2o6 cassell's book of birds. 



were, however, several old birds, and probably more than one brood of chicks, so I could form no 

 correct idea of the number in one brood. The eggs which have been found by travellers are about 

 the size of those of a Turkey, but like those of the Grouse, are of a more lengthened form ; their 

 ground colour is clear light olive, sparingly dotted over with small, light chestnut spots." 



The considerable height at which the Snow Pheasants live secures them from many persecutors 

 to whom their congeners are exposed : nevertheless they also have their enemies, for all the larger 

 and stronger Eagles regard them as welcome prey. " The Ring-tailed Eagle," says " Mountaineer," 

 " is an inveterate annoyer of these birds ; inhabiting exposed situations where there is nothing to 

 conceal so large a quarry from his sight as he sails along the hill-side above them, they at once 

 arrest his attention, and are driven backwards and forwards by this unrelenting tormentor all day 

 long." They, however, often manage to escape his clutches, for the same author continues ; " On the 

 appearance of these birds of prey, which fortunately for them are not very numerous, they seldom 

 wait till one of them makes a stoop, but on the enemy wheeling round near the spot where they are, 

 immediately fly off to another quarter ; the Eagle never flies after or attacks them on the wing, so that 

 aldiough he allows them little quiet while near their resort, he only occasionally succeeds in securing 

 one." From man this bird has little to fear, as few persons pursue game at the heights they inhabit, 

 and the hunting propensities of the Eastern nations are not very considerable. According to 

 " Mountaineer " these hardy birds are easily kept in confinement, but (although they will eat grain) 

 would probably not live long without an occasional supply of their natural green food of grass and 

 plants. "They may,' he tells us, "be kept without the least trouble in large cages, the bottoms 

 of which, instead of being solid, are made of bars of wood, or iron \Yire, so that the birds being 

 put out on the grass may feed through the interstices." 



The RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGES {Caccabis). This section embraces several European 

 species possessing strong bodies, short necks, and comparatively large heads. The wings, in which 

 the third and fourth quills exceed the rest in length, are of medium size : the tail, composed of from 

 twelve to sixteen feathers, is moderately long, and not completely concealed by its upper covers. 

 The beak is long, but powerful ; the foot of medium height, and furnished with a blunt spur or species 

 of homy wart. The thick smooth plumage is principally of a reddish grey, shaded in some instances 

 to slate-grey ; the upper breast, part of the throat, and the thighs are brightly coloured. These birds 

 are met with in Southern Europe, Western and Central Asia, Northern and Western Africa, Madeira, 

 and the Canary Islands, everywhere inhabiting such barren or rocky situations as accord with their 

 mottled plumage, and carefully avoiding tree-covered regions, 



THE GREEK PARTRIDGE. 



The Greek Partridge {Caccabis Gr^ca, or C. saxafiiis) is of a blueish grey, shaded with red on 

 the breast and mantle ; the throat is white ; a line encircling the throat, another on the brow, and a 

 small spot on the chin are black ; the feathers on the thighs are striped alternately yellowish brown 

 and black ; the rest of the under side is reddish yellow; the quills are blackish brown, with yellowish 

 white shafts, and reddish yellow streaks at the edge of the outer web ; the exterior tail-feathers are 

 rust-red. The eye is reddish brown, beak coral-red, and foot pale red. The length of the male is from 

 thirteen to fourteen inches, the breadth from nineteen to twenty inches ; the wing measures six, and 

 the tail four inches ; the female is smaller than her mate. 



This bird is met with in Central Europe, but more numerously in the most southern parts of 

 that continent ; as also in Turkey, Asia Minor, Palestine, and Arabia : in a westerly direction it would 

 appear to venture but rarely beyond the limits of the Red Sea, and in India and Southern China is 



