Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1921-04-12
NATURAL HISTORY
OF THE SOUTH
BY JAMES HENRY RICE, Jr.
THE PARTRIDGE


ami; Genus. Col ms; Family, Odmto-
! phoridac: Species, Virginianus.
The Latin, gallna means q hen,
hence the scratching birds; Collinus
is 4 word coined by Linnaeus from
the Mexican word, colin, referring to
partridges; the sub-order, Phasiani
means Dhcasn"'s. to which cartridges
arc allied. The Turkey also belongs
to this family. The word, OdontO
phoridae, from the Greek, Odonto-
phnus (tooth- -bearinE) refers to the
TOOTH. near the tip of the upper
mandible. Virginianus refers the type
specimen to Virginia, whence it was
sent 10 Linnaeus for classification.
As this well known bird has so rich =!
history it may be>well to treat it In
separate articles, and consider ii first
in its economic relations.
D;s.ineuiched from Quail.
There is no excuse for calling the
bird quail" 1t is an error, due ~
gross ignorance. The Quails are Old
World birds. half the size Of the Part
rigde, with dark meat. laying speckled
eggs, with totally different call
note. migratory, occurring in flocks,
and only hearing a superficial rcscm-
blance to the Partridge. The English
Partridge is essentially The same bird
as our own, only larger, and with
slight internal differences. The Hun
garian, Partridge and the t;cd-legsed
Partridge Of Spain are different spe-
cics. but Of the same family. They
are nearly the size OF our I,uffed
Grouse, known as pheasant" in the
mountains Of North Carolina. Virginia.
Tennessee and PENNSYLVANIA, and as
"paltridges" in New York and New
England. ;:
Throughout the South. from Virgin
In TO Texas. Colinus virsinianu EAs
been called Partridge, from the days
of the colonies. by n race OF. sports
men. People from the North and the
West have led many of our young men
to adapt the name quail; but ii
should be dropped and the good old
name, which IS the right name. used.
Even the small boys on the farms
know the Partridge and can tell the
sexes apart ny the buff lines on the
head and throat of the female and the
white lines on similar areas Of the
male. Also the twelve TO twenty
white eggs. in the neatly fashioned
and carefully concealed nest, always
on the ground, are known to all.
The CHEEKY CALL bob White" Is
one of the sounds, sunk deep in the
memory of all who have been raised
on Southern farms.
The low call to the scattered corey
differs from the loud ringing note Of
the male, us docs the twtterinG Of the
female, when leading her young.
Tho range is from Idaho and along
the southern Canadian border TO
Maine, thence to Florida and west to
eastern Texas. IT is replaced in Flori-
da and Texas by allied species.
Destroye? of Inseet:.
During fall and. winter the Part
ridge feeds largely on grain. weed
seeds. nuts and:s berries. In spring
and summer il is n GcvoIr"r OF in
sects. taking Il variety. In the corn
fields the billbug. the cutworn and
the bollworm are eaten: in potato
patches it feeds on the Colorado lota-
tn beetle. and among the grain it de-
yours vast quantities OF the evil
smelling chinchbug. Like most birds.
1t feeds the young OH insects eXcill-
sivey. AS paitridges are wide rang
ers and vigorous feeders, they do in
cSllculable good to the farm. \ reco%-
niZcd authority has estimated the
value of each hlrtl to the farm at
twenty-five 0OlltCfS. l1ellCe ttleS Ill I
worth far more living than they are
dead, even though they furnish fine
fare for the table, like most gal.ina-
eeols birds.
Bird Easily Tanned.
When unmolested cartridges be-
come tame and will feed around the
house and lot.
4 covey feeding at leisure is one
OF the most beautiful sights in the
bird kingdom. With an increased
food supply they multiply enormous
ly.
The small amount of grain and corn
eaten is negligible ;l% against the
projections afforded to crops.
cartridges have not eaten the Boil
weeviI 10 any extent Most OF the
weevils are destroyed by other birds.
1t is not necessary to prefer false
claims for bird. The Partridge does
quite enough in controlling other in
sects The killing of them, if allowed
At I'LL should be rigidly regulated.
Copyright 1921 by Jas. d. Grist