The more we see of red-legged partridges the more we appreciate their
powers of running. They are wonderful birds for eluding the tactics
of walking-up parties; even where the birds are plentiful it is rare
to walk-up one within gunshot. The red-leg also suffers by comparison
with the English birds on the table. But he is a grand bird for driving
(when he is headed and forced to fly), seldom coming in coveys--so that
a dozen red-legs may afford as many shots as a dozen unbroken English
coveys. And they come straight, more in the style of grouse than of the
brown partridges. The two types seldom intermingle, being of different
species and different genera. In some places an ill-feeling is still
harboured against the bigger and handsomer red-legs, and it is thought
that they drive away the English birds.
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