186 Mr. H. Saunders on Birds 



while the females are often found lower down tlie slopes, 

 where the beech and oak are mingled with the firs. 



The Black Grouse {Tetrao tetrix) is unknown in the Jura. 

 In the Alps generally it is well known, and in the Grisons it 

 is even plentiful. 



BONASA BETULINA (Scop.). 



The Hazel-Grouse is found in the Jura, as well as in the 

 Alps, and I often saw it on Chaumont ; especially from the 

 beginning of July onwards, when the birds were in coveys. 

 These are fond of basking in slight open patches on the hill- 

 side, where large timber has been felled, and on being flushed 

 they immediately flutter up into trees, where, however, they 

 do not stay long. The call-note is a loud, clear b-chick or 

 b-cheek. 



In the Grisons we came upon many fresh tracks of Ptar- 

 migan [Lagopus mutus) in the snow, but did not try to flush 

 any on that occasion, as we were after chamois. In years 

 past I have seen many. The Ptarmigan is not found in the 

 Jura. 



Perdix cinerea, Latham; Caccabis rufa (Linn.); Cacca- 

 Bis SAXATiLis (Meyer). 



The Grey Partridge inhabits the cultivated region, but it 

 is not plentiful ; while the " French " Red-leg is uncommon 

 or very local. The Rock or Greek Red-leg (the Bartavelle) 

 is well known in the Valais and in most of the mountainous 

 portions of Switzerland. I have seen the Barbary Partridge 

 {C. petrosa) hanging up in the shops at Vevey ; probably 

 imported from Sardinia. 



I heai'd grave complaints of the sad diminution in the 

 number of Quails which visit Switzerland to breed. Some 

 Swiss sportsmen seriously attribute this to the enormous 

 number taken in Egypt in spring since the British occupa- 

 tion, and they are fully persuaded that for several years past 

 Londoners generally have been battening on Quails ; in fact, 

 they feel inclined to say, with St. Jerome (shghtly altered), 

 " Tu coturnicem eructas " when they meet an Englishman ! 



The only member of the Rallidae that came under my 

 notice was the Coot {FuHca atra) on the Lakes of Lucerne 



