CACCABIS PETROSA. 239 



264. Caccabis petrosa (J. F. Gmelin). The Barbary Partridge. 



Moorish. Hejel. 



"The Barbary Partridge," says Eavier, "is resident around 

 Tangier, and very common, sometimes perching on trees." 



This species is far more common in proportion in Morocco 

 than C. rufa is in Spain, and chiefly frequents palmetto scrub ; 

 in some localities it is so numerous that it would be quite easy 

 for one gun to bag fifty brace in the day. The flesh of this 

 Partridge is not so good even as that of the Common Eed-leg, 

 which does not say much in its favour, but they submit to capti- 

 ivty very well, and may be kept alive in coops like fowls, to be 

 used as required and, after being fed on corn for a month or so, 

 improve greatly in a culinary point of view. 



As is well known to all ornithologists, the Barbary Partridge is 

 the only species found on the Rock of Gibraltar, being in great 

 numbers there. Sometimes they may be seen sitting on the 

 stones within a few feet of the sea, and a pair or two used even 

 to frequent the rocks below the "rope ladder" at Europa. 

 Although protected from guns and carefully preserved from the 

 attacks of human beings, they suffer considerably from the number 

 of cats which abound, and are also preyed on by Genets and 

 Eagles, whilst lizards and snakes destroy the eggs and young. 



This bird, like ether Partridges, is very noisy at dusk : in the 

 nesting-season they have a peculiar long-drawn croaking cry, 

 which puzzled me for a long time before I could make out from 

 what bird it came; but whether the male only thus calls I do not 

 know, though I suspect such to be the case. 



They commence to lay about the 15th of April. The eggs are 

 very similar to those of C. rufa, and vary much in the markings, 

 some being quite free from the usual small freckles. 



The Rev. John White mentions this Partridge as being plentiful 

 at Gibraltar about 1770, and not being found on the mainland of 

 Spain. 



This species is at once distinguished by the chestnut collar round the 



