Cr mes Se

THE PARTRIDGE. 197

The Greek Partridge (Perdix saratilis) has the upper
part of the body bluish-grey; the cheeks, throat, and upper
part of the neck white, with a band of black; all the under
parts are yellowish; tail ash-coloured, with five of the fea-
thers on each side tipped with red. This bird generally
lives among rocks, but descends into the plains to make its
nest, and find sustenance for its brood. The partridge is
called, in 1 Samuel xxvi., a bird of the mountains, which
makes it probable that this species may be there alluded to.
It will sit on the eggs of a stranger, like the domestic hen,
and is often driven thence (according to Dr. Shaw) by the
rightful owner, which may explain the text in Jeremiah
xvii., “As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them
not ;”’ or, still more clearly,.according to the marginal read-
ing, “As the partridge gathereth young which she hath not
brought forth.”

All these species occur in the warm and temperate re-
gions of Europe and Asia, the latter also in Nubia and
Egypt, where they break into numerous varieties; the fran-
colins also, which by some naturalists are included in the
genus Perdiz, and from which they differ very slightly, are
abundant in similar localities, and either genus may furnish
the allusions in the Scriptures. The Hebrew word signifies