246 BIBDS OF TUNISIA 



in the Island of Sardinia and on the Eock of Gibraltar, but apparently 

 not on the Spanish mainland, nor yet in the Island of Sicily, where 

 one might have expected to find it, being so near the African coast. 

 It is probable, however, that the Barbary Partridge was imported to 

 the Canaries and Gibraltar, and possibly also to Sardinia. An attempt 

 was made a few years ago, by a friend of mine to introduce the species 

 into one of the small islands off the South-west coast of Sicily, but 

 without success. C. saxatilis is the only species of Partridge found 

 in Sicily. 



C. petrosa is recorded by Von der Miihle and Lindermayer as 

 having occurred in Greece, and is also said to have been met with 

 in one or two other localities, but on doubtful authority. 



In North Tunisia the " Hadjela," as this bird is called by the 

 Arabs, is extremely plentiful on most of the brush-covered hillsides, 

 which are its favourite resorts, and I have enjoyed many a good day's 

 sport Partridge-shooting in various localities. The French authorities 

 now very wisely enforce the game-laws in the Regency wherever they 

 can, but this is not easy to do in remote districts, and throughout a 

 great portion of the country it is absolutely impossible. Robbing the 

 nests of their eggs is probably the commonest and most destructive 

 form of Arab poaching, and as unfortunately the Partridge's nest is 

 not difficult to find, few escape the sharp eyes of the native poacher 

 in localities situated near towns or villages. Though vastly inferior 

 to that of most other Partridges, the flesh of C. petrosa is fairly good 

 eating, and during the season large numbers of the birds find their 

 way to the Tunis market, and are occasionally exported to Europe. 



In Central and Southern Tunisia, although less abundant, C. petrosa 

 is also generally to be met with wherever there is water and cover. 

 It is even to be found in the arid and barren districts of the far south, 

 provided there is some well or water-hole in the neighbourhood where 

 it can drink, and a few clumps of oleander or tamarisk bushes to 

 shelter it. 



The birds found in these desert regions are, as a rule, rather paler 

 in colour than those met with further north, and may be referred to 

 the following subspecies. 



Like other members of the family, C. petrosa, though essentially 

 monogamous, is to be found in coveys during the greater part of the 

 year. Pairing generally commences towards the end of February or 

 early in March, but I have occasionally met with the birds still in 

 coveys at the end of March and even at the beginning of April. 



