138 PERDICID^. 
more of these birds as call-birds {I'eclamos), each wretched 
Partridge being confined in a cage which is so small that the 
mifortunate bird has scarcely room to turn round. To add 
to this cruelty, at certain seasons they are never given water, 
as it is supposed to be fatal to them : but in a wild state they 
drink a great deal ; and during the scorching month of August, 
and the first half of September, one of the favourite Spanish 
methods of shooting them is to make a hiding-place [puesto) 
near their drinking-haunt, placing call-birds on each side of 
the water out of the line of fire — so that, when a covey comes 
to drink, as many as possible may be mowed down at once by 
the concealed ''sportsman,^' who, throughout the whole year, 
regardless of the season, shoots them whenever he can, the 
acme of his diversion being to shoot a Partridge from the nest. 
However, it may as well be mentioned that these men shoot 
for profit, not for sport. In spite of this ceaseless persecution 
Partridges do not decrease, which is tinily wonderful. 
Light-coloured and white varieties of the Red-legged Par- 
tridge are not unfrequent : for some years in succession there 
was a white covey near the Guadiarro on the road to Gaucin. 
This species breeds in May. The eggs vary greatly in size, 
and are subject to the same variations as those of C. petrosa ; 
they are usually larger than the eggs of that bird, but are 
sometimes smaller, thus varying greatly in size. 
Mr. Drake mentions a Francolin as occurring in the south 
of Morocco. I never could obtain a specimen for actual iden- 
tification, but have no doubt the bird is Francolinus bicalca- 
ratus (Linn.) . They are to be found near Rabat ; and the 
local name was told me as " Ragh." 
198. CoTURNix VULGARIS, Fleming. The Common Quail. 
Moorish. Summin. Spanish. Codorniz. 
Favier states that the Quail is very abundant on passage 
on the Moorish side of the Straits, many remaining to breed, 
the majority crossing over to Europe during March and April, 
returning in October and November. 
On the Spanish side of the Straits it appears to me that 
the chief vernal migration of the common Quail is during the 
