28 Mr. C. G. Danford on the 



siderable quantity of clear watery -looking fluid was observed 

 to flow from the mouths of some specimens shot in the middle 

 of the day, and far from any known drinkiug-place. A live 

 female, which was sent to us from Tarsus, had also a peculiar 

 power of inflating the skin of the crown and back of the head, 

 which gave it a somewhat crested appearance. It was a very 

 tame bird, and eat freely, but, having received breast-injuries, 

 did not live long. 



The Turkish designation of this bird seems to be of wide 

 acceptation and considerable age, as the name Baghirtlak 

 appears to have been applied to an allied member of the family, 

 probably Syrrhaptes paradoxus, in the time of Marco Polo. 



164. OrTYGION COTURNIX (L.). 



Observed in the interior. 



165. Caccabis CHUKAR (Grray) . Keklik (Partridge). 

 Very common in the Taurus. No varieties were detected, 



the Cilician-killed birds being identical with specimens ob- 

 tained at Rhodes and Smyrna. As the natives cannot with 

 their long flint-guns shoot any thing flying, they generally take 

 out with them a tame caged Partridge, who calls the wild birds 

 to the neighbourhood of the place where the patient gunner 

 sits ensconced among the stones and bushes. One fine old 

 sportsman was very successful in bagging these birds. When 

 he had found the whereabouts of a covey he advanced upon 

 them under cover of a cotton screen, roughly painted with 

 large spots. The Partridges, mistaking this for a leopard, 

 ran close together, so that many fell a prey to the voluminous 

 contents of the old man^s piece. The Chukar is a great 

 runner, and it was quite comical to see their quickness and 

 coolness in running among the bushes before a dog ; some- 

 times they will stop, look round, cackle, and be ofi" again, to 

 the great indignation of the animal in pursuit. The male is 

 considerably larger than the female ; a full-grown bird of the 

 former sex weighs l|lb. That we should never in any part 

 of Asia Minor have ever met with Perdix cinerea appears very 



* See Prejevalsky, vol. i. p. 28. Marco Polo (Yule), 2iid edit. vol. i 

 p. 266, & ref. 



