81 — 



brown ; a distinct narrow black belt across the chest edged with 

 sand colour and shading to chocolate on the abdomen, the 

 centre of which is black. Female somewhat similar, but barred 

 above with black ; two bands of black across the chest, and 

 the black on the belly and thighs is barred with yellowish. 



GALLIN^E. 



332. Chukar Partridge. Caccahis chukar subsp. 



I have never yet seen a specimen from Egypt, but large 

 red-legged partridges have been reported to me as having been 

 seen in the Moqattam Hills. As I do not know to which race 

 Egyptian examples should be assigned, I give no description of 

 the bird. 



333. Hey's Partridge. Ammoperdix heyi (Temminck). 



Ammoperdix heyi. Shelley, p. 222. 



A resident in small numbers in the rocky deserts. The 

 birds in the desert near Cairo are much paler in coloration 

 than are typical examples from Sinai, and they also lack the white 

 forehead. 



Length about 10 inches. Upper parts pale sandy buff ; 

 crown bluish grey ; ear coverts white ; throat rufous ; abdomen 

 white ; the flanks streaked with black and rufous ; rump very 

 finely vermiculated with grey ; bill and feet yellow. The 

 female is whitish grey above vermiculated with dark brown ; 

 under parts white. 



334. Quail. Coturnix coturnix (Linnaeus). 



Coturnix communis. Shelley, p. 223. 



The quail passes through the country in large numbers 

 during the spring and autumn migrations. In the latter passage 

 it is more abundant in the western part of the country. As a 

 breeding bird it is not uncommon in Lower Egypt, and has 

 been known to breed as far south as Isna. 



Length 7 inches. Upper parts brown marked with rufous, 

 grey and black ; a buff line through the centre of the crown 

 of head. The feathers of the neck and scapulars and tail coverts 

 are broadly marked with yellowish buff ; flanks striped with 

 chestnut, buff and black ; under parts whitish buff (in the male 

 more rufous) ; a buff stripe over each eye. The adult male has 



