i88 SPORT IN EUROPE 



known as red-legs, and by gamekeepers, I believe, facetiously nick- 

 named " Frenchmen." It is, without doubt, the most beautiful 

 species of its family, and the bright colouring of its lower limbs is 

 so pronounced that the bird cannot be mistaken for any other 

 species. The other and less showy kind, the grey partridge — not 

 unlike the brown bird of the English stubbles — is more frequently 

 met with in the Turkish provinces. There are other varieties 

 {Caccabis chukar, Caccabis saxati/is), induced by local conditions 

 of food, soil, and the cover protecting them ; for their power of 

 assimilation to the surrounding is quite marvellous. These varie- 

 ties are included in the Perdrix des Moniagncs of the French, as 

 distinguished from the better fed, but less palatable, Perdrix des 

 Champs. They frequent the bushes of arbutus and burnet thorn 

 on the hillsides, and the agnus casttis in the gorges. They are 

 plump, strong fliers, weighing from 15 to 18 oz., and extremely 

 cunning in taking shelter in crevices and holes, such as abound on 

 the hillsides or the cliffs about the islands. When they espy danger, 

 a few will rise, spreading in all directions ; but the covey will squat 

 well under cover, to take wing immediately after the first shot has 

 been fired. In the keen and limpid atmosphere of Greece they 

 behave as if gifted with a powerful sense of smell ; for, if they are 

 to leeward, they become at once aware of the approach of the 

 sportsman. They will feed unconcernedly enough in the furrows 

 after a ploughman ; but at the approach of a stranger they first 

 run with outstretched wings, and then rise. The Greek peasant 

 and shepherd are very expert in discovering their whereabouts 

 from indications and sounds undetectable by an ordinary sportsman, 



