TURNIX SYLVATICA 255 



Francolin, will, unfortunately, ere long be a thing of the past in Sicily. 

 The reason for this is probably to be looked for in the fact of the 

 greatly diminished area of country adapted to the requirements of this 

 species, much of the former waste land in Sicily having been reclaimed 

 of late years. The want of efficient protective game-laws may perhaps 

 also be partly to blame, although not, I think, to any great extent, 

 for the Quaglia tridattile, or Quaglia triugni, as it is called here, 

 has never been held in great esteem by the Sicilians, either as a bird 

 for the table or as affording much sport, and has consequently escaped 

 persecution on the part of the native gunner and fowler." 



As a straggler the present species is said to have occurred in two 

 or three other parts of Italy, as well as in France, and even in 

 England, but satisfactory evidence is wanting in most of the cases 

 recorded. 



In Tunisia, fortunately, and generally throughout North-west 

 Africa, there is, for the present, no fear of T. sijlvatica becoming 

 extinct, for although nowhere what can be called plentiful, the species 

 is by no means uncommon in many districts north of the Atlas. It 

 is indeed probably more abundant than it appears to be, for owing to 

 the bird's skulking habits and its reluctance to take to flight, it may 

 easily be passed by, without the aid of a good dog. So loath is it to 

 use its wings, that examples of it are not unfrequently captured alive, 

 either by the hand, or by the sportsman's dog. Specimens may often 

 be seen in the Tunis market, with the throat cut in the orthodox 

 Mahomedan fashion. 



As above stated this Quail chiefly frequents uncultivated lands, 

 and evinces a partiality for localities covered with the " palmetto " 

 or dwarf broom-palm {Chamerops humilis), and similar low-growing 

 plants, where it can easily hide itself, and from which it is difficult 

 to dislodge, particularly when it has been already flushed. Its flight 

 is not very powerful or prolonged for any distance, but the bird is 

 a great runner. 



In its habits it is neither sociable nor gregarious, being found, as 

 a rule, singly, or in pairs during the nesting season. It feeds on the 

 seeds of various wild plants and on insects and worms. 



Its usual note is a low " cru," repeated two or three times, but 

 according to Loche, the species, at daybreak and sunset, utters a 

 peculiar deep and mournful note, which can only be compared to the 

 subdued cry of a Bittern. Both sexes utter this note, but the male 



