212 Rev. H. B. Tristram on the Ornithology of Palestine. 



Palmyra, that a party of our friends lived for several days on 

 their eggs, but were little enough of oologists not to preserve a 

 single shell, much less a skin to decide the species ! 



The Pheasant {Phasianus colchicus) which once I had the 

 pleasure of seeing wild and indigenous near Ephesus, does not 

 appear to be known in Syria; but the Francolin, Francolinus 

 vulgaris, Steph., is still there to tempt our noble President to 

 continue his researches yet further east. But if he wishes for 

 a large bag, he needs to have his dogs, unless he descends to the 

 unsportsmanlike device of one of our party, concealing himself 

 in a bush, imitating its peculiar call, and "potting" the 

 unwary runners from his ambush. The Francolin is very 

 abundant on the plain of Gennesaret, where the coveys conceal 

 themselves among the thickets of Jujubes [Zizyphus), especially 

 near water. We also frequently heard and sometimes saw it on 

 the plains of Acre and Huleh, and in the lower grounds of 

 Esdraelon, near the Jordan. But it never voluntarily leaves its 

 cover. Its flight is heavy, rather like that of a Grouse ; and it 

 is perhaps the easiest of all game-birds to shoot on the wing. 

 There were seldom more than three or four together; but I 

 have frequently found half a dozen parties within call of each 

 other. The cock bird begins to call from the middle of a 

 grass-field at the early dawn, and the cry is taken up and 

 answered on all sides in an instant. It is a very peculiar note, 

 never forgotten when once heard, something like " chuk, chuk, 

 tee-tee-tor." The nest is very difficult to find, and I never 

 succeeded in discovering it myself; but some of our Arabs once 

 brought in a sitting of eggs, all of which they succeeded in 

 smashing as they carried them in their cloaks. The eggs are 

 intermediate in size between those of the Common Pheasant 

 and the Grey Partridge, and precisely of the same colour, but 

 rather coarser in grain. They appear very rare in collections, 

 and none of our Arabs knew them. The plumage of the cock 

 shows beautifully on the wing, its black feathers with their 

 white spots being very conspicuous. It is perhaps the very 

 best eating of all game-birds, not excepting the Red Grouse; 

 and its introduction to the marshy lands of the south of 

 England might, I feel certain, be advantageously attempted by 



