570 Mr. D. A. Baimermaii on the 



and darker throughout, doubtless constituting a dark geo- 

 graphical race. Lastl}^, the grey colouring of the back and 

 ramp at first sight ap^jcared to be constant ; when, however, 

 the scries of C. rufa was hiid out according to the months in 

 wliich the specimens were procured, it was at once apparent 

 that those birds obtained in the first part of the year 

 (January to jMay) were considerably greyer than examples 

 shot in September, October, and November ; in some cases 

 the rump was quite as grey as in the Gran Canaria birds. 

 This grey colouring, therefore, is evidently due to seasonal 

 change and to wear of plumage, and cannot be counted as 

 a distinct character. No doubt specimens obtained in Gran 

 Canaria during the latter months of the year would be as 

 rich in colouring as typical examples of C rufa obtained at 

 the same time. It is almost certain that the Partridge has 

 been introduced into Gran Canaria, and, up to the present, 

 at any rate, I do not consider that it has become sufficiently 

 differentiated to deserve subspecific rank. 



The lled-lcgged Partridge is never seen in the north of 

 the island, but in the vicinity of ]Mogan and the Cueva 

 de las Ninas is fairly plentiful : here, in small deserted 

 barrancos, thickly overgrown with Euphorbia bushes and 

 prickly pears, where the rays of the sun penetrate with dovible 

 the usual vigour^ several Partridges are sure to be found. 

 In such places they lie very close, and when put up have a 

 happy knack of always doing so at the Avorst possible 

 moment for the sportsman. They are very strong on the 

 Aving, and when disturbed fly for a long distance. Occasion- 

 ally I have flushed them quite in the pine-forests, but 

 usually they prefer thicker undergrowth than is to be found 

 there. The call is very loud and not unlike that of our 

 British bird. In the early mornings a regular chorus may 

 l)e heard of birds calling to each other. 



On Feb. 12th, 1911, I camped below the Roque Nublo, 

 at 5000 ft., in the Cumbres. This camp was in the wildest 

 spot I have yet seen in these islands (see PI. X. fig. 1). 

 Towering rocks and precipices rose on every side, and 

 even the scant euphorbia bushes were less in evidence in 



