Mr. E. V. Harcourt on the Ornithology of Madeira, 435 



and the name given by Webb and Berthelot has reference to the 

 nature of its food. It is more plentiful in Madeira than the 

 Ring-dove, and its flesh is considered a great delicacy. A 

 remarkable feature which it possesses, and which points to an 

 adaptation for its habitat amongst large forest trees, is the great 

 length of its centre toe, being more than an inch longer than 

 that of the Ring-dove ; I have therefore called it " Long-toed 

 Wood Pigeon,^^ in default of any other English name. It has a 

 silvery ring which goes all round the neck, and is darker in its 

 general plumage than the Ring-dove. It feeds upon water- 

 cresses, grasses, and the acorns of the Laurus fmtens, Laurus in- 

 dica, and other trees growing in the forests on the north side of 

 the island. 



The Rock Pigeon [Columha livia, Briss.) is plentifully found 

 on the sea cliffs and rocks, and in the ravines, which it inhabits 

 all over the island. There is also a variety here of this bird, 

 which appears to be darker in the colour of its feet and in its 

 general plumage than the common Rock Pigeon. Purchas, in 

 his early remarks upon Madeira, relates that '' at first the 

 pigeons suffered themselves to be taken, not knowing, and 

 therefore not fearing, a man.'^ 



The Red-legged Partridge {Perdix rubra, Briss.) is not un- 

 common on the wild serras. The running propensities of this 

 bird make it difficult of access to sportsmen even on the flattest 

 ground, and when the pursuit has to be carried on upon the 

 sides of mountains which rise some 6000 feet above the sea, 

 the toil would seem out of all proportion to the reward. The 

 professional Caqador is consequently almost the only enemy 

 which the Partridge meets with in Madeira. 



The Quail [Perdix coturnixy Lath.) is more plentiful here than 

 the Partridge, and approaches nearer to the habitations of man ; 

 it pairs, laying sometimes as many as sixteen eggs, and bringing 

 off three or four broods in the year. The shooting this bird 

 amongst the yam-gardens affords excellent sport. 



The Woodcock {Scolopax rusticola, Linn.) is found chiefly on 

 the west side of the island, and on the Paiil da Serra is very 

 plentiful. The native sportsmen generally shoot it in the evening : 

 they wait till it comes to feed at the mountain rills, and often 

 kill several on the ground at one shot. 



The Tern [Sterna hirundo, Linn.) appears mostly at the De- 

 zerta Island, occasionally visiting various parts of the Madeiran 

 coasts. 



The Herring Gull [Larus argentatus, Brunn.) abounds every- 

 where. 



The Cinereous Shearwater [Puffinus major y Temm.) breeds 

 plentifully on the Dezerta Islands. This bird, as well as the 



