. so called; and in smith .\ frier the par tridge if the colonists is a if:mm.1in I 0/ lilts Le I (Iliblor I ).
Con.ult general and Ine:11 cited I; r I t.sh Birds London. 1891) Allalo. Sport rrl I,,, ib., 191)1) ; Birds awl 11 iblioll 1 of 1507 ; in flu/mill/on Librtiry Itryden. \ I lin and Sport i,r .1 fries l lb., 1,9; Birds of (W., 1572 .1 sin lb., 1901 ; and II a0150ol. .1 n? Ornithology I ih., ; of I11, \ h IrrSt I : ,\/aver editor • , Xport with ow/ /..od i \ irk. Isle) : Sandy. and Van Dyke, I viand 1!102): and writings of .1inerietin natural fists and sportsmen generally. see colored Plates of G.\ mt: Bums, with article GitousE, and if or W.vrtat .t xi, BIRDS.