' BIRDS. 483 



much for their gamy qualities or their value as food as for their extreme 

 pugnacity. In olclen times they were kept much as game-cocks are kept 

 to-day, and their battles then excited as much interest among the higher 

 classes as a cocking-main does among the so-called sporting fraternity of 

 the present time. 



Far better as game-birds are the thirty odd species of francolins, whose 

 centre is the region around the Mediterranean. They are all noisy birds, 

 with a sharp, quick note, which frequently informs the hunter of their 

 whereabouts. The magnificent snow-pheasants of the high mountains of 

 Central Asia should also be mentioned. As their name implies, they make 

 their home near the snow-line, and they are so wary that it is only with 

 difficulty that the hunter can get a shot at them. 



Turning now to the American continent, Ave find a large number of 

 forms ; possibly not so great as those of the Old World, but certainly of 

 far more interest to us. Between the partridges of the eastern and the 

 western continents there are many differences, and the ornithologist who 

 is shown a specimen, even if it be a form he has never seen before, can 

 at once tell approximately whence it came. These distinctions, however, 

 need not trouble us, for systematic details are something beyond our 

 scope. 



First of the American partridges come a few (about twenty) forms 

 from Central and South America, of which the chivelua may serve as the 

 type. It is thus described by Mr. Gaumer : — 



"The chivelua is rare in the settled portions djjTucatan, but is com- 

 mon in the forests and beyond civilization. It is mtKr found in fields nor 

 in open lands, and does not live in flocks like the quails, but is generally 

 found in pairs ; and more rarely two or three pairs are found together. It 

 lives on the ground, where it spends most of its time scratching about old 

 logs and trees in search of insects, worms, and seeds, which form the 

 principal part of its food. 



" The numerous dusting-holes made by this bird are always sure indi- 

 cations of its presence ; but owing to its habit of remaining immovable 

 until all danger is past, it is very difficult to see it. In addition to this, 

 the colors of the feathers are exactly similar to the lights and shades of 

 dead leaves upon the ground. This bird is very tame, and in fact has no 

 fear of man, and only flies when hard-pressed ; and even then it never flies 

 high nor far away. I have often stood for some minutes when among the 

 dusting-holes of these birds, looking about the ground for them, and only 

 after a long time and close watching I have been able to spy them out. 

 In this way I have taken them many times in an insect net which had 

 only a common walking-stick for a handle. It makes a beautiful pet and 



