Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 15.djvu/470

PARTRIDGE. applicable properly, as our larger Gallinae are grouse, while the smaller ones are preferably known as quails, although not precisely the same as the true quails (Coturnix) of the Old World. In the Northeastern United States the rull'ed grouse (see GuousE) is almost universally called •pai-tridge,' while in the .Soithern States the common quail (q.v.) receives that name, and the grouse is known as 'pheasant.' The term seems most properly applied in America to the small game-birds of the Pacific Coast, such as Cambel's partridge, and the 'mountain' and 'valley' par- tridges of California. In South America tina- mous (q.v.) are called 'partridges.'

The true partridge of the Old World is typified by the common gray partridge (I'vrdix ciiicrea) of Great Jiritain ami Kurope generally, which is the most plentiful of all the game-birds in Great Britain, and becomes increasinglj- plentiful as cultivation is extended. On the Continent of Kurope it is abundant in almost all suitable dis- tricts from Scandinavia to the iMediterranean, and is found also in the north of Africa and in Western Asia. It varies considerably in size; those found in rich lowlands are generally the largest, and about 12i,4 inches in entire length, while those which inhabit poorer and more up- land districts are rather smaller. The female is somewhat 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 al- most or altogether wanting in the female. The partridge is seldom found far from cultivated land. It feeds on grain and other seeds, insects and their larvie and pupa', and the pup.-e 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. Until the end of autumn the parent birds and their brood keep together in a colwi) : late in the season several coveys often unite into a pack, when it becomes nnu'h m<n'e dilTieult for the sportsman to approach them. The llight of the partridge is strong and rapid for a short dis- tance, but the bird does not seem to be capable of long-sustained flight. The eggs of partridges are often hatched, and the young birds reared, by the dimu'stic hen. the chief requisite being a plentiful supply of ants wdien the birds are very young. Partridges thus reared become 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 {Criccabis rufa), a native of Southern Europe and now plentiful in the. southof 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 is also less esteemed for the table. The upper parts are of a reddisli ash color; the throat and cheeks white, bounded 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 near- ly allied to this are found in Southern Europe. India has a number of species, the habits of which much resemble tho.so of the common par- tridge, the best known of which, is the chukor (q.v.). In India, however, the name is extended by sportsmen to a large variety of small game- birds, more or less like the true partridge, such as the bamboo-partridges, hill-partridges, and francolins (of which the 'black partridge'— J'raiicoliiius vulgaris — of the Eastern .Mediter- ranean region is a familiar example |. In .us- tralia one of the bush-quails (Pedionomus) is so called; and in South Africa the "redwing' par- tridge of the colonists is a francolin (Francoli- nils Le Vuillaiili).

Consult general and local ornithologists cited under Bird; especially .Morris, Uritinh fjiiinc- Birds (London, I8U1); .Vllalo, ,S>jr( in Europe (ib., 1001) ; Lloyd, dame Birds and Wildfowl of tiweden (ib., 1807) ; Walsingliam. "Shooting," in Badminton. Library (ib., 1889); Bryden, Suture and Hport in Houth Africa (ib., 18;)7); Sliellev, Birds of Egypt (ib., 1872) ; Seetiohni, Birds of Asia (ib., 1901) ; Sharpe and Hudson, Argentine Ornithology (ib., 1888); Coues. Birds of the Sorthicest (Washington, 1874) ; Mayer (editor), Hport irith Gun and Rod (Xew York, 1892); Sandys and A'an Dyke, Vpland Game Birds (ib., 1002) ; and writings of .American natural- ists and sportsmen generally. .See Colored Plates of Game Bums, with article Grouse, and of Er.cs OF WaTKR and (i.VME BiRDS. PAR'TRIDGE, Alde.x (1785-18.54). An .merican e<hi(alor, born at Norwich, Vt. Ue graduated at the newly founded Military Acad- emy at West Point in 1800, was conmiissi<ine<l first lieutenant of engineers, and was assigned to duty there as assistant professor of mathematics. From 1813 to 1810 he was professor of engi- neering. In 1818 he resigned from the army, and in 1820 returned to Norwich, where he founded the. ierican Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy, better known as the Norwich Jlilitary .cademy. The success of this under- taking was inunediate. and in 18.14 the State granted it a charter as the Norwich University. .l the invitation of other States, Partrid'je founded similar military schools at Portsmouth. Va., Pembroke, N. H.. Harrisbnrg. Pa., and Brandywine Springs. Del., and devoted much time til iirgani/ing and drilling their militia.

PARTRIDGE, Joiix (1044-171.5). A famous London astrologer and almanac-maker. Bound apprentice to a shoemaker, he nevertheless learned by himself Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. ;ind swms subsequently to have stmlied medicine at Ley- den. He wrote a treatise on the Old I'rineiplrs of Astrology in 1007. In 1080 he had hc;;un to issue an almanac called Mcrlinus I.ihrrntus. which, after a .short suspension, was regularly published from 1089. This masterpiece of ei^uivq- eation soon became exceedingly popular. .As a parody upon it Jonathan Swift issued at the begiiuiing of 1708, J'rrdictions. . . by Isaac Bickerstaff. Esq.. in which it was foretolil that Partridge would "infallibly die u|)on March 20th next, about 11 at ni;.'ht. of a raging fever." 0;i March .30th Swift published a |iamplilet in which the prediction was said to 1«> accom- plished. In vain Partridge tried to convince the public that he was still alive. Swift followed up the humorous attack in an Elegy on the Ttralh of Mr. Partridge (1708) and the Vindication of Isaac BickerstajJ (1700). Partridge was so com- pletely crushed that not another .l/<T/inii,i ap- peared till 1714. Partridge's .1/hi<ih<ii issuinl by the Stationers' Company in 1711, has appeared