1922.] Trip to the Cantahrian Mountains. 345 



fTringa hypolenca. 

 We saw a few Comiiion Sandpipers on the river at Riafio 

 and also at Panes. Chapman and J5uck state (' WiKl 

 Spain/ p. 181) that they found a nest and four eggs on 

 23 May in the province of Santander, but the exact locality 

 is not given. 



fAlectoris rufa. 



fPerdix perdix. 

 We occasionally heard a Red-legged Partridge (probably 

 of the form A. r. idspanica), but never put one up, and I 

 think they must be very scarce, as we offered a good price to 

 the local sportsmen for Partridges of any kind and were not 

 able to obtain any. 



I saw three Grey Partridges (probably P. p. hispaniensis = 

 charreld) near Riano, but unfortunately missed them with 

 both barrels. These birds were at the base of a rocky peak 

 on a steep grassy slope above the woods. When put up 

 they flew very low round the curve of the mountain, and 

 after being shot at took refuge on a small slope, where theri^ 

 was a little grass among the rocks. From there they flew 

 round to the other side of the mountain, where I was unable 

 to follow without making a long detour far down into the 

 valley and up again. The low, curving flight of the birds and 

 the ground they inhabited reminded one more of Ptarmigan 

 than Grey Partridge, but both here and in the Pyrenees 

 these Partridges frequent the high ground. They seemed to 

 be very scarce, for these were the only ones we saw, and I 

 toiled over much apparently suitable ground in the hope of 

 finding more. 



t Coturnix coturuix. 

 We heard Quails occasionally at Riafio, and saw half-a- 

 dozen shot there by local sportsmen. 



