FROM THE EAST. 521 
‘between Bethlehem and the Dead Sea, where, however, it was 
very scarce. In the valley of the Jordan this graceful bird 
and the Rock-Partridge live together in the same localities, 
but the former is the more abundant. 
71. FRANCOLINUS VULGARIS. Francolin. 
First found among thick bushes near the halting-place of 
Abd-el-Kader in the middle of the Jordan valley. On the 
Upper Jordan, within a day’s journey of the Lake of Tiberias, 
this bird was extremely abundant in the marshy well-watered 
neighbourhood of the village of Beisin. Pairs of them were 
met with on damp ground that was well covered with grass, 
very dense underwood, and a few reeds. The Francolin 
allows one to come quite close to it, and only takes wing at 
the last moment. The hens appeared to be sitting, as but 
one was flushed. All morning, afternoon, and evening the 
monotonous love-song of the cocks was heard in every direc- 
tion, and only ceased in the scorching heat of the midday 
hours. This cry, which is continued until the sportsman is 
quite near, much facilitates the pursuit of this beautiful game- 
bird. 
72. CoTURNIX ComMMUNIS. Common Quail. 
When we arrived in Lower Egypt at the end of February 
we found that the Quail had not yet come. In the beginning 
and up to the middle of March the whole valley of the Nile 
was full of them, but we had neither the time nor the inclina- 
tion to go specially after these birds. In the latter half, and 
particularly the last few days, of March, Quail were very 
numerous in Lower Egypt. At the beginning ef April we 
found them throughout Palestine, even among the rocky 
hills where there was no cover, and they were incredibly 
abundant in the grassy and wooded districts of the valley of 
the Jordan. There, we were obliged to shoot them for 
